Photographing a bald eagle—especially a close-up portrait—is one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences in wildlife photography. These birds command respect not just for their beauty, but for the power, intelligence, and intensity they project with a single glance. But getting that glance—a direct stare into the lens—is easier said than done.
This image shows the eagle's eye razor-sharp, the curve of the beak crisp, and—most importantly—a look straight into the camera. That kind of eye contact is rare; eagles don't often engage the lens like that. So, how did it come together?
Patience: The First Essential Ingredient
The first—and often most challenging—part of photographing wildlife, especially something as alert and aware as a bald eagle, is waiting. You need to have patience to let the bird get accustomed to your presence and become comfortable enough to act naturally. In this case, I spent a significant amount of time simply observing from a distance, making sure the eagle didn't feel threatened or pressured.
The key is to blend into the environment and avoid sudden movements. Let the bird dictate the pace.
Field Craft Matters
If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that swinging around a big white telephoto lens is the fastest way to end an encounter; you might as well wave a flag and shoo them away.
Field craft—moving slowly, using natural cover, and, where possible, setting up in advance—is essential. The goal is to make yourself part of the landscape, not a disruption to it. Using a lens with enough reach to fill the frame without stressing the subject is another key to success.
Keeping the bird at ease meant I could wait for the exact moment I was hoping for: that rare, intense, and powerful stare directly into the camera.
Technical Note: Why f/20?
In portraiture—whether of people or wildlife—the eyes must be sharp. It's where we connect, where emotion lives. For this shot, I stopped down to f/22. That might sound extreme to some, especially in low-light situations, but it was a deliberate choice.
At super-telephoto focal lengths, depth of field is razor-thin. The closer you focus, the narrower the depth of field becomes. I didn't want the beak to be sharp but the eye soft—or vice versa. Stopping down to f/20 ensured that both the eye and bill were tack sharp, creating a sense of presence and clarity that wider apertures wouldn't deliver.
Final Thoughts
I created this image through a combination of patience, thoughtful field craft, and technical discipline. But more than anything, it came from respect—for the subject, the environment, and the process.
Photographing a bald eagle isn't just about taking a picture. It's about telling a story without words, capturing a moment that reminds us why these birds inspire so deeply.
If you're lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, do everything you can to be ready—but also remember to observe. Study their behaviour, be alert to their signals, and freeze the moment they show any sign of stress. Sometimes the best part of wildlife photography isn't the shutter click. It's the moment before, when a wild creature meets your gaze and offers you a glimpse into its world.
American Bald Eagle Portrait (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tete blanche, Pigargo americano BAEA) from my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai adventure workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens @800mm ISO 6,400, f/22 @ 1/640s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.
