Nature A Few Eagle Images from Earlier This Month

A Few Eagle Images from Earlier This Month · **7 Likes**

I had a good day and was surprised at how many keepers I got. I did the PP on these with my iPad using Snapseed which is great for quick work but lacks any noise reduction which is visible in some of the images.

**onlineflyer** · 12-15-2018, 07:21 PM - **1 Like**

Great shots.

photolady95 · 12-15-2018, 08:49 PM - **1 Like**

You say you had a good day, so where did you find these excellent birds to photograph?

Btw, I hate you for that. Just kidding. LOL But I'd love to go somewhere they're abundant so I could get more than the occasional shot of an eagle in flight.

**joelbolden** · 12-15-2018, 09:58 PM - **1 Like**

Beautiful. Lots of eagles here in Pennsylvania, and I've snapped quite a few but these are truly excellent.

**PJ1** · 12-15-2018, 10:07 PM - **1 Like**

Excellent shots. I like the "hunting expression/posture" in the first one.

Bengan · 12-16-2018, 04:02 AM - **1 Like**

Very, very good. Wish I could get shots like that

kyricom · 12-16-2018, 04:39 AM - **1 Like**

VERY nice shots

**JimS_256** · 12-16-2018, 02:29 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by photolady95

You say you had a good day, so where did you find these excellent birds to photograph?

Coeur d'Alene lake Idaho just off highway 97 near Beauty Bay. It's a very popular spot with photographers. Lots of people with 500 and 600mm lenses on gimbal tripods the day I was there. I was definitely out gunned with my little 300mm lens and TC but I like to shoot hand held so it works for me. The eagles arrive in mid November and are mostly gone by mid January, peak numbers in mid December. Here is some info from the local paper.

Originally posted by PJ1

I like the "hunting expression/posture" in the first one.

I really liked that too. Here is another one from the same burst:

photolady95 · 12-16-2018, 06:14 PM

These are just awesome shots.

Wonder how the ones with their 800mm came out, bet their colors arem't as good as our Pentax are.

Dan Paris · 12-17-2018, 02:04 PM - **1 Like**

Impressive sharpness, very well done !

sealonsf · 12-17-2018, 05:21 PM - **1 Like**

Excellent photos. If you don't mind giving us your photo secrets - can you tell me about your camera settings - what mode of focus do you typically use?

maj · 12-17-2018, 07:25 PM - **1 Like**

Fabulous photos

photolady95 · 12-18-2018, 04:10 AM

Originally posted by sealonsf

Excellent photos. If you don't mind giving us your photo secrets - can you tell me about your camera settings - what mode of focus do you typically use?

Click on the photo takes you to his flickr, you can read his EXIF there.

**JimS_256** · 12-18-2018, 01:08 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by sealonsf

If you don't mind giving us your photo secrets - can you tell me about your camera settings - what mode of focus do you typically use?

Here is a general run down of the settings I use:

For exposure, I usually shoot TAv but for bald eagles I'll often shoot manual. On this day (in spite of what the EXIF is saying) I was shooting TAv. With bald eagles the goal is to get the head as bright as possible without overexposing and blowing out the highlights (expose to the right). I started with an exposure compensation of -.7 and changed that to -1 after a few shots.

For focusing, I'm a confirmed "back button" user. I disliked having focus control attached to the shutter button the moment I got my K-50 back in 2013. It was one of the first things I changed once I realized there were options. With back button focusing I use AF.C exclusively and for focusing area I use "spot". I've tried different settings and occasionally use them depending on circumstances but "spot" is my go to for birds in flight.

With the 300mm+TC I try to keep the shutter speed at around 1/2000. I will go a little slower if I need the light but never below 1/1000.
I usually shoot at F8 but will go wider if I need the light. On this day I used F6.3 and it worked well.
I keep an eye on what the ISO is but mostly let if fall where if falls. Noise can be mitigated in post but motion blur can't.
When shooting at high shutter speeds and moving subjects I usually turn shake reduction off but looking at the camera now it appears I left it on. I think however that when the camera detects panning it automatically disables shake reduction, but I could be wrong about that.

If there's something else you were specifically wondering about let me know.

sealonsf · 12-18-2018, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by JimS_256

Here is a general run down of the settings I use:

For exposure, I usually shoot TAv but for bald eagles I'll often shoot manual. On this day (in spite of what the EXIF is saying) I was shooting TAv. With bald eagles the goal is to get the head as bright as possible without overexposing and blowing out the highlights (expose to the right). I started with an exposure compensation of -.7 and changed that to -1 after a few shots.

For focusing, I'm a confirmed "back button" user. I disliked having focus control attached to the shutter button the moment I got my K-50 back in 2013. It was one of the first things I changed once I realized there were options. With back button focusing I use AF.C exclusively and for focusing area I use "spot". I've tried different settings and occasionally use them depending on circumstances but "spot" is my go to for birds in flight.

With the 300mm+TC I try to keep the shutter speed at around 1/2000. I will go a little slower if I need the light but never below 1/1000.
I usually shoot at F8 but will go wider if I need the light. On this day I used F6.3 and it worked well.
I keep an eye on what the ISO is but mostly let if fall where if falls. Noise can be mitigated in post but motion blur can't.
When shooting at high shutter speeds and moving subjects I usually turn shake reduction off but looking at the camera now it appears I left it on. I think however that when the camera detects panning it automatically disables shake reduction, but I could be wrong about that.

If there's something else you were specifically wondering about let me know.

Thank you!

JimS_256
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12-15-2018, 07:21 PM - 1 Like	#2
onlineflyer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NW Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,091	Great shots.

12-15-2018, 08:49 PM - 1 Like	#3
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	You say you had a good day, so where did you find these excellent birds to photograph? Btw, I hate you for that. Just kidding. LOL But I'd love to go somewhere they're abundant so I could get more than the occasional shot of an eagle in flight.

12-15-2018, 09:58 PM - 1 Like	#4
joelbolden Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Stormstown, Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 605	Beautiful. Lots of eagles here in Pennsylvania, and I've snapped quite a few but these are truly excellent.

12-15-2018, 10:07 PM - 1 Like	#5
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	Excellent shots. I like the "hunting expression/posture" in the first one.

12-16-2018, 04:02 AM - 1 Like	#6
Bengan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,756	Very, very good. Wish I could get shots like that

12-16-2018, 04:39 AM - 1 Like	#7
kyricom Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 569	VERY nice shots

12-16-2018, 02:29 PM - 1 Like	#8
JimS_256 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 1,107 Original Poster	Originally posted by photolady95 You say you had a good day, so where did you find these excellent birds to photograph? Coeur d'Alene lake Idaho just off highway 97 near Beauty Bay. It's a very popular spot with photographers. Lots of people with 500 and 600mm lenses on gimbal tripods the day I was there. I was definitely out gunned with my little 300mm lens and TC but I like to shoot hand held so it works for me. The eagles arrive in mid November and are mostly gone by mid January, peak numbers in mid December. Here is some info from the local paper. Originally posted by PJ1 I like the "hunting expression/posture" in the first one. I really liked that too. Here is another one from the same burst:

12-16-2018, 06:14 PM	#9
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	These are just awesome shots. Wonder how the ones with their 800mm came out, bet their colors arem't as good as our Pentax are.

12-17-2018, 02:04 PM - 1 Like	#10
Dan Paris Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 505	Impressive sharpness, very well done !

12-17-2018, 05:21 PM - 1 Like	#11
sealonsf Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Francisco Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,729	Excellent photos. If you don't mind giving us your photo secrets - can you tell me about your camera settings - what mode of focus do you typically use?

12-17-2018, 07:25 PM - 1 Like	#12
maj New Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: New South Wales Posts: 29	Fabulous photos

12-18-2018, 04:10 AM	#13
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by sealonsf Excellent photos. If you don't mind giving us your photo secrets - can you tell me about your camera settings - what mode of focus do you typically use? Click on the photo takes you to his flickr, you can read his EXIF there.

12-18-2018, 01:08 PM - 1 Like	#14
JimS_256 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 1,107 Original Poster	Originally posted by sealonsf If you don't mind giving us your photo secrets - can you tell me about your camera settings - what mode of focus do you typically use? Here is a general run down of the settings I use: For exposure, I usually shoot TAv but for bald eagles I'll often shoot manual. On this day (in spite of what the EXIF is saying) I was shooting TAv. With bald eagles the goal is to get the head as bright as possible without overexposing and blowing out the highlights (expose to the right). I started with an exposure compensation of -.7 and changed that to -1 after a few shots. For focusing, I'm a confirmed "back button" user. I disliked having focus control attached to the shutter button the moment I got my K-50 back in 2013. It was one of the first things I changed once I realized there were options. With back button focusing I use AF.C exclusively and for focusing area I use "spot". I've tried different settings and occasionally use them depending on circumstances but "spot" is my go to for birds in flight. With the 300mm+TC I try to keep the shutter speed at around 1/2000. I will go a little slower if I need the light but never below 1/1000. I usually shoot at F8 but will go wider if I need the light. On this day I used F6.3 and it worked well. I keep an eye on what the ISO is but mostly let if fall where if falls. Noise can be mitigated in post but motion blur can't. When shooting at high shutter speeds and moving subjects I usually turn shake reduction off but looking at the camera now it appears I left it on. I think however that when the camera detects panning it automatically disables shake reduction, but I could be wrong about that. If there's something else you were specifically wondering about let me know.

12-18-2018, 03:19 PM	#15
sealonsf Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Francisco Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,729	Originally posted by JimS_256 Here is a general run down of the settings I use: For exposure, I usually shoot TAv but for bald eagles I'll often shoot manual. On this day (in spite of what the EXIF is saying) I was shooting TAv. With bald eagles the goal is to get the head as bright as possible without overexposing and blowing out the highlights (expose to the right). I started with an exposure compensation of -.7 and changed that to -1 after a few shots. For focusing, I'm a confirmed "back button" user. I disliked having focus control attached to the shutter button the moment I got my K-50 back in 2013. It was one of the first things I changed once I realized there were options. With back button focusing I use AF.C exclusively and for focusing area I use "spot". I've tried different settings and occasionally use them depending on circumstances but "spot" is my go to for birds in flight. With the 300mm+TC I try to keep the shutter speed at around 1/2000. I will go a little slower if I need the light but never below 1/1000. I usually shoot at F8 but will go wider if I need the light. On this day I used F6.3 and it worked well. I keep an eye on what the ISO is but mostly let if fall where if falls. Noise can be mitigated in post but motion blur can't. When shooting at high shutter speeds and moving subjects I usually turn shake reduction off but looking at the camera now it appears I left it on. I think however that when the camera detects panning it automatically disables shake reduction, but I could be wrong about that. If there's something else you were specifically wondering about let me know. Thank you!