The Sentinel...

Gallery: AvianPosted June 8, 2011337 views17 comments

The Sentinel

I know animalscapes (or should I say eaglescapes?) don't always come across well on the web (compared to in print form), but thought I'd post this one anyways...

While the Khutzeymateen Inlet on the northern BC coast is primarily known for its grizzlies, there's a whole lot more to the Khutzeymateen than bears! The area teems with birdlife in all shapes and sizes, deer, otters, mink, seals, coastal wolves, and more! I nabbed this image as we were traveling into the estuary at the head of the inlet - I'm not sure what made me look up so high (it WAS a grizzly photo tour and it's pretty rare to see a griz hundreds of feet up in a tree!), but when I glimpsed this scene unfolding (as the mist was rising and the sun filtering through and kissing the tree and the eagle) I have to admit that for a few moments bears WEREN'T on my mind!

Oh...and one last thing. If I have a favourite tree on the planet, it would be the tree the eagle is perched on. And I like BOTH ends of the tree - back in 2006 I photographed a female grizzly with 3 cubs swimming across a channel at the base of the tree which has sold very well (the image is named Misty Morning Dip - see it here) and I kinda like how this shot came together at the top of the tree! So if you ever go to the Khutzeymateen, ask Tom (the bear guide) to point out "Brad's Tree" - he'll know what you mean. And then watch both ends of it!

Subject: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) high in lichen-covered Sitka Spruce
Location: Khutzeymateen Inlet - Great Bear Rainforest, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D3s
Lens: Nikkor 400 mm f/2.8 VRII lens - handheld from floating Zodiac
Exposure: 1/1250s at f5.6. ISO 320. -1.0 stop compensation from matrix metered exposure.
Crop: About 95% of full frame

As usual, more info about the image (including more processing details, etc) available here on my website:

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/detail_6.html.

Comments & critiques welcomed. Probably better to view larger version first...

Cheers...thanks for looking...now I'll go back to the Wildlife Gallery!

Brad

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 8, 2011 at 2:21 PM

Wonderfully seen and executed. The bit of light on the tree gives a perfect separation from the background.

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

Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on June 8, 2011 at 2:36 PM

Fantatic image. You've captured this wonderful scene very well.

Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on June 8, 2011 at 3:08 PM

Hi Brad: This is really cool. The larger version begins to show off what this image has in it. I'm sure a big print would show it off even more. I like the fact that the clouds in the background come down to the tree limb. It helps the eagle separate from the background. Great stuff.

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on June 8, 2011 at 6:28 PM

It is a very cool tree. I'm just trying to figure out if the clouds could've helped you by dropping a bit lower so they weren't directly in line with that branch. Not sure if I like where the cloud line "cuts off" or not (obviously something out of your hands!).

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on June 8, 2011 at 6:30 PM

Brad, Your image depicts what I see in my vision of what an eagle would look like in its natural habitat. I will probably never get to see an eagle in this environment, but now I have see it in you image. Thank you so very much for posting this wonderful image.

Harry

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 8, 2011 at 7:36 PM

Beautiful image, very majestic,
Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on June 8, 2011 at 7:36 PM

Brad, a really cool shot of the eagle and its enviroment.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 8, 2011 at 8:16 PM

A fine habitat shot. I'd love to see it properly as a large print.

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

Comment posted by Butch Lama on June 8, 2011 at 9:13 PM

Wow...What a soothing image,as if its happening right in front of my eye. You've captured the mood so perfectly. Thank you for sharing this beautiful shot.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on June 8, 2011 at 10:41 PM

Beautifully executed, Brad. The towering tree, with the eagle looking down make for a peaceful scene.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on June 8, 2011 at 10:59 PM

A wonderful scene.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 8, 2011 at 11:09 PM

Beautiful, Brad. Your tree certainly has character at the top and the eagle picked the perfect spot to perch.

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

Comment posted by Oscar Dewhurst on June 9, 2011 at 6:57 AM

Wow - just stunning

Oscar

Registered on August 6, 2009, 85 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on June 9, 2011 at 7:49 AM

Classic Brad - that tree is to die for

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 9, 2011 at 12:35 PM

Gorgeous image with an apt title. The bald eagle, being very large, makes it clear how massive this tree is and how large the surrounding landscape is. The band of fog at the top and the extended branch at the bottom make for a solid composition

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 9, 2011 at 3:47 PM

Wonderful habitat shot Brad, that area looks like an amazing place. Thanks for the narrative and letting us know what type of tree it was. I still remember the large Sitka Spruce we saw outside of Lake Quinault, WA. Well seen and well done, the larger image looks great.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 10, 2011 at 12:18 AM

Breathtaking imagery! Although I've yet to see a Bald Eagle in real life, I understand that these are giants of the avian world, and with this thought in mind, seeing it so relatively small by contrast to the tree and it's surroundings it really helps me appreciate the vast open wilderness you must have been in when you came across it.

Thanks for sharing Brad :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments