Downy male

Gallery: AvianPosted July 22, 2011200 views6 comments

This is a favorite Downy woodpecker image I had taken awhile back. I decided to rework the image as the original was not the best comp. and had more of the perch showing and open space on the rt. side. After cropping off about 15%, I used NIK's DFine 2 filter to clean up noise and their Viveza 2 to darken the BG. I can't remember why the ISO is so high, probably from a previous shot.
I like this image as it shows him probing a seed pod with his tongue, but I'm unsure what he was after as they eat both seed weevils, insects and seeds themselves.

Larger version available, thanks for stopping!

canon 7D
canon 600mm f4.L + 1.4 TC
F/8. 1/320 ISO 1250
auto window beanbag rest

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 22, 2011 at 10:47 PM

Superb image, Craig. I love the action and the detail is spectacular. Your processing really worked well.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 22, 2011 at 10:57 PM

Yikes - even the tongue is visible?!?!
Delightful portrait of this Downy - great eye, colours, seed pod and BG. Framed nicelyt by the bramble.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on July 23, 2011 at 8:41 AM

Nice image. I like the content and the view of the tongue and there appears to be a lot of detail here. The diagonal perch works well and the color is nice. I think I would bring up the whites just a few clicks. The image is just a tad dark for my taste and has a bit of grey cast that usually goes away when the whites are brought up.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on July 23, 2011 at 5:59 PM

Yes - I like seeing him probe the fruit for either bug or seed. Definitely gives you insight into their feeding methods. At first I wondered about not seeing the whole bird. But I think the subject is really the feeding and so it does not bother me that I can't see the belly and tail. I agree w/ Angela about it being a bit dark. I'd look for brighter white in the birds belly and head. Good job catching the action.

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 23, 2011 at 7:53 PM

Craig,

I like how the focus is on what the bird is doing, how I can see the tongue probing the seed, nice look at the eye and nice sharpness too. Since the Pacific subspecies does not show as much white as the Interior West or Eastern I wouldn't try to make the those areas "white" but I would lighten up the image just slightly globally.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on July 23, 2011 at 8:11 PM

I like it. Great moment you got Craig.

Did you get my reply email?

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments