Cardinal

Gallery: AvianPosted January 11, 2010157 views15 comments

One of my favorite subjects, this female cardinal posed for me nicely with a bg of snow in our backyard. I like the dappled light in this...it was taken late afternoon. Full frame, from the open family room window.
50D, 100-400 @ 300, 1/125, F5.6, Iso 400 LARGER version also posted.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 11, 2010 at 8:38 PM

This is exceptionally lovely Sharon. That's quite the background you have outside your window and I really like the lighting on the bird. I say again, the female of the species is my favorite and you have presented her wonderfully here. Is that a third catch light in the front of the eye or is it some kind of debris? It looks to be a different color...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 11, 2010 at 9:12 PM

real nice Sharon. Did you use fill flash as well? Great bg

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 11, 2010 at 9:41 PM

Very nice Sharon. I love that perch. Very nice detail, especially for ISO 400. The cardinal may be just ever so slightly light.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on January 11, 2010 at 10:15 PM

Great overall, good comp., color and detail. Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 11, 2010 at 10:51 PM

Hi Ron - Not sure what that light is on the medial part of the eye...I did look at it and it appears to be light not debris??? Can't tell fro sure. If I were to print this one I'd remove it.
Hi Cheryl - No flash used. I think the double catchlight on the eye is actually one with the house reflected in the middle. Don't know for sure!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Davies on January 12, 2010 at 8:22 AM

Super image .Would be inclined to slice a tadge off the right to bring the eye off centre ..

Registered on February 3, 2009, 21 Posts, 327 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 12, 2010 at 12:04 PM

Very pretty image Sharon.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on January 12, 2010 at 4:41 PM

Very nice, with perfect sharpness and bg.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Kenneth Arni on January 12, 2010 at 4:44 PM

This is just great, color and detail. And like the pose, standing in same direction as the diagonal stick.

Registered on December 24, 2008, 112 Posts, 629 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on January 12, 2010 at 5:49 PM

Beautiful crisp shot! This is what I aspire to.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 12, 2010 at 5:53 PM

A really nice image Sharon. I love the BG and the perch. I am one of those who really like seeing images of the female birds. So many people concentrate on the more colorful males, but there is so much to like about the subtle colors and plumage patterns of females. You show all of that here. A very nice exposure and comp. Well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 13, 2010 at 4:49 PM

Sharon,

I think the background works great with this female cardinal, I like the lighting, the details, pose and the great texture of the branch she is perched on. I love her subtle beauty.

Regarding the catchlight, it is simple really. With the angle of light that you have there is light passing straight through the clear part of the cornea from the back of the bird which pin points the light where we see it here. I have had it happen in some cases with birds that have much larger eyes and it can be very pronounced.

A lovely and appealing image as presented.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Day on January 13, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Very pretty, great composition, nice lighting.

Registered on August 5, 2008, 25 Posts, 173 Comments

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on January 14, 2010 at 4:29 PM

Beautiful. Wonderful sharp detail the cardinal.

Laura Stafford

Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Sue Eberhart on March 10, 2010 at 12:18 AM

I have been afraid of the dappled light but you showed me it's ok. I love the lighting from the back here. Wonderful image.

Registered on June 9, 2009, 44 Posts, 208 Comments