Sometimes I can be a real dummkopf when it comes to evaluating my own images.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
This is a photo from my archives that has never before seen the light of day. In fact until last night I had never even looked at anything but the thumbnail of the image in my organizer. Why? Because I have another photo of the same bird that I thought I’d like slightly better because in this one the right wing isn’t fully extended.
But when I look at this photo on its own merits and don’t make the comparison I like it a lot. The light on the eagle is excellent, I like the flight pose despite the right wing not being fully extended, the bird is so sharp I had to cut down on my normal sharpening routine during processing and I think the colors of the water reflections in the background are a bonus.
The one positive aspect of me being stuck at home during surgery recovery is having the opportunity to find overlooked images in my archives.
I’m trying to look at the bright side.
Ron
Notes:
- I’ve been having computer problems for the last few days which explains why this post may look rushed and a little rough around the edges. I hope it isn’t on its last legs.
- For those who may be interested, after a week of pure hell I’m finally feeling significantly better. I hope to never have to mention the word “surgery” again.
Beautiful light. Glad it did not make the delete bin!
I am really drawn to the right wing; a confusion of feathers. There is a sense of suspense wondering if one wing is about to extend or the other is about to fold. It’s amazing the way you capture how colorful the feathers of a Bald Eagle really are. They appear more a study in black and white in the bright light of day. Glad to hear the surgery is showing signs of achieving the intended results.
I’m glad you decided to post the pic. It’s beautiful. I love the determined look in its eye.
Between those talons and the frown cause by the occipital ridge, I’m mighty glad not to be a rabbit, a vole or a fish….INTENSE!!!
Me too, Patty.
Love the eagle. Over the years since I was about 5, I have from time to time found myself longing to fly. And then drifting into wondering what it would take (in another world). Looking at this picture, I got a sense: if this ten =/- pound creature has to have wings this long, heavy, and wigglable, you can just imagine the size of a human-eagle. To say nothing of the compression in that compact, aerodynamic body. Thanks for the day-dream! Feel better. Don’t push it.
Thanks, Sallie. I used to have similar day-dreams.
It’s a marvelous shot Ron! Thanks for sharing. Hope you are recoverint quickly!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
‘If looks could kill’…the eyes never fail to impress me. Perhaps it is because there is that heavy looking brow bone that accents their eyes and gives them the ‘don’t mess with me’ look that adds to their majesty. I would not want to be on the receiving end of the beak or the talons/feet. The feather sheen is beautiful. Glad for the chance to see and admire this. 😍
Thanks, Kathy. Yes, that brow ridge makes many raptors look menacing.
A magnificent photo that shows such intensity in the pose as well as the eyes. I haven’t hear that word ‘dummkopf’ for many years, and it makes me laugh!
Surgery is no picnic. Glad you are feeling a little relief, Ron.
I hadn’t heard it (or used it) for a long time either, Alice. Sometimes words just pop into my mind and this time I went with it.
Sharp! Great contrast and pose. Glad you are feeling better. Reread the postop instructions. Don’t get rambunctious.
“Reread the postop instructions”
That brought a huge smile, Dave. I went shooting this morning for the first time since the surgery and on the way home I was thinking I should do exactly that. Thanks for the reminder.
I am glad you found this beautiful Eagle in your archives. Love it. Have a good day.
Me too, Trudy. Thank you.
You have a good reason to be a great critic (even on your own work). You know what makes a great photo and what spoils it, and this is what guides/drives you in your pursuit for even more stunning photos. Without having read your reasoning as to why you put this one in the archives, I could already tell that it’s because you have an even better (even if it’s just by a tad bit) shot. There’s only one spot for number 1, so as beautiful as this photo is, it will never take the place of the other. We all wish you a quick recovery so we can experience (vicariously) your incredible birding adventures!
“There’s only one spot for number 1”
That summarizes it nicely, Elmer. Thank you.
Fantastic photo Ron…everything about it ….Thank you…and glad to hear your healing..your archives seem to be a treasure trove of great photos…so it seems your recuperation time has a silver lining…..still…Hopefully your medical people will never have to mention that s*****y word again…
There may not be many gems left in my archives but I’m glad I found a few. Thanks, Steve.
Really nice photo, Ron, for all the reasons people have already mentioned. And I’m glad to hear you’re feeling significantly better. Sometimes being forced back into one’s archives is a very good thing…. not that I’d wish the surgery on you to get you to dig deeper. Still, you’ve found some great photos to share.
At least there’s that silver lining, Nancy. Not much of one but better than nothing.
I really love this. It is so crisp I think I could touch that bird. And it’s a great look at the way the feathers work together on that right wing. I can see very clearly how the wings are being used to angle, brake, position.
Thanks very much, Arwen.
I’m so very glad you’re feeling better. I know that something you can’t take for granted. And I’m glad you’re taking advantage of the time to access get another winning photo. This one reminds me of what a remarkable “animal” the eagle truly is…
Thank you, Alison. And no, you can’t take it for granted. But I’m happy to report that I haven’t felt most of the stenosis pain since I woke up in the recovery room. I just hope it lasts.
I like those clinched talons! Best part of the picture. 🤪
I agree, those feet really stand out. Thanks, Bradley.
BEAUTIFUL! 🙂 Glad you’ve been able to do some diving into the archives……. The eagle is sharp and looks like it’s just “hanging there” which of course it isn’t…… 😉 The stare is intense, the detail on the feathers sharp…… 🙂 Glad you’re starting to feel better. 🙂 HUGE deal having surgery on your back with all those nerves around. Hopefully, it’s the last surgery…… 😉 Immature Bald and the Hawk came back for “crumbs” yesterday – good comparison having them together even at a distance.
“Hopefully, it’s the last surgery”
Boy, me too, Judy! As a biologist I used to spend a lot of time at one end of a scalpel but I sure as hell don’t like being at the other end.
For folks who may be interested, the “hawk” Judy mentions in her comment is a stunning dark morph juvenile Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk.
So glad you’re feeling better! Woo Hoo! 🙂
I like everything about this shot! The bird’s pose is so cool — he reminds me of a marionette. I like the vertical reflections of the phrags in the background as well as the location of the bird in the frame. There’s a symmetry in the asymmetrical pose that I find appealing: the wing edges are equidistant from the edge of the frame. That symmetry would be lost if that right wing were fully extended. Plus, I’m getting a total “3D” effect; he’s so sharp. And the intensity of his expression is priceless. Coolamatious! 😀
“I like…the location of the bird in the frame”
Thanks for mentioning that, Marty. I played with several versions of the image with the bird in different locations in the frame before I settled on this one. Your comment suggests I may have made a good choice.
The bright contrasting color of the eagle’s talons and beak are a bonus! Great image. Wishing you a speedy recovery, -Joel
Good point about the feet and beak, Joel. Thanks.