Ready to Soar, a photo from Minnesota, Midwest

Photographer's Note

Ready to Soar

Highway 61 is the scenic highway that runs along the North shore of Lake Superior.
For the first 20 miles of the drive one has to choose between these scenic (county highway) or the expressway (state highway) from Duluth up to the small town of Two Harbors .. there the two roads join and proceed up the North shore.

On this day we were in a hurry to get past Two Harbors and so took the expressway ... I don't know why this Eagle had decided to hang out up by the expressway instead of down by the shore .... maybe he was thinking about expanding his diet out to include a hatchback ?

In any event there were was a van pulled to the roadside ahead of us watching him .. we pulled over .. he waited for a long time staring back at me snapping images of him until he finally had enough (I thought that maybe the title should be "Very Irritated Eagle" )

... just after this snap he majestically took off over the road ... The bald eagle is a very, very large bird with a wingspan that can be over 2 meters
(i.e. if you are ever thinking was that an eagle or a hawk .. it was a hawk) ... It was great seeing him flying over the highway .. looked to me like his wingspan was wider than my Volvo.

The Bald Eagle is a fairly common bird in this area ... (in addition to living in the area they also migrate down the North of Superior) I see one around monthly even if I am not out hunting them down for pictures ... After decades of decline the Bald Eagle the population has seen significant population increases over the last decade and is now classified as a species of "least concern."

I have a portfolio of about 10,000 shots of bits of Bald Eagles (tips of wings, tail feathers as they fly off etc.) .. and Eagles obscured by massive branches etc. Only a precious few times have I gotten one not obscured and fully in the frame ..

More Eagle Trivia:

They can live up to 40 years in the wild and even longer in captivity.

A group of eagles has many collective nouns, including an "aerie", "convocation", "jubilee", "soar", and "tower" of eagles.

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/25/_/Bald_Eagle.aspx

papagolf21, danos, jhm, Atousa ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

JCG (35153) 2011-03-09 10:18

Hello John,

I will not like to be in the hooks of this splendid eagle, celebrates emblem of America. A superb catch of sight on the bird with much of dynamism, I like much this animalist photograph which emphasizes well your subject by the good light and the natural colors. Clearness is also appreciable. Beautiful and good work, John cheer and thank you for the informative note.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

jemaflor (146274) 2011-03-09 11:34

Hi John,
A great shot with a perfect sharpness on the bird, perfect light too and an interesting glance with this eye, tfs.

jaywalker (16105) 2011-03-09 15:25

Hi John, This is the first time I have managed to catch up with you for some time & what a spectacular photo in which to do so, I love nature & this is a bird I would give my right arm for to see, a truly great picture, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

Graal (103040) 2011-03-09 23:18

Hi John,
good shot and portrait of great bald eagle. An interesting note and photo well done. I like it.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

emka (157280) 2011-03-09 23:48

Hi John.

I am impressed by this picture - so close, and such a sharp view. gorgeous composition. I would like to see such eagle in wild.

Warmn regards

Malgorzata

danyy (0) 2011-03-10 0:07

Bonjour John,
alors là, Bravo, un animal sans doute pas facile à photographier dans son état de liberté. Il est ici tout à fait réussi, pret à l'envol ou en attérissage.µBelle photo document.
My kind regards.
Daniel.

Royaldevon (85606) 2011-03-10 0:39

Good Morning John,

I cannot imagine stopping by the roadside to enjoy such incredible views of this magnificent bird! You have really captured the mood with his alert posture and sharp eyes. The protrucing branch is an important part of your composition.
I wonder how you would feel about lightening the plummage slightly, to get a little more detail. I'll post it as a w/s to see what you think.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

[workshop] [compare] +

papagolf21 (152605) 2011-03-10 0:43

Bonjour, cher ami John,
Très heureux de revoir vos merveilleuses photographies.
Celle-ci est particulièrement réussie. La beauté du volatile est parfaitement rendue à travers cette composition.
Une image de grande qualité.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

danos (110407) 2011-03-10 1:01

Hi John,
ohh you were so close with your tele lens to this Eagle trivia! Great the clarity and sharpness of the image with the light management to be superb from this eagle as be ready to soar.

Regards,Danos

Nicou (193806) 2011-03-10 1:28

Hello

Merveilleus eiamge et compo superbe quel captage de cet aigle quelle vue, prêt à s'envoler, avec l'oeil vif, la tête blanche le bec jaunes dans le graphsime de branches, grandisoe.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

jhm (211734) 2011-03-10 3:18

Hello John,

I am very glad you see again after a long time.
You as excellent photographer I missing you with your critique to my pictures.
Splendid how you shows these lovely bird with open wings indeed ready for to soar.
Good composition, lovely presentation, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Waylim (25436) 2011-03-10 13:02

Hey John,
I give alot to see this guy. What a nice little close encounter. I'll be irritated too if someone just stop and take picture of me on the highway :) But when you are popular and an American icon, there is not much you can do, except to hide as far away from people with camera like you.

Great pose, good possition to get all the details of the plumage and the eye, is perfectly sharp. Good mangegment and balanced, consider you're shooting against the light. TFS and congrats.
Way

Atousa (7131) 2011-03-11 0:04

Salam John,

What a great shot of this magnificent bird!.. great framing n very good details.. lovely work.. tfs
Best regards, Atousa