DDD_039381-2
May, 2016Views
166
Likes
Awards
Member Selection Award
Summer Selection
Top Choice
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Top Ranks
Top 20 rank
Top 20 rank
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Top 20 rank
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
The image was taken in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines, Alaska. The preserve is a unique place because it attracts up to 3000 bald during the winter months. A late salmon run and the confluence of 3 rivers that do not freeze over in most winters provides a rare feeding ground for eagles that come to this place during the winter months.Time
That's funny. This image was taken right around noon. Usually that is not the best light nor the best time to see wildlife. Not so in the Alaskan winter. In December there are only 6 hours of daylight, so we shoot at any time of the day. Even in the middle of the day the sun is low on the horizon. Many days are overcast. In this case the sun did lighten up the scene very nicely.Lighting
Just a lucky break in the clouds. The sun would bring out the subtle colors in the plumage of the eagles and even highlight the light snow fall.Equipment
This was shoot with a Nikon D3 and a 200-400 mm f/4 lens at 400 mm on a monopod. Hiding behind a log, I had set the aperture to f/7.1 in Aperture Priority. At an ISO of 1000 that gave me a shutter speed of 1/1000 s. The image was taken in RAW.Inspiration
The eagles display a behavior that we call displacement: An eagle finds a spent salmon (there is no spectacular catching of the fish). The salmon are dead or almost dead floating down the river. The eagles are sitting at the river bank and just drag one of those fish on shore and begin feasting. Other eagles notice this and they wait until they are becoming more hungry than the eagle sitting on the fish. That's when it gets interesting. The hungry eagle sweeps in and displaces the feeding eagle. That's the moment of action you are waiting for.Editing
Oh, yes. Most of the processing was done in Lightroom. I increased the clarity and vibrance, reduced highlights and blacks. All adjustments were global adjustments. I also took care of a few dust spots.In my camera bag
If I am out shooting wildlife I bring my long lenses, a 200-400 mm f/4 and a 600 mm f/4. Those lenses are heavy and I usually shoot from a carbon monopod. I just purchased a Gimbal system and a tripod, so that will allow me to follow birds in flight more easily and use both lenses when needed. I have a couple of Nikon bodies (D3, D810, and a D500). No flash. On the FX bodies I also sometimes use a 1.4x converter.Feedback
Just find a location and the right time of the year, where and when wildlife shows up with a high probability. Get out there, no matter what the weather, and be ready. Preset your camera (make sure your aperture is giving you enough depth of field, the ISO is high enough for a short shutter speed, but not too high to avoid unnecessary noise). You need at least a 300 mm lens on a full frame sensor for most bird photography. The longer lenses are heavy and expensive. Shoot a lot. My expectations for this shoot was one great image a day. Don't expect too much! For more information on this particular event feel free to consult the Bald Eagle foundation or consider a workshop with award-winning photographer Joe Ordonez.
