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~ Freedom ~


~ Freedom ~
Photo Information
Copyright: Adrian Hutton (aido) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1218] (4046)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-04-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D2H, Sigma EX 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO HSM DG
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/350 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-04-04 5:10
Viewed: 2062
Favorites: 4 [view]
Points: 124
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Well freedom of a sort. Here we go with my first in-flight shot ever, taken at Eagle Heights in Eynsford, Kent here in the UK. This is Alaska the Bald Eagle enjoying herself during one of the flying displays. In the background are the rolling hills of Kent and the village of Eynsford.

Taken with my new Sigma 50-500 at 320mm, 1/350 f/6.3. I cheated a bit as I clipped the wingtip on the original, so I added some BG and cloned the feather tips. Not something I’d normally do but this is my first decent in-flight shot and I wanted to do something with it. If it gets removed I’ll understand :-) Other PP was levels and sharpening and removed a white patch from the BG. No crop, just added that bit of BG at the bottom.

Bald Eagles live near large bodies of open water such as lakes, marshes, seacoasts and rivers, where there are plenty of fish to eat and tall trees for nesting and roosting. Bald Eagles have a presence in every U. S. state except Hawaii. Bald Eagles use a specific territory for nesting, winter feeding or a year-round residence. Its natural domain is from Alaska to Baja, California, and from Maine to Florida. Bald Eagles that reside in the northern U. S. and Canada migrate to the warmer southern climates of the U. S. during the winter to obtain easier access to food, especially fish. Some Bald Eagles that reside in the southern U. S. migrate slightly north during the hot summer months.

Bald Eagles are monogamous and mate for life. A Bald Eagle will only select another mate if its faithful companion should die. They build large nests, called eyries, at the top of sturdy tall trees. The nests become larger as the eagles return to breed and add new nesting materials year after year. Bald Eagles make their new nests an average of 2 feet deep and 5 feet across. Eventually, some nests reach sizes of more than 10 feet wide and can weigh several tons. When a nest is destroyed by natural causes it is often rebuilt nearby. Nests are lined with twigs, soft mosses, grasses and feathers. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs annually in the springtime, which hatch after about 35 days of incubation. Hunting, egg incubation, nest watch, eaglet feeding and eaglet brooding duties are shared by both parents until the young are strong enough to fly at about 12 weeks of age. Eaglets are full size at 12 weeks of age. Only about 50% of eaglets hatched survive the first year.

Info from eagles.org.
Signal-Womb, firelord, red45, valy67, scottevers7, dew77, marhowie, AndyB, ddg, MojoUK, hummingbird24, thistle, satish_h, Dando, coasties, PDP, sAner, extramundi, goutham_ramesh, anavazao, Fisher, jeanpaul, shal, Scott, slrnovice2, snowfalken, livios, CeltickRanger, Demetrio has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To livios: Hi Livioaido 2 02-25 20:43
To snowfalken: Hi Eddie,aido 1 06-16 05:02
To pac: Hi Danaido 2 05-30 14:26
To slrnovice2: Hi Hollieaido 2 04-30 06:02
To sAner: Hi Pieter,aido 4 04-10 06:53
To Xplorator: Hi Raduaido 1 04-07 06:34
To Aramok: Hi Emma,aido 1 04-06 12:46
To Gudule: Thankyou Jeanaido 1 04-06 04:10
To dew77: Hi Sebnemaido 4 04-05 02:30
To thistle: Burned Whitesaido 5 04-04 13:30
To MojoUK: Hi Mark,aido 3 04-04 12:33
To fototab: Hi Tabathaaido 1 04-04 08:22
To twosixbw: Hi Philaido 1 04-04 06:41
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Critiques [Translate]

Very nice action shot,Adrian. I liked POV, colors, details and framing very much. Congratulations...
Ali Rıza

Beautiful capture Adrian, great focus and composition. I also like the backdrop of green fields to set this of. Impressive indeed, well done.

Superb in-flight of the Bald Eagle !
Good shot !

wow, adrian, not only sitting birds,
you can do flying ones as well! :-)
excellent job on your "first" one,
good pov, composition and bg.
keep up the good work, thor.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2006-04-04 6:12]

Fantastique prise Adrian!

L'éclairage est parfait et fait bien rssortir les détails. Les couleurs sont juste et réelles. Félicitations pour la prise de vue avec cet arrière plan lumineux et qui exprime la liberté.

Merci pour l'envoie1


joseph

Hi
Great photo - crystal clear shot!! Well composed...
Enjoy using the 50-500 - I have the older version (not the DG) and really love it!!
Cant tell you've 'added' some feathers! :)
TFS
Phil

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2828 W: 75 N: 8009] (26813)
  • [2006-04-04 7:03]

Hi Adrian!
Just fantastic! I love everything in this picture. Proud bird, its pose and moment, details, composition, also BG with great delicate green colour. Note is interesting and title very good. You're right - who could be more free than eagle?

