Gallery: AvianPosted October 30, 2012155 views10 comments
Went to Haines over the weekend.
Nikon D4, 600mm f4 w/TC-20 III
1/2500s f/8.0 at 1200.0mm iso500
Comments
10 comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on October 30, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Outstanding Dan,
One of the best Eagle Portraits I've seen, Well Done.
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on October 31, 2012 at 4:40 AM
Excellent portrait. Like passport photo. TFS.
Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Rebmann on October 31, 2012 at 6:42 AM
Great image. Before I read your caption, I thought it was a captive\rehab bird. Haines sounds like a great location.
Paul
Registered on July 17, 2012, 31 Posts, 122 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Roberts on October 31, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Before I read your caption, I thought it was a captive\rehab bird. Haines sounds like a great location.
Paul
I highly recommend a visit to Haines in October/early November for anyone who loves birds or bird photography. Finding the birds isn't a problem. It's more a matter of optimizing lighting, finding a clean BG, etc. During this trip it was uncharacteristically sunny. Great for this shot but not so good for the flight/fight shots that Haines is famous for.
This particular bird was very accomodating. It flew in and landed pretty close to me. Then I spent an hour working closer to him/her. In retrospect I think I could have simply walked right up to this particular one. The biggest challenge was that the bird was so unconcerned, it wouldn't look directly at me. Definately not the normal behavior, however. You can tell pretty quickly if an eagle is disturbed by your presence. If they shift position at all on the perch or constantly glance in your direction, it's time to back off. If they squirt they are just before flying.
I'm always very keen to avoid disturbing migratory birds. They need all the energy they can muster for their journey.
Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 31, 2012 at 9:18 AM
Nice powerful shot Dan. Like the comp a lot.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on October 31, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Nice portrait Dan. This image really portrays the power and attitude this majestic bird has.
Very well done!
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 31, 2012 at 3:33 PM
Exquisite detail. Never been to that part of Alaska. My son lives in Valdez. I've spent a fair amount of time there and North of there over the years. There are certainly Eagles there, but I've never managed anything this close. Even the captive birds I've been this close to are no way as calm as this one seems to have been.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 2, 2012 at 8:58 AM
Very nice portrait! This crop and the direct stare makes him appear even more noble and imposing. His plumage is in excellent condition and you exposed everything perfectly. This sort of close-up can be hard to do well, you did it. I'm impressed with the image quality you managed with a nikon 2X.
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Roberts on November 2, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Thanks for the comments, folks.
...I'm impressed with the image quality you managed with a nikon 2X.
I bought the TC20E III based on reviews I'd read indicating it was much better than prior versions. Other than taking photos of the family dog etc, this was the first time I used it. I did lose focus a few times causing the camera to hunt but f8 is at the published performance limit of the AF system. Overall well pleased with performance.
Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 3, 2012 at 8:33 PM
A really striking portrait Dan. Could you afford just a fraction more brightness without blowing the detail in the whites???
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comments
10 commentsOne of the best Eagle Portraits I've seen, Well Done.
Paul
I highly recommend a visit to Haines in October/early November for anyone who loves birds or bird photography. Finding the birds isn't a problem. It's more a matter of optimizing lighting, finding a clean BG, etc. During this trip it was uncharacteristically sunny. Great for this shot but not so good for the flight/fight shots that Haines is famous for.
This particular bird was very accomodating. It flew in and landed pretty close to me. Then I spent an hour working closer to him/her. In retrospect I think I could have simply walked right up to this particular one. The biggest challenge was that the bird was so unconcerned, it wouldn't look directly at me. Definately not the normal behavior, however. You can tell pretty quickly if an eagle is disturbed by your presence. If they shift position at all on the perch or constantly glance in your direction, it's time to back off. If they squirt they are just before flying.
I'm always very keen to avoid disturbing migratory birds. They need all the energy they can muster for their journey.
Very well done!
I bought the TC20E III based on reviews I'd read indicating it was much better than prior versions. Other than taking photos of the family dog etc, this was the first time I used it. I did lose focus a few times causing the camera to hunt but f8 is at the published performance limit of the AF system. Overall well pleased with performance.