Bald Eagle - In the Wild

We saw this eagle on a fence post and drove right by, turned around, drove past again, turned around and parked at the side of the highway. He was nice enough to stay still for several pictures! Ed had never seen a bald eagle before, except at a great distance, so this was especially exciting for him. I took this the day we left Prince George, BC, Canada, just outside of the city.

Wow! I just adore these birds, how majestic they look and how rare they are!

Wonderful composition & I really like the background the way it just blends until reaching the head of the eagle and then we have a lighter line as if for emphasis on the head.

 

 

Thanks, Hugh. I feel very lucky to get a picture of a bald eagle in the wild. It makes a difference when you see one free and not in captivity.

Trust you to get a Bald Eagle to pose for you ! Rapters have such a look, all that power to forage for food, This shot is quite a study, and I can just see Ed !*R*

Roger, I think I have some kind of weird luck when it comes to getting bird shots. I don't plan them; they just seem to happen. Who would ever believe a bald eagle would be on a fence post close to the road at the exact time we were driving by??

Lucked out and got a bald eagle shot on the way back from Canada.

Great shot. What a beautiful creature.

Thanks, Craig.

My American Indian friends tell me that seeing an eagle like this is a harbinger of good luck. Of course, we don't have the numbers of them in North Dakota that you do!

David, I now live in Texas and there aren't any here. On our frequent trips to Canada, we haven't seen many eagles and usually only at a great distance away if we do. I couldn't believe the luck of having one right on a fencepost as we drove along a highway! I guess you might say it's good luck just to get the picture in the first place! If it's continued good luck, that sounds good to me. Thanks for visiting.

Kim, We should all be so lucky as to be presented with an opportunity such as this & be able to capture it as you have done. I hate to be a pain in the a$$ but placing the bird dead center is a mistake I believe. I offer my solution. Best, LM.

Thanks for taking the time to comment and offer suggestions, Len. I didn't feel like this was dead-center because the bird's body isn't centered, nor is the fence post - only the head of the bird is centered. All a matter of what appeals. I played with different croppings and ended up with the square crop. I have a bunch of pictures of this fellow, so might try something different on the next one. Stay tuned...

The two times I have seen a bald eagle flying about 100 meters above I was impressed~! This is truly amazing. How fortunate for you=)

Wow how in the world did u manage this kind of sharpness and detail out of a mirror lens?? would love to know which one ur using.

Thanks, Anthony - I definitely felt very lucky to be able to take shots of this bird and have never personally seen a bald eagle this close up, nor just sitting like this. Vikram, the lens is a Nikon 80-200 mm, f2.8. I have gotten a lot of good pictures from this lens (see my other bird shots, all taken with this lens). Thanks for visiting.

Truely amazing capture. I don't agree the object being at the centre is "always" a problem. I think the original looks just about perfect. Also, thanks Kim for visiting my album and leaving your ratings. I have kept visiting your portfolio since I first saw your shots a few months ago. very impressive and have learnt a lot.

Hi Kim, this is a great shot. You are lucky. I can't even get a picture of a hawk by the side of the road

without their flying off. Maybe I need to start carrying some live mice as bait . . . .sol

I bet you were quite excited! To get this close and get such detail in the wild without any distractions is pretty rare I would think. Congratulations on a great capture. I've told you before that this lens has served you well (or maybe you have served it well). Very nicely done! I need to view this at home on a better monitor than what I have here at work (shhhh). Damn, I'm jealous...

Yup ... I'm jealous, too!! I can't believe that I missed this one ... as I have developed a real fondness for images of bald eagles ... and that this one is WILD is just awesome!! Bravo!!!!!!

Thanks, Ali, Donna, Bryan and Lou Ann. I was sure this fellow was going to fly off the second we stopped the car, but he sat there the whole time and WE drove off and left him sitting on the fence. How often would that ever happen?? I was almost hoping he WOULD fly at some point so I could try and get that shot, but I didn't want to disturb him, so we moved on. The only thing he ever moved was his head.

Wonderful shot Kim. What a coup to capture it!

No filter used, not much photoshopping - I did clone out a water pipe. I wonder if the effect is from the grass in the field behind the eagle and the DOF I used? Thanks, Regina, for taking the time to comment.