Another backyard visitor......Starling

[RR Donavan]

These are constant visitors to the backyard until all the suet is gone. But they do provide opportunties for good captures. As usual though, noise is the problem with my processing. My shooting location requires that I shoot with a high ISO in order to get a decent shutter speed.

C & C welcome.

Roy

1D mkII, 500mm+1.4x, 1/125, f8, ISO 640= NOISE

[Alfred Forns]

You should be able to do well at the ISO. Make sure the exposure is perfect so you don't have to open up. Did not see the exp compensation listed so I can't judge. Just a pass with noiseNinja would take care. Also take advantage of the new size. You don't have to compress so much. Images can be up to 200kb.

Your image is very sharp, good detail and head turn. Good soft light on the bird giving you shadow detail. On these birds sometimes stronger sun is beneficial for showing off the glow in the feathers !!!

[Dave Phillips]

ditto Alfred......my MkIIN is really clean beyond ISO 800.
I always make sure to shoot the histogram as far as I can to the right.
Noise thrives in underexposure

[Doug Brown]

I think you've done well here Roy! A tad more USM might be in order. Noise issues already covered above, but you don't have much noise to deal with here. I would add to what Dave said that noise thrives in underexposure that you subsequently try to recover in PP.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Roy, I am glad that I did not miss this one though I am late getting to the party. For me, this is a superb capture. Great use of d-o-f and a great head turn for the over the shoulder look. I would not want sun on the bird, and the noise does not bother me at all. You might try brightening the face just a bit. All in all, very well done. Would love to see more.