Heron Stalking the Shore

Jim,

 

You posted looked for critique, so here's a shot at something helpful.

 

Looking at your overall portfolio, and this shot as an example, I think your lighting tends toward the bland side. As a result, in this shot, for example, there are no catch-lights in the bird's eye and little remarkable in its appearance.

 

For a "stalking" effect, I think a wider angle with more of the shore apparent might have helped; the bird's reflection in water also might have added interest. The kingfisher is an example of a shot I like alot, as is the flying Heron; each have a little more going on. It might also be worth going out at some different times of day.

 

I hope this is useful. Wildlife photography is not my focus, but I thought I'd try to give some input.

I'm sorry you don't like this photo due to the lighting. That's one of the reasons it's one of my favorites. I hate harsh lighting. This one is a crop of the overall image. I'm not sure which I like better but I like this cropping. Do you really think I should be using flash or shooting at mid day? Like you said, you're really not a nature photographer. Thanks for stopping by anyway.