Bald Eagle

Gallery: AvianPosted January 10, 2010339 views28 comments

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

This image was taken on Christmas Day 2009, the sun cleared away the fog not long before this eagle chased away the kestrel I mentioned in a previous post of this bird. Ron and I were quite surprised when this magnificent eagle landed this close to us while we sat in the pickup photographing the kestrel. It was an amazing experience.

In this photo you can see some of the newer plumage and some of the worn.

This was actually shot vertical, but I cropped it to horizontal from that presentation because of the pose and extension of the eagle's neck & head. This is 48% of the original image.

D200, lens resting on window, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 200, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited.

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

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 10, 2010 at 8:49 PM

Superb detail Mia. I like the intense stare. Excellent capture.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 10, 2010 at 8:51 PM

Wow Mia what a beauty. The stare is perfect and all the technical is A+

I see how the horiz would be better

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 10, 2010 at 8:52 PM

Amazing that this is a Wild Eagle. The eye and pose are very strong elements here.

- Luke

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 10, 2010 at 9:05 PM

I really like the way that you have composed this Mia. He looks like he is eyeing up a meal. Superb job on the techs, the whites look great and you have awesome detail.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 10, 2010 at 9:29 PM

Great shot Mia. I really like the pose and the comp.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 10, 2010 at 10:10 PM

Wow, exceptional!!!!
Doesn't get much better than this..

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 10, 2010 at 10:46 PM

This is MY fencepost and no kestrel and no pickup is gonna get it! Wonderful shot again!
Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan DesJardins on January 10, 2010 at 11:17 PM

Love it! Very intense look.

Registered on September 11, 2005, 170 Posts, 276 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 11, 2010 at 12:04 AM

Your ususal superb techs and a great stare from your subject. This guy almost looks evil.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Cliff Forrest on January 11, 2010 at 12:27 AM

Hi Mia,

I love the colour. And the pose.

Cliff

Registered on March 3, 2009, 51 Posts, 78 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 11, 2010 at 6:26 AM

Mia, this is just wonderful. I like the comp you chose for this given the bird's position and how it shows off the details of the plumage so well. I love being able to see the new and worn feathers. It shows how these birds molt. The stare is priceless and I still love the head coloration in these 4th year birds as I stated in one of your other posts. I wish I could get an eagle to land this close to me. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 11, 2010 at 8:16 AM

Mia, After all the time I've spent looking at this bird in real life I still find myself lingering at your presentation for quite a while. Your composition, excellent detail and eye contact are wonderful. I also like the color gradations in the sky background. Yes, this was quite the experience and your image brings back fond memories. Very, very nice.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 11, 2010 at 9:47 AM

Absolutely fabulous! The exposure is spot on (as it always is with your images), the detail is terrific and I really like your decisio on the comp Mia! I haven't seen the original, but the crop looks like a perfect choice to me.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 11, 2010 at 10:12 AM

Cool, Mia. A very different portrait of an eagle. I like it.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 11, 2010 at 10:49 AM

Very nice. Great detail and pose.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 11, 2010 at 10:50 AM

Quite amazing realism in this image, Mia. I feel like this fellow is parked on my desk! It's interesting that the composition and appearance of the feathers make it look like he has a cape draped over his shoulder. It makes this eagle look almost human. Exceptional.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 11, 2010 at 11:08 AM

An amazing image for a free flying wild bird.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 11, 2010 at 12:43 PM

Mia,
this is stunning!! I like the intense stare of the eagle, the natural light, the detail and the composition too.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on January 11, 2010 at 1:33 PM

Simply stunning Mia.

Beautiful image.

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

Comment posted by Ian Mason on January 11, 2010 at 5:10 PM

That stare is really magnificent! Boy does he look mean. Technically superb as always too.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on January 11, 2010 at 5:58 PM

Wonderful expression, excellent detail.
May

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

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on January 11, 2010 at 7:03 PM

Just beautiful! Love the gradient BG, the hunkered down look, and the intensity in its gaze.

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

Comment posted by Dan Walters on January 11, 2010 at 8:40 PM

Love the close crop and the details in the feathers. Nice background as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by David Bostock on January 11, 2010 at 9:20 PM

Wow, sensational shot, Mia. Congratulations.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 90 Posts, 2778 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 13, 2010 at 12:03 AM

Excellent, Mia. Not your usual Bald Eagle shot. Looks like a sub-adult molting into adult plumage, which is also pretty cool. Wonderful intensity.

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

Comment posted by Luciano Lapolla on January 13, 2010 at 11:56 AM

great image!!!

Registered on November 4, 2009, 0 Posts, 2 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 17, 2010 at 1:08 AM

Excellent detail and what a look this eagle is giving, a pleasure to view, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 28, 2010 at 12:20 AM

I was following a thread along and came to this image that I missed. So glad that I did. This is excellent in every way. I enjoy your work.

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