Juvenile BCNH in stormy evening light


Posted by Wayne Nicholas on Sun Aug 24, 2003 3:41 pm

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Black-crowned Night Heron (Imm.)

I went by one of my haunts last week in the path of a storm and was rewarded with some of the sweetest light. You know the light you get when the sun is setting in the clear sky behind you and the sky in the BG is dark with grey rain clouds. Just awesome! The subjects were few, but the quality of the experience was priceless. I was able to get photos of a young Bobcat on the prowl, my "not so well dressed" Grackle and this BCNH that was learning to fish by picking up every branch and blade of grass in the water. It was hilarious at times. Anyway, I digress.

I have a question on the composition of this shot. I cropped it to 5x7 proportions to try to eliminate some of the negative space and I like it now, but was wondering if it works with the whole reflection in the image.
About a 15% crop at 5x7. Minor PS adjustments for saturation and USM.
Thanks for looking and all comments welcome.

Canon 10D & 500mm IS on Wimberley from window mount
ISO 400 1/2000 sec @ f/4.0
Metering: Center-weighted Mode: Av
Exp comp: -2/3
ISO: 400
Canon 550EX w/BB flash exp comp: -1
White balance: Auto
Capture: Raw
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by Sandy Mossberg on Sun Aug 24, 2003 3:47 pm
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Wayne, that's a purty BCNH. I like his posture. I suggest using the entire reflection if you have it. If not, I would crop away some of the bottom.
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by E.J. Peiker on Sun Aug 24, 2003 4:03 pm
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I like this one a lot too - a different posture than usual and very nice light.
 

by Alan Murphy on Sun Aug 24, 2003 4:50 pm
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Wayne,

The light is awesome. The pose is great. I think that the reflection is so much darker than the bird that's its not necessary for the whole reflection.

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by NDCheryl on Sun Aug 24, 2003 4:51 pm
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Nice pose. I like this a lot. I would either like to see the whole reflection or less of it.
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by Chip Estabrooks on Sun Aug 24, 2003 5:08 pm
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I'm with Cheryl more or less...reflection that is. :lol:

Great light and capture.
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by AlexC on Sun Aug 24, 2003 5:31 pm
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One of the few instances were a full reflection will detract, My opinion is that the image could be a little stronger if more room was given at the top, even sacrificing a little more of the reflection, sweet light and pretty good detail!!, Congrats!!!
8)
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by Paula G on Sun Aug 24, 2003 5:36 pm
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Wayne, I like your heron a lot, the light is great and his pose is marvellous, he has a comical expression on his face. Well done.
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by Wayne Nicholas on Sun Aug 24, 2003 5:42 pm
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Here is the alternative crop I came up with. I like more room on top, but the cut-off reflection leaves me wanting, slightly. Any opinions?
Image
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by AlexC on Sun Aug 24, 2003 5:54 pm
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It gives me a belly full of photonic satisfaction, But that's just me!!, As presented it is better balanced in my view, It does not leave me wanting for any thing else, I like it !!! 8)
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by Dennis Olivero on Sun Aug 24, 2003 6:22 pm
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Second post is really nice Wayne..good to see you (avatar)... Well done
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by Bruce Sherman on Sun Aug 24, 2003 6:34 pm
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Wayne,
Here's another vote from Texas in favor of the repost. Nice light and pose.
 

by Jim Zipp on Sun Aug 24, 2003 7:10 pm
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Nice shot Wayne, I know what you mean about that kind of lighting where the sun is low and the sky is dark. Really has a nice feel to it.
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by Jim Neely on Sun Aug 24, 2003 7:31 pm
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Wayne,

I think the second post is an improvement. I like more headroom and since the whole reflection isn't there it might as well be cropped.

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by Alan Melle on Sun Aug 24, 2003 8:02 pm
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Great pose and wonderful light. I like the re-post better but agree with you that a little more room at the top would be nice.
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by Jim Probst on Sun Aug 24, 2003 8:45 pm
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Wayne,

Beautiful light and pose. Both images are very nice, but I prefer the second one. Wonderful work!
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by Richard on Sun Aug 24, 2003 8:53 pm
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Wayne,

I to like the second one a little bit better. I like a little more head room, especially when you have such a nice habitat. I think that was a good place to crop the reflection, or maybe just a tiny bit more, where the neck starts to fade out. Excellent pose and color. Very well done!
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by matt kuchta on Sun Aug 24, 2003 10:00 pm
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If it leaves you wanting, cut more of it off (keep enough room for the virtual feet) - but the second is a great improvement. The light is indeed super. I like the pose of the bird, too.

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by Mike Wilson on Sun Aug 24, 2003 11:54 pm
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Second post is much stronger. The pose makes it for me.
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by Juli Wilcox on Mon Aug 25, 2003 6:53 pm
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The second! :)
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