Circle of Life...and Death
As a veterinarian I deal with animal death too often. However, the brutal death suffered by this invasive Mayan cichlid, who was ultimately swallowed whole by t...
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As a veterinarian I deal with animal death too often. However, the brutal death suffered by this invasive Mayan cichlid, who was ultimately swallowed whole by the heron, was hard to watch. She slowly suffocated while 'flapping' her fins and enduring repeated intense spearing from the hungry heron. For me, death is part of the circle of life: predators kill, prey are killed, all may succumb to disease, trauma, and other causes of death. The brutal moment of death captured here will provide life.
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Jul, 2016Views
1537
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Awards
Winner in Fish Out Of Water Photo Challenge
Winner in Herons Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
All Star
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was shot at Morikami Museum and Gardens in Delray Beach Florida.Time
We were nearing the end of a nice morning walk around the gardens when I noticed this heron flying with a huge fish in it's beak just after 12 noon.Lighting
It was a really clear, sunny day with the noon Florida sun beating down on us from straight above.Equipment
I shot this freehand, no flash with a Canon 5D MkIII and Tamron 150-600 zoom lens.Inspiration
We were nearly done with our visit when I saw a commotion across this pond and then a heron flying straight at me with this enormous fish, which is an invasive Mayan cichlid. I watched him and fired away as he cautiously put the fish on the edge of water and repeatedly and violently stabbed it with his spear-like beak. Every few stabs he'd pick the fish up like this apparently gauging how much life was left in it. On this frame the fish was still very much alive, gasping for oxygen, 'flapping' its fins, not quite ready to be devoured ....although that fate followed after a few more stabbings- much to my amazement as the fish seemed far to big to fit down the heron's skinny neck.Editing
I cropped this photo to about half the original size in order to focus attention of the fish but otherwise did only very minor tone adjusments.In my camera bag
Because I normally focus on shooting wildlife I typically carry just my 5D- now a MkIII- and one telephoto zoom lens, either Canon 100-400 L or Tamron 150-600. Most days I prefer to be light but sometimes carry my old 5D (or 20D) as back-up. When I'm out to shoot wildlife I don't even bother to carry a wide angle lens as my pocket Canon Powershot and even my Lumia phone can both shoot raw files. I do sometimes use my Canon EF 24-70 L lens for landscapes and close-ups and love my Slik tripod, but rarely have the opportunity to use it. I also toy with a circular polarizer sometimes but otherwise avoid filters.Feedback
This was an interesting example of being somewhere where there we a lot of people but few that had cameras with proper zoom lens or that were looking out for amazing wildlife interactions. Having a strong zoom allowed me to get images like this without scaring away the heron, although I was also very deliberately slow and cautious moving to get good angles. There are a lot of similar parks and gardens in south Florida and elsewhere where one just needs to keep their eyes open and their camera ready. I watched a similar episode of a heron killing and eating a muskrat in another nearby park only because I waited after noticing the heron clearly hunting. Dozens of well-kitted photographers passed me while I waited seeming to be unaware of what was likely about to happen- though I was surprised to see the muskrat especially maybe a small lizard snack!
