Bald Eagle

Gallery: AvianPosted January 17, 2015636 views8 comments

Here's an image I took on the way into town. My sister and I spotted several birds of prey perched, and after investigating I realized it was a deer carcass that had attracted them. I then got my camera set up and began photographing this immature bald eagle. I got down lower and, after looking through the view finder, realized I really liked the look of this image. I snapped a few pictures at this angle and then moved to the side to try for some different angles, but this scene was my favorite after it was all said and done. I know some people may not like the brown mixed in with the whites on his head (due to him being a juvenile), but I think it's cool to show the different life stages.

Thanks for lookin'!

I look forward to hearing what you think.

Nikon D7100
Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4D IF-ED lens
ISO 800
1/4000sec @ f/4

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on January 17, 2015 at 2:52 AM

Beauty capture and comp here, Jenaya! As you know from our conversations, I'm super-torn on the barbed wire, but appreciate your desire to present unmanipulated images that are faithful to the scene in front of your lens. I LOVE the foreground bokeh on the left half of the bottom. I also really like the tones and overall colour palette throughout the image.

I think this eagle is a "teenager" right between the juvenile and mature stage so probably 3-1/2yrs to 4-1/2yrs?

He's a very proud-looking bird and you've captured his apparent character nicely here.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on January 17, 2015 at 4:07 AM

I do a lot on fences with barbed wire so that's not a problem for me, love the pano crop and that relaxed looking Eagle, I get Owls and Snipe nothing as grand as an Eagle, excellent piece of work.
Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 17, 2015 at 8:12 AM

Hi, Jenaya! I like this shot a lot! The pano crop works well with the wire, which is after all a leading line. Question: how do you know the bird is a male?

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 17, 2015 at 9:01 AM

Another "Jenaya" Composition !! Love it when a style is clear. I too like the OOF vegetation in the foreground. My good friend and incredible photographer, Greg Basco, is a big fan of shooting through things to create a mood/feeling. I definitely adds to this image. I don't mind the barbed wire. I think your Dad is right about the age. Great looking Eagle.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 17, 2015 at 12:43 PM

Great looking "dirty" bird here - love the barbed wire, the pano crop and the OOF stuff in the foreground.

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

Comment posted by Ashleigh Scully on January 18, 2015 at 8:59 AM

I like the fence the comp and the OOF - it looks great! It would be boring if everyone only photographed adult bald eagles.

Registered on November 4, 2013, 36 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on January 18, 2015 at 11:13 AM

I like the long crop and placement of the eagle. Young ones sure are scruffy with the mottled feathers in the head and tail. I wouldn't worry about the fence wire as it adds to the long dimension of the scene

........................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 20, 2015 at 12:59 PM

Very nicely composed, Jenaya. You are developing your own definitive style in your shots. And it's quite good.

I talked to my eagle expert friend and she says 3.5 years old, technically sub-adult IV plumage, likely in adult plumage this summer.

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