Heron on the Potomac in March

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Heron on the Potomac in March

March 20, 2014 by Mike Powell

Direct sunlight and harsh shadows in the middle of the day make it challenging to take portraits without somehow diffusing the light. During the spring and summer, I will usually carry a collapsible diffuser that I use when photographing flowers (and occasionally people), but it would have been tough to get into position to use such a diffuser on this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) that I spotted on the shore of the Potomac River last Saturday, when I was visiting Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.

As I observed the heron, I was standing on a raised boardwalk, looking downward at the heron though some bushes. In order to get an unobstructed shot, I zoomed in, focusing primarily on the head and neck. The heron moved its head about a lot as it searched the shallow waters and looked through the debris at the shore’s edge, moving in out of the shadows.

I took a lot of photos of the heron and this is one of my favorites. I like the way that I was able to capture some of the details of the plumage and the sinuous curve of the heron’s neck. I would love to be able to capture a similar image early in the day or late in the day, but, as every wildlife photographer knows, you can never tell when you will have another opportunity to photograph a subject again.

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, Ardea herodias, Canon 50D, Canon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, Dyke Marsh, Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Great Blue Heron, heron | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on March 20, 2014 at 6:50 am | Reply Robert

You have done a fantastic job, Mike, what an expression the Heron has!
- on March 21, 2014 at 7:48 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. It’s always nice to be able to get close enough to wildlife to be able to capture the expressions and personality of an individual animal or bird.
on March 20, 2014 at 9:22 am | Reply nliakos

Is that a fish making a bulge in his neck?
Great shot as always, Mike.
on March 20, 2014 at 1:37 pm | Reply Lyle Krahn

You made the most of that opportunity. Though I can’t believe you didn’t politely ask him to come back in better light.
on March 20, 2014 at 4:21 pm | Reply krikitarts

You did just fine without the diffuser–in fact, you could brighten the highlights even more, if you were so inclined…
- on March 21, 2014 at 10:15 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. I toned down the highlights when processing because I was starting to lose details. Now as I look at it, I may have overcompensate and reduced them too much.
on March 20, 2014 at 7:56 pm | Reply Sue

That’s a winner, Mike, definitely wall-worthy! Yes, it does look like a fishy bulge in his neck.
- on March 21, 2014 at 10:13 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sue. I have some shots of the heron with the neck extended and I’ll have to look and see if there appears to be a bulge in the neck in those shots.
on March 21, 2014 at 6:23 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

I like this shot-an excellent portrait of a great blue heron.
- on March 21, 2014 at 6:57 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Allen. I was happy that I was able to zoom in pretty close and that there was lots of light, which let me get more detail than I usually get with herons.
on March 30, 2014 at 10:54 am | Reply anomadlife

What a great picture! I just visited Dyke Marsh Preserve yesterday for the first time and thought it was a pretty cool place. It was rainy and foggy so I didn’t see too much wildlife, but I’m hoping to go back soon.
- on March 31, 2014 at 6:40 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  There are all kinds of things to see around Dyke Marsh, though, as you found out, it can depend on weather and time of the day. If you get a chance, stop by Belle Haven Marina, right there at the beginning of the trail to Dyke Marsh and check out the nesting osprey couple.
  - on March 31, 2014 at 6:59 am anomadlife
    
    I think I saw the nest but it was so foggy I couldn’t really make very much out. But I think I’m going to try to go back next weekend, and hopefully it will be sunnier. It seemed like such a neat and unique little park.