Erin Browne
January 2025 - Heron in Flight
About the Image(s)
Weather was a balmy 60 degrees instead of 35 so we went to one of our favorite Nature Reserves today and watched this heron for a bit as he stood and then took flight. As I wasn't expecting him to take flight, I didn't have time to adjust my angle or my aperture (1/1000 f/5.6 iso800 at 222m on a 60-600). This one seemed pretty evenly in focus considering. When cropping I left the water droplets in the bottom corner to show where he took flight from, and added a slight vignette to try and bring the focus in. Did a few other minor edits including Denoise and adding a little luminance to the yellows and oranges to bring out his beak a little more against the blue waters.
4 comments posted
Hi Erin - Whatever you did or didn't do, it works. Nice capture! I particularly like the detail and textures as well as your adjustments to the yellows/oranges. Did you lighten up the head? You captured the eye nicely as well. I debated about suggesting removal of some extraneous shadows but thought better of it - I wouldn't change a thing. Posted: 01/07/2025 19:55:27
Hi Erin,
Beautifully captured image, the heron is well separated from the background with well defined detail in the face and the back of the bird. A very slight blurring on the furthest wingtips to be expected with the droplets of water giving the full story of the bird taking flight. I particular like the difference in tonal range from the blues featured in the water to the blue grey, featured in the back of the bird. Well captured and handled shot Posted: 01/11/2025 01:58:45
Beautifully captured image, the heron is well separated from the background with well defined detail in the face and the back of the bird. A very slight blurring on the furthest wingtips to be expected with the droplets of water giving the full story of the bird taking flight. I particular like the difference in tonal range from the blues featured in the water to the blue grey, featured in the back of the bird. Well captured and handled shot Posted: 01/11/2025 01:58:45
Hi Erin. I love the way you have captured the texture and definition in the feathers on this heron's wings and tail. The light is perfect as well. Your placement of the bird in the frame is also great, creating a diagonal composition and giving the heron just enough space as he flies up and out. I also debated whether it would be a good idea to remove the blurred branches in the lower left corner, but would only suggest it if the lovely droplets of water could be preserved. This is a wonderful image! Posted: 01/15/2025 21:47:30
Hi Erin,
What a great capture and your post-processing works well. Your vignette works, and it would be interesting to see if you could light the eye just a slight bit.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 01/20/2025 20:03:50
What a great capture and your post-processing works well. Your vignette works, and it would be interesting to see if you could light the eye just a slight bit.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 01/20/2025 20:03:50