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Pileated Woodpecker
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Pileated Woodpecker

by Luke Ormand

Gallery: AvianPosted May 18, 2010287 views11 comments
Another new species from my trip down South. I have to give an assist to my family who were alert looking for birds at the Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens in Orlando, Fl. I got quite a few shots with varied lighting (and success) and am very pleased with the filtered lighting (this was around 1:30 PM) and Spanish Moss backdrop. I had no idea how large these birds are as they are quite rare in my area.

Nikon D300s 300f4 + 1.7X TC HH
f/8
1/1250s
ISO 1000

Cropped to 80%, Sharpened Bird, NO Noise reduction.

- Luke

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on May 18, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Cool shot, Luke. Nice to have spotters in the field.
I especially like how the perch moss goes vertical, mirroring the background.
Neil
Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 18, 2010 at 10:19 PM
The mossy habitat enveloping the Woodpecker is wonderful, reminds me of an ancient woodland. Nice job on the exposure and fine composition. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Jay Martin on May 18, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Very nice shot - I really like the habitat that you found this one in. I'd maybe like to see the white on the bird a little brighter, but still a nice capture.
Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 19, 2010 at 12:17 AM
Nice one, Luke. I must admit that this is one of those when I wish for infinite dof. I'd really like that bg Spanish moss in focus. However,m given the physical limitations of our optics, I think you made an excellent choice. A very cool image. :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on May 19, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Hi Luke,

I have a pair of these living in my woods and have never been able to get any kind of decent capture of one. I would love to get something that showed one so well, and of course I could never get that lovely moss. :smile: :smile:

I like the filtered light and the textures. :toast:

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by David Sparks on May 19, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Luke:
How much do your spotters charge? Congrats on the new species. Neat capture. :toast:
Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Lotito on May 19, 2010 at 8:28 PM
Looks like a tricky exposure that you made the best of. What a cool bird. Congrats on a beautiful shot. :toast:
Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments
Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on May 19, 2010 at 11:24 PM
Hi Luke,
Good job of even getting one of these in your viewfinder. Around here this is a very shy bird.
A lower angle is always better but this being a new species for you the steep angle is OK. What I find distracting is all the squiggles in the background Spanish Moss.
I think toning down the background and not applying any sharpening to that area would help.
Thanks for posting.

Ronnie G.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 20, 2010 at 12:35 AM
The habitat makes the shot. Nice, Luke.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on May 20, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Lovely shot with a great bird. Nice one Luke.
Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 20, 2010 at 1:19 PM
I love the setting here Luke it really makes this shot. I think I can see some noise in the black feathers of the bird. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments