Screaming Eagle

[Mike Landwehr]

I don't recall whether this eagle was actually screaming, but he certainly had his tongue exposed! I cleaned up the bill and feathers, lightened the iris, and applied NIK Color Efex Tonal Contrast at 40% of default. Cropped and sharpened. Any C & C appreciated.

1D Mark II N
500 mm f/4
1/2000 @ f/5.6
ISO 400
Tripod

[Ivan Ellison]

As a close up portrait it is about as good as it gets IMHO. Really like the raised tongue, lovely detail in the feather and eye. I may have removed the sheen from its beak just to see how it looks. although with the sheen it is more natural.

[David Salem]

I agree. Dosnt get much better of a portrait. Tack sharp and exposure looks great. Love the raised hackles and extended tongue. I like the sheen on the beak too. Nice Work. Is this a wild or captive eagle? So close.

[Mike Landwehr]

Thank you for your feedback, David. The subject was a wild eagle, and the photo was taken on one of Artie's Homer IPTs in March of 2011.

[Marina Scarr]

Terrific portrait, Mike. Great exposure and details. Love the open beak and view of the tongue. If you could present this in such a way as to keep the eagle's head out of the middle of the frame, I think it would be even more powerful.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Mike, great close up, and you have exposed the feather detail nicely. The open beak and visible tongue takes this to another level. Being a wild shot, well captured.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice details and I love the ruffled head feathers. Great tongue too. A strong portrait for sure.

[Karl Egressy]

I have never seen the tongue exposed so well. Great shot, Mike.

[Doug Brown]

Works very well as presented but I could see a bit more canvas on the left and the bird's head slightly to the right in the frame.

[Nico Steenberg]

A great looking portrait and close up detail ! Nice pose too. Well done !

[Allen Sklar]

I have never seen an Eagles tongue that clearly before, that added to the sweet feather detail on the back of the head and this Eagle really does it for me. Personally I would not remove the sheen on the beak, it's perfect. A real pleasure to stare at.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Loved the details and the textures. Nice tight shot. agree with Doug that tad more canvas in front will help. Well done on the exposure and processing.

[gail bisson]

Wow!
Excellent portrait with an unbelievable look at the tongue. I really like the raised epaulette and the detail in the feathers.
I would add a little more space to the left.
Gail

[Mike Landwehr]

Thanks for all the comments, and particularly for the composition suggestions. I added about 8% extra canvas on the left, and agree it improves the composition.

[Lorant Voros]

Very strong image. Love the tongue. Well exposed with nice details in the whites. Well done.

[Troy Lim]

Must have been amazing to have been this close...superb.

[Satish Ranadive]

Mike:
This is gorgeous portrait.
Love the great details in whites,open beak,tongue,colors and above all Eagle's eye and shadow of iris on it,(must be looking gorgeous in HD).

Regards,
Satish.

[Frank Schauf]

Beautiful portrait, great details and eye contact.

[Craig Brelsford]

Compelling portrait. I'd try adding space at the bottom as well as to the left; the eagle after all is gazing downward.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Very nice portrait! like the eye and tongue, a very powerful profile indeed. Really cool BG.