I enjoy seeing the flight adjustments made by a large raptor as it comes in to land.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this adult Bald Eagle in February of 2009 as it approached a landing spot at Farmington Bay MBR (I believe there may be a spot of blood behind the left eye). By the time I locked focus on the bird it had dropped down over the phragmites behind the pond and was gliding toward an area on the shore that had other eagles nearby.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
The first sign of it attempting to reduce its air speed was when it lowered its fanned tail slightly. This angle allows us to see ripple reflections from the water’s surface on that spread tail which I enjoy in this case, though I often do not.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
At that point the bird apparently adjusted either its air speed or its chosen landing spot (or both) among the other eagles because it raised and flapped those huge wings at least once.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
Two frames later it put on the brakes by lowering its “flaps”.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
This was the last shot I was able to get without cutting off body parts or putting the bird too close to the edge of the frame (I’ve posted this image before as a stand-alone but never in a series)
Notice the “ancient” camera I used for these shots. At only 6 frames/sec I’m sure I missed a bunch of interesting shots as this eagle came in and the resolution of only 10 megapixels surely cost me some detail but I was close enough to manage some shots that I like very much.
Our truly crappy weather (low thick clouds, fog, rain, snow – even an ice storm) has prevented me from going shooting for a full week now so until things improve I may be posting more photos from my archives like this series of eagle images.
I think I’m going a little nuts with cabin fever…
Ron
Note: I don’t believe this bird was baited but at Farmington, even back in 2009, you just never know for sure.
Oh dang it, Ron. I can’t pick the one I like the best. I love them all.
Hi Ron, Our weather over here in Carefree, AZ is really quite pretty. Threatening storms rush in for a dousing then the sun breaks through and we see blue and puffy white clouds. Take a quick hike, then beat the next rain storm home. This has been all week. I enjoy all your pictures and I’m going to try your settings to see how they work for me. I have a Nikon D300. Lens 18-300mm.
I’m envious of your weather, Linda. And I wish you luck trying some of those settings.
3rd & 4th shots too good to be true!! I enjoyed these so much–what an amazing creature!
I’m glad you enjoyed those two images, Linda. Thank you.
Wow, gorgeous shots Ron. I especially like the 4th shot. Hope it clears up soon.
Me too, Jean. Thank you.
Great series. Love to watch the original flyers. I’m getting VERY tired of gray or white skies also.
Thanks, Marilyn. Sounds like it may be a long winter for both of us…
Power, grace, style…
And I am quite happy for you to go archive diving any time you like. You may be suffering – but we are not. At all.
EC, I actually went shooting this morning, despite the conditions. I know I didn’t get anything great (or even good) because of the poor light but may (or may not) have an interesting image or two. Time will tell (after my mandatory nap…)
I guess the extent of the fever depends where the Cabin is located, Ron.
I’ve always loved your Bald Eagle shots. Always dynamic and well crafted. In fact, they are the reason we started venturing to Farmington bay, AI and Bear River from up here in the mountains when I joined NPN.
I think your art is a testimony to the fact that equipment is just a tool and the person behind the lens is where the art happens. It’s something between the ears that brings the magic. I know that even blind squirrels find a nut once in awhile, but creating compelling images on a consistent basis isn’t the equipment. These wonderful images are testimony to the skill and tallent of the operator, equipment be damned. Put a pencil in Picasso’s hand and he gives you art. Give him a palette of paint and he gives you art. Give Ron Dudley a Brownie Box camera and I think you’ll get art as well.
What a pleasure it would be to stroll through your archives.
I think Neil has you pegged….
Such a very nice comment, Neil – thank you very much, though I’m sure it’s not all deserved. Either way, I loved this statement – “even blind squirrels find a nut once in awhile” which is a great way of making your point.
I think it boils down to this – the more time you spend honing your skills and the more time you spend in the field the “luckier” you get. Good equipment certainly helps, a lot, but it’s far from a guarantee.
