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Suspended Animation


Suspended Animation
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Haynes (PaulH) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 23 N: 3656] (13083)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-04-14
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Sigma EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 APO DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-04-25 0:47
Viewed: 491
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello,
this was taken at a local Nature Reserve called Hengisbury Head, a sandstone headland just round the corner from where i live on the south coast. This spot is flanked by Christchurch harbour to the north and the English channel to the south and west.
During a walk a week or so ago, a friend and i were passing by some woodland here when we heard a commotion and flapping in the tree tops above. Intrigued, i resolved to go back with my 300mm at a later date to see if i could spot what was going on.
Turns out there's a Heronry in these woods, so when i returned i scrambled up a muddy bank that faces the forest and managed to get myself into a spot where i was level with the tree tops and there is a break in surrounding cover.
Up here there are Egrets nests as well as those of Herons, so there was plenty of action going on. Like many other people, i've often seen Herons stood motionless as they wait to strike for fish, but i've never seen them walking around in the tops of the trees. It was great to watch them feeding their young and observe them as they came in feed them with a fresh catch.
Unfortunately my old Sigma 300mm doesn't stretch too far and i couldn't get any shots of the chicks worth sharing (although you can just see a head poking up out of the pines underneath the top Egret!), so i thought i'd just share this one of a parent returning instead.

Hope you like it, thanks for looking and have a good weekend..
PeterZ, BobH, matatur, siggi, haraprasan, uleko has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To LordPotty: LandscapesPaulH 1 04-25 01:13
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 0 N: 523] (3096)
  • [2009-04-25 1:02]

Hi Paul !

A beautiful landscape with excellent caputra.
An excellent image, well played.
I like the colors very much.
Also offered is a description very interesting.
Have a nice weekend,
Adrian

Hello Paul,
A great title for this shot.
It does look as though the Egret is just hanging in mid air.
It almost looks too ungainly to fly.
Great exposure and colour all around here,with nice sharp detail and good DOF.
Cheers & TFS
Steve
By the way,thanks for the encouraging critique of my landscape shot.I have plenty more like that :)

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2009-04-25 2:31]

Hello Paul,
Special photo with a fantastic timing. Beautiful colours and composition. Great sharpness and DOF. Very good note.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • BobH Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 41 W: 8 N: 192] (638)
  • [2009-04-25 5:21]

Hi Paul-

I agree with Steve on the title- you've caught a terrific takeoff pose. Aside from that, this is also a great view of something we all know exists, but probably most have never seen in the way you have captured. It seems preposterous that these huge birds adapted for stalking fish in flat-bottomed shallows would be roosting and walking around in the treetops. This type of tree also seems like its branches would not be the easiest to walk on. But there they are, nesting and walking. Go figure!

Cheers,
Bob

You've "frozen" the movements of that egret quite effectively Paul, hope it thawed in time to avoid a nasty fall! Beautiful composition with that fine backdrop and other stationery egrets in the immediate piney environment. TFS it indeed my friend!
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2009-04-25 23:20]

Hello Paul,
Fabulous composition! How wonderfully eye catching. Great colors and lighting but the posture of this egret beats all!
Best regards Siggi

Hello Paul,

Pefect title for what we can see!
I didn't realise these birds nested in England!
Good sharpness added to a fine composition.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

Hi Paul,
A nice moment captured of this blue heron doing a Kangaroo act. Very well composed with good details and very good timing. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Impresionante y mágica !!

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2009-05-17 6:26]

Hello Paul,
What an interesting site you found and what a great view of the Grey Heron! Excellent focus and great timing. Must be interesting to see them together with the Egrets - I bet you'll return to this place!
TFS and all the best wishes, Ulla

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