The Iowa Photo: Eagle eye

A photographer friend of mine messaged me that eagles were congregating along the Iowa River near the Burlington Street Bridge in Iowa City.

I set out to make some eagle photos, seeing that it was a beautiful winter day and that we can always use a piece of wild art. The eagles gather there because of the easy meals that disoriented fish make after tumbling over the Burlington Street Dam.

The eagles are pretty habituated at having pedestrians walking along the sidewalk under them. That being said, I still kept my distance as I would have to stay stationary while I was taking a photo.

I underexposed the scene to accentuate the blue sky and to keep detail in the white neck features. I also waited for it to turn its head in order to catch the sunlight in its eye.

Even though the photo is pretty much full frame, I still wished I had photographed it tighter. I have a pretty high bar for myself and wildlife photos.

– Jim Slosiarek