Great spotted woodpecker, starling and robin

[Jonathan Ashton]

Camera Model Canon EOS-1D X
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/3200
Av(Aperture Value) 7.1
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 1600
Auto ISO Speed ON
Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Focal Length 330.0mm

Taken from my garden hide, the shot I am really after is the woody coming in to land, work in progress!!
I have done some minor editing but not in relation to the birds, small crop.
All C&C welcome.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Jon, quite a busy frame, a real 'Noah's Ark' of subjects. I like your thinking and somewhat surprised those who shoot garden set-ups haven't thought about this before.

I do find it too tight at the foot and the dark patch in the BKG drawing my eye and I think some 'texture/grain/noise' would help to break up the smooth BKG and add some interest. I would try to vary (if possible) the greens too, they are all very similar. The stump appears or creates the impression (IMHO) to be placed behind the ground or placed through (if that makes sense) but also the FG looks a bit false (Jon if you wish to call me so I can explain fine, but not during the football). There is merit, I just feel something jars a little, the FG looks as if it's on a trestle table with the log behind it????

I think the stump is a nice departure from the predictable Silver birch and gives a perch for the Woody to stand on and shows the feet. Nice exposure on the whites & black, but personally I would concentrate on one subject and loose the meal worms.

Work in progress great, look forward to seeing take this further, it can work, it just needs some fine tuning.

TFS
Steve

[David Cowling]

Good work catching the woodpecker so well, the other two birds are nicely in focus too but I would rather that there was only the main subject to concentrate the eye on. Interesting perch and a nice smooth background, but the darker patch upper right is a bit out of keeping with the rest. Look forward to more of this woodpecker.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks Steve and David, I think I have better to follow, on reflection I have posted this in haste, in fact I don't like it! It all seems a bit "heavy" on second glance, the colours look a little saturated, I know why I have been messing about with Nik filters and it just didn't need them.
Steve your observations are entirely correct.
David you are right - too much going on, I think I will post something a little better next time.

[Isaac Grant]

Think I will be the first to go in an opposite way. I really like this. Maybe it is the life long birder in me but the 3 species together are fun for me. It is not a classic photo for presentation but the birds are sharp and the stump and grass is quite interesting.To me it is an interesting bird in habitat shot. Agree with others bout the dark in back and other things but still a fun shot for me.

[David Salem]

Although the other birds are kind of cool, I would prefer the main subject to be the only bird in the frame. The perch and the WPr look great but I do find the overall frame a bit oversaturated.
Nice backyard setup you have going there. Look forward to more

[Marina Scarr]

What fun to get the 3 birds in the frame. Would love to see a bit more room on the bottom. I find the SAT on the birds spot on but would consider some deSAT on the BG. What a great opp you have in your yard!!!

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks very much everyone, I will have another looksee regarding saturation.