An Acorn Woodpecker with an Acorn? Who'd have thunk?

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
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Acorn Woodpecker-Edit.jpg
Acorn Woodpecker-Edit.jpg1912×1530 1.6 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

For some reason, I rarely get a shot of an Acorn Woodpecker with an acorn. I’m pretty happy with this shot: background, perch, and pose work for me.

Specific Feedback

Your advice is always appreciated.

Technical Details

Canon R5; 100-500 with 1.4 TC at 700 mm; 1/3200 at f10; ISO 12,800(thank you, DxO).

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2

I like the story here, Allen. All those opened acorns tell the other end of the story we usually see with them cramming entire acorns into holes.

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3

I’d be pretty happy with this one too, Allen. Well seen and excellent capture.

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4

well composed with excellent detail. This. tells a good story.these are very photogenic birds has very nice to get the level of detail in the plumage which you have achieved.

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5

I like this one Allen. Great perch, nice to see the feeding activity and results, and really nice BG.

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6

Great look at this WP! Sweet perch with the lichens and “buried” acorn.
My only suggestions would be to brighten up the dull white chin, and get rid of the small bit of green saturation there, and then burn the white frontal area to decrease the brightness and hopefully recover a bit of detail

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7

Very nice find. I’ve never tried a shot at that ISO. I wonder if that much SS was needed, which could be traded for lower ISO, but that’s water under the bridge. It is certailny true, though, that noise is easier to fix than motion blur. The high ISO has cost a lot of IQ and I wonder if any alternate processing would be a little better. There may be no way to recover the highlights in the feathers of the forehead and preserve any shadow detail.

For the present image, the visual weight of the limb exiting the UL is a bit overpowering. I would suggest some crop from the left and top and a slightly darker vignette to tame the bright edges of the branches and keep the eyes in the frame.

1 Like