The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I was just out practicing with my recently acquired Sony FE 400-800MM F6.3-8 G OSS Lens attached to a Sony 7RM5. Just happened to look up to see this magnificent bird. Ordinarily I prefer taking images at eye level but because I so rarely see the bald Eagles, even though the city park, dam, and regional Airport all carry its name “Eagle” so I had to get the shot. Fortunately, the 7RM5 shoots RAW 61MP resolution images stand up to very aggressive cropping.
Specific Feedback
What I’m looking for is whether you would have taken the shot or bypassed it since it is so high overhead and at such a distance. Would you have switched to APS-C mode to get 2x crop in camera or stayed in full-size native mode and cropped later like I did. Finally, is the image at all worth it? BTW, I only did typical adjustments no Ai mods.
Technical Details
Camera ILCE-7RM5 Exposure: 1/100 sec at f/13, ISO 100, focal length 800 mm, lens FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS, 07/09/2025 11:34 AM, Spot metering, original dimensions 9504x6336.
I think this is a nice shot of the eagle in its environment, George, so I’d have taken it. My preference would be for a loser crop, giving the eagle some room on the left to look into.
Hmm…would I have taken it? Probably, but I’d have hesitated because I see eagles pretty often and have much better shots of them. Juveniles are just plain funny though and so yeah, I’d probably have stopped and taken some frames. They’re special and even though I see them often, I never get bored with them. The crop looks decent, but I also like the larger scene with some scale and environment. Sometimes I think that is a nicer option simply because most of us know what these birds look like and we can fill in detail with a wider view. Nice that it seems to be either panting or yelling to give you a little life in the portrait.
Hi Allen,
Thanks for taking time to respond. It seems to me after all these years of photography, starting off in film and portrait, primarily studio photography primarily using medium format (6x9 and 70mm) over 4 decades ago later switching to 35mm. That my transition to scenic and wildlife subjects, the great majority of my nature images are documentary style as opposed to esthetic or if you will artistic.
Thanks
Thanks for taking your time. I know what you mean. I’ve taken so many images of Cardinals, Robins, Blue Jays, Chickadees, Herons, Osprey, squirrel, you know, what I call common backyard wildlife, that I usually won’t take them anymore unless I haven’t gotten away in a while to be motivated.
Thanks for your time. As I said, ordinarily I prefer eye level but with birds especially raptors and big ones like this juvenile Bald Eagle and Osprey this is almost always impossible. Also, I cropped tightly because it’s a portrait not necessarily an environmental or landscape.
In my opinion a louser crop might be nice for environmental and documentary image not a potrait.
Glad you would have taken the shot.
Regards
“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Hi George. I probably would have taken it. While it’s not too uncommon to see eagles, I grew up when it was very uncommon and I was in my thirties before I saw one, so it’s always special to me. I actually like the original frame, though the crop held up quite well for it’s size and a little micro-contrast boost in the eagle would make it pop nicely. You might look at a middle of the road crop something like this:
Thanks for your time.
I like your crop. I’d crop a little further to the right something more like the original (2nd) image. But, must be honest and say I prefer my crop because I want it to be more a portrait than an environmental.
As for more local contrast I’ll give it a go. Typically, as is the case here, I’m using my cellphone to respond although I’m on the site not responding from email client. So I can’t make contrast adjustment right now or I don’t know how is probably nore accurate .
But I must warn you, I’m lousy at post-processing. I used to really like going into darkroom but have never really learned or enjoyed electronic processing. I can’t seem to figure out when to use what adjustment except rudimentary stuff like dodging, burning, exposure, white balance, highlight and shadow adjustment.
Regards
P. S. The eagles are very common here too. You just don’t often see them. They’re very adept at staying out of sight. After all where I took the image which is within walking distance to our home, is named Eagle Creek Park and there’s Eagle Creek Reservoir and Dam and Eagle Creek municipal Airport . What we see much more often are the Hawks and Turkey Vultures.
the shot.
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. What we see much more often are the Hawks and Turkey Vultures.