Red Bellied Woodpecker

[Joel Eade]

Setup using a feeder and hide in the backyard
1D3
500mm f/4L
Tripod + Wimberly
Evaluative metering, central AF point, manual exposure
ISO 640
f/4.5
1/250
580 EXII + Better Beamer ETTL -2 2/3 stops

Cloned out some seeds on top of the tree stump.

[Ian Cassell]

Hi Joel,

I like this a lot. Very sharp and well placed in frame. Nice looking perch and BG. A slightly smaller aperture might have put that rear foot in focus, but I still like the image.

[Richard Stern]

Hi,

I agree with Ian - very nice, sharp image. I wonder about a more vertical crop with the bird a bit more over to the right, and a bit less tree stump. Also, perhaps darkening the light colors on the head and breast a bit. Perhaps something like this? It's not a question of right/ wrong, or better/ worse - just a slightly different way of doing it.

Richard

[Joel Eade]

Thanks Richard, I like the repost.....I had considered cropping the right side a little but taking some off the stump on left works for me too!

[Ray Rozema]

Very wll done. exposure, detail very good. Like the angle, pose and perch especially that it is a stump and not the side of a tree, gives more open feeling. Agree crop a little of both left and right. Minor detail: HA angle could be better.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Great shot and nice repost. The general rule of thumb is 1/3 tree, 1/3 bird and 1/3 background. The OP was to dominated by the perch like the adjusted image.

Joel - the exposure and use of flash is very well done. The colors in the head area are beautiful and the eye looks fantastic. Just look how beautiful this creature is - very nice.

[nancy hazen]

Joel, this is another great shot. You are getting such great colors and detail. I like the tighter crop as well. You must have a great bird habitat. I'm jealous.
Nancy