On the same level as an Eagle

[Tonji Ramos]

Paollo, Sylvia and I went to UP yesterday and were rewarded with great views of the immature Philippine Serpent Eagle.

Sylvia was the one who spotted the bird first, and we quickly rushed to our gear and assembled our kit.

We got maybe 4 or 5 views and I think the last one was the best because we were eye level. I have never been eye level with an Eagle that is free and in the wild. I usually have to shoot them from way below. The bird was so low our tripods were on the splayed out position on the ground. Needless to say we were contorted in various positions to get the shots, I was kneeling on one leg , Sylvia was on both knees with her face almost touching the ground, Pao was more dignified he was sitting and using live view.

We got quite close to the bird. I had to flip my camera to portrait mode to fit the eagle in the frame. So cool.

I wish it was not as overcast, it looked like twilight at times but it was in the middle of the morning. But with wild bird photography you can't have everything perfect.

Philippine Serpent Eagle
Spilornis holospilus




Canon 5Dmk2, 500mm, 1.4xtc, 1/125/ f5.6, ISO 2000, tripod

[mantarey]

Beautiful portrait shot Tonji. I'm glad it's still there and you were able to capture it very well.

[Dennis Alfaro]

great image Tonji, the eagle really poses for you guys

[Bob Kaufman]

Congrats guys on seeing this current "star" of UPD. That is a great close-up shot, Tonji! I like very much.

[tina mallari]

wow you guys are so lucky !!! so inggit as usual

[William Lim]

Very nice capture, Tonji. I have been there twice already and haven't seen this bird.

[Enrique Frio]

Great shots! What's your secret to having birds pose for you?

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks Rey. Yup it was there. Prop gave us directions via text then one minute later it shows up.

Thanks Den, we were lucky it hung around.

Thanks Bob. Too bad you could not join us.

Tina, you should have joined us. Maybe we would have gotten the other target birds.

Thanks William, it did not leave the area the whole time we were there

Enrique, for every bird that will pose nicely hundreds fly away. Hehe.

[Mark Itol]

A very fine portrait of this new UPD rockstar, Tonji! Big congrats for bagging it!

[Toto Gamboa]

Wooooooow. You nailed it Tonji!

[Clemn A. Macasiano Jr.]

Wonderfull image ! Btw , I see something on the birds neck .... It seems it look like a tie wrap white plastic. Note the tip of the 2nd green leaf near the neck ... Please take a second look. Thanks

[ppaaoolloo]

Well imaged Tonjie. ;D

[gabriel buluran]

great detail on this capture tonji! challenging "shoot through leaves on bended knees" shot!

i think the plastic looking thing is a portion of the leaf.

[Clemn A. Macasiano Jr.]

Oct 13, 2010 3:10:59 GMT gabriel buluran said:

great detail on this capture tonji! challenging "shoot through leaves on bended knees" shot!

i think the plastic looking thing is a portion of the leaf.

Yes I think your right Gabs ... I think I need to correct my eyeglass. Sorry Tonji ... My bad. Anyway wonderful shot

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks Mark and Toto. We were lucky!

Thanks Clem, oh its part of the leaf.

Pao, I am sure you had some good shots.

Gabs, thanks. It was a fun shoot. We were on the elevated portion which is why we kept having to bend down. Hehe.

[JV Noriega]

Nice shot Tonji! Grrrrr!!!! 4 times i've tried my luck to capture this bird, and he only showed-up once, very quickly, and from a great distance.. hope it stays till the weekend! You guys got really lucky on this one!

[Enrique Frio]

"Enrique, for every bird that will pose nicely hundreds fly away. Hehe."

Well with that hit rate, I gotta get out more! hehe