Female Cardinal

Gallery: AvianPosted October 30, 2014239 views14 comments

This was taken a pond that was mostly in shade in late afternoon. There was however, a bit of sun coming in where the cardinal was bathing. This is about 80% of the original.
Taken with a D4, 1/2000, f/6.3, Auto ISO @ 500, -1ev and a 500 mm lens with a TC 1.4.
C&C most welcome. Richard

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on October 30, 2014 at 2:39 PM

I like this. The cardinal is nicely spotlighted against the darker background and foreground.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on October 30, 2014 at 6:08 PM

Richard,
You neglected to say where the photo was taken. that is information most viewers would like to have. It is a very nice photo and I think the blurred reflection is very interesting.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 30, 2014 at 6:10 PM

I really like the light in this image Richard. Great pose and very nice details.

Sweet One!

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on October 30, 2014 at 6:51 PM

Thanks to all for your comments. They are appreciated. This photo was taken this past May at a ranch near McAllen,Texas. It is set up very nicely for bird photography. I'm not sure if names are allowed to be mentioned, so I'll hold off until I know otherwise. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 30, 2014 at 9:04 PM

I like the relaxed pose and detail of the subject. The light is great. The dark eye is unfortunate; I would be tempted to provide a glint in the eye. I also think you could crop a bit from the bottom and the right to get the bird out of dead center.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on October 31, 2014 at 2:38 AM

Well, you can't get much more colour out of a female cardinal image than you have here, Richard! That's some serious pop! The wet feathers add wonderful texture and interest and I like the head-turn and overall scene. I'm with Phil in the need for SOME life in that dark eye, though...have you tried dodging or otherwise selectively brightening the eye or some subtle highlight that appears in the full-res file that is lost here?

My favourite part of this image may be the amazing "flame" on her crown...that's just some wicked cool colours!

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on October 31, 2014 at 10:10 AM

Thanks to all for your comments. Don't know why I hesitated to lighten the eye originally, but... Here's a re-do with the eye lightened. I've also cropped a bit more from the right side. The bottom was left as is since cropping started to get too close to the reflection. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 31, 2014 at 4:52 PM

This is a lovely capture of the cardinal. Love the lighting and details, and the reflection is such a nice contrast to the hyper-detail of the bird. The repost definitely trumps the original largely because of the adjustments to the eye.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on October 31, 2014 at 5:45 PM

Richard this ticks all the boxes for me, dark eye already mentioned but that apart it's great.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 31, 2014 at 9:32 PM

Nice image Richard....agree with others suggestions about lightening the eye and the repost looks great. Nice work.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 1, 2014 at 1:26 AM

Very nicely illuminated, and very good detail in the bird. I like to low angle while still getting a reflection; that's a neat trick.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 1, 2014 at 4:16 AM

Richard,
What a stunner, the re-post is remarkable