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Losing its grip


Losing its grip
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV-Guard (77mm)
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-07-04 6:06
Viewed: 1807
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea

Also known as: Da. Fiskehejre, Du. Blauwe Reiger, Fi. Harmaahaikara, Fr. Héron cendré, Ge. Fischreiher, It. Airone cenerino, No. Gråhegre, Sp. Garza real, Sw. Gråhäger, Afr. Blou Reier

“ardea” is derived from the Latin word meaning heron. “cinerea/cinereus” is Latin meaning ash-coloured.

This is a large bird with a white neck yellow bill. It has a black stripe above eye that ends in lax black crest. It has black streaks on fore neck only and a black patch at the shoulder. The under wing is uniform grey.

They are found Eurasia (including Japan and Taiwan), Africa and Madagascar; throughout South Africa. It is a relatively uncommon (less common than Black-headed Heron in SA) resident in South Africa. They frequent mostly shallow inland waters and also coastal pans or lagoons; sometimes found in open grassland near water.

These herons are commonly seen wading in shallow water and may even swim in deeper water. They stand for long periods waiting for food but rarely dives for fish from perch up to 2 metres above water, submerging completely. They may feed at night. Grey Herons are usually solitary birds that roost communally on trees, cliffs or islands with much noisy vocalization and crest-raising displays.

They enjoy fish (1-110 g in weight, mostly 10-20 g), frogs, crabs, insects, spiders, centipedes, reptiles, small mammals and birds, molluscs and worms; rarely plant material.

I am still swamped under the work and the auditors are arriving tomorrow. So hopefully I can catch up with you in the next week or so. I did find the time to get some lovely photos on the weekend though. Will post as soon as time permits. Please bare with me.
Comandante, sAner, Runnerduck, chiliu, coasties, JeanMichel, red45, Fisher, bedford67, sam224, NitzanCK, extramundi, marhowie, liquidsunshine, Robbrown, PDP, Signal-Womb, AndyB, dew77, Luc has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To sAner: Exposure...gerhardt 6 07-05 15:53
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-07-04 6:11]
  • [+]

Hello Gerhard,

It's great to see you're able to post in spite of being very busy at work. :) We have had some auditors on our office last friday. Let's hope everything will be fine.

Your picture is very good. I love the low POV and the pose of the bird (with the fish which is torn apart and falling from it's beak), is fantastic. Details are mostly sharp. Unfortunately you burnt the details on head. But that's my only nit though. Well done & TFS!

Good luck with the auditors!

Regards,
Pieter

An exceptional shot Gerhard, incredible detail and sharpness. Excellent pov.
Thanks for posting.

Hi Gerhard!
Superb photo. Nice moment and great idea.
I really like this wonderful, blue sky!

Wow! What a capture!
Fantastic composition.I really like the blue background.The image is very sharp.Great shot!
TFS!

Good work again - also busy and not on site as much, but thats life. Cheers. Tim

Superbe photo, le moment du repas est très bien marquée.
Bravo !
Nico.

What a catch! Great opportunity of a privilegiate moment, and, sure, you didn't missed it. Perfectly framed and very expressive.
I wish our herons here would give me one day the same opportunity! Congratulations, it's a very good shot, Gerhard.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-07-04 6:41]

How to make two fishes from one ;-) Superb scene Gerhard, blue sky, moment, Heron's eye - all excellent! Perfect work!

That's it, rip his head off.

Excellent shot and well done on the composition and details. A beauty, Gerhard.

Mike

Hello Gerhard,

Absolutely fantastic shot! There are the instantaneous ones that any photographer hopes to be able to catch, and they are unfortunately (or fortunately?) uncommon! But you were there at the good time, cheer! TFS, Cordially.
Composition: ****
Contraste(Sharpness): ****
Couleurs(Color): ****
PDC(DOF): ****
PDV(POV): ****
Note: ***

Photo absolument fantastique! Il y a des instantanés que tout photographe espère pouvoir saisir, et ils sont malheureusement (ou heureusement?) rares! Mais tu étais là au bon moment, bravo! Merci pour le partage, cordialement,
J-Patrick

  • Great 
  • Midi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 150 W: 24 N: 183] (2417)
  • [2005-07-04 9:19]

Bravo pour le photographe qui était là au bon moment, capture exceptionnelle. Beau ciel bleu et bon détails.

Hello Gerhard!
Wonderful action photo.Moment you caught,colors,details and composition are perfect.Thanks for sharing.

What a moment, what a powerful bird! Excellent sharpness and BG.
Great timing, well done!

hello:) exellent shot again:) beauty colors and POV:) what can I say:) great !

rgs

malgosia

Hi Gert
Great shot, excellent colours !

Please, Gerhard, dont worry about time. We all have aour obligations, and I understand autditors are a big one! :)
Very nice shot, I love the blue sky. Good quality and details. Looks a bit to contrasted in the white part. Luck with the auditors, my friend. Regards, Felipe.

Hello Gerhard, I really like this POV that has shown the action here so well..Excellent sharpness, details, colors and the deep Blue sky really helps your snackin' heron stand out nicely. Very good work this!

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-07-04 16:21]

HI Gerhard,
You did a great capture, i like the composition the colours & clear details, sharpness is perfect!

Very well done!

Regards,
Christian

Great capture Gerhard,
Good composition, details, colours and sharpness. Great POV, exposure and I love the clear blue sky. The head appears fine on my monitor, no OE.
Thanks for posting

Hi Gerhard, good to have one from you, the chocy Bic's idea does work well along with having everything to hand one step ahead of them ;0)))).
A very good capture the moment is well seen. I would agree with Pieter the side of the head does lack some detail on my monitor which is calibrated with a colour scaner, but that is the only bit, the rest is very good , TFS.

Fantastic capture Gerhard, the POV and composition are excellent, details are very nice also. IMO Id say the neck area is borderline in regards to OE. If it were mine I may have be tempted to clone a little texture in there with the healing brush. I photographed this bird for the first time last Thursday. Its nowhere as good as this but its interesting to see how they differ. My bird appears to be bigger with a longer neck and no black marking on the body. Anyhow, very nice work.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2005-07-04 18:09]

A very nice capture Gerhard,
Good sharp detail and excellent composition.
Lovely vivid blue sky background.
Superb,well done.

TFS

Hi Gerhard

This is a lovely shot. I bet you found it very theraputic heading out to mingle with nature after getting prepared for the onslaught of Auditors. Our auditors love chocolate biscuits, good for taming! The fish looks like it was a good size and a nice meal for this beautiful heron. The deep bue sky is spectacular. Awesome work. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-07-05 4:24]

Hello Gerhard, I didn't realise that you get this species too. Lovely shot, I think he will lose that fish soon.

I also think the head is a little OE, the worst point is immediately behind the beak. It's not so bad though.

Good shot!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-07-05 4:49]

Hello Gerhard!
Very nice shot.Moment you caught,colors,details,framing,lighting and composition are perfect.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1872 W: 304 N: 4301] (14733)
  • [2005-07-05 9:28]

Hello Gerhard!
Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much for sharing.
p.s.: any news from Japie and Callie?

Wow Gerhardt.. what a great shot. You managed to capture an amazing moment. Sharp details, vivid colours. Excellent. Well done! Unfortunately all my smiles have left.

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