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Eagles in flight · 01:44 PM

I met another Pentax Forum member at Conowingo Dam, Maryland this past Saturday. We were attempting to get a few good shots of some American Bald Eagles in flight. There were plenty of eagles. Most were a bit out of reach. If nothing else I have learned that I need alot of practice shooting birds in flight. I was using my Bigma lens. Here are a few of the better ones although they are still not all that great. I also tossed in a buzzard shot. They were way more cooperative since they were stationary.

JCSullivan · 01-13-2008, 03:30 PM

For correctness sake with no offence to my American neighbours it is simply, the Bald Eagle.

As for the shots I like the first shot of this beautiful and magnificent bird in-flight. Makes me want to be up there with it.

Tom Lusk · 01-13-2008, 03:42 PM

What about the black vulture?

Mr. Hyde: I agree with the good Mr. Sullivan. The first shot has that special feel about it. I also like the vulture photo. Do they stay in your area all winter?

channeler · 01-13-2008, 04:44 PM

Nice captures especially the first showing the wings outstretched. The last image of the vulture is great.

Paul

borno · 01-13-2008, 05:36 PM

Hey Mr hyde,
Thats my neck of the woods

I live about 5 mi. downstream. I wound up there today on my motorcycle and only had a 135mm and tc in my bag as I was doing some infrared stuff

There were quite a few eagles in the trees by the parking area. Later I tried to park up on top and hike through the woods to get to where the light was good but they didn't let me get close enough. Might head up there saturday if I don't have to work. Here's a pic of the tailrace showing the fish ladder - I think they are all vultures on the top.

hinckc · 01-13-2008, 07:36 PM

Hi Scott!

Great panning and exposures! Nice work!

@Tom:

The Black Vultures are definately in NJ at least this far into the winter... The office building I work in is next to a building with reflective surfaces... ~1 week ago I was walking around that building and found myself about 6 feet away from a row of 4 Black Vultures like this one, except they were sunning themselves while staring into their own beady little eyes wings spread wide... They looked like they could have been lined up at a beauty salon, but it wasn't working...

All four were fully extended trying to pick up the heat off the building. Cool, but almost too close for comfort!

-Chris

clarenceclose · 01-13-2008, 08:19 PM

#1 is also my favorite.
Both photos could, IMHO, do with a little more black point as they look slightly washed.

Am thinking seriously about the Bigma.
Please tell me about the handling, control, and your feel for the overall lens.

Were you using a tripod with ball or gimbal mount when you shot the eagles or were they handheld?
Thanks,
Clarence

Mr Hyde · 01-13-2008, 08:27 PM

JCSullivan, Since these Bald Eagles were in Maryland, I'm saying that they are American. That's my story and I'm sticking to it LOL

Tom, Thanks for the correction on the Vulture. I have never been to the Conowingo Dam before but I've read that December through march are the best months to photograph the eagles. I'm assuming that the vultrues are probably there during the same time. There were literally hundreds of vultrues there. They were everywhere.

Paul. Thanks for the kind words.

Borno, I'll shoot you a PM next time I take a trip down there. It was a great day. There were loads of people there with some super long lenses. It was quite a sight in itself. I'm a bit further away than you are. My ride was about an hour and 15 mins. it was well worth the trip.

hinckc, Thanks. I need alot of practice with the panning shots. most of my shots were far from keepers. The few good ones that I got made it all worthwhile.

Mr Hyde · 01-13-2008, 09:12 PM

here are a few more from Saturday. As you can see the place is crawling with vultures.

The eagle shot was a bit dark. I think I may have over processed it a bit. tell me what you think.

Mr Hyde · 01-13-2008, 09:35 PM

Originally posted by clarenceclose

#1 is also my favorite.
Both photos could, IMHO, do with a little more black point as they look slightly washed.

Am thinking seriously about the Bigma.
Please tell me about the handling, control, and your feel for the overall lens.

Were you using a tripod with ball or gimbal mount when you shot the eagles or were they handheld?
Thanks,
Clarence

Clarance, thanks for the suggestion.

My tripod has a pistol grip ball head. Some of the shots were on the tripod and some were handheld. Of the photos I have posted so far, I know that both of the vulture shots were on the tripod. The two eagle shots in the first post were both hand held. the third eagle shot I really just dont remember. Maybe it was just my inexperience but I found it much easier panning with the lens handheld.

I really like the Bigma lens. My friend was there with a F* 600mm. The Bigma seemed light as a feather in comparison.

**Eaglerapids** · 01-14-2008, 08:45 PM

Great pictures, the Eagles here are kicking my butt:-(.

hinckc · 01-15-2008, 02:00 PM

I think the last is my favorite eagle of the series. It looks neither underexposed or over processed, to me.

Great one!

-Chris

Mr Hyde · 01-15-2008, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by hinckc

I think the last is my favorite eagle of the series. It looks neither underexposed or over processed, to me.

Great one!

-Chris

Thanks Chris. The original photo was pretty dark and I used the "levels" in Paint Shop Pro to lighten the image. After I did a bit of noise reduction and sharpening it just looked a little "too good" and I thought I had pushed it a bit far. Thanks for the kind words.

