Today’s post features an image I captured a few weeks ago, from our dock on the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. With several migrating Ospreys stopping here for about a week, they were often seen circling above the lake, and diving for fish when one was spotted.
I have tried, unsuccessfully, for several years to capture a decent image of an osprey diving, headfirst, into water. The problem? First, ospreys are not often seen in Missouri (except for migrating through the state). Second, when the osprey tucks his wings for a dive, he travels extremely fast as he heads for the water. Most of my previous images were either a blur, or captured only part of the osprey, or captured after it was in the water. But this time, I ended up with a “keeper”:
With all the osprey moved on, I’ll have to wait until next year to continue my lucky streak with them! My next goal is to capture one just as it enters the water … we’ll see what happens.
Photographic Equipment Used:
- Canon 5D Mark 3 body
- Canon 100-400mm, f/4.5-f/5.6 IS lens, at 400mm
- Handheld, with IS “On”
- ISO 800
- Aperture f/8
- Shutter Speed 1/750 sec.