Eagles didn't stick to the script

[NorthernFocus]

A couple of days ago I had a maddening experience. On the positive side two eagles did a chase around and around our boat at very close quarters. Bad news I was shooting 600mm and couldn't fit a bird in the frame. Also I was under a canvas enclosure and only had about 135 degree field of view that I could shoot in. Certainly a challenge trying to find a bird's head in the VF and fire a burst as they flashed by so close and at high speed. It was interesting to witness up close but so frustrating from a photography standpoint. It was also a good reminder that as advanced as the AF has become it's still not magic. Anyway... here's what I managed to come away with.

Nikon Z8/600mm 6.3, full manual exposure w/sunny 16 settings

1) This is as close as I got to fitting a bird in the frame during the chase.

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When the chase was over one of the birds circled back around at more reasonable shooting range and against a nice dark BG.

2)

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3)

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4) This was the best of the lot IMO.

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[DRwyoming]

Great images Dan, love the lighting!

 

[Rick S]

Great set, Dan.

 

[Fishboy1952]

Excellent set Dan! Wonderful images!

 

[bsinc1962]

Great set, great light

 

[Ralph]

A couple of days ago I had a maddening experience. On the positive side two eagles did a chase around and around our boat at very close quarters. Bad news I was shooting 600mm and couldn't fit a bird in the frame. Also I was under a canvas enclosure and only had about 135 degree field of view that I could shoot in. Certainly a challenge trying to find a bird's head in the VF and fire a burst as they flashed by so close and at high speed. It was interesting to witness up close but so frustrating from a photography standpoint. It was also a good reminder that as advanced as the AF has become it's still not magic. Anyway... here's what I managed to come away with.

Nikon Z8/600mm 6.3, full manual exposure w/sunny 16 settings

1) This is as close as I got to fitting a bird in the frame.
View attachment 91422


When the chase was over one of the birds circled back around at more reasonable shooting range and against a nice dark BG.

2)
View attachment 91419

3)
View attachment 91420

4) This was the best of the lot IMO.
View attachment 91421

Excellent set Dan! I really like the first one the best

 

[Louis champan]

Terrific set Dan.

 

[ChrisSinSeattle]

Dan,
Considering your challenges you did very well, very nice sequence.
I think we all had similar challenges one way or another
Chris S

 

[Charles Loy]

Nice! Congrats

 

[NorthernFocus]

Great images Dan, love the lighting!

Thanks, Dave. Yeah it's nice to be reminded once in a while that lighting matters

Great set, Dan.

Thanks, Rick. Wish I'd been able to do a little more when they were close. Lots of clipped wings and tails.

Excellent set Dan! Wonderful images!

Glad you enjoyed them, Doug.

Great set, great light

Thanks, Bill. It was a rare sunny morning on Prince William Sound.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Excellent set Dan! I really like the first one the best

Thanks, Ralph. Yeah I love the detail in the first one and the lighting in the last one.

Terrific set Dan.

Thanks, Louie.

Dan,
Considering your challenges you did very well, very nice sequence.
I think we all had similar challenges one way or another
Chris S

Thanks, Chris. I hate that I squandered the chance when they came so close. Though I do have plenty more frames of head and body shots.

Nice! Congrats

Thanks, Charles.

 

[ssheipel]

Nicely done. Oh, for a zoom lens when you need one in a moment! Of course if you've had a zoom on the birds would have stayed distant

 

[NorthernFocus]

Nicely done. Oh, for a zoom lens when you need one in a moment! Of course if you've had a zoom on the birds would have stayed distant

Thanks, Steven. No like I mentioned in another thread we just have to learn to live with missed opportunities. Can't get them all. I made my choices. The 180-600 was on the shelf at home. And there was a 400mm tucked away in my bag just a few feet away.

 

[Woodyg3]

Nice! I agree with Dave, the light was great

 

[NorthernFocus]

Nice! I agree with Dave, the light was great

Thanks, Woody. The lighting made for great end result but took a bit of PP to handle the DR.

 

[ssheipel]

Thanks, Steven. No like I mentioned in another thread we just have to learn to live with missed opportunities. Can't get them all. I made my choices. The 180-600 was on the shelf at home. And there was a 400mm tucked away in my bag just a few feet away.

Makes for the perfect scenario of "Well, I've got to return for more!"

 

[cchuck]

Good work, despite the lack of cooperation!