<< Previous Next >>

°°° Free Spirit


°°° Free Spirit
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: 2006-05-31
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D2X, Sigma EX 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO HSM DG
Exposure: f/6.0, 1/1500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-06-02 11:00
Viewed: 1624
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 78
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
For this shot I was lucky that the black clouds were in front of me and behind the Eagle, while the sun was shining from behind from me. Seeing her soar above me and through the valley is truly an awesome sight, for those of you who have these incredible birds in the wild around you, I am envious but also happy for you that you can see and appreciate this beauty so freely.

Post processing: Cropped 5% from left to add balance, sharpen with USM. No other adjustments.

1/1500 - f/6 - ISO 160 230mm hand-held

I’ve posted many facts and figures, technical and historical information about this Eagle in previous posts, so here is something different.

Bald Eagles and Native American Cultures

The bald eagle has been considered sacred among Native Americans, who historically adorned themselves with its feathers to represent various degrees of rank or prowess in battle. Among some Native American cultures, eagle feathers are so sacred that they are never to touch the ground; the individual who lets them do so would fear a curse.

Most — if not all — of the 500-odd Native American tribes hold eagles in high esteem, viewing these strong, high-soaring birds as a connection between people and the Creator.

Bald eagles are still featured at the top of the center pole during the sun dance, an important religious ceremony among Plains Indians. Shoshones use eagle feathers in sweats and to bless people. In Native American culture, an eagle feather is one of the greatest gifts that can be given to another person.

Native Americans are not allowed to shoot eagles and other raptors or take them from the wild — even for traditional ceremonial purposes. While the average person can not obtain hawk or eagle feathers at all, however, Native Americans can. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers a permit system that allows Native Americans to receive eagles or other raptors that have been killed by human causes. When eagles collide with power lines or are hit by cars, for example, their bodies go to a repository managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There, experts study the birds in order to understand how they died and what factors are causing eagle mortalities. After these factors have been noted, the eagles' bodies can be distributed to Native American tribes, expressly for ceremonial uses.
valy67, ramthakur, dew77, marhowie, loot, liziafa, carper, AndyB, Zeno, Luc, DOBIS, hekcik, elefantino, SkyF, Luis52, firelord, eruyanik, thistle, soccer, LCannon, scottevers7, cecilia, MojoUK, thor68, jeanpaul has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ellis49: Hi Gertaido 3 06-08 14:59
To thor68: Hi Thoraido 1 06-08 14:52
To thistle: Thanksaido 1 06-05 17:41
To loot: Hi Lootaido 3 06-02 14:46
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1318 W: 52 N: 1782] (5276)
  • [2006-06-02 11:05]

Wonderful shot ! Details, colors, composition, POV are perfect, and the cloudy sky gives a dramatic mood to the picture. The pose of the eagle is fantastic. very well done !
Valérie.

No doubt, this is the most elegant in-flight image of this powerful bird, Adrian, you have captured so dexterously.
The POV couldn't be better and the details are perfect to the 'T'.
The BG of the grey sky suits the image extremely well.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-06-02 11:19]

Hello Adrian,
Another great in-flight capture.POV,details,colors,
timing and composition are wonderful.
TFS...:-)

Hi Adrian,
Without a doubt, you nailed it!
Your "Free spirit" is definitely a majestic image, done very well..It sounds like the light was in your favor, producing excellent results. The detail, color, pose, DOF, and framing are simply amazing :)
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • ma-at Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 18 W: 0 N: 26] (142)
  • [2006-06-02 12:06]
  • [2]

Wonderful shot and the bird is perfectly positoned in the frame...you get a real sense of movement. I know to my cost the importance of framing in this kind of shot.

Superb capture of this graceful raptor, the lighting is perfect showing fantastic details and colors. The POV is dynamite on this one Adrian. :)

  • Great 
  • pac Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 84 W: 14 N: 158] (1729)
  • [2006-06-02 13:38]

Ouch, what a shot!
What can I say - this is GREAT!

/Dan

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5726 W: 605 N: 3416] (9137)
  • [2006-06-02 14:06]
  • [2] [+]

Hi Adrian

I think WOW is saying it all.

Let the masterpiece speak for itself.

Best regards
Loot

PS. In my honest opinion this deserves a COM.

nice shot

mario

Hi Adrian,
Very good shot.
Very nice sharp, colors and composition.
Very well done!
TFS Malgosia

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2165 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2006-06-02 14:42]

great one again Adrian,
the details are marvelous the pov is perfect and the light is very well, I love the shot, great job.
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2006-06-02 15:06]

Hello Adrian,
A great in flight shot.
Good lighting and perfect detail.
Superb!

TFS

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 475 W: 0 N: 926] (7973)
  • [2006-06-02 17:49]

Hi Adrian,

You caught this king of the air very well. The pose is impressing, sharp and has got great colours.
TFS.

regards,
Zeno.

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7745)
  • [2006-06-02 19:41]

Hi adrian
beautiful composition and a great shot. Also Great colours, details, sharpnes, light, DOF and POV.
Well done my friend

osse

  • Great 
  • DOBIS Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 126 W: 16 N: 170] (632)
  • [2006-06-03 6:50]

Hello Adrian,
You have chosen perfect POV!
This photo is really best of your in-flight shots. The Eagle is in perfect position and with great coloured sky it makes perfect composition!
Great colours, detail, contrast to the BG (sky)...
very well done!!!
Thanks for sharing
Tomas

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-06-03 12:06]

Hi Adrian, I agree that this one of your best in-flight shots. I like the way you have captured it gliding through the air, it shows us how remarkable these birds are. A true free spirit. Well done and TFS.
Dean.

very wonderfull cadr!!

Hi Adrian, nice inflight shot.
Great details, sharpness and colors,
Andrea

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1165] (6442)
  • [2006-06-03 18:42]

Hi Adrian,
Beautiful capture! Perfect timing, sharp details and great composition.
Very well done!

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-06-03 19:44]

Hello Adrian,
it's quite the sight to see them soar through the sky. What a wonderful POV, and beautiful pose. Details, sharpness and colors are wonderful. A excellent in flight shot.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2006-06-03 21:16]

Adrian.- Exelente foto, luz y detalles son muy buenos. Felicidades Luis52. Tu nota muy buena.

Hi Adrian,

Excellent capture and note,
it looks like B2 :-)
Perfect details, sharp, colors and exposition.
Very well done!

TFS :-)
Norbert

Hello Adrian!
Great shot as usual for you my friend! Very interesting pose also! I like the cloudy bg! Details, sharpness, colours, pov all are perfect! Thank you!
Ersin

Wow,a lovely shot of an eagle flying.

Hello Adrian,
Lovely shot! Quite similar to the last one, but I must say I like the colour of the sky here much better. We would call it steel colour in Poland. Anyway, the picture has great quality and perfect lighting.
I like it a lot!
VERY WELL DONE!

Dramatic looking shot - the lighting and background really worked in your favour!

Adrian,

This is a well composed action shot of the Eagle. Details are good and the pic is sharp. I do think that you are right about the dark clouds behind the Eagle. TFS,
Sheriff

Very wonderful action shot of this eagle in flight. The power of his wings is clear here, and the lighting seems perfect, excellent job capturing this beautiful bird, and great note too accompany him, well done.

Hi Adrian,
I have to agree with Loot on his critique. Deserving of a COM!
A perfect shot. 10 out of 10 in Olympic judging!
Scott

Hello Adrian,
Excellent posting and note. The details and colours are incredibles. The difuse BG colour works perfectly.
The eagle flying moment is perfect, permit to admire all its details on feathers and specially its majestic design.
TFS
Hernán

Hi,

My humble apologies, no time for critique now, wil come back to rectify.

Jan-Hendrik

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1331 W: 107 N: 4825] (21400)
  • [2006-06-06 23:09]

Perfect in-flight shot Adrian, great exposure, composition and sharpness, 10 out of 10. Thanks.

Mario

I've tried doing this a number of times , with nowhere near this level of success....
Superb!!!

Hi Adrian, Another fabulous flight shot my friend. It's easy to see why you were excited when you showed me this shot on the cameras monitor just after getting the shot. The sun on his back and wings shows all the detail in the plumage and really makes Alaska stand out from the dramatic clouds. The pose is classic Bald Eagle and the focusing and exposure is spot on. Very well done, TFS.

Regards, Mark.

Hi Adrian,
I don't know but I have missed this up to now.
It's a good inflight with very good POV and pose.
The details and colours are also very good.
IMO you could add a bit more contrastbut it maybe my monitor.
Great work.

the title says it all!
...although she is not really free.
superb-wow-amazing shot, adrian! :-)
one of the best inflight-shots ever,
it´s so amazing how she is spreading each
feather - wings and tails.
superb light from behind you on the eagle -
lucky you, having the weather on your side.
very well done & take care, thor.

Salut Adrian
Une belle prise de vue les couleur sont vives et trčs beau contraste.
Bravo et au revoir...JP

Of all the birds of prey I think this is my favourite next to Golden eagle. You have captured it perfectly in flight. The dark clouds have definately helped make this bird stand out.TFS Allan.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 615 W: 11 N: 625] (3352)
  • [2006-07-18 23:54]

Wooooow,love this shot,i wana fly along with this Eagle:)),excellent POV,TFS!!!!

Hi adrian

I think the other frame works better. by the way this shot has more sence of freedom. I love both of them.
thanks for sharing
Regards

timon

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF