Ascending or Descending? | Phil Lanoue Photography

Ascending or Descending?

I photographed this great blue heron last week at the marsh as it was gliding in for a landing. But at a quick first glance I thought it almost looked like the heron was either hovering still in the air, or actually floating upward.

What do you think?

47 thoughts on “Ascending or Descending?”

Shutterbug Sage on January 8, 2013 at 7:54 pm said:

He does look like he is floating upward!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:02 am said:
  
  I thought so too!
  
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Angelia Sims on January 8, 2013 at 7:59 pm said:

I think he’s getting beamed up. :-O~~~

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:02 am said:
  
  Sure looks that way!
  
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sallywoodphotography on January 8, 2013 at 8:14 pm said:

suspended in mid air!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:02 am said:
  
  Yes he does seem to be. 🙂
  
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lylekrahn on January 8, 2013 at 8:29 pm said:

Somehow you took me back to my childhood. This is the equivalent shot of the coyotee just after he has gone over the edge of the cliff but before he knows it. In the next second he’s dropping like a stone. (It must be the trick question you asked.)

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:03 am said:
  
  Doesn’t an ACME anvil fall on the coyote next?! 🙂
  
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  - lylekrahn on January 9, 2013 at 3:20 pm said:
    
    indeed
    
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Mike Powell on January 8, 2013 at 8:37 pm said:

Levitation…another form of Zen concentration.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:03 am said:
  
  He has it down to a mystical science! 🙂
  
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petspeopleandlife on January 8, 2013 at 9:23 pm said:

Looks to be landing but not real sure. I was trying to see of there was mositure on its legs which would mean the bird had been wading and fishing and was moving on. But…I could not determine if the bird’s legs had been in the water.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:04 am said:
  
  He was on his way to landing, but just took off out of water. The water will fall off the feet fairly quickly. 🙂
  
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jimbey on January 8, 2013 at 9:34 pm said:

Obviously — he’s doing GANGNAM STYLE 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:05 am said:
  
  Ha ha! That’s it! 😆
  
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gmh1213 on January 8, 2013 at 9:35 pm said:

You thinking he’s learned a little something from one of those harrier jump jets or perhaps a boeing osprey with vertical lift?

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davidharris518 on January 8, 2013 at 9:37 pm said:

You thiinking he might have learned a little something from those harrier jump jets or boeing osprey with vertical life capabilities?

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:06 am said:
  
  That could be. Funny too because I just recently saw two of the Osprey aircraft flying low just over the water at the shoreline. Could have come from the AFB at Charleston.
  
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  - davidharris518 on January 9, 2013 at 9:31 pm said:
    
    Very interesting…coincidence? I think not…LOL
    
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davidharris518 on January 8, 2013 at 9:38 pm said:

sorry…..vertical lift ….

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Gunta on January 8, 2013 at 11:31 pm said:

I’ll go with beam me up, Scotty….

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:06 am said:
  
  That will work. 🙂
  
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Phil Turner on January 8, 2013 at 11:35 pm said:

Hi Phil,

Nice shot, looks like a very large Kingfisher hovering!! Happy New Year! Sharon & Phil Turner Myrtle Beach SC

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:07 am said:
  
  Thanks very much Phil! That’s some big kingfisher for sure!
  
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meyer23 on January 9, 2013 at 4:15 am said:

Neither ascending nor descending. He’s just standing in the air. 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:07 am said:
  
  It looks like that is what he is doing!
  
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monisertel on January 9, 2013 at 4:25 am said:

Hi Phil,
I think he just stopped with his morning gym, he think, it’s enough so early in the morning. 😉
Wish you a nice wednesday,
moni

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:08 am said:
  
  He does work out a lot during the day so needs to relax. 🙂
  Thanks moni!
  
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Uta´s flow on January 9, 2013 at 4:51 am said:

This is another marine species, thinking how it would be a heron – but don´t know to use the wings 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:09 am said:
  
  He is getting very good at flying lately! 🙂
  Thank you for looking!
  
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niasunset on January 9, 2013 at 5:10 am said:

Made me smile… you are amazing. I love your photography, Thanks and Love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:09 am said:
  
  Thank you so much for your kind words Nia!
  
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Paula on January 9, 2013 at 6:57 am said:

Descending probably ;). Amazing photography as usual Phil 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:10 am said:
  
  Yes he is on his way down, just taking his time I think. 🙂
  Thanks very much Paula!
  
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janmasyn on January 9, 2013 at 7:17 am said:

Really nice shot Phil, he is hovering like a heli :-)-

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:10 am said:
  
  Thanks very much Jan. He does look like he is doing a slow hover. 🙂
  
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Chillbrook on January 9, 2013 at 8:37 am said:

I think I’ve said it before but these pictures really remind me of an aerial ballet. Beautiful shot Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 11:12 am said:
  
  I appreciate your kind words Adrian and I’m happy you enjoyed this photo!
  Sometimes it’s is an entire ballet out there. You should see some of the snowy egret photos I got yesterday. There was a lot of in flight moves going on. 🙂
  
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Patrizia M. on January 9, 2013 at 4:51 pm said:

Sembra ci sia una corrente d’aria che lo solleva. Che foto meravigliosa, scatto fantastico!!
Ciao, Pat

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The Wanderlust Gene on January 9, 2013 at 10:55 pm said:

Toes pointed down – coming into land, right? What a magnificent creature 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:12 pm said:
  
  Yes he is landing in the marsh. The GBH is one of my favorite birds and they have quite an impressive wing span.
  Plus they are often squawking about something which is fun. 🙂
  
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roughseasinthemed on January 10, 2013 at 5:12 am said:

I’ll go with the hover, whichever, a lovely pic.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:13 pm said:
  
  I’m happy you enjoyed the GBH photo!
  
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Sid Dunnebacke on January 10, 2013 at 12:15 pm said:

So I looked at the picture for a few moments, and… nothing. That bird is definitely just hovering.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:14 pm said:
  
  He could have caught a bit of an updraft keeping him suspended there for a brief instant. It is very breezy out there in the open marsh.
  Thanks for checking out this pic Sid!
  
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Bella Remy Photography on January 13, 2013 at 8:07 pm said:

Hanging by wires ! Faked you out… LOL !

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- Phil Lanoue on January 13, 2013 at 8:30 pm said:
  
  Busted. I photoshopped out the wires. 😉 😀
  
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