http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4624203106_c9f74fd27a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/4624357052_f93511ae78.jpg

D300 - set to -2.3 EV in the first image, -2.7 EV in the second, ISO 400
80-400VR - 195mm and 310mm, f/5.3 and f/10
SB900 +1 EV, full cut of CTO, 200mm, 20' to 40' off to camera left

Finished post on another shot...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4625625962_d7ce0d09dd.jpg



cheers,
scott

Great shots Scott! Outstanding light! Your exposure was on the money.

Good shootin'


Vaughn

A Mile High Nikonian

Photography: It's not what I do for a living---It's what I do for Life!

Thanks. It was my first time shooting birds with off camera flash, I was amazed that it didn't really disturb them.

cheers,
scott

Beautiful captures!

Dean

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Wow! How much time did you spend trying to get theses images? They are worth every minute it took! How much did you pay the heron to stay still?
What does "full cut of CTO" mean?

Thanks,
Rick

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Thanks guys.

Rick: The heron was just a lucky gift of timing.  This stream
usually has a few herons and egrets fishing in the hour or so
before sunset, so I went up early, set up my speedlight on a a
light stand and waited over an hour for one of the two great
egrets I saw flying around to show up, but the park was busy
with people, dogs and a model photo shoot that showed up about
10 minutes after I'd set up.  Normally I would have moved, but
humping lightstands around limits your mobility.  Eventually
one of the egrets showed up and patiently fished while I
rattled off about a 100 images of him until I got bored with
taking the same photo repeatedly and was ready to leave.  Just
as I got to the lightstand to start breaking it down, the
night heron showed up, so I (well, my wife/assistant) moved
the light to work on him and I shot another 40 or so frames
until he flew away.   While they're fishing, they are very
still, so they make great subjects.  Plus, it turns out that
they aren't bothered by flash at all.  The "full cut of
CTO" is a strong Color Temperature Orange filter for the
flash, normally it's supposed to balance with household
tungsten bulbs, but Joe McNally uses them to mimic the color
of the setting sun. 

Richard:  I don't have full size images online, but I have the
1024x680 sized ones here:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4624203106_26e474e175_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/4624357052_407b3336ea_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4625625962_89232ec687_o.jpg

The first two are definitely too warm, I'll use a half cut
next time - the birds need more subtlety.

cheers,
scott

1/8 is about right for daylight fillflash with Nikon speedlights; if you want a sunset effect I'm guessing 1/4 would be plenty.

Jim

Really wonderful shots Scott. Would like to see larger images to really judge them. Look a little "warm", but does reflect a late afternoon (or early morning) atmosphere.

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Richard

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

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Nice shots of a really cool bird!

Dave
Quad Cities, USA
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