Better Half

Gallery: AvianPosted August 7, 2010242 views18 comments

I posted a male Cardinal inflight, so here's the PC version of equal time. She's in her first year, with the beak just beginning to show the color change from black to orange.
F/8, 1/3200th, ISO 800, Canon 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 clear & sunny around 6:00pm. No flash. I used the 10 fps in short bursts, and manually back-focused from a pre-determined landing spot.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by denise ippolito on August 7, 2010 at 8:30 PM

Nice glimpse of the dorsal and the sharp head is spectacular. I like the beak showing the change.

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on August 7, 2010 at 9:59 PM

Very well done. The head is sharp and the full spread on wings and tail is great. Seems you had a plan and carried it out well.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 7, 2010 at 10:45 PM

Great flight shot, Howard. I love the position of the wings that you caught.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 7, 2010 at 11:23 PM

well executed, Howard. excellent wing position, nice comp, and impressive sharpness.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 7, 2010 at 11:45 PM

You have the sharpest focus on the head, great prefocusing and timing! Love the range of orangey tones in the plumage, as well as the hint of orange in the background.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on August 7, 2010 at 11:58 PM

Nice catch, your planing paid dividends Howard.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 8, 2010 at 1:41 AM

A fine capture and a great look at a late hatch-year bird.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on August 8, 2010 at 7:11 AM

Nice flight capture-your pre-focus worked well with sharp detail of the head and beak-beautiful color throughout.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on August 8, 2010 at 10:09 AM

Excellent job getting this. I've only had very minor success with various species using your pre-focussed method.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 8, 2010 at 11:03 AM

Really cool shot of the spread wings and the changing plumage Howard, nice work!

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on August 8, 2010 at 11:48 AM

Great capture with excellent wing position, good comp. and color also. Ron

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 8, 2010 at 2:00 PM

Another killer backyard shot - would like less motion blur though... I can't believe how much there is for 1/3200s

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on August 8, 2010 at 2:48 PM

Cool shot with good timing and execution! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Dan Walters on August 8, 2010 at 5:35 PM

Great action and I really like the details in the wings. Very nice color as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 8, 2010 at 8:45 PM

An interesting shot Howard. I think the sharp focus on the head makes this work well and I like your composition. I've tried this technique a few times and struck out. Might have to give it another go.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 9, 2010 at 8:32 PM

Very appealing image Howard, love the sharp face and the motion blur of the wings.