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Angela Elliott
'Eagle Lady' earned her name
The name is Angela Elliott. But in northwestern Tennessee and at Fort Donelson National Battlefield, she’s known as “The Eagle Lady.”
The Big Rock, Tenn., resident has earned that label in the past five years with her dramatic photographs of a growing Bald Eagle population that extends from Tennessee into Kentucky. And some of the most notable photos have been taken at Civil War battlefield sites, such as Fort Donelson.
Her photos of eagles on cannons serve as reminders that the big bird not only is the U.S. national symbol, but has a history that began with the Revolutionary War and continued through the War between the States. Eagles that circled overhead during the Revolution made raucous cries that were described as “shrieks for freedom.” And, a bald eagle called “Old Abe” was the mascot of Wisconsin’s Eighth Infantry Regiment during its 30 Civil War battles.
John Elliott notes his wife probably has “taken 10,000 photographs of eagles” in more than four years and “has deleted 10,000 more.” As a result, Angie has amassed a spectacular collection of eagle images and this year compiled them into a book “On the Wings of Eagles.” A second edition is scheduled this summer.
“Growing up, I read about the Bald Eagle and learned that it was nearly extinct,” Angie said. “Federal protections helped bring it back and one day at Fort Donelson one flew over and close by my head.”
She photographed it with a point-and-shoot camera and was hooked. The bald eagle can have a wingspan of as much as eight feet and weigh as much as 15 pounds. As Angie explains, the birds are breathtaking, particularly when viewed up close.
“Angie has photographed me sitting within three feet of an eagle,” John said. Although the eagles at Fort Donelson have no fear of humans, visitors are prohibited from touching them.
As John explains, they could snap off a finger with their powerful beaks and “could break a baseball bat” should they strike one at diving speed – some 60 miles per hour. During level flight, they can reach a speed of 35 miles per hour.
Angie now uses a digital camera with interchangeable lenses and continues to upgrade to longer and faster lenses. And, in the process, she has learned much about her subjects.
“I’ve seen them sit for as long as three hours and never move a muscle,” she said. “I’ve observed them enough that I can tell when they’re ready to fly.”
And when the Eagle Lady makes that announcement, others bring their cameras into position.
“It’s been a great honor and privilege to photograph the eagles,” she continued. “They’re just beautiful and I’m really touched by their presence.”
A full-time accounting and patient representative in a physican’s office, Angie has “fallen in love with photography” and also takes photos of sporting events and other activities, in addition to accepting assignments and appointments. Although her hobby has become a business, she confesses that she has “given away more photos than I’ve sold.”
But with a second eagle photo book in the offing, her photography may be taking full flight – no pun intended.
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