Stumped Woody + colour adjust

Greater Spotted Woodpecker.
Taken through the window recently. Got several of these coming (not all at the same time !!)
Nothing really special but I love this stump and it is starting to dis integrate ! Great for putting pastry /crumble mix in.
D200 Sigma 100-300mm

640 ISO125th @f8
Levels and neatimage

I like the composition but I think the deshevelled stump lets the image down. Mind you, if it wasn't in that state - and stuffed with titbits - the bird probably wouldn't be there!


Simon

Simon - Thanks
Interesting comments.
- The birds use it all the time even when there's nothing in it.! The woodys especially have caused all the crevices and holes in it just by passing the time away knocking six bells out of it waiting for me to fill up the peanut feeders.! I suppose its ideal for perching on.
JohnR

Hi John

Just had to smile at this one. Our house in Kansas is under attack from three red headed woodpeckers seems we are being relocated. No idea what will be left when we return in March.

Barry

Kansas

Hi John very nice image with great detail in the plumage.

Hiya John, I'm of the opposite opinion to Simon. The trunk helps to make the picture. This is the very type of wood that these birds exploit and just what I would expect to see one on. Another beautifully detailed image.
Robert

Great shot John, lovely feather detail as already commented.
re the log, I think the log is great apart from the bluish colour top right which looks a bit unnatural
Pete

I think it works well and I like the characteristic old and weathered log.

P.S. Peter, the blue colouring you mention is perfectly natural on weathered wood such as this. It's where the wood has been stained by a fungus called Green-Wood Cup (Chlorosplenium aeruginascens)

Absolutely beautiful, John. So natural. This old stump is what woodpeckers love. Great shot.

Thanks all
Justin- spot on - you beat me to it.
Cheers
JohnR

nice comp john, personally im never sure about the light stump/branch issue in some ways it is interesting but in others the lightness takes away from the bird but its good to experiment i guess!

Not sure if there is a slight green cast to the image but it is a fine image and one i would like to have

Dave

Nice male shot John - they do make a mess of your logs don't they

I was pulled up by the naming police t'other day - and rightly so - GREAT spotted woodpecker

A fine looking and well captured image John, also thanks for info regarding the blue staining, I've seen this many times on birch but never new, until now, what caused it, cheers.

Andy...

Hi John,

Great pose and I like all the characteristics of both bird and log.. Interesting note about the fungus from Justin too.. I have to agree with Dave, having taken it into PS and reduced the 'green cast' I think it will add to a great capture.

Kind regards,

Brett

Any better ?
I have more trouble with colour than everything else put together.
I may start posting in B& W !
Cheers
JohnR

Better John, but could take it a bit more.. Do you calibrate your monitor..? I just had mine done for me and it really makes quite the difference and espite mine being very close to target, the subtle difference made 'all the difference'..

Cheers, Brett

Very nice GSW John, great feather detail and textures in the perch