4 year old Bald Eagle

Gallery: AvianPosted December 28, 2009266 views20 comments

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

This image was taken on the 26th of December in Utah.

I did more post processing to this than I am used to doing with my images. The bird had flown out into the canal, caught the fish and came flying back to the pole. I had my settings wrong for this image and my ISO was too low and as such my shutter speed was low, I could not zoom back fast enough, but I think it turned out well despite that.

D200, lens resting on pickup window, f9, 1/400, ISO 250, 0 step EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 300mm. Natural light, not baited.

This is 100% of the original image plus I added 44 pixels to the top after I resized to the width to1200 pixels because I barely clipped the top wing on the right side and I added that back into the image.

The image was a touch dark so I brought up the exposure in RAW, then additonal adjustments were made in layers. I wish I had increased my ISO to get a faster shutter speed but in this case I think the motion blur on the wings conveys how intent the eagle was to get to the pole to eat the fish.

I could have removed the pole because it is OOF but I believe it adds to the image even though it is not sharp because the viewer can imagine that it is the eagle's goal.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques. Thank you for looking.

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by dan elster on December 28, 2009 at 5:12 PM

It's plenty sharp where it needs to be(face/eyes etc.) I think the fact the bird is looking so intently on it's landing target that it belongs in the image and adds to the composition.

Next time, ask the bird to catch something a little bigger, that fish is pretty puny for such an impressive bird.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on December 28, 2009 at 5:26 PM

Beautiful! The face is very sharp and the eyes are clearly focused on the perch, so I agree the perch should remain. This image is definitely better appreciated by looking at the larger version.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on December 28, 2009 at 6:02 PM

I am comfortable with the pole, the bird, even the fish, but tell me—how did you know the bird was four years old?

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 28, 2009 at 6:09 PM

Philip,

Philip, from year one to year five eagles go through several phases of plumage, this is a 4th year bird, as was my last eagle post. Next year this eagle will have the pure white head and tail typical of an adult. This bird is also molting, it does not show well in this image but I have many others where you can see worn & fresh plumage at the same time. I hope that you have some reference books that show you the plumage differences from 1st to 5th year eagles.

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

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on December 28, 2009 at 7:02 PM

Great image Mia, love the look this eagle is giving. I'd leave the pole in myself. As for the shutter speed, I like the blurred wings, it gives it a sense of movement. As Dan stated, it is sharp where it needs to be.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on December 28, 2009 at 7:35 PM

I agree, Mia. It turned out really well (amazingly well for those settings!). I think it's because the eagle is coming towards you so the lower exposure time was fine. The rapid wing movement shows a blur but that's o.k. I am surprised how the plumage changes with eagles. Sounds like, unlike human hair (male pattern baldness), it doesn't vary from eagle to eagle.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 28, 2009 at 8:33 PM

I love the focus of this bird on it's perch Mia - makes me think of what is/isn't going on in their brains when making a landing like this on a precarious perch with the extra burden of a fish - even a small one. The perch needs to be there IMO, super sharp or not. You did an excellent job of feather repair on that upper primary.

This is the image I couldn't get even though I was there. I got shots of the approach to the perch but by the time the bird flared like this it was just too close for my longer and fixed lens. Pretty frustrating for me but I'm happy for you. You got a wonderful image..

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 28, 2009 at 8:34 PM

Very nice presentation and a great bird. Your photoshop work looks fine and cannot be detected.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 28, 2009 at 11:05 PM

Well this is amazing for a photo where you report everything was done wrong. Head and face are perfectly sharp. I always enjoy your images.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 28, 2009 at 11:08 PM

Nice, Mia. Worth the extra work. I agree with leaving the pose. The eagle is obviously focused on something, and I think it's a good idea to include that focal point in the image. I mentioned it in your earlier post of this eagle, but I really like his scruffy appearance. It adds character.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 28, 2009 at 11:56 PM

WOW! This really shows off the massive size of the bird - No complaints on this. The motion blur in the wings makes this a one-of-a-kind BE shot.

- Luke

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 29, 2009 at 2:45 AM

Fabulous detail and over-all pose. I'd be very tempted to remove the pole to make the image go way over the top Mia

Frame this one.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 29, 2009 at 6:56 AM

Wonderfully sharp around head etc Mia and the wing blur is very effective

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 29, 2009 at 8:28 AM

An image well worth saving, Mia. I agree that a little more shutter speed would have been nice, but I like the sharpness on the head and body. I think that having the perch included is a good thing, as it gives context to what the eagle is doing.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 29, 2009 at 4:29 PM

Wonderful capture. The outspread wings, the fish, the bird just leaving the perch. You are getting very good at these flight shots. I would vote for leaving the perch.

May

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 29, 2009 at 6:48 PM

Super shot Mia. I love the face of this bird and the fact it is a 4th year bird. I love the look of the plumage at this age. Well done on all your processing. Sometimes an image is worth the extra work, this one sure is. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 29, 2009 at 9:17 PM

I like it and feel the pole adds the destination . The fluffy head is great and I love how the eyes are right on the pole. Post processing looks good and the image was worth it

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Ravee Wattanatanak on December 30, 2009 at 2:49 AM

Great shot.

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

Comment posted by Kenneth Arni on December 30, 2009 at 6:54 AM

I think this is worth the extra work Mia, great shot. The wing's motion blur doesn't bother me, the main thing to me is the head and tail in focus. Looks great to me, love it.

Registered on December 24, 2008, 112 Posts, 629 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 30, 2009 at 10:28 AM

I really love the face and very much like the spread wings and tail. The fish is a nice bonus too. Definitely up to your excellent standards. Beautiful.

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