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01-13-2008, 03:42 PM	#3
Tom Lusk Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 973	JC! What about the black vulture? Mr. Hyde: I agree with the good Mr. Sullivan. The first shot has that special feel about it. I also like the vulture photo. Do they stay in your area all winter?

01-13-2008, 07:36 PM	#6
hinckc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 298	Hi Scott! Great panning and exposures! Nice work! @Tom: The Black Vultures are definately in NJ at least this far into the winter... The office building I work in is next to a building with reflective surfaces... ~1 week ago I was walking around that building and found myself about 6 feet away from a row of 4 Black Vultures like this one, except they were sunning themselves while staring into their own beady little eyes wings spread wide... They looked like they could have been lined up at a beauty salon, but it wasn't working... All four were fully extended trying to pick up the heat off the building. Cool, but almost too close for comfort! -Chris Last edited by hinckc; 01-13-2008 at 07:38 PM. Reason: phrasing

01-13-2008, 09:12 PM	#9
Mr Hyde Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 760 Original Poster	two more here are a few more from Saturday. As you can see the place is crawling with vultures. The eagle shot was a bit dark. I think I may have over processed it a bit. tell me what you think. Last edited by Mr Hyde; 02-18-2008 at 09:38 PM.

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01-13-2008, 03:30 PM	#2
JCSullivan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada Posts: 3,056	For correctness sake with no offence to my American neighbours it is simply, the Bald Eagle. As for the shots I like the first shot of this beautiful and magnificent bird in-flight. Makes me want to be up there with it.

01-13-2008, 04:44 PM	#4
channeler Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northwich Cheshire England Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,009	Nice captures especially the first showing the wings outstretched. The last image of the vulture is great. Paul

01-13-2008, 05:36 PM	#5
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	Hey Mr hyde, Thats my neck of the woods I live about 5 mi. downstream. I wound up there today on my motorcycle and only had a 135mm and tc in my bag as I was doing some infrared stuff There were quite a few eagles in the trees by the parking area. Later I tried to park up on top and hike through the woods to get to where the light was good but they didn't let me get close enough. Might head up there saturday if I don't have to work. Here's a pic of the tailrace showing the fish ladder - I think they are all vultures on the top.

01-13-2008, 08:19 PM	#7
clarenceclose Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pocatello, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,506	#1 is also my favorite. Both photos could, IMHO, do with a little more black point as they look slightly washed. Am thinking seriously about the Bigma. Please tell me about the handling, control, and your feel for the overall lens. Were you using a tripod with ball or gimbal mount when you shot the eagles or were they handheld? Thanks, Clarence

01-13-2008, 08:27 PM	#8
Mr Hyde Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 760 Original Poster	JCSullivan, Since these Bald Eagles were in Maryland, I'm saying that they are American. That's my story and I'm sticking to it LOL Tom, Thanks for the correction on the Vulture. I have never been to the Conowingo Dam before but I've read that December through march are the best months to photograph the eagles. I'm assuming that the vultrues are probably there during the same time. There were literally hundreds of vultrues there. They were everywhere. Paul. Thanks for the kind words. Borno, I'll shoot you a PM next time I take a trip down there. It was a great day. There were loads of people there with some super long lenses. It was quite a sight in itself. I'm a bit further away than you are. My ride was about an hour and 15 mins. it was well worth the trip. hinckc, Thanks. I need alot of practice with the panning shots. most of my shots were far from keepers. The few good ones that I got made it all worthwhile.

01-13-2008, 09:35 PM	#10
Mr Hyde Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 760 Original Poster	Originally posted by clarenceclose #1 is also my favorite. Both photos could, IMHO, do with a little more black point as they look slightly washed. Am thinking seriously about the Bigma. Please tell me about the handling, control, and your feel for the overall lens. Were you using a tripod with ball or gimbal mount when you shot the eagles or were they handheld? Thanks, Clarence Clarance, thanks for the suggestion. My tripod has a pistol grip ball head. Some of the shots were on the tripod and some were handheld. Of the photos I have posted so far, I know that both of the vulture shots were on the tripod. The two eagle shots in the first post were both hand held. the third eagle shot I really just dont remember. Maybe it was just my inexperience but I found it much easier panning with the lens handheld. I really like the Bigma lens. My friend was there with a F* 600mm. The Bigma seemed light as a feather in comparison.

01-14-2008, 08:45 PM	#11
Eaglerapids Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho,USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,619	Great pictures, the Eagles here are kicking my butt:-(.

01-15-2008, 02:00 PM	#12
hinckc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 298	I think the last is my favorite eagle of the series. It looks neither underexposed or over processed, to me. Great one! -Chris

01-15-2008, 03:35 PM	#13
Mr Hyde Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 760 Original Poster	Originally posted by hinckc I think the last is my favorite eagle of the series. It looks neither underexposed or over processed, to me. Great one! -Chris Thanks Chris. The original photo was pretty dark and I used the "levels" in Paint Shop Pro to lighten the image. After I did a bit of noise reduction and sharpening it just looked a little "too good" and I thought I had pushed it a bit far. Thanks for the kind words.