My Eagle in flight

[Bobobird]

As Dan puts it very well - you are there... all nice shots. Minor bits of this and that here and there but the good part is that you have already identified those.

[IzzieK]

All good shots Christina...my favourite is #1 -- because you worked hard for this one too.

[marlunn]

Really good shots Christina, your commitment to time and effort has been repaid with some wonderful images and some magic times for you I think getting close to these magnificent birds.

The best we get around here are Buzzards, (well to be fair - if I ever get to Scotland, Sea Eagles or Golden Eagles, one day) hmm Buzzards, - your eagles flying towards you with fish.... for Buzzards the image would be with carrion or worms - not quite the same class ,

[Brownbear]

Thank you to Marie, Barbara, Rita, Nick, Brian, Jill, Bobo, Izzie and Mark!

Brian...

Thank you for sharing. I don't know how to fly a kite, and surely could learn how to, but mostly I'd be worried that it might result in the Eagles expending too much energy... (ie; energy that they need to conserve for hunting)

Jill... Yes, photography is a continuous learning experience and there are always new goals to strive for.

Bobo... Thank you. I will attend to the needed edits and replace the last photo with another. Tons of perched photos just a few in flights.

Thank you to all.

[Brownbear]

Hi Nick,

Thank you.

I processed these quickly and will revisit and possibly crop. I like the background but they may work better with less space on the right.

With respect to Auto ISO I typically use this feature for capturing birds in flight in manual mode which allows me to choose my aperture and shutter speed, and not have to worry about the changing light conditions and fiddling with ISO adjustments. I think this feature is unique to Nikon cameras. I don't know if this feature is available with your bridge camera but I think you have a Nikon D7100 (not sure, and if yes why are you photographing wildlife with your bridge camera?).

For Nikon D7100...
Set your auto iso by accessing your shooting menu... Set the iso to the maximum you're comfortable with that will work with your chosen shutter speed and aperture for the lighting conditions. Also set the minimum shutter speed for which you wish the auto iso feature to kick in. I typically set this around 1/800 sec. Then take a couple of test shots in the area. If the exposure is too low, use the exposure compensation button + values will increase the chosen iso... And of course - values will lower the iso so you still have control of the iso.

Here are a couple of links on the subject

https://photographylife.com/how-to-photograph-birds

Covers aperture, shutter/program modes

http://en.nikon.ca/Learn-And-Explore...-auto-iso.html

Great shots! I think very nice detail in the birds and I like the soft bright background, and a little ground - level scenery, it gives a hint of a bright foggy morning, which ads another dimension to good BIF shots. It is also neat that this is not an ordinary adult eagle, but a juv. which makes these photos a little more unique. Did you try different crops to position the bird a little more on the right side of the frame when flying/facing toward the left? It may not be a necessary rule to fallow, if you think they work better as is.

PS. You mentioned you used auto ISO set to 800 max. I have been trying to use that but when I set an ISO level, say it was 800, then turn the front dial to set ISO to auto(while still showing set to 800) the camera seems to misbehave and use whatever ISO it wants, even if it is far higher. Can you give me any tips on how to set a max auto ISO?

[NorthernFocus]

...If you have enough room to fly a kite where the eagles usually fly they will often come and soar with the kite....

An interesting idea. Though nowadays on most state/national parks where we likely shoot, the technique may also land one in jail.

But thanks for the tip. I can probably get away with it on my boat and may just give it a try. At minimum it will no doubt be entertaining.

[Brownbear]

Does this mean that you are not of the opinion that this might tire the Eagles out?

An interesting idea. Though nowadays on most state/national parks where we likely shoot, the technique may also land one in jail.

But thanks for the tip. I can probably get away with it on my boat and may just give it a try. At minimum it will no doubt be entertaining.

[NorthernFocus]

Does this mean that you are not of the opinion that this might tire the Eagles out?

I interpreted his comment of "soaring" with the kite to mean they would glide around with it. Not a high energy activity. And if I did try it I'd only do so after breeding season when they are a bit more chill and there are plenty of salmon to eat.

At any rate I'm dubious as I've never seen any other birds pay attention to kites. Though nor am I a kite flier with vast experience in that regard. Unfortunately, however, I never learned that lesson about curiosity killing the cat. And now the idea has been planted.... But historically I've been fortunate that my laziness typically outweighs my curiosity when there is any level of effort involved. Like going through all the trouble of taking a kite along on a boat trip

[Wavelength]

Simply awesome...awesome

[bnnrcn]

Super shots Christina

[Brownbear]

Dan...
Thank you for sharing. Makes sense... Please do give it a try and let me know how it goes. If well, then I will buy a kite and enlist my husband in kite flying school.

Nandakumar and Binnur...
Thank you. Truly appreciated.

[John 2]

Lovely work Christina. A very nice set of images.

[Brownbear]

Thank you, John. Truly appreciated.

Lovely work Christina. A very nice set of images.

[Chri5]

They are a beautiful set of photographs.

[Whistletown Wilds]

Beautiful I'll get one some day may be, I hope mine is half as good as yours !

[Nicks Pics]

Hi Nick,

Thank you.

I processed these quickly and will revisit and possibly crop. I like the background but they may work better with less space on the right.

With respect to Auto ISO I typically use this feature for capturing birds in flight in manual mode which allows me to choose my aperture and shutter speed, and not have to worry about the changing light conditions and fiddling with ISO adjustments. I think this feature is unique to Nikon cameras. I don't know if this feature is available with your bridge camera but I think you have a Nikon D7100 (not sure, and if yes why are you photographing wildlife with your bridge camera?).

For Nikon D7100...
Set your auto iso by accessing your shooting menu... Set the iso to the maximum you're comfortable with that will work with your chosen shutter speed and aperture for the lighting conditions. Also set the minimum shutter speed for which you wish the auto iso feature to kick in. I typically set this around 1/800 sec. Then take a couple of test shots in the area. If the exposure is too low, use the exposure compensation button + values will increase the chosen iso... And of course - values will lower the iso so you still have control of the iso.

Here are a couple of links on the subject

https://photographylife.com/how-to-photograph-birds

Covers aperture, shutter/program modes

http://en.nikon.ca/Learn-And-Explore...-auto-iso.html

Thank you very much for the explanation! I see now those settings in the menu you are talking about. I had not really looked at those much before, but set the ISO with the exterior camera dials. Turns out I had max ISO set to 2500 in the ISO sensitivity menu. This is a useful feature. My bridge camera allows limited auto ISO options, which I do use, but not in manual mode. I am still using my bridge camera for wildlife at present because I have an 18-55 mm lens for the my Nikon. Maybe I will upgrade to a longer lens some time if I can

[Rebel]

Waw, great shots, images 2 and 4 are my favourites

[DonnaK]

Excellent results, Christina. I appreciate your explanations on each shot and how you came to obtain them. I have a hard time choosing between the first two as they both show so many details of flight. Seeing the work of others makes me strive to capture the same magic in my work. Thanks for posting and giving guidance in your journey to do this awesome results.

[Brownbear]

Thank you to Chris, Sherwood, Matt and Donna!

Sherwood... Just keep trying. It's taken me 4 months of repeated efforts to manage an inflight shot that I adore, and if I include all my attempts, likely two years.

Donna... Thank you kindly.

Nick... I'm delighted to know that I could be helpful. Until you obtain that longer lens perhaps practice with deer, cows, sheep etc...