Knife Edge Bald Eagle

Gallery: AvianPosted January 4, 2011242 views24 comments

Aerobatic pilots call flying with wings vertical, flying knife edge. This eagle was very good at it as I am sure most are. I love the unique view. This bird was again chasing an osprey and was not exactly moving slow. Actually it was going faster than any other eagle I have seen except one in an inverted dive. They are big birds but can out turn an osprey that is for sure.

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 800
1/4000s
f/7.1
Manual exp.
Hand held
33% of FF
No NR
Digitally watermarked

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 4, 2011 at 10:06 PM

You nailed this one... man what a super sweet shot. Too bad it was so far away!!!

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 4, 2011 at 10:12 PM

Funny you should say this bird was so far away Luke. It always amazes me how much just a little bit further away results in the need for a much larger crop. This bird really was not that far out in front of me, but to get the comp I wanted it took 33% of FF. I think the detail held up well, but it would have been much better FF vertical. Someday. Someday.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 4, 2011 at 10:39 PM

Hi Ron: Very nice flight shot. Love the pose. Details do look very good (yes, even at 33% of FF). I like the vertical crop.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 4, 2011 at 11:01 PM

Great position and very nice image.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 4, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Great bank angle shot here Ron. What strikes me most is the head position, pretty near close to 90 degrees from it's wings and tail.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 4, 2011 at 11:03 PM

Beautiful angle, Ron. Excellent detail and exposure.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 5, 2011 at 12:28 AM

Hey Ron. I was admiring the flying ability of my eagle as well. I marveled at how much sky they can cover when moving downwind. I really like the view he gave you here. Having the bird entirely perpendicular to the lens helps focus I suspect. Excellent detail, even with a big crop.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 5, 2011 at 4:48 AM

Another sweet eagle photo Ron!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Graham Brown on January 5, 2011 at 6:40 AM

Nicely captured Ron showing the full wing span. Feather detail and sharpness looks excellent for this crop. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 5, 2011 at 8:21 AM

Over the top great.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 5, 2011 at 8:41 AM

Excellent exposure, the colors look natural.
Great details, it held up very well at 33%
Perfect comp for this "flying knife edge", I learned some pilot flight lingo today

Well done

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

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on January 5, 2011 at 10:09 AM

Great pose and details- awesome flight shot, as always- Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on January 5, 2011 at 10:23 AM

Nice one Ron. Good on the whites, and overall exp. I so like the wing patterns.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 5, 2011 at 2:35 PM

Excellent shot and what an angle. Flying knife edge sounds appropriate for this, good to know. Well done, the larger image was a pleasure to view.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 5, 2011 at 3:07 PM

Very beautiful light and love the wingspan Ron.

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

Comment posted by Eric Diller on January 5, 2011 at 6:10 PM

Love that banking pose......very nice Ron!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 5, 2011 at 10:17 PM

Beautifully captured Ron, couldn't have asked for a better pose.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 5, 2011 at 11:15 PM

Great detail and comp Ron

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Joe Paratore on January 6, 2011 at 11:01 AM

Sweet!!! Ron,
Love how neatly tucked the feet are under the wing.
Nice angle ,Sharp per usual

Registered on January 31, 2007, 40 Posts, 160 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 6, 2011 at 12:13 PM

Magnificent!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 6, 2011 at 1:46 PM

A great capture Ron, well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 6, 2011 at 6:21 PM

Looks great to me, Ron! No nits. Just a wonderful view of this very impressive bird in flight.

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on January 8, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Simply outstanding image, Ron!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 8, 2011 at 11:59 PM

Excellent!

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