I want an eagle portrait

[coastalconn]

It's really p&%%&G me off. I have finally located about 5-7 Juvenile Eagles that hang out near a small river. There is occasionally an adult around. But I just can't get close enough to actually get a boring shot of an eagle just chilling in a tree. I keep ending up with Juvi flight shots with somewhat boring backgrounds.. I will certainly keep trying, but here's a roundup of the past 2 days... Comments welcome. This is one spot where I still feel like the D300 holds an edge. I have tried many different settings, but I find the D7100 just does not track BIF all that well. Guess it could be my lens.. Anyways...
1 like this one F9 and 1/1600th sec this should be sharper I think..

Juvi Eagle wars by krisinct, on Flickr

2

Juvi Eagle Flight by krisinct, on Flickr

3

Juvenile Bald Eagle Close! by krisinct, on Flickr



4 tough grab through the branches..

Juvi Eagle through the trees by krisinct, on Flickr

5 This eagle was really quite beautiful

Turkey Vulture by krisinct, on Flickr

 

[Tiller]

You can do it!

 

[cmarie87]

They are still beautiful creatures. Love #3.

 

[matthewo]

like this?

this

or this?

no but seriously me too, I have yet to be able to fill the frame enough to crop a nice portrait of an eagle. also just blue sky or busy pine trees. while I do like them in there natural habitat the pine tree, I would like to have a nice blurry colorful background. I had them perch on trees on the same side of a river as me, but walked up and didn't see him and spooked him off.

hey didn't mean to post dump really this is just me being funny I guess, I should probably remove them from your post....

 

[BillM]

The "eagle" in #5 looks like he has a sunburn lol

I had to go to the zoo to get a good close up

 

[coastalconn]

like this?

this

or this?

no but seriously me too, I have yet to be able to fill the frame enough to crop a nice portrait of an eagle. also just blue sky or busy pine trees. while I do like them in there natural habitat the pine tree, I would like to have a nice blurry colorful background. I had them perch on trees on the same side of a river as me, but walked up and didn't see him and spooked him off.

hey didn't mean to post dump really this is just me being funny I guess, I should probably remove them from your post....

LMAO yup something like that would be nice leave them there it makes the fire burn brighter, and I like your sense of humor . Did you get faster cards yet?

 

[chainsawal]

Eagles are tough simply because of the way they migrate and hunt. I live in NW Arkansas and there are a few nesting areas around here, but even those are tough to access unless you have a boat. And by 8:30am they are off hunting and can fly up to 180-220 miles a day before they return. I was actually heading out to Swepco Lake this weekend to check them out (it is a man make lake next to a power plant that keeps the water unnaturally warm all year which is why the eagles and fisherman come).

Good luck... keep posting. I often look at the eagle pictures on Smugmug of the photographers up in Alaska and drool all over myself. I would love to live up there... just all the wildlife in general.

The one guy below in particular just gets some amazing stuff up there.

Bald Eagles of Alaska - Shetzers Photography Workshops and Tours

 

[matthewo]

no I didn't get the card yet, I need to order it. I think I will just get the 32 gig for around $60.

yeah eagles are tough, they are not like a lot of birds that will stick around. usually once they see you they are gone and stay at a good distance even if there is a decent food source. but if the food source is really good they will stay around. places like Alaska and Dams like Conowingo at the right time are just so heavy populated that by shear numbers you have a much better chance.

 

[JacaRanda]

Gotta love just being able to see them at all. However, I know the feeling. Loving #1 because it's what I may only get to see on t.v. ever.

I got a faster card (for 60D) and the only difference I can tell is transferring from card to hard drive. I will have to test again though. I am not used to just laying on the shutter - hopefully at the very least the buffer will clear faster.

 

[BillM]

Gotta love just being able to see them at all. However, I know the feeling. Loving #1 because it's what I may only get to see on t.v. ever.

Check with your local zoo. Mine puts on a great show with them. This guys name is Clark, he is also the mascot for the Boston College football team.

 

[Derrel]

There's a pretty nice eagle portrait on the reverse side of most years of the Washington quarter...'cept on these new-fangled commemorative ones...

 

[sm4him]

like this?

this

or this?




no but seriously me too, I have yet to be able to fill the frame enough to crop a nice portrait of an eagle. also just blue sky or busy pine trees. while I do like them in there natural habitat the pine tree, I would like to have a nice blurry colorful background. I had them perch on trees on the same side of a river as me, but walked up and didn't see him and spooked him off.

hey didn't mean to post dump really this is just me being funny I guess, I should probably remove them from your post....

That was just ALL KINDS of *WRONG* Matthew. And also hilarious. :lmao:

 

[MSnowy]

I feel your pain. I cant get close to any eagles around here. I finally gave in and traveled 400 miles to Conowingo Dam in Maryland ( http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nature-wildlife/345003-eagles-conowingo-dam-md.html ). If you ever get the chance the place is amazing around Thanksgiving.

 

[coastalconn]

Gotta love just being able to see them at all. However, I know the feeling. Loving #1 because it's what I may only get to see on t.v. ever.
I got a faster card (for 60D) and the only difference I can tell is transferring from card to hard drive. I will have to test again though. I am not used to just laying on the shutter - hopefully at the very least the buffer will clear faster.

I'm not sure what the write speed is on the 60D. I've decided to just buy the Sandisk 95 mb/s card because they pretty much have the fastest write speeds. There is a difference in transfer speed to the computer but that is the least of my worrie

Gotta love just being able to see them at all. However, I know the feeling. Loving #1 because it's what I may only get to see on t.v. ever.

Check with your local zoo. Mine puts on a great show with them. This guys name is Clark, he is also the mascot for the Boston College football team.
QUOTE]
I haven't been able to bring myself to go to a zoo. I like the thrill of the pursuit, or the agony of it, lol. You can always cruise down here if you want to shoot Ospreys in the spring summer, btw. I saw your post in the other thread, but didn't feel like bumping it..

I feel your pain. I cant get close to any eagles around here. I finally gave in and traveled 400 miles to Conowingo Dam in Maryland ( http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nature-wildlife/345003-eagles-conowingo-dam-md.html ). If you ever get the chance the place is amazing around Thanksgiving.

I always see so many great images from Conowingo, yours are no exception I know some day I'm going to wander out to my spot and see ol' Whitey sitting there waiting for me with a duck in his talons

 

[rgregory1965]

mine