Grey Heron

[John 2]

Managed a couple of hours on my local nature reserve yesterday. Not much in view but at one stage this individual sauntered out of the shrubbery on the island opposite the hide and wandered down the shore line. Used the 150-600mm Tamron on the Fuji X via an adapter on a bean bag rather than a tripod. Thought that if I flipped one of the images, I might have another triptych. Feedback welcome as always.

1.


2.


3.

[IzzieK]

All very nicely done, John...

[NorthernFocus]

I don't think I've ever seen a shorebird in such a lovely setting. All three are nicely composed. Well done.

[Shadowman]

Nature preserves can be fun and stimulating for photographic endeavors. Nicely captured.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice compositions indeed, I like all of them but #3 is my fav

[Rebel]

Very nice John, I've never seen a heron this close up.

[Dave Humphries]

I've never seen a heron this close up.

Yes, they can be quite skittish.
For their size, you'd think they wouldn't be so afraid of humans, but getting close enough for shots like this is often a matter of luck - and then skill to capitalise upon photographically.

Good series John - and I also like the unusual background, especially as it doesn't compete with the Heron's plumage in colour.

[John 2]

Thanks all for the comments.

- Dan, coming from you, that is doubly welcome.
- John, that's very true and frankly I'm finding sitting there for a couple of hours watching the world go by is a very pleasant pass time.
- Matt, It's a very heavy crop.
- Dave, you're right. Had I not been in a hide, I suspect that the heron would have quickly disappeared back into the undergrowth once more. I have had them take off when I was moving in the open 50-100 yds away. Very cautious birds.

[Jimr1961]

I especially like #3 as well. I like that the lines of the foliage camera left follow the Heron's lines and the foliage on camera right come in at the opposite angle, all leading my eye to the subject's eye.

Where I live, we have a Great Blue Heron who sits on the roof of the tackle store at the end of the pier. It sits there almost daily with all of the pier goers mulling around, standing below watching it, etc. Doesn't seem to bother it at all. I have several shots from very close, but they're all shooting up at it with a boring background. Later afternoon the GB Heron leaves and a Black Crowned Night Heron sits there.

[jcuknz]

To my sense of composition, right or wrong, I would use the left facing bird as the right hand image to hold the tryp together. Lovely matching of bird colour to flowers and vice versa

[John 2]

Thanks Jim, thanks John. John, I could do it that way or because the left facing image is the only image in portrait format, that could go in the middle but I would need to flip one of the others to hold it together as you say.