Long-crested Eagle

[Alexander Koenders]

In Europ its seldom that you are able to shoot a near perfect portret of a bird. I Africa i was verry lucky.

Olympus E3, Zuiko ED300 f2.8, Zuiko 2.0 converter, 1/640 sec, F7.1, Focus lenght 600 mm, ISO 200, -0.3 stops

[Jeroen Stel]

Hi Alex,

How bad is it that we have to speak to eachother on an American forum...:)
About time we went out together again...(wish i had the time though..)

Lovely shot from your African trip!
Do feel that a little bit of selective work on that darker part of the eye would improve this one!

Great portrait wich indeed would be impossible to make over here in The Netherlands..
Well done mate!

Greetings,

Jeroen Stel

[Doug Brown]

I love eagles, and I've not seen this one before. It's a beauty. This photo is so close; if only you had a little more eye contact. I wish too that the crest feathers were in focus. Thanks for sharing!

[Linda Robbins]

Long-crested eagles are one of my favorite birds of Africa. It is wonderful that you were able to get close enough to this beautiful bird to make a portrait. I think that fill flash would have opened up the shadows of the hooded eye. I hope you don't mind the repost, but I think lightening the shaded part of the iris helps the image. The long crest feathers of these birds always seem to be blown around by the wind. Perhaps going to a higher ISO would have made them somewhat sharper, but they look fine as presented. A lovely portrait!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Great portrait of a gorgeous bird Alexander and a lovely repost Linda. The eye opened up really strengthens this wonderful image. Excellent detail and very sharp with a very striking BG. Many thanks for sharing.

[Ramon M. Casares]

I like it very much, BG and pose are good, more eye conta t would've helped as well as the use of flash to avoid some of the shadowed areas, still I think is a wonderfull shot! Congratulations!

[Robert O'Toole]

Well done Alexander, great portrait. Problems mentioned already. I would add some selective sharpening of the details in the face.

I have seen these birds hunt on the ground for snakes in Kenya, they are beautiful.

Robert

[Alexander Koenders]

Long-crested eagles are one of my favorite birds of Africa. It is wonderful that you were able to get close enough to this beautiful bird to make a portrait. I think that fill flash would have opened up the shadows of the hooded eye. I hope you don't mind the repost, but I think lightening the shaded part of the iris helps the image. The long crest feathers of these birds always seem to be blown around by the wind. Perhaps going to a higher ISO would have made them somewhat sharper, but they look fine as presented. A lovely portrait!

Hi Linda,

I reasly didn't had the time to do anything els then push the button. In a few seconds he was gone. I was as surprised to see him as he did when i saw me:eek:

[Gus Cobos]

Nicely done Alexander,
Like it as presented. I like these up close and in your face poses...:cool:

[Markus Jais]

this is a great shot of an amazing bird. I like the composition and the calm background. I like Linda's adjustments.

Markus

[Ed Cordes]

Very good portrait. I like the repost better due to less eye shadow.

[Linda Robbins]

Hi Linda,

I reasly didn't had the time to do anything els then push the button. In a few seconds he was gone. I was as surprised to see him as he did when i saw me:eek:

I can just picture the surprise for both you and the bird. A wonderful opportunity, and a lovely portrait. Your trip certainly produced many amazing images! Keep them coming...they are great!