Both of these shots are a little… different, enough so that they may or may not have broad appeal. I’m still trying to decide how I feel about them.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
A little less than three months ago and only minutes after reaching my far-away shooting destination at sunrise we spotted a Golden Eagle on the ground surrounded by a cluster of ravens. As I stopped my pickup for a better look two eagles took off – we hadn’t seen the second one until they both took flight.
At first they flew off generally to the west but then they circled back fairly low to the ground and I was able to get about a half-dozen shots of this one with cloud-enshrouded mountains in the background.
Immature Golden Eagles often exhibit ventral white wing patches. The patch on the left wing of this bird is a little strange looking, in part because there isn’t a corresponding white patch on its right wing (see the next photo). Just goes to show, in the bird world symmetry isn’t always universal.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
In the next shot in the burst I caught the wings in a more horizontal position but most everything else is pretty similar to the previous photo.
I like the rather unusual background in both shots and I always enjoy seeing the distinctive golden nape of this species well lit up like this. And I’ll admit it – just the fact that it’s a Golden Eagle is enough to enhance my interest. To me they’re very special birds.
But these photos are just “different” in ways that are hard to describe so they may or may not work for you.
To be honest I’m still trying to decide how well they work for me.
Ron
aquila
Count me in for the Golden Eagle fan club.
Both shots looking right at you (or it looks that way to me). Hard to come by they are.
Cheers
Well, a Golden photo is pretty hard not to love simply for its subject matter … but I will confess, the first one with that white patch is not a favorite. At first I thought it was a tag hanging off the wing, and I find it very distracting. BUT, I’ll take Image #2 for all its many visual pleasures … beautifully hued background, those incredible wings fully outstretched, that glorious golden nape, the “coming for you” look in the eagle’s eye … I really quite love it! So thank you for sharing both even as you doubted their overall appeal.
Chris, I agree the white patch is distracting. It looks like something foreign dripping down from the wing.
SIGH!!! The second shot………😍
You get the Golden Eagle thing don’t you, Patty.
Sure do!!!
The first one is my favorite. I like the position of the wings more. Both are lovely.
Thanks, Arwen.
Goldens are also one of my favorite birds to see and attempt to photograph. I like the first picture because the arch of the wings reminds me how large, powerful and majestic they are.
Thank you, Karen.
You had me at Golden Eagle. 😀 The second shot shows off that magnificent wingspan, but there’s something that draws me to the more unusual position in the first shot. The light on the golden nape just makes it for me in both shots!
I’m trying to figure out what feels a little odd, though, and I think it might be the shadow on half the face, which gives me a sort of Phantom of the Opera vibe.
I’d still be over the moon if I had seen this bird in the wild, let alone taken these shots. 🙂
I’m a sucker for the golden nape too, Marty. Sometimes you see it and sometimes you don’t – depending on the light.
One of my daughters, one who spent a lot of time with our Lakota friends and is an “animal communicator”, had long hair…very similar to the color combinations of the golden eagle, an unusual, to me, a dramatic effect…
They are definitely dramatic. And awe inspiring. I like the back drop too.
I would love to see a Golden Eagle (though it is unlikely). Just the same, on a purely aesthetic level I don’t think the golden hour did this bird many favours.
Thanks, EC. I think you’re right.
Ok, maybe not the sharpest of your Golden Eagle photos, BUT:
I find the background to be complementary;
definitely instructive vis-a-vis the asymmetry;
seeing, let alone photographing this uncommon bird is a win;
That nape is ultra brilliant.
Yep, these photos work for me.
“seeing, let alone photographing this uncommon bird is a win”
That’s kind’a how I feel. Thanks, Lyle.
IMO any experience with a Golden is special, especially with a shot whether you think its great or not. These are definitely acceptable to me but if I had a preference it would be the second. Filling the frame a bit more shows a bit more grandeure of what I expect this bird to exhibit. Thanks for sharing Ron. It’s getting springy down here in S. Arizona. The birds are starting to make a bunch of noise.
“The birds are starting to make a bunch of noise”
Always a welcome sign, Thanks, Frank.
Ron – this is really different for me because I don’t think I have ever made a negative comment about one of your photos, but these two just don’t connect well with me. I think it is just the darkness of the Golden’s color. For me it needs just a little more light. I do like the background on both and if I had to chose between the two I would pick the second one. Of course I am envious too because I have never seen let alone photographed a Golden. 🙂
That darkness is one thing I struggled with, Everett. I played with brightness for quite a while but in the end I didn’t like them much when they were much brighter. Thanks for the feedback.
Very unusual coloring in that background; I like that particular blending of colors very much and especially behind this bird. For me also any eagle photo is special and seeing the nape’s golden feathers like this really adds. But I think the ‘golden hour’ brings things that sometimes aren’t ‘golden’ depending on the bird and it’s position. Yesterdays sparrow was totally enhanced by it but today, for me, it just doesn’t do the same thing for this eagle.
I appreciate your honesty, Kathy. These shots are definitely different.
Beautiful! Perhaps they “mature” in a lop-sided fashion…… 😉 The background works well for me and love the light/shadow on the bird – very dramatic but not overwhelming……
Thanks, Judy. I think they’re dramatic photos too but as you know drama isn’t always a good thing. 🙂