The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Bodega Bay, CA, June, 2023
Specific Feedback
The initial image is as taken, no crop, and taken as the eagle flew straight towards us.
The second image is a crop and straightened to look like a level flight.
Which one do you prefer? Or is there some other comp that works?
Hello, How fun to have the eagle look right at you! (And great reflexes to capture this.)
I prefer the original…it looks most natural to be on the tilt. I do like the aspect ratio on the cropped version. I am curious what the cropped version would be like without the level. That said, I always think the crop depends on what you want to do with this image. I can see this over as a large print over the fire place.
Hi David
I prefer the 16/9, but I think your could open up the frame some. The Eagle head and eyes have good detail, the rest of the bird seems to lack a punch. I think you could look at brighting up the gray scale, the white feather on the Eagle’s head seem a little dark. Very cool to have an Eagle fly over.
Peter
Very nice angle on this eagle, David. I really like the head turn. Interesting that from most angles these birds look so fierce but this angle makes it look almost sad to my eyes. I agree with Peter that the head could be a lot brighter and more contrast in the body might be nice as well. The 16/9 crop is nice but I also agree with Robena that the tilt adds something.
Thank you @Robena.Sirett, @Peter_Morrissey, and @Dennis_Plank for your observations. I took the original with the eagle in a tilt, changed it to 16x9, added some more contrast and boosted the overall brightness. The eagle’s head was a dingy yellow, instead of the usual bright white.
I really like this and my favorite is the 1st image at 16:9 AR with the wings at an angle.
Wonderful details and the head turn with those eyes locked onto you is awesome!
The eagle may be wondering what kind of creature you are with one big eye (the camera lens), I often wonder what we must look like to them when we’re holding our cameras up?
The repost is a nice improvement, David. In all the images, you have the eagle in the upper half of the frame, which can seem like the obvious choice since you were shooting up at the bird. However, you can create the illusion that it’s more on your level by moving it to the bottom of the frame. To me, that makes it more of an in-your-face presentation:
Wonderful capture and presentation!! The sharpness and details are suited to this powerful raptor. I love the aspect ratio and slight wing angle in the top image. I think it could be effective with the bird moved just a bit lower in the frame, centered, but this one works, too. You captured a very nice and slightly unusual pose; the slight head turn does convey curiosity. I have been stalking a Bald Eagle over there for several years, with no success.
