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Downy WP lesson learned
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Downy WP lesson learned

by John Tobias

Gallery: AvianPosted February 12, 2016142 views5 comments
I had been trying to photograph a pair of downy woodpeckers through a back window, with less than stellar results.  Finally braved the cold, took camera, lens and tripod outside and got IMHO a much better image.

Canon T6i
1/2500 @ F-8 ISO 00
Sigma 150-600C @ 600mm
OS off, tripod

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by John Neukirch on February 12, 2016 at 9:35 AM
Nice profile capture John and certainly clearer by not shooting through a glass window. I always cringe at shooting through glass and do it it only as a last resort. For me and my backyard feeders I shoot from a back bedroom with the door closed (so I don't freeze out my wife). I have the window screen removed and just open the window (double-hung). Seems to work pretty well. It seems the Downy's head is pretty soft, looks like the focus locked onto the foot/tree trunk instead of the eye/head.I might also crop a little off the top to remove the twig moving across and clone out the sharper twigs along the right side. Slightly distracting to my eye.
Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments
Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on February 12, 2016 at 12:11 PM
Nice shot.  I like the foot gripping the tree.  Half the fun of this stuff is being out there - right? enlightened
Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Overduin on February 12, 2016 at 12:31 PM
Lovely bird in a pleasant setting. As mentioned already, the head seems a bit soft - otherwise fine as presented ! Cheers, hans
Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 12, 2016 at 1:39 PM
Superb detail in the downy's plumage, John.  This is definitely better than the through-the-window shot.  My only suggestion would be to have shot this at f/11 as the foreground trunk is just on the verge of being in nice focus.

devil
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 12, 2016 at 8:49 PM
WAy to go - this is much better than the shots from inside. Good detail and exposure; good light as well.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments