Critique Style Requested: In-depth
The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.
Self Critique
I like the fully extended wings and the stark snow background
Creative direction
Wanted to capture feeding behavior.
Specific Feedback
Composition improvement as well as sharpness and contrast.
Technical Details
I used a Canon 200-400 zoom with a Canon 7D Mk II. I don’t use the 7D much anymore, as it was not great in low light levels. I now use an R5.
Description
On a yearly basis, I visit family in Wisconsin and partake in the abundance of bald eagles in the area along the Mississippi River. I got a tip that eagles were congregating on a deer carcass in a corn field close to the road. I found the deer and eagles and spent a couple of hours with as many as ten eagles on the deer at one time.
1 Like
There’s a strong impact to this — the contrast between the eagle, the carcass, and the clean white snow works well, and the moment with the wings fully extended feels well timed, as if it has just landed or is about to take hold.
The feeding behaviour comes across clearly, and the exposed carcass against the otherwise minimal background adds to that stark, raw feel. Focus is handled well, with good sharpness through the eye, beak, and out into the wings.
The snow does feel a little pushed in the highlights, and there may be some scope to recover a bit of detail if working from the RAW file, without losing that clean, high-key look. The scattered grass strands across the snow draw the eye slightly, particularly as they appear quite random — if keeping the brighter snow, a subtle clean-up in places could help simplify the frame further.
Compositionally, the space works reasonably well, though there may be an opportunity to tighten it slightly to bring more emphasis onto the interaction between the eagle and the carcass.
Overall, a well-timed and striking capture that communicates the behaviour clearly, with a few small refinements that could strengthen the presentation further.
I love the pose of the eagle, Jerry, and you captured the feeding behavior very well. Detail in the eagle is excellent and you handled the high contrast of the snow and dark plumage extremely well. A fine image.
A very strong image, which really captures the viewer’s attention. The contrast between the snow, the carcass and the eagle, building an almost high-key scene, and the pose of the eagle, almost like an angel of death (ah, the fundamental sin of anthropomorphism… sorry about this 
). Very nice.
Great capture Jerry! I like your composition, the elements sticking out of the snow in the upper left help balance the eagle on the right. The sharpness and contrast looks great to me , with the background blurred out enough not to be a distraction and the dynamic range handled really well. Well deserved Editors Pick!
Excellent environment/action shot, Jerry. Outstanding detail in the eagle, with a pose that clearly shows its intentions.
Jerry, the wings up capture looks great and shows excellent timing on your part. The swirl of snow suggests to me that the bird has just landed, but since I do see a bit of fur in it’s beak, it’s already had at least one bite.
