Dale Matson
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This year seems to be the year of
the juvenile Bald Eagles. This is my second year that I have sought to
photograph them in earnest and tried to be methodical about it. I think much of
my methods are based on my experience that wildlife in general and eagles in
particular are creatures of habit.
I became intentional about seeking
out wildlife a few years ago trying to photograph the elusive and endangered
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep. What a challenge compared to landscape
photography. In fact, it is almost different in kind as a type of photography.
It is certainly more challenging. I actually began with a point and shoot zoom
lens camera. My first lesson was, “Go big or go home”. The lenses for wildlife
are usually much larger (400mm-800mm) than landscape and not easy to carry into
the mountains. When backpacking, the lens usually weighs more than my tent and
sleeping bag combined. The camera settings are also more sophisticated.
Adequate light is more critical. Mountains are in a specific location and
wildlife at best is in a general area. And that is when you know about the
‘general area’. Navigating the terrain can be difficult also. Wildlife rarely
pose either and are constantly on the move trying to put trees and shrubbery
between themselves and you. It is frustrating for me when the closer I get the
more things seem to get in the way. Eagles and sheep standing on large boulders
really helps me to get the full animal in the viewfinder.
For bighorn sheep, binoculars and a
spotting scope are useful. The distance usually also requires a tripod for
sharp photos assuming the air is clear enough. Flat light and an overcast sky
makes the photo difficult and generally inferior. The closer you can get, the better
the photo, period.
Knowing the area is very important
and time of day is important. What does an area normally look like? Is there a
new trail, a new ‘bump’ on the landscape? Is there a different color? Fresh
tracks? Adult Bald Eagles have a white head that shows up rather well. Immature
eagles will land further down in a tree than adults. I don’t know if this is a
hierarchy thing or to blend in with the branches. Mornings seem to be the time
the raptors are most active.
Photography is more than walking
down a trail. In fact, with sheep, this is a rather futile and arduous effort.
It is better to find a good vantage point and scan with binoculars. The CDFW
has an advantage and head start over civilians with animals. Select herd
members are fitted with GPS and radios collars.
Yesterday I drove out to a seasonal
peninsula of Millerton Lake and parked. I scanned using my 10X50 binoculars
along the road that leads to the Blue Oak Trail. I also was able to see several
spots along the trail. I did spot a large bird along the road and made a mental
note of the location. I was ready to photograph as I approached the area and
got some nice close shots from my truck. I sometimes use the camera lens itself
but this uses battery life. I was also able to establish where the birds were
not. This saved traveling to the location. Photographing an animal/bird can
also lead to discovering additional animals that you didn’t see when taking the
photograph. Yesterday, I spotted and photographed a distant eagle in the top of
an Oak tree. Much to my surprise, there were two additional eagles in the tree
below that eagle when I enlarged the image in my viewfinder.
There is a spot on the Madera side
of the lake where I have seen an eagle more than once. The closer I got, the more obscured the bird became with branches. Yesterday the bird was not there and I
investigated a couple of alternate routes to the tree that would keep me
concealed as I approached a keep me high enough to get a clear photo at a good
distance. Every time is a learning experience.
3 Eagles
Two Distant Adult Bald Eagles
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