Big Mouthful

Critiques [Translate]

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• Athila (1537)
• [2005-11-30 22:49]

EXCELLENT CAPTURE SCOTT !

Sharp image with good exposure. You capture a great moment with the frog in its mouth.

Excellent work and TFS.

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• glazzaro (4497)
• [2005-11-30 22:52]

Now this is a shot I can appreciate, difficult to get the Night Heron to begin with, that take flight so easily, but to get a shot with the days catch is impressive, at least to me, one of the few birds on my list of shots required that I have been able to take with any satisfaction. Nice detail, well exposed, and an excellent nature shot.

Greg

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• jossim (11898)
• [2005-11-30 22:59]

Superbe prise nature,domage que l'éclairage venait de l'arrière. La pose et l'action de l'oiseau sont parfaits.


Merci!

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• Dave (2171)
• [2005-11-30 22:59]

Great job Scott!
Very nice!
How lucky to get to witness this.
And the cycle of life goes on...
Thanks,
Dave

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• petrudamsa (2450)
• [2005-12-01 0:16]

You are a lucky guy to see things like this while driving! You are a good photographer to stop right away and try to deal with all lighting and composition problems in a very short time! (I don't think that the heron waited for you to take the picture and then finish its meal)

Regards, Petru

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• iglootrek (1615)
• [2005-12-01 0:58]

Wow,

Excellent post, great timing
Excellent story to, you were pretty lucky.
Bird is sharp, the frog is a bit dark but hey what to ask when you have to be quick and shot.
I try to play with your picture trying to give more light to the forg but didn't really succeed enough to post yet. Will keep trying.

Did you throw him the frog? ;-)

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• ddg (5015)
• [2005-12-01 2:32]

Well caught Scott, this is an excellent composition and the story is excellent!! It's a pitty that light is coming front. Any way good work and congratulations Didier.

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• khris_rino (719)
• [2005-12-01 2:53]
• [+]

Just wondering if you tried using the Highlights/Shadow correction in CS2 for this harsh lighting situation or perhaps a +1EV fill flash. Details and the captured moment are great in this shot. The obvious harsh backlighting and disturbing bokeh are already mentioned. Anyhow its a good catch and thanks for sharing!

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• chiliu (6448)
• [2005-12-01 4:06]

Hi Scott,
This is a great nature shot!
The image is very sharp and clear,
excellent back lighting, and good colours.
Well done and thank you!

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• metcher (4241)
• [2005-12-01 5:03]

Fantastic episode. High quality. Great details and sharpness on bird. Like it very much.

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• sandpiper2 (12181)
• [2005-12-01 5:36]

Great shot, the backlight is handled very well. The 20D has performed very well here. Excellent sharpness and detail. Great moment.

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• jagathcham (599)
• [2005-12-01 5:40]

This is really superb.
Wonderful moment, POV, compo and Light.
Clear details and good note too...
THx.

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• hummingbird24 (64)
• [2005-12-01 7:34]

Fantastic capture of this incredible moment, Scott!!!

Everything is perfect, IMO, and I wouldn't change a thing, except perhaps that the frog lived... :-(

Amazing job, details, and timing.

Thank you for the ring-side seat to this one!

There is a lot to be said for being near the top of the food chain....

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• marhowie (35311)
• [2005-12-01 8:01]

Very sharp detail and great exposure under harsh light Scott. Great DOF and color. Very well composed and an excellent moment captured. Excellent notes on how you got the shot & specie description. Very well done!

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• dew77 (13069)
• [2005-12-01 9:12]

Hello Scott!
Magnificent shot.POV,moment you caught,colors,framing and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

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• red45 (26975)
• [2005-12-01 11:28]

Superb moment Scott! Poor frog and happy heron. Heron's eye looks excellent. Quality is good but first of all it's great moment.

