1H4A1040ec Eagle in Alaska
Eagle in Ketchikan, Alaska
Eagle in Ketchikan, Alaska
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Jan, 2018Views
265
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Awards
Fall Award 2020
Peer Award
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
All Star
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
We were hiking through a park after dinner along the river at the entrance to the fish hatchery in Ketchikan, Alaska. The river was full with salmon migrating back to lay their eggs where they were born so Eagles were plentiful in the trees and along the shore. This fella (or girl) was sitting on a wooden fence just looking around. I had the right lens, good lighting and snapped off about 25 pictures in a few seconds. I photographed about 20 eagles and 250 shots on our hike.Time
It was a fairly clear evening at about 10:00 PM. In early July, when we were there the sun sets at 2:00 AM and really does not set. One could play golf at sunset the lighting is so good.Lighting
Since it was evening lighting was not the brightest, I pushed the ISO to 1000. The photo was taken at 160 sec, f5.6, 130mm. The canera is 50 megapixels so there was very little loss in resolution by pushing the ISO.Equipment
The camera is a Canon 5DS R with a Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L Lens. I had no tripod and did not have my flash.Inspiration
The inspiration was being in Alaska and seeing the wildlife. One can photograph eagles just about anywhere in Alaska, which is like photographing sea gulls at a beach on Cape Cod.Editing
Very little with Photoshop to remove any vignetting and brighten the picture.In my camera bag
Canon 5Ds r, 4 L Lenses: 100-400mm f4.5-5.6, 50mm f1.2, 24-70mm f4.5 and 14-40mm f4. I have a polarizing filter for each lens, a Canon flash, extra batteries and both compact flash and sd cards. The bag is a back pack type weighing about 30 pounds full so if a hike is long or hilly I have a small back pack bag for one or two other lenses.Feedback
In Alaska, just being there is a photographer's dream. One cannot miss a good photo op. In Utah where I live , I am 10 minutes from the best Moose photo opportunities. I'll get up to one particular lake at 7:00 AM and have waited two hours before a Moose or Moose family come along the trail. Eagles are not normally plentiful but in mid January thru March they migrate through the Salt lake Valley and there are a few places where viewing is very good. Sitting and waiting is the key to good photo opportunities.
