This is the last (and longest) post of my bald eagle shots from last week in Haines, Alaska. I'm calling this one "the many faces of bald eagles". When you spend a lot of time watching them close up, you realize just how varied their expressions can be and there's a temptation to anthropomorphize them.
All photos were taken in RAW at 5184×3456 with my Canon 7D, additional details given with each photo. The photos shown here are as taken, no zooming or cropping, with slight black/white setting in Lightroom. You can see in the shot of Kimberly below just how close we could get. You don't need camoflauge clothing and lens wraps to get good wildlife shots (I think that stuff looks daft), you just need patience and an understanding of the wildlife behavior. We sat in the same small area for 6 hours a day and waited for the eagles to come to us.
Click on all photos for a 1024×768 enlargement. Full size images available on request. Be warned if you're squeamish – a few of the shots have half-eaten fish in.
Above: 1/2000sec at f/4.0, ISO 200. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod.
Left to right below: 1/4000sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/5000sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/2000sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod.
Left to right below: 1/640sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF300mm f/2.8L IS lens, handheld; 1/400sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF400mm f/4 DO IS lens, handheld; 1/1000sec at f/4.0, ISO 800. EF400mm f/4 DO IS lens, handheld.
Left to right below: 1/60sec at f/16, ISO 200. EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens at 70mm, handheld; 1/320sec at f/4.0, ISO 800. EF400mm f/4 DO IS lens, handheld; 1/250sec at f/4.0, ISO 200. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod.
Left to right below: 1/320sec at f/4.0, ISO 200. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/1250sec at f/4.0, ISO 200. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/1250sec at f/4.0, ISO 200. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod.
Left to right below: 1/1250sec at f/4.0, ISO 200. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/1600sec at f/4.0, ISO 200. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/500sec at f/4.0, ISO 800. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod.
Left to right below: 1/6400sec at f/4.0, ISO 800. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/4000sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/4000sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod.
Left to right below: 1/2500sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/1600sec at f/4.0, ISO 400. EF500mm f/4L IS lens, on tripod; 1/1600sec at f/2.8, ISO 800. EF300mm f/2.8L IS lens, handheld.
And that's the end of the phot blog posts from last week. Hope you've enjoyed the shots as much as I enjoyed taking them and reviewing them.
And thanks for all the kinds words in your comments!
7 thoughts on “Bald eagles in Alaska (4th and final part)”
Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful pictures, I wish I could go to Alaska to see these eagles alive !
Best regards from France ;)
Wow, can’t believe how close you got!! He’s looking at you like you’re short.
Greats skots guys, you are not fired! :-)
Just read my comment……bloody ipad, with its stupid keyboard :-)
These are simply stunning, every one of them. I’m not one of your regular blog readers, having no interest in SQL, but my partner is, and he referred me to these entries. As a sometimes photographer, I’m suffering a serious case of opportunity envy, among other things – I need to start saving my pennies for a wildlife photography workshop with a pro; meanwhile, I’m poring over your camera settings!
Great series of pictures. Nice to get a break from SQL Server and review some wonderful pictures. Thanks for including the camera settings in your comments.
great pictures. I am a eagle nut. I collect eagles