Great Blue Heron
As I drove along a gravel road, this is not where I would expect to find a Great Blue Heron, but there it was (northwest of Stewart Valley, Sk.) I didn't e...
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As I drove along a gravel road, this is not where I would expect to find a Great Blue Heron, but there it was (northwest of Stewart Valley, Sk.) I didn't even plan to be on that road.... I took a wrong turn that ended up being a good thing. (Southwest Saskatchewan - 2016 September 06)
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Mar, 2017Views
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Winner in Herons Photo Challenge
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Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken from the side of a gravel road in southwest Saskatchewan -- an unharvested grain field was not where a person would expect to find a Great Blue Heron, but there it was (northwest of Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan.) I had also not planned to be driving along that particular road.... I had taken a wrong turn that worked out in my favour.Time
I shot this photo at 4:27 PM CST (2016 September 06).Lighting
Based on other photos I took that afternoon within an hour before and within two hours after this photo was shot, it was mostly cloudy as a thunderstorm was moving in. (The thunderstorm hit within two hours after I shot this.) The lighting would have been muted and somewhat moody as the clouds were moving in.Equipment
I shot this photo hand-held with my Nikon D5100 Camera and a Nikon 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 at 300mm. The camera was set in Shutter Priority Exposure mode f/7.1.1/1250 sec ISO 800 White Balance set at "Automatic" Spot Metering modeInspiration
I am a birder so I enjoy watching Nature on the Wing and try to capture it whenever an opportunity presents itself. This was a Great Blue Heron in an unharvested wheat field. At this time of year, there are Great Blue Herons around but usually near water (rivers, creeks, sloughs, even ditches, etc.) I have never seen one in an unharvested grain field. This handsome bird was not bothered in the least by my presence. Even though it wasn't concerned about my presence, I shot a few frames then left the area. I have respect for these beautiful birds, and I don't want to take a chance in disrupting the bird and any chance it may get to find a meal.Editing
This photo was shot in JPEG format and is straight out of the camera. I did not do any post-processing.In my camera bag
I have my Nikon D750, D200 and D5100 cameras in my bags along with my Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II,a Tamron SP 24-70MM F/2.8 Di VC USD, a Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD Lens, Nikon f/2.8 105mm Micro f/2.8 lens, and a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens. I also always have my Samsung S8+ SM-6955W cellular phone with me (I like to use it when I want or need a wider angle photo.) If I am going to go for a drive to spend some time out and about shooting, I like to take all my cameras and lenses... you just never know what you're going to need. If I am going out to shoot something specific, I take my Nikon D750 along with the 70-200mm lens, 24-70mm lens, and depending what my shooting goal is, sometimes the 105mm lens.Feedback
My advice for others is to keep your batteries charged up, keep your camera(s) handy (you never know when an opportunity to shoot will arise), and to appreciate everything around you and to always look for photo opportunities. Then shoot, shoot, shoot.... shoot as often as you can. If you are shooting wildlife of any kind, before you lift the camera to shoot, ensure you are giving the animal the respect it deserves. Keep your distance and use a long lens, and do not stay longer than a few minutes. Learn the habits of the animals you are shooting.... that way you can anticipate their moves to get a better shot and to recognize the animal's reaction to your presence. Take advantage of the lighting - when it is sunny or when it is cloudy or if rain or any other weather system is moving in, and play with your f stops. Take more than one photo... you can always delete it if it doesn't turn out. My advice is to try different camera settings and camera equipment as well. When you download your photos, don't discard the photo right away because the colour isn't what you had wanted it to be. Try adjusting the lighting, exposure, cropping, etc, and also convert it to sepia or black and white... sometimes that may be the only adjustment you need to make to the photo in post-processing. Most important of all... always have fun!!!!
