Roy Lockwood
April 2026 - Osprey incoming
About the Image(s)
A big advantage of large glass is that you have an opportunity to get head-on shots of birds in flight. This guy had just taken-off from a unsuccessful dive attempt for a fish dinner
Nikon Z8 Nikkor 800mm f6.3 1/2500 sec ISO 1250
3 comments posted
Roy - This is Spectacular! There is so much to like about this image it's difficult know where to start - and if I didn't know better, I'd think you were showing off. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen a head on photo of a bird of prey that's any better than this. I have a dozen good Osprey shots, and none compare.
Your image checks all the boxes - 1 - A compelling subject separated from its background. 2 - Immediate impact. 3 - A ton of visual interest; it's an image even the casual viewer will take the time to examine and 4 - A great story, the water droplets make this image come alive.
Don't think you could have chosen better settings. The compression factor of using an 800mm lens at 6.3 offers detail from the subject's beak to its trailing talons while blurring the background enough to really separate the subject from it - kudos! The detail is phenomenal and subject's eyes are riveting - did you brighten them - perhaps not, but they are eye-grabbers!
This wins most competitions hands down, perhaps your best. I am curious is how you managed to position yourself to capture this shot - anticipating osprey isn't always easy. I've positioned myself behind a nest, but then it was in full flight, you captured the subject leaving the water and those subtle droplets are the "pièce de resistance."
No matter how you slice it this image is boffo. Your subject is presented so well I thought with just a few minor tweaks you might bring even more attention to it. Green is a powerful color and here I think it fights with your subject a bit, so in my VF I desaturated the background a touch. I also opened the shadows to give even more detail to the underside of the subject's wings - but neither were necessary but thought they made a spectacular image even more so. Congratulations on the wonderful capture.
Posted: 04/01/2026 11:21:16
Your image checks all the boxes - 1 - A compelling subject separated from its background. 2 - Immediate impact. 3 - A ton of visual interest; it's an image even the casual viewer will take the time to examine and 4 - A great story, the water droplets make this image come alive.
Don't think you could have chosen better settings. The compression factor of using an 800mm lens at 6.3 offers detail from the subject's beak to its trailing talons while blurring the background enough to really separate the subject from it - kudos! The detail is phenomenal and subject's eyes are riveting - did you brighten them - perhaps not, but they are eye-grabbers!
This wins most competitions hands down, perhaps your best. I am curious is how you managed to position yourself to capture this shot - anticipating osprey isn't always easy. I've positioned myself behind a nest, but then it was in full flight, you captured the subject leaving the water and those subtle droplets are the "pièce de resistance."
No matter how you slice it this image is boffo. Your subject is presented so well I thought with just a few minor tweaks you might bring even more attention to it. Green is a powerful color and here I think it fights with your subject a bit, so in my VF I desaturated the background a touch. I also opened the shadows to give even more detail to the underside of the subject's wings - but neither were necessary but thought they made a spectacular image even more so. Congratulations on the wonderful capture.
Posted: 04/01/2026 11:21:16
Fantastic shot. I do think the oprey could benefit from a bit of brightening. It would pop, and the white breast would look whiter. Posted: 04/01/2026 16:32:43
I think I would have added a fish in its talons ;) Seriously though, an excellent image that would look stunning as a large print. I love the warm glow of the colors and the water drops and wing tips just grab my eye and lead me right back to the face of the bird. Fantastic! Posted: 04/02/2026 12:28:48