Here's an upper body portrait of the same Downy Woodpecker I posted the other day. Captured at Little Shimogue, New Brunswick, 23 February 2008 in late afternoon light. ISO was high so I used a little NR from PS but there's still some there- didn't want to go farther and risk that "waxy" look. Still pushing the distance envelope. Would like to have been closer. Didn't realise I was shooting at 1/100s so I guess the IS works pretty well!
40D, 100-400mm @ 400mm, 1/100s, F10, ISO 640, fill flash set at H-synch, Av exposure, 50% crop.
Sharp. COMP awkward. EXP good. BKGR does not help...
later and love, artie
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I love these Downies for their approachability! I like the bits of residue on it's bill. I've never been happy with any image I've taken of a woodpecker with a full tree BG. Try waiting for it to perch near the edge of the trunk, with most of the bird set against a more distant BG.
Nice head angle and a cool reflection in the eye. The BG isn't great, but maybe you could tone it down with some darkening, blurring and / or desaturation.