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Dinner Time at the Old Oak Tree
3rd PlaceDinner Time at the Old Oak Tree
Gatorguy


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Birds II (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/2.8D IF-ED II
Location: Davenport, Iowa
Date: Jan 27, 2008
Galleries: Animals
Date Uploaded: Jan 27, 2008

Thanks for the votes everyone. A lot of people mentioned sanctuaries, zoos, etc., etc., but in fact this was quite in the wild along the Mississippi River in Davenport Iowa. The lens was actually a 400mm f2.8 with a 1.4x extender on it. It wasn't my lens so I didn't add it to my list.
As for the photo, the full frame included the entire bird. I cropped it down, removed a couple distracting twigs and added a bit of vignet. I dodged the feathers a bit to bring them out. Had to adjust WB to warm it up. Not too much else.

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 251
Avg (all users): 7.3726
Avg (commenters): 8.4375
Avg (participants): 7.2100
Avg (non-participants): 7.5179
Views since voting: 12523
Views during voting: 474
Votes: 212
Comments: 71
Favorites: 31 (view)


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AuthorThread
07/03/2009 02:17:06 PM
Beautiful shot. And yes I know behind on the times. Looks like a small male.
02/11/2008 01:11:02 AM
Quite the spectacular moment to capture. The detail is exquisite and a well deserved ribbon winner. Cheers, Sandra.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/08/2008 01:25:02 PM
Great capture and Picture!!!WELL DONE!!!
I really can't understand why some people gives just 1, 2 or 3 points to the pictures on these challenges...I really think that it's people doing "unfair" competition or pleasing others giving negative votes to the more competitive pictures.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/07/2008 08:28:46 PM
Originally posted by KSHOLLYWOOD:

Looks like you need to buy a 400mm 2.8,you got a once in a lifetime shot.This pic needs to be hanging from your wall.awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I just bought (2 days ago) the 200-400 instead. Tough choice and both are crazy expensive.
02/07/2008 08:01:12 PM
Looks like you need to buy a 400mm 2.8,you got a once in a lifetime shot.This pic needs to be hanging from your wall.awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/06/2008 11:18:40 AM
This reaaaallly looks like a Blue Ribbon ... Sorry and congratulation for the Yellow!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/06/2008 07:16:54 AM
This is an amazing capture. I wish I could find something like this. Well deserved, woudl have guessed the blue though. Wonderful job,
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/06/2008 01:05:01 AM
Congrats on a really cool pic and a ribbon among all the great shots, well deserved!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/05/2008 03:26:38 PM
What a wonderful shot! That borrowed lens and extender really worked well for you, and gave you the opportunity - which you made the best of, of capturing this eagle dining! Congratulations on your ribbon!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/05/2008 12:16:09 PM
just superb, and I am very happy to see that you captured this shot in the wild... makes it that much better
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/05/2008 08:40:49 AM
Wow, definately worth the third, and then some in my own opinion. Stunning timing, and I couldn't imagine any better execution. Thanks for posting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/05/2008 06:37:41 AM
I can't believe the low scores this unbelievable picture got! Could they be from people who were worried about the competition? This is one of the best pics on DPC. Instant favorite. Wonderful work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 03:32:19 PM
Beautiful shot. Even more amazing knowing that it was taken in the wild. Wonderful job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 02:44:48 PM
Incredible shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 02:30:10 PM
Glad to see this ribbon. My favorite shot from the challenge!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 01:13:52 PM
Seen a few of these on some roadkill about a month ago. Incredibly awesome bird!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 12:59:09 PM
Congratulations on ribbon and PB.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 11:11:43 AM
Originally posted by metatate:

I have in-laws in Ottumwa Iowa -I have seen bald eagles flying around there on several occasions so it doesn't surprise me that this is in Iowa. I could never even dream of capturing something like this though! Excellent!


Depending on where and when you go, and the condition of the ice on the Mississippi (mostly frozen with open pockets) you can see literally hundreds of Bald Eagles in one spot. Depending on the factors, they can be in Ottumwa, Davenport, Burlington or a number of other places - one has to be willing to drive to find them. By the time the river thaws out they have pretty much dispersed.
02/04/2008 10:48:40 AM
This is a wild bird??? Awesome shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 10:06:57 AM
I have in-laws in Ottumwa Iowa -I have seen bald eagles flying around there on several occasions so it doesn't surprise me that this is in Iowa. I could never even dream of capturing something like this though! Excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 09:34:25 AM
This was in the wild?!? Holy shnikeys! What an awesome shot. You didn't deserve the 8 I gave you; should have been a 10. Sorry for bringing you down a tad, but glad to see you ribboned. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 07:51:45 AM
This is an amazing shot. I was pretty sure it was in the wild and am happy to see that it is. Congrats on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 06:58:10 AM
wow incredible image
congrats on your ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 06:57:26 AM
Congrats on the ribbon and new PB! Very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 06:34:08 AM
Wow! An amazing capture worthy of National Geographic. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 05:49:07 AM
Congrats on your new PB, absolutely brilliant.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 04:51:56 AM
cool photo, congratulations !!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 04:21:23 AM
as i said b4 stunning..an amazing picture,ill only be this good in my dreams.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 03:26:21 AM
Absolutely stunning image. Big congrats on your ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 03:16:31 AM
Great capture, congrats on the yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 01:13:24 AM
You know, I had one with a mouse... the bird was eating a mouse, but I found it kind of disturbing, and didn't enter... I really prefer a fish rather than mouse in definitely. This is a good photo, very sharp :) frame is very nicely done also.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 01:07:39 AM
Great capture and a deserved ribbon. How did you get so close as to shot this with a 70-200?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 12:19:26 AM
The awesome visualism in this shot is outstanding, congratulations on the ribbon. Do not understand the DoDo bird votes below 5 for this photo, can only suggest they are wild life greenies and don' like the sight of blood.

Message edited by author 2008-02-04 00:21:58.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 12:12:24 AM
Great capture of a not so common scene. Congratulations on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 12:07:09 AM
this is my top shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 12:06:51 AM
Wow, that's fantastic. I envy you getting to see it, much less photograph it. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2008 12:06:26 AM
Stunning picture, well done

Message edited by author 2008-02-04 00:06:48.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/03/2008 11:55:59 PM
Excellent shot. Very detailed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2008 05:13:02 PM
fantastic shot an amazing capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2008 02:10:00 AM
What can I say. Nice photograph with interesting elements. bump
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2008 01:28:24 AM
Are you kidding me? This is tremendous. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/02/2008 11:55:37 AM
Feeding day at the aviary? Well composed, tack sharp, and nicely processed. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2008 08:38:50 PM
I have to wonder if this shot was taken at a bird sanctuary or in the wild. This is a nice capture either way. Although more impressive if in the wild. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2008 03:00:27 PM
Good capture - seems natural, which of course takes the capture to a whole different level. Wish there was as much clarity on the face and eyes as appears to be on the fore talon, but of course difficult. Overall there appears a dark 'haze' on this image, but that could be intentional. Not sure on your framing, don't think it enhances the image as is, in my opinion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2008 02:44:24 PM
Yikes, a gritty and well executed picture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2008 01:26:56 PM
Enough of the highly idealized images of the noble eagle. How about one getting down to business? Superb capture. See you on the front page.

I keep coming back to this one...In my mind this raises the bar for all future eagle pictures. I hope you will indulge us(or at least me) with a look at your original!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2008 11:32:02 AM
a little gross, but a great picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/31/2008 10:42:34 AM
WB is a bit off, otherwise very good capture, perfectly cropped. ornage border really wasn't neccesary
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/31/2008 08:48:38 AM
If this were a bit more crisp and popped with sharpness this would be National Geographic material. Nice capture, just not sharp.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2008 09:42:15 PM
wow, gruesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2008 06:38:56 PM
Really beautiful capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2008 02:59:55 PM
Yuck. But a very good photograph.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2008 11:47:11 AM
Amazing photo, I'd be stunned if it didn't take first place. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2008 08:32:40 AM
Great shot! lots of action and atmosphere. Excellent detail and composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2008 08:53:54 PM
KILLER!!Nice shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2008 07:02:47 PM
Oh wow wow wow, what an amaaaziiiinnnnnnggg capture! The crop is absolutely perfect, a definate winner in my eyes ;]
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2008 04:10:31 PM
Awesome take and well presented.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2008 08:09:26 AM
This is an amazing capture and I am wondering if this is a wild or captive eagle....you got so close! It looks like you added some artificial lighting or vignetting and I am not sure I like that but I like everything else.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2008 01:06:18 AM
Probably the winner, from the ones I've seen so far. I'm not really sure about the vignetting, though, but great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 06:55:30 PM
Very slight over saturation IMO. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 06:22:55 PM
Yummy fish. Good detail. I would have skipped on the vignette. It takes away from the birds head. Puts it too much into a shadow. Makes the whites a bit too drab. Cool capture though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 05:19:52 PM
Dramatic shot that stands out - some may not like the gore but I rate it highly for showing a raptor in full context.

One comment - there is a light arc on the front of legs towrds the neck - perhaps a little PP lift on the face and eye would draw the eye around and hold it where the action is?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 02:07:32 PM
great image, very graphic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 11:46:05 AM
amazing..amazing...amazing...everything about this picture is amazing.10++++
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 10:28:34 AM
Well, I am sure that this will get 10's straight across the board. What can you say on just perfect 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 10:16:27 AM
what fantastic image, I think that the eagle now eat a fish. probably the image is captured in some zoo but is always a great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 07:54:49 AM
kool image ,if it werent for the outline along his beak,this would be a ten,a bit too much contrast mabe? overall i love this tho 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 05:57:31 AM
Super capture. Love it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 01:33:34 AM
Awesome capture...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 01:13:26 AM
thats what i call a close up and a winner! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2008 12:53:51 AM
Oh how perfect this would be if the light was just a bit better. But still pretty darn good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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