Bald Eagle Reflection Pool — Alaska, February 2005 (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Pygargue à tête blanche, Águila calva, BAEA). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. 100-400mm @260mm | ISO 400 | f/7.1 | 1/250s
I had something else planned for this morning, but recently reprocessed this Bald Eagle photograph and felt it suited the day.
A little time at the reflection pool.
I made this image in Alaska in February 2005, on a day when conditions were too rough and stormy to get out in a boat. The photograph might suggest a quiet pond, but after a lot of winter rain, water had pooled on the ice covering a broken asphalt parking lot. The eagle had stopped for a drink.
I used my SUV as a blind.
More than twenty years later, I still love the shape of those folded wings above the lowered head, with the reflection repeating it below. The eye remains visible, and the bill almost meets its reflection at the surface.
The setting certainly wasn’t beautiful. From my position, though, the water and ice hid the broken asphalt. There’s a useful composition lesson there: pay attention to what you can see through the viewfinder. An unpromising location can still give you a beautiful background.
Including the reflection makes this photograph for me. Without it, I’d have a much tighter study of an eagle drinking. With it, the shape of the whole bird becomes the subject.
I made the image at 260mm, ISO 400, f/7.1 and 1/250 second.
We couldn’t get out on the water that day, but there was still something worth photographing. I’m glad I kept looking.
And this morning, I’m glad I went back to this one.
Have you made a favourite photograph on a day when the weather changed your plans? I’d love to hear the story in the comments.
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