Piers Blackett  


Osprey with Fish by Piers Blackett

September 2021 - Osprey with Fish

September 2021 - Piers Blackett

Original

About the Image(s)

At the Martin Nature Park in Oklahoma City, the ranger pointed out a possible Osprey along the lake shore in October of 2019. I approached along the shoreline and got the shot from behind a tree with suboptimal light direction. The settings were 1/1250, f/5.6, 300mm, ISO 500. After a horizontal flip, I took out some branches, added select areas of brightness, contrast and saturation; and added a local sky with clouds. I have made enquiries about the rings but have failed to identify the tracking project.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted




Karen Botvin   Karen Botvin
Nice catch, Piers, both you and the osprey. You took a somewhat busy background and got rid of all the distractions. I'm not sure why you felt the need to flip it, because reading left to write the original would have one looking at the head first. Either way, the bird is looking back into the frame. I do like your choice of sky replacement. I have a friend that follows those tracking bands. I can't see enough of the lettering but if you have it, I'd be happy to ask her if she could tell you anything about them.   Posted: 09/03/2021 17:37:46
Piers Blackett   Piers Blackett
Karen, thanks for the comments on composition. I can send you the jpeg to forward to your friend. My e-mail is piersblackett@att.net The image is cropped so there is resolution loss making it difficult to see detail on the copper band - the blue band has ZK or ZR and IV or IY - but given the date of the sighting (10/19) there might be enough for ID.   Posted: 09/03/2021 22:08:51



Shirley Pohlman   Shirley Pohlman
Amazing patience with your editing work. Without your original I would have thought that was all natural including the sky. Nice job.   Posted: 09/04/2021 14:21:50



Martin Newland   Martin Newland
A great capture of the Osprey, however your post production work has left the image feeling a little too surreal and painterly for my liking.   Posted: 09/04/2021 18:42:59



Piers Blackett   Piers Blackett
Thanks Shirley and Martin. I agree with Martin. I think the resolution was insufficient for Topaz Denoise AI to render a realistic image resulting in the painterly effect.
Also thanks Karen for the lead to the banding origin - I have had an interesting reply from the San Francisco Audubon, but they are not sure yet.   Posted: 09/04/2021 21:16:56
Karen Botvin   Karen Botvin
Great, I'm glad that Debbie was able to provide you some direction. I do like the setting sun background that you applied.   Posted: 09/07/2021 13:14:31



Jaqueline Whalen   Jaqueline Whalen
I agree with Shirley! You are amazing with your editing work. I feel like there is a real separation between the bird and the sky. I am glad you added a more interesting sky but somehow the bird looks almost unreal and the sky is too real. I felt a slight mismatch. Maybe it would help if the sky was toned down so that the intensity of the colors was more in synch with the Osprey. I love to photograph the Osprey. We generally have a nest right in front of a small cottage on the Potomac River in VA. Makes for some good bird shots!   Posted: 09/07/2021 07:35:25
Piers Blackett   Piers Blackett
Thanks. I agree and have changed the background.   Posted: 09/07/2021 10:24:26
Comment Image
Shirley Pohlman   Shirley Pohlman
Simple as that! The osprey has migrated!   Posted: 09/07/2021 14:50:12



Jim Wulpi   Jim Wulpi
Amazing editing work, Piers. Great subject to work with.
Like others have pointed out, there seens to be a disconnect between the Osprey and the background. The latest background has produced a hazy glow around the bird and branch.   Posted: 09/16/2021 05:24:54