![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/bald-eagle-0871b-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"bald-eagle-0871b-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nI began photographing birds several years before I started blogging so I have quite a few nice photos that I’ve never posted to Feathered Photography.<\/p>\n
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1\/2000, f\/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n This one was taken three cameras ago, back in 2009 when I was still using my Canon 40D. The adult Bald Eagle was coming in to land on the shore of a pond at Farmington Bay WMA and I managed to get several photos I like during ‘his’ approach.<\/p>\n I think raptors in general have a natural intensity during their landing approach, due in part to the brow ridges overhanging their eyes which give them a scowling, even menacing look. But this bird was coming in to land amongst other eagles and in that situation serious fights sometimes break out. He seems to be aware of that possibility but he looks determined to brave the gauntlet and take his chances.<\/p>\n I’m always a little reluctant to include my image techs for these older shots because back then I shot virtually everything<\/em> at f\/8. I’d read somewhere online that f\/8 was the “sweet spot” for sharpness with my lens so come hell or high water I shot at f\/8, no matter the conditions. It makes me shudder to think of how many potentially excellent photos I butchered because I didn’t have enough shutter speed.<\/p>\n What, you mean not everything you read online is true! That was one of my painful lessons in that regard.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note: If f\/8 actually is the sweet spot for sharpness with that lens I’ve never seen any evidence of it. Besides, the difference would be so minor I’d be giving up far more than I’d gain by shooting at f\/8 all the time.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What, you mean everything you read online isn’t true!<\/p>\n