My favorite food...

[David Roach]

EOS R EF 400DO I 2xtc II f11 1/200 ISO 1600

These guys will climb all the way up the long thin stems to get at the alligator flag buds.

[Alex Becker]

Hi David, I love the feeding behavior here -- it's very delicate. The inclusion of the flower works well. I have two nits -- the details on the body are really excellent, but it seems the DOF falls off on the head, leaving the eye soft. I also wish the brown rod wasn't going through the head. The rest works well for me, re: noise, color on the bird, etc. TFS

[arash_hazeghi]

I like the colorful bird, wish the BG was cleaner. The details on the bird are quite lacking in fact I dont see much fine details where I expect it...not sure if the RAW was soft or if it is the processing.

TFS

[David Roach]

Thanks gentlemen for your astute observations.
As I went back to the raw file it was obvious with 800mm at this close distance there was a rapid falloff of DOF. Not to mention the limitations of this old glass combo. You were correct in that the focus area was on the neck and the head was falling out of DOF. So, I looked for another in this sequence with better focus on the head and hopefully other portions parallel with the sensor. This one has the focus on the lores and was the best of this sequence. I have found at decent distance this glass combo can get pretty sharp images stopped down one full stop. This close is more challenging. Can't wait for RF telephoto lenses.
As always, I am very grateful for your valued inputs...
Peace,
David

[gail bisson]

Repost addresses the DOF issues.Nice feeding behavior shown.
Tack sharp.
I would loosen the comp slightly and get rid of the twigs exiting head and entering chest.
It would be hard to get rid of the other big twig intersecting the beak,
Gail

[Daniel Cadieux]

Ditto what the others pointed out, but I gotta say the details on the body are so sharp! Very colourful bird.

[John Mack]

Im amazed at the detail espcially on the repost. Very sharp. Colors are great. Details are very nice.