A couple of winter eagle shots

davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
edited January 20, 2009 in Wildlife
Grimace, his friend Pete and I went to Iowa for the eagles again this year.
The numbers were down some, and because of a very cool snap in the midwest, there
was less open water than we thought there'd be.
I got a few OK shots in the morning before the clouds rolled in, but I think I'll need to
try to do this at least one more time when it's not quite so cold.

I was using a Canon 5D MKII, a Canon 300 f2.8, with a Canon 2X tc, and for some shots,
I added a Kenko 1.5 tc. The camera still autofocused with all that, but with the vignetting, I'm not
sure if I gained anything.

All shots are at ISO 800 or higher. This is the reason I bought this camera.

On with the pics.

456743214_mFRBx-XL.jpg

456743229_8vDzL-XL.jpg

with 2 tc's
456743250_fjTej-XL.jpg

456743303_TbXA9-XL.jpg

Massive crop
456743351_xutQc-XL.jpg

456743269_Unjt9-XL.jpg

456743314_H6VG2-XL.jpg

Thanks for looking.
dave.

Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.

Comments

  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited January 18, 2009
    Davev

    WOW!: the feather detail is amazing! Great shots, some day I hope to get an eagle shot!


    And now, a few questions for Mr. jpg:
    the5DmkII?

    Not as many eagles (last shot seems totally infested with them) as last year?

    Too cold for you?
    rolleyes1.gif

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  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited January 18, 2009
    Ann McRae wrote:
    Davev

    WOW!: the feather detail is amazing! Great shots, some day I hope to get an eagle shot!

    Thanks Ann, But I think it can be better.
    Quite a few of these shots came out soft, but through the magic of Photoshop, I managed to get something out of them.
    And now, a few questions for Mr. jpg:
    the5DmkII?

    Yes, the 5DMKII. I got it about 2 weeks ago and have been trying to figure it out.
    I'm still working on it. And yes, I'm shooting JPG's:D
    For a look at some other shots of mine from this camera, go here: Link
    Not as many eagles (last shot seems totally infested with them) as last year?

    Although it looks like there's a lot of eagles, it's nothing compared to last year.
    Too cold for you?
    rolleyes1.gif

    I don't believe I said it was to cold for me.:D
    The weather in general was to cold in the area and closed up to much of the water.
    No water, no fish, no eagles.

    The massive eagle shot from 2008
    248217094_CiwXG-L.jpg
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited January 18, 2009
    This last one is amazing. I have never seen so many eagles in one place. Great series Dave clap.gif
    Dan
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  • grimacegrimace Registered Users Posts: 1,537 Major grins
    edited January 18, 2009
    Amazing shots Davev!!
    -Adam
    www.adamstravelphotography.com

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  • coscorrosacoscorrosa Registered Users Posts: 2,284 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    Awesome! I never even thought of using the 5D MII as a wildlife camera, but your photos prove it can work. Great series overall, that last shot with the few dozen eagles is crazy! The shot with the fish and the one right above it are my favorites.
    Ron Coscorrosa

    Photo Gallery | Blog | I'm Unemployed!
  • Jane B.Jane B. Registered Users Posts: 373 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    davev wrote:

    I don't believe I said it was to cold for me.:D
    The weather in general was to cold in the area and closed up to much of the water.
    No water, no fish, no eagles.

    This fits with what I saw on TV out of St. Louis, MO this morning. The site for eagle watching at Grafton, IL has more than usual. Evidently yours moved south when the river froze up there. They also mentioned that a place that has a regular ferry crossing, and thus more open water, is a good place to look for them in the winter.

    Jane
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited January 19, 2009
    :jawdrop

    Fantastic shots, Dave!! I'll echo Ron in saying how fascinating it is to see the results with the 5DMII. The colors are excellent. That "massive crop" one is probably my favorite, and it doesn't look cropped at all.

    Congrats on a remarkable set of eagle captures. thumb.gif

    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • evil eggplantevil eggplant Registered Users Posts: 464 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    Sweeet. Wish I was there with youthumb.gif
    davev wrote:
    Grimace, his friend Pete and I went to Iowa for the eagles again this year.
    The numbers were down some, and because of a very cool snap in the midwest, there
    was less open water than we thought there'd be.
    I got a few OK shots in the morning before the clouds rolled in, but I think I'll need to
    try to do this at least one more time when it's not quite so cold.

    I was using a Canon 5D MKII, a Canon 300 f2.8, with a Canon 2X tc, and for some shots,
    I added a Kenko 1.5 tc. The camera still autofocused with all that, but with the vignetting, I'm not
    sure if I gained anything.

    All shots are at ISO 800 or higher. This is the reason I bought this camera.

    On with the pics.

    Thanks for looking.
    ___________________________________
    "exxxxcellent" -C. Montgomery Burns
    __________________________________________________
    www.iceninephotography.com
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    A trip worthwhile especially for number 4 and 5!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • rontront Registered Users Posts: 1,473 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    WOW, what a bunch of Eagles!! I think that you did very well!

    Ron
    "The question is not what you look at, but what you see". Henry David Thoreau

    http://ront.smugmug.com/
    Nikon D600, Nikon 85 f/1.8G, Nikon 24-120mm f/4, Nikon 70-300, Nikon SB-700, Canon S95
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    Excellent Series thumb.gif
    Benjamin
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  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    Thanks everyone.

    Just a couple more.

    456743333_Jpn6L-XL.jpg

    456743191_bLxak-XL.jpg
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • aktseaktse Registered Users Posts: 1,928 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    clap.gifclapclap.gifclapclap.gif

    But I can't believe you guys actually went out to photograph the eagles. Did you look at the temperature BEFORE you left?

    Wasn't the low like -40C or something horrific like that? Burr!!!!!

    (note -- i'm a californian wimp)
    http://aktse.smugmug.com/
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2009
    aktse wrote:
    clap.gifclapclap.gifclapclap.gif

    But I can't believe you guys actually went out to photograph the eagles. Did you look at the temperature BEFORE you left?

    Wasn't the low like -40C or something horrific like that? Burr!!!!!

    (note -- i'm a californian wimp)

    No, the temps weren't even close to that.
    I think the temp was in the teens above in the morning, and 20's in the afternoon.
    But it was chilly enough for Adam to put on a sweatshirt.:D
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • grimacegrimace Registered Users Posts: 1,537 Major grins
    edited January 20, 2009
    davev wrote:
    No, the temps weren't even close to that.
    I think the temp was in the teens above in the morning, and 20's in the afternoon.
    But it was chilly enough for Adam to put on a sweatshirt.:D

    I packed a jacket just in case. :D
    -Adam
    www.adamstravelphotography.com

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