Gbh

[Downrigger]

I find these Great Blue Herons skittish - so even at 400mm this is a crop. Background is a challenge - sky is not very interesting but this is too busy. Would appreciate some coaching and C&C.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mark I like the details in the bird. The BG is really busy though. Let's see what the bird experts will say

[Shadowman]

I don't mind the background, you could always tone it down a bit.

[IzzieK]

+1 to John's comment above...the pose is OK and the background can always be toned down...

[Barbara Ponder]

For me it is the angle of the bird that is the issue. They can be hard to shoot. In my experience with them I try to position myself in front of them hoping to get a good angle.

[Whistletown Wilds]

What Barbara said The angle is a maker or breaker!

[Downrigger]

All good comments! Thanks everyone. My dislike of the background is confirmed - even though it is already half stop darkened with decreased clarity - much more and it starts to look unnatural to me.

Yes Barbara - I think the two priorities determining one's best shooting position are direction of light and direction of bird and both are rather critical. Unfortunately - sometimes circumstances make it hard to control these while getting into shooting distance of skittish fowl. That's part of the fun of wildlife for me - one is not entirely in control and there is always the possibility of a better shot on another day.

[Geoff F]

Try a crop from the top to reduce that area of dark background; which will mean having a different size ratio.

It will put the wing tip a bit close to the edge but the other tip is close to the side so I think the composition will still be acceptable.

[DonnaK]

I agree, Mark, that these birds are a little hard to shoot, at least for me. They can take off in a flash and do not like to be disturbed. I also find the background is challenging for me because I find most of them in marshy areas that have tons of reeds and tall grasses. However, that is the area that the GBH's like, so I don't have much choice but to keep trying. Yes, your shot could use improvement, but that is how we all learn to get that really special shot. I also agree that a crop from the top like Geoff suggested would help. Since I'm also learning how to shoot these correctly, I'm interested in your results, too.

[NorthernFocus]

Ah yes, the classic bird butt photo. While it's true that one would hope for a cleaner BG, it's also not so bad with this particular bird because of the contrasting tones and colors. The composition and crop are well chosen for the wing angle and direction of travel. That said, rear angles rarely present well. Though they can because the back/tail feathers are usually more distinctive than the breast. But when posterior angle work (either flying or perched) it is typically becaue the bird has its head turned so that eye contact is captured as well as the tail/back.

With a bit of patience and study it is possible to become very good at recognizing when a bird is bothered by your presence. Then one can both get more time/opportunity with the subject and avoid flushing them and disturbing their feeding/resting. Reading body language on birds was discussed a bit in at least one other thread but I'm currently too lazy to go find the link

[Downrigger]

Geoff: Good suggestion on the crop - I'll fool with it. And Donna - I appreciate the "I don't have much choice but to keep trying". And as Dan suggests, there may be more to it than "do the same thing get the same result" - At least I've figured I better get some shots in once they start to fidget.

[chauncey]

GBH's fly for two reasons, they are startled or want a new feeding spot and, they are cumbersome.
They need a long glide path to take off...place yourself at the far end so it will fly toward you.
Use a tripod and use something/anything to disguise a human form...maybe a blanket.

Relax...they are not a quick, in and out shoot, count on several hours.
400mm glass should be sufficient if your stealth is allowing you to get close enough.

[Stagecoach]

Mark, it's all been said already and one thing that I have found is that it's difficult to determine at what direction a bird will go when it takes off.

As for the background I note you shot this at f/10 so it may have been preferential to open up wider to help separate the background and at 400mm there would possibly have been adequate DoF?

[Downrigger]

William - thanks. No question patience - and more than comes easily, is an asset. Grahame... I'm not sure about opening up - maybe a wee bit, but I'm already losing a bit of the wingtips at f10, so not much. Sure 'nuf not enough time to bracket!