Bird on the Creek

[gahspidy]

This is a bird I caught as it was waitng patiently for fish to swim by to catch. It was early morning and water was calm. I knew the name of this bird but not sure of it now so will not post it with a name attached in case its wrong. Hopefully Paulnj can help. I used a sigma 170-500mm zoom with a tamron 1.4 teleconverter. Not fully zoomed so it was overall about 600mm. fuji superia 200, f8 at about 1/125. I think its okay, definetely will be there trying lots more bird shots. What do you think?
Thanks

[ThoughtfulPirate]

Other than the fact that you didn't get the head in the reflection, I think its great.

[Sean Dempsey]

Photoshop a head into the reflection with a bit of water around it, and you'd have a real winner.

[Lava Lamp]

This is a bird I caught as it was waitng patiently for fish to swim by to catch. It was early morning and water was calm. I knew the name of this bird but not sure of it now so will not post it with a name attached in case its wrong. Hopefully Paulnj can help. I used a sigma 170-500mm zoom with a tamron 1.4 teleconverter. Not fully zoomed so it was overall about 600mm. fuji superia 200, f8 at about 1/125. I think its okay, definetely will be there trying lots more bird shots. What do you think?
Thanks

Nice job. It's framed well and comes together as a more artistic than documentary shot. Let's wait for Paul's expert advice, but I think it's a black crowned night heron. I coincidentaly photographed one yesterday and I'll post it in a moment.

[Elysian]

I like the idea of the reflection, but for some reason it doesn't work for me. I don't say it's bad, but neither do I get very excited.
Could be that the background/foreground (or the lack of it), the water that is too flat or the composition. For me at least it doesn't have the "wow!" factor that some of your other shots have Gary.

[paulnj]

This is a bird I caught as it was waitng patiently for fish to swim by to catch. It was early morning and water was calm. I knew the name of this bird but not sure of it now so will not post it with a name attached in case its wrong. Hopefully Paulnj can help. I used a sigma 170-500mm zoom with a tamron 1.4 teleconverter. Not fully zoomed so it was overall about 600mm. fuji superia 200, f8 at about 1/125. I think its okay, definetely will be there trying lots more bird shots. What do you think?
Thanks

getting lower and putting the BLACKCROWNED NIGHT-HERON at the top of the frame(to include the full reflexion) would have been the ideal shooting angle to ME

no image of a bird COULD EVER be wrong in my eyes, but the head missing from the reflexion is a NO NO

KEEP SHOOTING ..... PLEASE

[Yoyo Szeto]

Hi Gary,
The shot is well framed. I agree with the other's opinions on the reflection.
All the best.
yoyo

[gahspidy]

Thanks for the comments. I agree about the reflection losing the head. I looked through some other shots taken that day in the series and found one that has the full head and also a slightly better angle, I think. I posted it in a new thread. Don't know why I did not post that one originally as I think it is clearly the better pic.
Paulnj, and Lavalamp, thanks for the help on the identity of this bird.
JoeD, I know what you mean about the reflection. i think if the water had a slight bit of movemnt or texture to it, it might have made the reflection more interesting.

To tell you the truth, I was always an animal lover but never really had an interest in birds. But as I now have taken to photographing them, it has really opened my eyes to the beauty of these creatures and their amazing variety. Also am seeing how every species has their own "habits" like fishing, playing, resting, they all have their own way of doing these things making them all unique.
Enough rambling, thanks for your time.