Little Blue Heron

[jprzybyla]

I shot these yesterday. C&C welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

#1



#2



#3



#4

[terrib]

Joe, the focus and detail on all of these is great. I absolutely love that first one!

[FrankMi]

I fully agree with Terri on the superb detail Joe. You have good focus and color separation between the subject and background which makes these images pleasing to view. If you are comfortable with it, you could tone down the dark spot in the background to reduce its prominence in the images.

I do like #3 because it is not the typical image.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Joe,

Probably the best close up shots I've seen for a while.

I have tried shooting grooming shots before, but unless you are close enough for the feather detail, as you are here, they just don't work.

Well done,

[CLK]

Beautiful pictures, although they are all without exception I keep going back to #4. Are they really that color?

[Bobobird]

Beautiful shots. Colours, sharpness, detail - all great. Well done.

[jamn4ex]

I love three!

[jeeperman]

Nice set Joe. The first one, the pose makes me want to see the whole bird. That may be because it reminds me of one of my favorite Heron images { the first one on my smug site}. Either way with all of his body visible I want to see his legs. Still great bunch Joe.

[jprzybyla]

Joe, the focus and detail on all of these is great. I absolutely love that first one!

Hello Terri, thank you for your comment. I appreciate you looking at and commenting on my photography.

[jprzybyla]

I fully agree with Terri on the superb detail Joe. You have good focus and color separation between the subject and background which makes these images pleasing to view. If you are comfortable with it, you could tone down the dark spot in the background to reduce its prominence in the images.

I do like #3 because it is not the typical image.

Hello Frank, thank you for viewing and commenting. Regarding the dark spots that is easily fixed. I like #3 for exactly the same reason.

[jprzybyla]

Hi Joe,

Probably the best close up shots I've seen for a while.

I have tried shooting grooming shots before, but unless you are close enough for the feather detail, as you are here, they just don't work.

Well done,

Hello Dave, thank you for your comment. I was close maybe 30 feet, the bird flew in and landed on a log close to where I was standing. I tried other crops but the closeups had more impact and showed the bird better.

[jprzybyla]

Beautiful pictures, although they are all without exception I keep going back to #4. Are they really that color?

Hello Connie, thank you for your comment. I like #4 also because as it was grooming and preening it continued to peek at me. Yes they are that color, I would describe is a steely blue grey. When in breeding plumage the reddish feathers on the neck become more pronounced making the neck a rusty reddish color. This bird also has a white morph.

[jprzybyla]

Beautiful shots. Colours, sharpness, detail - all great. Well done.

Hello Bobo, thank you for viewing and commenting.

[jprzybyla]

I love three!

Hello James, I appreciate you taking time to view and comment. I like #3 also, a unique pose.

[jprzybyla]

Nice set Joe. The first one, the pose makes me want to see the whole bird. That may be because it reminds me of one of my favorite Heron images { the first one on my smug site}. Either way with all of his body visible I want to see his legs. Still great bunch Joe.

Hello Paul, your wish is my command.

[jeeperman]

like this better now Joe, although I would likely crop a good bit of the left side off. Nice image Joe.

[jamn4ex]

I too like the whole bird, I dont mind the space. I am trying to include more habitat with my birds.that uncropped version does that well. ALso I try to keep my comments more about composition due to the fact I am rookie to the tech end.

[jeeperman]

I like a bit of the habitat as well but was thinking something along the lines of the below crop. The best of both worlds. Enough to see where he is hanging out and have a nice coposition that allows you to showcase the bird.

[FrankMi]

Two things about Paul's crop that benefit is that we lose the distracting dying plant on the left side while retaining the viewing space in the direction the bird is looking. The feather detail is phenomenal Joe. You really nailed this one in all aspects of the game!

[jprzybyla]

Hi Paul and Frank, I like the crop you did Paul. I concur with Franks comment concerning eliminating the distracting dying plant. Since I took many images of the Heron on the log I will use your crop as a guide for the others. Thanks Paul and Frank.