Steve Cole
July 2026 - What Do We Have Here
About the Image(s)
On my back deck trying to photograph Hummingbirds when this fellow, Pileated Woodpecker, showed up on a nearby tree. We have a pair visit our property regularly to devour the suet cakes and do their handy work on various dead trees. Such a treat to get a decent opportunity to photograph for they are a very shy. Fujifilm XT2,100-400 at 400 (600mm FF), f5.6, 1/1000, iso 1000. Processed in Lightroom Classic using the basic sliders.
3 comments posted
Good soft box effect and bokeh in the background. Nice diagonal lines (including the bird itself) and the tree provides a solid base for the Woodpecker to grab on to, and acts as an anchor. Maybe brighten up the body, and the eye, a little bit, and darken the yellow/orange at the bottom? Posted: 07/08/2026 14:14:13
Steve - wow! Being able to to beautiful birds like from you own "arm chair"! So lucky! Well taken with an interesting angle. I may just reduce the brightness of the wood in front of the bird - but nice Steve. Posted: 07/09/2026 13:06:41
Pretty cool yard bird! The tree it's on is attractive with the mosses and lichens adding some color and texture to it. I agree that the diagonal aspect is also pleasing. And I agree that darkening that lower corner a bit would keep it from pulling your eye down. Or- perhaps just desaturating it some? Posted: 07/10/2026 22:53:43