Osprey with an attitude

[Brutus Ostling]

I hadn't been to US photographing since the analogue slide era (2003 was my last visit). So when I visited Florida for 12 days last month it was really fun, much easier with a digital camera. This shot is taken from the boat I rented at Grande Tours, south of Venice, Florida.

It's 600 mm plus 2 x converter (1200 mm) and handheld, camera: Canon 1 D Mark III. Without the IS I would never have tried it, it's heavy to handheld the 600/4 in a boat, but I believe five of the seven shots where sharp. But to be honest, if I had noticed that I had my 2 x converter on (I thought it was just 600 mm and I discovered the converter later while editing the photos and looking at the file info). I think the image will fit in my coming book this autumn, "Birds with an attitude".

ISO 320, 1/800 s, aperture 10 (Maximum 8). I may crop a little bit or maybe not for the book. In books photos can be cropped more than when exhibited as photos, where they often need more space around.

[Bob Malbon]

I love it: The pose, the sign and the background. Great job. Bob

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Brutus !!!! So nice seeing you here !!!!! :)

You are right about the attitude !!! That bird means business !!! Sure hope you were able to get the white pelicans on the boat !!! Love the well saturated colors and excellent exposure !!! btw would not hesitate to use a higher iso with your mk3!!!! Big Congrats !!!!

[Lana Hays]

Brutus
I always love to see birds on these signs........shows they mean business. I sure wouldn't want to "cross the line". Very well done....especially hand holding the rig. Al makes a good point about using a higher ISO........if it's exposed properly you can do a whole lot more. Well done.

[Robert Amoruso]

Brutus,

Was looking at some of your books at Artie's house a while back - beautiful work.

This guy's look puts the exclamation point on the sign for sure. Nice light and BG working very well - green where the bird is and not transitioning to a different color until the sign. Nice work.

[Brutus Ostling]

Hi Brutus !!!! So nice seeing you here !!!!! :)

You are right about the attitude !!! That bird means business !!! Sure hope you were able to get the white pelicans on the boat !!! Love the well saturated colors and excellent exposure !!! btw would not hesitate to use a higher iso with your mk3!!!! Big Congrats !!!!

HI Alfred,

I use up to ISO 2000 with the 1 D Mark III, once ISO 2500 with rather good result. But here it was grabbing the camera from down on the boat, getting seven fast shots (without even noticing I was shooting handheld not with 600 mm but with 1200 mm) - and then bye bye osprey... I am glad it was not set on ISO 200.

WArmest thanks to allof you

Brutus