Roger Penske (IndyCar, NASCAR and IMSA race team owner and rental truck expert) once said, “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.” That makes you one lucky photographer 😉
What a wonderful series! The intensity of focus and the implied power of this huge bird is incredible! Each frame highlights the characteristics that make this bird so overwhelmingly impressive…tremendous wing span, powerful beak and huge, grasping talons…WOW! Makes me think of the old B-29! If you are its prey, seeing something like this coming at you at you must be terrifying…..
You’re impressed by the bird in many of the same ways I am, Patty. Thank you.
Splendid series Ron. One of the eleventy-thousand delightful joys of falconry is watching the birds fly to your fist–landing like a feather (unless they’ve got a stiff tail wind). Even after 22 years, it still takes my breath away every time. It was particularly joyous yesterday when a redtail zoomed over toward my male Harris’ hawk. As it turned out, the redtail was heading for the squirrel two trees beyond where he was perched, but you can never trust a hunting redtail and the trees were tightly packed. Thankfully, Jack immediately zoomed down to my fist before the redtail arrived.
I can’t imagine how interesting it must be to watch that Harris’ Hawk hunt, Laura. From what I’ve read they’re a very interesting species though I’ve never seen one in the wild.
Just a beautiful series Ron. Happy New Year and I hope things improve for your daughter and family.
Chris
NJ
Thanks for the good wishes, Chris.
What a fantastic series
Thanks very much, Bill.
What a sensational series of shots Ron, more amazing with that old camera! You must be going stir crazy not being able to get out.
Charlotte
I am, Charlotte, I surely AM!
Wonderful sequence, Ron! 🙂 The reflection on the tail feathers is neat as is the feather detail period. I have a Nikon D90 passed on from a sister and, tho a good camera, is old enough not to have many frames per second. Hear you an the “cabin fever” – cold/snow/fog in the past couple of days – just enough to not make me venture very far – doesn’t take much any more. 🙂
Judy, I only put that old 40D completely out to pasture in the last year or so. It was a great camera in its day and could still function as a backup in a pinch but since I now have two 7D’s and a 7D Mark II I don’t really need it. I hope it enjoys its retirement as much as I do mine…
Fabulous series
Thank you, Judy.
Ahh, Cabin Fever, the bane of anyone wanting, needing to be out to photograph!
However, I agree with Diane, we become the beneficiary of your archives!
How about an old picture of an Ermine?
Have you ever been lucky enough to photograph a raptor or owl hunt from beginning to end? I would think that would be really neat to have that in your quiver!
Ha, you really want that weasel, don’t you, Dick? I think I’ve posted my best ones but I’ll check my archives and see what I’ve got.
“Have you ever been lucky enough to photograph a raptor or owl hunt from beginning to end?” I don’t think I have, at least not with images good enough to keep. My quiver still has lots of holes in it…
Good morning Ron!! If it’s any consolation, FL is also having cloudy/fogging, rainy and cold weather (just not your kind of cold – LOL!!) We’ve been wanting some cold weather but also wanted sunshine to accompany it – oh well!! Now as for your blog subject today – Fantastic!! I just love seeing your capture of this beautiful raptor’s wing span – it’s just HUGE!! When I 1st started watching the eagle cams, it was very hard to get a perspective of how big our National bird is. However, someone shared a video of a workman in an eagle nest returning an eaglet to it’s nest. (It had fallen out & he was returning it.) The guy was over 6 feet tall and he was the diameter of the nest!!! Just blew me away. Your photos also help to show just how big an eagle is. The series also beautifully shows how they can manipulate those huge wings SO easily!! Wonderful, wonderful post – IMHO!!
Jo Ann, At this point I’d take ANY kind of weather if sunshine accompanied it!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. And yes, those wings are huge.
Love the water ripple reflection on its spread tail in the second image and the last image shouts “power” and gives us the ability to study the different feather groups of the wing. Awesome Ron! Hope your inclement weather clears soon!
You’re right about those feather groups, Nancy. Thanks for pointing that out as I hadn’t thought of it.
Thanks for another great series, Ron! Grateful to be the beneficiary of your cabin fever!
“Grateful to be the beneficiary of your cabin fever”
Ha, that’s one way to look at it, Diane. I guess there’s always a “bright” side…