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On towards 2005


On towards 2005
Photo Information
Copyright: Japie Venter (japie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 170-500mm APO, Digital ISO 200, Skylight
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-12-31 7:09
Viewed: 5771
Favorites: 4 [view]
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Well, 2005 is on our doorstep and most of us are waiting in anticipation for the year to arrive. I do hope that the new year will bring healing to those who have lost loved ones as well as the families of those who have perished in the Tsunami disaster.

Like the Heron in this image staring at the fog, not knowing what it will deliver, we stare towards the unknowns that 2005 will bring. But as sure as the fog will be driven away by the sun, we will drive into 2005, experiencing everything that it will deliver.. With friends like we have here on TN and those new bonds we will tie, we will head into the future, hopefully making the new year a better time to live in.

This Heron was taken early morning close to the Mankwe Dam in the Pilaansberg Nature Reserve. What I liked about this scene is that he was patiently waiting for the thick fog (on the left) to disappear and doing so while he was sitting in the early morning light.


More about the Grey Heron (Roberts: 62) in this shot.

It is a large, mainly grey heron which is typically found near water. Size 90-100cm - a large bird, much bigger than a Guineafowl. Afrikaans: Bloureier

The Grey Heron has the crown bright white, with a black line running from above and behind the eye to the nape and extending as a spike-like crest. The neck is white with a double row of black streaks running down the front of the throat. The rest of the underparts are grey, with a black patch running from the shoulder and down the flanks. The back and wings are grey. The long, dagger-like bill is yellow and the legs and feet are greenish-yellow. Like others of the family, the Grey Heron flies with its long neck retracted and the head pulled back into its shoulders. It has an all-grey underwing.

The Grey Heron is a familiar bird of lakes, rivers, pans and also rocky coastlines where it is usually seen hunting in shallow water. Birds spend long periods standing still in the water, waiting patiently for prey to swim within range of a lightning fast lunge of the bill.

Grey Herons eat fish, frogs, crabs, insects and also land animals. They true opportunists and have even been recorded catching swifts flying in to their nests under a low level bridge.

The callnote is a guttural "kraak".

The nest is a large structure of sticks, which is placed in a tree or reed bed, very often in a mixed heronry, which may include several species of herons and egrets, as well as cormorants, spoonbills and other water birds

The camera settings:

Program Setting: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 500mm
F Stop: F/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/200sec
ISO: 200
Tripod: No
Flash: Diffused Off Camera ETTL.
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: No
White Balance: AWB
ellis49, mumek, willie, red45, Lesley, rlortie, Fisher, Luc, greghume, coasties, Janice, JeanMichel, Callie, deud, gazo has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rlortie: Thanks for the lesson in sciencejapie 1 01-01 00:53
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Critiques [Translate]

Great shot Japie.
Very good contrast agains the sky.
Great sharpness, colours, composition and a very good note.
Excellent work.
Happy New Year.

Thanks for your nice words.

  • Great 
  • mumek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 104 W: 0 N: 180] (853)
  • [2004-12-31 7:17]

Japie!
Excellent contrast and composition.Very good colors and details.Interesting note.Thanks for posting.
ziggy

Bair mooi Japie. Great composition and colours. very good post. Happy New Year

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2004-12-31 8:25]

Superb picture, last in this year. Great scene and quality. Looking for more from you in next year!

All the best to you Japie in 2005!!!

Lovely image, Japie. This heron does have a look of mental reflection. Good choice for today...wonderful composition.

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ****
Color: ****
DOF: ****
POV: ****

I'm just wondering how it would be in B&W.
Great shot.
TFS.
Happy new year

Very good composition Japie. The light on the Heron face and body is just prefect. Maybe you should reconsider the category for this one (unless Herons are Mammals in South Africa ;-) )

Happy New Year!

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2004-12-31 11:34]

Excelent capture and details. The tones make this pic mysterious. Well done on the composition.

Mike

The background makes this shot causing the details on the bird to stand out superbly.

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2004-12-31 19:30]

I like the note... and the wonderfull picture, the sigma 170/500 is a good lens! great color and light on this image, nice point of view + dof
Well done Japie,
Have a wonderfull year 2005 !

Happy New Year to you and your Japie. Lovely image. The background has a very nice mottled effect. Nice words for the New Year and good note on the Heron also.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-01-01 4:01]

He looks like Old Man Time, standing on the dead old branches. This is excellent Japie. Thank you for your lovely words; they are very thoughtful and true.
Regards, Janice

Looking into the misty future is no game, we need a crystal ball, and even then, the outcome is often not what we expected it to be!
As I said, this is a very good picture, I love the mood, the stance and the compo.
Ek en Pietta spandeer bietjie tyd saam - die nuwe werksjaar is amper op ons!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-01-01 8:54]

I have never said to it to you, Japie, but the Heron is, until now, my favorite bird. I observed one during a whole night some years ago. An other time, I was held on the edge of a lake and there is one whom went out of a fog as that in your photo by flying towards me. Two metres separated us. I believe that he was as well afraid as me during this encounter ;-)
A perfect shot with a note like I wish to write one.
All the essentials things(which are not things)for you and your family for the year to come!
Thanks very much for sharing pictures, notes and time too.

I love this shot, the crispness of the bird and branches contrasted with the misty fog. The sentiment of your note is comforting also. Thanks, excellent all around!

  • Great 
  • Hisam Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 18 W: 1 N: 22] (215)
  • [2005-01-02 10:28]

very nice and sharp good work

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2005-01-05 10:02]

as usual great note. lovely composition.

  • Great 
  • gazo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 72 W: 0 N: 13] (91)
  • [2005-04-04 23:16]

Can it be more nice? I don't think so.
Splendid shot. Excellent composition.
All your pictures are very nice.
******

Fantastiese foto, Japie! Composition, DOF and BG is spot-on. Well done!

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