A couple of winter eagle shots

[davev]

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.

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743214_mFRBx-XL.jpg

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743229_8vDzL-XL.jpg

with 2 tc's
http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743250_fjTej-XL.jpg

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743303_TbXA9-XL.jpg

Massive crop
http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743351_xutQc-XL.jpg

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743269_Unjt9-XL.jpg

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743314_H6VG2-XL.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[Ann McRae]

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?
:rofl

[davev]

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 (http://davev.smugmug.com/Other/688305)

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?
:rofl

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
http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/248217094_CiwXG-L.jpg

[dlplumer]

This last one is amazing. I have never seen so many eagles in one place. Great series Dave :clap

[grimace]

Amazing shots Davev!!

[coscorrosa]

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.

[Jane B.]

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

[kdog]

: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

-joel

[evil eggplant]

Sweeet. Wish I was there with you:thumb

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.

[Maestro]

A trip worthwhile especially for number 4 and 5!

[ront]

WOW, what a bunch of Eagles!! I think that you did very well!

Ron

[bfjr]

Excellent Series :thumb

[davev]

Thanks everyone.

Just a couple more.

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743333_Jpn6L-XL.jpg

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/456743191_bLxak-XL.jpg

[aktse]

:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap

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)

[davev]

:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap

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

[grimace]

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