Snowy egret in breeding plumage
Somewhere in a heron rookery in Louisiana, Spring time.
7D MKII + EF 500mm f4 IS. ISO500, 1-1000 f11
Somewhere in a heron rookery in Louisiana, Spring time.
7D MKII + EF 500mm f4 IS. ISO500, 1-1000 f11
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7D MKII + EF 500mm f4 IS. ISO500, 1-1000 f11
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May, 2016Views
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Awards
Chatter Award
People's Choice in Herons Photo Challenge
Outstanding
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
Superb Composition
Top Choice
All Star
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
Genius
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margaretgodfrey
April 05, 2017
wonderful capture. Congrats on People's Choice in herons challenge :)
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MIsabel
February 21, 2018
No doubt, this is a masterpiece! One of the very best I've seen. Congratulations.
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this picture of a magnificent snowy egret displaying its nuptial plumage in Jefferson Island, in the township of New Iberia, LA. In this heron rookery, numerous bird species coexist, including roseate spoonbills, green, great blue and little blue heron, as well as cattle and snowy egrets, oblivious to birders and photographers that are kept at a distance by alligators roaming the pond that surrounds the nesting area.Time
Taken in broad daylight, on a sunny day at the end of spring.Lighting
It is always complicated to shoot white subjects on a darker background, especially on a sunny day. I benefited from a small cloud that attenuated contasts for a short period of time and allowed me to get relatively good detail in the white plumage of the bird.Equipment
Canon 7D Mark II + Canon EF 500mm F4 IS. ISO500, 1/1000, F11Inspiration
Spring is a great time to visit the bayou in Louisiana, when many bird species are actively involved in reproductive and mating activities. At the end of April, egrets display their most spectacular plumage.Editing
Very light post-processing with a slight increase in saturation and detail in highlights.In my camera bag
On any serious wildlife photography outing, i normally pack 2 or 3 camera bodies (one full frame and one APS-C), my beloved EF 500mm F4 and a 1.4X extender, the EF 100-400mm v2, a 24-70mm F4 IS and a monopod with RRS ballhead.Feedback
Shooting birds in a large colony (or in a rookery) requires to be very alert about the activity going on in every direction, yet, it is essential to choose a specific target and stay with it in order to capture the action at its best. Anticipating bird behavior comes with experience. In a rookery, birds are oblivious to humans as long as they stay at a distance, it is therefore relatively easy to get satisfactory shots even for a beginner.
