American Bald Eagle

[elbirth]

My family and I went to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia this past weekend, and luckily we got the chance to see some of the wildlife they have around there. We were able to see 3 bald eagles, but I was only able to get a decent shot of this one. I thought it turned out well, though in a way I wish it had a better pose for me. I like the angle of the face I got, though... thought it'd make a good avatar.


http://www.heycubed.net/imageupload/userfiles/elbirth/_MG_7158.jpg



Near where I go to college there's a nest where a couple wild bald eagles live and had babies a few months back I think. They're monitored to keep people from messing with them since they're wild, but I'd like to try to get some shots of them sometime... they're in an awkward spot to stop a car, though (off the side of a bridge on a highway).

[Vetteography]

Very cool. As a wise man here on the forum once pointed out, it is very dificult to get a bad picture of a Bald Eagle :D Good shot!

[elbirth]

Thanks :)

I agree, though when they have their back to you, it's not quite as interesting of a shot

[Jemmind]

Wonder what it's doing sitting on the ground like that?? Nice shot. All my eagle pictures are from captivity birs, and it's obvious, from the perch they are sitting on, or a band or something on their leg, ect. This one you'd never know it was from a park.
I bet it's exciting to see a wild one! How does it make your heart feel??
Julie

[Bald Eagle]

Excellent capture, we also search for the Bald Eagle, we have found a few, this is the latest shot of one of them, apologize for poor quality, first shots with my new Criterion 4000 telephoto lens(focal length of 1200) prime focus. approx, distance was 100yrds.

[elbirth]

thanks for all the comments

Julie, I'm not sure what he was doing laying on the ground like that, but he stayed that way for the majority of the time we were around. By the time he decided to get up, I was forced to move along with the others. There were 3 eagles there together, and the area they had them in was really nicely setup, I thought, very natural. The wild ones I've seen have only been from a distance. They made their [HUGE] nest on top of a power line pole that runs along side the highway and bridge, so it's up in the air and driving by 60mph doesn't help get a good shot. I love seeing them, it feels so good to see an endangered species (are they still on the list?) out in the wild, especially seeing that they're breeding. I think I've been able to make out at least 2 little baby heads, but can never get a good shot so you can tell what you're looking at. Shooting at 200mm from a fast car is NOT easy :(

Bald Eagle, nice shot, I like the position. I'd love to get a shot of one facing the camera.

I did take a shot of the other 2 eagles in the park, but I didn't think they turned out nearly as well overall as that first one.


This one must think it's an owl or something, I got a shot of him with his head turned fully 180 degrees to the back, but liked the profile of this shot:

http://www.heycubed.net/imageupload/userfiles/elbirth/_MG_7157.jpg



And you can see this one in the lower left of the above shot, but he's blown out a bit. Not sure why it turned out as dark as it did, but he WAS in a bit more shade than the others:

http://www.heycubed.net/imageupload/userfiles/elbirth/_MG_7161.jpg

[lost]

That second one has a sinister look to him. I like the shadow effect on his face. Cropping would help it a lot.