![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/golden-eagle-8814-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"golden-eagle-8814-ron-dudley.\\"")
1\/5000, f\/6.3, ISO 320, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\nThe eagle was high on a ridge, pretty far away and while perched ‘she’ was partially hidden by grasses on Antelope Island. But the light angle was good so how could I not watch her through my lens and hope she’d take off in my direction. Eventually that’s exactly what she did.<\/p>\n
This is her first downstroke during liftoff. It takes massive, powerful wings to get a 10 pound bird off the ground which I think this takeoff posture dramatically illustrates. I like the symmetry of the image with the eagle centered in the frame and her very long wings in a horizontal position and parallel to the ground. Her broadly fanned tail and attention-grabbing yellow feet are a bonus. Because she wasn’t close I don’t have quite as much detail as I’d prefer so I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I like the image.<\/p>\n
It was so very considerate of her to turn her head slightly to her left so we can see her eye, her lit-up face and even part of her golden mantle. Little things like that make a big positive difference.<\/p>\n
I got quite a few photos of her during takeoff and in flight but I’m in the middle of a large and time-consuming project so this morning I only have time for a single photo. I’ll likely post more of them soon.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Until yesterday I hadn’t had a Golden Eagle in my viewfinder for much too long.<\/p>\n