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vawendy


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Challenge: Free Study 2012-04 (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2012 Challenge shots
Date: Apr 30, 2012
Date Uploaded: Apr 30, 2012

 [May. 7th, 2012 10:38:18 PM]

In downtown Richmond -- right in downtown Richmond -- is the James River.

In the middle of the James River is a great blue heron rookery.

I knew there was a rookery somewhere up there (it's about an hour away), and I finally tracked it down last summer. But you couldn't really see anything because the trees were across the river, the herons were gone, and the trees were all leafed out.

I was told to come back in February.

I did.

The nested in February:




I visited in March. Not much activity on the river. They were still flying around, but the nests couldn't be seen because the trees had leafed out.



(didn't enter either of those shots)

I was told that the shad run in April, and that the GBHs hang around in the river during the fish run.

I went up to Richmond 3 times during April, spending about 4 hours each time. Two times were a bust, but the 1st of the three was incredible!!

About 20 GBHs in the river while I was shooting. They were actually slow catching the fish, but I had some opportunities. However, the osprey were fishing and so were the cormorants. I had never seen the cormorants fishing before!!

This was actually my favorite shot -- and one I almost entered:



If I had been able to get a little lower for the shot, it would probably be my favorite shot of all time. I love the difference in size of these birds!

Here are some other shots from that day:






And check out the size of some of the fish!!



The fish run is over, so I probably won't be back for awhile. But I will certainly be back again next February when it starts all over again! :)

Thanks for the incredible votes and kind comments. I love this shot, but I never expected it to do anywhere near this well. I thought it was too small to really get the fell of it.

We want 1000 or 1200 pixel wide challenges! :)

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 275
Avg (all users): 6.9576
Avg (commenters): 9.3750
Avg (participants): 6.9540
Avg (non-participants): 6.9677
Views since voting: 2853
Views during voting: 212
Votes: 118
Comments: 18
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
Nikon D800
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Nikon
 06/01/2012 08:09:25 AM
Fabulous timing and comp. WD.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 13
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
 05/08/2012 04:32:24 PM
Beautifully captured Wendy! I see a squirrel lurking in the background ;)
Congrats on the HM!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 05/08/2012 02:45:44 PM
SUCH a wonderful shot, Wendy! Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z7II
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 05/08/2012 01:38:08 PM
Great shot Wendy! You have some amazing images.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm X-Pro2
Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS
 05/08/2012 10:57:04 AM
Congrats on the HM. Your great blue heron series is National Geographic worthy. These are amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark III
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 05/08/2012 08:17:31 AM
this was an amazing capture..you sure were in the right place at the right time
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon Canon 1d x Mark II
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FG HSM Art
 05/08/2012 01:04:34 AM
4th Wend's, I knew it would do well, awesome finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 05/08/2012 12:16:03 AM
Another great wildlife shot, Wendy. Congrats on the HM!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS
 05/08/2012 12:03:56 AM
Great shot Wendy. I thought at first it was 3 shots made into one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 05/07/2012 10:58:09 PM
Beautiful shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 05/07/2012 10:58:01 PM
The early bird gets the ... fish. Great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D Mark II
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS II USM
 05/07/2012 04:22:52 AM
Beautifully timed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro M.Zuiko Digital ED
 05/05/2012 10:09:39 PM
Great catch!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2012 02:26:00 PM
Amazing timing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark III
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
 05/05/2012 11:48:17 AM
i almost get the illusion of a 3 shot sequence, and its nice how it comes from a single shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S
 05/03/2012 08:49:35 AM
almost a time lapse image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7200
Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD for Nikon
 05/01/2012 07:25:12 PM
Beautifully captured.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 05/01/2012 12:26:08 AM
WHAT a timely capture!!

(commenting only)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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