Great Blue Heron

[Scottes]

Not the greatest picture, but I kinda like it. Maybe because it's the first GBH I've ever seen, and I did manage to get it in focus. :)

He came in over the wildlife refuge and landed on the path and stayed a bit, allowing me to get within 60 or 70 feet I guess. I've got a number of him flying in and away, but he was always facing away from me.

Oh, well. I'll take what I can get.

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/GreatBlueHeron_4442.jpg

[BigRed450]

Looks like he was doin' the 2 step... LOL I see them quite regularily around here, but only when I don't have my camera it seems. Go figure!

[IainB]

Jeff
I followed the link to your gallery. I am fascinated by these fabulous portraits, and I am keen to learn how you took them – I am planning to buy the 10D. I currently use a G1.
Can you tell me anything about the lighting/lens and if you did much processing on the computer after/ The lighting is the most beautiful and even.

[marie]

that's terrific. seeing him like that :lol:

we walk down the road, he walks towards his 'road' ...........the fields and bushes and onwards.... across

:lol: 8) :)

[BigRed450]

Jeff
I followed the link to your gallery. I am fascinated by these fabulous portraits, and I am keen to learn how you took them – I am planning to buy the 10D. I currently use a G1.
Can you tell me anything about the lighting/lens and if you did much processing on the computer after/ The lighting is the most beautiful and even.

http://users.air.on.ca/cbjaps/jtphotographic/images/Dscf0037softweb.jpg

These portraits were shot with a lowly Fuji S602Z so the same result can be acheived with your G1. The lighting was very simple natural light, in the shade, on a sunny afternoon. I used fill flash to soften the shadows. Manually set your aperature to its widest opening (smallest #) and let the camera choose the shutter speed. With the 10D you have much more control, but the final outcome will be similar. I will have 10D portraits up soon...

Post Processing for Stephanie's pictures was with a glamour action (simple soft focus effect) in PS. The boys portrait were just crpped and sharpened.

[stoneylonesome]

Love the GBH! that's a hell of a gait on him, guess that's why they fly better then they walk :lol: :lol: looks like his legs are on backwards :P :P

[Scottes]

looks like his legs are on backwards

He was just reaching up to scratch his ear or something.

And now that you say it, I shoulda put that pic up, since this one *does* look a little weird.

[JZaun]

Scottes you read him wrong,,, thats a thumbs down sign :D

smash l the guy with the camera :D

JZ

[yason]

ha, ha, I can hear the GBH's marching footsteps...cool shot Scottes. :lol:

[CyberDyneSystems]

He's "Heron Stepping" :)

Nice shot :)

[Laziferous]

Nice capture. I remember my first shot of a Great Blue with my G2. I was all stoked. They're odd looking birds, aren't they? They look so... ancient.

Fortunately, there are a lot of them around here... unfortunately, I see them so often now, I'm not as interested as I used to be. I should try to get some more shots of them. They're seriously skittish though. Don't they look funny when they turn their head towards you? It's so skinny, it almost disappears :lol:

[timmyquest]

Why did the GBH cross the road?

[Scottes]

I hope to be seeing more of these guys. I just got a tip on another location so I'll be scouting it when I get a chance.

I think part of the thrill with these guys is the chase. Even if they're common they're so skittish that they're still a challenge. It's like the RWBs I love so much - while it's not a challenge getting close to them, it is a challenge to get them in *just* the right light and expose correctly.

It's the hunt, and the thrill of a picture in focus that keeps me going. :)

[Laziferous]

Yep, you're right. That's the fun part. I had a little quality time with a heron on the bank of a stream a couple days after I got the new cam. He was on a dead tree laying in the water. I moved really slowly, just inches at a time, trying to get closer to him. He watched me the whole time. When I saw him look like he was ready to take off, I would stop moving, then he would settle back down. We watched one another for about 10 minutes, then he flew off (while I wasn't looking, so no shot of that). Like you said, it wasn't about the shots so much though, it was just a thrill.

Now you got me all pumped to try shooting another one :D Thanks!

[IainB]

Jeff wrote Post Processing for Stephanie's pictures was with a glamour action (simple soft focus effect) in PS. The boys portrait were just crpped and sharpened.

Thanks for that Jeff! My G1 is set for a new lease on life....until I get my 10D of course. I'll look out for those 10D shots. Is the 'Glamour action' shareware?

[Belmondo]

Yep, you're right. That's the fun part. I had a little quality time with a heron on the bank of a stream a couple days after I got the new cam. He was on a dead tree laying in the water. I moved really slowly, just inches at a time, trying to get closer to him. He watched me the whole time. When I saw him look like he was ready to take off, I would stop moving, then he would settle back down. We watched one another for about 10 minutes, then he flew off (while I wasn't looking, so no shot of that). Like you said, it wasn't about the shots so much though, it was just a thrill.

Now you got me all pumped to try shooting another one :D Thanks!

When some of us try to inch along slowly, we look more like the sliding of tectonic plates. We're nice and slow, but still attract attention. After all, how can you ignore the movement of something approaching the size of a significant land mass? You skinny guys have all the fun. :cry: :wink:

[Scottes]

When some of us try to inch along slowly, we look more like the sliding of tectonic plates. We're nice and slow, but still attract attention. After all, how can you ignore the movement of something approaching the size of a significant land mass? You skinny guys have all the fun.

Yep, every bird that sees me in camo has an expression on it's face that says "Man, that's a big freakin' tree!"