1/1000 at f/7.1, ISO 320
Today was a wonderful day at the Conowingo Dam, waiting..waiting..and waiting for some Bald Eagle action to occur. The morning was overcast and misty, with cloud cover through most of the morning. The promised sunny day didn’t occur until midday when the dam went quiet, and the Bald Eagles took some siesta time. So just my luck, poor lighting when action was happening across the river, and great lighting with no activity. A girl can never win.
Once again, I maxed out my 32g CF memory card, with 1200 photos, and with my quick perusal, I saw perhaps one that may be my ‘gallery shot.” So please bear with me as I work through the 2400 photos that I took of the bald eagles this week.
I learned so much from this photo expedition and can’t wait to share what I’ve learned from a number of birding/sports photography experts. In the meantime, here are few for your viewing pleasure.
Crash Bandits
1/1000 sec at f/7.1, ISO 320
Wing Skimming
1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 640
Sushi Breakfast
1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 640
Categories: All about Hoofbeats & Footprints, Birds, Nature, travel
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Love, love the last photo – AMAZING!!! Have a Great One:)
Thank you so much Renee. In looking at my shots, the mist was enchanting in life, but brutal on the photos. 😦 So much action was so far away too. Monday was more productive.
Great action shots. I too think the last one is really wonderful with the fish flying behind. I was told by a birding expert to visit the dam to see the eagles. When I was at Hawk Mountain in PA I got all the migration spots and this one was highly recommended. There was no action when I was at Hawk Mt., not even small birds. You were much more fortunate for your photo shoot. Looking forward to more.
I have been told of Hawk Mountain as well, but I’d imagine you have to hit it just right during Migration season. Tough call. Monday was the best day for the Bald Eagles, and activity really quieted down further along the week. Today they were completely chilling.
Very exciting photoes, and it must have been an adventure. And I know what you mean by 2400 photos.. 😉
Thanks Bente ! I’ve managed to weed them down quite a bit, now to get through the short snippets of action and pick out the best few. More were out of focus, too far, bad lighting than I would have liked.
What a unique photo, is that last one. Brilliant shot. Love the “Crash Bandits” too. 🙂
Thank you so much Sylvia ! I love it when people let me know which one is their favorite. It really helps me see my photos through other people’s eyes. I had to include crash bandits, its funny but not a good quality shot.
Very very well captured – an eagle is real proud and lovely bird… 🙂
You are so very kind Drake ! Photographing birds in flight is most certainly tough and I had fun learning how to get better at it this week. Hope all is well with you.
So beautiful! Great shots. I love them all; especially the last photo!!
Thank you so much Judy ! I truly do appreciate you letting me know what you think and which one you like best. Really helps me out a lot. Have a great weekend.
Wild! We have them close by as well I must try to get shots of them and the seals over in MA
Ooh..Seals ! Such an easier subject to photograph than Bald Eagles, they barely move ! LOL! I just read in a PA article that to see as many bald eagles in one place other than Conowingo Dam is up in Alaska. So cool!
Wow! We have Bald Eagle Days here in Newburyport MA check it out on the WEB that is where they compete for the FISH with the Seals 🙂 AK is where we will go in a RV when we can no longer keep up care with this property or the Taxes 🙂 There is GOLD and Great Photo Opportunities 🙂
LOL ! That is awesome..nothing better than gold and photography. Will definitely check out bald eagles and seals in Newburyport. Thanks for letting me know!
Anything you want to know about New England ask been here my whole life well except 8 months in Florida and time on the road 🙂
OK ! Sure will.
🙂
I spent so much time in PA growing up and Trucking never had much time to POKE AROUND
Guess that’s one way to find a positive now you’re no longer driving. Plenty of poking time to be had!
🙂 I am afraid I shall wear out my tiny Kodak 🙂
I’m sure it can handle it!
🙂
Have fish will travel!
Wow, what an amazing experience it must have been taking photos of the eagles.
Your work speaks for itself-AWESOME!
WOOF WOOF from Maggie. 🙂 🙂
LOL ! If you only knew..standing and waiting hours and hours in really cold weather, bundled up like an Eskimo. Far more glamorous than it seems, although I was super excited on the first day to be able to visit them.
When my girls were little ballerinas their dance instructor use to tell them when the girls whined about uncomfortable costumes; “it’s the price for being pretty”. I guess the Eskimo route is the price for having such pretty photos… he he 🙂 🙂
i must say ,you have been very lucky with those shots or you are the professional photographer .i try to do this many times (without luck)
Funny Jacek! Takes 2400 photos to get 5 decent ones. I’m trying again today nope not a pro
i know that pain .i love those picture .i am looking again at them
🙂
Bella could i copy one picture .nr.3 .i would like to send to my girlfriend ,she will love this pic.
Absolutely Jacek. Of course when I writing you before I missed one diving for a fish and its been super quiet with the birds today. Emily aka Bella
thank you
You did a super job with these Emily, I really enjoyed seeing these and am looking forward to even more of your terrific eagle pics! Even if the weather and lighting were not ideal you made the most of it and hey, any day you are out photographing bald eagels is a darn good day right?! 😀
Now I know you’re lying Phil ! But Thank you so much for your compliment either way. The lighting and weather really was horrible on Thursday. Not much better today, and the activity totally died down. You’d be proud of your little student though, I did switch to Option “D” BBF. 🙂
And yes..any day on the dam is a good day.
Oh you know I wouldn’t lie to you. 🙂 Plus I love eagle photos.
So how did option D work out for you? Think you will stick with it?
I really didn’t see much of a difference, but I’m going to keep with that setting as I know many others swear the Canons focus better with the BBF option. Have no idea why though.
Great spot on the robber fish game. As I recall both lost.
So funny that you’ve been there at the same time as I was..one of these days we’ll actually meet!
Your shots of these MAGNIFICENT raptors are stunning… You really captured them in all their glory!!
Somehow I missed this comment ! Thank you so very much ! I loved just standing around in the freezing cold weather in hopes of that “gallery shot.” LOL!
Last shot is a great capture Emily! Well they all are great… but last one is a definite standout to me… Well done! 🙂
Thank you SO MUCH Ian ! Means a lot coming from you. So happy you found one super awesome.