In the Field

What a Fish Must Feel Like. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. May 5, 2006.

This shot would qualify as another of my experiments. An Osprey nests quite near our home and not infrequently does a fly-by (possibly checking out the fish in our pond). The only shooting location puts the sun directly above/behind the bird. I was curious if I could digitally capture an image that retained sufficient shadow detail on the underside of the bird without totally blowing out the sky with overexposure.

Short answer - yep! And along the way I got to feel what a fish must feel like in its last moments of life...

Behind the Camera

What a Fish Must Feel Like. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. May 5, 2006.

Digital Capture; Compressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 100.

Nikon D200 with with Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR lens @ 200 mm (300 mm equivalent with digital conversion factor) - handheld. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/800s @ f3.5; +0.67 stop exposure compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

What a Fish Must Feel Like. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. May 5, 2006.

Details to follow.

Conservation

What a Fish Must Feel Like. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. May 5, 2006.

Ten percent of the revenue generated by this image will be donated to Wildsight.

Species Status in Canada*: This species is not designated as at risk.

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a diurnal raptor which has a worldwide distribution (except Antarctica) and specializes on eating fish. Osprey hunt by flying high over bodies of water (including fast-moving rivers) and visually searching for their prey. When they locate it, they dive almost vertically and dramatically plunge talons-first into the water. In the 1950's worldwide populations of Ospreys declined, in some cases dramatically. Since then the Osprey has made a comeback - partly because of a reduction in the use of DDT and partly due to reintroduction efforts by concerned groups.

This Osprey was photographed was photographed in the Columbia Valley of the East Kootenays. While Osprey are not considered at threat, many ecosystems within the Columbia Valley face development pressure. Wildsight is an effective conservation organization that protects biodiversity and promotes sustainable communities in Canada's Columbia and Rocky Mountains. Support for Wildsight, through donation or becoming a member, will help ensure that they remain effective in their efforts to conserve threatened or endangered species and ecosystems.

*as determined by COSEWIC: The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada