A photograph showing a bald eagle ‘staring daggers’ at a photographer has gone viral after being shared on social media.
Steve Biro, a Canadian amateur photographer, was out snapping pictures at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy recently when the majestic bird, named Bruce, was released and flew over the water towards him.
The perfectly timed, symmetrical shot captured the entire wingspan of the bird as it glided, and showed its reflection shimmering below.
As well as the photo, Steve shared a video of the bird:
While there’s no denying it’s a stunning shot, one of the most notable aspects of the photo is the way the eagle appeared to be staring directly down the camera lens.
Call it what you want; staring daggers, a death stare, a scowl – the point is the eagle is looking right into the soul of the viewer.
Check it out here:
I’m sure a lot of patriotic Americans will be able to feel the freedom just radiating through them whenever they look at Steve’s photo.
The 53-year-old photographer shared the picture on Facebook, and it wasn’t long before it found its way to the front page of Reddit. It has since gone viral, with many people complimenting Steve on his incredible shot.
Speaking to the BBC about the photo and the reaction it has received, Steve said:
He’s squared up perfectly, both wings are touching the water.
That [photograph] was the one that struck me as as little more special than the others. But I still didn’t even know how it would resonate with people.
Although I’m sure the eagle’s dramatic glare towards Steve wasn’t anything personal, the photographer went on to explain the bird seemed irked at his choice of positioning.
He said:
He was actually trying to brush me away from where I was perched.
I could feel the breeze from his wings as he flew over me. The other people who were there were gasping as he came over my head. It was really quite exhilarating.
It appeared the photographer had inadvertently stolen the bird’s favourite perch as he explained as soon as he got up off the rock where he had been sitting the eagle flew over and claimed the spot.
The photo is one of several hundred brilliant shots Steve took that day, but I think it would be hard to top the incredible picture showing the eagle’s stare!
Amazing.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.