Gila Woodpecker on Arizona Ash

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Folks

Another visitor came to get our attention with his brash calls this morning.

CC's invited

Uncle Gus

Olympus E-620, Zuiko 70-300 @ 480 mm
Shutter Priority: F/5.6, 1/1250s, ISO 200, o.70eV, Auto WB

[Lance Peters]

Hi Gus - you have one cool garden - my friend :)
Feels just a little tight at the top - for my personal tastes, The blue looks a little too blue to me - BUT think I do remember seeing you say that it is realistic due to your altitude??
I would clone out the couple of dark spots in the bg - they do tend to draw the eye away from your subject - HA might be a tad off - or my eye's could be (Big night out last night)
Just a couple of small tweaks to improve a good base image.

Nice one!!

[Julie Brown]

Gus, the variety of birds you get is just amazing!:D
Nice eye contact and catchlight. I would agree that it might be too tight at the top.

[Harold Davis]

lance nailed it for me. this is the first time i have seen a gila. thanks for sharing it, UG!!

[Alfred Forns]

Agree with Lance !!!

Gus are you safe increasing the ISO with your camera? If so wouldn't hurt more dof since you have a clear bg !! ..... Lance blues are incredible at that altitude !!!

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Folks

Just starting to use ISO 400 as I had not used it before because of noise. However, started checking old photos I liked and also ETL liked and found that in bright light there was no noise and experimenting this week I have been satisfied using 400'

With all this experimenting I found out that I had turned IS OFF . . now I see why I didn't like sharpeness out of the camera. Have in camera sharpeness at -1 which was always good in the past.

No excuses, but I'm still having problems with seeing clearly and hopefully on the 21st will have that corrected/

Old age ain't for sissies

Gave some more room at the top that I was too much in a hurry to do the first time. As my Dad used to say, measure twice, cut once,

Thanks for all your help folks.

Best regards

Uncle Gus

[Julie Brown]

I like your repost, Gus. Are you having cataract surgery?

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Julie

Thanks for your kind words

No, I had cataracts removed in both eyes about 1o year ago. On August 8th. this year I had plastic surgery on my left eye to raise and tighten my lower eye lid as I couldn't see over it. Also developed chronic dry eye desease which is now under contol. Lots of light at the end of the tunnel.

Cheers

Uncle Gus

[Peter Farrell]

Hi, Gus. I like your re-post. Very cool WP, one I have never seen.
Thanks for sharong.
Peter

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Composition is nice and I like the repost, wish for more head room but sweet image - TGS.

[Bill Dix]

Head room was my first reaction, and the repost helps a lot. Lovely bird -- one of these days I need to head out that way and see some of your Arizona birds. btw I'm sympathetic as I share some of your eye issues. Bummer for a photographer when the eyes start acting up. Never realized before how important AF lenses were.

[Dave Hassell]

Hello Gus,
The extra headroom in the repost is much better.
Good luck with your eye problems.
I hope to make it out to your part of the world next year.

Dave.