Adrain,
Beautiful shot. If it is your first action shot what a good job.
Thanks,
fototab

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 475 W: 0 N: 926] (7973)
  • [2006-04-04 7:36]

Hi Adrian,

Splendid action photo. You got him just right. Great timing and wonderful details.
TFS.

regards,
Zeno.

Hi Adrian,
An excellent job! He looks great, and your PP work is perfect here. I love that backround. Outstanding work!
Scott

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-04-04 8:02]
  • [+]

Hello Adrian!
Very nice in flight capture.POV,details,sharpness,BG,lighting
and composition are wonderful.Did you tried with same lens such
action shots at 500mm focal lenght before?I couldn't get sharp
results at max. focal lenght until kow:(.
TFS...:-)

Hello Adrian,
Excellent job on both the capture and the post processing. Very nice!

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2006-04-04 8:25]

Hello Adrian,
Well done on getting your 1st in flight shot and its a great one too.
Excellent detail here and the landscape background looks great too.
I cant see any sign of PP work,so well done on that too!
Great shot.

TFS

  • Great 
  • Luce Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 80 W: 0 N: 15] (58)
  • [2006-04-04 8:42]

Bonjour Adrian, superbe image. La netteté est excellent de même que la lecture de lumière. Tres belle composition montrant un paysage flou à l'arrière et laissant suffisamment d'espace devant l'aigle. Bravo.

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 880 W: 23 N: 927] (4993)
  • [2006-04-04 8:56]

Adrian bonjour, great shot of this Bald Eagle flying. Colors and sharpness are perfect. I like the GB that rehaust the suject. TFS, Didier.

Hello Adrian, what a great photo!
You take it at the right moment.
Very well done!
Greetings Jan-Arie

Hi Adrian, Great capture and composed Photo, great colors, BG, DOF, Perfect Photo, TFS Kyle

Absolutely stunning shot Adrian. You would never guess that this was a first attempt at a flight shot, I think your motorsport experience has paid off here. Great job on the PP work, I would have never guessed that you had done all that work. Definetely worth all your hard work to rescue it.

hi adrian
remarquable cliché,qu'elle netteté pour un oiseau en vol!
laurent

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1144 W: 254 N: 2546] (11539)
  • [2006-04-04 10:46]

Hi Adrian,

I wished my first inflight shot was like this,wow,

Very nice composed,sharpness and details are perfect,you did as well a great job in the postprocessing,well done

Paul

excellent: both photograph and bird...
full succes..
congrats
best wishes for you

  • Great 
  • TPAKT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 124 W: 22 N: 18] (79)
  • [2006-04-04 11:40]

Privet Adrian
Surprising clearness and quality for such distance. Good work.

Hello Adrian,

Congratulations on this amazing in flight shot!

Everything looks perfect to my eye, and I can hardly wait to see more of the same...

Superb details, colors, BG, exposure, timing and composition.

Thank you!

A superb job, Adrian! You have captured the bird in a powerful aspect of its flight. The talons curled up for take off suggest tremendous energy involved in the process.
Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 871 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2006-04-04 12:48]

Woow A great shot Adrian ,beautiful dof details compositie
everithing is good ,tfs ,Nice evening ,Teunie .

Hi Adrian,
for few minutes I forgot what to write, i was admiring your first flight pisture. Marvelous.What a powerful flight . I like the DOF and POV. good compo. Keep sharing your pics...
Satish.H

Hi Adrian,
excellent first inflight capture.
The PS work is very good and was well worth the effort, looks like you have this lark sussed, look forward to seeing more.

Regards
Terry.

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-04-04 16:07]

Excellent capture, well done on the post processing, wouldn't have noticed. Especially like the eye-to-eye POV at the same height of the bird. The bright yellow beak and claws draw the eye, good visual impact.
Regards,
Gabi

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5859] (19702)
  • [2006-04-04 21:45]

Great job, Adrian.
A very sharp in-flight shot.
Light and colors are very natural,
and the blurredBG shows off the eagle beautifully.
Congratulations and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-04-05 5:04]

Hi Adrian, nice in flight shot. Excellent exposure, detail and focus. You have done a fanstactic job here, well captured and TFS.
Dean.

Hi Adrian

Wow... stunning in-flight shot. Excellent exposure, good timing. You have mastered the cloning tool. Well done! :-)

Hello Adrian,
Great shot! If this is the first attempt I can't wait to see what will came later ;)
Apart from little burn outs on the neck and tail, everything seems to be perfect for me. I especially like the pose and the BG here. It's very clear and has very nice colours.
Really great job on this one!

Hi Adrian,
this is a great first in-flight shot.
The details are good and the POV is great.
The shalow DOF is good, helps the bird to standout well from the OOF BG.
Very well done.

