It flew by

[Desmond Chan]

Nikkor 70-300 f4.5-5.6 VRII @ 170mm on D700 hand-held. Manual exposure mode (as usual). ISO 1000 f5.6 1/1600s.

Late afternoon sunlight. About 50% crop. Fixed some blown highlights and cooled the color a bit.

The settings were for the flying swallows as I was practising shooting them. But this osprey made a couple of rounds over the pond searching for fish. Then it also saw me (probably heard the sound from the shutter). Flying pretty close at one point over my head, too. But that shot I got one of the wings clipped at the tip as I wasn't able to adjust and zoom out fast enough.

Comments welcome !

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Desmond Got lots of detail and like the processing very much !!! Would only try lightening the other eye some !! Like the direct look and pose !!! Excellent !!!

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Great capture angle Desmond. Wow, 170MM nice close up and view of bottom side. Love the "looking at you" pose, great BIF picture.

[Lance Peters]

Big Congrats Desmond - Love it - just lighten that eye a little.
Sweet light and sharp as a tack.
:)

Nailed it!!!!!

[Oscar Zangroniz]

This guy is starring at you my friend. Great head angle and eye contact. Well exposed.

[Desmond Chan]

I had thought about lightening the right eye a bit but thought the it wasn't really in a dark shadow anyhow and so...:o

Yes, Jeff, 170mm on a full frame camera ! Should have zoomed in more :D

Thank you for the comments !

I know there's a reason I like the D700 better :)

[Kerry Perkins]

Nice one Desmond! You really got his attention big time. Really nice details and I love the quality of that late afternoon light. Super!