A quiet drive to work turned into an unforgettable wildlife encounter for Kleefeld photographer Sandee Klassen Erickson, and now, a photo from that moment is getting noticed around the world.
Erickson recently received a Contender Award from the international photography website ViewBug for a striking image of a bald eagle feeding on a deer just outside Kleefeld. The photo was taken nearly a year ago, on January 23, 2025, but the memory is still vivid.
“I was on my way to work, just outside of Kleefeld off Ridge Road, and I just happened to come across this.”
An eagle enjoying a meal, just feet from photographer Sandee Klassen Erickson (Photo credit: Sandee Klassen Erickson)
An eagle that didn’t fly away
The eagle was in the ditch beside the road, along with several others and some blackbirds, feeding on a deer. When Erickson pulled up, most of the birds took off, but one stayed.
“He just kept going like I wasn’t even there.”
Erickson then rolled down her window and began taking photos when something unexpected happened.
“All of a sudden, he left the deer, and he came and walked over,” she said. “He was about 15 feet away from me… my window was open, and he just sat there, and he looked at me.”
She says the moment didn’t feel threatening at all.
“It was almost like he was trying to tell me something. I don’t know if he was curious about me, but he kind of left me wondering, what is he trying to tell me? But, it really seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Erickson adds, “It was really quite an honour. So, I named the image “Honoured”.”
Award-winning image taken with a phone
Despite the powerful image, Erickson didn’t use her professional camera gear that day, just her phone.
“I used my Samsung S24 Ultra; it’s got an amazing camera on it.”
She admits a larger camera might have captured different details, but says the phone still delivered.
“This one actually does quite well,” she added.
Why this photo stood out
Erickson says she chose this specific image to submit to the Viewbug website because it captured the eagle’s personality and behaviour.
“It just gave the character of the eagle on the deer. This showed exactly what he had been doing.”
Even the detail of the eagle’s beak stood out. “Yeah, he was definitely having lunch,” she laughed.
Photograph taken by Sandee Klassen Erickson of a young eagle.
Recognition from around the world
Erickson has been part of the ViewBug photography community for several years and regularly submits her favourite images. This one earned her a Contender Award, which means it stood out among thousands of photos submitted.
She tells us what this means to her. “It’s about more recognition,” she explained. “It opens a few more doors. It was selected among thousands of pictures worldwide, and I believe it’s a contender for a greater prize.”
While there’s no major cash prize attached, the award still means a lot. “For me, this is a hobby,” she said. “It’s really encouraging.”
A lifelong love of nature photography
Erickson says she spends a lot of time outdoors and focuses mostly on animal and scenic photography.
“I spend a lot of time in the bush, so I come across a lot of different animals, deer, eagles, and I even have an owl that comes to visit.”
She says moments like this motivate her to keep going.
“It definitely is encouraging,” she said. “I have more photos I want to submit. I just haven’t done it yet.”
Photograph of a Pheasant in fall taken by Sandee Klassen Erickson.
For Erickson, photography isn’t about chasing fame; it’s about the experience.
“It’s not a job for me,” she said. “But it’s something I’ve loved doing all my life.”
And sometimes, all it takes is a drive to work and an eagle willing to stay put to make one’s day.
*All images in the gallery below are courtesy of Sandee Klassen Erickson.