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In-Flight


In-Flight
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8095] (27712)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-04-15 0:01
Viewed: 1005
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
White Faced Heron (Ardea n. novaehollandiae)

Also known as: Blue crane. - Native, self introduced.

Physical characteristics: Size to 66cm. Male and female alike.

Distinguishing features: General colouration blue-grey with white face and throat. Yellow-green eyes. Dark grey-black beak. Olive-green feet. Breeding plumage: Long wispy blue-grey feathers develop on back, the upper breast feathers lengthen and become browner. Legs and feet acquire a pinkish tinge.
Flight is strong and leisurely, rapidly gaining height.

Habitat and range: Widespread throughout New Zealand. Originally an Australian bird, the white-faced heron has migrated outwards in a northerly and easterly direction. Inhabits freshwater wetlands, coastal areas, rivers and farm ponds. The bird was occasionally sighted in New Zealand in the 1800's but was not confirmed to be breeding here until 1941.

Habits: The white-faced heron often perches with its head tucked in. When searching for food, the bird wades through shallow water pausing regularly to 'foot rake'. It will stretch out a leg and drag its foot back and forth rapidly in order to disturb small fish and invertebrates. Often the heron will hold its wings in a fan-like position to shade the water and cut down on reflection.

Diet: In the wild: Invertebrates (including insects, spiders, worms), molluscs, frogs and tadpoles, some plant matter and to a lesser extent small fish.

Breeding: Peaks in October, depending on distribution.

Nest: A loose platform of sticks at the top of tall trees, near water. Usually nest alone or in a scattered group. Eggs: 3-5 pale blue-green, incubated by both parents for around 25 days.

Chicks: White down. Rivalry amongst the chicks is fierce and generally only two survive to fledge. Fledge at 6 weeks but stay with parents until the next breeding season.

The above obtained from http://www.hamiltonzoo.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145829017

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 11:29 a.m.
Date: 26th March 2006
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/1250
F-Stop: F/4.5
Focal Length: 100mm
ISO: 200
Original file type: Digital Raw
glazzaro, thor68, sfirmston, greghume, PDP, Luc has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Scott: RAW formatsfirmston 1 04-15 16:30
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Pam,
Nice capture here. Great timing, sharpness and exposure. I like the way the monochrome colours are broken by the colourful legs.
Cheers
Paul

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5451 W: 594 N: 3649] (10029)
  • [2006-04-15 1:27]

Hi Pam
Excellent capture of this heron. I am just asking myself the question (maybe some 'great' photographers will not answer this), but was it great timing or was it the last available shot as it flew away? This should not be seen as down playing the greatness of the shot, but it is normally my problem that I only get all my ducks in a row by the time it is too late or almost too late.
Anyway I love your composition and cropping. The colours are nice and Paul is so right with his observation about the monochromatic colours and the yellow legs. Great stuff.
The DOF is brilliant considering the measurement of the wingspan and you have managed to capture fine details from wing tip to wing tip. It is only the movement at the very edges that removed some sharpness, but that is hardly a problem than rather a positive. And lastly the exposure was handled very well.
Excellent work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

I have yet to see one of these Herons yet, on my wish list! Nice shot, good detail and exposure.

Greg

  • Great 
  • viv Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 3 N: 653] (3307)
  • [2006-04-15 4:17]

Hello Pam,
What a timing,or lucky, a great capture of this heron.
Very nice.
Have a nice eastern.
Vivian

hi pam,
excellent inflight-shot! :-)
funny, i noticed the yellow legs, too,
as they are the only colorful things
on the photo.
superb timing and pov.
well seen & captured, thor.

Super post Pama nd the framing and presentation is picture perfect. Well done - love the feet!!

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2006-04-15 5:22]

Hi Pam,
After reading the wise comments about your outstanding picture, I'd like to say just this: a demostration of master composition!.
José M.

  • Great 
  • TPAKT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 114 W: 23 N: 19] (87)
  • [2006-04-15 5:24]

Privet Pam.
Correct composition. The birds photographed from the top point, always are better looked. A beautiful photo. At last, I have bought to myself such objective.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2006-04-15 5:34]

Hi One of the beautiful inflight Heron chat I have seen.Sharp details.
Wish it has space move ahead.TFS!!!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2006-04-15 7:24]

Good shot of this flying heron, Pam. I like the POV and composition a lot. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Hi Pam,
Good detail, colours and sharpness. Composition and lighting are good. Good POV and framing.

Thanks for posting, Enjoy the rest of the weekend..

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 451 W: 0 N: 975] (8383)
  • [2006-04-15 11:13]

Hi Pam,

Its nice to see this bird flying. Great POV!
Wonderful composition.

regards,
Zeno.

Wonderful ... sharp enough .. moving away ... hard to capture ... i like the facts about the bird ... I am just starting to use RAW myself, are you using canon's program to edit your photos? My copy of PhotoShop does not support RAW .. so I lose the 16 bit color ..

Great shot Pam, love the different colours that you can see in the wings and the way that the yellow of the feet really pops out at you. It is also really crisp as well, I guess that is where the IS of your lens really helps out.

Well done.

Hi Pam,
Great action shot!
Excellent timing, great POV and nicely framed.
Well done!

Hi Pam
In-flight shots as crisp as this continue to amaze me. DOF, composition, and color are first rate.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-04-18 17:12]

Hello Pam, lovely shot. Very nice POV and good capture with good details and composition. Well done.

Hi Pam,

I really like this shot. The composition of the picture is perfect. To be honest, there are no nits.

Well done.
Jan-Hendrik.

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