During a hike on the Horton Slough Trail at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to photograph this Great Blue Heron. These elegant birds are common in wetland areas, but each sighting still feels unique.
I spotted this heron standing near the edge of Horton Slough, scanning its surroundings. To avoid startling it, I hid behind some brush and began to capture the moment. However, the soft shutter sound of my camera caught the heron’s attention, and it turned to look directly in my direction. Despite the brief interruption, the heron remained calm, allowing me to photograph it in its natural environment.
Gear and Setup
For this shot, I used:
- Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM (via a Fringer EF-FX Pro adapter)
The technical details were:
- Aperture: f/5.6
- Shutter Speed: 1/1000 sec
- ISO: 2500
- Exposure Compensation: -0.67
- Focal Length: 400mm
Hand-holding this setup presented a challenge, but the heron’s stillness helped make this shot possible. I used an aperture of f/5.6 to ensure a balance between sharpness and subject isolation, while the ISO of 2500 handled the overcast lighting conditions. The fast shutter speed froze any subtle movements, making the heron’s intricate feather detail stand out.
Reflections
The Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for bird photographers, offering a wide variety of species to observe and photograph. Encounters like this remind me of the importance of patience and quiet observation. This Great Blue Heron, with its sharp gaze and calm posture, perfectly embodied the serene beauty of this location.
Have you visited Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge or photographed herons in similar settings? Share your experiences in the comments!