Bald Eagles
by Ron Dudley
A busy background but I liked the poses and the separation of the birds in such close proximity.
I've had mixed feelings about this image (and a few others like it) for a long time because it's possible these birds were baited. At the refuge where I often shoot, eagles come in large numbers every late winter to feed on dead carp - both winter killed and those killed by refuge managers to minimize the damage they do. When there's a sudden thaw (typically in Feb) the fish become available to the eagles and there's a real feeding frenzy. On the day after this image was taken (2/20/09), after most photographers had left, I observed two photographers wade into the shallow water and move dead carp to more photogenic settings with better light - one form of baiting. How often this occurred or for how long I just don't know but I stopped shooting at this pond after that. Anyway, in the interest of full disclosure - these birds may have been baited.
40D, 1/2500, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4 (no tc), shot from pickup window on 2/19/09, cropped to 56% of original image, slight reduction to highlights in ACR, levels adjustment in CS4, cloned out an OOF white blob poking slightly into the bottom of the frame (probably the top of a gull's head), sharpened, natural light, possibly baited
Larger version provided
Comments/critique appreciated
Comments
17 commentsAs to the ethical issue, I guess I am not really put off by the idea of moving the existing carp around. I am not sure where the line really is for me, but if the food is there anyway, is that really baiting? I think for me a big part of it is how intrusive the photography becomes. Where I am there are no other photographers so perhaps it doesn't strike me as negatively as it might if I were seeing the results of what others have done...
Anyway, cool capture.
Peter
Good action with the two in flight. Details look good as well as the comp. I would have preferred more separation from the background.
About Baiting which is a contraversal issue:
Many people basically have backyard studios for the sole purpose of photographing birds. Others are in the business of workshops which bring paying guess to baited setups with a perfect perch and blinds. What people do is their own business and I could care less. What bothers me is the driving force behind these actions. Let's face it, the hundreds of internet forums like NPN and competition plays a role in these behaviors. We all want to post the best pictures for popularity. I know I will get some resposes defending baiting but this is just my opinion.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.
It certainly wasn't my intention to get the baiting controversy going again here. I guess I explained more than I should have about the circumstances of this shot - probably because my position on the issue is implied in the comments of the images of raptors I post, combined with the fact that I realized that some would take this situation as possible baiting (as I do) if they knew the circumstances. I just wanted to be up front about it.
Anyway, nuff said. Sorry about making such an issue of it but it bothered me.
Good work keeping all three eagles separate.
A fairly high percentage of the birds I shoot are near man-made water features (some 5 yrs old, some 100 yrs old) within the surrounding arid landscape. Although the birds are naturally occurring in the surrounding habitat, the water surely attracts them. So these birds are no less "baited" than if I'd put out seed for them. Anyway, I appreciate your full disclosure and careful thought on the subject.
Excellent stop action and fine details. Exposure looks great, natural colors too..
Who cares about the BG, the action is wonderful
cheers
Rob