Surprise!!, a photo from Baja California Sur, Baja

Photographer's Note

In the Estero de San Jose, I was framing a photo of the plam trees and their reflection when this fellow landed right in the middle of my reflection. I think perhaps he's star struck because he put on quite a show for me. I may post more photos of him.

There's a marina development planned for at least part of this estuary. The fishing village that the development will replace will maintain a 'presence in the new development.' There will be a dock for fishing boats and a fish market!! I hope those displaced residents will be well compensated for the loss of their homes.

Here in Cabo today it's a 'cold' 70F/21C degrees and cloudy. Everyone is whining about the unseasonable rain and cold weather.

james-r, Gerrit, John_F_Kennedy, pablominto, jmcl, pboehringer, singuanti, gunbud, Emile, xuaxo, pranab, feather has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

james-r (676) 2007-01-14 23:40

Ha! Good timing - and I think that lucky arrival does lift whole image considerably. It's about being in the right place at the right time, I guess!

The composition is good, I like the varying angles of the palm trees..well done!

Cormac (26545) 2007-01-14 23:49

Your cold weather sounds pretty good to me - I was just snowshoeing yesterday in -8C! This is a gorgeous shot, with the palm trees setting the scene and the rich blues and greens. Of course the bird landing really makes this special. Beautiful work!

besnard (49031) 2007-01-15 0:24

Bonjour Patricia
Très drôle cette photo. On a l'impression que cet oiseau se cache pudiquement derrière ses ailes. C'était juste le moment de le saisir.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

Gerrit (43745) 2007-01-15 3:51

Hi Patricia,
beautiful composition and great catch of the heron in action.
Delicious tropical scene.
Regards, Gerrit

feather (51128) 2007-01-15 6:19

Ask the Carbo residents if they feel like swapping. We are having unseasonably mild weather and at 8C with high winds and rain we count ourselves lucky. :)
Great piece of luck here to have the bird land just as you were taking the shot. Even without him this would be a pleasant scene with the palms and reflections. Well done.
Kath

John_F_Kennedy (41368) 2007-01-15 12:17

You have really captured the activity very well. Excellent, dynamic photo.
Best wishes
Achim

pablominto (53744) 2007-01-15 12:22

Hello Pat,
Funny story behind this one!
But an even better image, as the action is well captured and in addition you got all you originally were after...
A very well composed image!
Greetings,
Pablo -

jmcl (14535) 2007-01-15 13:27

Pat,

saw this last night .. after all my points were out .. had to get back to it today .. luck favors the prepared .. wow .. wonderful image .. in addition to the magnificent bird I love the very indefinite horizon in the glass created by that wonderful reflection.

beautiful.

take care,

John

(it was -13ºF this morning when I turned on the computer ... brrrrrr )

pboehringer (770) 2007-01-15 15:57

Hi Pat, the guy is really stealing the show or maybe adding some excentric value to your so well planned refelcted composition. At least you weren't suprised to the point that you forgot to release the shutte. I wish I could see the whole head of him, but such is photography, always wanting it better, never satisfied, never accepting the limitations of the given moment ... but, that is how we improve! ;-)
Poor Cabo residents, they don't know what they are getting into. Compensation? Yes, the story is always the same ...
Regards, Peter

singuanti (15250) 2007-01-16 22:41

Hi Patricia. I see you're using "the monster" for a lens and wow what a clear result you have! For doing this sort of photography that's the perfect setup especially with the 5fps of the D200. Have fun on your vacation!

gunbud (34052) 2007-01-17 10:18

Hi Pat,
Beautiful crash landing with stunning reflection to this tropical landscape.
Regards, Tom

Emile (20348) 2007-01-18 12:00

Hola Patricia.
A very good shot and at the same time a funny landing, amazing catch of the bird, I have been trying to get a picture like yours for long time without any success, good POV with great composition.
Well done. TFS.

xuaxo (6830) 2007-01-25 12:23

Hi Pat
Nice nature shot, with the palms and all that, but I'd like to see better the bird.
F

pranab (5354) 2007-02-22 14:06

pat,
very compact composition, very serene mood but all of a sudden you provide an action which is so natural. well seen and captured. good work.

capthaddock (28790) 2007-02-26 18:22

Hi Pat - with all the lush greenery, and the waterbird, this one looks like a jungle rather than a desert, I like the dynamic pose of the egret.