African Fish-eagle at Savuti

[Grant Atkinson]

Canon 7D, 300mmf2.8is lens, handheld. S/S 1/640 at f5.6, iso 250, +0.33 exp comp, subj distance 18m, Eval metering, Ai Servo, cropped to 5mp. 06h23am, Savuti Channel, Botswana, 9 Nov2010. Processed in ACR 6 and CS5
A fish eagle that perched close enough for me to photograph with the 300mm lens, early one morning last month. The wind was blowing just enough to ruffle the feathers on the back of the birds neck, which made it appear a little more interesting to me.
cheers
Grant

www.grantatkinson.com (http://www.grantatkinson.com)

[Chris Martinez]

This is really very nice. The light is golden the BG is smooth. I might suggest a tiny bit more canvas at the bottom of the image(the tail is mighty close to the edge) and I think that tiny bit of space between the perch and the edge of frame(right hand corner) looks a bit odd. I'd re-crop to add a touch more on the right or trim it so you lose the little gap. Just my thoughts.

I'd kill for an eagle photo like this!!!!!

[denise ippolito]

Grant, Really nice to get this close! I like the wind blown feathers also and I think you did very well capturing the details especially HH w/ a 5.6. It looks just a touch dark overall to me and a tiny bit tight on the bottom.:)

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Chris and Denise, thanks for the crop suggestions, i do have lots of space all around on the OP, and will recrop..thanks again.
cheers
Grant

[Daniel Cadieux]

Check out the size of the talon!!

Great comp suggestion (and reasons for it) by Chris. I agree with your remark that the wind-ruffled feathers add interest...

[Ken Watkins]

I agree with Denise about the darkness, most pronounced on the black wing, the neck feathers are also not as "pure" white as they could be.

[Jan Fourie]

Great Portrait shot with nice light,exp of whites and comp