Bald Eagle

Gallery: AvianPosted February 7, 20091,732 views53 comments

2-2-09. This bird was just coming in for a landing, not preparing to snag a fish. I had one opportunity with a fish snatch and blew it.

40D, 1/1600, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, shot from truck window, cropped to 67% of original image but then added a narrow strip of canvas under the talons for composition

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

53 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 7, 2009 at 7:19 PM

perfect composition, color and lighting

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 7, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Near perfection!

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Shane Srogi on February 7, 2009 at 7:58 PM

Ron, very nice! I really like the image, the posture...wings out...talon...head. Good highlights and shadows and fine detail on the eagle. The eye stands out clearly.

-Shane Srogi

Registered on September 3, 2008, 32 Posts, 224 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 7, 2009 at 8:24 PM

Ron,

The powerful pose, the outstretched talons, the intense look on the Eagle's face and the exceptional detail in this image just pop right off my screen.

Outstanding image.

I also love the reeds reflecting on the water, the blue & gold are an excellent combination.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Wen on February 7, 2009 at 8:30 PM

Ron,

It's absolutely stunning.

Bill

Registered on July 31, 2006, 14 Posts, 96 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Ginex on February 7, 2009 at 8:50 PM

Whoa! What a great classic pose. Wing position and talons work great together on this shot.
One of the best eagle action shots I've seen. A winner, Ron.

Registered on October 16, 2007, 80 Posts, 353 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 7, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Another stunning eagle shot Ron - love the detail in the talons..
I might be tempted to add a litlle more to both the bottom and RHS.
You've certainly had fun this winter.

cheers Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 7, 2009 at 9:09 PM

Awesome image! Who says you've got to go to Homer Alaska for the hand-fed eagle shots.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on February 7, 2009 at 9:41 PM

Spectacular!

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Karon Welter on February 7, 2009 at 10:14 PM

Wow! Gorgeous shot! I love the talons. This is really great.

Registered on November 10, 2008, 67 Posts, 543 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 7, 2009 at 10:21 PM

Way to go Ron, Beautiful action shot!
Don't really see anything to call you on..
You nailed it IMO

Howard

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on February 7, 2009 at 10:23 PM

Wonderful! GREAT pose frm this guy, especially with those talons.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 7, 2009 at 10:57 PM

A classic eagle image, Ron. I like the differently extended legs and the intense look of concentration.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 7, 2009 at 11:09 PM

Another wonderful Baldie shot Ron.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 7, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Ron: This is a one in a million picture!! It has great everything!!!!! Im a humble Flora and chickadee photgrapher, but i know when something is sublime.

albert darmo. Que. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 8, 2009 at 12:52 AM

Very dramatic, his body makes this incredible "V" shape and with the background, drawn talons and intense focus, well, it's a heck of an eagle photo by any standards. And as Richard says, no hand feeding!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 8, 2009 at 2:27 AM

That's going to hurt! Sweet

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 8, 2009 at 4:00 AM

Another fantastic eagle shot, Ron. Love the wing position and the extended talons.

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on February 8, 2009 at 5:47 AM

WOW such a sweet image

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Mak on February 8, 2009 at 5:49 AM

excellent catch of a beautiful pose

Registered on December 1, 2006, 91 Posts, 65 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Ramos on February 8, 2009 at 7:26 AM

Ron: everything work out perfect here,what I really love is the LOCK ON LOOK that it have on the Target in this case the perch as you mention earlier( I though it was a fish too) But I'm really prepare to see when you post another stunning eagle with a fish in his talons.

Registered on December 24, 2008, 43 Posts, 281 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on February 8, 2009 at 8:25 AM

Amazing capture Ron! One of the best avian shots I've seen. The look on his face is superb - he's evil!

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on February 8, 2009 at 8:34 AM

Wow, great action here, looks like he is screaming in for the kill. Nice and sharp, beautiful background.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by James Campbell on February 8, 2009 at 9:47 AM

Excellent shot, Ron! A really powerful pose coupled with the fantastic look of intent that eagles so often possess makes a striking combination.

