Red Bellied Woodpecker

[Joel Eade]

This is from a setup in my yard using a feeder and hide.

Canon 40D
300mm2.8L + 1.4TC
f/4
1/200 sec
ISO 200
430exii flash manual at 1/16 and better beamer
gitzo tripod with wimberly head

usual processing with ACR and CS4. I cloned out a streak of rain in the BG and cleaned up the beak a little.

[Harold Davis]

perch, bg and light all look great. processingwise, i would desat the reds just a bit and maybe crop a little off the right. techwise, i would definitely bump the ISO to get some more shutterspeed. better to build in as much safety as possible. really nice job here!!!

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Like it as presented and nice manual flash setting. Agree with harold more shutter is welcome but the 1/200 on a tripod is a solid setting. Birds move even when they set still.

[Gail Spitler]

hi Joel - Nice setup for a lovely bird. The colors in this image work together very nicely. Personally i'd crop it a bit more, but otherwise I like it lots.
Cheers
Gail

[Lance Peters]

Hi Joel - lots to like here - Good HA and eye contact - Sharp - Nice BG etc etc.
As Mr H pointed out - desat the reds just a tad.
Techs look solid and flash looks good.
Good show!!

[Dave Mills]

Hi Joel, Beautiful specimen, light and agree with Harolds comments. For my taste I would crop a small bit off the right and a bit more off the left.

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Joel, I like it as presented. Solid BG, and pose.

[Alfred Forns]

Harold nailed the comments !!! One sweet bird with a great bg and pose !! Big Congrats !!!

[Joel Eade]

Thanks for all the nice comments. I can see substantial improvement in my images since joining BPN. It's been a great learning experience, so I thank all those that contribute their time and talent to help folks like me.

[Bill Dix]

Lovely image of a male RBWP, one of my favorite local birds. Some great advice given above. I concur re. cropping from right and left, to make it more vertical.