Femal Bennet's Woodpecker

[Victor Soares]

Followed a pair of these for a long time at our camp in the Kruger National Park. Was delighted when the female popped onto this tree (love the bark) and I managed to get a few shots.

Please comment on ALL technicals - Thanks

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 400L IS USM f5.6
SS: 1/125
f-stop: 6.3
ISO: 400
Metering: Spot
Mode: Aperture Priority
Post-processing: Camera RAW and Photoshop CS3
Crop: approx 95% of full-frame

[Chris van Rooyen]

Great posture and sharpness Victor. I might have considered a tiny bit of fill flash, and the bark seems to have a slight magenta cast, but it could be my monitor. Overall a very successful image in my mind.

[Tony Whitehead]

Excellent pose and eye contact - shows beautifully the way woodpeckers use their tail as a "third leg" to prop against the tree. I would burn in the light area on the tree as I find it pulls the eye away from the subject a bit. What did you spot meter from to determine exposure? This file is in Adobe RGB which may be making the colours look a bit flat compared to how it looked in PS. Saving in sRGB for web presentation is best.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Great pose and light, detail are amazing as well as BG and comp. Congratulations!

[Stu Bowie]

Amazing colours shown here Vic, and nice and sharp too. Love the pose too. Well captured.

[Maxis Gamez]

Everything said. I would like to see a little more room behind the bird.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great find and inquisitive pose. I agree regarding cast, color space and more room at the right.