A Bald Eagle Watches the Sunset

[JimFox]

I headed over to the Signature Bluff Nature Area the other day, as I saw the clouds and a nice gap to the West over the Rockies and hoped for a good sunset. I was not disappointed. As I was walking near the Poudre River I saw what looked like a large bird in a tree. It was in shadow as the sunset was behind it. I zoomed in with my Tamron 50-400mm and it turned it's head enough that I saw it was a Bald Eagle.

While I did take some tighter shots, I liked this one at 236mm the best as it included the sunset going off. I also tried cropping it from the bottom as I wasn't certain about all of those bare branches on the bottom, but I ended up liking it better with them along the bottom providing a kind of frame.

In the background are some geese flying by, I left them in it even though they are small, because it looked like it gave some visual interest for the bald Eagle to look at, and when I removed them to see how I liked it, the image felt off balance.

It was a fun find, even if the Bald Eagle doesn't have a lot of detail.

All comments are welcome,

Jim

 

[AlanLichty]

Makes a nice visual statement as is - I like the geese in the background and the eagle in almost a silhouette. Nice sunset colors as a backdrop.

 

[JimFox]

Makes a nice visual statement as is - I like the geese in the background and the eagle in almost a silhouette. Nice sunset colors as a backdrop.

Thanks Alan, I appreciate that. I felt fortunate to finally get a bald eagle again, and that sunset was really awesome.

And I saw the geese flying into the image, so I purposely shot then to get the birds in the shot too. I was hoping they would add to the image, and if they didn't I figured it would be hard to remove them.

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks Alan, I appreciate that. I felt fortunate to finally get a bald eagle again, and that sunset was really awesome.

And I saw the geese flying into the image, so I purposely shot then to get the birds in the shot too. I was hoping they would add to the image, and if they didn't I figured it would be hard to remove them.

Having both the eagle and the geese in the scene makes it clear that this isn't a sunset shot in the suburbs. I like the mood they add to the scene. You caught the geese just the right spot to fill in that blank space on the right hand side.

 

[Trent Watts]

Beautiful shot Jim. Well composed and gorgeous colours.

 

[JimFox]

Having both the eagle and the geese in the scene makes it clear that this isn't a sunset shot in the suburbs. I like the mood they add to the scene. You caught the geese just the right spot to fill in that blank space on the right hand side.

Thanks Alan, I am glad I was in the right spot at the right time.

 

[JimFox]

Beautiful shot Jim. Well composed and gorgeous colours.

I appreciate that Trent, it could have easily not happened for me to be there, I am glad I decided to go anyway.

 

[Beth]

gorgeous sunset. the bird is a nice focal point for the photo.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Lovely sunset and like that eagle, I'd be watching and admiring it too.

 

[JimFox]

gorgeous sunset. the bird is a nice focal point for the photo.

Thanks! It was a great combo!