Merlin

Gallery: AvianPosted December 19, 2010151 views11 comments

Another shot from my Bosque 2008 trip. This merlin was flying around trying to catch a meal when it decided to take a break not far from where I was shooting cranes.
I cleaned up some branches on this shot, and cropped vertically, with NR on BG.

Nikon D300 w/Sigma 50-500 @ 500mm
f/7.1
1/640
iso 800
EC -0.3
HH

All comments and critique welcomed and appeciated.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on December 19, 2010 at 5:07 PM

Thanks Rich, the crop is approx. 50%. I cropped all the way up and down vertical from a horizontal shot.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 19, 2010 at 5:10 PM

One of my favorite birds - detail lacks a bit from what I presume is a crop combined with the higher ISO but I like the perch a lot.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 19, 2010 at 7:49 PM

I really like the comp Doug. Merlin's are just cool birds IMO. Looks like some motion blur causing some lack of detail.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 19, 2010 at 11:10 PM

Doug,

I like the pose, the setting and the interesting shape of the branch the merlin is perched on. There does seem to be a loss of detail especially noticeable in the larger version and it appears slightly soft.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 19, 2010 at 11:46 PM

Bird and perch work very well together. Handsome bird in a noble pose. Nits mentioned.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 20, 2010 at 1:16 AM

Great pose, colors and perch.
Nits mentioned.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 20, 2010 at 7:36 AM

I too agree with the nits Doug. I think you have an interesting subject and a strong composition here.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 20, 2010 at 8:49 AM

Love that pose and the nice simple perch.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 20, 2010 at 9:55 PM

Agree with the comments on it being a bit soft, but the composition is terrific. Nice look at this bird.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 21, 2010 at 10:11 PM

Love the pose of the bird and the comp you have chosen. Some softness in the larger image.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on December 23, 2010 at 2:10 AM

Nice shot- great expression, perch and background- well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments