Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

[Wayne Wood]

Created last Saturday morning , this guy responded very well to audio recordings , 20D w/ 200 F/2.8L , F/8.0 @ 1/250 sec , ISO 400 manual exposure

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/134/mg332101al3.jpg

[Doug Brown]

Beautiful photo Wayne. Great sharpness and the composition is good. A hint of environment in the BG. I might remove that branch running into the tail feathers as I find it a bit distracting.

[Alfred Forns]

Beautiful image Wayne !!!!

Agree on the branch by the tail and can also add the one intersecting the head. If possible would have moved slightly when making the image. Love the fine detail, exposure and head angle !!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great find, light and details. I also might remove the branch(es) in the BG. There is a slight sharpening halo around the beak.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Good job on this guy Wayne. The twig below the tail can be easily taken care of. I really like the fluffed out nape and chest feathers!

[Arthur Morris]

Very lovely. Half a step to the left while squeezing the tripod legs in as much as possible would have improved an excellent image. Anybody know why??? Love the soft light and soft colors.

[Wayne Wood]

Very lovely. Half a step to the left while squeezing the tripod legs in as much as possible would have improved an excellent image. Anybody know why??? Love the soft light and soft colors.

No Tripod Mr. Morris , taken with the 200 prime , school me sir Why ?

[Kenn Christensen]

beautiful image..... love it...... Im looking forward to the answer as well....

[Daniel Cadieux]

Very lovely. Half a step to the left while squeezing the tripod legs in as much as possible would have improved an excellent image. Anybody know why??? Love the soft light and soft colors.

That would be to prevent the OOF branch in the BG from running througfh the sapsucker's head...and ideally be located completely out of the frame.

[Arthur Morris]

No Tripod Mr. Morris , taken with the 200 prime , school me sir Why ?

Mr. Wood, Please call me Artie.

I did not notice the 320mm effective focal lenght--that was one tame woodpecker.

As Daniel pointed out, moving a bit to your left would have effectively moved the skinny branch to the left of the bird, and doing so would have put you perfectly parallel to the bird. It looks as if the bird is slightly above your position. Squeezing the tripod legs together is a great way to get a few inches higher fast without having to deal with three leg locks. Handholding getting on your toes or otherwise as high as possible would have the same effect.

[Arthur Morris]

Ooops. Upon a closer look I see now that moving left would have brought a second skinny branch into play...

[Wayne Wood]

Thanks Artie I appreciate the tips , next time I call one in I'll try for a cleaner BG