I was seated in my pickup on the shore of Charleston City Lake, camera ready to capture wildlife from my improvised blind. A Great Blue Heron was wading in the shallows, undisturbed by my parked truck. This normally wary bird was fully focused on spearing fish, used to the presence of vehicles.
I watched this heron steadily stalking for several minutes when suddenly it took flight. Startled for an unknown reason, perhaps its hunger was satisfied, the large bird rapidly gained altitude. Acting on instinct, I swiftly tracked the heron with camera and lens resting on a bean bag out my open window.
I shot a sequence of images centered on its broad blue-gray wings and back as it flew directly in front of me, low over the lake. Matching its speed in my viewfinder, there was no splashing water or distraction in the background, just smooth focus on the heron’s imposing wingspan.
Moments later it was over, the heron gliding to a tall tree to rest. But thanks to quick reaction and an opportune low-flying subject, I captured images of a Great Blue in graceful, low flight. The trusty pickup truck blind provided an ideal vantage for seizing this special wildlife sighting!
Image Information:
- Date: 11/23/23
- Time: 08:39 AM
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Lens: Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
- ISO: 640
- Aperture: 5.6
- Shutter: 1/1000
- Exp. Comp.: -1/3
- Lens (mm): 500
- Program Mode: Aperture Priority