Pileated Woodpecker Suggestions?

[Ronald Zigler]

First, I will acknowledge that I used a recorded call to bring this bird back, but only after he flew away. I did this maybe two or three times within a 10 or 15 minute time period (which I hoped was not excessive). The lighting I thought was good, early morning, not too harsh. However, as you can see the ISO is very high. I am not too sure what I could have done differently to get a better image (lower ISO). Shooting at 1/800 without a tripod at f6.3 did not seem unreasonable given the lighting, but I had the ISO set at "Automatic". I suppose I could have used a tripod or monopod to try to capture the bird at a yet low shutter speed, which would have reduced the ISO. But it is not easy getting an image of this bird, even with a recorded call. So, again, what should I done to get the ISO down? Use a beamer flash?

Canon 60D, 300mm f4 L + 1.4x @ 1/800, f6.3, ISO 2000, HH.

[Celeste Painter]

I'm surprised that you have as little noise as you do. Had I used ISO 2000, it would have looked like I shot through a sandblasted filter.

You could try slowing your shutter speed a bit or bracketing your shutter down to test your lower limit.

[Ian Cassell]

Ron, I think the only way around this would have been some fill flash with a Better Beamer or, as you say, a slower SS on a tripod. In heavily overgrown areas, I don't find a tripod very practical, but sometimes I can find something to lean the camera on (an old stump or some such). As it is, I think you did very well and the very high ISO wasn't all that apparent to me until you mentioned it. I find it is often better to crank the ISO up rather than risk the more severe noise of an underexposure.

[Kerry Perkins]

Ron, no need to stress over high ISO - it was the right thing to do to get the shot. Noise reduction software used on the bg would be all you need for this shot. What I find more distracting is the bright areas in the background and on the tree. Those areas are both brighter than the bird. The head is a little dark and some fill flash would definitely have helped, even without the BB. Good capture nonetheless. Keep them coming...

[Bob Miller]

Ron ...this doesn't look bad to me but it does seem a bit too bright overall. I would tone it down some esp the front tree and bg. You want the bird to be the brightest part of the image so your eye goes right to him. If you have Nik color efex you could try the low key filter to tone down