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I was a bump on a log

Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
edited June 16, 2010 in Wildlife
I was driving by a stretch of water yesterday where the mouth of a river opened up in to the Hood Canal in Washington State. There were eagles everywhere!! Unfortunately, they were out on sand bars and oyster beds too far away for me to take any good shots.

This Morning I took the kayak and launched it from a mud flat up river. All I did was point my self toward and eagle, laid still and let it drift. I was a bump on a log. The sun, for the most part did not cooperate but I did manage to make one good run at this guy. I almost ran right into his perch before he flew away.

#1
899943358_EiwKy-O.jpg


#2
899943314_wSSyo-L.jpg


#3
899943445_fvhFP-O.jpg


Thanks for looking!
www.markedell.com

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    slpollettslpollett Registered Users Posts: 1,200 Major grins
    edited June 13, 2010
    I am so envious! These are awesome eagle shots. The first one is gorgeous & my fave. All 3 are beautiful though.

    Sherry
    Visit my galleries at: http://psphotos.smugmug.com/ and/or http://pollettsquaredphotography.smugmug.com
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    Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
    edited June 13, 2010
    Thanks Sherry, it was a fun morning!
    www.markedell.com
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    HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 14, 2010
    Marvelous, especially #3. clap.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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    snowman1snowman1 Registered Users Posts: 272 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    Realy nice work, number 2 stands out to me.





    http://dougsphotos.smugmug.com/




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    Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    Very nice captures Mark, and the one that stands out for me is number 2.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
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    Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    Thanks everyone. I have plans to do it again this weekend with a bigger , More stable kayak. With the small kayak I get this feeling of impending doom because I'm carrying all that equipment.
    www.markedell.com
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    dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    Harryb wrote: »
    Marvelous, especially #3. clap.gif

    +1 clap.gif
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
    Facebook Fan Page
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    angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    Same here..Envious and all fab!clap.gif
    tom wise
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    Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    Makes me wish I was young again! Digital cameras came along a tad late to my life. I would love to do something like this.

    Excellent! thumb.gif
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    CKjeepCKjeep Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    I like all of them. i wish i could get that close to the few eagles we have here
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    WillCADWillCAD Registered Users Posts: 722 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    Fabulous shots! Publication quality, no doubt.

    Captions:

    #1: Oh, look at DIS guy! Tinks he's gonna just float right up ta my perch here and I'm not gonna notice 'im, huh? Geez, what a rube.

    #2: Okay, I've had enough a DIS guy. I'mm goin' to get myself a fish...

    #3: Frikkin' tourists. Oughta be a law...
    What I said when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time: "The wide ain't wide enough and the zoom don't zoom enough!"
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    Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2010
    lol! Thanks for the comments
    www.markedell.com
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    Stella7dStella7d Registered Users Posts: 201 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2010
    WoW!!! These shots are phenomenal!!! :)
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    WillCADWillCAD Registered Users Posts: 722 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2010
    Hey, Mark, just out of idle curiosity - what gear were you using for those shots? And what post-processing did you do on them? They're unbelievably sharp and have great color.
    What I said when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time: "The wide ain't wide enough and the zoom don't zoom enough!"
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    raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2010
    Excellent shots, Mark! clap.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
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    Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2010
    WillCAD wrote: »
    Hey, Mark, just out of idle curiosity - what gear were you using for those shots? And what post-processing did you do on them? They're unbelievably sharp and have great color.

    I was using a Canon 40D with a 200mm 2.8L with the Canon1.4x teleconverter.

    Make = Canon
    Model = Canon EOS 40D
    Software = Adobe Photoshop CS2 Windows
    F Number = F4.5
    Exposure Program = Aperture priority
    ISO Speed Ratings = 320
    Focal Length = 280mm

    I used Photoshoop for PP and Neat Image for noise reduction. I really don't do a lot of post possessing, typically it's:

    Shadows and highlights adjustment
    Slight saturation
    Run through Neat Image
    Unshapen mask (41% default)
    Crop (if needed) and resize

    ----Extra things I might do depending on the shot---

    Extra sharpening on the eye(s) only with sharpening tool
    Lasso the subject and add just a pinch more saturation
    Darken the background slightly with the dodge tool to make the subject pop!

    That's about it. eek7.gif
    www.markedell.com
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2010
    Number three is the DA BOMB! Number 1 is very good as well. It has that stoic perch quality that raptors have. Number 2 has a great pose but just looks a tad OOF, not a deal-breaker though. You took advantage of some excellent opportunities.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

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    Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2010
    Thanks Stella, Glenn and Stephen
    www.markedell.com
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