That is quite a catch

[rachelita]

Hi everyone, this is my first post - was invited to this forum by user SSIM

This was shot in early May at the Montreal Botanical Gardens - saw this heron in the reeds and watched him for a while- and suddenly he dunks into the water and in a split second is up again with this huge red fish which he swallowed in one big gulp - I clicked and clicked - camera was not fast enough for me but I got it!

Canon D60, F6.3 @ 1/500, ISO:200, canon lens 75-300 IS USM, focal length: 185 mm; no exposure compensation, hand held.

http://www.pbase.com/image/28516748.jpg

[Big_B]

Thats fantastic! Great shot.

It almost looks like the fish was added later don't you think? Not that I'm suggesting anything :)

[rachelita]

hehe Big_B - it was not added at all but it sure looks as if it might be - but alas, NOT

[LightHunter]

That's a great shot for different reasons:

1. Sharp.
2. The timing.
3. The look of the bird.
4. The heron really wants to eat the fish? It looks like the heron is carefully lifting the fish to .... bringt it to his father (Nemo-like?) :wink:

Can you tell me how you were able to approach and take this clean shot?

[rachelita]

I was standing at about 8 feet away from the bird , just on the edge of the water and was quietly following its every move for about an hour or more -I shot about 2 compact cards of this bird heheheh and when I went to click at some point, I only got bubbles of water because he had dunked to catch the fish and I could not see because of the reeds and I clicked again as he was lifting its head up and then that was it - he had already swallowed the fish

I was also lucky to get him in flight after he digested his huge fish hehehe

http://www.pbase.com/image/29776068.jpg

F10 @ 1/640 sec., e.c. -0.3, focal length 75mm, ISO: 200

[clos]

Nice catch! Excuse the pun. LOL

Very nice, post more.

-Carlos

[MrChevy]

Beautiful shot. Love the detail you captured. Colors are right on the money too.

You have many beautiful shots on your websites! You may wish to update your PhotoSIG link to:

http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=2878

He is always changing things around it seems!

[timmyquest]

Great shot

[CyberDyneSystems]

That is a real beauty of a photo! Wow!

Very nice.. I am totally jealous (my herons seem to have abondoned me thus far this Spring :( )

Welcome to the Forum :)

[chris.bailey]

Congratulations, thats the first Justabird eats Justafish picture we have had :lol:

[Bruno1520]

wonderful shots, you must be very patience and got the rewards.

[jim monroe]

Nice shots, very sharp and of course perfect timing getting the shot with gold fish in its mouth.
8 feet from a great blue heron is amazing. It must be getting very used to people being in a botanical garden or you did one heck of a job sneaking up on him.

[ssim]

Nice shots Rachel.

That first one is awesome.

:D :D

[rachelita]

actually I speak to the heron so it gets used to my voice and and I continue speaking softly as I move in closer and closer - and it sort of lets me do it - I followed it for at least an hour, or even more - wherever it flew, i picked up my stuff and went from one end of the botanical gardens to the other - talk about aerobics heheheh - who needs a gym when you have camera equipment and two legs.

[Big_B]

And thats why photographers get funny looks! :lol:

[JZaun]

WOW, I gotta practice more :D

JZ

[PhotosGuy]

...wherever it flew, i picked up my stuff and went from one end of the botanical gardens to the other...

Excellent shot! More than worth all the effort, right? Too many times people are satisfied with the easy subject & don't push themselves to a different level. A first post, too! I'm looking forward to seeing more great stuff from you!

[crystalvenus]

WOW!!! :shock: Awesome shots!!

[Andy_T]

Rachel ...

I looked through the shots on your website. Great work!

I especially like your infrared stuff. Do you have a special post-processing (e.g. false colours etc.)?

Best regards,
Andy

[Lisard]

TWO THUMBS UP!!!!