Osprey

Gallery: AvianPosted April 28, 2011204 views13 comments

Pandion haliaetus

Probably not the best Osprey shot I have taken, but I was extremely happy to capture this here in Illinois. Osprey are not very common here, in fact they are listed as endangered in Illinois. This was taken from my boat. I liked the lighting and nice natural looking background.

7D, 500mm f4L IS + 1.4 tc
1/640, f8.0, ISO 200
57% of full frame (10.3 of 18 mp)

All comments and critique very appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on April 28, 2011 at 9:03 PM

This is a great Osprey image. The bird really pops out from the background.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on April 28, 2011 at 10:15 PM

What a superb image of this regal-looking Osprey! The larger image needs to be seen to fully appreciate this, especially as the smaller version make the neck and head appear softer than they are. Knowing you shot this from a boat, assuming this meant you were handholding your 500, has me all the more impressed Matt :^)

If this were mine, and this is being real picky ;^p I would remove the errant twig that's crept into the frame about halfway up the LH side.

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on April 28, 2011 at 11:00 PM

I would love to have been there with you to take this shot, a great detailed capture. Love the eye, handling of the whites/lites and BG. Well done Matt!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 28, 2011 at 11:30 PM

Nice detail and good work on the whites and dark browns. Good head turn and a fine capture of this species' intensity. The 1200px version is especially nice.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 29, 2011 at 1:03 AM

Matt,
Another superb image. The smaller thumbnail version does not do this shot justice. The larger version must be seen to fully appreciate this one. Feather detail is fantastic and the whites are flawlessly rendered. Add to that a perfect head angle, a great perch, and a natural environment background and you really have a winner here Matt.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on April 29, 2011 at 12:38 PM

Wow Matt, if you've got better ones than this... congratulations!!!!!!

This is one of the nicest Osprey captures I've seen, great pose, exposure... what everyone else said. I haven't read this in another post here, but one MINOR nit is that little brown branch about mid-frame and mid-bird. Is cloning it possible?? Just asking the question, beautiful osprey, captured beautifully.

OK, just re-read Ashley's post and she did mention the twig--sorry if I missed anyone else mentioning that as well.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on April 29, 2011 at 4:03 PM

Matt,
great pose, perch and background colors. Beautiful capture.

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

Comment posted by Guy Runco on April 29, 2011 at 7:19 PM

Really nice shot, love that bg!

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 30, 2011 at 6:51 AM

I agree Matt, the sharply detailed Osprey looks excellent against this soft natural BG..
Very nice comp, POV, and head-turn, techs look great!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on April 30, 2011 at 1:23 PM

Nice one, Matt. Love the sheen on the feathers, and seems a perfect perch for this bird of prey.

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on April 30, 2011 at 11:59 PM

Excellent Matt!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on May 1, 2011 at 12:11 PM

Classic, beautiful portrait of this species- Great expression, detail and BG- Like very much the warm delicate palette on this image- My best best congrats, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 2, 2011 at 10:11 PM

Great light and BG. I love her beautiful necklace as well.

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