Osprey in Flight - C&C Please

[EdV]

Those of you who know me know that I tend toward portrait shots and I haven't done much in the way of in-flight shots. I had an opportunity today to run off several series of Osprey in flight shots. These are among the best of the shots. I'd really like your feedback on these. Thanks.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/088_1_1-2.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/089_1_1-2.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/093_1_1-1.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/094_1_1-1.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/097_1_1-1.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/098_1_1.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/099_1_1.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/100_1_1.jpg

[Colyn]

I really love the light reflecting off the leading edges of the wings ... I am in no position to C&C but from what I see here, the shots are well taken. Thanks for sharing.

[EdV]

I really love the light reflecting off the leading edges of the wings ... I am in no position to C&C but from what I see here, the shots are well taken. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Colyn. I appreciate your taking time to reply. Its been very quiet on teh board today.

[hTr]

You tracked him pretty well Ed

[Gary Fairhead]

These are nice but my impression is that the light wasn't the best. Low light earlier in the morning or in the early evening would have filled the shadows under the wings and brought out more details. Still nice in any case.

[morehtml]

For C+C Lighting was harsh and fill flash might have helped under wings a little. They were shot with 0 EC so I'm assuming you had to brighten them +1-2 stops in pp so more EC in camera would have helped.

[EdV]

You tracked him pretty well Ed

Thanks Gary. Tracking BIF is one of my many weaknesses and why I generally shy away from them. Yesterday I was shooting in an area where another photographer was also set up as well as a birder with scope. We were shooting an Osprey (another one) perched in a tree as well as some herons (GBH and Green). Suddenly out of the distance this guy came from out on the lake. The other photographer started shooting as I was watching. When he prodded me to shoot, I took the camera off the tripod and started to fire away. I must have taken close to a hundred shots. Many were oof but some, like these were ok. I really need to practice more.

These are nice but my impression is that the light wasn't the best. Low light earlier in the morning or in the early evening would have filled the shadows under the wings and brought out more details. Still nice in any case.

The next time I see the Osprey, I'll ask him to come 'round earlier in the morning! ;) Seriously Gary, I didn't think the light was all that bad so maybe it is something else I am doing. I was out around 7am and these shots were taken around 9am.

For C+C Lighting was harsh and fill flash might have helped under wings a little. They were shot with 0 EC so I'm assuming you had to brighten them +1-2 stops in pp so more EC in camera would have helped.

Thanks for the C&C Allen. As I said above, I was shooting herons with EC 0 when this Osprey came over head. When I took the camera from the tripod and just started shooting, the EC remained at 0. After the first big fly by where these image were taken from from they were among the best from a focus pov, I did kick up the EC to +2/3. Here is one sample image with EC +2/3. I don't think it is as "good" as the others but for comparison sake...

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/127_1.jpg

[nwyman]

Ed = I suspect we might have seen the same bird - when I saw him, he was sitting in a tree, overlooking the lake (whose name I forget). But mine was a young male - yours looks to be the same. Shouldn't they have headed south by now?

[Reyno]

You did really well on these shots Ed. As Gary said, the tracking and focus is spot on.

[EdV]

Ed = I suspect we might have seen the same bird - when I saw him, he was sitting in a tree, overlooking the lake (whose name I forget). But mine was a young male - yours looks to be the same. Shouldn't they have headed south by now?

I don't think this is the same bird but the one I will be posting shortly (Perched Osprey) may be. All in all, we saw 3 Osprey yesterday. One one the island, one on the shore and the one who flew in from the far end of the lake.

And yes, I think they should be flying over Cape May and the Eastern Shore very soon.

You did really well on these shots Ed. As Gary said, the tracking and focus is spot on.

Thanks Reyno. That was my #1 concern with this shoot.