View attachment 342282
This is a shot that has bothered me for years, because I missed it when I initially had the opportunity to get it. It was taken in June 2014 at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida.
First of all, I learned of Wakodahatchee (Wako) on this site, from our very own Marilynne. I was able to make a day trip from my parents house near Orlando, and have nearly a full day at the wetlands shooting. Marilynne offered to give us a tour of Wako, so I took her up on it, and she was a wonderful hostess, spending a few hours at the wetlands with both of us shooting. Mid-day rain storms came in and Marilynne left on her bicycle and I went and bought lunch at the local Publix. After the storms were through, I decided to make one last run through Wako and noticed this reeded area and thought about what I could photograph in the area.
Fast forward a month or so, and I was back with an unexpected bit of time at Wako while I was on my way to pick my son up in the Keys after a sailboat excursion. I went to this area and set my gear up and waited for something to arrive. When this egret flew in and started searching through the reeds I was able to get a few shots before I had to leave. When I got home I realized that I had missed the focus on the shot. (Possibly with help from the lens and TC combination.)
Since then I've wanted to get back to Wako and do whatever I had to do to get this shot again. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get back to Wako since then, but it is still a goal of mine.
In the meantime, I've processed the original shot with several types sharpening software (this one with Topaz Sharpen AI), and while some are fairly good, none are as good as if I had nailed the focus in the first place.
Nikon D700, Nikon AF-S 80-200 f2.8 w/TC-20 (at 400mm), 1/1600 Sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
WM