I found this immature bald eagle while watching osprey, and might have missed him if he hadn’t turned to look as one of the osprey flew past. Without their adult color, and especially their white head feathers, bald eagles are tricky to spot against a forest background. This individual is nearing maturity, but not quite there.
This is one of those times when a bit more lens-reach would have been ideal. I had to crop these in somewhat, and even then the eagle is smaller in the scene than I would like. I can try to call them “environmental portraits” or talk about showing a creature within its habitat, and both of those are valid. But it doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t have enough reach for a truly great capture.
“Foot zooming” is a photography classic, and it works well enough…when there isn’t a lake between you and your subject!