An eagle launches (more pics added)

[Steve Foss]

Ken, being the good buddy that he is, showed me where the bold eagles he photographed yesterday were. We headed there over the noon hour and found one fourth-year bird to model for us.

Canon 30D, Canon 300 f2.8L IS, iso1600, 1/800 at f5, handheld

[Jim Almquist]

That Ken is one heck of a friend Those are some very sharp shots and I really enjoy how close to take off and the launch. Great sequence of shots.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks, Jim. Ken is indeed a generous friend. I prepped these on a CRT monitor, so they may look oversharp on some LCDs.

[Jim Almquist]

I am viewing them on a LCD and they almost have a 3D look. Looks perfect to me.

[finnbay]

They sure look good, Steve! I headed over there after school, and they were gone. Not even a raven there anymore. Good thing we went when we did!

[hendenhook]

Those are great actions shots - even the white head feathers are crystal clear.

Just curious - I believe I understand that you have identified this bird as a four year old if so how did you determine that.

[dukhnt]

Great shots as always Steve, 1st one is my favorite

[Steve Foss]

Thanks, guys. HH, the head's not quite solid white (slight color left in line extending back from eye), and there's a reddish/brown wash of color toward the bottom of the tail. After its next molt it'll sport full adult plumage.

[MN Shutterbug]

Super nice "bold" eagle shots.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Wow, pict 3 takes my breath away!

[MARINERMAGNUM]

Beautiful shots!

For some reason the 2nd looks less saturated than the other 2. Is it a different bird?

[gatorhunter]

Those photos are sick Steve! Absolutely fantastic clarity and definition.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks, all. It was a fun time.

For some reason the 2nd looks less saturated than the other 2. Is it a different bird?

This was a series of three shots in succession from the same burst. If there are differences in saturation, it's from mistakes I made in pp.

[MARINERMAGNUM]

Well they are darn sharp!

Usually,after that 3rd shot is when they drop the white paint!

[Matt Breuer]

Beauties Steve! #3 is gorgeous!

[Dbl]

Very nice shots Steve, you are really going to owe Ken! Is Canon making a 3.8 lense?

[DMN]

Very good eagle shots Steve, I also like #3 the best.

Thanks

Dan

[Royce Aardahl]

c c c cool!!

[finnbay]

Certainly not quite like Steve's excellent shots, but a couple I got today as well:

As I look at these, I've got a bit of color in the whites. Steve, where did this come from?

[Canon Guy]

Fantastic!

[Steve Foss]

Is Canon making a 3.8 lens?

Ooops. Edit made.

Nice shots, Ken. Too bad they were gone when you returned. Must've picked the ribcages clean and gone on to other things.

It sure got dark in a hurry yesterday afternoon.

[DMN]

Finnbay, I like your shots also.

I like how the details in the chest and head feathers show up in the first the best.

Thanks

Dan

[Yeti]

Nice shots. Eagles are such cool subjects. How close did it let you get??

[Steve Foss]

I suppose we were 30 feet away at the closest point. That about right, Ken?

[finnbay]

Sounds about right Steve. Those shots of mine are almost full frame at 400mm. Cropped a bit of sky out, but none of the eagle.