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Thread: A simple woodpecker, or, this lucky pastime

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    Default A simple woodpecker, or, this lucky pastime

    I was watching this elegant woodpecker for quite a while. Mostly he was flitting around in the shadows, always very close to me, but would only pop out into the light for brief seconds, usually hiding behind branches. I watched him and thought about what a lucky pastime it is, not photographing birds but birdwatching. This particular picture was taken with the Canon 7D and 70-300L at 300mm, iso640, 1/640, f5.6. I've cropped a little bit off the sides. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the composition; I wonder if you'll have any suggestions for improvement? I'm fond of the bird's pose but would have preferred a slight head-turn towards me. Normally I'm fond of all manner of "head angles" but in this instance I was hoping for a little eye contact. The bird would not oblige and I don't blame him; I'm ugly as sin! Blech!
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    Looks like you have found a beautiful downey. I like the composition, this is just the type of environment that I find them in. As for improvements, I would sharpen the bird and do a little noise reduction on the background.

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    Nice light and sharpness, although it could probably stand a touch m,ore sharpness. How well does it stand up to cropping tighter ?...I would try to crop to vertical aspect and try to eliminate some of the extra branches particularly the diagonal one with the dead leaf on the bottom

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    Interestingly perhaps, the woodpecker looks nice and sharp to me. I feel that sharpening further would give my pal that oversharpened look. Perhaps I'm missing the proverbial boat? One rarely knows? Phil, it could withstand a heavier crop. What we have here accounts for roughly 90% of the original capture...

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    Jack,

    My suggestion to sharpen the bird is because the branch he is on looks sharper to me not because he is not sharp. I know that each of our monitors are different and I can't understand why or know how to change mine to be more like everyone elses so maybe I am wrong as often happens

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    Of course, Laurie...perhaps I missed focus and sharpest focus is on the branch after all? Who knows? I'd love to have focus points accessible to me! That would be a neat trick! Here on a Mac with Photoshop and so forth! I always love it when you write in; thank you for doing so!

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    Jack,

    I will not blame the lack of focus points on Mac but sure wish Photoshop would add that feature. Until last fall I used Nikon View to look at my photos before Photoshop. It had an option for looking at focas point but it failed and Nikon only supports it for point and shot cameras now. There is probably something else we could but but I don't know what it is.

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    Breezebrowser gives focus points. Unfortunately it is not available for MAC OS.

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    Sharpness is another thing that comes down to a lot of personal opinion, much like cropping, I know a number of photogs who state adamantly that most images that have applied sharpening added to them in PS look unnatural...{ with variations to that idea of course } in a way I can see their point. Much like hot whites, in the real world on a sunny day white birds for example are naturally glary and without much detail showing...obviously this whole idea can lead to long winded discussions with endless varying opinions....so what's the answer ?.....beats me, but I like to think I take photos to please my own eye, not necessarily others...sort of ?

    Anyway, here's my quick rough and ready take on cropping the image, + a little cloning



    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

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    Phil, I enjoyed reading your thoughts RE sharpening and birds and what we see and what is real and what is not and perspective and opinions and taste! Also: I enjoy your bare-bones crop and clone. I am missing a little bit of the habitat and might possibly be inclined to go for something between my version and yours. Really and truly: many thanks for taking the time. I like what you've done and I like what you've said!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Don Nelson View Post
    Breezebrowser gives focus points. Unfortunately it is not available for MAC OS.
    Yes Don, true enough. I wouldn't consider switching to a PC but would be delighted if BB made a Mac version that ran directly on Mac OS! I shan't hold my breath lest I perish!

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    Nice capture jack yes a I agree with a bit more sharpening and cleaning up or toning down some of the branches. You can use Canon DPP to find your focusing point. I keep DPP on my mac for that very reason.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Palmieri View Post
    Nice capture jack yes a I agree with a bit more sharpening and cleaning up or toning down some of the branches. You can use Canon DPP to find your focusing point. I keep DPP on my mac for that very reason.
    Hiya Nick, I have DPP also, have never used it. Will investigate...thanks...
    Last edited by Jack Breakfast; 07-21-2012 at 10:29 AM.

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