Where Eagles Soar

Gallery: AvianPosted August 9, 2010168 views13 comments

The Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), or better known in southern Africa as simply the Black Eagle, is an impressive bird of prey. The powerful build with the large wingspan of app. 2.2m make it an awe-inspiring sight in flight. This majestic eagle is a specialist hunter of hyraxes (or dassies). It is highly territorial and can often be seen with another Verreaux's Eagle, with whom it mates for life. You can imagine that the extreme dark combined with bright white plumage is a real challenge to expose correctly!

Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Shutter Speed 1/1250 Sec.
Aperture Value f/8.0
ISO Speed 200
Lens EF500mm f/4 L IS USM
HH, Significant crop, app 50-45% of FF (that's what I love about the Mark IV!)

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 9, 2010 at 12:13 PM

That's one impressive raptor Vincent, especially in the larger view. You handled the exposure nicely, got good eye contact and I like that background with the blue sky and clouds.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 9, 2010 at 12:26 PM

Excellent focus on the eye and pleasing DOF, impressive.

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

Comment posted by Darren Colello on August 9, 2010 at 12:40 PM

A great sighting Vincent. These are impressive raptors. You did very well with this composition. I like the fine detail and pleasing bg.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on August 9, 2010 at 3:32 PM

Awesome capture....love all the Raptors! Nice angle too.......

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by John W Lee on August 9, 2010 at 7:00 PM

Well handled challenging exposure on a magnificent bird - that backdrop gives a real feel of soaring high.

John

PS: As an aside (and being a pedant) the Verreauxs' Eagle was named after the Verreaux brothers and as there were two of them the apostrophe should go after the s and not before. That said a number of sources have it before so I suspect it's not seen as vitally important.

Registered on February 17, 2006, 24 Posts, 129 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 9, 2010 at 11:25 PM

Great flight pose Vincent and I love the sky & clouds in the background.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on August 9, 2010 at 11:30 PM

That eye contact appears to be personally for you. Nice catchlight and overall and incredible catch.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 9, 2010 at 11:49 PM

Sweet image, Vincent. I really like the almost side-on angle. Unusual to get that with raptors.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 10, 2010 at 12:56 AM

That is one serious raptor. Fine work on the exposure, and the clouds add a lot to the shot.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on August 10, 2010 at 3:25 AM

Killer!

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on August 10, 2010 at 3:45 AM

Excellent capture Vincent, I especially bank angle, eye contact and background clouds and sky.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on August 10, 2010 at 6:14 AM

Nice one Vincent - a truly majestic bird
cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 10, 2010 at 11:23 AM

It appears the eagle is checking you out with the look that it is giving. Interesting information on this eagle and at first you would not think it to be this big. Well done, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments