Osprey

[William Dickson]

Canon 1DX Mk2
f/4 400mm DO Mk2
f/4
1/4000
ISO 640

Never been out for a while, so still looking through old files that have never been processed....This is one from a set up...Taken from a hide sunk into the ground and a small lochan stocked with large rainbow trout to entice the birds...If I remember correctly, I'm sure there was only 6 dives over a 6 hour period....Just before this frame, the bird was struggling with the fish and was almost pulled under.....but once those wings started flapping, there was only going to be one winner.....HH....ACR and PS.

Will

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Will, based on the techs you had some awesome light, but perhaps being just a little overcast would have worked better in you favour with the HL's. Think ISO800 more native and a fraction more SS, albeit you had enough, but 800 would have been good.

Super pose and good you got the eye/head in, but a tough call of the whites and blacks. The background is a bit sooty/crappy, as you have ACR you should be able to deploy a mask and resolve the BKG, in doing so it's a little cleaner, but helps the subject with separation. I would also look at darkening the water and adding some overall saturation, +10 I think would be enough and certainly NOT Vib! In addition, with the adjustment brush, just tickle the trout to drop some of the brighter whites & HL's. If you are happy, then the two yellow flowers need to go,

TFS
Steve

PS Think you pushed the Blacks/Contrast.

[Dorian Anderson]

That is some incredible action! The feet, fish, and splash steal the show. It would be great to have more direct lighting on the bird's face, but I think the frame works well as captured. Steve's rework is a significant improvement with respect to the background. Nice work.

[Brian Sump]

Will, fabulous timing on this shot. It's quite a rare pose IMO and adding in the catch of the day really sparks it up!

I like the overall tones in the plumage. It appears you probably did a little work on the face based on being in the shadows but I believe a touch more attention there to brighten the eye and at a touch of saturation in the yellow could help loads.

Would have been nice to have a touch more separation from the reeds but the setting is seen well in this aspect. Comp is spot on and using the touch of darkening selectively as Steve mentioned works.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Well caught Will super action shot, suggestions made & offered make significant improvement.

[William Dickson]

Thanks for that guys....much appreciated....And thanks for the call Steve....

Will

[Steve Kaluski]

And thanks for the call Steve....

You are most welcome Will, hopefully it's added to your PP skills. :S3:

[William Dickson]

You are most welcome Will, hopefully it's added to your PP skills. :S3:

It sure did....

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Will ... what a nice shot of the Osprey .
Super pose and the peeking under the wings is nice ... and getting this with the fish is priceless !!
Processing is many times just a matter of taste ... personally i would like to see more color and lesser contrast in the BG . And i would darken the water not as much as Steve with his demo .

A killer shot , that i would process differently ... just for the matter of taste .

TFS Andreas

[Steve Kaluski]

I’m sure William would appreciate a different POV, so post a RP Andreas, as you keep talking about a different way, let’s all see. :S3:

[Andreas Liedmann]

, as you keep talking about a different way, let’s all see. :S3:

Like you do ..... and not always post a demo :w3 , as time is limited and a written suggestion or thought must be enough .

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Will ... i found a bit of time to edit your nice image .
So here is my view of it .
My thinking is in a sunny situation like this i would see the colors a bit more " visible " so to speak .... might not fit to all folks including yourself .
But Steve is for sure right , an RP is a better way to illustrate things .
So here you go !
Cheers Andreas

[Kurt Bowman]

Very nice frame Will! Love the catch and the eye peeking from under the wing! I like both reposts, but my eye seems =to like the last one best.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Will ... i found a bit of time to edit your nice image .

Andreas :cheers:

[William Dickson]

I like both RP's...helps me a lot....Thanks guys

Will