Great Egret Striking

Nikon D1h, 500mm f/4 AF-S, Matrix Metering, 1/180, f/4, -0.7EV, ISO 400, SB-28DX, -2.0ev Matrix Balanced Fill, RAW Format, Auto WB, Auto Tone, Gitzo 410, Wimberly Sidekick.

I worked with this bird for two days hoping to make this exact image. There were several problems which included poor backgrounds, stikes in marsh area verses the water like this image, and just not timing the strike well. I watched him sail over to this embankment and start hunting realizing my vision may become reality. After 5 minutes, he slowly extended his neck announcing the empending strike. As soon as his head move aggresively, I fired the shutter hoping to get the water splash. This image almost isn't worthy of display due to a dark blue car reflecting on the water in the image's foreground. A suitable crop was done to minimize its impact.