Selection matters.

Selection matters even more when you’re making a choice for life.

Among bald eagles, till death do us part holds true. Only in the event of a partner's passing—or a rare separation—will they seek out another mate. 

As with any relationship, courtship between these animals can take wild twists and turns. Sometimes, quite literally.

Bald eagles perform what's known as a cartwheel flight: the pair ascends into the sky, entangles their talons, and dives toward the earth together. They release their grip at the very last moment—a trust fall with life-or-death stakes.

While many of the birds live independently, breeding season brings the pair back together.

Nest-building is a shared ritual that can span years. Males search for large sticks and branches and return them to the nest, where the female begins construction. As completion nears, both partners assemble the finer materials—a form of bonding as they prepare to bring their eaglet into the world.

There’s an element of storytelling in any image—but when photographing wildlife, that impulse feels even stronger. Your mind reaches for meaning, drawing parallels between what you see in a species so different from your own and what you know.

The elements were all there.

The wing position.
The raindrops falling.
The imminent departure.
The expressions on both faces.
The finality.
The kind of clarity that comes with time.

It just needed a personal touch.

Only one title felt right.