American Bald Eagle fighting over fish in flight (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) from my BALD EAGLE WORKSHOP in Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 1.4X teleconverter (@840mm). ISO 1,600, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s. Manual Exposure mode. Join me for my Eagles Galore workshop in March. To learn more CLICK HERE.
Here are a couple of Bald Eagles fighting over a fish. You can see the frame before this image in a previous post: https://www.naturephotographyblog.com/blog/bald-eagles-fighting-over-fish.
Despite its fierce appearance, the bald eagle is a rather timid hunter. Usually found near water, it feeds mainly on fish, which it often steals from ospreys or other Eagles - smile.
American Bald Eagle fishing MISSED IT(Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) from my BALD EAGLE WORKSHOP in Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @506mm ISO 1,600, f/6.3 @ 1/6,400s Manual exposure.
I’ve only been fishing a handful of times, but there is a story for every one of them. When fishing for the first time shortly after moving to Canada my first bike (a metallic gold banana seat bicycle - but I probably shouldn’t tell you that) was destroyed by a drunk taxi driver in Chateauguay, Quebec and new friend that day Kevin Harvey (Now of Juno Nominated Durham County Poets fame) saved the day like the rock star his today (He remembered the Taxi permit and license numbers, and his dad drove me and my wrecked bicycle home). I’ve fought battles with what seemed like monster Halibut in Alaska, but they were really 20 pound Rock Fish. Finally, I do know that feeling of a great catch escaping the hook just before being landed in the boat when Halibut fishing in the Shelikof straight (AK); it would have been the biggest Halibut ever caught I’m sure!
Sea Otter Mother and pup KISS (Enhydra lutris) from my BALD EAGLE WORKSHOP in Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @512mm ISO 1,250, f/7.1 @ 1/640s Manual exposure.
Here’s a special moment between a mother Sea Otter and her Pup. What appears to be a kiss, is really the baby trying to take food from it’s mother’s mouth ;) If you missed it, and are looking for something to do, here is a link to my recent Vistek Live Stream that was sponsored by Sony of Canada. We had our share of technical difficulties, but that often happens live.
In this episode we discuss what it takes to get world class wildlife images and how any nature enthusiast can immediately start taking better photos of their...
Sea Otter Mother eating a crab (Enhydra lutris) from my BALD EAGLE WORKSHOP in Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @600mm ISO 1,000, f/7.1 @ 1/640s Manual exposure.
This is the mother of the baby Sea Otter (from my last post HERE in case you missed it) eating a crab while the snow was gently falling. We usually get Sea Otters (mothers and babies) in Homer Harbor each year during my Eagles Galore Photography Workshops, this year was unusual; all of the Sea Otters in Katchemak Bay seemed to seek the protection from the unusually cold weather in the protected harbor.
American Bald Eagle Portrait (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) from my BALD EAGLE WORKSHOP in Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @590mm ISO 640, f/22 @ 1/400s Manual exposure.
Here’s a head shot of an adult Bald Eagle made with the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens. The edge to edge sharpness is as impressive as the Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens.
American Bald Eagle fishing 4 image stitch panorama (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) from my BALD EAGLE WORKSHOP in Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens ISO 5,000, f/10 @ 1/1,250s Manual exposure.
A four image stitched panorama from my recent Bald Eagles Galore Photography Workshop. The activity was slow to start when we arrived just after the top of the tide, but we all still managed to get some awesome Eaglescapes while the water was nice and flat. I grabbed my Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens and started off by lying downhill on my belly at the waters edge to get as low as possible. It didn’t take long for my back to act-up, so I had to settle for sitting as low as possible on my bum.
American Bald Eagle on the run (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) from my BALD EAGLE WORKSHOP in Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS Lens @288mm. ISO 2,500, f/5.6 @ 1/4,000s Manual mode.
I’m on the run to my Ultimate Bald Eagles Galore workshop in Homer Alaska, and wanted to leave you with a fun image that shows just how close we get to these majestic beauties! 80% of my participants are repeat clients this year and I am looking forward to seeing them all again. Join me for this trip of a lifetime next March and I promise you will bring home a portfolio full of images that I would be proud to call my own; that’s what keeps me going back! Get as much (or as little) help as you like while taking full advantage of my site and subject knowledge and the logistics are all taken care of.
American Bald Eagle FOCUS (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tête blanche, BAEA) from my BALD EAGLE WORKSHOP in Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 G Master OSS Lens ISO 6,400, f/2.8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.
One of the advantages of having so many years experience in Kachemak Bay in Alaska is knowing where to be when. When there is howling winds making the water rough, it’s hard to make pleasing images; for this image, my trusted Captain maneuvered us into a hidden protected cove where the water was flat. What started out to be a rather gloomy and wet day turned into a smashing success for everyone in my group. Learn more about my Eagles Galore (and so much more) Workshop CLICK HERE.
American Bald Eagle SILHOUETTE II (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DX, EF 200-400mm F4 L IS USM @400mm. ISO 400, f/5.6 @ 1/4,000s Manual mode. Click HERE to order a print or license image for publication.
