Merlin...Between Dips.

[Daniel Cadieux]

From last fall, a chance encounter with a beautiful bathing Merlin. You may remember the action splashing photos from back then, here is one that I thought was intetresting despite the lack of action. Almost as if it is finding the water very good. Care to join in?:S3:

Canon 7D + 100-400L @400mm, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1250s., f/7.1, ISO 400 (settings histogram checked), natural light, handheld, a few imperfections in the water removed via the patch tool, slight crop to help the comp.

[Sachin Saraf]

Wow Daniel, this looks nice...Excellent IQ as always, Nice Eye contact, Sharp and I liked the composition. Was this taken from hide? how far was it from you?

[gail bisson]

Hi Daniel,
I think I like this one the best of all of the ones from your bathing series. I like the single water ripple and lovely reflection as well. Great reflection and IQ
Gail

[Marina Scarr]

What a great capture, Daniel. Love that smooth water and the reflection. You must have been so excited to witness and photograph this scene. I hope you got some of the actual bathing as well. Would love to see one.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Thanks guys! Marina, yes,I was very excited with this opportunity!! Here is an actual bathing image I posted last fall:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/90416-Merlin-at-the-Beach-III-The-Bath!!?highlight=merlin

[Karl Egressy]

Fantastic find an a very beutiful picture, Daniel.
Sometimes they need a bath and they probably bathe more that wi think.

[Richard Stern]

Super-symmetry, very sharp, and lovely contrast between the details on the bird and its reflection, and the water. I really enjoy looking at this one.

Richard

[Grace Scalzo]

Love the clarity and the light Daniel.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Wow lucky you to get a shot at this. You did great with the opportunity. Nice clean smooth water great detail and reflection

[Jack Breakfast]

THIS IS INCREDIBLY GOOD, as far as I'm concerned. I also like your bathing shot. What an opportunity, indeed...the stillness of water save the one sweet ripple loop, now that's a killer. A bathing merlin, holy bats!?

[Andrew Merwin]

Wow! Elegantly beautiful in its simplicity. Excellent techs.

[Robert Holguin]

Wow!!!! Wonderful image. Love the calmness in the water, lovely light, and very well composed.
Well done.

[Doug Brown]

Really cool sequence Daniel! All the more impressive considering the focal length.

[Robert Rommel]

Intense image here! The softness and clarity of the water contrast sharply with the piercing stare and sharp beak to give a great effect! Techincals and comp all look great.

[Jamie Douglas]

Awesome comp Daniel.

TFS

Jamie

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image Daniel! I like the calm water, sharpness, lighting and composition.