Black-crowned Night-heron w/Repost

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Repost with the background toned down:

20240826_075619_Z817891
20240826_075619_Z8178911809×2048 1.13 MB

Original:

20240826_075619_Z817891.jpg
20240826_075619_Z817891.jpg1809×2048 1.13 MB

Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction

Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.

Questions to guide your feedback

This little fellow has been avoiding me for the last few weeks. He arrived in the local wetlands about 3 weeks ago. Normally I see him buried in the shrubs, or he departs as soon as he sees me…

I feel pretty fortunate that he held still for this side-light wide open view.

Does this pose work for you? Does the back/side light work? Is there enough environmental to give a sense of place?

Other Information

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Image Description

Black-crowned Night-herons are pretty rare here in the Pacific Northwest. There are actually a pair here…they’ll probably move on in a few weeks. But they are so beautiful.

Technical Details

Nikon Z 8, Z 180-600mm zoom at 600mm, 1/800 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 280

Specific Feedback

Mainly looking for Aesthetic and Emotional feedback. Thanks for looking.

Critique Template

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1 Like
2

Very good, David. Glad to see you posting again. I like the backlight and you handled the highlights well. The environment comes across nicely and I like the calm and serene look of the night heron.

3

Really like the light on the heron and perch. Nice pose and detail in the heron and the perch is interesting as well. I like the background, though would be tempted to clone out the white circular areas. As a fellow Oregonian, I’d be interested to know where this was taken.

4

Very nice light and cool perch for the night heron David. These are rarely out in the open enough to get a decent view of them let alone the great detail you’ve been able to get here. We have lots of them in our area, but they are always in the bushes, and hard to get.

5

Hi David, nice handling of the side light and I like still being able to see the orange eye so well. Good catch. I could see taking down some of the highlights in the BG.

6

@Dennis_Plank, @Allen_Brooks, @Ed_Williams, and @Allen_Sparks thank you for the kind comments. Much appreciated.

@Allen_Sparks I will take a look at reducing the highlights in the background. Thanks for noticing.

@Allen_Brooks, this was taken at Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove. I learned of this place last year and it has become my number one destination for local bird photography. It’s only 20 minutes from my home and I go there several times each week. Not only is it great for a wide variety of resident and migrating species, the walking paths are fantastic exercise. I get 4-6 miles of walking whenever I go. If you happen to go sometime, let me know, I’d like to meet up with you…

Cheers,
David