7D: Osprey at sunrise

[Doug Brown]

I didn't get many opportunities to photograph raptors with the 7D out in California; I would have loved to try it out with the nesting Peregrines. But this Osprey did make a single pass over us not long after the sun appeared over the horizon one morning. I normally like separation between beak and body, but because the tip of the beak is visible against the white feathers, I thought it worked here. I could have tried to pull more detail out of the darks, but I liked the texture I got from the shadow areas.



Canon 7D, 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 400, hand held

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the light and stare and might lighten the underwings a bit.

[Doug Brown]

Repost with a little less underwing shadow. Noise doesn't look bad at all. :)

[Morkel Erasmus]

superb light and the beak shows nicely as mentioned. I assume tracking it was no issue :)

[arash_hazeghi]

Nice eye contact Doug and I agree beak works just fine, although I have to say I have seen better Osprey photos from you.
I still see a bit of noise so I would run another pass of NR in neutral areas under the wing. it also appears a bit soft here, maybe more sharpening on the eye and beak. The crop works well.

So when are you going to test the MK IV :D ?

[Doug Brown]

I had no problem tracking this bird against the sky. Here's a 100% crop of the unprocessed RAW file showing the focus point (I actually had focus point expansion enabled around the red center point).

[Brian Barcelos]

A little dark for my taste but the overall photo is nice, good wing position and eye contact. I too see a bit of noise under the wings.

[Harshad Barve]

lovely pose and compo ,
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Doug, you couldnt have asked for better light over the head and eye. That along makes this image IMO. Comp works well, and your repost looks good. Well done.