Eagle Tour Report 2016

April 22, 2016 in Alaska, Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle Workshop, Tour, Travel report, Workshops

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.

Eagle Tour 2015

April 17, 2015 in Alaska, Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle Workshop, Nikon D4s, Nikon D810, Workshops

Eagle Launching into a superman pose. Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens and Nikon D4s, 1/4000s, f/5.6, 140mm, ISO 400, EV + 1.3, Manual mode, Handheld.

2015 has the distinction my being my tenth year leading eagle workshops in Alaska. Its a privilege to have such wonderful tour participants that made all the 4 tours a big success, a special thanks to all of this years participants.

Redirection against spruce trees with cones. Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens and Nikon D810, 1/2500s, f/4, 300mm, ISO 400, Manual mode, Handheld.

The Weather

The biggest news this March had to be the weather. My first group had unusually low temperatures hitting -5 F all the way down to -15 with lots of wind and only one short period of snow. The next three groups saw much warmer temperatures but no major rain or snow.

The warmer weather we have had over the last couple of years did create one benefit this year. The stress of the warm weather caused a bumper crop of mature spruce cones. They really add a nice touch of color in an otherwise monochromatic spruce background.

The Usual Subjects and Locations

The sheer numbers of eagles at our locations this year was just great, the opportunities have been getting better and better over the last few years. In all four of my groups we had magical shoots that made all the expense, time and effort to get to Alaska worth it.

Launching in soft light. Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens and Nikon D4s, 1/2500s, f/5.6, 155mm, ISO 1250, EV + 1.3, Manual mode, Handheld.

Equipment

This year I went with the same lenses as my Japan tour, with Sigma 120-300 f/2.8, Sigma 150-600 sports, and a Sigma 24-105 all in my new F-stop backpack system. For bodies I brought a Nikon D810 and D4s for backup. My old faithful 120-300 f2/8 sigma lens was my favorite lens again this year. This lens has to be just about the perfect lens for eagle photography.

The D810 AF system worked very well, maybe even better than my D800E. The ability to go into CX mode with 6 fps and a 1.2X crop and DX mode with 7 fps and 1.5X crop on the D810 was useful when the D4s was not around. The D4s was my choice for low light and when I expected some heavy flight action.

This year with the addition of my new Bama boot socks my arctic sport Muck boots kept me warm and toasty even on the coldest mornings. Why didn't I know about these before?

Eagle island Kachemak Bay. Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens and Nikon D4s, 1/2500s, f/5.6, 145mm, ISO 500, EV + 1.3, Manual mode, Handheld.

Temperatures The higher than normal temps over the last couple of years has a huge influence on the eagles behavior. This can make action at certain spots inconsistent and at others better than ever. Some of the areas that are normally very productive were unusually quiet this year but since there are so many spots available we worked alternate locations that offered amazing opportunities.

One twentieth speed blur. Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens and Nikon D810, 1/4000s, f/13, 270mm, ISO 100, EV + 1.3, Manual mode, Handheld.Eagle posing next to cone topped bonsai like spruce. Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens and Nikon D810, 1/500s, f/4, 300mm, ISO 500, EV + 1.3, Manual mode, Handheld.

Super close up approach. Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens and Nikon D4s, 1/2500s, f/7.1, 220mm, ISO 1250, EV + 1.3, Manual mode, Handheld.

Bank and spruce trees. Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 Sports lens and Nikon D4s, 1/2500s, f/4, 250mm, ISO 800, EV + 1.3, Manual mode, Handheld.

Eagle over Mt Augustine. Sigma 150-600 Sports lens and Nikon D4s, 1/2000s, f/7.2, 600mm, ISO 1000, EV + 1.3, Manual mode, Handheld.

The weather this year was not the best due to the lack of snow and warm temps but each and every group was able to experience amazing dream like eagle shooting sessions that made everyone more than happy so my rating for this year is an A+.

If you would like to join us next year my 2016 dates are available but act quickly so you are not disappointed.

