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Bird of Prey
3rd PlaceBird of Prey
Cutter


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Triptych (Advanced Editing IV*)
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6G
Location: Denver
Date: Nov 11, 2005
ISO: 1000
Shutter: 1/500
Galleries: Animals, Action
Date Uploaded: Nov 11, 2005

This particular bald eagle was diving into its pond to fetch fish. It was bizarre and fascinating to witness this almost dance and routine it would repeat over and over for at least one hour. I took many shots in burst mode and found these to be the most illuminating into what I witnessed. I feel the beauty of the triptych is that it can tell a story. And I wanted to capture and express this "dance" that this eagle took part in.

Generally same steps taken for each of the three different photos. It was like this:

Crop
Clone Minor bits
Levels
Curves
Contrast
Minor D/B
Color Balance
Sel Color Balance
Sat
NI
Resize
USM
USM

And then I took each of my three edited photos and decided on a top/bottom approach to mix it up. Plus I feel with giant birds, the panorama does justice to their breadth.

I cropped each one to roughly the same size and cut and paste onto a black background for the border. Thanks and I hope you enjoy.

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 234
Avg (all users): 7.1868
Avg (commenters): 8.5476
Avg (participants): 6.9280
Avg (non-participants): 7.4318
Views since voting: 15323
Views during voting: 506
Votes: 257
Comments: 89
Favorites: 61 (view)


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AuthorThread
09/07/2007 11:34:53 AM
HOLY $#%@!!!! The water coming off the eagle is just unreal!!!

How did you manage to get such amazing shots with a 300mm lens, too???
07/04/2007 09:52:43 AM
so amazing!!
im jealous! ive been wanting to photograph the eagles (and their nest of babies) near my house but im too scared to take my camera out in my kayak
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2007 01:06:26 AM
some of the best bald eagle shots iv seen
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/23/2007 03:01:47 AM
with the Triptych II just starting, i looked this up and this shot is still amazing, great job and detail here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/01/2007 09:11:22 PM
incredible shots to say the least, GREAT JOB!!

-dave
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2007 09:09:13 PM
Honestly one of the most spectacular shots I've ever seen and I love the triptrych!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2006 09:05:59 PM
amazing pictures and well composed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/28/2006 08:00:36 PM
amazing work here Beau...no wonder it has so many favourites...add me to the list
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/28/2006 07:46:29 PM
this is such an amazing shot. i have this lens for canon, and have never gotten such clear results. very nice. the lighting loved you this day, or was it the other way around? this is simply breathtaking. should have been a blue ;) very well deserved.

-jon rowe
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2005 10:56:04 PM
This is incredible -- the middle photo, which I see you put in your portfolio, particularly. Incredible! Just curious what your focal length was... How close were you?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/26/2005 03:43:56 AM
WOW! is about all i can say about this one. I may be a little bias because i am partial to the nature photography but in my opinion yours is the best of the 3. i think the thing i like the best about this photo in particular is how you were able to freeze the water around the bird while its head is covered and still have the clarity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/25/2005 06:35:26 AM
So impressive! This water & a birds face are so brilliant! For me it's fantastic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2005 08:47:16 AM
Some great shots here, wow!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2005 05:50:05 PM
Those are some unbelievable shots! Congrats! Should have gotten first place easily. Will there be a print available for these shots?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2005 02:10:45 PM
As always. 'Cutting Edge' Stuff. Good job and Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2005 11:13:47 AM
Awesome shot, awesome bird!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2005 02:32:57 AM
The detail and moment you've captured here is simply put, breathtaking. What an amazing sense you have for detail, lighting and composition. Congrats on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2005 09:56:49 PM
Wow! Just amazing....... Can't believe this, nice capture and great patience! Félicitation!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2005 08:40:32 PM
Congratulations on your ribbon! Just outstanding!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2005 06:02:39 PM
I love it. I could sit and look at nature shots like these all day ! Congrats on your ribbon well deserved, IMO this could also warrant the blue !
-Lisa
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2005 02:53:25 PM
This is a great sequence of photos cutter, congratulations on your ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2005 01:20:33 PM
This should have won first place for sure. Amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2005 08:28:46 AM
Congrats! You've captured three splendid moments of this wonderful creature! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2005 07:38:27 AM
This is absolutely fantastic; this deserves so much more and if it were up to me this photo would have ribboned blue! That it didn't upsets me, just shows me that this site prefers pictures of beautiful, perfect women than a beautiful and realistic photo such as this! Never the less, I congratulate you! Brilliant and stunning, I particularly enjoy the water on the birds accentuated colourful feathers, creates such a wonderful image, all three of them!

