Green Heron in a swamp – Nikon D70, handheld, f5.6, 1/60, ISO 500, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, flash fired
One of the things about not being in the field lately because of the Covid-19 pandemic is that I can review old images and share them here. This Green Heron was photographed not long after I first started focusing on and photographing birds while I still lived in Florida. The heron was next to a boardwalk that meanders through a maple swamp at Sawgrass Lake Park in Pinellas County, Florida and it was focused on something in the water.
Sawgrass Lake Park is a 400 acre park where you can walk through one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast of Florida. I often recommend this park when people ask me about photographing birds in the Tampa Bay area.
To get a low angle I laid down on the boardwalk and poked my lens through the slats. I got more than a few odd looks while doing that when I went to the park but I truly didn’t care.
The light was low because of the tree branches overhead so I used the built in flash on my camera. I’ve used flash so rarely that this might be only the second or third time I have posted a flashed subject on my blog in the 10 years I have been publishing here.
The Nikon D70 was my first DSLR and I was hand holding the camera while bracing it against one of the wooden slats of the boardwalk. At 1/60th of a second I was surprised the image came out as sharp as it did.
I have only seen one Green Heron since I moved to Utah and that was a young bird on the wing that I wasn’t able to photograph. I keep hoping I will see another one and have the chance to photograph it.
This is an older photo but I like the intimacy of it. I feel like I am right next to the Green Heron in the swamp again.
Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Green Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
Now THAT is a real show-stopper! The depth, detail and subtle colors you captured in this pic are nothing short of amazing. Thanks Mia.
Your post reminded me of my one visit to Pinellas County (Bayboro) back in Feb 2013, and yes, we visited Sawgrass! Coffee Pot Bayou is also great. I browsed through my photos of that visit — Alligators, Anhinga, Tricolored Herons, Little Blue Heron… I was also a novice at photography then. Thank you for stimulating good memories! We need them! Richard
An early capture of a lifelong commitment.
I like the green shades and the photo has a painterly feel. I have not seen a green heron, not even in captivity.
Beautiful shot. getting low to the ground and adjusting yourself to the environment is what makes you stand out from the rest. I like how the greens are repeated throughout the photo, creating a nice harmony.
Really beautiful and moody shot.
Great photo Mia, as usual! Question. How do you organize and keep the thousands ( if not more) of your photos available for retrievable?
I can’t wait to photography my FOY Green Heron. Beautiful photo.
Cool photo Mia