Juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

I am pretty sure I have ID'd this properly. It was trying to hide from me during our recent visit to Daufuskie Island, SC.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/zgTn​6R

Nice capture of a juvenile Yellow-crowned night heron.

sliceotime wrote in post #17737121
Nice capture of a juvenile Yellow-crowned night heron.

Thanks slice! I got one more shot after it flew a fair distance away. Sorry, not the best picture!!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/yBnn​dC

Very nice shots.

While these are pretty dark, I REALLY like the area that you are shooting these in, I have never seen anything that 'natural' looking before, it looks like it's right out of a Tarzan movie.

If I were you, I would definitely keep going back there and sooner or later you will get some better light in a perfect setting. There seems to be so much potential there, I also looked at your Flickr pages too, so I know that you have what it takes to get a good shot there, it's really hard to get a shot when they are in the dark.
One thing I see is that these are all centered, if you cropped them differently that might enhance the shots some, these are not that bad at all, just kind'a dark. I have shot a LOT of these type birds and not once have I had a chance at a shot like where you are, I'd kill for that... heheh
I realize that not everybody feels the same about the Rule of Thirds, I know that I tried really hard to center all of my shots until I learned about why I might not want to, it's not a 'have to' thing, but it can really improve an image, most anyway.

Cropped differently and lightened some in Photoshop and you might get a really nice picture out of this, I really like it, and I am jealous of your location too!

Just in case you weren't aware of it, here's a link to some examples online.
Rule of Thirds

Randy

2n10 wrote in post #17737973
Very nice shots.

Thanks John!

recrisp wrote in post #17738676
.......Cropped differently and lightened some in Photoshop and you might get a really nice picture out of this, I really like it, and I am jealous of your location too!

Just in case you weren't aware of it, here's a link to some examples online.
Rule of Thirds

Randy

Randy.... I appreciate the comments, critique, and excellent suggestions. And THANKS for the link. I'll play around a little more with the raw file!

Based on Randy's suggestions, I made a few adjustments. I still have a lot to learn, but that's half the fun! I like the results...

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/yFrN​C3

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/zkRy​RW

HUGE difference!
Using the Rule of Thirds (RoT) really helped, not just that, but it appears that you used another shot on the bottom, that works better, I feel.
There is really not a 'real law' about the RoT, (I kid!) but it does, or, can make a difference, and this is just one of those times, at least for me.
One thing I see, and again, it's only a preference, but when using the rule of thirds it uses the upper spaces and the side spaces too. What I mean is, here in these examples you placed the subject on the left portion, but 'usually' it helps if you also use the top or bottom portions also. In other words place it in the upper left (or bottom left) corner, but also like you have it, using the left hand side of the image.
The Rule of Thirds is a grid that is divided into '9' panels, use each point where they meet as an indicator where you should place the subject of your image. Remember though, it's YOUR preference, just because I mention this stuff, that doesn't mean that I am right, or anyone else, do what you feel it's needed.
For instance, if you had a landscape shot you might want to divide the 'up and down' to where the sky was on one level, or the water on the lower level, etc. It just helps our brains 'see it' better and understand it.
In the above link there are quite a few examples of this, there's one where a clear wine bottle is centered and that works, notice the water line and the sky, they are just about where they should be.
Some images look better if they are centered up and down, but some need something else, like being placed in the lower left hand bottom, for instance.

Anyway, I really do like what you have here , it really improved the pictures, I think.

With all of that lichen, Spanish moss, large oaks, and the wildlife you have there, if you have the light, you have everything that you need to get a really cool shot. I have to drive 4 hours just to see Spanish moss, then I am not guaranteed a shot like you have here.

If I may say, both images could also use a contrast move in Lightroom or Photoshop to help it pop more, maybe give them slightly more saturation, the you would have a very nice image.

http://1.bp.blogspot.c​om …NE/s1600/RuleOf​Thirds.gif

Randy