Female Pileated Woodpecker

[Joel Eade]

Back yard set up using food to attract birds. Actually had a bit too much focal length when this big girl showed up but I was pleased to be able to rotate to vertical, focus on her eye and recompose without spooking her away:)

1DX
500mm f/4L IS USM I + 2x TC III
Tripod
ISO 3200
f/8
1/1000
No flash

[Alan Murphy]

Nice detail of a tough to get close to woodpecker. It's too tight overall for me with the clipped tail hurting the image IMO. I'd also be tempted tone down the bright background near the haed.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Joel, it must be real nice to have gotten a chance to shoot one of these full frame.

If you're up for it ... next time take a couple more shots (some below, some above) and then stitch them in photoshop later. This one is just a bit tight, but otherwise a nice capture.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Very nice pileated!
Nice light and so cool that it used your perch. I also find the composition a tad tight and I wish the tail was not clipped.

[Grace Scalzo]

Agree with the above, I bet she'll be back and give you another turn.

[Karl Egressy]

Great image despite the tightness.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Congrats on a tough one for you. They are tough up here too but we are fortunate to have one spot where they come REALLY close. Tightness mentioned, and Miguel has given you a good tip on digital photography...but it is sometimes difficult to think about it in the heat of the moment (there are many times I look back at a situation and think of what I could have done).