Richard Matheny
August 2022 - Bald Eagles
Original
About the Image(s)
I am lucky enough to have several Eagle nests near my home in SC. I watched the guys all spring raising a couple of young. They would often sit in a tree near the nest and watch the young ones do their thing. This day the both sat side by side and I thought it made for a great portrait of Mom and Dad. My only disappointment is they were really high in the tree. I backed off as much as I could to try and level the shot but could not get what I really wanted.
Nikon D500 with a 300mm lens and a 1.4 convertor. Shooting at 1/1500 sec. at f11 and ISO of 1000.
Big Crop, Toned down that really bright blue sky, Opened up the shadows on the birds and warmed them up just a little,
This round’s discussion is now closed!
4 comments posted
Be grateful!!! I've got a nearby eagle nest like this (same darn tree) by my adults always sit with a branch blocking them!!
Even with the crop this is a solid image and you kept the birds looking sharp and the highlights are well handled--a hard task with this specie. I will offer two suggestions. First I would add a bit of space to the left side of the image. The birds are looking to the left but the space on both the right and the left are about equal. Let the birds have a little room to move into. (you have plenty on the original). The second suggestion is to lighten the breast of the eagle on the left. I mention this because the upper bird has more light on the left side (you can see the white edges of the feathers) and the lower bird is a bit darker. Can you sort of match them? Posted: 08/07/2022 14:09:49
Even with the crop this is a solid image and you kept the birds looking sharp and the highlights are well handled--a hard task with this specie. I will offer two suggestions. First I would add a bit of space to the left side of the image. The birds are looking to the left but the space on both the right and the left are about equal. Let the birds have a little room to move into. (you have plenty on the original). The second suggestion is to lighten the breast of the eagle on the left. I mention this because the upper bird has more light on the left side (you can see the white edges of the feathers) and the lower bird is a bit darker. Can you sort of match them? Posted: 08/07/2022 14:09:49
Several eagle nests near home is -- lucky indeed. Their location in the tree doesn't offer much opportunity to isolate subjects from background.
I agree with previous suggestion about a crop adding more space in the direction of their gaze and equalizing shadows. Posted: 08/18/2022 07:52:10
I agree with previous suggestion about a crop adding more space in the direction of their gaze and equalizing shadows. Posted: 08/18/2022 07:52:10
Hey Rich, very sharp and clean for such a big crop. I like the side profile of the birds, but they look a little awkwardly posed, leaning in opposite directions and sitting at different levels. Also there are some strong shadows that makes the image look harsh. I might try lightening up the shadows and maybe reducing the contrast a bit. I would reduce the crop a good bit to show much more room in the direction the birds are looking. The image overall is cropped too tight IMO. Thanks for giving me something to write about. Posted: 08/25/2022 17:58:31
Richard,
Well I'm not lucky enough to have eagles that close to my house! I've got to go to one of the parks nearby. Great portrait of the two. I agree with the previous comments on the wonderful sharpness in spite of the big crop. I also agree with adding some room on the left. I'd suggest lightening the breast of the left eagle as a previous commenter said, as well as lightening the tail for the eagle on the left. Posted: 08/28/2022 12:44:20
Well I'm not lucky enough to have eagles that close to my house! I've got to go to one of the parks nearby. Great portrait of the two. I agree with the previous comments on the wonderful sharpness in spite of the big crop. I also agree with adding some room on the left. I'd suggest lightening the breast of the left eagle as a previous commenter said, as well as lightening the tail for the eagle on the left. Posted: 08/28/2022 12:44:20