Roy Lockwood
November 2024 - Osprey
About the Image(s)
Osprey, taken on the Causeway out to Honeymoon Island state Park, on the west central coast of Florida. Awesome predator with those claws and beak!
ISO 80 - 800mm - f/6.3 - 1/800 sec
18 comments posted
That is one angry bird! We get osprey here, but when I try to get a bird in flight shot I mostly get bird butt.
GREAT CAPTURE! Posted: 11/05/2024 23:23:25
GREAT CAPTURE! Posted: 11/05/2024 23:23:25
I just attended a lecture on identifying raptors. One definition ~ A predatory bird that has powerful talons and a sharp, tearing bill. You nailed it!!
Posted: 11/09/2024 00:57:15
Posted: 11/09/2024 00:57:15
(Groups 21 & 94)
I don't think the osprey is "angry" ( a human emotion) but thrilled with its catch. Really like the photo. I've seen many osprey photos with the whole bird carrying the fish, but like this one the best. Amazing focus and shows how they turn the fish in their talons to be the most aerodynamic. Posted: 11/09/2024 15:45:36
Great capture Roy - I have a couple of comments but let me first qualify my review inasmuch as I approach reviews as if I'm reviewing a photo club competition.
As I said, excellent capture, especially with the subject's beak open - classic! That said, judges usually want to see the entire subject and I don't think the clipped wings help your story, which is a good one btw, but it doesn't help. I feel the image is 'a touch soft,' although I'm amazed at how sharp you did get it at 1/800th second - nice job. Nonetheless, I did sharpen it in Topaz Sharpen I don't live there so I could be way off base, but the blue sky doesn't look quite natural to me, so I softened it a touch by reducing saturation. You're also dealing with a rather harsh shadow on the back end of the subject, which is a distraction - the same shadow under left wing isn't as distracting. Nonetheless, as a nature story - it's absolutely outstanding. Posted: 11/10/2024 13:03:13
As I said, excellent capture, especially with the subject's beak open - classic! That said, judges usually want to see the entire subject and I don't think the clipped wings help your story, which is a good one btw, but it doesn't help. I feel the image is 'a touch soft,' although I'm amazed at how sharp you did get it at 1/800th second - nice job. Nonetheless, I did sharpen it in Topaz Sharpen I don't live there so I could be way off base, but the blue sky doesn't look quite natural to me, so I softened it a touch by reducing saturation. You're also dealing with a rather harsh shadow on the back end of the subject, which is a distraction - the same shadow under left wing isn't as distracting. Nonetheless, as a nature story - it's absolutely outstanding. Posted: 11/10/2024 13:03:13
Posted: 11/10/2024 13:04:11
Thanks Butch, I appreciate your comments, I cannot improve without critical reviews. I do tend to push the creative side of my images and crops, and I agree with your comments. Yes our sky was that blue!
PS, I did fly with the Navy for a year, in 1976 @ Patuxent River. Posted: 11/10/2024 13:14:43
PS, I did fly with the Navy for a year, in 1976 @ Patuxent River. Posted: 11/10/2024 13:14:43
1976! Whoa, you're still a young man :-) - Wasn't Pax River a haven for Navy test pilots? For me, MCAS New River, USS Boat, Vietnam, Camp Lejeune and discharged in '71 Posted: 11/10/2024 13:51:34
Yes, the Army sent me there for the school. Posted: 11/10/2024 17:43:14
Good capture - eye is sharp and the fish is really clear. I wish it wasn't in shadow and I do agree with Butch on showing the entire subject. Posted: 11/10/2024 15:10:28
Julia and Butch, I realize that by cropping the wings That the overall bird in flight picture is disrupted. However, in many cases I like to bring attention to (and a larger image of) what I consider the most interesting part of the photograph. Like this Royal Tern for example. Posted: 11/10/2024 17:50:16
I see your point Roy, and for years I did the same thing, and for years judges dinged my images in competitions :-) - a good image is one that you like, so go with it, but when I review I review as I do when judging at photo clubs. Posted: 11/10/2024 18:00:54
Butch, you are right on. I have only been into photography for 6 years but have quit trying to "think like a judge" and instead focus more on education and entertainment (WOW) This photo (rear shot of a spoonbill) for example got selected by a local Audubon Society Calender. Posted: 11/10/2024 18:25:55
I took PSA's image analysis course several years ago and followed that up with another course on making photos for international competitions - and here's what I took away from it - and I live by it now.
Impact, Visual Interest, and Storytelling are the fundamental characteristics that most often succeed in competitions; thus, these three aspects of an image need to be the hook that grabs and keeps the viewer's attention and outweigh any minor technical deficiencies.
1. Impact - is the ability of an image to immediately grab the viewer's attention.
2. Visual Interest - Is a matter of subject selection, for example, an image of a Bengal tiger is going to be far more interesting than a similarly composed image of a common housecat. Visual interest means the subject itself must be something that a uniformed viewer will take the time to study and consider.
3. Storytelling is a first cousin to visual interest and conveys the emotion and significance of the moment.
BTW, I love the shot :-)
Posted: 11/10/2024 19:34:13
Impact, Visual Interest, and Storytelling are the fundamental characteristics that most often succeed in competitions; thus, these three aspects of an image need to be the hook that grabs and keeps the viewer's attention and outweigh any minor technical deficiencies.
1. Impact - is the ability of an image to immediately grab the viewer's attention.
2. Visual Interest - Is a matter of subject selection, for example, an image of a Bengal tiger is going to be far more interesting than a similarly composed image of a common housecat. Visual interest means the subject itself must be something that a uniformed viewer will take the time to study and consider.
3. Storytelling is a first cousin to visual interest and conveys the emotion and significance of the moment.
BTW, I love the shot :-)
Posted: 11/10/2024 19:34:13
A very succinct lesson for great photography! I did copy it as a reminder while reviewing my photos. And I just kicked Tabby out of the house and am looking for a tiger:)! Posted: 11/10/2024 20:41:40
Roy, I can agree with the general opinion: Great shot, strong story, no need to show the rest of the wings. I see a little haze on the osprey, probably dued to the distances and the sunny day. Did you tried to reduce haze a little bit in photoshop/RAW?
And, as a tribute to the discussion "predator": The "superpredator" is lucky get his fish served in a restaurant. Guess, if everybody would catch his meal live, the word "predator" will get another sense, ha! Posted: 11/11/2024 07:51:15
And, as a tribute to the discussion "predator": The "superpredator" is lucky get his fish served in a restaurant. Guess, if everybody would catch his meal live, the word "predator" will get another sense, ha! Posted: 11/11/2024 07:51:15
I can see that it might look hazy, but I think it is just the color of the feathers, it was a clear day and about 40 feet away Posted: 11/12/2024 16:40:06
No haze should be between you and 40 m objects, you are right! Posted: 11/12/2024 17:52:35
Interesting crop, whith this approach we can see more detail of the predator. I agree with Peter, I would have tried to reduce the haze. Posted: 11/16/2024 17:03:46