Bald eagle photo contest winners have landed
The winning picture of The Press bald eagle photo contest. Tony Mills took this picture of a bald eagle on Lake Coeur d'Alene. He paddled across from Mineral Ridge in his kayak back in the back bay. "That is where I get most my shots. Calm water, no pressure," he wrote.
Tony Mills photo
Mark Addy shot this near Mineral Ridge boat ramp with a Canon R5. "Focus. Precision. Power. This is the magnificent predator at the apex of the food chain, locked onto its target with absolute certainty. Observe the perfect synchronization of a champion—every feather and every muscle converts kinetic energy into a decisive, formidable force," Addy wrote.
Mark Addy photo
Ralph Kerr shots this portrait of a bald eagle at Higgens Point on Lake Coeur d'Alene on a cloudy say. "The eagle was perched on a tree limb faced into the wind," Kerr wrote. "I was looking for a position to get a good photo when I saw this framed image."
Ralph Kerr photo
Jon Kroeker shot this on Dec. 3 at Higgens Point. "I was standing on the shore next to the northern dock, the dock was full of photographers. Ariel circled around from her perch near the statue then dove right in front of me. He used a Nikon Z8with a Nikon 180-600 zoom lens. Shutter: 800; F:6.3.
Jon Kroeker photo
An eagle begins to take flight near Lake Coeur d'Alene in this photo by Dan Smith.
Dan Smith photo
The photo by Norbie Seres was taken at Beauty Bay on the other side of Higgens point on Dec. 8. The camera used was the Nikon Z9 and the lens was the Nikkor 600mm at 4.0.
Norbie Seres photo
This picture by Steven Peak was taken Dec. 16, overcast with wind. "I used the Canon R5 with the Canon 100-400 lens. It was taken toward Higgens Point on Lake Coeur d'Alene."
Steven Peak photo
The Press asked, and the photographers responded.
We received about 75 images of bald eagles for our first Bald Eagle Photo Contest. There were many outstanding pictures, and it wasn't easy to select one. But the shot by Tony Mills of an eagle just above Lake Coeur d'Alene, with its reflection captured on the water's surface, was brilliant and unlike anything we have seen before. It is the winner.
Mills said he paddled across from Mineral Ridge in his kayak in the back bay.
"That is where I get most of my shots. Calm water, no pressure," Mills wrote.
Mark Addy's image of a diving eagle was beautiful and received second place.
"Focus. Precision. Power. This is the magnificent predator at the apex of the food chain, locked onto its target with absolute certainty. Observe the perfect synchronization of a champion — every feather and every muscle converts kinetic energy into a decisive — formidable force," Addy wrote.
Third went to Ralph Kerr for his outstanding portrait of a bald eagle in a tree.
"The eagle was perched on a tree limb faced into the wind," Kerr wrote. "I was looking for a position to get a good photo when I saw this framed image."
The photographers will be honored with prizes.
First Prize: A free night at The Coeur d’Alene Resort
Second Prize: A two-hour boat rental
Third Prize: A $75 gift certificate for Hagadone companies.
We have included a few other amazing pictures as honorable mentions. They were good enough to win almost any other contest. Jon Kroeker, in particular, submitted beautiful images.
The Press thanks everyone who submitted photos and looks forward to the return of the eagles and the photographers next year.
Mark Addy shot this near Mineral Ridge boat ramp with a Canon R5. "Focus. Precision. Power. This is the magnificent predator at the apex of the food chain, locked onto its target with absolute certainty. Observe the perfect synchronization of a champion—every feather and every muscle converts kinetic energy into a decisive, formidable force," Addy wrote.
Ralph Kerr shot this portrait of a bald eagle at Higgens Point on Lake Coeur d'Alene on a cloudy day. "The eagle was perched on a tree limb, facing into the wind," Kerr wrote. "I was looking for a position to get a good photo when I saw this framed image."
Jon Kroeker shot this on Dec. 3 at Higgens Point. "I was standing on the shore next to the northern dock, which was full of photographers. Ariel circled from her perch near the statue, then dove right in front of me. He used a Nikon Z8with a Nikon 180-600 zoom lens. Shutter: 800; F:6.3.
An eagle begins to take flight near Lake Coeur d'Alene in this photo by Dan Smith.
The photo by Norbie Seres was taken at Beauty Bay on the other side of Higgens Point on Dec. 8. The camera used was a Nikon Z9, and the lens was the Nikkor 600mm at 4.0.
This picture by Steven Peak was taken Dec. 16, overcast with wind. "I used the Canon R5 with the Canon 100-400 lens. It was taken toward Higgens Point on Lake Coeur d'Alene."