KUDOS:
There are a lot of photographers to choose from when deciding to take a workshop. I had come across Christopher Dodds Photography on Facebook and really like his photographs. I read about Chris’s workshops. They all sounded well organized and he has years of experience going to various places.
I love Alaska and had been dreaming of taking an Eagle photography workshop and decided to sign up with Chris. I am so glad I chose Chris for a lot of reasons. The workshop was very well organized. Chris provides the attendees with a list of suggested clothing to be sure you are comfortable in the Alaskan winter weather. He provided us with a list of suggested equipment so that we knew exactly what was needed to get the kind of photos posted on his workshop page. The group was limited to 5 attendees, so we each had ample opportunity to get feedback and suggestions from Chris. Chris is extremely knowledgable about Kachemak Bay and knows where to go to get the best shots depending on the wind and the weather, and whether there is sun or snow. Chris uses the same boat and captain for this workshop, so the captain knows exactly what Chris wants to do and how to get us into those best areas…. Chris believes in safety above all else, but snow, sleet and rain did not keep us from going out. In fact, it made for some great photos depicting the Alaskan winter eagle environment. It was an amazing trip and I got a lot of great photos and learned so much! I would definitely choose Chris for another birding workshop as he is dedicated to doing everything he can to make sure you come home with lots of amazing photographs! Thanks, Chris, for a fantastic workshop and wonderful adventure!
Jessica Duke Eagle Nest, NM, USA
Learn more about my Bald Eagle Workshops HERE.
American Bald Eagle APPROACH (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DX, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM @400mm. ISO 5,000, f/5.6 @ 1/2,000s Manual. Full Frame. PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.
Here's another image from that same EPIC morning of my Bald Eagles Galore Photo Tour in March (March 15), this time only 30 minutes later. The dramatic dark sky gave way to subtle pastel colors.
Be sure to book your EPIC Bald Eagles Galore Photo Tour spot before it's too late; March 2017 dates are live. Get more information HERE.
American Bald Eagle GOLDEN MOMENT (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DX, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM @263mm. ISO 800, f/5.6 @ 1/3,200s Manual. Full Frame. PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.
Epic Happens!
Here's another Bald Eagle from my Bald Eagles Galore Photo Tour in March. We got out to the dock early on a dark and gloomy heavily overcast morning, and it really was a little disappointing just how dark it was. After crossing Kachemak Bay, the light didn't improve for some time, but the water was the calmest, and flattest, I have seen in the bay. There were a few minutes when the golden early morning sun shone through an opening in the dark cloud cover. The Eagle, wind direction, water and light all came together for a few minutes of EPIC! Being out in the field at the ready paid off big time.
American Bald Eagle GRAVITY from my Bald Eagle Photographic Expedition (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, BAEA) Kachemak Bay (near Homer), Alaska ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DX, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 IS II USM @400mm ISO 4,000 f/5.6 @ 1/2,500s Full Frame, shot vertical in manual mode. Click HERE to order a print or license image for publication.
There are a lot of photographers to choose from when deciding to take a workshop. I had come across Christopher Dodds Photography on Facebook and really like his photographs. I read about Chris’s workshops. They all sounded well organized and he has years of experience going to various places.
I love Alaska and had been dreaming of taking an Eagle photography workshop and decided to sign up with Chris. I am so glad I chose Chris for a lot of reasons. The workshop was very well organized. Chris provides the attendees with a list of suggested clothing to be sure you are comfortable in the Alaskan winter weather. He provided us with a list of suggested equipment so that we knew exactly what was needed to get the kind of photos posted on his workshop page. The group was limited to 5 attendees, so we each had ample opportunity to get feedback and suggestions from Chris. Chris is extremely knowledgable about Kachemak Bay and knows where to go to get the best shots depending on the wind and the weather, and whether there is sun or snow. Chris uses the same boat and captain for this workshop, so the captain knows exactly what Chris wants to do and how to get us into those best areas…. Chris believes in safety above all else, but snow, sleet and rain did not keep us from going out. In fact, it made for some great photos depicting the Alaskan winter eagle environment. It was an amazing trip and I got a lot of great photos. I would definitely choose Chris for another birding workshop as he is dedicated to doing everything he can to make sure you come home with lots of amazing photographs! Thanks, Chris, for a fantastic workshop and wonderful adventure!
Jessica Duke Eagle Nest, NM, USA
Bald Eagle REFLECTION (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge à tête blanche) Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska, USA. ©Christopher Dodds http://www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1D Mark II, 100-400mm F4-F5.6 @ 260mm . ISO 400, F7.1 1/260s Manual Exposure. Full Frame. Click HERE to order a print or license image for publication.
Bald Eagle REFLECTION was captured when I saw this Eagle in the fog drinking from a thin layer of water covering an ice-covered parking lot just after a somewhat mild and rainy morning in February, 2005. Rather than take the chance and spook the Eagle, I used my rental SUV to, ever so slowly, approach. Rather than drive directly toward it, I instead circled around, slowly reducing the circumference until I was close enough to get the image I had in mind. I positioned the SUV close enough to fill the frame, but more importantly, close enough to get a steep enough angle to include the reflection and eliminate some distracting buildings, stones and dark asphalt patches in the background.
I've just completed a submission which included some old favourites from 2005. Not all that long ago, really, but seems like a lifetime ago in terms of my post capture workflow and software. Photoshop CS5, with it's newly tweaked noise reduction algorithms, has certainly brought a new life to some old favourites. If you think the noise reduction works wonders on the files from recent cameras; go back through your archives and re-work some of your favourites from the past. It's not only the noise reduction that's new; there's a plethora of new tools and algorithms in Adobe's latest offering, not to mention what you have learned, and how you have grown as an artist, along the way. I always say that every image in my collection has a story; so it's been fun looking through the memories - give it a try.
I have known Chris for a few years and in July 2010 I attended Chris’s workshop for Coastal Brown Bears. The trip will always hold very special memories for me as I can honestly say it was the most enjoyable and productive trip I have ever made, and the most exhausting :o)) As a professional photographer I tend to try and put together my own trips but when I heard Chris was organizing this trip I had no hesitating in contacting Chris and booking. I would advise anyone else to do the same.
From the moment I landed at Kodiak airport we were out shooting literally within a few hours. Everyday we made the most of early morning and late evening light. Photographing some days till 11pm. The amount of subjects we captured was unbelievable: Fox Cubs, Song Birds, Eagles, Seals, Sea Otters, Wolves and… BEARS!
After spending three days on Kodiak Island we headed for the Katmai coast by float plane and stayed on the Coastal Explorer, which was our home for a week. Almost everyday we had a different location to go to and made the most of the weather. At times it rained non-stop and at others I was walking around in just a t-shirt. Getting up close and personal with the bears was the ultimate thrill and having an enormous boar run, at what seemed directly at me whilst chasing salmon, was a heart thumping moment I will never forget; Though our safety was Chris' primary concern.
Life on the Coastal explorer was fun and we were all well looked after with meals ready for us at all times. Downtime was relaxed and we watched movies and even spent one afternoon fishing where I caught Halibut and a silver salmon. Plus I landed the biggest Halibut, don’t let Chris tell you otherwise :o)) As you can tell even when we were not photographing we were having fun.
If you are considering such a trip or one of Chris’s other workshops my advice is not to hesitate and to book straight away. You will be guaranteed a good time and have plenty of photos and memories to take home with you after the trip.
Thanks for a great time Chris and I look forward to the next one!!
Best Wishes- Darren Holloway (FMPA FBIPP QEP) Smallfield | Surrey | UK
Bald Eagle Tumble Abstract (Haliaeetus leucocephalus Pygarge à tête blanche) Kachemak Bay, Homer Alaska, USA. ©Christopher Dodds http://www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1D Mark III, 500mm F4 IS, 1.4X II Tele-converter, Gitzo tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F5.6 1/1600s Manual Exposure. Full Frame. Cropped from left and right to 4x5 Aspect Ratio for visual impact. BUY A PRINT OR LICENCE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.
Bald Eagle Tumble Abstract (Haliaeetus leucocephalus Pygarge à tête blanche) Kachemak Bay, Homer Alaska, USA. ©Christopher Dodds http://www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1D Mark III, 500mm F4 IS, 1.4X II Tele-converter, Gitzo tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F5.6 1/1600s Manual Exposure. Full Frame. Here is the original, un-cropped image. BUY A PRINT OR LICENCE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.
I strive to always challenge myself to break the standard rules of art, composition and photography; especially when mother nature works against me. In the case of the image above, I was simply making the most of a bad situation; the wind was blowing against the afternoon sunlight and all of the other photographers had opted to take the afternoon off to rest or edit their images. I watched and saw that I might have a chance at something artsy, or abstract, to salvage the afternoon. As I typically challenge myself to compose my images in-camera and shoot full-frame, without cropping, I thought I would include the original, un-cropped version for you to see how cropping, or changing the images aspect ratio, changes the visual impact of the image. While it's generally a good idea to include your subject's face, or eyes(preferably with good eye contact); once in a very great while you can create something nice without including either.
The broken rules:
"I wanted to thank you for a wonderful owling trip last week. It was great to be in the field with you and I learned a great deal about the birds, environment and my camera. Thanks so much for being such a great naturalist, photographer and trip leader. I will go on another trip with you in the future." - Lynda Goff Santa Cruz, CA (Professor Emeritus Ecology & Evolutionary Biology UC Santa Cruz)
Buy or renew your annual pass to Point Pelee National Park of Canada and save 25%. From February 1, until March 31, 2010, take advantage of this great offer to start your preparations for this year's spring migration. Simply call (519) 322-2365, extension 200 from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. I always recommend the Family (or group) pass, as this let's you enter through the automated gate and skip the sometimes lengthy line-ups each morning.