Eagle Photo Tour Series 2016

March 15 – 19th, 2016, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950. March 22 – 26th, 2016, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950. March 28th – April 1, 2016, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950.

Maximum of 5 photographers + Leader Robert OToole and co-leader.

For more tour info follow this link: http://www.robertotoole.com/workshop/bald-eagles/

Sunday February 21st - Saturday March 5th, 2016, 14 Days: $8200. Deposit $3000.

Maximum 6 photographers + Leader Robert OToole and co-leader.

Any questions or comments? Leave a question below or send me an email.

First Eagle of The Day

March 23, 2015 in Alaska, Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle Workshop, Travel report, Workshops

Early bird sequence. NIKON D4S with Sigma sports 120-300 mm f/2.8 lens @ 220mm, ISO 800, 1/4000 s at f/5.6.

Within minutes of arriving at our shooting location at first light this eagle flew directly at us and banked across our bow.

Wildlife photography is challenging but sometimes everything falls into place and makes things really really easy.

Will post lots more images and details on my 2015 eagle tour series soon!

Unsharpened 100% magnification crop of the above sequence.

Any questions or comments? Leave a question below or send me an email.

Eagle Tour Report Part 2

April 02, 2014 in Alaska, Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle Workshop, Tour, Travel, Travel report, Workshops

Epic 12 Days of Eagle Photography

Over the last 9 years of leading eagle tours in Alaska the photo opportunities have been getting better and better but this year the opportunities were unprecedented. In the first week my first tour group were really lucky to see all kinds of weather conditions over five days from snow flurries to a blizzard and finally sunny conditions but the she second and third groups were able to enjoy something I have never seen before in all of time leading tours, 12 days of sun with light to non existent winds. The winds were what bird photographer dreams are made of, SE wind in the morning and SW wind in the afternoon, which are ideal. We had superb action in gorgeous light with perfect winds for 12 straight days, unbelievable!

Eagle mid strike in late afternoon light. Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S @ 290mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/2000th s at f/5.6, ISO 640, handheld.

The location for the image above is easily one of my favorites in Alaska. This is a protected tidal pool with distant spruce trees and snow covered mountain tops in the background and offshore winds in the afternoon.

For most of the time this year light levels were high enough to allow ISO levels in the hundreds (not in the thousands) with plenty of shutter speed.

Bank landing on the beach in warm early morning light. Sigma 50-500mm OS HSM @ 340mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/2000th s at f/8.0, ISO 640, handheld.

As a display of aggression some eagles when landing near a group of others with bank hard and call when landing. I try to listen for and single out these individuals whenever I hear and eagle calling.

Full spread landing. Sigma 50-500mm OS HSM @ 340mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/2000th s at f/8.0, ISO 640, handheld.

Eagles usually prefer to land on something above ground level like this driftwood log on the beach for example so preparation and patience always pay off with images like this.

One of the best things about my eagle tour, something most people can't believe, is that you don't need 500-600 or 800mm lens. My favorite images made on the tour this year were from 90mm to about 350mm on a full frame camera. My favorite lens this year by far was the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S. For lots of people, me included, a 300 prime lens can be great birds in flight lens but for shooting conditions on this trip a 300mm prime can definitely be too much so a 120-300 f/2.8 zoom or 70-200 with a 1.4X are just about ideal.

Inverted bank before diving in perfect late afternoon light. Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S @ 300mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/4000th s at f/4.0, ISO 400, handheld.

Eagles really seem to enjoy radical maneuvers in flight, like this upside down flip right before a dive.

One afternoon my group was treated to an air-show when a sub-adult eagle blasted barrel roll after barrel roll miles above the tree line. It left everyone speechless.

Eagle hovering with talons out in late afternoon light. Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S @ 170mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/4000th s at f/4, ISO 320, handheld.

With stiff offshore winds, perfect late afternoon light and 50 eagles in the air your available memory card space seems to evaporate into the cold air.

