Low light II

Gallery: AvianPosted January 27, 2010252 views24 comments

Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Another low light photo. This time the Bald Eagle is still covered in the hoar frost from the night temps & fog. Again I purposely did not take any steps in post processing that would artificially alter the mood or light in this image.

We sat with this eagle for two hours on January 4th, not long before it took off the fog lifted. I have quite a few images of this bird in better light, but I wanted to share this one.

D200, lens resting on pickup window, f7.1, 1/400, ISO 400, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, ev +0.3 step, natural light, not baited. 94% of the original image. No NR or flash used.

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

I should have placed a 1 pixel wide dark line around the image for the larger version, I forgot it might blend in with the page color there.

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Paul Inglis on January 27, 2010 at 1:38 PM

You've not lost your midas touch! Beautiful pose, beautiful bird, beautiful image!

Registered on October 23, 2007, 26 Posts, 2832 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 27, 2010 at 1:49 PM

I love the frost on the bird and the perch. The details still shine through even with the lower light conditions. Lovely pose. He(she) looks kind of sad with the head bowed. This image sets quite a mood, quite a cold mood.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 27, 2010 at 2:04 PM

I like the mood an of course the frost on the eagle. The pose is wonderful as it matches the mood of the light. I'm curious if you have any from this series with just a touch of fill flash? I'm trying to visualize what it might look like.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 27, 2010 at 2:22 PM

Beautiful, Mia. I really like the foggy feel created by the bg and the hoar frost.

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

Comment posted by István Molnár on January 27, 2010 at 3:00 PM

Very nice image!
István

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 27, 2010 at 3:11 PM

That is one "chillin out" eagle Mia. I like the look and feel of this image. The viewer def. can tell the type of conditions this bird has endured overnight. I would not think of trying to change the look of this image with processing. The details in the larger image are wonderful.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 27, 2010 at 3:11 PM

Very enjoyable photo, glad you did not change anything. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 27, 2010 at 3:36 PM

I like this as is, Mia, even better than your Kestrel image. This has the feel and emotional impact of the conditions and the bird. There is a mix of pathos and determination here that is very touching—and rare in most nature photographs. In my mind, it is on an equal footing with Brad Hill's bear photos. It is certainly head and shoulders above the usual BOS stuff. Not that there is anything wrong with good exposure, comp, catchlight, etc., of a well made picture. This one has something more in it—a story of the bird.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 27, 2010 at 3:57 PM

I love i t as posted. A very special image.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 27, 2010 at 4:04 PM

Mia, I like what you're doing here and it works for me as in I feel the eagle's misery from the cold.

But I think I'd play with the image in PS, first I'd try adding a little pop and see what that looks like, and then I'd try making this image even a little lighter to further enhance the bleakness.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 27, 2010 at 5:02 PM

My thanks for the comments thus far on this image.

Keith, it has probably been 12 months or more since I have used flash of any kind while taking a avian image, so in answer to your question, no I don't have any photos of this bird using fill flash. I do have images of the bird in brighter light, but by then the frost had started to melt.

Wayne, I would not want to add pop to this, it is a foggy image taken in low light. I think the bleakness that exists in the image accentuates the mood which is what I like most about it.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 27, 2010 at 5:13 PM

Certainly a unique photo - I can't remember ever seeing a BE shot like this. I like this more than a standard BE on a perch shot as the elements add something special.

- Luke

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

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on January 27, 2010 at 5:36 PM

I don't think there was a better way to render the atmosphere of the moment.
Excellent.
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on January 27, 2010 at 7:31 PM

Beautiful capture Mia, I also agree that leaving the image pretty much as is was important as the birds mood and weather are clearly represented. Thanks for sharing this one, I love it!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on January 27, 2010 at 7:42 PM

I am no bird-watcher....but, for my eye...this is an amazing shot. The frosted feathers suggest a long night of cold suffering (my projection), the foggy air compliments the effect splendidly. The isolated view w/no bg or fg reveals a stark nakedness too. A lot to like in this shot. Well done.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on January 27, 2010 at 7:57 PM

Really looks like the eagle is in the fog. Like the snow and frost on the feathers.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 27, 2010 at 7:57 PM

Just excellent Mia. The frost on the post matching the frost on the eagle speaks volumes about what it was like that early morning. Right now I can feel the cold from your image and my own memory from being there when it was taken. I think the downward looking pose is especially effective for the mood of the shot. Can't wait to see "Low Light lll".

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 27, 2010 at 8:11 PM

The rigours of winter are so evident here - well done Mia.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 27, 2010 at 10:28 PM

Very nice, Mia, and I agree completely with leaving the natural light, which adds so much to this image.

This is a unique Bald Eagle shot--I just commented on Ron B's post that an intense glare seems to be a constant with BAEAs, but here the bird's expression (accentuated by the downward tilt of the head and the fog) seems to be one of weariness in the obviously harsh conditions. The frost on the bird is just wonderful. I love this shot.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 27, 2010 at 11:50 PM

I really like the moodiness of the shot. I can see how some might be tempted to boost the contrast, but this subdued lighting is reality and the detail is there. He seems to be thinking, "Why'd I ever leave Florida anyway?"

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 28, 2010 at 1:38 AM

Superb, Mia. The soft, foggy light makes the shot, and transforms a fairly ragged eagle into a work of art. This is as fine as anything I've seen you post here. Excellent, simply excellent.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 28, 2010 at 5:54 AM

Amazing Mia - the frost and the birds 'dejected' look say everything

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 28, 2010 at 10:40 AM

It's amazing how you are able to capture such an image in low light with low ISO, no flash and no influential post processing, Mia. My preference would also be to leave it as is. It is certainly an unusual and beautiful image.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 28, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Beautiful as posted. Does present the mood and the intent stare is awesome

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