[Click image to view in light box.]

This Osprey and I surprised each other. It landed above me as I was walking along the Willamette River trail at Champoeg State Heritage Area on Sunday. The fish was still flopping around in its clutches.

I knowingly disregarded some bird photography rules (or at least conventions) when I hurriedly took this picture. In particular, the angle is too extreme and I was shooting against a white, overcast sky. I also applied a heavy, very obvious vignette. The eye is drawn to the brightest part of the image and I felt like I needed the vignette to counteract that white sky and draw people toward the bird. The vignette also contributes to a moodiness that feels appropriate for the scene.

Does this shot ultimately “work”? I’m not sure. I’m often not sure which photographs of mine work. I run them by Kate, and if she likes something I share it. I wasn’t going to post this photograph at all, except perhaps on my Instagram stories. But when Kate saw it, she liked it, and so here it is!

Location: Champoeg State Heritage Area

Date: May 23, 2021

Exposure: 1/1600 second, f/9, ISO 4000

Focal Length: 850 mm

Gear:

• Camera: Nikon D750

• Lens: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary with a 1.4x teleconverter