This is the time of year, here in Illinois, the Bald Eagles move down our rivers following the open water so they can fish. The lock and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers provide this open water and the eagles collect, sometimes in great numbers, arround the open water. As the trmperature drop and these open spots freeze the eagles are forced south. I took these images at Lock & Dam #13 which is on the Mississippi River at Fulton, Illinois. I counted about 60 mature birds and another 20 imature birds. The temperture was 14 degrees and may I say a little nippy. Shooting information is as follows:
2009:01:19 14:30:48
600mm
600mm (in 35mm film)
1/1600 sec, f/5
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: +2/3
ISO: 200
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO
Flash: Off
File size: 12.8MB
Image size: 3036 x 2010
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Contrast: Normal
Lat: 41°53'49.974"N
Long: 90°9'16.986"W
Altitude: 183m
Lovely pose and eye contact. Grey grad in the BG works well. A slight contrast boost may help as it looks a little flat - I suspect the dark tones have been opened significantly in post. Exposure has me a little confused as at ISO 200 sunny F16 + 2/3 would give 1/1250 @ f5 so I suspect this was underexposed at capture at 1/1600. A very dramatic image.
Bald Eagle over Lock & Dam #13
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