For Doug Brown.

[James Shadle]

While out on the Hooptie Deux, Doug asked - why don't I post more images?
Manly because I stare at a blue screen in the forum admin area most of the time! Al,Chris and Blake know what I'm talking about.
Well I'm taking the time to critique a few images and post one.

This image was captured last week with Doug Brown, Jim Neiger and David out in Tampa Bay.

The Osprey are building a nest on a channel marker. Next high "spring tide" I will be close to being eye level.

We went out earlier than I normally do, so the sun was high and cool. I could not pass up an Osprey with a stick that big!

Nikon D300
Nikon 70-300mm ED VR @300mm
ISO 400, Manually exposed at 1/1600SS @ F8
White balance 5880k to help the color temp.
Contrast turned down one notch, to hold the high sun contrast down a bit.
AF-C Using Dynamic 51 point 3D
RAW
No noise reduction or active d-lighting.
95% of the frame. I took a bit off the right hand side.

I judged the exposure by histogram, I'm on a laptop and the brightness changes every time I squirm.
Let me know how it came out please. Then maybe I will know what angle to view the screen at.

Thanks James

[Sid Garige]

Amazing capture James. Intense look and excellent details. Out of box pose with nesting material.
All in all a wonderful image.

[Dan Brown]

Looks great to me James, even on my squirmie laptop! Very sharp! I am excited to see this and some of the other recent images from the "flight school" area as I will be in attendance in a few days:D

[Tony Whitehead]

Fantastic light and pose- you can almost feel the effort of carrying that stick/post/log! Any idea what that strand is that seems to be coming off the stick?

[Gavin Spooner]

James;

I like the angle of the stick (and of course its a pretty impressive stick too!) Everything else looks good too.

cheers
Gavin

[Doug Brown]

It's fishing line.

[Doug Brown]

Well done James! Thanks for an excellent day on the Hooptie Deux! That Osprey looks like a witch riding a broomstick. Neiger keeps telling me what a great photographer you are; now I have proof.

[Philip Pietri]

Gorgeous details on the bird and I really love the composition. I'm wondering if the curved stringy twig near the lower portion of the branch should be removed. Also, there's a bit of a glow-y blur under the birds left (viewers right) wing - where it hinges(?). Does that make sense? Geez, I forgot how hard critiquing is.

Can't wait to get out on the boat with you again, Cap'n Crunch.

[Sharna Lee]

Wow! That is an awesome shot James.
I'd love to be able to post a picture of a bird in flight like this and say it's mine.
You have mastered that skill. Thanks for sharing.

Sharna

[Tony House]

That's a tree trunk!!!! love the wing form, nice comp and exposure....

Tony