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Stalker


Stalker
Photo Information
Copyright: Mish PM (Finland_in_Eton) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 156 W: 23 N: 225] (876)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
Exposure: f/3.7, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-11 8:20
Viewed: 646
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I stalked this grey heron on the banks of a small pond, trying to keep trees between it and myself until it crept down the 3 foot embankment to the water. Unfortunately the last tree was not close enough to the pond's edge for some one of my height to get a clean shot... holding the camera above my head and to one side, around the tree, I still was not able to avoid getting the OOF foreground in the image. It's a shame, really, because there appears to have been a lovely reflection. If only I was about 6 foot 6 inches or 7 foot tall, sigh. There is a lot of clutter from the reeds, but that's where it chose to wait patiently for a meal to come within reach.

Other than cropping a bit, especially the foreground, all I did was adjust the contrast and brightness a little and after resizing used a small radius, low strength sharpening tool to pick up a bit of detail around the eye and nape of the neck.


From Wikipedia:
The Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions.

It is a large bird, standing 90-100 cm tall, with a 175-195 cm wingspan and a weight of 1-2 kg. Its plumage is largely grey above, and off-white below. Adults have a white head with a broad black supercilium and slender crest, while immatures have a dull grey head. It has a powerful pinkish-yellow bill, which is brighter in breeding adults. It has a slow flight, with its long neck retracted (S-shaped). This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks.

There are four subspecies:

Ardea cinerea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758. Europe, Africa, western Asia.
Ardea cinerea jouyi Clark, 1907. Eastern Asia.
Ardea cinerea firasa Hartert, 1917. Madagascar.
Ardea cinerea monicae Jouanin & Roux, 1963. Islands off Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania.

It is closely related and similar to the American Great Blue Heron, which differs in slightly larger size, and chestnut-brown flanks and thighs. The Australian White-faced Heron is often incorrectly called Grey Heron.

This species breeds in colonies in trees close to lakes, the sea-shore or other wetlands, although it will also nest in reed beds. It builds a bulky stick nest.

It feeds in shallow water, catching fish or frogs with its long bill. Herons will also take small mammals and birds. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.

The call is a loud croaking "fraaank".
delic, deblink, geterdone, jaycee, Hil, gannu, Adanac, jpinkham has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 449 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-04-11 8:46]

I really like this one. The heron looks very focused and the overall contrast gives a 3-D impression. Exposure is perfect. That out-of-focus piece of foreground on the lower left corner is not disturbing. If anything, it accentuates your stalking theme. I wouldn't worry about not capturing the reflection. This image is very fine as is. Regards,
Hakan

This is a great looking Heron, a different species to what we have in Australia. You did manage to get a bit of the reflection, maybe you need to carry a stepladder with you. Excellent image of great quality.
Cheers,
Debbie

Great shot of the Heron with natural surroundings. Nicely lit, good colors and greatly detailed. Though the reflection would have been really nice, I also don't mind this view at all. Very nice rewarding shot for all the work that went into getting it. TFS Lyndon

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-04-11 10:50]

Beautiful capture of this heron in the natural setting. He stands out well against the tall reeds. The colors and all the details are wonderful.

Jane

  • Great 
  • marcin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 136 W: 0 N: 242] (1826)
  • [2007-04-11 12:27]

hello
Great shot of the Heron
tfs
marcin

Very beautiful environment and color. I like very much this image.

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2007-04-11 18:21]

Hi Mish

Great shot, very nicely composed with a fine pose of the the Heron looking for Fish, I love the look of concentration on its face, very nice detail and excellent colours too.

TFS Hilary :o)

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2007-04-12 2:59]

Nice posture and good details. The shot is very well focused and good POV
Ganesh

  •      
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 516 W: 0 N: 846] (3307)
  • [2007-04-12 16:32]

Hi Mish, this is a great shot of the Heron in his natural habitat, obviously fishing. He looks good amongst the reeds. Nice and sharp, great focus and colour. Lovely!
tfs
debz
Poins 2mrow :)

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2007-04-13 0:02]

Hola Mish.- Por lo que veo en tus archivos creo que te agradan mucho las aves acuaticas. Todas tus fotos tienen un alto nivel de calidad y nitidez, con un manejo de la luz exelentemente. Felicidades y gracias por campartir.
Un Saludo desde Mexico.
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-04-25 21:25]

Hello Mish,
Beautiful image of this heron on the hunt, great colors and sharp details , great job Mish.
Rick

Lovely, Mish, simply lovely. Wonderful how you captured that craning neck, kept the foreground sharp and let the background complement and complete your picture. Great clarity and nicely seen.

  • Great 
  • TommyB (62)
  • [2007-06-20 20:21]

Hi Mish, regardless of the foreground this is a great shot. You really captured the stalking intent of this heron. I've also tries to sneak up on these birds, and it is not easy. Awesome.

Tom

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