Photograph and text by Kevin Moore
From the May 2018 issue

I use photography primarily as a way to improve my skills as a birdwatcher. However, the chance to get a good photo is always in my mind. I had been following a group of four juvenile green herons at Blockhouse Pond in Lewes for several weeks in early summer. I was getting nice photo ops, but felt I could do better.

About a month later I stumbled on a second group of four juvenile green herons. For several weeks I visited the Blockhouse Pond site. Some days the weather cooperated, other days it did not. On various days, one, two or more of the herons would be visible, but not in a pleasing composition. Most days the light did not cooperate.

But on the day this photo was taken, everything came together. It was a beautiful blue-sky day, all four herons appeared close together, the light was perfect, and the out-of-focus water of the pond created the perfect background. This is why photographers are drawn to the same subject or setting over and over again.

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