12 week old Osprey

[John Whaley]

This is my first post here and this is a shot from last week. It is of a 12 week old Osprey I have been following this spring and summer. This one is similar to others I have taken with what I would have considered better light but even though it was overcast I liked the result.
1/2000, f4.5, auto ISO-560, +0.3 step, 500mm, D500, 500 f/4E FL.

[Richard Smith]

Well done. I like the soft light.

[Brian Desjardins]

I just saw your post after commenting on mine, gorgeous shot very inspiring , i have still a lot to learn !

[Bill Dix]

Welcome John. A great landing pose, with very nice detail and exposure. Overcast light is very often a friend. The only bummer here is the horizon line (if that's what it is) crossing the frame as it does.

[Richard Smith]

I just saw your post after commenting on mine, gorgeous shot very inspiring , i have still a lot to learn !

Thanks but I just missed mine spreading his wings. I did get him from behind with his food in his talons as he left but it's not very appealing seen from the rear. Yours made me really jealous. Opreys are really beautiful and I only get to see them during migratory seasons. Mine appears to already have left town.

[William Dickson]

Beautiful details and lighting on the bird. I wished that dark line had been above the bird. Very nice flight pose and I love the talons.

Well done John

Will

[Tim Foltz]

John, welcome to the forum. Overcast light is often a blessing when it comes to whites, wing position is nice, looks sharp, I just wish the intersecting green band
in the BG wasn't cutting the bird in half.

-Tim

[Stu Bowie]

Hi John, a big welcome to BPN, and a great incoming shot of this youngster. Nice wingspread, and we have a great view of those talons. Already mentioned, the dark line across the frame is a bit distracting. Have you got the other shots in your sequence where the Osprey could be above or below the dark band.

[John Whaley]

Hi John, a big welcome to BPN, and a great incoming shot of this youngster. Nice wingspread, and we have a great view of those talons. Already mentioned, the dark line across the frame is a bit distracting. Have you got the other shots in your sequence where the Osprey could be above or below the dark band.

Thank you all for the feedback. It is interesting to me that most find the horizon line distracting as I liked it but that is why I posted in the first place, critique. I actually work to get a background as I usually find bird in flight shots with just sky background less interesting. Always learning. Including another from the sequence with no background.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I like the pose here with open wings and readied talons - approaching a perch or nest? Sometimes horizon lines can work, but here it's its placement that is a distraction (squarely across the head). Had it been lower, say, across the tail, or lower, then it would not have been an issue.

[John Whaley]

I like the pose here with open wings and readied talons - approaching a perch or nest? Sometimes horizon lines can work, but here it's its placement that is a distraction (squarely across the head). Had it been lower, say, across the tail, or lower, then it would not have been an issue.

One more from the series with a lower background. It is actually shot over a bay and the background line is a barrier island with the Atlantic beyond. Usually the island comes out in a lighter color but there was something unusual about the light on this day.

[Brian Desjardins]

Hi John, I really do like this set you have posted, lots of detail, great pose's, good lighting, I do see what the other comments mean about the outline in the background, for myself its not too distracting. But i'm just wondering if there was detail in the outline (trees ect.) if it would be less distracting, maybe the other commentators could answer this for me. Love the talons and pose in this one, Awesome job!