I rarely have such a love/hate relationship with one of my images.
- This is another photo from my archives and yes, the subject is yet another Bald Eagle. I know, I’ve been posting quite a few of them lately.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
Here’s what I like:
- I think the action is incredible as the eagle closes in on the large fish in the water which is shallow enough that its dorsal fin and upper back are easily seen. The intention of the eagle is extremely obvious and we see the action up close and personal.
- The entire eagle is razor sharp and the fish is plenty sharp enough.
- The dynamic flight posture of the bird. Air was rushing through the wings so fiercely it had a rippling effect on most of the flight feathers.
- The eagle’s laser focus is intently on the fish but we can still clearly see its eye.
Here’s what I don’t:
- Multiple photobombing birds including a gull and all or part of two other eagles. In my view this is a major flaw, there’s just too much else going on.
- The composition of the photo. The subject eagle could be placed more aesthetically in the frame and the aspect ratio is too squarish for my tastes.
But given what I had to work with I cropped the image as best I knew how.
This is the uncropped photo. Now we’re up to five photobombing birds in the frame, four other eagles (one with a band on its leg) and a gull.
If I hadn’t clipped the eagles on the left it might have been a pretty good shot to show the pandemonium that results when multiple large birds are drawn to a small area because of an abundance of food. But I can’t help dwelling on what could have been if there was only the subject eagle and the fish in the frame. I don’t really “hate” the photo, in fact I rather like looking at it. But it does frustrate me to no end.
Listen to me, complaining about too many eagles. I wish I had that problem these days.
Ron
Note: I want to demonstrate to my readers that despite the miserable weather pattern we’ve been in for many weeks I really am trying to get new quality bird photos.
Yesterday morning our forecast was iffy but I decided to take a chance and try my luck by heading north in the dark anyway. My intention was to go to either Antelope Island or Bear River MBR. I’d make my final decision on the freeway as it was getting light by evaluating the clouds to the west (the island) or to the north (Bear River) as I was driving.
Just before sunrise it was much clearer up north so to Bear River I went.
For the entire two hours I was at Bear River it was socked in by clouds and fog. Often the fog was even worse than this. Yes, I got a few shots of Great Blue Herons on the ice but I didn’t like them very well because of the dense fog and poor light. I may look at them more carefully in the future – after all photos taken in the fog can potentially be quite interesting. But my first impression of them wasn’t a particularly good one.
For those who may be curious that red and green thing on my dusty dash is my annual pass to State Parks and the causeway to Antelope Island which is where I should have gone. You guessed it, when I looked to the west as I was driving home on the freeway with my tail between my legs the island was clear and sunny.
The best laid plans of mice and bird photographers…
Oh I love this. Such a telling scene and four eagles to boot. Since the shot turned out like it did, I kind of like the original version. Such chaos! I have recently spotted 2 eagles several times on my property. They were soaring overhead with seven wood Storks(of all things). I snapped a photo, but they were too high up to get anything decent. Still, I was just so elated to see the eagles that I didn’t realize the other birds were wood storks…. thought they were just egrets at first. I have learned that Wood storks are on the endangered list here but their numbers are making a come back. So, seeing seven all at once soaring was a hopeful sight. Your eagle shots are super inspiring. I think it is time to investigate and pattern where the locals are hanging out around me. Eight months into this feathered journey and I am ate up with it. 🙂 Please keep em’ coming, I look forward to your adventures.
Can’t stand pictures like this!!!!!!! (too jealous!!!)
🙂
This photo is worth it just for the rippled feathers. I don’t know that you could see that effect through binos or a scope. Well done. During a lull in the rain yesterday my neighbor and I put some extensions and squirrel baffles on the bird boxes around our local ponds (we should have put them on longer posts when we first put them up but it was all I had in the wood pile). Warning: don’t expect a cordless drill battery to last long when drilling through water-soaked cedar 4X4’s. We’ll be finishing up the others with my backup generator and corded drill.
“don’t expect a cordless drill battery to last long when drilling through water-soaked cedar 4X4’s”
Lyle, a sharp bit is key. 🙂 Were you using one?
