Black Merlin in flight


Posted by Rob Palmer on Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:13 pm

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For me, this is my favorite post so far basically because this is a wild black merlin (falco columbarius sucklei) that I had the pleasure to photograph as it plucked a dragonfly off a blade of grass in a marshy area in San Diego. I watched this bird as it sat on a high tree overlooking a large marsh. The first time I saw it. It flew like a bat out of hell out into the marsh and as I watched it go by I noticed it had an insect in its feet. It finished eating, so I placed myself inbetween the tree and the marsh and hoped he was still hungry. Ten minutes later, he did it again. He was so fast that I was lucky to get any shots at all. Thank God for the 1D. I only wish I could have gotten closer, this is about a 80 to 90% crop. But then again, I may not have been able to follow him with a bigger lens. Any photoshop tips to make this image better would be welcome. Thanks.

Canon 1D, 300 F4 w 1.4x, Evaluative +1 2/3, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, F 5.6

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Rob Palmer
[url]http://www.falconphotos.com/gallery/7385039_qUuth#!i=774854059&k=Uuoef[/url]

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by LHays on Thu Oct 30, 2003 5:23 am
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Rob
It definitely shows the heavy cropping. I've had a couple like this and from time to time played with them in PS. I have yet to get them much better....but I'm not that good at PS, either. You defiintely captured him in a good position...and with the dragonfly as well. I'd say if you get a chance....go back and see if you can catch him again. With a little practice you can learn to track him with a bigger lens....the 1D is a great camera for that.
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by Wayne Ellis on Thu Oct 30, 2003 5:33 am
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Interesting effect Rob
Comments and reposts welcome

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by Bill Whala on Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:14 am
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I like the blurred wings and reasonably sharp body. With as much of a crop as you have here this may be all you can get. I'll let those with more PS experience than me chime in on that.

We still need to get together to shoot some falcons. :)
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by Alan Murphy on Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:23 am
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Rob, A good photo considering the situation.
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by AlexC on Thu Oct 30, 2003 10:21 am
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Great wing spread and dragon-F to boot!!, Not bad considering!!! 8)
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by Mike Wilson on Thu Oct 30, 2003 2:02 pm
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Cool shot! What marshy area in SD did you find it in?
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by Heather Forcier on Thu Oct 30, 2003 4:21 pm
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It does show the heavy cropping, but what a treat to see and photograph! The bird is quite sharp, even with the wing blur.
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by Anthony Medici on Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:09 pm
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Ask again in a few years. Who knows what the software will be like by then. In the mean time, work towards getting one that's bigger in the frame. :)
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