Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/05/31

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Subject: [Leica] Bald Eagle Photos; proving I'm far lazier than doug herr
From: max_weisenfeld at verizon.net (Max Weisenfeld)
Date: Tue May 31 18:14:09 2005
References: <7629EB4795F39146A4D2ECC655CD68EA057038E2@asc02.asc.upenn.edu>

Hoo-ha! Another Bourbon drinker on the list!

Max

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kyle Cassidy" <KCassidy@asc.upenn.edu>
To: <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 9:32 AM
Subject: [Leica] Bald Eagle Photos; proving I'm far lazier than doug herr


> In 1980, Pennsylvania had only three pairs of nesting bald eagles. Today,
> there are something like 45 pairs, largely due to reintroduction. Hardly a
> stellar comeback, but a significant achievement nonetheless.
>
> I knew that to photograph a bald eagle in Pennsylvania would be a 
> challenge,
> but one that I felt up for. In late 2003, a pair of bald eagles nested at
> the Beaver Run Reservoir in westmorland county. They hatched two babies 
> and
> later that year, the father was shot by a turkey hunter but the two babies
> survived.
>
> Across from their aerie is a sheer 60 foot rock cliff with no road access
> that looks down from about 120 feet -- I knew this would be the vantage
> point from which the nest must be photographed. I called
> ye-professional-photo palace to rent a 600mm f4 AF-S and a 1.4x
> teleconverter, and looked into the proper gear backpack for climbing the
> rockface. Then I scheduled climbing lessons at the Centerville Rock Wall
> gym. Bob Tukkas was very helpful in teaching me piton and caribeaner 
> skills.
> I slated two hours for the climb which left me with a dilema, I wanted to
> get there just as the crepuscular light broke over the nest, which would
> have me climbing at dark, a dangerous prospect.
>
> "Ah, what the hell," I figured, and took the lens rental money, bought a
> case of burbon and went to the philadelphia zoo and photographed Ritz and
> Glory with a 300mm where they sat, ignominiously, with an autographed
> (philadelphia eagles) football, looking very bored.
>
> http://www.asc.upenn.edu/usr/cassidy/lj/2005/eagle.jpg
>
> Then I had ice cream and went home, realizing I'll never be half the
> photographer doug herr is, but I do have a case of burbon.
>
>
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> Leica Users Group.
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In reply to: Message from KCassidy at asc.upenn.edu (Kyle Cassidy) ([Leica] Bald Eagle Photos; proving I'm far lazier than doug herr)