Great work, James

Registered on January 12, 2009, 48 Posts, 377 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen on February 8, 2009 at 9:48 AM

Absolutely amazing Ron. I love the mid-air pose, the intense expression on the eagle's face, the outstretched wings and those talons getting ready to pounce.

Registered on November 11, 2007, 42 Posts, 803 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on February 8, 2009 at 11:06 AM

I'm late to the party, Ron. This is a killer shot!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Malcolm Castro on February 8, 2009 at 11:42 AM

Absolutely awesome shot! The epitome of bald eagle photos! This is what we all strive for.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 18 Posts, 115 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 8, 2009 at 12:54 PM

Wow, Ron! I knew you were up to something. Excellent!

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on February 8, 2009 at 1:15 PM

There have been a lot of bald eagle photos posted lately and this is by far my favorite. I love everything about it especially the pose and the fine details. Excellent superb wonderful shot.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Don Grall on February 8, 2009 at 2:16 PM

Love it, great action shot with the talons extended.

Registered on November 18, 2003, 16 Posts, 132 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Scoles on February 8, 2009 at 3:06 PM

This is one of the best bald eagle shots I've ever seen!
It's wonderful!!

Registered on August 21, 2008, 42 Posts, 214 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on February 8, 2009 at 5:26 PM

Truly awesome image, Ron. I can't imagine what could improve on it.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Ravee Wattanatanak on February 8, 2009 at 7:02 PM

Great action shot. I love it.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 105 Posts, 786 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 8, 2009 at 8:41 PM

Concentration... "Captured!" I love the action seen here Ron, your larger version is really nice and I can only imagine how nice a large print would look! Well done! "Print n hang er!"

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Harlan B. Cooper on February 8, 2009 at 10:23 PM

WOW, that's what we're looking for, well done.
Harlan

Registered on January 28, 2007, 37 Posts, 50 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on February 8, 2009 at 10:32 PM

Fantastic. Love the action, sharpness, color. It's a winner!

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 9, 2009 at 2:02 AM

It will be hard to top this one, Ron!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Durwood Edwards on February 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM

Powerful shot!
You could paste a nice salmon in if you wanted (J/K)

Registered on December 8, 2006, 116 Posts, 394 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on February 10, 2009 at 12:40 PM

I knew this was going to be picked for this weeks EP.Its such a awesome image.

Congrats

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on February 10, 2009 at 1:37 PM

Congrats Ron,

I checked back just to see if this image would earn a well deserved EP. Super capture!

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 10, 2009 at 3:20 PM

Ron: I'm not a bird guy but this spiked my

-meter in a big way. Spectacular capture. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 10, 2009 at 8:20 PM

Ron, my apologies. I didn't check the EP so didn't know yours was picked. Very well deserved.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on February 11, 2009 at 1:56 AM

That's quite the intensity! Nicely done, a consolation prize for missing the fish

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 11, 2009 at 2:44 PM

Congrats, Ron.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on February 12, 2009 at 8:03 AM

Love this Ron!! Bee-U-T-ful!!! Congrats on your EP!!!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Jose Suro on February 12, 2009 at 9:09 AM

Crystal! Great action image.

Best,

Jose

Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on February 15, 2009 at 3:32 PM

This is spectacular - it's a privilege to just view this. Thanks for posting such an amazing capture.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments

Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on February 17, 2009 at 8:12 AM

In a word, WOW! Fantastic capture.

Paolo

Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on February 17, 2009 at 10:58 AM

Outstanding Ron!

And congrats on the WP

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on February 20, 2009 at 4:09 AM

Oh, lordy!! Amazing shot– and from a truck's window at that. Can't get any better than this. But the number of views and comments tells the story of the greatness of this image as well. Congratulations, Ron.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on February 27, 2009 at 12:43 AM

Ron,

Can't believe I missed this. Absolutely my favorite bald eagle image. Incredible image. Congratulations.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 27, 2009 at 9:32 PM

Outstanding Ron!!!!!!!!!
I love everything about it..some day I'll get mine

Very well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on July 1, 2010 at 3:14 AM

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments