First post to this forum - Red-bellied Woodpecker

[Jayne Buckley Sykes]

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8630/15868736665_b7f033b898_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qbgqy2)RBWO (https://flic.kr/p/qbgqy2) by jaynenh@gmail.com (https://www.flickr.com/people/71820862@N08/), on Flickr


Shot at my feeder in Lebanon, NH USA a few days ago. Using Nikon D7000, f/2.8 300 mm lens, 1/320 sec, ISO 100, Lightroom 5.7 used to crop and sharpen, etc.

[Diane Miller]

Hi Jayne, and welcome! The woodpecker looks well exposed and nicely sharp and detailed, and there is just the right amount of texture and interest in the background for my tastes. I think a crop to a horizontal composition would also work here, although at the expense of some of the nice background.

If you can get a bird to glance your way (without fleeing) it usually makes a more engaging image. If these guys are regulars at your feeder, put up a natural-looking branch nearby and often one will use it s a staging perch while approaching the food. Locate it where they will be slightly angled toward you (and the food) to maximize chances of a good head angle.

I look forward to seeing more from you!

[Jayne Buckley Sykes]

Hi Diane,

Thanks for the welcome! Adding branches to give pre- and post- feeder perching is definitely on the "honey-do" list. Thanks for the comment, I think it may have helped me bump it up the list a few notches.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hi Jayne, welcome to BPN!

On the technical side things look solid: well exposed, plenty sharp, and great colours. Artistically the BG is quite interesting as Diane mentions, and I agree with her that setting up a perch or two would be super. I love taking a walk in the woods and collecting branches for such use!