From my backyard about 30 minutes ago, it's 24 degrees outside with a skiff of snow on the ground and every bird in the area is coming to feed....I got several nice opportunities but after n hour or so the blind was a touch too cold and I heard a hot cup of coffee calling my name.....
1DMKIII
300mm 2.8L +1.4 TC II
Gitzo tripod + Wimberly II
430 EXII off camera left set to manual 1/8 output
Manual exposure, evaluative metering
1/500
ISO 1000
f/4
Processed with ACR and CS5... cloned out a couple of snow flakes in the air.
wonderful neutral background really makes the reds pop - beautiful detail in the creamy feathers. (and gorgeous sharp claws too) -- snowflakes sound interesting (speaking from bay area california where we just don't see snow) ---wish he was looking a little more at you - but great photo!
Joel, he looks a little washed out from what I usually see in my back yard. I hit auto contrast and then added red and yellow to his head to give him the pop of color I'm used to seeing. Let me know what you think...