Ready to Fly

Gallery: AvianPosted June 2, 2013120 views6 comments

I'm still testing out my new camera and I ended up working on getting some bird photos. I would have liked getting them in closer, but the wind was a factor. This downy woodpecker was photographed with the K5 IIs, Av, f8, ISO 640, fill flash at -2ev, DA* 300mm. The detail is amazing without an anti aliasing filter. Post processing included minimal adjustments to highlights and some micro-contrast sharpening was done with Topaz Detail. I also cropped off around 30 % of the image for composition.....................Jim

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 2, 2013 at 11:58 AM

Nice one, Jim. Excellent detail in the plumage. Looks like you'll be satisfied with that camera! I've been using the micro-contrast adjustments in Topaz for a few weeks now and it's replaced a lot of sharpening-I like the effect on plumage a lot.

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

Comment posted by LeRoy Gunderson on June 2, 2013 at 1:55 PM

Very Nice! We have these around here but I have never been able to get a photo this good.

Registered on December 14, 2004, 27 Posts, 112 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 2, 2013 at 7:54 PM

Great shot. I'm envious of all of you, who have access, or can spot, woodpeckers. Love 'em.

Topaz? I'll have to check it out based on the look of this as well as the comment from Dennis. Thanks, guys, for sharing the details of your processing.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on June 2, 2013 at 8:24 PM

A nice look at this good looking male Downy, I love the sweet view of the back and the red patch on the nape. Beautifully exposed and great detail. I would have liked a little more eye contact with a look over the shoulder, but you get what you get. Also, I might be tempted to pull down the saturation in the greens, they're just a bit to saturated for my taste. Beautiful shot - thanks for sharing.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 3, 2013 at 2:53 AM

Jim,

The detail is especially good, in particular in the larger image. Just goes to show you do not need to have Canon or Nikon

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on June 4, 2013 at 7:58 AM

Very nice image. I like the pose that shows the pattern back and show the head. Very nice details. If anything, I'd be tempted to try toning down the white swirls in the URC.

Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments