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MH Benton 🇺🇸

@mhb-photo.bsky.social

4.3K followers 3.9K following 429 posts

Wildlife Photography, father, US Navy veteran. I am happy to chat about photography and anything nature related. Website: mhbenton.photography 🚫Crypto, 🚫Illuminati, 🚫Business proposals, please! #wildlife #photography #birds

Posts Replies Media

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Great Blue Heron On Juniper #birds #photography #nature #wildlife #heron #greatblueheron #mhbenton

Adult Great Blue Heron sitting atop a juniper bush at a pond's edge

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Tri-colored Heron In Flight #birds #herons #tricoloredheron #photography #wildlife #mhbenton

Spent the afternoon with a group of Tri-colored Herons at the pond. This one in ready for a date, you can tell by the eye color. Unlike other birds that change with age, this happens for the TCHs in matting season.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Sky On Fire The sky was amazing at sunrise this morning. Photo from phone, I should have has my camera set up but such is life. #sunrise #colorfulsky #photography #cellphonephotography #glynncounty #seapalmsresort #villagecreek #mhbenton

Sunrise over Village Creek Marsh in reds, oranges and yellows.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

The 2026 Calendars Are In! www.mhbenton.photography/calendar (click the link to view the months) #photography #birds #calendar #2026calendar #stsimonsisland #glynncounty #glynncountyphotographer #mhbenton

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

The Look Younger red-tailed hawk #birds, #photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #hawk #redtailedhawk #glynncounty #mhbenton

Adult red-tailed hawk with yellow eyes against a blue sky. As they age the eyes slowly change to brown.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Sunrise Over Village Creek Marsh #landscape #photography #sunrise #clouds #sunburst #saltmarsh #fineart #glynncounty #villagecreek #mhbenton

Sunrise through some trees on a cloudy morning overlooking a salt marsh

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Tricolored Heron In Flight + the RAW image for comparison. #fineart #photography #birds #SOOC #RAW #tricoloredheron #mhbenton #saintsimonsisland

Tricolored Heron In Flight

I asked ChatGPT to compare the two images and write a statement about Fine Art vs Realistic Photography. This is what it came up with:

Fine Art vs. Realistic Photography: The Tricolored Heron in Flight

These two images explore the contrasting philosophies of fine art and realistic photography through the elegant motion of a tricolored heron in flight.

The first image transforms the heron into a fine art subject—its colors intensified, textures refined, and background stylized to evoke emotion and visual poetry. Here, the artist’s interpretation transcends documentation, inviting the viewer to experience the bird not merely as a subject of nature, but as an expression of movement, light, and form.

The second image presents the heron as it exists in the natural world. Its subtle tones, soft light, and open sky preserve the authenticity of the moment, allowing viewers to connect with the purity and serenity of the scene as it unfolded in real time.

Together, these works illustrate the delicate balance between representation and interpretation—between seeing the world as it is and envisioning it as art.

RAW, straight out of the camera (SOOC), that the first image was created from.

I asked ChatGPT to compare the two images and write a statement about Fine Art vs Realistic Photography. This is what it came up with:

Fine Art vs. Realistic Photography: The Tricolored Heron in Flight

These two images explore the contrasting philosophies of fine art and realistic photography through the elegant motion of a tricolored heron in flight.

The first image transforms the heron into a fine art subject—its colors intensified, textures refined, and background stylized to evoke emotion and visual poetry. Here, the artist’s interpretation transcends documentation, inviting the viewer to experience the bird not merely as a subject of nature, but as an expression of movement, light, and form.

The second image presents the heron as it exists in the natural world. Its subtle tones, soft light, and open sky preserve the authenticity of the moment, allowing viewers to connect with the purity and serenity of the scene as it unfolded in real time.

Together, these works illustrate the delicate balance between representation and interpretation—between seeing the world as it is and envisioning it as art.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Tri-colored Heron Over Marsh Pond #avian #birds #shorebirds #photography #wildlife #heron #tricoloredheron #saltmarsh #pond #nature #glynncounty #stsimonsisland #mhbenton

Adult tri-colored heron flying low over blue-green water of the salt marsh pong as the tide was rising.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Ever wonder how Anhinga fish? Spear, position, swallow whole! #avian #birds #fish #photography #anhinga #pompano #wildlife #glynncounty

Anhinga with pompano speared by its beak.

Anhinga repositioning a pompano to eat it.

Anhinga swallowing a pompano whole.

Anhinga after just swallowing a pompano.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Great Egret In Juniper At Edge Of Pond #ornithology #birds #photography #egret #greategret #nature #glynncounty #mhbenton

A great egret standing atop a juniper against a dark background.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

The Roseate Spoonbills Are Here For Fall! We have two groups, the few that stay here year-round and the travelers migrating through. Their color is diet-driven. #ornithology #birds #photoftheday #wildlife #wildlifephotography #roseatespoonbill #spoonbill #glynncounty #coastalgeorgia #mhbenton

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Red-tailed Hawk We had a visitor in the backyard yesterday. #birds #avian #photography #on1pics #birdsofpray #raptor #hawk #redtailedhawk #glynncounty #mhbenton #saintsimonsisland

Close up of red-tailed hawk's face

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

This Great Blue Heron became a little grumpy when it realized I was watching. #birds #photography #herons #greatblueheron #wildlife #glynncounty #georgia #mhbenton

Great blue heron preening.

Great blue heron looking grumpy.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Sunrise Over Mountains - St Moritz #landscape #photography #sunrise #clouds #fineart #stmaritz #switzerland #sunburst #mhbenton

Hotel window view of low clouds obscuring the lake as the sun rises above the mountains in the background

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

It was a pretty impressive storm last night! DON'T TRY PHOTOGRAPHING LIGHTNING STANDING OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING! IT'S DANGEROUS. #weather #storm #thunderstorms #lightning #rain #mhbenton #stsimonsisland #glynncounty #goerogia

long exposure capturing 2 lightning bolts against a dark sky.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Fraumünster Church In Zurich Switzerland #zurich #switzerland #limmatriver #Fraumünster #Church #landscape #photography #europe #mhbenton

Fraumünster Church as seen from across the Limmat River. Colorful buildings and a pale blue sky.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Tuscan Moon At Sunrise #moon #sunrise #morning #celestial #Tuscany #Italy #morningsky #crescentmoon #mhbenton

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Sunrise At The Club House Next week I will be adding all the images from our trip to my website. I hope this teaser from our stay piques your interest. If you plan on visiting Tuscany, I highly recommend a stay at the Club House #fontanellestate #theclubhouse #visittuscany #tuscany #italy #sunrise

Sunrise above distant rolling hills at the resort The Club House, in Tuscany Italy.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Meanwhile, in the Black Forest... #nature #water #stream #blackforest #forest #germany #flowingwater #mhbenton

A stream with little waterfalls deep within the Black Forest.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Tuscan Cypress Under A Tuscan Sky #BlueSkyMonday #Tuscany #Italy #tusacancypress #mhbenton

A drive lined with Tuscan Cypress trees on a green lawn and a clear blue sky.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Matterhorn At Sunset Arrived in Zermatt, checked in to hotel and this is the view from the room. @nationalzermatt.ch #matterhorn #sunset #vacation #mhbenton #zermatt #switzerland #alps

The Matterhorn against a blue sky with snow being blown off

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Vacationing in Italy Sorry for no posts in a while, we are enjoying Italy and Switzerland for another week or so. #italy #lakeiseo #vacation #mebenton

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Happy Spoonbill! 🪶 #birds #fineart #photography #avian #wildlife #nature #threskiornithidae #spoonbills #marsh #spartina #roseatespoonbills #glynncounty #mhbenton

Adult roseate spoonbill flying across green spartina marsh grass

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Carolina Chickadee in Crepe Myrtle #birds #carolinachickadee #chickadee #photography #glynncounty #mhbenton #wildlife #nature #paridae #crepemyrtle

Adult Carolina chickadee in in the green leaves of a crepe myrtle

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Private Airshow! Airshow today on the mainland, they have the Blue Angles - I have the Pink Ladies! 🪶 #birds #fineart #photography #avian #wildlife #nature #threskiornithidae #spoonbills #roseatespoonbills #glynncounty #mhbenton

Roseate spoonbill landing the the marsh at low tide.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Immature White Ibis Hiding In The Junipers 🪶 #birds #avain #fineart #photography #widllife #nature #pond #ibis #whiteibis #threskiornithidae #glynncounty #mhbenton

Immature white ibis early in 2nd year hiding in juniper trees next to a pond

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Little Blue Heron Atop Juniper starting 2nd year 🪶 #birds #avian #photography #wildlife #nature #heron #littleblueheron #ardeidae #glynncounty #mhbenton

Little blue heron just starting to transition from white to blue against a pale background.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Sunrise Flight Was asked how I create these impossible shots. Tripod and 2 exposures, Expose for sunrise, adjust 1st EV to +1.5 for flock then 2nd at EV -0.3 for the sunrise. Combine in post. 🪶 #photography #wildlife #sunrise #flock #saltmarsh #landscape #silhouette #fineart #glynncounty #mhbenton

silhouette composite image of bird flock flying across a yellow-red sunrise sky.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Another Great Egret Flyby I really like these close, washed out images. Just glad the egrets don't mind flying close enough for me to capture them. #🪶 #birds #photography #highkey #washedout #overexposed #avian #wildlife #fineart #nature #egret #greategret #glynncounty #mhbenton

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Sunrise At Village Creek Marsh 5/5/25 #landscape #nature #sunrise #sun #sunflar #seapalmsresort #villagecreekmarsh #seaisland #saintsimonsisland #saltmarsh #glynncounty #mhbenton

Sunrise looking over a marsh and island in distance with a long line of clouds inline with the sunrays.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Ring-billed and Laughing Gull Flying Past St Simons Lighthouse For #BlueskyMonday.

two seagulls flying past the lighthouse on St Simons Island with the live oaks framing the left and bottom.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Foggy Morning Flyby This image is the result of fog, bright sunshine and a good angle. 🪶 #bird #photography #nature #wildlife #avian #highkey #weather #fog #egret #greategret #ardeidae #glynncounty #mhbenton

Washed out, high key image of a great egret flying through fog before the bright morning sun burned it off.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Lowkey Amaryllis The provided perfect backlighting to create this shot. #flowers #red #amaryllis #nature #photography #backlight #garden #backyard #lowkey #amaryllidaceae #glynncounty #mhbenton

Single red amaryllis flower against black background

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

At The Fishin' Hole 🪶 #birds #avian #photography #nature #wildlife #greatblueheron #heron #gbh #ardeidae #pond #glynncounty #mhbenton #saintsimonsisland #seapalms

Great Blue Heron at pond's edge, fishing

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Boat-tailed Grackle Hogging The Feeder I really like the iridescent coloring of them 🪶 #birds #photography #avian #wildlife #nature #grackle #boattailedgrackle #blackbird #icteridae #glynncounty #mhbenton

boat-tailed grackle standing on edge of platform feeder with a green and blue background

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Black-Crowned Night-Heron Close Fly-by It was so close I barely had time to react, much less make any setting adjustments. 🪶 #birds #avian #photography #nature #wildlife #birdinflight #heron #nightheron #blackcrownednightheron #sky #flyby #glynncounty #mhbenton

black-crowned night-heron against a washed out sky

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Sandwich Tern (My first time seeing one on the island) 🪶 #birds #avian #photography #birdinflight #shorebird #tern #sandwichtern #laridae #stsimonsisland #glynncounty #mhbenton

Immature sandwich tern flying over pond against a blue sky

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Returning To The Nest 🪶 #birds #avian #photography #wildlife #nature #nesting #raptors #osprey #pandionidae #glynncounty #mhbenton #stsimonsisland

Osprey returning to the nest to relieve its mate.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Wood Stork Portrait (or Modern-Day Pterodactyl) Now, if this guy can have feathers, why do people think it impossible for dinosaurs? 🪶 #birds #avian #photography #wildlife #portrait #pterodactyl #nature #ciconiidae #glynncounty #mhbenton

closeup of wood stork's face against a brownish background bokeh.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Snowy Egret Flyover (they are out in force today) 🪶 #birds #avian #ornithology #flyingbird #photography #wildlife #nature #wildlifephotography #egret #snowyegret #ardeidae #glynncounty #mhbenton

Lone snowy egret flying overhead against a clear blue sky

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Three Of A Kind 🪶 #birds #avian #ornithology #photography #wildlife #nature #wildlifephotography #egret #snowyegret #ardeidae #glynncounty #mhbenton

Three snowy egrets taking a break in a shaded area at the pond's edge.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Troublemaker In The Pond (Not the gator, look closely at its snout) #photography #pond #water #alligator #damselfly #reptile #insect #alligatoridae #zygoptera #wildlife #nature #glynncounty #mhbenton

Damselfly hitching a ride across the pond on an alligator's nose.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Reverse Water Flow One of the ponds near home has a ditch overflow. Pond level gets too high, it drains to the marsh; the thing is the overflow works both ways and when the tide is really high - this happens! #landscape #photography #streetphotography #pond #water #waterflow #waterway #mhbenton

Closeup of water flowing in the reverse direction at pond drainage system, from the marsh to the pond.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Amaryllis In Backlight They give an interesting look when backlit #flowers #amaryllis #nature #photography #backlight #sunflare #garden #backyard #blackandwhite #amaryllidaceae #glynncounty #mhbenton

Amaryllis blooms backlit by sun and a light sunflare.

Black & White image of a amaryllis flower

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Sunrise Flyby #landscape #nature #sunrise #sun #sunflar #overexposed #birds #silhouette #saltmarsh #glynncounty #mhbenton

Rice paper print of birds in silhouette flying across the marsh at sunrise. Sun is overexposed making the overall scene underexposed a bit.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

The Ancient Dune Trail, Guale Preserve #stsimonslandtrust #stsimonsisland #coastalgeorgia #naturepreserve #maritimeforest #landscape #photography #nature #glynncounty #mhbenton

walking trail through a maritime pine forest.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Mrs. Northern Cardinal 🪶 #birds #avian #wildlife #nature #backyardphotography #photography #lowkey #cardinal #northerncardinal #cardinalidae #glynncounty #mhbenton

Female northern cardinal atop garden statue and very dark background.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Red Amaryllis (from the archives) #red #amaryllis #hippestrum #flower #plants #botany #nature #bloom #bloomscrolling #bloomsky #flowersky #naturephotography #spring #photography #flowers #glynncounty #mhbenton

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Eastern Bluebird - Post Bath 🪶 #birds #fineart #highkey #backlight #wildlife #nature #photography #washedout #bluebird #easternblubird #glynncounty #mhbenton

Male eastern bluebird sunning after a bath atop oak tree branch.

MH Benton 🇺🇸 @mhb-photo.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Amaryllis In Backlight #amaryllis #hippestrum #blackyardphotography #flower #plants #botany #nature #bloom #bloomscrolling #bloomsky #flowersky #flowers #naturephotography #spring #photography

Amaryllis bloom up close and backlit.