Great spotted woodpecker

[Jonathan Ashton]

Camera Model Name Canon EOS-1D X
Canon 500m f4 L IS II
Tv (Shutter Speed) 1/1250
Av (Aperture Value) 7.1
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 1600
Early morning light, I tried several conversions using white dropper, in the end decided Auto was as good as any - slightly less "clinical". I think woody is fairly accurate.
DPP 4.5.20 and PSCC
Image taken in back garden from my hide. The branch was baited with goose fat and chopped peanuts - they love it but it is messy - better use suet - less greasy!!
(The goose fat was left over from Christmas - roast spuds!!)

[David Salem]

Wow Johnathan this one looks awesome!! Love the morning light and the great looking pose, colors and details. The protruding tongue adds some nice interest also. Very nice frame

[Isaac Grant]

I agree with David. Looks fantastic. Beautiful details and exposure looks excellent. I love the warm light. Background is great and I love the perch.

I wounder if the warm morning light put too much of a yellow/green cast on the perch? Also on the top left there is an orangish circle. There are 2 dark spots in the circle that I would clone out. Easy fix for a great shot.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent shot Jon, lovely woodpecker and a nice perch + BG to go with it. sharp. I agree with Issac, I also see a bit of a green and yellow cast, might be from the light but may reduce it a bit. the visible tongue is a nice touch too

TFS

[keith mitchell]

Hi Jon,this looks very good to me ,blacks and whites with plenty of detail,must say I'm fine with the colours,very nice indeed.Wish I could get these in my garden.

Keith.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Yes the green yellow cast troubled me, I did several conversions, I agree it does look a little odd and yet the bird looked OK, on reflection I should have done something about it..
Although this would not account for the cast, I think it worthwhile mentioning, if PSCC resets itself (happened a few times to me - don't know why) it is worthwhile checking Color Settings I have just noticed that mine had changed from the settings I usually use.
Here is a rework, I took some yellow and green out at DPP and reset the Color settings in PSCC.

[Bill Dix]

What beautiful light, and a perfect woodpecker pose on a great perch. I rather liked the warm light of the OP, but the RP is probably more realistic. You were there.

[Isaac Grant]

Removing the cast makes a big difference. Takes an already fantastic shot over the top. So nice!

[Steve Kaluski]

Jon, further to our telephone conversation, how about this?

I'm around this week apart from Wednesday & Thursday as I'm doing some 121's.

Cheers
Steve

[arash_hazeghi]

repost is pane 6 and babe 9 both much better, I am not sure which one was more true to the scene but Steve's seems to have fully neutralized the color cast. made somewhere between the two

[Jonathan Ashton]

Steve, Arash thanks both for your input, I am not sure why but I seem to be making a problem for myself. I like my version in pane 1 but I have to agree pane 6 looks better to my eye and is probably nearer to what the colours were. Steve's version in pane 9 I like and it looks more neutral if that is the correct expression. Situations like this leave me in something of a quandry which is more "accurate" and which is best, I suppose subjectivity comes into play along with viewing conditions at the scene and viewing conditions at the computer. The neutral colours that Steve has produced seem to offer some extra detail in the black feathers.

[Steve Kaluski]

Perhaps I need to swing by Jon and take a few snaps, we can then see?

[Jonathan Ashton]

Perhaps I need to swing by Jon and take a few snaps, we can then see?

Sure you are most welcome!