Hope to see more images like these coming from you, I admire your abilities and your camera!

Benjamin
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 06:28:01 PM
superb, stunning and really interesting!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 04:59:29 PM
WOW! the bird almost looks fake

Message edited by author 2005-11-21 16:59:46.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 04:41:00 PM
I really don't see how somebody could vote this a 3...and there are 6 of them.!! I don't understand some people!

GREAT SHOT..!!! Congratulations..!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 04:34:19 PM
congrats! I loved this picture at the first sight - this is soo excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 02:35:08 PM
Congratulations! incredible photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 10:28:57 AM
The top photo almost looks painted and not quite real... I'm sure it was quite exciting to photograph. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 09:26:08 AM
Outstanding! I was glad to see you ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 08:48:19 AM
beautiful work and subject!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 05:26:19 AM
Congratulations on an absolutely fantastic composition. The image quality is spectacular - made all the more fascinating when one considers it was done with a 'consumer' lens. How did you get your images so sharp?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 04:43:29 AM
Congrats on the yellow ribbon, hope you do´t take this the wrong way but I am glad you didn´t do better :D Excellent captures, all of them, I especially like the middle one and I would have given this a good rating if I had voted.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 03:16:59 AM
how did I miss this photo??? Its great.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 01:27:11 AM
congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:40:32 AM
Great shots, all ribbon winners on their own, congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:35:24 AM
wudve been better if the middle one was on the top to show sum series. otherwise fantastic snaps. gee, i can almost touch the bird
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:20:02 AM
Congrats on the ribbon. Interesting that you took the same approach as me to making the triptych. I actually feel the same way about yours that I do about mine, that I would prefer each individual photo by itself rather than the way presented for the challenge. I would like to see them if you have them available.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:16:06 AM
Like I said prior, well done. It is one of my favorites of the lot. Congrats on the ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:15:37 AM
Great job, earned my top pick. Was this at a zoo? If not I want to visit that pond!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:14:22 AM
Congrats on your ribbon! Raptors rule, again!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:13:41 AM
yaay, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:10:15 AM
One of my top picks. A great poster theme with character and flair. Congratulations on your YELLOW!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2005 12:06:43 AM
I can't believe I missed this one! This is great. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/20/2005 11:27:24 PM
Top notch caprures with that strong poster like strength.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2005 10:17:41 PM
8 - All very good shots, nice simple colors. Criticism; the obvious is losing so much detail with the size restrictions, but cannot be helped and I think you have still managed to show good detail with each in this size. The first shot I am not sure is a good choice (your call obviously) as the 'starter', mainly for the eyelid closed, looks a little 'odd', great shot, but that's the first thing I saw was the 'clouded eye'. So even at 'wall-size' I think this triptych, which would look impressive big, loses some impact with that first shot, in my opinion. Dependent how many other shots you got; a. perhaps a different choice for 1st, or just a different arrangement and b. hope you got another one, especially with the water, saved for the Free Study. The detail in the water in 1 & 3 is very good. Up to 7 from 6, these are great shots in a seemingly natural environment, but that eyelid still 'irks' me slightly in the first one. Up to 8, really like this & the eye is adding an 'unusual' element to this making it more unique.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2005 09:40:28 PM
pretty damn phenomenal!!! wow!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2005 09:05:18 PM
9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2005 08:23:30 PM
truly AMAZING! I definitely foresee a blue ribbon. Great job capturing these actions. im in awe..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2005 05:43:12 PM
Outstanding !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2005 05:35:26 PM
Very strong contender for a ribbon, I'd say.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2005 09:46:23 PM
Fantastic....my prediction for the blue. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2005 05:19:10 PM
These shots are amazing! Great timing on all of these photos.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2005 09:10:10 AM
Wow, Excellent detail, Great catch! Love the panels with the water, not something you usually get to see.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2005 06:27:15 AM
Could study this for ages - excellent
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/18/2005 07:56:39 PM
How could this not get a 10? Congrats on the ribbon! Just fabulous! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/17/2005 11:23:53 PM
wow! .. that must be some lens!!! great candids of this guy. I remember before someone had a bald e' and it was at a fair or something - that won a blue ... I think this is stronger than that. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/17/2005 04:13:43 PM
Tops!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/17/2005 10:22:24 AM
amazing shots
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/17/2005 10:19:43 AM
Wonderful images with the water. Nice work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/17/2005 02:58:02 AM
wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/16/2005 11:47:34 PM
i'm guessing the 640 size restriction prompted the thin crops, but i would have loved to see more of each frame, even if they had been smaller as a result. however, i do think this is an amazing set of photos. congratulations and i hope you do well...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/16/2005 11:22:38 PM
Just plain incredible!!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/16/2005 08:43:59 AM
What an excellent set of photos. Well done indeed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 02:40:37 PM
Gorgeous shots. As far as the triptych goes, I'd like to see a bit more obvious division between the three photos. There's just so much detail that it's difficult to immediately discern the end of one scene and the start of the next. Perhaps a thin gray border around the shots themselves. With more space (I realize you are constricted by the dimensions here) you could add a bit more black as well. Stunning detail!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 02:21:28 PM
Wow - all three are amazing photos.
Very nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 01:48:49 PM
Great background, great sharpness, great capture. 100% winner
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 12:48:38 PM
Really terrific shots and beautifully presented.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 12:16:10 PM
woah, amazing captures. top 10 definitely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 12:07:44 PM
3 aMAZING, powerful shots! The eagles are so sharp. And the more I stare at this one, the more it draws me in and I like it more. Fantastic photo! And any one of would be sellable as a matted and framed print too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 11:24:24 AM
This might have benefitted from a little 1 pixel white border around each image before adding the black so they stood out more. Awesome shots, though. Good Luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 10:06:32 AM
I think this would have been much more effective if the center eagle had also been shown shaking water.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 09:10:04 AM
What an amazing and unique series of photos. Very well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2005 08:07:11 AM
Stunning clarity and sharpness.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 10:31:41 PM
Wonderful catch of such a majestic animal!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 07:43:42 PM
amazing captures well presented!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 07:12:36 PM
Great action shots. I would have spent hours debating the sequence. Seems top picture should be followed by the bottom one. Yet, the center image is the right center image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 06:31:29 PM
Gotta be big lens. nice shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 03:55:09 PM
I like this concept a lot. You've captured the birds beautifully! Great detail and nice close-ups. I find the background in each shot a bit distracting, however. I know it wouldn't be legal for the challenge, but afterwards, you might want to consider placing each bird on a black or very dark background, so that they just pop out. Although, I admit, I'm not sure how well this would work for the water shots. Overall, nice job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 03:37:51 PM
An eagle playing in water - don't think I have EVER seen anything like that before! Nice capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 03:22:51 PM
Wow, this picture is wonderful...10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 02:33:10 PM
These are very nice images, all three of them, but I do wish I understood the water better. I wonder if he was fishing or just washing up. I'll bet the center image is amazing on it's own with the full wing spread.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 11:14:24 AM
This is a great image and capture. Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 07:22:44 AM
stunning...stunning....stunning
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 04:55:40 AM
Wow, I love this bird! (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 12:52:14 AM
Stunning captures. Did you save one for the nov study??
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 12:47:21 AM
wow, what great shots!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2005 12:20:08 AM
Beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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