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Flamboyant Flyboy
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Flamboyant Flyboy

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted September 7, 2014154 views8 comments
I made this back in 2007, my first year using the Canon 1D M3.
Not as originally sharp as I would've liked, but I made it work.
Since then it's been used on coffee mugs, T-shirts, and a book cover as part of the overall design..
And I just got a request from Birds & Blooms this week, requesting permission to use & publish the photograph, creating some B&B products.
F/9, 1/4000th, ISO 1600, 1D M3, 100-400mm f/5.6 lens

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 7, 2014 at 9:19 PM
Howard, what a nice extended full wing span view of this gorgeous bird. Obviously, others feel as strong toward viewing it as you do in posting from the sounds of the collection of sales and requests for usage that you've mentioned.

A beautiful take and a wonderful group of admirers too...... :toast:
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on September 8, 2014 at 8:41 AM
Howard, it sounds like this image is truly "golden". Hope the B&B products come through. It's a great action shot with the birds head and body nicely sharp and the bird filling the frame well. The oof wing tips doesn't bother me at all, but given your recent work, I can understand the feeling of, "I can do better." That's certainly true for me largely because of NPN.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on September 8, 2014 at 8:01 PM
Hi Howard,

Nice pose with slightly blurred wing provides sense of motion. I see some odd banding in the tail which might be moire due to the lighting. Other than that, you deserve a beer :toast: ............................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on September 9, 2014 at 4:59 PM
Very nice indeed Howard, real nice natural color and composition. Beautiful work.
John
Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments
Comment posted by Buck Ward on September 9, 2014 at 8:27 PM
Definitely a 'perfect timing' photograph. It's terrific. Even catching a cardinal in flight is a feat.
Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments
Comment posted by Karen Kane on September 10, 2014 at 12:10 AM
Very cool Howard! :cool: :cool:

Getting it at exactly the moment the wings were fully opened creates such a strong diagonal composition. I understand the popularity of this one!
Registered on August 4, 2012, 66 Posts, 726 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on September 10, 2014 at 12:13 AM
Hey Howard,
Looks like you have had great timing for a while, from my experience with Cardinals, this guy was still sitting on the perch when you released the shutter.
Very :cool: image in all respects.
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on September 13, 2014 at 2:53 AM
I can see why you're still fond of this one, Howard. It's an excellent capture with fantastic natural colors. At first I thought it was motion blur in the wings but then I saw your shutter speed! I guess it's just a narrow depth of field, centered on the body and head.
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments