Flicker in rocks

[John Chardine]

This Yellow-shafted Flicker decided it liked to sun by our pond in the garden at Sackville, NB. The rocks are local but placed there by us, and seem to match parts of the bird's colour quite well. I post this despite sub-optimal head angle.

40D, 500mm f4, 1.4 tc
capture date: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 11:15:12 AM
exposure program: Aperture Priority
ISO speed: 400
shutter speed: 1/1000
aperture: f8.0
exposure bias: +0.0
metering: Pattern

[Lana Hays]

John
The Flicker is beautiful....with great colors, details and sharp. I've seen them on the sides of trees or in the yard....but never on rocks. I agree the head angle isn't perfect.....but then it's not that bad either. The bird stands out from the rocks but I'm wondering if a little more blurring of the BG rocks might draw even more attention to the bird......just thinking out loud!!!

[Julie Kenward]

I'm with Lana. He's so close in color to the rocks that it would be nice to see him "pulled away" from them a bit. A little blurring would really do that I think!

[Jim Poor]

I like the colors. Did you do some work on / around the beak? there seems to be a bit of distortion in the line between upper and lower mandible.

[John Chardine]

Thanks to all. I'll try some blurring of the rocks. No work done on bill Jim.