Never Perfect

Gallery: AvianPosted January 11, 2016157 views6 comments

We have lots of cardinals visiting the feeders right now. Unfortunately, none are aware of the preferred styles and rules of bird photography. There is a large honey locust that cardinals use for perching before diving into the feeders. I position my rig to get a shot of them using some of the finer branches with a background consisting of OOF light green white pine needles. All images taken had them sitting very high in the tree or when perched lower, the head including the eye concealed by sticks. This male decided to use this large branch instead so I took several shots. The lichens provide some additional color that contrasts nicely with the red plumage. K5 IIs 600mm f5.6 (1/200 sec at f9.0, ISO 640) fill flash -1.67ev. Levels, slight sharpening, crop for comp..............Jim

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on January 12, 2016 at 7:54 AM

A wonderful profile presentation, a clear and unobstructed view. I get lots of cardinals at my feeders this time of year also and while they can be around at any time of the day it seems they always languish in the predawn and post sunset hours when light is poor. devil

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 12, 2016 at 4:46 PM

A very nice shot of the Cardinal, Jim with excellent detail and color. The perch is a bit prominent, but it has its own interest. If you want to deemphasize it, I think you could crop from the bottom and left (and maybe a bit from the right, if needed) perhaps up to the top of the chip at the left end. Unfortunately, you lose the best lichen that way.

devil

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

Comment posted by Floyd Hopper on January 12, 2016 at 7:36 PM

As an easterner now a westerner I miss the beauty of the cardinals. I would have cloned out the branch on the left and adjusted the lighting on bg. This would bring more attention to the cardinal, at least in my eye.

Registered on May 1, 2009, 652 Posts, 762 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on January 13, 2016 at 11:02 AM

The bird and the overall colors work very well for me, the perch is a little think for such a delicate bird though. But, that was where it chose to perch enlightened

! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by David Bogener on January 13, 2016 at 7:34 PM

Nice cardinal image. Pose and detail are excellent. I have no issue with the oversize perch, but wish for a more complimentary background.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 13, 2016 at 8:59 PM

Pretty Cardinal! I think removing the branch behind the Cardinal and cropping from below (as Dennis and Floyd suggested) is a fine idea.

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