Osprey Overbalance

[Richard Mc Donald]

1D MK IV
800L f5.6
ISO 200
f 5.6
1/2500
50% crop


This Osprey is one of our locals and is used to humans being close so it gave me plenty of time to get quite a few shots off.

Richard

[John Chardine]

Hi Richard- Now that's a very dynamic image. Did the wind catch the bird? The layout is simple with no distractions. Love the steel-grey background. I think the composition is spot-on; I was thinking that maybe something off the bottom would be good but I'm not so sure now. There is a slight "paint-by-numbers" effect especially around the head and I wonder if some noise reduction was run on the subject. Regarding the techs, the 1DIV (I've had two) can perform very well at ISO 400 and 800 so I would have set the ISO there and not shot wide open.

Ospreys are amazing- they are all over the world. I wonder if one day they will make them all separate species?

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Richard,

Really like the pose and perch, agree with John on trimming the bottom some. Composition is perfect, wish the light was not mixed but still a nice shot and moment in nature. Love the muted background and wing spread is just stunning. From an exposure point of view, agree higher ISO provides more options, e.g. wider aperture and with the pro body they can handle it. Thanks for posting, this is a fine image especially with a 50% crop.

[Asta Tobiassen]

I really like the position you captured this bird in. This looks quite sharp, especially given the amount of crop.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Richard, this is an interesting pose and dynamic action captured. For me, the mixed light really hurts the image. Only about 25% of the bird has proper light on it. Given the large crop and the big glass used, I would suggest that you try to get closer to your subject - especially if they are used to human presence.

Where I live, ospreys are not that common and present a real challenge to photograph. A few years ago I met a wildlife photographer from Florida while I was shooting an osprey in Yellowstone NP. I was excited about the shots I was getting until he told me that these birds are almost a nuisance in Florida and as common as sparrows.

[Fred Canter]

Love the positioning and the dynamics of the shot. Wonder if a little fill flash would have evened out the light more.

Agree with Kerry, while they are not rare where I live, it is rare to get close to one and I get excited whenever I do.