Green Woodpecker

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi folks .. again a first timer for me to capture a Green WP !!!
Taken at the same time as the Starling , just a bit earlier in the afternoon . This is basically a compromised grab shot ... I just saw the WP by luck while I was waiting for birds to show up at the feeder .
Just saw a movement in the distance on the ground ... he was busy looking for food in the grass / soil . Came finally a bit closer .... but was partially hidden by my setup at times.
So I had to crop in a lot more than I would normally do ... due to the awkward composition after cropping , I had to add some canvas at the foot .

Canon EOS R5 II
EF 200 - 400 IS L at 560 mm
Tripod

F 6,3 ; Iso 2500 ; 1/3200 sec

Processed with PR4 ; Darktable 5.1 and PSCC 205 beta

THX for watching and commenting to my previous postings

Cheers Andreas

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Andreas, I really like the woodpecker - very clearly rendered good details in all tones. Overall though the image doesn't sit well with me. I think it is because I find the whole image rather green /yellow. Perhaps some desaturation/lowering of contrast in the background would help?

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Andreas, I really like the woodpecker - very clearly rendered good details in all tones. Overall though the image doesn't sit well with me. I think it is because I find the whole image rather green /yellow. Perhaps some desaturation/lowering of contrast in the background would help?

THX Jon ... glad you like the WP . If you have reservations about the color , fully ok .
Yes the image is rather yellow and green , reflecting the actual color at time of shooting .
Threre was no other color in the capture .... and the scene . Sunlit mid afternoon light , not getting orange at that time .
I will for sure not lower the saturation ...
Do not see any advantage of lowering the contrast of the BG , as it is already reduced . I think the subject is already isolated ...
But please feel free to post a version with your thoughts , sometimes better than pure talking .
Anyhow glad you share your valuable thoughts Jon

Cheers Andreas

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

• Adobe Photoshop 2025 Windows

How about this - I suspect you are not keen (?) but for me there is less comptition between subject and background.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

THX for your demo Jon...
Well ... the changes are quite drastic IMHO.
For me way too " red / orange " ... plus you have added even more saturation ??!!
The BG contrast is the same as in my post ??!!
Yours is a touch brighter ... which I quite like !!! At least it does appear lighter to me.
But hey ... it´s all about views , the viewers do look more neutral compared to the artist ...who is always having the scene in mind .

Cheers Andreas

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

• Adobe Photoshop 2025 Windows

All I did was to select the background, reduce exposure, lower contast and reduce saturation. I am not sure if this looks the same or different but when I downloaded I attached sRGB profile - yes I am sure you would have embedded one but for some reason PS asks me if a profile is associated with the image - is this any different? It looks much the same to me though I have brought the highlights in the subject down a little.

 

[Jan van Holten]

View attachment 231680
How about this - I suspect you are not keen (?) but for me there is less comptition between subject and background.

Jonathan, these colours are not correct. It's over the top!

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Jan do you mean the background or the subject?

 

[Gerald Kelberg]

I wasn't there when the shot was taken - obviously - but to me, the colours in the original post look more true to what I would expect from a Green Woodpecker. I find the reposts look quite yellow, which could be the case in some lighting situations.

I think they are really cool birds and like the way they blend into the grass when hunting for ants on my lawn!

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

I haven't changed any colours in the woodpecker - only the background. So as you say I think it is a matter of impression/perception.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

I haven't changed any colours in the woodpecker - only the background. So as you say I think it is a matter of impression/perception.

Hey Jon ... open my OP and your RP in PS ( side by side ) , then you might see the color differences .

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Andreas, I see the highlights down a little in the woodpecker and I see the background is more muted in mine - but no one seems to agree - so it must be my perception!

 

[Brian Sump]

Hi Andreas, I think you were fortunate to get this 'grab' shot. You certainly made the most of it with regard to the final composition.

The pose in the grass is a nice change of pace from high perches, and welcome for me.

Contrast and tones in the op work well for me. That said, I did also feel that the yellow/green was a little overwhelming. An easy adjustment if you give adjust to taste (admittedly, as others, we were not there at the time).

Always enjoy your work amigo!

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Andreas, I think you were fortunate to get this 'grab' shot. You certainly made the most of it with regard to the final composition.

The pose in the grass is a nice change of pace from high perches, and welcome for me.

Contrast and tones in the op work well for me. That said, I did also feel that the yellow/green was a little overwhelming. An easy adjustment if you give adjust to taste (admittedly, as others, we were not there at the time).

Always enjoy your work amigo!.

Hey Brian .. thanks for your comment , as always much appreciated
I was quite happy to get him in front of me ... without expecting him. The WP is very common here , we have numerous individuals around . But oh so shy compared to the Great Spotted WP . The problem is he is mostly feeding on insects so not so easy to attract ... but hey I might try it .

As for the colors ... I made the color adjustments as close as possible to the original scene , dominated if not purely green / yellow . Old and fresh grass ... and the greenish WP. So basically I would leave it as is ... only thing I am thinking about is going up with the exposure a touch . Along with the exposure edit ... the color might become less intense , but will stay with the same ratio . As said , I do not see the need or which direction I should go .

Cheers Andreas