Last month I posted a few images of this Merlin in the fog. For subtle reasons this may be my favorite from the entire session with the bird.
1/160, f/10, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Some will recall that this falcon was eating a small bird (meadowlark perhaps) at dawn that it had apparently cached the night before. It was incredibly cold for mid-September (11 degrees F. is frigid, even for the Centennial Valley) and the prey was frozen solid so the Merlin had to work hard to pull small, icy chunks of flesh off of the bird. The light was low to start with but then seconds before this shot was taken lake fog began to move in so my shutter speed (1/160 sec) was quite slow.
I have several images somewhat similar to this one but because of the head angle this may be my favorite. The rising sun was trying to burn through the fog to my left and for just a moment the Merlin looked up and turned my way which put warm light on the face that I really enjoy. The fog had a slight muting effect on detail but I’m ok with that because to my eye it isn’t significant and it’s what you’d naturally expect from fog anyway.
Soon after this image was taken the fog enveloped the Merlin so I drove on down the road and let the little falcon enjoy its meal without distraction.
Ron
This image is absolutely stunning. A gorgeous portrait, with plenty of detail for my eyes. There’s something about it that really touches me, that I can’t really describe. Thank you for sharing this one.
Simply spectacular shot fog et all! Thanks for sharing Ron!
You’re the kind of photographer I want to be when I grow up!
You don’t have to grow up first, Mary. I still haven’t…
A lovely shot…cold weather can be tough on birds…and photographers! Love angle of the bird and soft blend of colors …in bird, background and the old wooden post….
Thanks, Patty – yes, it was cold that morning, even inside the pickup. We encountered the bird so soon after leaving camp that the pickup hadn’t had time to warm up.
That is a great image! I’m putting this picture in my bucket list file that some day, if I live long enough, I will carve a Merlin and use this image as reference. Your capture of the feather detail and the subtle coloration is fantastic. Many thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Dick. I hope you DO live long enough!
It’s peaceful to me. Just a morning meal on a quiet day. Very nice.
I think you’re right, Arwen – it is peaceful. Even the meadowlark is at peace…
LOL! Yes indeed,R.I.P. meadowlark. Welcome to the circle of life.
Ron:
It is an image that makes the entire trip a success; one of the type we all hope we will capture someday. Print it large and hang it where you will see it often.
Dave
Thanks, Dave. I actually thought about hanging it in my camping trailer (so I can look at it when there are no birds “out there” to photograph…