Reflected Drinker

Gallery: AvianPosted October 1, 2010139 views12 comments

We have the cardinals here year round so I've shot the bird quite a bit.
Working back through the files, I revisited this one shot on a bright sunny day in February last year.
F/9, 1/1000th, ISO 400, Canon 1D Mark III, 300mm f/2.8 + Kenko 2x ext. around 11:00am. 80% of original.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 1, 2010 at 7:02 PM

Nice detail and colors, Howard. Unusual situation for a cardinal shot: mostly we see them perched. You captured the reflection well too...with a catchlight showing in both bird and reflection! It might just be a little tight at the bottom: that reflection is so near the frame.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on October 1, 2010 at 7:13 PM

Nice capture Howard. I like the sharpness and color with a killer catchlight. I might clone the highlighted spots just to the right of the birds head, they seem to grab my attention for some reason, and if you have it a little more room for the reflection as Steve has mentioned.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 1, 2010 at 7:19 PM

Beautiful, natural reds Howard with loads of visible detail. Love the pose & setting, how nicely the warm tones of the rocks compliment the reds of the bird and the great reflection. I like the comp as it is, if there were more space at the bottom it might then feel that the cardinal waas centered top to bottom.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 1, 2010 at 9:43 PM

I like this a lot Howard, great reflection and the reds look perfect.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 1, 2010 at 10:12 PM

Really cool image, Howard. Love the near perfect reflection in that still water. Light and the reds are very well handled.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 1, 2010 at 10:38 PM

Thanks for your feedback everyone, I appreciate it.
I left the points of light in near the head, thought it added a bit of sparkle. Wrong.
So while I was looking at it, I used the color replacement tool and removed the bluish parts of the sunny rock above/in front of the head, then reduced brightness there by 10%
Back in the morning to follow up with ya..It's getting late :/

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 1, 2010 at 10:51 PM

Very unique shot Howard. The reds are nearly perfect. I'm ok with the comp. Love the curve of the back from head to tail and reversed in the reflection. Nicely captured Howard.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 2, 2010 at 1:16 PM

I love this Howard. Very natural colors and the nice reflection adds a lot for me.

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

Comment posted by Sally King on October 2, 2010 at 3:01 PM

Lovely especially with that complete reflection. I love too the little ripple where he's getting a drink. Excellent feather details.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 2, 2010 at 3:46 PM

Howard,
the detail and colors are super. I really like the reflection too. Brilliantly done!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on October 2, 2010 at 7:44 PM

Repost looks great Howard..good job.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 3, 2010 at 11:26 AM

I like this a lot simple comp. the color contrast between the red of the bird and the rocks. Very nice image.

Registered on January 11, 2009, 0 Posts, 32 Comments