Osprey+ repost

Gallery: AvianPosted May 15, 2010141 views15 comments

I am currently in Virginia, doing some training. (I am in the military). I have never seen so many Osprey in one place before! I finally got some time off this morning from a grueling schedule, and reluctantly got myself out of bed before first light, and went and staked out a nest that I had spotted earlier this week. It seems to have paid off. I think that this may be my best to date.

Olympus e3
Olympus ZD300 f2.8
ISO 640
f4
1/2000th
+1.7ev
70% of FF
Tripod w/pan and tilt head

Normal routine in PS. Taken at 0709 this morning. If anyone knows of some good birding spots here in the Newport News area, please shoot me an email. I would appreciate it. Comments and critiques welcome. Thanks.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on May 15, 2010 at 2:22 PM

Great action that wingspan is incredible.
And in the larger shot you can see the othre Osprey sitting in the nest

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 15, 2010 at 5:33 PM

The approach with the fish and the nestling popping up really tells a story. A beautiful image.

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

Comment posted by Michele Williams on May 15, 2010 at 5:51 PM

What an awesome capture! the wings are so impressive. Great timing!

Registered on April 3, 2010, 28 Posts, 146 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on May 15, 2010 at 8:06 PM

The "nestling" in the nest is this one's mate. I am quite certain that they are currently sitting on eggs. I observed her rolling the eggs in the nest, before she nestled on top of them. Pretty cool.

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on May 15, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Yeah, It was worth losing a little sleep over. You must be very pleased.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on May 15, 2010 at 10:17 PM

congrats, Mike--this was worth getting up early for! the light is great and the pose and position of the bird are just perfect, and the fish is icing on the cake. nice work with the comp too.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 16, 2010 at 1:37 AM

Brilliant, Mike. Easily worth the effort.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 16, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Sweet, Mike. Wonderful action and composition, and I like the head of the other Osprey just poking above the nest line. Wonderful dof .

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

Comment posted by richard remington on May 16, 2010 at 11:48 AM

Great capture. I love the detail in the eye and the impressive wingspan so close to the nest. The very slight blur on the right wing tip adds interest IMO.

Great Shot!

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 16, 2010 at 1:10 PM

Mike:
Congrats on getting the great wingspread, fish in talons, and waiting mate in nest all in one shot.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Peters on May 16, 2010 at 2:06 PM

Absolutely beautiful image, fish, nest with young, pose...it's all there

Registered on December 22, 2005, 28 Posts, 126 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 16, 2010 at 2:26 PM

Excellent shot, I like the composition, wingspan and the approach to the next, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on May 16, 2010 at 3:09 PM

Michael wonderful action and composition!! Well done!

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on May 16, 2010 at 3:10 PM

So, the one thing that bothered me about this photo was that you can't see the birds tail. The frame before had the tail, but you couldn't see the bird in the nest's eye. So, I cloned in the tail from the frame before. What do you think? Thanks.

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on May 17, 2010 at 1:38 PM

Excellent action shot, like it a lot.
Giorgio

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