Osprey Rising

[BCrose]

A couple shots of an Osprey coming out of the water from a failed fishing dive.
I am not getting great focus on the bird with these types of images, I am nailing the water spray just in front of the bird. Decreasing aperture does not help much with these telephoto lenses as the DOF is very shallow even at F8.

[FootLoose]

Wow!!! That last shot is incredible Monte! Very dramatic, and the osprey seems to have an annoyed expression on its face.

[Donald]

After that Bald Eagle set, you're just showing off now.

Do it once and you could argue it's luck. Do it again to this standard and that is pure skill. As Dan said in the Bald Eagle thread, "Those who haven't witnessed this happen can't fully appreciate how fast it happens and how skilled you were with the camera to pull off this sequence." I've witnessed it, but sure as hell didn't have the skill to get images like this.

I am not getting great focus on the bird with these types of images, I am nailing the water spray just in front of the bird.

If you're really, really nit picky (which, correctly, in order to work to this level, you are) then I can see what you're saying in the third image. However, look at the eye in the other two, It's nailed perfectly. However, given the very, very minor impact of that issue on what is, I think, an outstanding bit of photography (the 3rd image), it would need a pretty screwed up picture editor to reject it. That's an award winner. Get it into a wildlife photo competition. Unfortunately entries for the 2013 World Wildlife Photographer of the Year have just closed. This picture would not be out of place amongst that lot.

[Stagecoach]

Monte, a superb set.

I think you are being a bit hard on yourself. So the entire bird is not in focus or sharp but I would suggest this adds to the feeling of movement.

[John 2]

Outstanding Monte. Is there anything more to say?

[BCrose]

Thanks for the feedback. I a certainly happy with these.
Osprey are a much faster moving target on the way down than eagles. They glide in a tight circle and then dive very fast straight down most of the time, going completely under the water. I can usually get the shots when they rise but going in is more difficult. Working on it, stay tuned

[Plumcrak]

Monte, just another fabulous set. Well done.

[gregj1763]

Monte, They are such good photo's.
My hat off to you. Brilliant stuff

[Steve S]

Another nice series , monte. Keep them coming!!

[Nancy Moran G]

Marvelous!
There was a link somewhere of a video showing an eagle 'fishing'. Then, an osprey... An eagle does an ever so slight look at the water at impact almost to check his catch. The osprey never looks for a moment. Interesting to see this in the 2 great posts!
Enjoying great photos from all of you..Thanks!
Nancy

[BJ Denning]

These all look sharp to me. The third "looks" like the eye is out of focus but that is just the nictitating membrane, a thin layer of clear tissue like an inner eyelid. During a dive the membrane protects the eye when Ospreys hit the water.

[jprzybyla]

Good work Monte. Wonderful series.