Formerly known as a Northwestern Crow, this American Crow added to the Eagle fun during my Eagles Galore Workshops in Alaska. I love the frost on its feet.
Bald Eagles LOCK ON
Here is one from our last day of the second Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska. I can’t say enough about the advantages of a camera (Sony A9 mark III) that captures 120 images per second! The time it takes to go through the photos is well rewarded with perfectly timed images like this one—smile!
Bald Eagle The Call of the Wild
This is another portrait of an Adult Bald Eagle calling from my recent Eagles Galore Workshops in Alaska. The new Sony A9 Mark III proved to be an incredible tool for any action. In this case, having so many frames to choose from ensured direct eye contact with open eyes. As always, I chose manual mode and exposed for the light falling on the subject to ensure a perfect exposure for every frame.
Bald Eagle Calling Portrait
After a flurry of feeding, the Eagles settled down on perches, and many allowed us to get really close, as they usually do during my Eagles Galore Workshops in Alaska.
The key to getting a close-up portrait of an Eagle calling is patience; wait, and they will call!
ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ker! An Eagle calling is like no other sound in nature; it always induces goosebumps and is instantly recognizable.
Surf Scoter in flight
We returned to town after an incredible and action-filled four-hour Eagle photography session during my Eagles Galore Workshop on March 8, 2024. We visited my favourite, The Bagel Shop, for a fabulous lunch and superb coffee. After a short break, we set up outside the hotel, and despite it being relatively quiet, there were some Long-Tailed Ducks within reach and a couple of other species of ducks appeared. I was tracking a few Common Goldeneyes that were slightly off-camera angle when this female Surf Scoter made a single pass and almost landed.
Thanks to the new Sony a9 mark III, the short encounter produced 65 images, allowing me to choose the best pose and angle.
Bald Eagles Decisive Moment
A Bald Eagle steals a fish during a high-speed chase over Kachemak Bay. Most Eagles drop their prized fish just as they are about to get slammed by another Eagle.
120 frames per second doesn’t change everything, but it makes capturing split-second events much more effortless!
I used my Sony a9 III paired with the Sony 600 f/4 and 1.4X Tele-converter and waited for Eagles to chase each other. Imagine if their wings were spread wider and the light was still golden….. I guess I will have to return to Alaska again - smile!
Bald Eagle About to Strike
Photographing at the maximum frame rate of the new Sony a9 III (120 frames per second) adds a whole new level to capturing that decisive moment. I have TOO MANY frames from my recently concluded Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska.
I chose this one for the less-than-perfectly-clean talons; some grass is stuck to its frosty left talon.
Join me next March for my Eagles Galore Workshop and five incredible days of Eagle photography. Note that others offering similar (or less) field time are charging more than USD$1,000 more for the same trip, but they are timed too early and risk their boat being stuck frozen in the harbour, as was the case for many Eagle photographers this year.
Bald Eagle in flight Sony a9III with Sony 300 f/2.8 and doubler
Here is another Bald Eagle from my recently concluded Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska. I used the new Sony a9III paired with the new Sony 300 f/2.8 and the Sony 2X tele-extender. My settings were wide open at f/5.6, ISO 6,400 and 1/5,000 of a second shutter speed.
When I picked up the Sony a9 Mark III for the first time, I noticed how fast the autofocus was. I didn’t expect much, as the Sony a1 has worked flawlessly for me since its release in January 2021. The new a9 mark III acquires autofocus quicker and reacts to unpredictable movement even better than expected; it is faster and more capable than the Sony a1.
The new Sony 300 f/2.8 lives up to my expectations. It has faster autofocus than the 400 f/2.8 and incredible edge-to-edge image sharpness. It is also light, compact, and easy to hold.
I was blown away by the autofocus and image quality when paired with the Sony 2X tele-extender. This full-frame image is a good example of how well the autofocus of the combined lens and tele-extender works; captured at the near end of the autofocus limit, this is the point where auto-focus usually fails.
I am so impressed that I am considering selling off my Sony a1 inventory!
Bald Eagle in a Snow Storm a la Sony a9III and 300 f/2.8 & KUDOS
I am home from hosting two epic back-to-back Eagles Galore Workshops in Alaska. The weather was excellent, with both groups using all of their boat time (we loved the daily four-hour trips). Both groups got a fair mix of weather, including the prized SNOW!
There is so much to say about the incredible new Sony a9 III and the new Sony 300 f/2.8; perhaps I should keep it all to myself to keep an edge and stay one step ahead of the competition - smile.
