Head Angles

Reddish Egret – aka Big Red

By Mia McPherson, on July 26th, 2011%

Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) portrait in breeding plumage
Fort De Soto County Park on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast
Nikon D200, f8, 1/1000, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light, not baited

Imagine that the temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit, pretty hot even by Florida’s standards for March. Then imagine that the humidity is about 97%. You get out of your air-conditioned vehicle to take a short walk to the beach & lagoons and before you get even the equivalent of one city block you are drenched with sweat, rivulets coming down your face and getting into your eyes. Your clothes are damp and the sugar sand is beginning to stick to your ankles because of the perspiration that is there.

Slipping quietly into the water of the lagoon helps some, the water is just a bit cooler than the air. First kneeling then moving one knee forward at a time to slowly move closer to my subject. Stopping, watching to see if the bird shows any sign of alarm or that it might take flight. Creeping forward again at a snail’s pace. Tiny pink shrimp tickle the exposed skin on my legs as a flounder that had been buried in the sand scoots away as fast as it can. The water is to my waistline but it feels refreshing considering the heat you can see simmering like a mirage off the the surface of the water. A Pipefish wiggled by just barely under the surface of the water just inches from my thighs.

I had to stop and take my bandanna from my backpack to wipe my eyes because the sweat was burning them and I couldn’t see clearly through the viewfinder. I recall swallowing a small sip of water from my bottle when I felt like pouring the entire thing over my head to help me cool off.

Then in flew a Reddish Egret; a large wading bird, who landed on the sandy shoreline which is slightly above me where I was kneeling in the salty water of the tidal lagoon. The egret was in breeding plumage, what a treat. It was so comfortable in my presence that it just stood there, changing position once in awhile allowing full body shots, close ups, landscape and portrait formats. Elegant poses, funny poses and relaxed postures.

In 9 minutes I took almost 200 shots of “Big Red” before I realized that I felt like I was melting in the heat. The sun was getting higher and I knew I had to find relief from the scorching sun. I backed away as slowly as I had approached the shoreline not wanting to disturb the egret. The egret remained there standing still on its long, thin legs.

Was it worth it to feel like a wrung out dishrag to get those shots? Or feeling that every pore on my skin had opened like faucets? Worth the sand in my clothes, scrapes on my knees and looking like something the cat had wanted to drag in but decided it was way too dirty?

You betcha. I’d do it again in a heart beat. I’m addicted to bird photography just in case I had not mentioned it before.

Mia

More Reddish Egret images

By Mia McPherson, on October 7th, 2010%

Tricolored Heron with head tilt

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) with head tilt
Pinellas County, Florida
D200, handheld, laying flat on the sand, f6.3, 1/1500, ISO 250, 80-400mm VR at 330mm, natural light

On the web there are many image critique forums, I am only active on one of the nature photography critique forums, though I have participated on a few since 2003. I believe that by receiving and giving critiques I can strengthen my skills in composition, technique and learn a great deal about the birds I love to photograph.

I have seen some avian images posted on other forums that I found interesting and appealing but several people who critiqued the photos have talked about having the head angle 2 degrees this way or three degrees another. I’ve pondered those critiques and personally there are times when I think different head angles; even those that do not show the “perfect head turn” can be very compelling images.

I thought I would post a few of my photos on the avian critique forum where I am a member where the head angle isn’t perfect but where I find that I like the images despite the lack of direct eye contact. The feed back I received was very positive, so I don’t believe I am alone with my thoughts about head angles.

In the image above the Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) turned its head towards the sky to eyeball an Osprey overhead and I feel that the head being turned upwards adds interest to the image. It can make the viewer wonder what the heron is looking at. You can see the eye but the bird is just going about its life and it was comfortable in my presence.

American Coot head angle

American Coot (Fulica americana)
Salt Lake County, Utah
D200, on Gitzo CF tripod, Black Widow head, F7.1, 1/500, ISO 250, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

In this American Coot (Fulica americana) image the head angle might not be considered ideal, there is no direct eye contact or catchlight in the eye but I still feel that this is a compelling and interesting image because of the head angle and the bird’s pose and demeanor. I have more images of this coot where the head angle would be considered “better” but they do not have the same effect on me that this one does. In this image it is the head angle that draws me in and keeps my attention.

Snowy Egret gazing over stormy water

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) gazing over stormy water
Pinellas County, Florida
D200, handheld, laying in the sand, f5.6, 1/500, ISO 500, 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

In this photo the primary Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is looking away, yet you can still see the eye. I believe the reason this image works for me is that it appears that the Snowy Egret is looking at the stormy water thus I don’t mind the head angle. For me this photo is as much about the setting as it is about the birds. I like the out of focus egret in the background, I feel it adds a tension that might not be there if that egret were absent.

The critiques I received on all three of the images were overwhelmingly positive which I feel supports my thoughts that even without what some may consider “the perfect head angle” that we can create interesting and compelling avian images.

Mia