Bald Eagle Silhouette

Gallery: AvianPosted January 7, 2012170 views7 comments

This is another frame from January 1st at Bosque Del Apache.

There is a dead snow goose in the lower left. A northern harrier had been picking at it. This eagle (and mate) flew into a tree in the middle of the pond. I had a pretty good hunch the eagle would fly over to dine on the goose. I kept my lens on the eagle and waited for him to fly, and then come into the light from the early morning sunrise.

This is a very slow shutter speed for this kind of action. I chose to keep is slow and hope for the best with a bit of wing blur. I liked the other goose swimming in the upper left part of the frame and chose to leave it, rather than clone it. I do wish the goose would have been swimming the other direction.... Thoughts?

Techs: Canon 50D, ISO 320, 1/160 @ f/5.6
500mm f/4 with 1.4x TC, Wimberly head

Larger version included.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 7, 2012 at 4:26 PM

I really like this, but wonder if a more vertical comp without the dead goose and goose in the BG would make a more powerful comp. Without an explanation, I would not have guessed the thing in the was a dead goose, so not sure it adds to the image.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 7, 2012 at 6:56 PM

I agree with Ron about the vertical composition making this a stronger photo. But I like this one the way you presented it also, I think the live goose in the background completes the visual story of survival. You have two excellent but very different images here Kieth. Sweet Photo(s)

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 7, 2012 at 7:12 PM

Perfect pose for a silhouette and I like the background colors. Personally I think I prefer the goose swimming in the direction it is - there's just enough room for it to the left for my tastes.

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

Comment posted by Hali Sowle on January 7, 2012 at 10:44 PM

Great colors and I like the composition, the dead goose needed a bit of explaining but to me it adds reasoning to the image, and I think you got just the right amount of blur in the wing. I also like the goose going to the left it continues the movement in the direction the eagle is moving. On the other hand I could see the vertical crop of just the eagle being powerful as well. As Ken said you've got two images in this.

Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 8, 2012 at 10:31 PM

I really like the silhouette and golden light and you achieved the wing blur but kept the eagle's head farily sharp so nice job on that. I happen to like this composition as is but I kept on going back and forth on the goose swiming in the upper left. I would might be inclined to clone it out and compare then see which one you like. Excellent approach on a difficult shot, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on January 8, 2012 at 11:24 PM

Beautiful silhouette Keith and in such glorious light. If this were mine - and I know many would cringe at the thought ;^. - I would be tempted to completely remove the Goose, at the very least I'd go vertical as already suggested. Though I've nothing personal against Geese, IMO this one's better gone, as it would greatly enhance an already powerful image.

Wishing you a wonderful year ahead :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 10, 2012 at 5:24 PM

I like the golden color of the water, it makes the shot Keith. 1/160th worked well for you here, the wings blurred nicely with most of the birds silhouette well defined. Perhaps it would've been better with the goose ULC facing in, but it doesn't hurt it any this way either IMO.
Well done!!

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