Coastal Brown Grizzly Bear Sow with Pink Salmon
My group was treated to more than a few phenomenal moments during my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure Workshop. This is the mother of the Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Yearling with Pink Salmon I posted yesterday. She put on quite a show with her yearling twins, and my “secret spot” on the Salmon River, with its amazing backgrounds, made the images surreal.
Join me for my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure Workshop
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Join me for my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure Workshop 🧸
Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Yearling with Pink Salmon
Here is another favourite from my Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska Workshop Adventure: Our favourite yearling showing off his prize. We were in the right place for the light and fantastic autumn colours in the background, but there were no bears when we first set up. All of my experience told me to hold tight and wait - smile!
Join me in June or September for the trip of a lifetime! Learn more about my Ultimate Brown Bears of Katmai workshop HERE.
Bald Eagle The Strike
A Bald Eagle making a head-on final approach poised to strike from my Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska.
Once prey is located, Bald Eagles dive at a gradual incline and catch prey with their powerful talons, inflicting a vice-like killing grip. They fly off carrying their prey, often weighing half as much as the eagle.
I just sold the last spot for this year, which opened due to a medical emergency, and next year’s workshops are filling already. Don’t miss out! Learn more or sign up for Eagles Galore HERE.
Bald Eagle OUT of THE STORM
Nothing is more glorious after a dark and rainy day than the following morning sky clearing in the East with residual storm clouds in the background with golden light. I photographed this beauty during my Bald Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska.
Bald Eagle Into The Light
This image was made during the last drops of golden light as this Eagle aggressively chased another Eagle to steal its fish. I felt disappointed when they banked off the light angle and ducked into the shadows; I thought I didn’t get anything. Suddenly, this Eagle emerged from the darkness and was illuminated by the sweetest light - smile.
Juvenile Bald Eagle Portrait in Black and White
Here is an image of a juvenile Bald Eagle from my Bald Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska. I knew this image would be a black-and-white conversion the moment I saw it. Something about the mixed plumage and out-of-focus dark, wet beach background draws me into the Eagle’s eye.
Bald Eagle Talons Clutching Fresh Caught Fish in Flight
Do Bald eagles have talons or claws?
A common question is whether bald eagles have talons or claws. A quick literature review suggests that claws and talons are similar in composition, form, and function. Technically, mammals, reptiles, and birds have claws that have very similar appearances. But the claws of a bald eagle and other birds of prey are called talons. This is to say that only birds of prey have talons, while other animals, including non-birds of prey, have claws. For instance, we say the claws of a duck or a dove, never the talons of a duck or a dove.
Fishing Bald Eagle Exploding Head-on with Fish
A Bald Eagle explodes towards us with freshly caught fish during my Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska. I can’t think of anything as thrilling in nature photography as when you review your images and realize you got the shot!
We have two spots open for my March 10-14 Eagles Galore trip due to an unfortunate medical emergency, so join me for the Ultimate Alaskan Eagles Galore trip of a lifetime if you can get to Alaska in time.
Coastal Brown Grizzly Bear on the beach
A Coastal Brown Bear on the hunt for Razor Clams on Ninagiak Island delights my group with a close encounter of the bear kind during my Ultimate Brown Bear Adventure in Alaska.
The Katmai coast is known for the large number of brown bears congregating to feed on salmon. The bears also scavenge on marine mammal carcasses that wash ashore and have developed the unique skill of digging for razor clams. They have also been observed swimming relatively long distances to gain access to ground-nesting birds. In Hallo Bay, brown bears swim 2 miles (3.2 km) from the mainland to Ninagiak Island to feed on the eggs and chicks of glaucous-winged gulls and puffins.
These bears are most often young males or sows and their cubs. It is advantageous for a mother bear to take her offspring to islands because of the ready supply of food and because the islands are likely safe refuge from adult males. Likely, cubs taken to an island by their mother will return.
Coastal Brown Grizzly Bear Portrait in sweet light
This image from last June’s Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska Workshop of a boar Brown Bear grazing was made after the group sat quietly for more than half an hour waiting for it to lift its head and look towards us. The Alaskan golden light was magical and seemed to last forever.
Bald Eagle with fresh fish in nice light
Last-minute cancellation = last-minute opportunity
I have had a last-minute cancellation of two spots for my Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska. If you can get to Homer, Alaska, in time for the Eagles Galore Workshop from March 10 to 14, 2024, please let me know, and we can discuss a discount. Act quickly; I usually don’t discount trips!
CLICK HERE to learn more about my Eagles Galore Workshops in Alaska
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CLICK HERE to learn more about my Eagles Galore Workshops in Alaska 🦅