Northern Cardinal

[David Bose]

7D, Canon 400mm f/5.6L, 1/125, F8, +2/3 EV, cropped about 40%, tripod mounted from a blind, very overcast morning.

I was sitting in a blind near a natural stand of Giant Ragweed that I have been seeing a lot of Lesser Goldfinch, Cardinals & Purple Finches feeding on the seeds. This Cardinal landed and was begging for a portrait so I obliged. Unfortunately I was really going after tiny Goldfinches and for some reason I didn't recompose after focusing on the eye and framed too high. I figured it isn't a total loss since the tail is mainly hidden behind a limb and really like the HA and the position of the feet. I feel the BG is a bit distracting but it was a natural habitat.

David

[Doug Brown]

Really like the detail and the soft light. Head angle is perfect. Don't mind the tail feathers, but wish the feet weren't so close to the bottom of the frame. BTW the vertical pixel limit is 900 pixels.

[David Bose]

Thank you Doug, I considered adding canvas to the bottom and may give it a try.

yes, I realized I grabbed the wrong size file, can I replace the image, I can't remember? My ISP is down this morning.