Yup, it was a Bosch bit right out of the box (a tube, actually):
https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/daredevil-auger-bits-nklt09-34004-p/
Drained four 18V batteries for 3 1/2 holes. Finished the 1/2 hole with an ancient carpenter’s hand brace, which was as hard to extract as it was to drill.
I suspect the water heated up while drilling and expanded the wood.
What an awesome shot!!! Few things define the beauty and power as well as a stooping or diving bird of prey. This picture really emanates power and determination.
On another note, it also reminds me of one of my favorite bands. https://www.noremorse.gr/products/judas-priest-screaming-vengeance-england-83-ltd-edition-150-copies-picture-disc-lp
Geez. that must have been wet wood!
It’s western Washington; what can I say….
I forgot. Sure different than around here.
I still like fog. I had fun at Antelope Island Sunday. No sharp photos but nice atmospheric shots. I was hoping for hoar frost and a misty emerging bison. No luck on either.
I have many Bald Eagle shots from last year but they too are what you would call to busy or cluttered. I am always amazed you have so many nice single eagle photos.
Thanks, April. It was easier to get them back in the “old days”.
Prayers to all❤️ Be safe
I understand your frustation. I can even see (immediately and before reading the text) what triggered it.
But eagles. Plural eagles.
Be still my beating heart…
And yet another fire update. I may be a bit absent over the coming days. The fire closest to home is moving nearer and last night we could see flames running down nearby hills. This morning I can’t because of extremely heavy smoke.
Dammit! I’ve been worried about that. I’m so very sorry, EC. I hope conditions change for the better very, very soon.
Be safe EC .
I’ll take a picture of a Bald eagle any way I can get one❗️I know as a photographer (you!) that there’s too much going on. To me four eagles in one shot, beautiful. Seagull and all ❗️
A few more months, Spring 😁
I’ll take photos of eagles at the drop of a hat too, Diana. But it goes without saying that I’ll like some of them far more than others.
Ron, love the photos and daily blog. Have wondered for a while how you deal with condensation potential shooting from the warm truck when temps are freezing or below the due point. Leave windows down, just wipe lens before setting up each time, etc.??? So look forward to a daily lesson. Thanks, Steve
Steve, I don’t remember ever having condensation on my lens. The problem I have with my lens in those temps is soft photos from temperature disparity between my lens and the outside air. It can create what I call atmospheric “waves” in front of my lens that makes sharp focusing difficult or impossible. Sometimes the source of that atmospheric distortion may be heat coming up from my exhaust system.
Fantastic to see the “Photo-bombed” Eagle photos! Too bad about the fog… we’ve had a lot of gray days up our way these days this winter. More than usual I think. But not that dense fog. May there be sunny days ahead for you!
Joanne, the last few days are the only ones we’ve had all winter where fog has been a significant problem. I hope that trend is over quickly!
The gull is the only thing that REALLY messes it up to me tho Arwen’s “Frankenstein eagle” would be a major distraction…….;) That being said the main subject is AWESOME for all the reasons you mentioned… 🙂 Weather, fog in particular, can be pretty capricious as to where to shows up/lingers. 🙁 Thankfully, fog is NOT something we get much of with our constant “breeze” 😉
“Capricious” indeed, Judy. As they say, fog is “alive” and it goes anywhere it damn well pleases.
Whenever I hear “breeze” as a descriptor for Montana wind it makes me smile. Knowingly…
‘There he goes…showing off again!’ I can just surmise that is what the two in the back are communicating. I can just imagine what a terrific photo it would have made had he been solo. 😍 I love the separation in those wing feathers, especially his left…the waviness and layering. Just love that bird. Even with it’s negatives it still makes a great photo to study. Your weather looks like our weather…such a terrible year so far! Sunshine is hard to come by.
“Even with it’s negatives it still makes a great photo to study”
That’s exactly how I feel, Kathy. You just said it better.
That gull is an awesome addition to the photobomb category. But I love the tromp d’oilel (spelling isn’t right) of the second. The birds on the left create a Frankenstein eagle to my eye. Admittedly, I’m looking at this on my phone. 🙂
Arwen, I completely agree with you about the “Frankenstein eagle”.