Nikon D3500 w/AF-P 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 VR

Lover's Key State Park beach

First photo is from my cellphone, as close as I could get with scaring him off... He was eyeing me as I snuck thru the brush, but once I stopped, he settled down and started ripping that fish up!

Next photo, is the untouched, uncropped file, straight outta the camera.

Most shots were F/6.3 300.0mm 1/500s ISO-100
Only the shutter speed varied slightly, due to me shooting in P-mode.

I know the near leg is blown out in most of the pictures, but.... It is what it is... I maybe could have tweaked it in post, but it seems when I do that, it looks "bad".... And ya know, even withy naked eyes looking at him, that leg was just as blown out, so, to me, it's "real"

Then the series of cropped and minimally retouched photos.... I liked leaving just a tad bit of leaves, to frame the photo.... You guys like? Or is it distracting?

I swear, if Kansas had this kind of access to osprey, I'd never be home!... I'm kinda obsessed with them! 🥰

Nikon D3500 w/AF-P 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 VR

Lover's Key State Park beach

First photo is from my cellphone, as close as I could get with scaring him off... He was eyeing me as I snuck thru the brush, but once I stopped, he settled down and started ripping that fish up!

Next photo, is the untouched, uncropped file, straight outta the camera.

Most shots were F/6.3 300.0mm 1/500s ISO-100
Only the shutter speed varied slightly, due to me shooting in P-mode.

I know the near leg is blown out in most of the pictures, but.... It is what it is... I maybe could have tweaked it in post, but it seems when I do that, it looks "bad".... And ya know, even withy naked eyes looking at him, that leg was just as blown out, so, to me, it's "real"

Then the series of cropped and minimally retouched photos.... I liked leaving just a tad bit of leaves, to frame the photo.... You guys like? Or is it distracting?

I swear, if Kansas had this kind of access to osprey, I'd never be home!... I'm kinda obsessed with them! 🥰

Nikon D3500 w/AF-P 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 VR

Lover's Key State Park beach

First photo is from my cellphone, as close as I could get with scaring him off... He was eyeing me as I snuck thru the brush, but once I stopped, he settled down and started ripping that fish up!

Next photo, is the untouched, uncropped file, straight outta the camera.

Most shots were F/6.3 300.0mm 1/500s ISO-100
Only the shutter speed varied slightly, due to me shooting in P-mode.

I know the near leg is blown out in most of the pictures, but.... It is what it is... I maybe could have tweaked it in post, but it seems when I do that, it looks "bad".... And ya know, even withy naked eyes looking at him, that leg was just as blown out, so, to me, it's "real"

Then the series of cropped and minimally retouched photos.... I liked leaving just a tad bit of leaves, to frame the photo.... You guys like? Or is it distracting?

I swear, if Kansas had this kind of access to osprey, I'd never be home!... I'm kinda obsessed with them! 🥰

Nikon D3500 w/AF-P 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 VR

Lover's Key State Park beach

First photo is from my cellphone, as close as I could get with scaring him off... He was eyeing me as I snuck thru the brush, but once I stopped, he settled down and started ripping that fish up!

Next photo, is the untouched, uncropped file, straight outta the camera.

Most shots were F/6.3 300.0mm 1/500s ISO-100
Only the shutter speed varied slightly, due to me shooting in P-mode.

I know the near leg is blown out in most of the pictures, but.... It is what it is... I maybe could have tweaked it in post, but it seems when I do that, it looks "bad".... And ya know, even withy naked eyes looking at him, that leg was just as blown out, so, to me, it's "real"

Then the series of cropped and minimally retouched photos.... I liked leaving just a tad bit of leaves, to frame the photo.... You guys like? Or is it distracting?

I swear, if Kansas had this kind of access to osprey, I'd never be home!... I'm kinda obsessed with them! 🥰