Another Woodpecker_Hairy

[ChasMcRae]

Portrait of the Hairy Woodpecker on an Aspen in Colorado during a winter visit.
I would have liked to have the bill clear the Aspen since there is slight blending of the dark bill and the Aspen trunk scar.

Chas.

e: Hairy_woodpecker_.jpg
File size: 179KB
Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark II
Camera serial number: 241625
Firmware: Adobe Photoshop CS4 Windows
Date/Time: 2006:02:19 05:18:39
Copyright: © Chas.Mc Rae
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: 7.1
Exposure mode: Av
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
Lens: 600mm
Focal length: 840mm
Image size: 582 x 800
Rotation: none
Color space: sRGB
Color profile: sRGB IEC61966-2.1

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

beautiful composition,soft light,bg

[Bill Dix]

A handsome portrait with great detail. The grey BG gives a wonderfully cold winter feel to it. Agree about the bill clearing the trunk, but you get what you get. Nicely done!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the eye contact, trunk and BG and might increase contrast a few points.

[Fabs Forns]

Composition is very nice, with the bird creating a diagonal against the trunk. There's a faint sharpening halo in the lower part of the bill.
Great EXP control.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Gave me chills just looking at it. Nice feel to this one.

[ChasMcRae]

As I increased contrast I lost detail in the dark feathers and since I was pleased in having got these I backed off on contrast.
Any suggestions as to increase contrast but preserve dark feather detail from anyone ?