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Merlin w/2 dragonflies
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Merlin w/2 dragonflies

by David Haynes

Gallery: AvianPosted January 3, 2015482 views18 comments
Nikon D4s
600mm
No Teleconverter
1/3200
ISO 500
Manual Exposure
F/7.1
WB auto (with correction in post)
Shot on a Bean Bag from truck window
Cropped 55%
Processed in LR 5.7 and PSE9
Cloned large white area and a very small portion of a stub on the perch

This is the second image from the very cooperative Merlin I was able to shoot for a few days before it took up residence somewhere else. As I said in my last post this Merlin frequently hunted dragonflies (and birds)and more often than not she came back with at least two in her talons. Seems to me the dragonflies were likely mating, attached to each other while flying slowly, when the Merlin would blast off the perch, nab them in mid air and come back to one of several perches that she used. She would occasionally fly 100 yards or more to grab the dragonflies proving what excellent vision they have.
I believe this image was taken around mid December a couple weeks ago.
In this image she has already eaten the head off of one of the two dragonflies and gave me a pretty decent head turn. Because of your recommendations on my last post I chose to clone out the white blob above the head and to the right of the Merlin.
Hope you like this one. Larger image for a better look. Thanks

Comments

18 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 3, 2015 at 4:07 PM
Killer image - love the clarity and bokeh as well as the dragonflies. Amazing how they catch them.
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Marsh on January 3, 2015 at 4:13 PM
Nice capture David. The head is very sharp with a nice creamy bg. :toast:

Bill
Registered on December 29, 2012, 21 Posts, 225 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 3, 2015 at 6:12 PM
Nice frame! the dragonfly adds SO MUCH interest to an already excellent capture of the merlin. Nice.
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on January 3, 2015 at 8:12 PM
Doesn't get much better than this. Those dragonflies and the color they add puts this over the top.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on January 3, 2015 at 8:24 PM
Spectacular - I'm speechless.......
Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on January 3, 2015 at 9:05 PM
Wow--Those big darners were migrating through before they met the merlin. Great shot :toast: ...................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Sandor on January 3, 2015 at 9:17 PM
David: this image has all the elements of a great photo. The light, subject and composition are all there. Spectacular and congrats. Richard
Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 3, 2015 at 11:40 PM
Excellent, David. A terrific capture and exceptional techs. :toast:
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 4, 2015 at 1:00 AM
David,
there is everything to love about this photo. It is spectacular. The dragonflies are killer. :toast:
Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 4, 2015 at 6:35 AM
Wonderful details in this photo David :cool: You did a great job taking advantage of a unique opportunity. Love both of your photos of this gal.
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on January 4, 2015 at 7:12 AM
This is a perfect image, David.
Everything works perfectly. Very beautiful.
:wavey:
Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Thompson on January 4, 2015 at 1:55 PM
Outstanding David! The clarity in the image is amazing and those dragonflies are the bonus that shoots this over the top. :toast: :toast:
Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 4, 2015 at 3:35 PM
Awesome as posted. I love the intense look.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 4, 2015 at 5:43 PM
Sweet image David. I missed the last post your referring to, I will try and find it. No nits form me on this one. Love the fact she has multiple dragonflies to munch. Techs re great, open beak is great and all around nice comp.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by John Launstein on January 4, 2015 at 6:03 PM
David, this is simply incredible. You have been knocking it out of the park since your "return" last year. Just an extraordinary image. Perfect comp, incredible moment of natural history made even more interesting by the merlin's expression, open beak and raised talon clutching her prize(s). Purty darn near flawless I'd have to say. :wink:

I'm curious that no one else mentioned this so I'm thinking the issue may be on my end, but on the larger version the face, especially the area around and including her right eye (left side to viewer), seems a bit "crunchy" (slightly oversharpened) on my monitor. I'm betting it's perfect on a higher resolution screen, so you've probably done it right for the new generation of screens. I'm on 1920px. Just thought I'd mention it in case it was worth a second look for you.

Exceptional!
Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 5, 2015 at 4:00 AM
Very exceptional image - tack-sharp, great head turn, gorgeors 'flies and beautiful BG.
Definitely a winner!
Big congrats on the 2014 Avian win too -
Sure glad you're able to get out and shoot again,

Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 5, 2015 at 10:13 AM
Hi David :wavey: This is an image we all dream to capture :eek: :cool: :eek: words can't describe the beauty, drama, and technical qualities of this image :toast: :toast: :toast:



Albert Darmo

Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on January 7, 2015 at 3:40 PM
Well executed David, great timing. Lovely clean BKG which separates the subject perfectly. Great detail and I love the slight hint of detail in the eye in the larger image. Doesn't get much better. :toast:

TFS
Steve
Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments