What’s Up?
Bald Eagle photography for the first three days of the Homer/Kachemak Bay IPT was non-stop spectacular. Day four, Wednesday 23 February was so-so. We had no wind and with the continuing warm weather, the birds were not very hungry. Anita North is leaving a day early (today) to get back to Canada. On March 2nd she is flying to Churchill, Manitoba to photograph Polar Bears for three weeks at Wat’chee Lodge adjacent to Wapusk National Park about 40 miles south of town. The average temperature is about -45° Centigrade (-49 Fahrenheit). Plus the wind chill. We wish her luck.
Please be sure to enlarge each image and then leave a comment letting us know which is the winning entry.
Today is Thursday February 24. The forecast is for rain in the morning with some clearing in mid-morning. The good news is that they have predicted rain almost everyday and we have not seen a single drop yet. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
This blog post took about an hour to prepare, and makes 1 day in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links on this page and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. And please consider joining a BAA IPT.
Please Remember
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Brand New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
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Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
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This image was created on 20 February 2022, the first day of the Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 280mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 1600. 1/1600 second at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 4:38.23pm on a then-cloudy bright afternoon. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Bald Eagle over mountain I |
The Eagle-Over-the-Mountain Shot
From previous experience, I knew where we had to be to try for the eagle-over-the-mountain shot. The afternoon began sunny and then some light clouds took over — perfect for what I wanted. As there were lots of great photo opps, most folks stuck with run-of-the-mill flight shooting. Don’t get me wrong, the can result in some spectacular flight poses including banking and up-side down birds. I paid some attention to the eagle-over-the-mountain shot, but Anita North, who had seen some of my efforts from previous years, tried exclusively to create a good one. When she would show my an image, I would give her a Larry David-like, “Nah …, I don’t think so.” She kept at it for more than an hour. Finally she showed me one and I said, “That looks pretty good.”
One of today’s images is Anita’s, and one is mine.
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This image was created on 20 February 2022, the first day of the Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 280mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 1600. 1/2500 second at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 4:35:37pm on a then-cloudy bright afternoon. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Bald Eagle over mountain II |
The Eagle-Over-the-Mountain Photo Contest
Each of us thinks that our image is the strongest. We need your help. Your job for today is to identify the stronger of two images. Please leave a comment letting us know which you feel is the stronger image, and let us know why you made your choice. Ties are allowed.
If you want to make a guess as to which image is mine and which one is Anita’s, go for it. I would be very proud of either image.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I really like image #1, with the flared primaries, determined hunting posture, and extreme sharpness.
I like image #1 better. Shows speed, menacing look in the eyes, and just spectacular sharpness. #2 is great too, but lacks action…seems to be hovering waiting for something. BPN probably wouldn’t like #1 for the wing position, but looks great for me.
Both are excellent. My eye is drawn a bit away from the bird towards the shadow in # 2 so I will go with #1 as my favorite.
Hey Artie, image #2 for me. I think the wing and tail position is better and the gaze at the viewing captures my attention. Thank you for sharing.
I like ’em both. But #2 a little more as the eagle was checking out Anita as he passed over the mountain!
Would pick 1 personally. Like the head angle. Would guess 1 is yours. Any repair work on the wing tip feathers? Both really nice.
Both images are excellent. I like #1 better because the bird is larger in the frame and the bird looks into the direction of the turn. I also like the diagonal position.
Image 2 captures “Over the Mountain” best. I also think the pose is more unusual and better tail and feet. I believe I have seen many poses similar to number one (without the mountain!). Both classics for me. I’d just like to see one some day.
I prefer #1 which I think is yours. BTW, I visited the Stick Marsh this morning. There were lots of birds and lots of activity. The construction work didn’t seem to bother the spoonbills at all! They are up to their usual magic.
#1 is my favorite. In #2, I think the eagle is looking down scanning for prey, and that downward glance just isn’t as interesting to me. Plus I concur with a lot of what Chris L and Elinor O said.
#1 is yours! They are both outstanding but my favorite is #1 because the wings are in a powerful flight turn. #2 is wonderful with both eyes visible but looks like the flaps are down for landing.
I would be ecstatic with either of those images!
I like number two .. like the eagle looking right at the camera …
Right, tough call, but I’ll go with #1 because of the wings at a diagonal. The mountain shadow doesn’t bother me in either shot. I think I’d get tired of seeing the bird looking at me all the time in #2.
#1 for me. I like the delicate fingered wing tips, the fully spread wings, the diagonal of the wings matching the mountain, wing diagonal going across almost the whole frame showing gorgeous flight.
In #2 I don’t like the tail being nearly lost because of intersecting with the mountains.
I think #1 and #2 are both good, but my favorite is #2 because of seeing each eye and two feet!!
I think image #2 is the stronger image. Having viewed and made many eagle photos, I think the position that was captured in that image was the most unusual and appealing.
Hard choice. I really like the eye contact and underside wing detail in #II but I find the blue circle under the eagle a bit too distracting. I’d choose #I, as I prefer the closer/more prominent position of the bird in the frame and the diagonal wing position matches the mountain in the background, plus the blue spot in the background, is way off to the left and did not catch my eye.