caught in the act

Gallery: AvianPosted September 9, 2010205 views18 comments

This image was taken at Shaver Lake in California 6 weeks ago. I was in my kayak trying to get low angle shots. I had noticed in the two previous days that osprey kept coming to this same location every day to fish for catfish who it turns out were spawning. It was easy pickins for the osprey and so I thought I would set up for a tight low angle shot. I got many images but I think I like this one the best. Comments and suggestions always appreciated. Thanks for looking. Please see larger image.
D300s
200-400 @400
Cropped 25%
ISO 400
SS 2000
F/7.1
Spot metering
Auto white balance
JPEG
hand held in kayak

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on September 9, 2010 at 9:55 PM

Great action shot. Love the up wing position and the sharpness. Suggestions would be that the whites on the head appear hot on my monitor and the contrast looks just a smidge high. That must of been awesome to see from your kayak.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 9, 2010 at 9:57 PM

Wow, awesome to get him taking a large cat like this David! The whites on the crown look a little bright to me, I'd try to adjust that. Big congrats on this one!

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on September 9, 2010 at 10:12 PM

Terrific capture, David. I like the composition too: lovely pose of the bird, splashing water, nicely contrasting background.

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

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on September 9, 2010 at 10:51 PM

Splendid shot, David! The wing position is awesome.

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on September 9, 2010 at 10:57 PM

Super shot. Takes a lot of patience and preparation to get a good shot like this from a kayak.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on September 9, 2010 at 11:47 PM

Terrific David, I think this is the first photo I have seen of one with a catfish.

Great timing!

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 10, 2010 at 10:22 AM

Excellent capture David! Still looking for my first Osprey catch and you did a fantastic job with htis one!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on September 10, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Great action shot, David.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 10, 2010 at 11:52 AM

David, this is some great action. The overall comp works for me. To me this need a bit of CCW rotation and I think you could bring down the exposure on the whole image just a bit to bring out the colors more and help out that very bright crown on the osprey. Cool shot.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on September 10, 2010 at 12:05 PM

Would love to witness this - let alone watch it unfold from a kayak with camera in hand. Impressive shot and great techs.

- Luke

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on September 10, 2010 at 12:09 PM

Nice capture! Impressive from the kayak...better hope they don't start hunting kayakers! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on September 10, 2010 at 12:52 PM

The frontal position, to have caught the climax and the excellent dynamism combine to make this a unique image.
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on September 10, 2010 at 6:43 PM

Very well timed

Well captured image.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on September 11, 2010 at 8:32 AM

Super action shot here, David. Great timing, must've been a tough balancing act with that big lens in the kayak.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on September 11, 2010 at 1:07 PM

David

The action you caught is great though I would bet the catfish didn't enjoy being lunch. I agree with Ron B, I would bring the exposure down globally and that might help with the crown being so bright. I just love watching Ospreys fish.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 11, 2010 at 3:16 PM

Killer Action Photo David

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 11, 2010 at 8:42 PM

It's an impressive shot and an impressive catfish too David. I like your planning and that it worked. I agree that it needs a slight tweak of CCW rotation.

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

Comment posted by Lee fisher on September 12, 2010 at 1:47 AM

Top shot really like the low point of view,
lee

Registered on September 10, 2010, 13 Posts, 89 Comments