Many of my posts feature my photographic successes but some of them are about my challenges. This is one of the latter.
I’ve struggled more getting images I like of Golden Eagles than I have with any other species. For me they’ve been extremely elusive and on those rare occasions when I do find one in my crosshairs something always seems to go wrong.
Note: I’ve posted two images of this bird in the past but these two are new to my blog.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
My most recent chance with the species came early this month in Montana’s Centennial Valley when this one took off from a tree in front of me in morning light. I was able to get a nice head turn with eye contact and I like the good look at that golden nape.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The next image in the burst shows off that huge 6.5′ wingspan. Even with the wings held close to a horizontal position I have acceptable detail underneath the bird and there’s light in the eye and on those yellow feet.
The downside is that both images could be a tad sharper and I’d prefer to have a background other than homogenous blue sky so I still have my work cut out for me with Golden Eagles.
But I am making progress.
Ron
I’m betting any one of us would be giggling to take a pic if this quality!! They are a gorgeous creature and I think much prettier than our national iconic Bald Eagle! I’ll cross my fingers that the next time you capture him, there will be a cloudy background or tree-lined mountain ridge behind him.
Oh my. Oh my, oh my.
In my next life I WILL be a bird. And not an LBJ either.
Ha, nothing wrong with LBJ’s, EC! But I know what you mean…
EC, I’ve often said I want the ability to fly if there should be a next life. But I realized you gotta specify. Don’t forget that roaches have wings and can fly, too 🙂 I want feathers, wings (and tail) like a raptor–a redtail or a golden! LOL!
These are beautiful images, Ron. You give all of us a chance to see what we otherwise might not get to see in our lifetimes. Thank You.
Elizabeth
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Elizabeth. Thanks.
I’ve seen Goldens up close twice in my life.
The first was in the central coastal range in California, sitting on a freshly-taken fawn, with its mother in the background.
The second was perched on a power pole, eyeing a 3-year-old human playing nearby…
Oh my…
That would make one sit up and take notice, George…
Nice lovr your photos.
Thank you, Marge.
MORE!!!!!!!
Easier said than done, Patty! I’ll keep trying though…
The sky is perfect!! This bird carries man’s prayers to the Great Spirit, flying above the clouds to do so…therefore there would be no clouds in sight…
WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! Just what I’ve been hoping for, waiting for!! I can’t image how much better they could possibly get…unless there were even more of them…You did it !!!
I think the blue sky background is fine in these images – there is nothing to distract from the details of the bird. It seems to me that it would be easy for it to blend in with many backgrounds. And I’d love to see a Golden Eagle. Supposedly they hang around Hueco Tanks, but I have yet to encounter one. For my money, these images are plenty sharp.
I hope you see one, or more, near Hueco Tanks soon, Susan.
Goldens are certainly a challenge–just to SEE them, let alone photograph them! But oh what a special (spectacular) treat when it all comes together. Like Zaphir said, there just aren’t any bad Golden shots. That golden nape just knocks me out with its sheer magnificence! Thank you so much for bringing these lovely images to us this morning. You ROCK!
“Goldens are certainly a challenge–just to SEE them”
Exactly, Laura. I typically go months between sightings and I’m always on the lookout for them.
Beautiful! 🙂 Glad you got a chance at one again with good luck even if you’re still hoping for that “perfect” shot! 🙂 Getting a background that they don’t just “disappear” into other than sky is a challenge. They are beautiful birds. One wouldn’t think at their size they would be as challenging to photograph as they are.
“One wouldn’t think at their size they would be as challenging to photograph as they are”
That’s exactly what I used to think, Judy, but it just ain’t so…
Great shots. We rarely have rhese birds back in Missouri, and I have never seen one here. Looks like I need a trip west.
Thank you, Doug.
These are great shots in my book.
You have a hell of a lot more patience than what I have!
Very nice job and we all know you will persevere and win.
Thanks, Dick. I’m really not known for my patience in most aspects of my life but in bird photography you simply don’t have a choice. Either you have patience or you fail miserably (in most cases). And sometimes you do both…
Dear Ron,
Congratulations! Superb progress – fabulous images.
Thanks for sharing.
Best regards,
Nick
Thank you, Nick.
I don’t know if there are any “bad” Golden Eagle shots. Yours certainly are very nice Ron. I know you’ll keep after it and we’ll all enjoy the journey with you as you share 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement, Zaphir. I’ll keep at it for sure and maybe one day everything will come together…