The Eagle Has Landed

This was a fun project as I really don't have the long focal length lenses birders use. This eagle was in a giant cage at the Portland, OR Zoo on a roost close to an observation point.

Nice one Bob - Lovely birds Bald Eagles.

It's a touch on the soft side and it's a shame about that wall on the right being in the frame but you've caught a great pose as well as the concentration in the eye.

What a wonderful bird, such a great pose too, it looks a tad front focused.

I know it's not perfect and that I could use a bigger depth of field but I did focus on the eye and it is indeed sharp. Not being a birder it's still the best eagle photo I've ever taken.

The biggest problem with shooting birds is getting the pose that you want. Any bird, the smaller the more apparent, will be continually moving its head and looking around.

Couple that with trying to get the tip of the beak, and the eye pin sharp, with a good bokeh is the challenge here.

You have done very well to get what you have. An extra stop down, focusing on the beak would have helped, but it would be at the expense of the blurred background. Always a juggling act which you have managed well. A lovely shot.

You've not done badly at all Bob - a lovely bird too. Some good advice here

xx

Thanks for your comment. As I mentioned in the original posting this was quite a project. It's what you don't see here that was so much work. I won't be shooting this bird again anytime soon. The background is large chain link fencing. It took a long time to carefully edit out every link and make it look natural. It's too much work.

Ah! but Bob, That sort of thing is for the cold, wet and miserable Winter days.

Next challenge, find a wild one to shoot!

Photograph of course, not actually shoot

xx

That's not an issue in the Oregon/Washington area. There are eagle sanctuaries all over the place, especially along the Columbia River Gorge. There are also Peregrine Falcons along that area as well. We are blessed with an abundance of wildlife where i live in Portland, Oregon.