Tri-colored heron hunting (56K mega warning)

Maestro

Well, while in South Padre Island, Texas, I visited the Laguna Madre Nature Trail/Wetlands on several occasions spending many hours there. Since I am still learning all this photography stuff, many of the photos did not turn out but, still, I managed to eek out some that I think are worth posting. Here is the first series. C & C always welcomed and enjoy the journey.

First, this should give you an idea of what the place is like. It is a small area created by nature lovers and the City of South Padre.









I basically stood here while taking the pictures.



Notice the bird droppings? It is a popular perch.

On to business...

This tri-colored heron was entering a small inlet in search of the small fish that inhabit the wetlands.


"Wait. What is that?" It ponders.


In for a closer look.


Ready to strike!


Sadly, I missed the strike, :rolleyes but here are the fruits of said strike. :thumb


Another view. I hope you can see the small fish in these compressed photos.


After swallowing its prey which I also missed:huh, it jumped on deck to preen.


Like I mentioned before, I spent hours here while my family was at the beach although they did come with me one evening. Sadly, the time came to say good-bye until next time.

I left a beautiful sunset over Laguna Madre.
Going....


Gone.


And I left the heron doing what it does best.

Ric Grupe

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Someone had fun!

Very nice presentation, Stephen.

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raptorcaptor

Nice work Steve! I like the sunsets, but I'd recommend straightening them in PS so that horizon line is level.

Ric Grupe

raptorcaptor wrote:

Nice work Steve! I like the sunsets, but I'd recommend straightening them in PS so that horizon line is level.

By sundown, he probably couldn't see straight any more. :slosh :slurpfreaky:lol4

Dick on Aruba

I'm not so in favor of your landscaping shots. Most need some straitning and there not a lot going on.

I like the 6th and the 12th.

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

Maestro

Dick on Aruba wrote:

I'm not so in favor of your landscaping shots. Most need some straitning and there not a lot going on.

I like the 6th and the 12th.

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

Hey, Dick. I see you've noticed I'm not a landscape photographer. Actually, I just took those shots to document the place. There was no artistic intent in the photos. So I definitely agree with you. They are boring.

Thanks for the comments about the 6th and 12th photos. I was able to get a good focus on the 6th shot. The heron looks quite intent on finding something to eat in that photo. In the others, I wish I wouldn't have had to deal with all the grass and other foliage, but you make what you can out of the shots. I liked the poses in those shots, especially the preening shot! That one is just funny.

Maestro

Ric Grupe wrote:

By sundown, he probably couldn't see straight any more. :slosh :slurpfreaky:lol4

I wish I could agree with you there, but no, they are crooked because I can't see straight apparently. Hell, I was even using a tripod! Maybe, I should just start telling people I had had too much of the pirate's rum by then.

Maestro

raptorcaptor wrote:

Nice work Steve! I like the sunsets, but I'd recommend straightening them in PS so that horizon line is level.

Thanks Glenn. I appreciate the comment. I'll work on straightening that sunset. I had to take those shots quickly as the sun was going down quickly.

Ric Grupe

Maestro wrote:

I wish I could agree with you there, but no, they are crooked because I can't see straight apparently. Hell, I was even using a tripod! Maybe, I should just start telling people I had had too much of the pirate's rum by then.

Just make sure the horizon line runs through or parallel to your outside af points in the viewfinder when framing the shot.

Maestro

Ric Grupe wrote:

Just make sure the horizon line runs through or parallel to your outside af points in the viewfinder when framing the shot.

Or that I look at the bubble level on my tripod before shooting.

Ric Grupe

Maestro wrote:

Or that I look at the bubble level on my tripod before shooting.

That's where you are going wrong. Just because the tripod head is level does not mean the camera is. If you want to use a level, use one of those inexpensive ones that goes right on the hot shoe.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?shs=hot+shoe+level&ci=989&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=WishList.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t

Maestro

Ric Grupe wrote:

That's where you are going wrong. Just because the tripod head is level does not mean the camera is. If you want to use a level, use one of those inexpensive ones that goes right on the hot shoe.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?shs=hot+shoe+level&ci=989&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=WishList.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t

Thanks Ric. I'll check it out.

sskoutas

Wonderfully photographed and presented series! Nicely done!

ShepsMom

Good shots Stephen, sounds like you had fun with shooting and your family.

Maestro

sskoutas wrote:

Wonderfully photographed and presented series! Nicely done!

Thanks Stephen. I'm trying to improve.

Maestro

ShepsMom wrote:

Good shots Stephen, sounds like you had fun with shooting and your family.

We did have a great time. It was the first time at the beach for my youngins.

bigpix

Good series......... have you tried cropping your landscapes pixs to a pano, might make then a little more interesting