Grey Heron

Lovely detail of the action here Dave - and the fish in the beak!  If only we could magic away those pesky branches.  It certainly looks like the combination of your new gear and your capable hands is working together very nicely.   

Carol.

I think that we have become too accustomed to sterile images! I take a lot of photos of egrets and herons hunting where they hunt. They are true captures and not artificial. Ducks are often feeding in the grasses and twigs. I get tired of “perfect” images that have been Photoshopped to death. That is not reality, even though they may be more appealing to a buyer. The pressure is to sterilize an image and make it unnatural. That’s when a photographer loses his photography skills and becomes a computer artist. That doesn’t reflect reality. AI is making it even easier to create nonreal images nowadays. Too bad, IMO.
Nice work getting the head clear of the branches.

Joe

SantaFeJoe wrote: I think that we have become too accustomed to sterile images! I take a lot of photos of egrets and herons hunting where they hunt. They are true captures and not artificial. Ducks are often feeding in the grasses and twigs. I get tired of “perfect” images that have been Photoshopped to death. That is not reality, even though they may be more appealing to a buyer. The pressure is to sterilize an image and make it unnatural. That’s when a photographer loses his photography skills and becomes a computer artist. That doesn’t reflect reality. AI  is making it even easier to create nonreal images nowadays. Too bad, IMO.
Nice work getting the head clear of the branches.

Joe

Thanks Joe.  I'm so NOT a fan of AI and sterilising images.  Can't always have it our way to get that "perfect" shot... (that every one else has already on other forums).., and in the fullness of time, it doesn't really matter as being in the field was the best bit anyway.  I was happy just to see what was going on and make some use out of the dive.  (considered as some training, LOL).    .. 

FYI, I'm not overly a fan of using the 20 fps on the Z9. (I might use it for small, fast flying birds....)   Have it set to 8.  It's fine.  I'll take the trade off with the odd "exact" moment caught against 2,000 extra files to process and favour timing.  My Z7II is also set for a lower frame rate too, but that's for Z7II reasons.  

Nicely done David ... that location is always going to be tough but you and the Z9 handled it well. Why is it that Herons always choose the worst locations.

MalcolmBenn wrote: Nicely done David ... that location is always going to be tough but you and the Z9 handled it well.  Why is it that Herons always choose the worst locations.

Maybe the worst locations for photographers but, the best for them to capture their prey!

Joe