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Cloak & Dagger


Cloak & Dagger
Photo Information
Copyright: karan A L (hester) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1320 W: 31 N: 1634] (9994)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-04
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon EOS 350D Rebel XT, Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-08-05 9:43
Viewed: 504
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Finally we had some sunshine yesterday and I spent a lazy day sitting on the bank of lake watching this fellow fish and preen. He looks quite evil here as he has spread his feathers to preen them. I called it cloak and dagger after the cloak like feathers and the dagger shaped bill.

The colours are natural. I have only done a slight levels tweak

----------------------------------------------------
Information from the Birds of Britain website:

Gaunt grey herons are among the most familiar of our local water birds. Fresh or salt, clear or muddy each is acceptable so long as it will yield something worthwhile.

The bird doesn't always wait for quarry but stalks through the shallows with long deliberate strides, neck muscles tensed for spearing.

Eventually a fish will pay the price of carelessness as the heron's kinked neck is straightened with startling speed and the sharp bill stabs its prey - sometimes several times.

Young waterbirds are taken in hard weather by full-grown birds. A water-rail has been recovered in a heron's stomach. Mice and rats are eaten and judging by the fur in pellets, many water-voles.

The heron's breeding season is prolonged. In early February in a mild season, they may be seen soaring over the nesting wood and chasing one another, tilting from side to side and diving head-long. An exciting performance to watch for next to the mute swan the heron is our largest common bird. Endless display takes place on old nest platforms and consists of elaborate neck movements with crest and neck plumes erect and accompanied by bill-snapping and a variety of blood-curdling calls.
tibig, vandana2923, kokos101, SunToucher, Loon, jonathanhart, kbeall, debz has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Karan,
Oh my dear, he looks like a cunning fellow!
I bet he has plans, and they are not nice and pleasant plans...
Super reproduction of the plumage!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2640 W: 1 N: 1262] (15439)
  • [2007-08-05 10:43]

Hola Karan,
preciosos tonos...
interesante pose, y pov,
realmente original,
excelente composición, saludos

  • Great 
  • tibig Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 657 W: 26 N: 681] (7565)
  • [2007-08-05 10:56]

Beautiful light on this malevolent looking heron. And interesting colours too.
Regards,
Tibi

  • Great 
  • NecipP Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 669 W: 16 N: 404] (4722)
  • [2007-08-05 11:07]

Hello Karan great closeup fine focus on the head nice background colours well composed, good work getting so close. tfs rgds Necip

hi there, wonderful image here, nice composition,colors,dof,bg, all very nice, yes this guy looks very medieval, almost a gatekeeper or something, well done, looks brilliant, thanks for sharing, scott

Hi Karan,
Nice capture, great colours and sharpness focused on the head, I like the golden colour of the water.
Tfs Andy

Hi Karan,
Very nice bird shot vith superb focus.Sahrp, details and POV are excellent.TFS.
Cheers!

hAyAti

Hi Karan,

Very good capture, excellent background lovely shade of green, nicely out of focus projecting the heron forward plus they are usually taken side on , well done.

Douglas

Hello Karan,A very beautiful photot and heron.A good observation and presentation.
Well done.TFS
Greetings.
H.Ayhan

hi karan,
my god, this one doesn't like sunny days !
looks very grouchy - but i like this pose .
wonderful strange colour of the water.
great POV.
TFS - carole

woooow karan!what a great exposure!!!!great pose of this heron!you made a wonderful composition!
tfs
caroline

  • Great 
  • glint Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 620 W: 3 N: 531] (3606)
  • [2007-08-05 15:07]

hello Karan,
another marvellous picture from you. Love it, especially his pose against the water that is the colour of old gold.
regards
bev

Hello Karan,

Beautiful composition and colors here. Sharp photo. TFS

Vandana

hello karan!
wonderful catch, excellent photo of this grey heron, i like it.
tfs
zoran

Focus, sharpness and details are very good. Well captured, thank you.
Best wishes,
Achim

Hi Karan,
You also could have caled it the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Love the way you presented two such different poses from the same bird. That color of the water is really beautiful. Details and exposure are superb.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • Loon Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 105 W: 11 N: 91] (1163)
  • [2007-08-06 23:00]

Concentration at the max ;)
I love your creativity on the title too.
Colors, sharpness, DOF...all exellent.
Very good job Karan!
TFS
Loon

very very nice ........tfs

I think your title is perfect, because he looks like a very shady character. The way you captured him really adds personality to what is normally a peaceful looking bird. I love the shade of green water against his blue feathers. Absolutely stunning!

good light management, colours are fantastic with that surprising BG, emphasize the subject, good !
well composed, very nice photo :))
regards
jo

Hi Karan,
This old guy does have a sinister look from the thumbnail, but upon closer inspection actually has a kind look about him . . . the color of the background really sets off his feathers and brings out the tint of his eye.
A wonderful prize for the day!
All the best,
Karen

Wow! You certainly have a lot of wild life where you live! I love this picture. You caught him at just the right time. Nice detail. TFS
Mandie

Hi Karan

This is an excellent shot, well seen and captured. TFS

Fara

  • Great 
  • debz Gold Star Critiquer [C: 68 W: 0 N: 7] (280)
  • [2007-12-28 3:09]

This is a different and wonderful pov of the Heron here Karen. The sheen and light on the plumage is very well rendered. The Heron can look so different in so many different guises and this is an excellent example. I love his fan tail and it seems impossible that he can balance on such a fine twig. Very well composed, I love it.
tfs
debz

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