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Lefty
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Lefty

by Bill Maile

Gallery: AvianPosted July 8, 2012137 views8 comments
This adult male osprey coming back to the nest to show off and share his catch, firmly grasped in his left talon. Love watching and listening to these birds.

D90, ISO-400, 1/1250th, f-5.6, 300mm, manual... some burning on whites done (maybe slightly higher shutter would have helped), larger posted, your comments welcomed.

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on July 8, 2012 at 1:35 PM
You've had a great day photographing these guys. Good catch... both you and the osprey!
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 8, 2012 at 1:43 PM
Nice capture of an Osprey doing his job, Bill. You're right that some of the whites are blown, but it is still a strong image. I shoot Ospreys at -07ev to try to manage this challenge.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 8, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Nice capture! Exposure is tough with ospreys; I also shoot them at -0.3 to -0.7.
Some of the whites also seem a little "melted together", as if you applied NR to the whole image instead of just the BG.
Great pose and view of the fish.
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Alan Murphy on July 8, 2012 at 3:48 PM
Nice flight shot.
Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on July 8, 2012 at 5:36 PM
Great moment of capture :toast:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 8, 2012 at 6:45 PM
Another very nice Osprey shot, excellent!

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 8, 2012 at 7:29 PM
Jim and Sandy are correct. I also think you tried to compensate by sharpening a bit too much. Still, a fine Osprey action shot.

Addressing your title: for some reason, almost every shot I have seen of Osprey carrying prey, the prey is held in the left talon.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Maile on July 10, 2012 at 7:47 AM
Thank you everyone, I go back and look at some older BIF images, and I at least see and feel much progress has been made... still a lot to learn, but I enjoy getting everyone's feedback. Looks a bit over-sharpened in the larger version, still a struggle finding the right balance of sharpening for posting here! :smile:
Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments