Thursday, October 2, 2008

Sky Watch Friday

This was last year in Florida. My son insisted on taking me out in the boat (not a yacht, by the way, but a bumpy riding bass boat) to try to get some photos of eagles he had seen nesting beside a lake near his house. This was still during my Nikon days, so there I was, trying to steady my D200 with the enormous 400/f2.8 lens, and not fall out of the boat. One eagle flew out of the nest, as if on cue; just as I was about to attempt a shot without dropping the camera or falling out of the boat, he very quickly turned the boat around shouting, "there goes a rocket!" Sure enough, there had been a launch from the space center, and the shot below was all I thought I would be getting. But he turned back, and the eagle put on a pretty good show for us. I loved the light reflecting up off the water to light his wings from below, and the big fluffy cloud on that side of the lake made a wonderful backdrop. The branch in his talons is one he was taking to the nest, not a part of the tree on the bottom.
For more Sky Watch photos, use the link in my sidebar.

28 comments:

Guy D said...

The first pic is fantastic, thanks for sharing

Cheers

http://reginainpictures.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Nothing like a 2 for 1 deal - eagles AND a launch? That's an exceptional shot of the eagle, by the way.

Pretty Life Online said...

Perfect one for Skywatch! I truly enjoyed viewing God's handiwork.... Happy Skywatch! Hope you can visit my SWF entry too...

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Helen: I'm so glad you have joined SWF. Your shots are outstanding and adds another bit of expertice to the group. The facy that you took these out of a boat makes me smile.

Leslie: said...

Wow! You're so lucky to get that shot! It's absolutely incredible, almost like a painting. Stunning.

Gill - That British Woman said...

that is so neat,

Gill in Canada

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

I agree with Leslie,that first shot almost looks like a painting.Great photos.

The Birdlady said...

Thanks everyone.
Yes, FG, from a boat! :)
Leslie and Ruth - I very well might digitally "paint" it.

Dave Coulter said...

Wow...that eagle is fanatastic. Happy SWF!

Mary said...

Wow...those are both super! Great shots!

DeniseinVA said...

Wow Helen, talk about being in the right place at the right time. Fantastic photos, of the eagle yes of course but seeing a rocket shooting up into the sky like that, what an awesome experience. The photo of your eagle is magnificent. Happy SkyWatch Friday.

Ivar Østtun said...

Wow, your eagle shot is brilliant. Well done. Have a nice weekend :-)

2sweetnsaxy said...

Wow! That shot of the eagle is absolutely wonderful! It's one of those shots you were meant to get.

magiceye said...

the eagle pic is outstanding!

Eve said...

WOW Helen! With all that excitement I'm amazed you were able to stay in the boat!! Wonderful!

Peggy said...

Perfect pose on that eagle, and that cloud...WOW!
It's CRAZY you got that shot from a bass boat with a honkin lens! Are you crazy?

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I love that eagle Helen. :)

John Theberge said...

That eagle shot is fantastic, the huge cloud behind it really adds to the photo.

Unknown said...

You couldn't have staged a better photo than that!

dot said...

Amazing! You got the best of both. I can just imagine how you felt seeing the eagle and the rocket launch both. I would have been so excited I'd probably have turned the boat over.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

that eagle is amazing!!! cool on the launch photo too!

Arija said...

alwasys makes me happy when I see youare next on the list, and this time you really have excelled yourself. I can just picture you teetering on the brink with the boat turning and rocking and just looking through the lens trying to keep something in your sights can give you vertigo without the optional extras. Shuttle launches and birds carrying off whole forests...Wonder how you'll top that! Sure you will though.

Shelley said...

An exquisite pose from your eagle!

Dorothy said...

Great shots, Helen! I especially like the Eagle.

Anonymous said...

Your right Helen that is amazing the colour on the underside of the Eagle's wings (just Golden bronze)

kjpweb said...

What a perfect capture! Makes you want to go back to Nikon, huh? ;)

Cheers, Klaus

Willard said...

Helen: The eagle shot is exceptional. I like all of the material you have posted and have enjoyed catching up on your blog very much.

Gemma Wiseman said...

The light under the eagle's wings is just amazing! I even love the angle of his head as if caught off guard! Simply stunning!