Osprey/fish different look

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi guys. I don't know if this works or not and I will appreciate your thoughts.

I have seen a lot of shots of osprey with fish, but not with the wings down like this. I really like the look of the top side of the wing and in this shot you can also see the under wing only in the background. Does this work?

Also, I was not able to get a good sharpening on this one, even though it is not that much of a crop. Don't know why, but does it look over/under-sharpened? Captured in harsh mid-day sun, which probably robbed me of some detail and it appears that focus might have been on the apex of the near wing.

The sky was completely blue so I used a cloud brush on the background.

50D, EF400mm f/5.6L
Manual mode, f/5.6@1/2500 ISO 200 WB 5100K
AI Servo autofocus, hh no flash

Thanks for your comments! :D

[Anita Rakestraw]

Kerry, this is very appealing, I think; and you did a good job with the clouds! :D To me it does not look oversharpened, but pretty smooth, like there was alot of NR used....? The eye and head are nice and sharp and the basic details are there. I like the wing position very much. Too bad we can't see more of the fish. My take....see what others say. :)

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Kerry,
There is allot to like here. The wing detail is good except for a small portion on the bird's under section of the right wing. Sharpening looks good and the color rendition is very good along with the head angle and sharp eye...he is also placed just right in frame and that baby blue sky makes him pop...well done Sir. Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year...:):cool:

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Kerry

Wing position looks great but not for carrying a fish ... can't see the fish !!! Looks pretty sharp to me, (I'm on a laptop on the road) Would darken the pupil some and will appear even sharper than it is !! Do like it a lot !!!

[Lance Peters]

Hi Kerry - Agree with AL'S comments - looks sharp.
Good show :)

[Kerry Perkins]

Survey says - fish or no fish! Would be best to clone out the fish and talon in this case. Si? Irony is that this osprey had eaten half of his fish already, so I only have half a fish to show in the other captures! :eek: Good news is I can go back to the same spot and go birding/fishing again! :)

[Dan Brown]

Great job Kerry! I agree with the survey. Wow, really high SS for ISO 200!

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Dan. Yes, it was very bright mid-day light and I needed to go big to save the whites!

Here is a version without the fish. I think it presents better.

[Nonda Surratt]

Much better no fish, you did great with the clouds. Really nice job all around Kerry!

[VinceRossi]

Nice shot. I think showing the fish looked better or when you eliminated the fish you shouldn't have removed his feet. Something looks wrong for me on the tail section.