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Thread: Steller's Sea-Eagle Landing on Ice Floe

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    Default Steller's Sea-Eagle Landing on Ice Floe

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    This was photographed in early February from a boat off the coast of Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. Hope you enjoy.

    Best, Joerg

    Canon 1DMkIV, 400F5.6, 1/2500s, F6.3, ISO 800, Manual Exposure, Handheld

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Joerg:

    A difficult bird to expose correctly, the snow helped a lot with fill. Good job on exposure.
    Nice flare, great display of talons, sharp, tight but effective framing.

    Was this bird baited?

    Cheers

    Randy

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    Randy, thanks for the comments and the reminder to describe details of the setting. Yes, the Eagles are baited on these tours. But my understanding is that if it wasn't for the tour boats the Eagles would congregate and follow the fishing boats to get catch which is thrown overboard. JR

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    Todd Frost
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    Nice pose and comp Joerg. Don't have a problem with the baiting, not sure why it's being asked anyway. Hope we don't start a ethics and conservation forum (read major controversy) here as on the other site. This is about the image and it is very well done. Exposure and sharpness look good. Well done.
    TFS
    Todd

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    Danny J Brown
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    Joerg,

    I love this shot. The pose is very cool and the exposure is beautiful, at least on my laptop. Love the talons and the big ice, especially but the whole shot is super.

    DB

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd Frost View Post
    Nice pose and comp Joerg. Don't have a problem with the baiting, not sure why it's being asked anyway. Hope we don't start a ethics and conservation forum (read major controversy) here as on the other site. This is about the image and it is very well done. Exposure and sharpness look good. Well done.
    TFS
    Todd
    Todd
    The rules of the forum at the top of the page spell out the need to disclose baiting and other methods of attracting the bird. I will use fish and calls on occasion, but try to always disclose same.

    Cheers

    Randy

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    Wonderful and you nailed the exposure!

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    Todd Frost
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    Thanks Randy, had not noticed that. I have no problem with it whatsoever, I just can't stand the forum at the other place and have been very thankful that we have not adopted it here . Thanks for pointing it out, it pays to read everything
    Todd

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    Default Beautiful

    A Beautiful Image. The detail and exposure is perfect. I really like the wing position and the crop.

    A winner for sure !
    Matt

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    Awesome shot! Excellent techs. The landing pose is quite dramatic and the contrast between the bird's dark feathers and the ice floes really make the bird pop.

    baiting, not sure why it's being asked anyway. Hope we don't start a ethics and conservation forum (read major controversy) here as on the other site.
    I think it's perfectly reasonable to include ethics/conservation in our discussions. When we take photographs of wildlife we are, in many cases, interfering with their natural behavior. We have a responsibility to to try to keep this interference to a minimum.

    John

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    Guys, please don't turn this thread into a discussion about the ethics of baiting. If you feel such discussion is necessary please start a thread in the General Forum. Thank you.

    Then, I have ZERO problem with Randy asking if bait was being used. I usually mention it myself but forgot in this instance. In fact, I'd prefer if people disclosed if they used methods to attract wildlife to get an image which seems to be in agreement with the policies of this forum. Best, JR
    Last edited by Joerg Rockenberger; 02-18-2011 at 11:13 PM.

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    BPN Viewer Charles Glatzer's Avatar
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    Very nice image. I head to Japan shortly with a group to photograph the eagles, etc. Word has it...conditions and pack ice are the best in years.

    FYI- many species photographed in Japan are the result of supplemental feedings.

    Warm Regards,

    Chas

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    Charles,

    Thanks for your comment. I wish I could go again to Hokkaido and I am sure you'll have lots of fun. I was on a boat off Rausu 3 mornings in the first week of February and we had ice as well as good weather every day. Come to think of it the first time I went in 2009 we also had ice and good weather. So, I am 4 out of 4. Though snow levels in general in eastern Hokkaido and particular at the Crane center were low this year...

    Are you going to photograph the fish owls? I was there this year for the first time and the newly installed floodlights make things challenging for photography though I of course have no direct comparison... Impressive nonetheless.

    Best of luck! JR

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    BPN Viewer Charles Glatzer's Avatar
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    I photographed the owls last year with flash, but as of April 2010 flash is no longer allowed. The floods require ISO 1600 and fast glass to maintain shutter speed. It will be challenging indeed.

    I head out on the 23rd.

    Chas

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    Quote Originally Posted by Charles Glatzer View Post
    The floods require ISO 1600 and fast glass to maintain shutter speed. It will be challenging indeed.
    True. And avoid shutter speeds around 1/200s or you'll see very nasty white balance issues.

    Love your fish-owl image from last year.

    Best, JR

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    I am in love with this raptor from the time I saw himon NGC some time ago, really beautiful bird and the snow setting adds to the beauty of those huge wing span. very nicely done..

    Kiran

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Joerg, dramatic landing pose, and the snow has helped with bringing out the underwing detail nicely. Excellent sharpness, and how are those talons. Well captured.

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    Forum Participant Joe Senzatimore's Avatar
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    The perfect exposure puts this one over the top. MAGNIFICENT!!!!!

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I reckon they don't come much better than this - great pose exposure and colours - first class!

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    You made some killer eagle images Joerge. Excellent series.

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    Superb in every detail. My only criticism is that I would have wished it was not such a tight crop and that we could see more of what was below and in front of the bird.

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    Thank you all for the kind feedback. And yes, Richard, I agree that a bit more space in front and underneath would be helpful for the composition but then you see less of the incredible detail in the bird. So, it's a compromise.

    JR

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