The Cache

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Acorn Woodpecker-NPN.jpg
Acorn Woodpecker-NPN.jpg1903×2864 2.02 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

Not the best photo of an Acorn Woodpecker I’ve ever taken, but the stash of acorns made up for it. There’s been a bumper crop of acorns in our neighborhood, so I wonder if that means a good reproductive season for the woodpeckers come spring.

Specific Feedback

Any thoughts appreciated.

Technical Details

Canon R5; 100-500 with 1.4 Tx at 700 mm; 1/1000 sec at f10; +3EV (shot into a bright sky, totally blew out the sky in order to get something in the bird); ISO 6400 (and the bird was very noisy; NR in Topaz)

2

Nice job on this, Allen. The white background did make things difficult-I wonder if a touch of dehaze would help? Are these Garry Oaks or are you far enough south to start picking up the California varieties? I know they’ve been reporting a “mast” year for Garrys from southern Oregon all the way up into BC. Our local preserve doesn’t produce very often but it’s done extremely well this year.

3

I think the “Garrys” are called Oregon White Oak in Oregon. I ran quite a bit of dehaze, but looking at the largest version, looks as if it could use some more.

4

We use the terms interchangeably up here.