The patient wildlife photography way …
I get a tip from a friend about an eagle that frequents a secluded spot and immediately check it out. I find the eagle and start preparations.
During the night, I set up my blind and crawl into it during the early morning hours. For three days I sit and wait for the eagle to land close enough for a predetermined portrait shot. Finally on the fourth day I get my shot. It’s all worth the wait. Except it didn’t quite happen like that.
The Krahnpix way …
I’m staring out the window of the truck looking but not really seeing. We are in the Manitoba prairies on the way home from a rare trip east.
By habit I keep noting unusual shapes that may mark the presence of significant birds. An odd shape keeps getting larger until we get almost parallel with it and I announce, “There’s an eagle.” What is it doing here?
We make a hurried stop but are too far away and I notice the ditch between me and the eagle is filled with water. My natural aversion to getting wet shoes stops me in my tracks. My wife suggests a way around it.
I jump back into the truck and we drive around to a side road that takes us much closer. We ease past the still-present eagle and stop the truck. I scramble to the open hatch and desperately try to extract my camera and lens from underneath a pile of luggage. This was poor planning! Three tugs later I get it out and quickly swing around to take a photo. I adjust the exposure and move to a better location while the eagle is still landed.
A few minutes later I’m staring out the window at the Manitoba prairies rolling by. Did I just get a rare-for-me eagle shot? Sweet.
Krahnpix 
Amazing photos! Perfect 😀
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Thanks. It was a wonderful opportunity that worked out pretty well.
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Reading the introduction I though ‘wow – that’s more patience than I will ever have…’. Hurrying to get the camera out and the telephoto lens on is more my style as well:) Awesome shot!
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Thanks. Yes I wish there was some place I could buy patience – I’d go for the extra large!
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And I am a bit jealous…I’ve yet to capture a nice Bald Eagle shot, so congratulations 🙂
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Thanks – this is my first one at closer range so I was a bit pumped about that. Hope you get a great one.
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🙂 I like the way you shoot, we’d definitely get along well.
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I’ve seen the way you shoot and I agree.
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Beautiful photos!
I’m also more of a… spontaneous photographer, than an organized one who plans well ahead. Seems to work, at least to some extent! 😀
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There’s high value in being in the moment! Plus there’s that rush when it happens quickly.
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Wow! Great story, and fabulous portraits. My husband and I just came back from an hours-long search for an eagle nest we know is not far from here, but we have yet to find it, alas ….
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I hope you find the nest and the eagles. They are worth looking for. Glad you enjoyed this one.
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Sweet! You may be interested in checking out the Raptor Resource Project http://raptorresource.blogspot.com/. The Egg/Hatch/Fledge process of the Decorah, Iowa eagles took about 80 days each time in 2015. You can check out what happens via live streaming at http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles.
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Great stuff. Thanks for sharing the links. Those eagles are special.
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I would be disappointed if the Krahnpix way was anything but unusual 🙂
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And I like it that way!
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Those are great eagle photos. Lyle! And your wife to thank for them! Keep up the stories along with those wonderful photos. I do enjoy them.
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Thanks so much. My wife is usually a great help. I’ll keep going back to the well to see if there’s anything there.
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That is a great photograph, that only an obsessive wildlife photographer could get! When I see the photo, I am very proud of America.
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Well if I’m going to be obsessive about something, it may was well be wildlife photography! No question you guys got the better symbol but every time I mention that the beaver lovers get on my case!
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Our symbol is more majestic, but it is also kind of a jerk. I have seen bald eagles eat dead seagulls and rotten fish.
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Yes that’s the other point people raise. I guess no creature is perfect.
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You, know I was thinking “Oh no.Don’t tell me he flew away.” Felt the excitement and you got gorgeous shots!
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I’m glad the story reeled you in. It always seem to be an adventure with wildlife or nothing but crickets!
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That’s got to be one of the best eagle shots I’ve seen! And you have your wife to thank for it! What a pair you make.
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That’s high praise from an eagle shooter. You’re absolutely right about the pair we make but I think I got the better deal:)
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Well done Lyle, cracking photo!
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Thanks. It certainly helps to have a good-looking subject.
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By the way… in the end I opted for the Zenelli gimbal head on the Manfrotto tripod and absolutely love it. If you happen to run into one give it a try!
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Glad that combo works for you. It’s great to have gear that you love.
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Congratulations
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Sweet, indeed! Of course, once you camera was in your hand your excellent camera craft kicked in automatically and it was a case of ‘job done’!
(Just think, if you hadn’t have made the effort you wouldn’t have got the shot – then you would have kicked yourself at some time in the future – we get the shots by trying to get them, not thinking about getting them! ;))
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You are absolutely right about living with the regret of not trying to get the shot! It’s often a mystery which one of my attempts will yield results. And the thinking about it never succeeds. I appreciate your thots.
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Nice shot.
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I appreciate that.
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Lucky you! And a nice capture to boot!
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I’m always in for pleasant surprises!
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Fabulous shot, Lyle. Whatever would you do without your wife to advise you? 🙂
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You raise an excellent point. I have no idea what I would do without my wife to advise me on many matters. For starters I probably wouldn’t have got this shot!
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Brought a smile at my end… The mad scramble for the camera during an unexpected wildlife encounter is something I have done myself. Great images as usual!
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There’s nothing quite like the scramble with all its chaos and adrenaline. Great fun. Happy to hear about the smile.
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What a stunning shot and even after having to re-route & TUG that camera outta there!! Fantastic.
Love the story that makes this rare shot just that much better. Thanks for sharing.
I always enjoy your photos and have also liked reading the accompanying stories when time allows.
Keep up the great work.
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It’s funny because I distinctly remember another eagle I encountered that flew away even though my truck was just slowing down and a much greater distance away. I never know how these encounters will turn out but this one was a lot of fun. I’m happy to hear that you enjoy the posts. Thanks for commenting.
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I just love moments like that. Makes the image that much sweeter. Great post. 🙂
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I never get tired of those special surprises – it keeps the adrenaline working! Glad you enjoyed it.
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What a beaut Lyle, gorgeous capture!
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Thanks. They are such beautiful creatures. I was so pleased to get the unexpected encounter.
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