Cindy Marple
October 2026 - "Feeding Time"
Original
About the Image(s)
Nestlings can be quite aggressive when it comes to beating their siblings to the next meal. I don't envy the parent doing the meal service, with all those dagger-bills trying to grab the food. These 3 Green Heron chicks were nearing fledging and were venturing out from the nest to await the next meal.
I liked the way the adult's wing extended over the chicks, framing them and blocking some of the busy greenery from right around the chicks.
Another busy setting, but it is where they live.
Nikon Z8, 600mm, 1/1000 f/8 ISO500
Aside from the crop not a lot of editing- reduced highlights and increased contrast and saturation a little.
6 comments posted
I love the action you captured as the nestlings battle for enough food. This is clearly survival of the fittest. You are quite correct in that the wing of the adult does make a good frame and eliminates some of the clutter of the nest. It is really hard to get good nest shots with the clutter.
While I really like this image and the story it tells I wonder if a really tight crop may tell a stronger story. I did a bit of experimenting (shown below) and I wish the adult's eye were present but. As a tight actions shot it is something you do not see often Posted: 10/01/2026 18:40:12
While I really like this image and the story it tells I wonder if a really tight crop may tell a stronger story. I did a bit of experimenting (shown below) and I wish the adult's eye were present but. As a tight actions shot it is something you do not see often Posted: 10/01/2026 18:40:12
Bravo Cindy, you captured a lively feeding moment with strong impact, a ton of visual interest, and a clear story. The hungry chicks, open bills, and spread wings convey the urgency and competition for food without needing a narrative. As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words."
Although the overlapping birds take a moment to untangle visually, that same overlap communicates the chaos of feeding time. Meanwhile, there's a photographic expression a photo buddy of mine used frequently that applies here - "The background is as important as the subject," and from an artistic standpoint that's absolutely true in this case.
In my VF I cropped in on the right to place the subject's off-center, then darkened and desaturated the background to better reveal the subjects. And while I did not do it in my VF - if allowed in your club's competition rules, I'd consider removing the horizontal branch that dominates the top of the frame.
Nonetheless, a compelling wildlife behavior photograph whose timing and storytelling are its greatest strengths
Posted: 10/01/2026 18:52:03
Although the overlapping birds take a moment to untangle visually, that same overlap communicates the chaos of feeding time. Meanwhile, there's a photographic expression a photo buddy of mine used frequently that applies here - "The background is as important as the subject," and from an artistic standpoint that's absolutely true in this case.
In my VF I cropped in on the right to place the subject's off-center, then darkened and desaturated the background to better reveal the subjects. And while I did not do it in my VF - if allowed in your club's competition rules, I'd consider removing the horizontal branch that dominates the top of the frame.
Nonetheless, a compelling wildlife behavior photograph whose timing and storytelling are its greatest strengths
Posted: 10/01/2026 18:52:03
Hi Butch, this looks like my edited image- I don't see a crop... Posted: 10/01/2026 22:10:09
Neither do I - I'm not the slickest in using the portal - but I just moved it a touch off center and cropped in from the right. Where did you shoot this?
Posted: 10/01/2026 22:42:34
Posted: 10/01/2026 22:42:34
Close to home- at the Gilbert Water Ranch. I'll give the crop a try- centered seemed fitting for the subject so I didn't really look at options. Posted: 10/02/2026 21:52:03
Hi Cindy,
The frenetic action in your photo pulls me in immediately and the story is clear! I can almost hear the chicks competing for their meal. Once "in" the photo, my eyes go to the triangle of the chicks' eyes in the center. I agree, I like the tighter crop to bring a little more attention on the eyes and faces. I would try darkening the background, and desaturating the foliage. I would also try brightening the eyes/faces. Overall, I think the behavior is what makes this image successful. Posted: 10/06/2026 00:03:59
The frenetic action in your photo pulls me in immediately and the story is clear! I can almost hear the chicks competing for their meal. Once "in" the photo, my eyes go to the triangle of the chicks' eyes in the center. I agree, I like the tighter crop to bring a little more attention on the eyes and faces. I would try darkening the background, and desaturating the foliage. I would also try brightening the eyes/faces. Overall, I think the behavior is what makes this image successful. Posted: 10/06/2026 00:03:59