Osprey

[JohnK]

These are both young osprey, from this years hatching.

Since a river swallowed my D300s and 150-500mm I had to try something else for reach until I can replace the lens. These were taken with a replacement D300s and the Sigma 70-200 with Sigma 2x teleconverter, hand held, pretty tight crops, about 80% - they were a good distance away and at least 50' up. I've been spoiled by image stabilization, hand holding 400mm without it is TOUGH, even at 1/1000th.

[Sturg]

Looks great to me. I like the second shot

[finnbay]

Second shot for me as well!

[eyeguy 54]

nice!

[JohnK]

Thanks! While that second shot looks like she was straight over head, she was actually flying almost straight up - so no danger of falling...stuff...

[CAMAN]

Nice shots! I had an osprey sitting in a tree less than 20 feet from me last weekend. As I fished past I kept an eye on him and just as I lost sight of him he swoops out of the tree and at a 45degree angle dives straight into the water 20 feet behind the boat, and flies off with a small bass or large rockbass in it talons. Times like that make me wish I had a big fancy camera and lens. Very cool.

[Paul]

John, Those are nice shots, however, I am not sure if you know this but Camera equipment and rivers dont get along. (that sucks BTW)

[JohnK]

That would have been fun to see Caman, only a couple more weeks to see that around here and the osprey will all migrate south for the winter until next April.

Canoes and cameras both do fine with rivers...as long as you stay on top, unfortunately neither did on that trip. I did learn a good lesson about always wearing a life jacket, which I had along but wasn't wearing when we went under. Learned a lesson about dry bags too!