A very dapper gent Photo

Photographer’s Note

We had our FIRST really beautiful day in the entire month of May yesterday. So my middle grandson and I packed up my gear and headed down to Sumter, SC, to visit Swan Lake Iris Gardens. We had JUST missed the peak of the blooms, but there were still lots of them. We spotted this handsome fellow hanging out with the swans and seemingly unafraid. We were able to get very close. I liked this profile portrait of him. Hope you enjoy it.

bukitgolfb301, dareco, Wandering_Dan, mikolaj_kawa, Didi, JCG, leo61, papagolf21, Vasa, crhieatt, jmcl has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bukitgolfb301 (4616) 2009-05-31 16:14

Hello my dear Shelly

Strong message from sequeare format and color contrast.
NIce shutter timing.
Congratulation on your good job !

Thanks for sharing and best regards,

Takero

dareco (17104) 2009-05-31 22:14

A really great portrait of this guy, he looks very proud!! I like the pose, and the colors and detail are excellent. TFS

Wandering_Dan (3221) 2009-06-01 10:03

Hi, Shelly -

WHY has this not gotten more comments? It's a perfect exposure - every feather is crisp, while the bg is nicely blurred. The colors are exactingly rendered, and the concentrated stare, while typical for herons, is rarely captured so well. Great choice to use the square frame, too.

Best,
Dan

PS: Congrats on breaking 10000!

Glint (3042) 2009-06-01 12:38

hello Shelly,
you hav captured this heron perfectly. Love the profile and the long snaky neck.And as Dna says you have captured that stare that herons have, always alert for the possibility of dinner. Perfectly exposed, showing of th enice blue on his head and that deep green BG is just right.
Bev

windosil (770) 2009-06-01 16:04

Dear Shelly, what a magnificent long neck! The lighting and the contrasting bg show its strength. His electric blue cap and tie are superbly captured.
Glad you have good weather at last,
Winifred

rlrad (1187) 2009-06-01 19:34

Hi Shelly,

I like this simple, yet interesting composition with a portrait of this heron. He looks intent on something, not noticing you at all.

Looks like your storms have given up, too.

Have a great Tuesday!
Reed

mikolaj_kawa (30117) 2009-06-02 6:30

Hello Shelly! Nice picture. Wonderful background. Ideal contrast and sharpness. Good effect. Good luck!

Dyerco (9070) 2009-06-02 7:17

Oh Shelly
This guy really shows well against tha dark BG. Lovely detail in his head and neck.
Well done.
Phil

Didi (36084) 2009-06-04 17:14

Hi dearest friend
You did it with a 200 mm lens ! That's great.
Vey nice and sharp portrait, we are able to appreciate the details.
Even with a 300 mm it's impossible for me to get a so close view on herons on the Loire river because they are standing too far.
Sincères amitiés.

JCG (25315) 2009-06-05 9:36

Hello Shelly,

The portrait of this heron is superb. I like much contrast with the dark background which emphasizes the bird well. The clearness of the image is irreproachable. A beautiful animalist photograph, Shelly cheer.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

leo61 (43398) 2009-06-05 10:25

Hi Shelly!
I love herons and this is a great shot,with perfect sharpness and great contrast with the nice,dark and blurred background.He looks so proud!
Regards,leo

papagolf21 (56353) 2009-06-06 1:02

Bonjour, ma bonne amie Shelly,
Alors là, je dis bravo, ce portrait d'un héron cendré est magnifiquement photographié, les détails sont saisissants et la beauté de l'oiseau ressort à merveille.
Félicitations.
Amitiés sincères.
Philippe

Vasa (5500) 2009-06-06 14:09

Dear Shelly, the subject is not easy to realize. But you made so interesting composition end technically perfecet. Your sensibility for animals and your signature are so visible here. So proud of your work and your recent visit. Friendly your

Branko

gunbud (27851) 2009-06-07 17:09

Hi Shelly,
Very sharp clear presentation of this handsome gent as we see his striking profile against the lovely muted green backdrop.
Love the varying shades of blue to his lush plumage.
Regards, Tom
PS just back from Georgetown Mane near the Brunswick Naval Base.

crhieatt (5143) 2009-06-14 5:12

Shelly,

It seems to be that you have quite a bit of joy with your long lens - as this one demonstrates, admirably.

The oddest thing occured to me when I looked at this shot. I suddenly wondered what one earth Iwould make of it if I wasn't broadly familiar with the "whole" structure of such a creature. What on earth, one might imagine, does the rest of it look like?

Cheers
Colin

jmcl (13795) 2009-06-21 14:02

Hi Shelley!

I hope you and yours are well. I am sad for your TE .. well I don't know the right word to follow TE ..

I love this fellow though .. stunning portrait .. the sharpness is great .. the way the bokeh works and is so dark is really amplifies this .. There was GBH rookery near my home town .. they became my favorite bird .. wonderful wonderful image.

take care,

John