Motif: Little Blue Heron

Posted by Noel on Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:28 pm

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At least I *think* this is a Little Blue Heron (my books and I are separated at the moment). Seen at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee Wildlife Preserve.

I'm critical of this shot; I think the BG is a bit too busy and the bird is just dark enough that the blue color doesn't help to set it off enough. I really think I need a Canon 500 f/4, don't you?

But enough of what I think. I'd really love to hear your thoughts and feelings.

Canon EOS-10D, 100-400 zoom @ 400mm, f/5.6, 1/200 and cropped some.

-Noel

[size=75][i]Edits, reposts, and constructive criticism of my work always welcome![/i][/size]

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by Jim Urbach on Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:44 pm

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Noel,

I prefer clean BGs but there is nothing wrong with showing this little blue in his normal habitat. You have to make the most of what nature gives you each time out. I like it.

Jim

Enjoy viewing

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by AForns on Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:45 pm

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Agree with you assessment totally. If that bird would have moved to a clear area I can just imagine. The color of the water complements the bird and would have made a great image.

BTW when you have to shoot from above (like at Loxahatchee) with the 500 the birds look better due to the flatter angle. Seems that you are a lot lower than what you actually are! Would not be a bad idea to have one....only because it is practical

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by Harvey Edelman on Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:50 pm

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BG works fine for me. This is his natural habitat.

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by fredcor on Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:58 pm

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You are correct about the BG. But, wildlife does not pose for us, we have to make the best interpretation we can. You have the bird in it's typical setting. I just wish they came up here, I've never seen one, they look so beautiful.

Frederick Lat Correa

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by Jim Neely on Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:29 pm

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Noel, everyone needs at least a 500/4 L IS, if not a 600.

500 or not, this is a very nice habitat image. Your 100 - 400 did well with your guidance.

A little flash fill might make it pop a bit more.

jn

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by Sandy Mossberg on Thu Apr 01, 2004 2:15 pm

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Noel, the Little Blue Heron is done nicely. My personal taste dictates that I avoid high key water, which in this image is much more distracting than the very acceptable foliage. Please take this as a personal preference rather than as a criticism of the image per se.

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by Dan Barthel on Thu Apr 01, 2004 2:30 pm

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A little fill flash with a better beamer and your new 500 and you've got it

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by AlexC on Thu Apr 01, 2004 2:59 pm

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Noel wrote:

I'm critical of this shot; I think the BG is a bit too busy and the bird is just dark enough that the blue color doesn't help to set it off enough. I really think I need a Canon 500 f/4, don't you? But enough of what I think. I'd really love to hear your thoughts and feelings.

Noel, what you need here is a balanced fill flash and maybe just a tad over on the fill +2/3EV, this would light the bird nicely while underexposing the reflecting water, Above you'll see what I mean, it was done quick and dirty!! Also, the 500mm could help for reasons already given, great lens albeit pricey!! But what's not pricey today ??

[b]Alex Calzadilla[/b]
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"At the feast of ego everyone leaves hungry." - Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea, Tucson, AZ

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by Peter Wallack on Thu Apr 01, 2004 5:54 pm

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I like your image. I really appreciate the thread you started and the information Alex and others provided. I too am thinking about a 500 lens but I want to use my 100-400 for one more year. I will have lots of time for the 500 later but it seems that it can produce BGs unlike my 100-400.

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by Bruce DiVaccaro on Thu Apr 01, 2004 6:57 pm

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Noel,

This is a very nice shot. The pose is excellent. I don't mind the habitat here (except for maybe the one reed coming out of the top of his head). Alex's idea of underexposing to darken the water is on the money.

Bruce DiVaccaro
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by Noel on Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:21 pm

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Thanks all, and especially Alex! I took Alex's idea even a bit further with the highlights and shadows tool in PS CS. I'm surprised at how much manipulation this image could stand up to. I also added a bit of vignetting to help tunnel into the subject and make the environmental elements a bit less distracting.

-Noel