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• fiyo (8876)
• [2005-12-01 11:40]

Excellent capture, Scott !
Very good lighting, sharp and detailed image, very nice colours. Very well done. TFS

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• klemmg (1719)
• [2005-12-01 15:22]

Hi Scott,
EXCELLENT capture, and that being an action shot under a difficult light situation. You did wonders here. I'm afraid I can only throw in a portrait shot of this bird in the competition, you win! ;-)
Regards,
Gabi

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• ScottHale (420)
• [2005-12-01 18:26]

Scott,
Cool......Great capture and great notes. I think it's wonderful getting to see something like this, let alone taking a picture of it. As far as anyone thinking it's strange, it's a HUGE part of life and seeing the food chain in action always amazes me..much like your photo's do.
I think the bird looks neat but kind of odd because birds around Saint Louis usually have tails and cannot swallow a Bullforg whole!
Great shot, glad you were able to share your experience with us here on Trek Nature.
Got any more with the bird choking it down?
Scott

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• alejandroguzman (452)
• [2005-12-01 19:37]

WOW Scott... u really got an AMAZING picture....

congratulations

Alejandro

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• livios (16856)
• [2005-12-01 21:42]
• [+]

Scott, as you mention, dealing with light was not an easy task. Anyway, I do think you did great.

Excellent sharpness, pov and composition to show us this crucial moment.

Great details and lighting.

Did you use RAW?

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• Nico (1313)
• [2005-12-02 6:26]

Great shot! Life and death is what nature really is about. You captured it well and did it in fine detail.

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• coasties (27526)
• [2005-12-02 12:51]

Hi Scott

This will be a quick critique as I am running late today. Good shot. Nicely composed with an excellent POV. Perfect timing. TFS

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• wallhalla15 (13829)
• [2005-12-02 15:07]

Fantastic shot Scott, stunning details, excellent sharpness and colours. Great POV, DOF and composition. Thanks for posting.
Have a great weekend.
br
Heinz

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• magiqa (663)
• [2005-12-03 12:11]

Poor frog! But this is the jungle's law. Frogs remind me of little babies, especially their legs. Marvellous picture!

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• Janice (17794)
• [2005-12-04 1:04]

Breakfast time up the tree!! Nice one Scott. I couldn't pick what it was from the thumbnail. You photo shows how short the heron really is. Nice and sharp, it's a good catch - for you and the heron, but not the frog. Well done and TFS.

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• Luc (14719)
• [2005-12-05 3:42]

Hello Scott!
Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Capacity of evocation in me: very strong.
Strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
TFS.
Have a good day!

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• touristdidi (2466)
• [2005-12-05 5:40]

Wow, what a mouthful! Full frog!

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• cedryk (5072)
• [2005-12-06 6:05]

Hello Scott,
A very interesting picture. Great capture of the dining heron. Nice exposition in an uneasy light. Excellent note.
Best greetings,
Michal

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• Alan_Kolnik (1079)
• [2005-12-07 7:55]

As you say, not for the squeamish, but a much stronger shot than a view of the bird standing there while waiting for its prey. Its always much more interesting to see a view of one of the birds/animals insects on this site doing something that is part of its life activities. Technically very good under rather contrasty lighting conditions.

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• CTP (3183)
• [2005-12-13 23:20]

Hi Scott,
Excellent Mother Nature shot.Great catch.
Nice POV,DOF,focus,colors,sharpness,note,lighting and exposure.TFS
CT

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• sebautourdumond (127)
• [2005-12-17 8:23]

Hi, Great shot, impressive with the frog!!!
Great captured
Seb

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• edumartins (52)
• [2005-12-20 14:14]

Hello Scott,
Excellent capture.
Lovely detail and colours,nice composition.
Nice work, very well done!
Eduardo

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• saguzar (6914)
• [2006-01-20 17:25]

Hi Scott, good close-up of this know bird for me , I never seen so close. Looks like it has a strange food taste... eating toads and frogs.
good capture
Regards
Hernán

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• zeca (2847)
• [2006-02-06 22:37]

Excelent shot Scott! What a moment you´d captured from the nature! And the lights are great, colours and sharpness also! Congratulations!
Zeca

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• Nephrotome2 (1838)
• [2006-05-12 8:19]

What a shot!
I wouldn't have used a fill in flash neither (you must have it. it must load. And you would have end up with one pic instead of a serie)
I wouln't have stepped in with the gators neither :-)
You really handled it the best it could have been done.
The result is fascinating: very interesting action shot.