Osprey portrait

[Diane Miller]

For several years now I've been wanting to get a good shot of the osprey in this tree, which affords them a good view of the nest. (They also favor a utility pole....) I've been shooting with the 300 + 1.4X lately and this day I put on the 2X for some portraits. The 2X isn't tack sharp on the older 300 IS -- the result somewhat resembles a soft-focus portrait lens. Possibly not helped by the amount of intervening air.

Canon 7D2, 300 f/2.8 IS, Canon 2X III. Tripod. ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/2000. I tried some at ISO 400, a little more stopped down and lower SS but they were softer. Hope to have a chance to try it again. Clearing morning fog.

Minor adjustments in LR and into PS to composite a thin strip along the bottom from another shot -- this was the best pose but the tail was a little too close to the edge of the frame. A slight amount of cleaning up along the bottom edge and some tweaks to the color balance. Slight brightening of the eyes.

[Warren Spreng]

She is staring you down! I see why you wanted to include the tree in the image, great character to it.

[adrian dancy]

A superb portrait here Diane. I wished I had a portrait this close when I did Ospreys at the end of June.
Given the light conditions and given you had the benefit of a tripod I might have been tempted to leave ISO at 800 and stop down to f8 or more.

[Michael Hansen]

Very nice, Diane! Majestic looking bird/portrait!

[Ian Wilson]

Looks pretty good for 300 mm f/2.8 I + 2x III extender. I like the composition, perch and sky background. Very imperious look! Regards, Ian.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Diane, good eye contact, well exposed on the whites, and I like the feather detail too. I like your overall comp and glad you left space on either side of the nest.

[Sandy Witvoet]

Love that stare-down! Great posture and position of the Ospery in "his" tree!

[Diane Miller]

Thanks, everyone! They both perch in the tree sometimes, and sometimes together now that the kids are bigger, but not close enough for a good shot of both in the same frame, even with focus stacking.

I'll be trying for more portraits, for sure -- will probably haul the 600 and big tripod in there soon.

[Karl Egressy]

Love the stare and the perch is one of a kind, Diane.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Diane,

Came across your osprey image as I was browsing through the Avian Forum - thought I should mention your post in Story Sequences Forum recently, for which I must thank you again:)

This is lovely and I enjoyed viewing, wonderful eye-contact and such proud pose! I sincerely hope the youngsters survive...

Wishing you a lovely evening,