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Red-naped Sapsucker
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Red-naped Sapsucker

by Jim DeWitt

Gallery: AvianPosted July 18, 20161,935 views5 comments
Canon 1D-X, 500mm f4 x 1.4TC, handheld
f5.6, 1/640, ISO4000

A late-evening shot; I was on my belly, photographing Dark-eyed Juncos and this fellow flew in; I'd never seen a Red-naped on the ground like this before. You can see my reflection in the bird's eye. Sorry about the grass blades. There was nothing I could do. The ISO is not a typo; it really was getting pretty dark.

80% of full frame. Adjustments to Levels; Nik DFine applied to background.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 18, 2016 at 9:40 PM
I would love one fo these to fly in...a bird I don't have in my portfolio and would love to have one. Nice job Jim. If mine, I might be tempted to clone out the blade of grass on the face. With PS these days and the automatic content aware, it might just do it in one try.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 18, 2016 at 10:14 PM
Excellent, Jim.  Sometimes things just work out.  The grass isn't an issue with me.  In fact I think it adds to the image.

devil
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on July 19, 2016 at 12:16 PM
Nice POV and interesting story. I like this as posted Jim.
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 20, 2016 at 6:02 PM
Interesting to see this species on the ground, Jim. The low angle and soft light work well for this image. Too bad about the grass - not sure what you can do about it.
Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on July 21, 2016 at 1:18 PM
I think you did a real good job at iso 4000. The colors are very nice. I would also be tempted to clone out the blade of grass. These woodpeckers are not often seen on the ground
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments