Two of my favorite images of bald eagles have been published in the October, 2015 issue of Alaska magazine. The photo of the bald eagles fighting served as the full page opener to the “Adventure” section of the magazine while the photo of the eagle wrestling a live chum salmon was part of the “KtoB” (Ketchikan to Barrow) section.
Interestingly, both photos were shot on the same mid-November day on the Chilkat River in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines. I recall it being one of those days where everything just fell into place. The eagles were active and the light was perfect — bright, but not too harsh. In wildlife photography you can wait for days just for one decent photo. Patience really is a virtue in this profession, but on this day my opportunities for good photos were plentiful. While photos of bald eagles fighting over a a dead chum salmon are easy to come by, good photos of an eagle dragging a live salmon out of the river are not. Both photos illustrate a key wildlife photography tip — get as low as possible so you are on the same level as your subject. I was literally laying on the ground to capture the bald eagle dragging the salmon out of the water. One additional benefit of getting low is that your backgrounds are likely to be cleaner, further isolating your subject.
If you have ever wondered what life is like in Alaska, check out Alaska magazine. The magazine features great photography and stories on the people, cultures, lifestyles, and natural wonders of the state. Alaska magazine can often be found at local bookstores and newsstands. Electronic editions/subscriptions of Alaska magazine for the iPad can be found on the Apple iTunes App Store.
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