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More Sapsuckers!

Discussion

16 replies
Posted by bill meikle on July 6, 2009 at 3:46 PM
More Sapsuckers!
Let me know which of these works for you. Darn but these are hard shots to take! I'll post a couple if that's OK?
Posted by bill meikle on July 6, 2009 at 3:46 PM
#2
Posted by bill meikle on July 6, 2009 at 3:47 PM
#3
Posted by bill meikle on July 6, 2009 at 3:47 PM
#4
Posted by Jeff Sirota on July 6, 2009 at 4:03 PM
They're all very nice, but #2 is my favorite -- very sharp, no real motion blur, and I think the trunk on the right anchors the shot very nicely. Also, the background blur is great; I wonder if it might be a bit better if you could darken the background a bit though.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on July 6, 2009 at 4:18 PM
#1 doesn't work for me (I want to see the whole head), but #2 is awesome. I also like #3, the motion blur in the wings is not bothersome since the rest of the body is mostly sharp. The final image seems to have some slight sharpness issues apparent when you look at the bird's eye.
Posted by Todd Caudle on July 6, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Ditto what Joshua said.
Posted by Rod Chandler on July 6, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Bill, Given the difficulty, those are four very fine shots. I like #3 best...agree with Josh.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on July 6, 2009 at 5:12 PM
#3 is my favorite.
I like the wing position in #1. Too bad they weren't closed just a bit more.
Posted by bill meikle on July 6, 2009 at 6:03 PM
And here is the bonus photo, this one is called "Oh dem ants, dey make me so itchy!"
Posted by Paul Wegemann on July 6, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Nice stuff, Bill. 3 and 4 are my favs, and sharp or not, #4 is my favorite because it's got impact.
Posted by Nick Moore on July 6, 2009 at 6:59 PM
These are all great Bill, but #2 and #3 are my favourites now comparing them all side by side.
Posted by Gail Diane Yovanov on July 7, 2009 at 7:20 AM
Bill, these are all remarkable shots considering how difficult these birds are to photograph. And finding a pair of Williamson's sapsuckers feeding young is an accomplishment in itself. Good job on that!
Posted by Paul Beiser on July 7, 2009 at 8:44 AM
These are excellent, Bill!
Posted by Don Grall on July 7, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Great stuff, Bill. I especially like 2,3 and 5. What kind of shutter speeds are you using?
Posted by Kurt Bowman on July 7, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Bill, nice work...I have to say number 3 is my favorite followed by the itch!
Posted by Dona Hilkey on July 11, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Wow, and to think I was pleased with the shots I got of this species just feeding young....I didn't get a single usable in-flight shot. These are all terrific!
Dona Hilkey
Meeker, CO
photos at www.pbase.com/dhilkey