A Great Blue Heron, annoyed by the photographer, springs from the still water he was patiently hunting for crayfish.

I have to keep reminding myself to zoom back a bit since the D200

gives me plenty of resolution to crop later. If you're zoomed too

tight, with things like big moving birds, you can get interesting

features (like the reflection, and the water trailing from the

bird's feet) and then kick yourself later for not having a little

visual breathing room with which to work. That said, I'll appreciate

any feedback - thanks!

OK, Matt, you've already kicked yourself about the big problem (too tight on the left) and believe me, I have had those shots too--on every outing! And you are proving my theory...that a GBH can never be in total focus. This bird has anti-focus feathers. But it is still an very well-done image. Maybe a tad bright at the head and I'll bet you can still tweak that focus on the bill with an unsharp mask (did you do this?). 5/6 anon (5 for the lack of cropping room and focus problem, 6 for the skill to make this shot as pretty as it is) What f-stop did you use?

I like this heron. You're right about the cropping, but the trade-off is what you get in the details, as you noted. The water trails off the feet add so much to this picture, as do the reflection and shore details. I've found as well that when you startle these birds they can startle you, too and jump right out of your frame. Good job.

Don't kick yourself too hard, Matt, what you've got still looks very good. And just wait until you use a prime lens and not a zoom; rather than forgetting to zoom, it is then the all important step or two back that is forgotten (or impossible, if everything's on a tripod). I just love the trailing water; almost like jet engine exhaust from a GBH blasting off. Regards, Dieter

i like the trail a lot, very nice capture here matt, lovely work, RK!