Great capture, Adrian!!! excelent detail!!!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
  • [2006-04-05 18:49]

Hi Adrian, good shot. Nice details and good composition. Well done.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1329 W: 107 N: 4791] (21282)
  • [2006-04-05 21:01]

Incredible shot Adrian ! So good that I can't find something in it that I like less. A true beauty ! Thanks for this wonderful shot !

Mario

What can I write more than what members wrote up there.
I found what to write: this magnifique photo will go in my favorites.
Congratulations, Adrian.

JN.

It is an excellent shot and deserves all the credit it has been getting...

Hi Adrian,
Excellent in-flight capture,
great composition, very sharp details and I like the backround.
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 263 W: 1 N: 321] (1990)
  • [2006-04-07 0:35]

Hi Aido, just suburb! Congratulations on this one simply perfect nothing more to add,
Reina

Outstanding, dear chap, outstanding! Not bad at all, if really the first in flight shot! Beginner's luck, said jealous me!

  • Great 
  • mrcrow Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 458 W: 123 N: 197] (2996)
  • [2006-04-08 14:51]

that IS a cracker...not all that keen on bird shots but this takes the bisquit...spot on panning and focus..at 1/350 imho you were pretty lucky..or smart to get this so sharp...
you make your gear work hard for a living
thanks for sharing
geof

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7745)
  • [2006-04-08 16:00]

Hi Adrian
Great action shot. very good colours and details.Nice background and POV.
Well done

osse

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2006-04-08 17:24]
  • [+]

Excellent flying shot Adrian. The details are very sharp. My only nit would be the white on top of the head as it looks a little bit burnt. POV, DOF & composition are great. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Excellent capture, I love the natural tones with the smooth BG colours. Composition and contrast spot on for my taste.
Thanks for sharing this breathtaking picture.
Regards, Felipe.

Hi Adrian,
Superb and a Masterpiece. the composition showing the directional space is superb!!
Colors, DOF and POV are excellent
TFS
Goutham R

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2006-04-12 12:03]

Hi Adrian,

You did very well with the first inflight capture. Excellent shot and well done on the composition.
A zizag pattern when cloaning will hide the area which is being cloaned. Not bad though.

Mike

woooooooooow
great view and shot!
What can i say?
Excellent macro bird shot with excellent colors,sharpness,focus,pov,dof and frame.....
Thanks Ana:)

Hello Adrian,
A difficult and excellent photo, you´ve captured it very well. Good details, colours and composition.
Really agood job
Hernán

Bonjour Adrian
Superbe Cette prise de vue. La netteté est excellente de même que la lecture de lumière. Très belle composition montrant un paysage flou à l'arrière .Très jolis détails des ailes et beau BG.
Bravo et merci....JP

  • Great 
  • shal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 287 W: 71 N: 499] (2086)
  • [2006-04-19 6:34]

Hey Adrian,
excellent detail and great timing,
the DOF is outstanding great expo.
Cheers TFS,
Vishal Sabharwal

  • Great 
  • hekcik Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 330 W: 15 N: 305] (1823)
  • [2006-04-19 14:10]

Hi Adrian,

Fantastics shot!
Very good composition, nice backgroud.
Well done!!!

TFS :-)
Norbert

Hi Adrian,

Wow! It's a superb shot. You capture the moment very well. Even the expression of the cace is incredible. The details are great and i like the background. It gives more beauty to the bird. Good work.

Martin.

Hi Adrian,
Great in flight shot. The bird is beautifully sharp with good colours, composition and pov. Great work with the pp too and nice note. Wish I could get in flight shots like this, how do you do it?

Hi Adrian,
Good detail, colours and sharpness. exposure and lighting are good. Good POV and composition.

Thanks for posting, have a great week.

  • Great 
  • pac Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 84 W: 14 N: 158] (1729)
  • [2006-05-30 13:36]
  • [+]

Great posure of this bird. Very fine sharpness and colours.

I love your birds-of-prey pictures!

/Dan

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 500 W: 2 N: 466] (2123)
  • [2006-06-10 2:14]

what a beautiful picture! amazing, fantastic shot. i don't find words. unbelivable.

Very nice photo! Technically correct! Beautiful defocused BG and excellent details. I wish I could take such a beautiful picture with my 70-200 mm lens. Congratulations!

Regards,
Eddie

Bonjour,
Magnifique instantané. L'animal est figé dans une posture étonnante.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2007-02-23 10:47]
  • [+]

Adrian, no doubt this is a wonderful capture. Sharpness is really excellent.

Maybe, that would be nice to post the original shot as a workshop, so that we could look better at the excellent job you've done.

bonjour Adrian

encore une superbe photo avec un superbe focus
et surtout ce que j'aime de ta photo, c'est son cadrage

TFS

Asbed

Great shot!! Very good composition.

Been there and love the place. Darn your making me miss the UK. Its a great day out over there and to spend sometime at the bird place is well worth it. A good opportunity to try out many lenses. Great capture here I am sure i have this one as portrait in my images somewhere probably even posted on here. Nice caputure,sharp and clear. Superb work.

All the best

Demetrio

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