Osprey

Gallery: AvianPosted January 16, 2010222 views19 comments

Pandion haliaetus

I was photographing shorebirds on the beach on Sanibel Island when this Osprey landed right in front of me. I did not have to move at all, just pointed the camera at it and started shooting. I thought he would bath and I would get some interesting shots of him splashing around, but he just stood there for a while, then flew away.

7D, 500mm f4L IS +1.4 tc
1/800, f10, ISO 200
Partial Metering, Exp. Comp. -2/3
About 90% of Full Frame

All comments and critique welcome.
Thank You.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 16, 2010 at 10:51 PM

I've never seen an osprey do this before, but you certainly took advantage of it! The eye is gorgeous and the dripping water from the tail and wet feathers on the neck are excellent touches. I would try to give this a CW rotation though. Even if it IS straight, the swell of the water makes it look like it's going up, so it may be more aesthetically appealing with a small rotation.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 16, 2010 at 10:51 PM

I guess he's just a publicity hog, Matt. Very nice detail and exposure. I like the head turn here.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 16, 2010 at 11:51 PM

Very interesting photo. You seemed to have taken good advantage of the situation.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 17, 2010 at 1:03 AM

Now that's great timing to have him just plop down in front of you and get in your face. He has a somewhat startled appearance, like "oops", there's a guy with a camera right there. It's a unique look at an Osprey. I like that little wave passing under him. Nice techs.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 17, 2010 at 3:28 AM

Maybe we now have a dirty Osprey because of you!

- nice detail Matt.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Neven Dries on January 17, 2010 at 6:53 AM

I love the detail in this picture! He was sure posing for you.I do agree with Luke about the water making it seem a slight CW rotation is needed.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 52 Posts, 160 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 17, 2010 at 7:23 AM

Matt,

How wonderful of this osprey to plop down and pose for you like this! I like your exposure, the osprey's pose, the great look at the lemony colored eye and the little wave.

Nice work.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 17, 2010 at 10:54 AM

A unique shot - very interesting.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 17, 2010 at 11:43 AM

Very nice detail and exposure, well done. One of the few shots that I have seen a Osprey totally surrounded by water in an image, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 17, 2010 at 1:04 PM

Beautiful, Matt. Love the pose, amazing detail, great capture of that yellow eye and the beak. The water makes a very nice background for the bird.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Jenkins on January 17, 2010 at 1:41 PM

Wonderful close up shot, Matt. Nice and sharp with good exposure of whites.

Registered on April 20, 2008, 307 Posts, 604 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 17, 2010 at 2:10 PM

I love how he is standing in the water. Nice light and very good details. I like the tentative look in his eye and his bedraggled feathers near the water. Great choice of comp.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 17, 2010 at 2:27 PM

Not often you get one of these land right on your lap as it were. I love the eye contact here

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 17, 2010 at 2:34 PM

Nice shot Matt. Very nice detail too. It was nice of him to stop by.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 17, 2010 at 3:10 PM

Well done Matt. I wish ospreys would land near me sometime - you're a lucky guy.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 17, 2010 at 7:26 PM

I like this a lot Matt - you took great advantage of your opportunity.

I wouldn't have bathed in front of a guy pointing 700mm at me either.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 17, 2010 at 8:54 PM

Very realistic image, Matt. That eagle-eyed (er...osprey-eyed) stare you're getting is really something!

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 17, 2010 at 9:05 PM

Love this . Long streched neck pose with great contrast and sharpness.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Colin Pickett on January 18, 2010 at 3:25 PM

Great to get a easy shot now and then, I have been there many times I wish it would happen to me.

Nice image

Registered on December 30, 2004, 23 Posts, 156 Comments