Fall in Killarney, Ontario

[Kyle]

Recently went to Killarney provincial on the Georgian Bay in Northern Ontario. It's known for its white quartzite ridges. It's an absolutely gorgeous place. Unfortunately it rained all weekend but I still got out for a hike up "The Crack" which part of the 80km backpacking trail. The Crack is a bit of a tough trail up to the top of a ridge.
At the top you're rewarded with a beautiful view. As I said, it was raining pretty much the whole time but there was a bit of a break in the rain for some photos. Nothing too great but the fall colours were awesome to see.

1. Here's a view from the top of the Crack


After climbing the Crack we decided to go check out the local outfitters and town. There's a small pond outfront of the outfitters and I found this guy hunting there.

2.

I've been trying to get a good picture of a Great Blue Heron for awhile now but I can never get close enough. This guy didn't notice me at all so I was able to get a bit close until it got scared off by a van driving by (the pond was right beside the exit). These shots are cropped quite a bit but I think they turned out alright. I caught him hunting and eating his prey.

3.

I'm hoping to get back up to Killarney sometime to get better photos. Eventually I'd love to do the backpacking trail. It seems like such a great place to explore.

c&c welcome.

[IzzieK]

Very nice compositions in all although in the first one, I think you took too much of the foreground rock. Like it though...Also love the narration that came with your shots. It feels like taking a walk alongside and seeing what you are seeing.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Suzan J]

Hi Kyle: That is a great view from on top of the ridge. I do rather like the fair amount of white rock as it makes a nice contrast to the yellow and orange colours of the leaves and leads me into the pond down below. You were quite fortunate to get that close to the heron. I have been trying to do that for a long time. If he is hanging around the outfitters store, perhaps he has become more tolerant of humans.

[Kyle]

Thanks for the comments.

Izzie, I'll try moving the crop up a bit and see if more sky can balance it out. I like the rock, as Suzan mentioned it does add some contrast but there does seem to be a bit too much of it.

Suzan, I think he was use to humans more than normal. A van pulled up beside, backed up, rolled down their window and the Heron still didn't fly away for a minute or two.

[IzzieK]

Looking at it twice or three times now, I am beginning to like it...I just prefer a little bit more room at the top...

Thanks for the comments.

Izzie, I'll try moving the crop up a bit and see if more sky can balance it out. I like the rock, as Suzan mentioned it does add some contrast but there does seem to be a bit too much of it.

Suzan, I think he was use to humans more than normal. A van pulled up beside, backed up, rolled down their window and the Heron still didn't fly away for a minute or two.

[bnnrcn]

Nice series Kyle I would crop the blurred part in the FG in #2 and the grey banding at the top part of the frame in #3.

[Nicks Pics]

Killarney does sound like a fun place to go. The scenery shot is great. The rock looks like snow. The herons don't necessarily have to be close-ups to be good shots, as you have demonstrated here. As for the crops, it seems to me that in #2 the subject should be a pinch farther to the right, and in #3 it should be just a pinch farther to the left, you still wouldn't have to center it though. Do you have enough enough crop room for that?

[Kyle]

Thanks for the comments Nick and Binnur. I'll take another look at the cropping of the heron pictures too. I've got lots of room to play with them since I really cropped out a lot already.