Occasionally a single element in a photo will grab me in a way that I’m willing to overlook something else that would normally put me off a little.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @234mm, not baited, set up or called in
Such is the case with this Great Blue Heron in flight taken yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA. I was so close to the bird that I was using my much smaller 100-400mm lens and even then I was zoomed back to only 234mm. At that short focal length I had so much depth of field that the background is sharper than I usually prefer so I think it competes with the heron a little.
Normally with my other lens I’d be shooting at either 800mm or 1120mm (depending on if the teleconverter was attached) so my DOF would be extremely shallow and the vegetation in the background would be significantly more blurred. And that would make the heron stand out better from the background.
But I do love that shadow! Shadows of birds flying low over land are nearly always disrupted by vegetation so they aren’t well-defined and shadows of birds flying low over water typically aren’t very distinct, if they can be seen at all. But there’s very little vegetation below this bird and the water surface is covered with duckweed and other small matter so the shadow is sharp and the shape is well-defined. That distinct shadow of the entire bird adds a little something to the image that I really enjoy. It reminds me a little of a pterodactyl.
I was actually able to get 25 photos of the heron taking off and in flight and I’ll likely post a few more of them as a series in the future. Many of them have more interesting wing positions than this but given the shadow on the water I think this horizontal wing position was just about perfect.
Ron
Wow, wonderful shot. I love his speckled legs and feet. Nothing wrong with the background. It is his habitat. Picky picky.
It’s a common bird in my neck of the woods. Often photographed but not from the interesting angle in your photo. We have a heronry about 1,000 ft. away. In late spring it sounds like a raucous party.
They’re a common species here too, Lyle – as they are in many areas.
I agree…the shadow is SO crisp…Wonderful…love it!!! Also think low level flying is interesting…I usually only see them flying high…
Agreed, Patty. This bird was really skimming the water.
Ron – great picture regardless of the background. I was out hiking around our Lynx Lake this morning checking on the eagles, and as always saw at least 15 different Great Blue Herons. They are in the water in every inlet and give out that loud protesting squawk as they fly away when disturbed. And we have them high up in pine trees and high dead trees as well. A hundred years ago some pioneer named it Lynx Lake, but I think today it should be called GBH Lake. When they periodically stock the lake with rainbow trout and other fish the cormorant and GBH populations double.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
I love the shadow. And the resemblance to its dinosaur ancestors. I see that link when I look at pelicans too.
You’re right about pelicans, EC. Thanks.
I really like the shadow, too. But for me the background does obscure the bird’s head – specifically the dark top – so it’s a good lesson in appreciating more blurry backgrounds (which sometimes are really hard on my eyes). I remember spending time watching Great Blues take off, and it always impressed me that they were ever able to get off the ground. They have always reminded me of pterodactyls, and I now wonder if pterodactyls had the same apparent difficulty with becoming airborne.
“it always impressed me that they were ever able to get off the ground”
Susan, here’s some interesting info on that subject from Wikipedia:
“Another issue that has been difficult to understand is how they took off. Earlier suggestions were that pterosaurs were largely cold-blooded gliding animals, deriving warmth from the environment like modern lizards, rather than burning calories. In this case, it was unclear how the larger ones of enormous size, with an inefficient cold-blooded metabolism, could manage a bird-like takeoff strategy, using only the hind limbs to generate thrust for getting airborne. Later research shows them instead as being warm-blooded and having powerful flight muscles, and using the flight muscles for walking as quadrupeds.[45] Mark Witton of the University of Portsmouth and Mike Habib of Johns Hopkins University suggested that pterosaurs used a vaulting mechanism to obtain flight.[46] The tremendous power of their winged forelimbs would enable them to take off with ease.[45] Once aloft, pterosaurs could reach speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) and travel thousands of kilometres”
Fascinating! Thank you, Ron.
BEAUTIFUL! 🙂 I wouldn’t have known it was duckweed tho knew the speckles were “something”……… Love the shadow and the neck position.:) Creek didn’t get down to low enough puddles for any to show up here this summer as often happens when food is scarce up stream where they nest. Just flat gorgeous birds 🙂
Thanks, Judy. Sounds like you might have had a better water year than we did.
What is amazing is how they fly in such small areas, in among trees. Here in Eugene, Oregon have seen this many times. I also enjoy when a GBH and his territory is threaten, no matter what bird, very quick to react and then calmly goes back to what it was doing.
I’ve seen similar heron behaviors, Steven – often accompanied by their distinctive squawking.
GBHs are among my very favorite birds! What a great way to start my day today. 😃 Was it fairly soon after takeoff (because those feet are still pretty splayed)? Can’t see small details on the iPad (it’s so old that I can’t enbiggen the shots), but I’ll go on the duckweed hunt at work.
Marty, the heron had recently taken off but this was quite a few shots later in the sequence. BTW, love “enbiggen” – that sounds like something Elephant’s Child would also use… 🙂
I am honored to be compared to EC! You made me day a second time. Now I may be ready to do a 6-station electricity lab with 187 eighth graders. 😉
I wish you luck – you’re going to need it.
Great shot Ron! Guess I’m blind, can’t see the duckweed on the feet and I really looked!
What struck me when I first looked at the picture was the herons head and shadow. The background didn’t veer my attention until I read your comment. OK, somewhat sharp, yup see what you mean, still doesn’t take away from the shot of the heron and its shadow. Just a great picture!
Thanks, Dick. Each of those tiny greenish specks on the feet is an individual duckweed leaf. Each little leaf floats on the water and has a tiny root hanging down from it.
I think every biologist is familiar with duckweed, just can’t see it. I think I’d have to blow the image up to see it – remember, I’m an old guy!!! VBG!
Hi Ron, haven’t given much thought to capturing shadows of birds in flight, but now you’ve given me a new challenge. I have been shooting lots of herons and egrets lately so I enjoyed seeing your Great Blue Heron this morning and look forward to more pics.
Garrett
Thanks, Garrett. That’s all us bird photographers need, yet another challenge! 🙂
Really neat photo! Love the tiny pieces of duckweed on the feet and legs; also on the beak! Those large birds like this, and the Great White…have such an interesting profile when taking flight; the extension of the feet and legs makes for an interesting photo. Excellent capture. ❤️
Good eye, Kathy. I noticed that duckweed on the feet too but I didn’t think others would.