A stiff breeze will keep eagles up in the air hovering then when they want to dive they stick out their talons, flare their wings and tail out slamming on the air-brakes before they pitch forward into a dive. This is the split second of maximum stall right before the dive. This is something I will never get tired of seeing in the viewfinder!

Eagle roost. Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S @ 300mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/4000th s at f/4.0, ISO 400, handheld.

Soft light and lots of eagle roosting, this is exactly what you want to see when you arrive at a photography location first thing in the morning.

2015 dates have been confirmed so if you would like to join me next year contact me as soon as possible to avoid being disappointed since the 2013 and 2014 tours were sold-out. For more info:

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

Eagle Photo Tour Series 2015

Mar 14th - 18th, 2015, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950. 5 photographers maximum.

Mar 20th- 24th, 2015, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950. 5 photographers maximum.

Mar 26th – Mar 30, 2015, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950. 5 photographers maximum.

Tour leader: Robert OToole

March 14th - 18th, 2015, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950. 5 photographers maximum.

March 20th - 24th, 2015, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950. 5 photographers maximum.

March 26th - Mar 30, 2015, 5 days $3900. Deposit $1950. 5 photographers maximum.

Tour leader: Robert OToole

Any questions or comments? Leave a question below or send me an email.

Eagle Tour Report 2014

March 19, 2014 in Alaska, Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle Workshop, Tour, Travel, Travel report, Workshops

Part One - Sunny with a Chance of a Blizzard

Over this past week my first tour group and I have been super lucky to see everything Alaska has to offer in terms of photographic possibilities and some of the most challenging shooting conditions I have seen up here. Over 5 days we have seen everything from a full blizzard to perfect sunny conditions and almost everything in between. For only the second time since 2005 I had to cancel a shoot in Alaska due to a blizzard that slammed into the area with 45 mph winds, 10 foot waves and snow and ice coming down sideways just as we were gearing up to leave for a shooting session.

Eagle inverted right before a dive, Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM @ 340mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/1600th s at f/8, ISO 400, Manual mode, handheld.

Eagles seem to enjoy aerial acrobatic flying. They will often throw themselves into an upside down position at the top of a climb, as you can see above, to redirect straight down into a steep dive. Sometimes if you are lucky to be close enough you can hear the wind rush off their wings in a low roar as they shoot by. Sometimes you can actually feel this rush of wind if are right below them.

Over the next few days after the blizzard we had great opportunities with clouds, snow, wind and even beautiful sunny conditions on the last day of the tour. On the last shooting session of the tour the participants had enough of shooting and literally called it quits completely worn out by all the continuous action over the last couple of days. The group all had huge smiles on their tired faces as we headed back on the last session of the tour.

Eagle wing up threat pose, Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM @ 500mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/500th s at f/8, ISO 500, Manual mode, handheld.

When an individual eagle lands near a group they sometimes land with wings straight up, beating only the tops or tips of their wings while calling. This threat pose is always great to see but can be very hard to catch unless you are looking out specifically for this pose. After years and years photographing eagles I have only been able to capture this behavior a half a dozen times or so I was really happy to see this opportunity for my group.

Eagle inverted, Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM @ 210mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/40th s at f/8, ISO 100, Manual mode, handheld.

Low light levels and deep dark backgrounds makes for great opportunities for speed blurs. The low light makes it possible to use low ISO levels and the dark background in the image above makes details in the eagle really stand out. 1/40th of a second gives you just enough blur to show the speed of the subject.

Eagle inverted, Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 OS HSM @ 270mm, Nikon D4, manual mode, 1/2000th s at f/5.6, ISO 640, Manual mode, handheld.

Even though I have shot this for what seems like the millionth time, I still love the fully extended wings forward eagle bank. For this session the cloudy sky gave us super soft light and nice soft backgrounds.

More images and details coming soon in the second part of this report including 2015 tour dates!

Any questions or comments? Leave a question below or send me an email.