# Another Stick for the Nest **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [October 18, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962 "2021-10-18T04:19:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chris\_Calohan](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_calohan/32/37448_2.png) [@Chris\_Calohan](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Calohan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/1 "2021-10-18T04:19:09Z")
![Another Stick for the Nest](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/0/f/0fe202a98da20fdbd3216ae10c7942cc8c68e3f5.jpeg) I was out looking for Great Blue Herons as I knew the nesting/mating season was in full swing, when I heard a flutter behind me and this guy flew right over my head. I was shooting with a long lens but even at 200mm, he literally filled the viewfinder. I think it made a pretty striking shot, even so oddly cropped. ### Specific Feedback Requested Do you feel the crop is too confining? ### Technical Details Is this a composite: No D500, 200-500 @200mm, f/8, 1/3200, ISO 400 Minimal tweaking to a light and dark mask, mostly for detail. ###### ---
**Author:** ![Kris\_Smith](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kris_smith/32/59826_2.png) [@Kris\_Smith](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kris_Smith)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 11:25am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/2 "2021-10-18T11:25:16Z")
Tremendous detail! You really have the hang of this flying bird thing. I don’t mind the crop at all, it tells a story and tells it well. It conveys forward momentum so well. The blues are overwhelming though and you could play with toning down the sky a bit. I know these guys are blue, too, but it seems like it’s bleeding into the bird when it probably isn’t. Simply fabulous. Oh and you could add a tiny bit of canvas ahead of the bird to emphasize that forward motion even more. Should be a snap to do considering the clear field of sky. ---
**Author:** ![Vanessa\_Hill](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/vanessa_hill/32/32524_2.png) [@Vanessa\_Hill](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Vanessa_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 11:38am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/3 "2021-10-18T11:38:51Z")
> [@Chris\_Calohan](#): > I think the crop makes it look artistic. I think it could look really dramatic in black and white. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Calohan](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_calohan/32/37448_2.png) [@Chris\_Calohan](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Calohan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/4 "2021-10-18T13:10:00Z")
This is still one of my most favored GBH shots. I’d love to say this was all skill, and to a large degree, it was, but luck favors the prepared photographer and I was already prepared for BIF. I’ve never tried it in B&W, so that could be interesting. As to the blue sky, against the blue-grays of the GBH, I tend to like a little more contrast and as well, I tend toward more contrast for printing on metal and this one printed out at 30x60 for a friend in CA who lived less than 30 minutes from where Bay Photo prints. Deal for her as the shipping to me would have cost close to a $100 to FL. As to cropping, my concern was more directed to the winged section of the GBH being too tight, not giving thought to adding a more directed flight path. I would have to do this artificially as in one more inch of actual space, there was a another tree to contend with that added some fill and cloning to get out of the area I already had. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Calohan](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_calohan/32/37448_2.png) [@Chris\_Calohan](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Calohan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/5 "2021-10-18T14:09:42Z")
I just tried the B&W and for me, it just doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Bauer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/keith_bauer/32/211_2.png) [@Keith\_Bauer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Keith_Bauer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/6 "2021-10-18T14:14:32Z")
A very unique shot indeed. As noted, being prepared is always important and a little luck here and there doesn’t hurt either. Crop: I think it’s fine for this kind of an image. Blue sky: Another vote to desaturate it. It just overpowers the bird and that’s a shame for this image. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Calohan](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_calohan/32/37448_2.png) [@Chris\_Calohan](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Calohan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/7 "2021-10-18T14:26:38Z")
Desaturated the blue sky but did give the sky a tad more contrast. ![gbh for athena copy](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/a/2/a2d0cc863decbbbe53a899c3e5355bc0b37d8be7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 3:58am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/8 "2021-10-19T03:58:28Z")
Hi Chris, really fine behavioral capture with a unique perspective. Details and exposure on the bird look great. The repost does improve the image IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Brooks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_brooks/32/390_2.png) [@Allen\_Brooks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Brooks)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/9 "2021-10-19T14:39:30Z")
Very cool shot. Excellent detail and the cropping works well. The stick adds a lot, providing some context to the image. I’ll cast my vote for the reposted sky; the heron seems to stand out more. Great job. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 12:57am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/another-stick-for-the-nest/24962/10 "2021-10-20T00:57:40Z")
Excellent, Chris and I like the reposted sky. Well done.