Bruce Benson
October 2026 - Seabeck Eagles
About the Image(s)
About the image: Taken in Seabeck, Washington. Every spring many eagles gather to feast on fish called sculpin that get stuck in the oyster beds as the tide goes out. Many great blue herons also gather to join in the feast. When a heron catches a fish the eagles leap from the trees above and steal the fish from the heron, putting on quite a show for photographers. The eagle will also compete for the fish while flying making for a spectacular show. A local lady won the $10,000 grand prize a few years ago in the Audubon photo contest. F8/1/1000/ISO 640.
5 comments posted
Great capture of them in flight and rendering blue sky with a nice/natural hue. All well done.:) Posted: 10/03/2026 18:32:58
Very well exposed and a sharp dramatic picture. The spread of the wings captured at just the right moment -- particularly the bird on top. Subtle pale blue sky perfectly shows off the eagles. I like the combination of colors -- blues, browns, whites and the touch of yellows in the beaks -- enhanced by the soft box effect present because of the lack of overly contrasting ambient light. Just a personal preference here -- I would have cloned out the sky above because bright areas in a composition tend to draw the eye away from the subject. Maybe draw in the right side a little so that the birds are not so centered. Great job! Posted: 10/08/2026 14:21:56
Bruce - thank you first for the explanation you gave here - interesting. I just love the shape of the top bird's wings and its expression and he'd angle is perfectly captured. There is much detail in the feathers to enjoy.
I'm not sure though of the linkage between the two birds - if there is one, or why the top bird has reacted. Sorry if I missed something. Posted: 10/15/2026 21:22:37
I'm not sure though of the linkage between the two birds - if there is one, or why the top bird has reacted. Sorry if I missed something. Posted: 10/15/2026 21:22:37
The pose of the top eagle, with that wing spread and open beak, is fantastic. The second bird fills some space but I'm on the fence about whether it adds to the shot.
My take on the background is that it's mountains with sky above. For that reason I wouldn't crop out the bright sky, as it gives more of a sense of place. I would consider cropping a bit off the right though so that the birds are a little less centered.
but a very dramatic shot with that pose! Beauty. Posted: 10/20/2026 23:50:19
My take on the background is that it's mountains with sky above. For that reason I wouldn't crop out the bright sky, as it gives more of a sense of place. I would consider cropping a bit off the right though so that the birds are a little less centered.
but a very dramatic shot with that pose! Beauty. Posted: 10/20/2026 23:50:19
Hi Bruce,
Great dynamic shot! The image is well balanced, and the eagles are nicely isolated against the blue sky. I also like the birds' poses, with their wings spread wide and just the right amount of separation between them. Posted: 10/25/2026 14:20:37
Great dynamic shot! The image is well balanced, and the eagles are nicely isolated against the blue sky. I also like the birds' poses, with their wings spread wide and just the right amount of separation between them. Posted: 10/25/2026 14:20:37