Merlin

[Karl Egressy]

This time it is a preening one on the same perch.
Thanks for looking.

Canon 1D MIV
Canon 500 f4.0 +1.4x
ISO 640
1/2000
f 7.1

[gail bisson]

Hi Karl,
A very nice shot made unique by the splayed tail feathers.
The pyramidal shape of the perch is really interesting as well.
Good IQ and exposure.
Gail

[arash_hazeghi]

I like the fan tail and pose, the hint of blood on the beak takes it a nudge up to. Perch isn't the best for me and I wish the fun was directly behind you. TFS

[Marina Scarr]

Looks as though the bird was preening and had just let go of its feathers. Like the pose, the perch. IQ looks good and the sun angle works for me. Fun to see the movement in the feathers.

[dankearl]

Better HA on this one Karl and another nice look at the tail feathers.

[christopher galeski]

like the image Karl,like the pose of the bird preening,some nice detail,I used to fly a merlin.

[Greg Oakley]

Lovely image as usual Karl - interesting pose!
Cheers, Greg

[Ivan Ellison]

Great pose, exposure spot on and nice clean bg. wish I could get one like this they are just a blur flying after prey normally.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image.Love the pose,tail feathers,nice lights,perch and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[rajojomanik]

What Satish said, well done karl.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the pose, feather details and sharpness. Nice image Karl!

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Karl, great show of the fanned tail, and I like how the edge of the tail follows the line of the edge of the perch on the LHS. Comp works well.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Love the hint of blood on the bill and the pose with those fanned out feathers. Like the comp too, but could see some take off the top.
Killer species.

[Arthur Morris]

Wow! I love everything about this one, especially the image design and the pose. It has an artsy sort of Fracted sketch-like look to it. Did you use any effect on the bird itself?

[Karl Egressy]

Wow! I love everything about this one, especially the image design and the pose. It has an artsy sort of Fracted sketch-like look to it. Did you use any effect on the bird itself?

Thank you very much, Artie.
I used highlight/shadow tool to bring out the detail in the darker unlit part of the body which was the tail and the wing.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Karl. I still love it.