Osprey in Favorite Spot

[Kenn Jolemore]

This young Osprey loves to hang around in this tree and is there most days for at least an hour or so . I have also photographed it sleeping in this spot.
Taken with a Pentax K10D and AT-X80-400 Tokina lens @ 400 mm.
F-7.1 ISO5000 1/320th AP ., +0.3EV

[Tony Whitehead]

Great to have a co-operative bird that you can work with, Kenn. I suspect your ISO was 500 rather than 5000 (sunny f16 rule). For me there are a number of issues to improve this image. The initial one is exposure. You have done well to dial in +EV but it needs more - probably around +1 - the best way is to use your histogram and push it as far to the right as possible without creating a cut-off vertical edge to it. The reason for this is that the dark plumage needs more exposure to record detail. Having the light from the side makes this even more difficult as you have some dark plumage in shade and some bright plumage in sun. I would try the shot again with the sun behind you if you can. This picture looks a bit tight in the framing and I suspect is a significant crop due to the loss of detail and the size of the dust bunny on the left. Unsure what postprocessing you have done but ideally shooting in RAW gives you the most info and flexibility - this image looks very contrasty and has clipped highlight areas and clipped shadows suggesting some fairly marked levels or curves adjustments were made. Finally an image with the Osprey looking a little toward you rather than away would look a lot nicer. Keep at it - with your gear and a co-operative bird I look forward to more of your images as this looks to have potential.

[Kenn Jolemore]

Many thanks for the detailed suggestions Tony. Of course the ISO was 500, a bad habit of mine to add on extra 0's when wrighting. I was about 20 feet from the Osprey and there is only about 25% crop on this shot. I do have a very bad habit I must break as I fill the frame often creating problems when it is time to mat the photograph.
The tree is on the water and the sun comes from behind or beside the Osprey so short of a skiff that will always be a bit of a problem with this spot. It is also a great place for Kingfishers as they love this spot as well and share it with their larger friend.
I will try to work more with the histogram and get a better feel for it's potential.
Many thanks again.
Kenn

[Doug Brown]

Excellent critique by Tony. I would also tone down the blue of the BG.

[Kenn Jolemore]

Excellent critique by Tony. I would also tone down the blue of the BG.

Doug,
The BG is what it was the morning I took the photograph. I do not see what the advantage would be to alter it but am interested in you take if you would care to elaborate.
Thanks; Kenn

[Doug Brown]

I think it's so blue that it almost looks artificial. It also draws my eye away from the subject of the image. I should have elaborated in my original post.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Kenn,
Some right advice given above. When I was new to digital, I used to move the temperature slider to warmer temp. and oversaturate it. That used to result in deep blue skies. Please look at your post processing. And look forward to your kingfisher shots as well.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi