Week 22, Day 155, September 25, 2009, Heron Silhouette

On the way home from work tonight I drove along Forest Home Drive.  It's one of the common running routes that we take during lunch time.  Fall Creek runs along side the road, and I figured I would take some photos of the fall colors on the trees. 

When I arrived I saw a Blue Heron, and decided to photograph the bird instead.  I took several photos, and even took a photo of him catching a fish.  Unfortunately that photo is a little to blurry for my taste.

Instead I share one where the Heron is just flying from one side to the other.  The Heron is even dragging his/her talons on the top of the water.  The sun was still fairly bright, so all I was able to get was the silhouette.  Perhaps when I get good enough with photoshop I can lighten the heron.

Lessons Learned:

• Be willing to change the subject.

Photo details: Exposure time 1/800, Aperture f/2.8, ISO 100, Focal Length 200 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal length 323mm, Lens Canon 70-200mm f2.8L USM, tripod.

Week 4 - Day 28 - May 28, 2009, "Blue Heron in River" Winner of Week 4 in Viewer Poll, Winner of the Month of May Viewer Poll

I was asked this evening to photograph the Ithaca Festival Mile. I enjoy doing photography of athletes. So, when I began the evening I figured my photo of the day would be of a runner, or somebody in the Ithaca Festival parade that followed the race. When we were walking back to our car after the parade, we walked across the bridge near the Ithaca High School, and this was what we saw. There were many photos of runners that I liked and of people in the parade, but this photo really captured my attention.

I really like this photo. When I first looked at it, I thought it resembled an impressionist painting of some sort. The light on the waves in the water, and the bushes and trees look like brush strokes until the photo is blown up to look at the details. It was darker, and I didn't have my tripod, so I used a higher ISO, and I think it worked well for a great effect.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Lesson Learned:

• Be willing to try Higher ISO for a different effect.
  

Photo details: Exposure time 1/125, Aperture f/2.8, ISO 1600, Focal Length 70 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal length 114mm, Lens Canon 70-200mm f2.8L USM, hand held.

This photo was the winner of week 4 in the Viewer Poll.
This photo was the winner of the month of May Viewer Poll.