White-faced Heron

[Colin Driscoll]

• Canon EOS R5
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 500mm
• 1/3200s
• ISO 8000
• Colin Driscoll
• Sat, 05 August 2023 8:52 AM
• Colin Driscoll
• Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 15.4.1 (Windows)

This is a White-faced Heron preparing a small catfish for swallowing. Dull morning so high key.
Canon EOS R5 RF 100-500 @500 HH
1/3200 f7.1 iso 8000
ACR Enhance NR PS2023 crop sharpen

 

[Randy Stout]

Colin:

Nicely exposed, sharp. I find the similarity between the eye of the heron and the fish is a bit creepy. The slight wave helps add a bit more context in this high key shot.

Cheers

Randy

 

[Dorian Anderson]

Yeah, the light on the fish is very different and captivating. I don't think the shot would be nearly as good without it because the prey item would have no life to it and be little more than a dark blob.

I am not a fan of the squarish crop and would loose some off the bottom, above that long/dark waveline, to get a traditional 3x2.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

If you like the idea of going a little high key fine, but just going softer with the exposure brings back some lovely soft detailtones in the water which adds to both FG & BKG creating a bit more tonal interest, as an option.

TfS
Steve

 

[Daniel Cadieux]

I agree with Dorian's crop suggestion. Otherwise, nice scene here with predator and prey. Was a lower angle possible? Still Ok as is with the clean high-key water.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Colin ... another nice HK frame the catch is a very nice bonus .
Personally I would go less with the contrast in the HL and darks ...

TFS Andreas

 

[Colin Driscoll]

Thanks, all good critique.
Daniel, low as I could go, the bank was a bit elevated and to get down further would have frightened the heron.