Lineated Woodpecker (juv.)

[Bryan Hix]

This was taken this past January in Panama. I came across a nest in a dead tree and there were multiple birds coming and going. I believe this is a juvenile because of the gray on the face. I cleaned this up a bit, but my biggest concern is the fill flash; is there too much? It was dusk and the sun was behind the bird, so it was a lot of shadow to illuminate. I already know the head turn isn't quite enough either, but it's acceptable to me just because I thought it was a neat species that I have never seen before.

Canon 1D Mk, 600mm & 1.4x TC
ISO 800|1/300 @ f/8|AvMode|Eval +2/3
FF 580 EXII with BB
LR3.2 & PSE8, cloned out branch, adjusted curves, sharpen, CCR

[Randy Stout]

Bryan:

Congrats on adding a new species! Nice display of tail propping him up and the talons holding on.
The flash is a bit overdone, esp. its effect on the lichen on the trunk. It is always a challenge, and I am constantly adjusting the exposure comp. on the flash while shooting to try and get just the right balance. My goal is to make so people can't tell flash was used at all. That of course if for fill, versus flash as main light, where you can't get away from the 'flashed look'

I think you might be able to tone down the brighter areas a bit in post, either with a curves adjustment applied selectively, or you might consider a multiply adjustment layer to tone down the brightest areas.

Cheers

Randy

[Eric Diller]

Nice capture for sure. Flash seems a tad bright and i detect a little noise as well.

[Bryan Hix]

Does this look less flashed?

[Randy Stout]

Bryan:
Yes,the repost looks less flashed, esp.the darker trunk. The head still looks a bit unnatural since the natural light was coming from behind and to your right.
Care to elaborate on what you did to process it?

Randy

[Bryan Hix]

Basically I adjusted with the brush selectively on certain areas on the bird (like the head), cloned out a branch, adjusted sharpness, cropped, some rotation, highlight recovery for the BG. That's about it.

[Arthur Morris]

Even though this looks more like a painting--not sure why--than a photograph, I absolutely love it. What a great bird and I love the non-traditional COMP.

I'd love to see what the original capture looks like. IAC< I am nominating it for IOTW.

[Bryan Hix]

Thanks Artie, I'm glad you like it. There was a pair with a nest right by the gates of the Ammo Dump ponds in Gamboa if you know where I am talking about. They were about 10 feet off the parking lot, so pretty convenient subjects. Here's the original. I had to repair some head feathers after cloning out the branch that impaled it, but that was about the most challenging edit. I thought this was a decent repair considering I lack many of the tools in Elements that are available in a full Photoshop program.

[Arthur Morris]

Do not know the area but a great find. Fabulous job of losing the branch. I had no clue. I can see where the back of the head was a challenge. Here is my main point: whatever you did to the head and face above gave it a sort of cartoon look. The head and face on the original look much more natural....

[Bryan Hix]

Hmm, I just went back and looked at what I did in the history of Lightroom and most of it was just selective exposure and curves adjustments with some highlight recovery. Not sure why it appears cartoonish? Do you think if I selectively de-saturated the head/face area it would look more natural or should I just leave it alone?

[Arthur Morris]

It's possible it's the RED SAT.... And simply lightening it. Heck, maybe the bird looks cartoonish without the branch in the way because it is a cartoonsih looking bird!