Bald Eagle Snatch

Gallery: AvianPosted July 18, 2010158 views15 comments

Here's another image from my kayaking trip with Jason last weekend. The eagle has just caught a sculpin. I composed it so that the splash from the catch was still visible, although this moved the eagle more into the center of the image. Some nr and a touch of shadow adjustment (amount 5) applied to the image. Cropped to about 75% of FF.

MkIII 500F4 1/1000 F7.1 iso 1000, handheld from kayak, manual exposure

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 18, 2010 at 3:45 PM

Nice action. Placement is fine for me - not too centered at all.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 18, 2010 at 4:34 PM

Definitely a very fine BIF capture, Nate.....and done by handholding a 500 mm lens in a kayak at that! Composition looks great to me too.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 18, 2010 at 5:12 PM

This is awesome Nate!!! Excellent detail and background!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 18, 2010 at 6:46 PM

Kudos Nate - this action is very difficult to capture. And I like your composition and the reason for it.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on July 18, 2010 at 8:58 PM

You are daring bringing that equipment on a kayak. But I guess thats what it takes to get the shot! Well you got it with this one. Great capture!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 18, 2010 at 9:26 PM

Great catch Nate.
May

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 18, 2010 at 10:19 PM

Thanks for your comment everyone!

Michael, I was with a kayak instructor in a double which is pretty stable and we were in calm waters so I wasn't too concerned with tipping.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 19, 2010 at 10:27 AM

Nice, Nate. It makes for some fun backgrounds to get at them from the water side.

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

Comment posted by Philip Haffley on July 19, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Marvelous, but I may have to report you for steroid use. Anyone who can handhold a 500mm lens in a kayak must be on steroids.

Honestly, I like the crop, including the splash and it does not seem to me to be too centered.

Registered on August 10, 2008, 265 Posts, 317 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on July 19, 2010 at 9:02 PM

Neat action shot with the splash visible and water droplets still pouring from the catch. I like the positions of the head and talons.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 19, 2010 at 9:21 PM

Love the sculpin and flying water Nate and the intense look the eagle has. I like the comp and the placement of the eagle.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 20, 2010 at 2:45 AM

A really exciting avian photo. Sensational bird n a fine pose, the catch makes it even better. I like the subtelties in the background color, makes viewing just that little bit more interesting.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 20, 2010 at 3:53 AM

Nice pose and detail Nate. i like the background - not distracting but enough detail to give an idea of the location.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by John Maynard on July 20, 2010 at 10:44 PM

Registered on August 19, 2007, 29 Posts, 50 Comments

Comment posted by Andrei Malashenko on March 27, 2011 at 11:29 AM

Wonderful shot ! I'm really impressed by the sharpness considering that you were in a kayak.Well done and congrats on your gallery as well. Best Regards, Andrei

Registered on March 18, 2011, 13 Posts, 68 Comments