Eagle Files - Fishing Technique

[NorthernFocus]

It's that time of year when I shoot very little and spend some time cleaning up files. That includes reprocessing some shots that may benefit from current tools/techniques. I ran across this sequence from 2009 of an eagle diving on a fish from which I had previously only processed one frame. That one is the third one below of the bird at full extension just before the strike. This sequence represents just under two seconds of flight(11 frames at 6fps from first to last).

As always the images are best viewed in the lightbox.

Nikon D300, 200-400mm VR, handheld/Bushhawk
f/5.6 @ 400 mm, 1/1000, ISO 500, all processed identically and cropped to same ratio of frame.

1) The dive. Eagles dive in a long shallow glide rather than straight down like osprey and many other fishing species. With wings partially folded to reduce drag they can reach speeds in excess of 100mph/165kph. In this shot the legs have already been lowered like air brakes to control speed.



2) Brakes. Just like an airplane the bird takes a "nose up" attitude and starts extending its wings like flaps to slow down. Notice how the feathers are all ruffled from the wind drag on the leading edge of the wings and around the tail.



3) Extend. Eagles don't dive into the water with talons out front like osprey. Just as they approach the target they extend the legs and snatch the fish from the water. The actual grab happens so fast that shooting 6fps it is still hit or miss to get a frame with the bird fully extended. This is one of few that I've managed over the years. I think I've posted this particular frame before.



4) Bullseye. If it all comes together, the bird gets dinner. If you look carefully you can see in this frame the eyes are discolored due to the translucent nictitating membrane. With its translucent membranes the eagle can blink to moisten its eyes without momentarily losing vision as would be the case with opaque eyelids. The biggest problem now is keeping the catch as any other eagles in sight range will come try to take it from the successful fisher.

[FrankMi]

A beautiful set that clearly tells a great story!

[flashback]

Great set Dan, and clearly shows how the Eagle fishes.
Side note - in #2 you notice that the legs of the eagle are drawn up towards the body and the talons are closed. This nicely shows how the tendons in the legs work and, assist in capturing prey.
#3 shows the legs fully extended, and when the legs of a raptor are extended the tendons cause the talons to extend, or open. As soon as a raptor, in this case the eagle, grasps its prey, in doing so the legs are drawn up (or the body rests down upon the legs), causing the talons to close and firmly grasp the prey.
An absolutely ingenious method of grasping prey and it works the same way in perching birds, allowing them to grasp a branch, relax their body, thus causing the tendons in the foot to contract and securing them to a branch.
Studies have shown eagles to have something on the order of 300psi grasping pressure, where humans have around 20psi. Having had Great Horned Owls and Rough Legged Hawks on my (gloved) forearm I can attest to their noticeable strength.
Did I mention great shots!!

[cuilin]

spot on with the focus and dof. excellent series of photos.

[Nicks Pics]

Extremely nice photographic accomplishment! It is surprising that they can catch the fish under water.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Rita]

What a great series & explanation of the fishing/flying process Dan.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks. Different birds have different styles. Some of them glide lower across the surface of the water. Though it may also have something to do with weather conditions. I'll try to find and post a similar sequence of a lower approach. It looks a bit different.

[Brownbear]

Thank you for sharing Dan. Truly helpful. As you know your eagles in flight are an inspiration to me...

How you manage to capture perfect techs, gorgeous light, beautiful backgrounds and such a variety of wonderful positions all in one shot, is simply incredible.

[NorthernFocus]

...How you manage to capture perfect techs, gorgeous light, beautiful backgrounds...

Hi, Christina. These particular shots were taken in near perfect lighting for wildlife. Thin overcast skies resulting in bright, flat lighting. As you know I always shoot in manual exposure mode. And there's no time to adjust when shooting BIF. But in this sort of conditions it's really quite simple. Remember the f22 rule for white subjects? Basically just reduce one full stop in f16 conditions. So in these conditions I simply use matrix metering, take a few test shots of something in the area that looks "average"(e.g. bright green foliage), then reduce one stop to account for the white heads on the birds. With eagles I just try to avoid blowing the whites and take what I get for the rest of the frame and work it in PP.

[Brownbear]

Hi Dan,

Thank you. I headed out the other day at sunrise for another try but it was too sunny (no cloud cover) by the the time I found my eagles. I did manage a few shots of eagles in trees and sitting on stumps, some are quite funny.

Yes, I remember the f22 rule and will do. For some reason it is not until now that I noted that your metering off of bright green foliage and I think I've been using any green foliage handy (forgetting about using the same light). I will give it another try as soon as the weather and clouds cooperate. Thank you. Truly appreciated.

Hi, Christina. These particular shots were taken in near perfect lighting for wildlife. Thin overcast skies resulting in bright, flat lighting. As you know I always shoot in manual exposure mode. And there's no time to adjust when shooting BIF. But in this sort of conditions it's really quite simple. Remember the f22 rule for white subjects? Basically just reduce one full stop in f16 conditions. So in these conditions I simply use matrix metering, take a few test shots of something in the area that looks "average"(e.g. bright green foliage), then reduce one stop to account for the white heads on the birds. With eagles I just try to avoid blowing the whites and take what I get for the rest of the frame and work it in PP.

[NorthernFocus]

... it is not until now that I noted that your metering off of bright green foliage...

I added the BRIGHT just for you, Christina I know in BC you have many of the same evergreens that we have here and they DO NOT qualify as "average" exposure. Spruce, fir, cedar, etc. are quite dark. If there's no grass or other brighter green around then I'll typically frame a shot of half evergreen covered hill side and half sky and use that as my base setting. Note this technique is for filtered lighting on overcast days. In clear sun all bets are off. You have to set up for either front lit or back lit and if the bird flies to the other side of what you're set for it's just too bad. Unless you can change settings faster than me

[Brownbear]

Thank you Dan. Truly helpful and appreciated. I will give it a try on my very next next outing. Perhaps I will bring along a bag of stolen grass.

I added the BRIGHT just for you, Christina I know in BC you have many of the same evergreens that we have here and they DO NOT qualify as "average" exposure. Spruce, fir, cedar, etc. are quite dark. If there's no grass or other brighter green around then I'll typically frame a shot of half evergreen covered hill side and half sky and use that as my base setting. Note this technique is for filtered lighting on overcast days. In clear sun all bets are off. You have to set up for either front lit or back lit and if the bird flies to the other side of what you're set for it's just too bad. Unless you can change settings faster than me

[IzzieK]

Dan the position of the claws will also be good on a composite...love these birds!

[bnnrcn]

Very nice series

[Downrigger]

A great contribution, Dan. Generous in teaching points, valuable to many of us.

[Downrigger]

Another thing, Dan - would really appreciate your expansion on the value of bright flat light in overcast conditions for wildlife. I can think of this meaning reduction in harsh shadowing - is there more to your preference than that...?

[NorthernFocus]

Another thing, Dan - would really appreciate your expansion on the value of bright flat light in overcast conditions for wildlife. I can think of this meaning reduction in harsh shadowing - is there more to your preference than that...?

No, that's it. The very term "flat" light is used to indicate lower dynamic range. Wildlife is the opposite of landscape where high DR is desirable and shadows help show contours, details of trees, etc. which give the image depth. On the other hand with wildlife, particularly with something like eagles with high DR inherent in the coloring, it is typically easier to show important detail without harsh shadows or really bright highlights. If the critter is front lit it doesn't make that much difference. But if the critter is side lit and one eye is in shadow(for example), it can be problematic. We inherently want to see both eyes of animals. That is also the reason that so much emphasis is placed on "eye contact" in wildlife photography. There are always exceptions but as a general rule, wildlife is easier with flat light.

Historically serious bird photographers use fill flash in clear sunlight.

[FlyingSquirrel]

#3 is fantastic!