Coming at you!

Gallery: AvianPosted August 3, 2015113 views8 comments

One from a month or so ago when I was at Seabeck on Hood Canal in Washington State. Every once in awhile one of the eagles would glide directly over me. When shooting from the top of the shoulder of the road which crosses the estuary on a raised viaduct, they sometimes were pretty low. I've always found immature's particularly difficult to photograph well, partially becuase their eye doesn't pop the way it does in the mature birds. However, I did like the way this one worked out.

7Dii, 500mm f4 ISL + 1.4TC, Jobu Gimbal on RRS legs, f/7.1, 1/2500, iso 500, manual exposure. Processed in LR5 & CS6. The eagle was cocked a bit to one side and I preferred it in this orientation, so I straightened it a bit and added a touch of canvas to both sides to fill in the rotation triangles, then cropped it vertically to this aspect ratio. I also tweaked the eye a bit to help bring it out. Taken July 1st at the Big Beef Creek viaduct at 8:13 am.

I appreciate all your comments on the warbler andlook forward to hearing from you on this one.

Please look at the larger image on this one-it has a lot more punch.

Thanks,

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 3, 2015 at 7:54 PM

Nice details from wing tip to tip, the LP looks great Dennis.

A bit out of the ordinary comp, it's good to explore outside the box sometimes..

Excellent post processing, and the birds eye makes it all work very well devil

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on August 3, 2015 at 8:18 PM

The larger image is certainly worth a look! The eye really pops out. Well composed. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on August 3, 2015 at 9:35 PM

Hood Canal: great place for unbelievable photo opportunities. Wonderful image; the only thing that might make it better is to have both eyes visible, and that is asking almost too much.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 3, 2015 at 9:36 PM

And you said you had trouble getting birds coming at you in focus... sad

I like the unique angle of this Dennis. Good job on the focus and in getting the eye to stand out as you mentioned. Since you already added some canvas, wondering if you thought about adding some below and positioning the bird higher in the frame? My thought is he seems to be looking below (for food I presume) and giving him space to look into might make this feel a little different.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on August 4, 2015 at 6:19 AM

A sweet view of this youngster Dennis. Great wing span and excellent details. I agree with Kurts suggestion about giving him some space below.

I enjoyed your series of the two eagles fighting a few weeks ago. I was out there that day also, out on the beach, and I missed you again. angel

Sweet Photo!

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on August 4, 2015 at 4:17 PM

Nice job with the sharpness. I always find it difficult when they fly straight at you to maintain a good focus.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 4, 2015 at 8:29 PM

I like the eye contact and the detail here Dennis, I would add more space below if you have it. devil