Eagle Tour Report 2016 — Robert OToole Photography

Unforgettable Experiences

This season of eagle photography in Alaska, my 11th straight year, was full of amazing experiences and opportunities I will never be able to forget. My tour participants really made it all possible so a big thanks to everyone that joined me in Alaska this year.

The Weather The weather really has been a big issue world wide over the last couple years and in Alaska things have really been affected by climate change with a lot less cold days and a lot more unusually warm days but the amazing thing is that the eagles could care less. Actually it seems like there are more eagles and this year it seemed like there were more sub-adult eagles than ever. Lots of eagles, pleasant weather, beautiful habitats and five other keen photographers in your group, what more could you ask for?

Storm clouds and perfect morning light is an exceptional combination and a dream opportunity for any nature photographer. Kenai Peninsula Alaska, NIKON D810 and SIGMA 120-300 mm f/2.8 Sports lens @ 240mm, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, manual mode, ISO 500. Image Copyright 2016 Robert OToole Photography.

Thanks to the constantly changing weather in this part of the world the five days of the tour will usually offer shooting conditions from clouds, to rain, to sun and everything is between, sometimes all in one day! This year the only weather phenomenon we missed was a snow storm, otherwise the weather couldn't have been better.

The Eagles

Flared eagle, Kenai Peninsula Alaska, NIKON D810 and SIGMA 120-300 mm f/2.8

We had an great number of eagles this year for each tour. Even after all these years I still find it amusing when first timers on my tour cant hardly believe their eyes when the eagles just show up when we arrive, going from 2 to 25 in a few minutes and up to 50-75 or even more within an hour of arriving.

Inverted dive, Kenai Peninsula Alaska, NIKON D810 and SIGMA 120-300 mm f/2.8

The first day of the eagle tour can be really hard for new people as there can be so many eagles coming from all directions that concentrating on getting a good image can be difficult. But after the shock of the first day the amount of quality images increases exponentially! After a few days you will learn to recognize and predict the eagles actions, like the inversion above, and things really start to get easy.

Eagle rock, Kenai Peninsula Alaska, NIKON D810 and SIGMA 120-300 mm f/2.8

Two participants were able to bring the new Nikon D5 on the tour and I was able to try them out a couple of times. I think the auto AF fine tuning and touch screen were useful, the additional speed and high ISO capabilities at least for eagles were also nice but nothing groundbreaking over the D4S as far as I am concerned.

Hard bank Kenai Peninsula Alaska, NIKON D810 and SIGMA 120-300 mm f/2.8

The Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens was the perfect lens for the action again this year. After a few years with this lens I don't really see myself going back to a prime 300/2.8 again. The flexibility of the zoom with the speed of a prime lens are just too good to be true making it one of the best low light wildlife lenses out there.

Eagle paradise, Kenai Peninsula Alaska, NIKON D810 and SIGMA 120-300 mm f/2.8

There are not that many places out for wildlife photographers that offer almost unlimited opportunities that are not degrading over time with almost no pressure from crowds. I feel lucky that I have been able to visit a place like this to share it with other photographers thanks to my tour participants for making it possible. If you have ever dreamed about shooting eagles in a natural environment think about joining my tour, you wont regret it. I

strive to put you in the right place to make the very best images possible and your image making will always be a priority over my own.

Tour size is limited to 4 participants so there will always be plenty of time for personal assistance and instruction from the leader.

Each and every day I will strive to put you in the right place to make the very best images possible. Your image making will always be a priority over my own. My second goal is to make sure you return home safe and sound with images that are better than expected.

Tour size is limited to 4 participants so there will always be plenty of time for personal assistance and instruction from the leader.

The 2017 workshop details have available here:

http://www.robertotoole.com/workshop/bald-eagles/

Shoot me an email, Robert at Robert OToole Photography.com, if you have any questions.