Spirit

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted June 9, 2013327 views4 comments

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) "Spirit" photographed at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale, Alberta. Spirit arrived at the Centre in February 2007 after having been found in a road-side ditch. Spirit had been injured by shotgun pellets and is permanently blind. This was obviously willful and not the result of an accident. Obviously, and sadly, Spirit will not experience this freedom again.

I have rendered the eye in B/W to symbolize the blindness.

Canon 7D, Sigma 150-500 at 500 mm, f/9.0, ISO 1250, 1/80 sec, HH, natural light, PP in LR4, CS6 and NIK.

All comments are much appreciated. Thanks for looking and for your comments to my other photos. Roger.

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on June 10, 2013 at 2:37 PM

Beautiful portrait Roger,
The detail and colors are amazing and the image is very well presented portraying a sadness in the Eagle that coincides with your commentary perfectly.
It is a crying same that some 'Moron' could do this to such a magnificent creature.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 12, 2013 at 8:27 AM

Man does some really stupid things, the shooter needs some bird-shot along his backside me thinks

Great image that tells a a tragic story, I like what you've done with the eye here Roger

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on July 31, 2013 at 10:20 PM

Appears to happen frequently. Years ago, I also ventured upon an immature Bald Eagle shot near Buffalo Lake, AB. I took him to the local raptor centre and, fortunately, he was rehabilitated and set free. A nicely captured portrait, Roger.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 2, 2013 at 12:02 PM

Excellent portrait with very fine detail!
While sadly not free, she will still have a good life now, valued, protected, and a wonderful learning experience for visitors.
Sandy

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