Composure

Great Blue Herons are commonly seen throughout the country but I believe many people overlook them because they are so frequently encountered in a variety of different environments. These birds are expert hunters and, despite their large size, can stand motionless in shallow bodies of water until the time is just right for them to swiftly strike and impale their prey with their dagger-like bills. Photographing them can be tricky and requires patience since they are able to stand still for long periods as they carefully scan the surface of the water for the movement of fish and other organisms. I watched from the tall grasses as this one stared intently into the water, almost as if I had caught it in a moment of introspection, on this warm and windless afternoon.