Fishing. Osprey Style.

[AlexN]

Captured these today first 2 were with the 350D + 70-200F/4L. Second 2 images were taken with my 300D + 300mm F/2.8

After going out with only one camera + lens quite a few times, and missing a lot of shots due to having the wrong focal length/light capabilities, I decided today to take the 300 and the 350D with both my 300mm 2.8 and the 70-200 4L in order to make the most of the day... This proved to be a great plan, with one issue. The 300D's buffer being smaller than the 350D, it can not burst as many raw frames as the 350D. In between the third and forth photo, the osprey hit the water with incredible force and dragged up the mullet seen in the forth and final shot.. And I watched it all through the viewfinder, but was unable to snap a photo as I was waiting for the buffer to clear... It finally did and then forth shot was snapped off immediately..

Overall it was a pretty productive 2hr session with many photos taken of Osprey, White Breasted Sea Eagles, Whistling Kites, Brahminy Kites and a few Pelicans and Crows all buzzing around overhead...

Enough of the novel... On to the pictures!

Cheers.

[Matty P (Matt)]

A great series of images Alex, looks like you had a fun 2 hour session. I really like shots number 3 and 4.

It is too bad that you missed the Osprey hitting the water. It would have have made a nice image to fit in between the last two shots.

Very well done.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Good fun isn't it!!
Nice pics Alex.

[AlexN]

Thanks Matty & JJJ..

[Dennis]

Hi Alex

What a terrific portfolio of action shots! The fierceness and aggression inherent in photo #3 is quite terrifying! What a shame about the buffer – this happens to me occasionally on the 40D when I go gang busters! The 4th one is a stunner too – well done!

Have your neck and shoulders recovered from lugging all that glass and bodies around!

Cheers

Dennis

[Striker (Tony)]

Alex there all great shots but I have to say that last one is awesome.

Can you give us some settings you used even if their only approx.

[AlexN]

Thanks Dennis & Tony.

Dennis, I was smart today.. took a fold out table & some deck chairs so at least I could put the camera down when not in use shoulder is still a bit rough.. weighed the 300D + 300 f/2.8 today at 3.2kgs... .. I too think that number 4 is the best shot there, and im so happy that the 300 2.8 delivered it

Tony: Setting read from EXIF data.

Shot 1
Focal Length - 200mm
Shutter speed - 1/1600 sec.
F-Stop - F/4
ISO - 100
Exposure Bias - -0.3 step

Shot 2.
Focal Length - 200mm
Shutter speed - 1/2000 sec.
F-Stop - F/4
ISO - 100
Exposure Bias - -0.3 step

Shot 3.
Focal Length - 300mm
Shutter speed - 1/3200 sec.
F-Stop - F/2.8
ISO - 100

Shot 4.
Focal Length - 300mm
Shutter speed - 1/3200 sec.
F-Stop - F/2.8
ISO - 100

[ving (David)]

wow!!! totally excellent!!!

i dont really get much in the way of raptors...

[AlexN]

I have 4 different breeds of raptors nesting within 4kms of my house Lucky boy I guess...

[ving (David)]

lucky? er... hell yeah!
so envious!

[AlexN]

The osprey is by far the most active/impressive bird to watch / photograph... The other breeds (whistling kites, sea eagles, and brahminy kites) seem fairly intimidated by me and my 117mm front element laden 300 f/2.8.. I rock up, they land in their trees and rarely fly for me... the osprey looks at me for a few minutes, and then just goes about its business like im not even there...

I only envy those with access to wedge tail's... oh, and Dennis, with his stunning black shouldered kite... Im yet to find one, but im looking

[Dennis]

Hi Alex

I couldn’t resist coming back for another peek at #4 and applied some Smart Sharpening in CS3 and the eyes really pop out! I think the data is so good that you could easily wring more out of these amazing photos. Did you perform any post capture processing, or are these straight out of the camera/minimally processed?

Cheers

Dennis

[Robert_T]

Well Alex, these are truly amazing. I am no fan of bird shots, but these can't help but inspire

[AlexN]

Thanks everyone!

Dennis, They were straight out of the camera, into CS2.. In CameraRAW i sharpened them slightly, but nothing after that.

I suppose I should give them a once over.

[madtuna (Steve)]

Brilliant pics Alex!

We get the Osprey and Sea Eagles around here, I should have a crack myself.

I was lucky enough to witness a beauty a while back but unfortunatly didnt have a camera at the ready.
I was at the birthday party for a friends young daughter, one of the gifts she got was a cute widdle fluffy white bunny.

She was sitting in the back yard watching her bunny hop about doing what bunnies do then WHAM!! down came a huge white Sea Eagle and snatched it not four feet away from her.
I am not sure which would have been the more photogenic subject, the eagle snatching the bunny or the looks on the witnesses faces.

[AlexN]

that would have to rate as one of the most unbelievable things you've ever seen. am I right or what??