Sometimes I am able to get shots of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) when they are perched in the open, but most of the time I have an obstructed view of the eagle when I first spot it. I will then move as slowly and carefully as I can to a spot from which I have a somewhat clearer view of my subject. From that spot I will lean and twist and bend in an effort to find a visual tunnel through which I can see at least the head of the eagle—it is ok for me if the body is blocked by vegetation, but I really want to see the eyes of the eagle.
When you initially look at the two images of the eagle below, you may think that the second one is simply a cropped version of the first one. If you examine the little branches more closely, you will see that I took them from two different shooting angles.
I was a bit farther away when I captured the first image and my goal was to frame the eagle with the larger branches. In the second image, I had moved a bit closer to the eagle and was showing upwards toward it. This second angle provides a somewhat more intimate portrait of the eagle as it is nestled in among the small branches and spiky balls of the sweetgum tree.
I know that I am going to have a limited number of encounters with eagles, so I try to make each one “count” by taking shots from as many different angles as possible, never knowing for sure which photos will have the most impact until I review them later on my computer screen.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I can see the different angle of the shot. Do you wear camo or just regular outdoor wear ? Once in a while we will get a Red Tail to stop and eye the bird feeder and they are very skittish. Lovely shots. Thanks
I tend to wear green pants, a camouflage baseball cap, and a camo jacket in the winter. It was warmer today, so I had on a hooded sweatshirt, which was dark blue in color. Some of the eagles are super skittish some of the time, but it is hard to predict in any given situation. Last week, for example, an eagle stayed put when I walked underneath a branch on which it was perched that was overhanging the trail.
Both nice, Mike, with great clarity on the eye. The framing by the upper branch in your first image worked out very well, and I do like that you also got his feet! In both the gumballs make a nice addition, too.
Nice Mike! Always enjoy your Eagle images!