Great Egret with 7D

We had the first day with some sunshine since getting my 7D so I walked to our local lake just before sunset and got the Great Egret to pose for me. He was across the lake, but noticed that I had a new camera so he flew over to check it out. He landed a bit too close for my 400 mm lens and darkness was approaching quickly so I had to switch to ISO 800 for the close shots. The odd colors are due to the light from the setting sun. The noise at ISO 800 cleaned up fairly well with Neat Image. I had the in-camera high-ISO noise reduction turned off. I am having better success now on 7D images with Camera RAW after some practice, but I will be glad when the official updates from Adobe are released.

This is the uncropped image reduced to 1024 X 683. Downsizing does wonders for noise.

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Wow epic bird. Nice shot

That bird has one long neck! Cool shot, hope you get more sunny days!

Nice shot, I was going to say a neck that long seems a little extravagent.

RobinSchouten wrote in post #8828266
Wow epic bird. Nice shot

ajosteve wrote in post #8828735
That bird has one long neck! Cool shot, hope you get more sunny days!

artyman wrote in post #8829188
Nice shot, I was going to say a neck that long seems a little extravagent.

Thanks for the comments. They can retract their necks to a more normal length, but when scanning for fish, they can really telescope it out there.

The color & light are quite nice in the sunset despite your problems with the ISO and lens closeness... pretty shot Bill... also it is interesting that the Great Egret approves of the 7D purchase...

db

Great shot Bill. Were you hiding out for him to come close?

Good shooting. Sweet light and great exposure.

Harvey_G wrote in post #8830243
Good shooting. Sweet light and great exposure.

+1.

Very pretty shot, Bill! Here's hoping for more sunny days!

Great shot Bill. It is nice to finally to see the sun.

Now time to get out and get more shots!

nice shot.

dbriz wrote in post #8829647
The color & light are quite nice in the sunset despite your problems with the ISO and lens closeness... pretty shot Bill... also it is interesting that the Great Egret approves of the 7D purchase...

db

Thanks, db. I am certain that he came over to check out the 7D and apparently he liked it. I think the reason that he was stretching his neck out was to get a better look at the camera.

canonloader wrote in post #8830090
Great shot Bill. Were you hiding out for him to come close?

Mitch, I was just standing out in the open not very well camouflaged with a white tee shirt, but I was wearing a camo hat.

Harvey_G wrote in post #8830243
Good shooting. Sweet light and great exposure.

Thanks, Harvey.

Oops -- this iphone won't allow me to respond to the remainder of the posts that I quoted. I need to wait until I return home next week.

Back home again -- using an iphone for web browsing is an exercise in futility, akin to looking through a keyhole. I am glad to get back to a real computer.

Waldemar Sikorski wrote in post #8830705
+1.

Thanks, Waldemar.

jgrussell wrote in post #8831371
Very pretty shot, Bill! Here's hoping for more sunny days!

Thanks, Judy.

txcanon wrote in post #8831905
Great shot Bill. It is nice to finally to see the sun.

Now time to get out and get more shots!

Thanks, Brad.

Tigeracosta wrote in post #8831958
nice shot.

Thanks, Roger.

Great capture. That is some long neck!