Back in September 2021, I was down on the waterfront watching the birds flying, swimming, and standing on the beach, this Blue Heron was doing the same thing, hanging out watching what is going on around him.
If you're looking for CC, Don, the fact that the heron's neck transects one of the ducks is a distraction. You've caught the heron in an archetypal, graceful pose, and its head is nicely profiled, the whole bird nice and sharp in contrast to the context-providing ducks. Your processing is sensitive and complementary to the subject.
In your place. although I generally don't manipulate so extensively, I might clone that duck out, leaving only the left-hand one.
Personally, I think the squarish overall image shape doesn't quite complement the heron's tall slimness, so I'd crop the sides. I've done both in the attached edit. Please say if you don't like people going so far in CC. I mean no offence, and I do think you "have an eye", with some fine images to your name. This one is tanatlsingly close!.
I would expect to take a series of images in such a situation with moving subjects because precise framing and composition can be hard to pull off. Ideally, the heron's feet would be visible.
Partly because of all these difficulties, I've pretty much given up on wildlife images! I tried my 600mm "birder" lens, but then found that if the bird approached me, it might overfill the frame, when generally it's hard to get them big enough. Stickin' with landscape. ;-)
But if you're keen enough, amazing images can be produced - usually with much patience, and no doubt planning.
Chris, I see what your saying...that duck that was in the neck of the Heron was a distraction. I didn't even think about removing the duck, I'm kinda glad you did because I would not have even thought of it.
Bird photography, it is hard...I wait, and wait, then turn my back and everything comes at me at that point....I got a lot of proof...
If you're looking for CC, Don, the fact that the heron's neck transects one of the ducks is a distraction. You've caught the heron in an archetypal, graceful pose, and its head is nicely profiled, the whole bird nice and sharp in contrast to the context-providing ducks. Your processing is sensitive and complementary to the subject.
In your place. although I generally don't manipulate so extensively, I might clone that duck out, leaving only the left-hand one.
Personally, I think the squarish overall image shape doesn't quite complement the heron's tall slimness, so I'd crop the sides. I've done both in the attached edit. Please say if you don't like people going so far in CC. I mean no offence, and I do think you "have an eye", with some fine images to your name. This one is tanatlsingly close!.
I would expect to take a series of images in such a situation with moving subjects because precise framing and composition can be hard to pull off. Ideally, the heron's feet would be visible.
Partly because of all these difficulties, I've pretty much given up on wildlife images! I tried my 600mm "birder" lens, but then found that if the bird approached me, it might overfill the frame, when generally it's hard to get them big enough. Stickin' with landscape. ;-)
But if you're keen enough, amazing images can be produced - usually with much patience, and no doubt planning.
Chris, I see what your saying...that duck that was in the neck of the Heron was a distraction. I didn't even think about removing the duck, I'm kinda glad you did because I would not have even thought of it.
Bird photography, it is hard...I wait, and wait, then turn my back and everything comes at me at that point....I got a lot of proof...
Too 'ard, mate - landscapes are the go. They stay put for you. Mostly. ;-)
I know...it is like telling a pet dog to sit....
r1ch m here is what it looks like without the 1 duck
??
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