The images for this post were taken while I was out on my morning run. Run is a term I use loosely as I am not very fast and am known to stop if I see something that catches my eye. The image I stopped for at this point was one of the swans. I did take several photos of the swans, but standing there I felt the more interesting story was this man who had stopped to spend some time with them:
ISO 25 f/2.2 1/392sec 4.2mm
I took the photo and then moved on. Obviously, social distancing meant I wasn’t going to get too close to him but the real reason is that he seemed deep in his own moment and I didn’t want to disturb that.
This second image is a heron who was so still that I almost ran right up to him:
ISO 25 f/2.2 1/100sec 4.2mm
I couldn’t believe how close I got. I took several photos, slunk past him, then took several more including this one above.
Because I took these photos on the same morning run, just a few minutes apart, I decided to edit them in a similar way. Both have been cropped, and then had minor adjustments for clarity and exposure. The first image I also straightened a bit. I’ve then applied a custom Luminar Look that I had made as a preset. It fit as is perfectly on the first image, but required a bit of tweaking on the second one.
A version of the second photo I also posted to Instagram:
It’s fair to say that my run stats for this morning weren’t stellar. That happens sometimes. Your thoughts and comments on the images are welcome below. This post has been added to A Photo A Week Challenge, Water.
Cheers!
Photography Journal Blog 
I like the dreamy effect on your second version of the Heron 🙂
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Yes, that was created using the app Hipstamatic, and I like how it turned out.
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The man seems deep in thought. Lovely photos! If I could run I may start jogging…Bad back.
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Thanks, and that is too bad about your back!
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Wow. No wonder you get distracted on your run. Such beauty along the way! The instagram version looks ethereal (I wonder what the heron had its eye on). Yes, I agree, the man watching the swans completes that photo. 🙂
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I was wondering about the heron too because there is so much algae in that spot that it’s hard to imagine being able to see anything.
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Unless perhaps it had seen something move. In the meantime though, it worked for you! 🙂
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You can run any time but you can’t often get a shot like that heron, Amy! It’s great 🙂 🙂
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Yeah, I was surprised to get that close!
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Both your subjects were quite obviously transfixed by whatever they were eyeing!
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Nice, that’s a connection between the photos I hadn’t put together, thanks for mentioning it.
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In the moment – yes, I can picture myself standing there – I love inland waterways! Do you find the shutter sometimes startles people? And the heron… town birds, as I call them, allow one much closer!🤔👍😀
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This particular camera has a silent shutter that is actually silent, so it was turned off so as not to disturb this man or the heron for that matter. It’s a good feature that all cameras should have!
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Yes… then I can really master the art of sneaky snapping! 😁😁
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Yup!
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😁
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The man makes the first capture quite interesting.
And that heron must be watching his next meal!
Great shots!
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Thanks for your comment and for stopping by!
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I like the lighting gradient in the original edit of the heron. With the greens it’s very calming and leads the eye.
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Thanks very much.
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I have these birds visit on my lake. But, I’ve never been able to capture them.
They are very sensitive to sound of any kind no matter how small.
GREAT photograph … jealous I haven’t been able to photograph one yet.
Nicely done …
Stay safe … Be healthy … Be Happy 😍
Isadora 😎
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Yes, I was stunned by how close I got particularly since I also find these birds to be particularly skittish.
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