January 2011 Photo of the Month Contest - post entries here

[MaggyNoLia]

Great shot Sage! Osprey definitely seem to know that they can take to wing at any moment they choose to get away from us and thankfully that mindset works well for those of us that stalk them seeking photo ops.

SF and I will be down in the keys the end of this week and hopefully we'll find some willing friends of your osprey that won't mind sharing a little bit of space with us. If I get any shot half as good as yours I'll be happy.

Job well done Sage! Thank you for sharing with us.

[MaggyNoLia]

Originally Posted by MrILoveTheAnts

My entries.

I love pictures of snow! Thank you so much for sharing. I really like the third shot that you posted. Good job!

[Sage]

Maggy, keep your camera handy! Besides Osprey you should find many herons and egrets to keep your camera busy! Which key?

[MaggyNoLia]

Originally Posted by Sage

Maggy, keep your camera handy! Besides Osprey you should find many herons and egrets to keep your camera busy! Which key?

We're staying on Marathon and you better believe my camera will be with me at all times. BTW if you and Roger like seafood there's a big seafood festival going on in Key West this Saturday. 11-4 I think it is.

[Sage]

I just lost my taste for seafood after we walked out on the dock after dinner and saw a fisherman keep conking a fish on the head because it was still moving around, and he then sliced the sides off. Roger asked one of the girls from the boat what it was and she she said "what you just ate."

[havalotta]

Well, where did you think fish came from...
Seriously, Some things are just meant to be done quickly...Obviously he was not very well trained. Too bad he ruined things for you.

[bridget1964]

Originally Posted by Sage

Osprey are amazingly unperturbed and cooperative, plus they are active. This one was in a wonderful snag along the main road on Pine Island so we just parked nearby and walked up close. The Osprey just watched us!

In my experience, osprey are easily disturbed and uncooperative. But then, you are observing them after nesting season is over. I only get to see them from April-September here in NJ. We have many man-made nesting platforms in the bays around my home. I kayak as close as I can to them, trying not to freak them out, but they always get mad.

We are putting up an osprey platform in the tiny lagoon by my house as soon as the weather breaks. We had one there for years, but lightning struck it and knocked it down. Every spring, the pair that used it still comes back and looks for it! I hope they are happy with the new platform this year!!

[havalotta]

Ti's a rare shot that places the viewer into a setting.

Giving one the feeling of being there..... looking out.

[dapjwy]

Very nice, havalotta.

[havalotta]

I am Soooo excited
When I viewed the photo for the very first time on screen I thought to my self.... This one, really stands out!
I began to wonder why.... Then it hit me. It is the one and only shot I have ever taken that made me FEEL something.
It was like I was a part of it. It was the best feeling in the world. It opens up to a whole new way of looking at things through the art of photography.