Osprey Landing with Fish

[Jim Neiger]

Indian River County, FL - 1D3, 500mm, hand held from boat, 1/2000, F7.1, ISO 400, Manual exposure

[Ken Watkins]

Stunning image pin sharp from hand-holding, I wish I could do that, I have to ask was the boat moored or adrift.

I must confess that I would clone out the leaves, but do not really find them distracting.

[Jim Neiger]

Stunning image pin sharp from hand-holding, I wish I could do that, I have to ask was the boat moored or adrift.

I must confess that I would clone out the leaves, but do not really find them distracting.

The boat was not anchored. I positioned the boat using a remote controlled electric trolling motor.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose, good light and the fish adds to it. Maybe a tad less sharpening of the head?

[Randy Stout]

Jim:

A fine capture, great pose, implied action, prey, exposure.

I do agree with Axel about the sharpness. There are some jaggies creeping into the image from sharpening. These are most obvious to me along the rachis of primaries #8 & 7 on the birds right wing.

There is also a little noise showing throughout the sky.

I did wonder how the osprey manages to land securely with one talon full of fish? Are they so strong that they can land one footed?

This is a very well crafted image, makes me want to get out in the boat!

Randy

[Subharghya]

This is Brilliant ... the Dramatic pose and fish in the talons also in a perfect setting altogether a Perfect Shot !!

[Dr.Pranay Rao Juvvadi]

Very well caught! I like the wing spread, the poised head, the fish and the extended right foot showing the Ospreys unique toe arrangement. I do not mind the inclusion of the leaves. I too see a little noise in the sky.

[Mital Patel]

this is a fantastic capture. nice timing. just personal suggestion to clone out that green portion on bottom..

[colincarter]

lovely shot Jim, i would get rid of the green in the bottom, it does not add anything to the photo. The birds head does look a tad oversharpened aswell.

[Ashutosh Sinha]

Very cool shot Jim. If you were little more to the left photo would have been even better :-).
Another vote for noise reduction on the background.

[Erich Stevens]

Jim,

This is top rate for a hand held. Love the detail in the outstretched wings, right talon ready to grab hold, dinner in the other, eyes sharp, perfect EXP... all elements of a great image. I'd also clone out the green at the bottom.

[Harshad Barve]

apart form cloning vagetation, this is fantatsic
TFS

[Dominic Cantin]

What a great skill to hold a fish and land with only one talon :eek: And what a great skill to capture a scene like that :eek: Thanks for sharing !!!

Dom :)

[Joerg Rockenberger]

What a great pose and action. Agree with Alex that sharpness might just be a tad overdone. Most likely the JPG conversion is to fault. I guess I'd have taken off a little bit more from the right. JR

[Rick Moran]

Jim, Great wing spread and lighting. It does look a little over sharpened on my screen and I agree with the cloning of the bottom. Still a nice capture.
Rick

[Kiran Poonacha]

Just too good Jim.. add my "congrats" to the Above...

[Dean Fleischman]

I know they hate "wow" comments on BPN, but WOW!

Now for the specifics: outstanding wing-position, light, feather detail, eye, decisive moment (reaching out for the perch) and prey. I think I would have gotten rid of the tree tops in the BG; they don't bring anything to the party. But what a wonderful all-around image.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Yup, as close to perfect as you can wish!

[sree.kumar.h]

Brilliant Jim! Love the look in those eyes. I feel the greens adds to the BG of the image. I like it.