This is the first shot I've posted here - and I'm looking forward to suggestions. I never had much luck getting a decent shot of a cardinal when it wasn't on a feeded, so I was happy to get this one. It was a dark day, I used a very high ISO - I don't recall exactly why I decided to go that high. I like the shot, but I do think it is lacking something that perhaps some Photoshop tweaks can help.
Canon EOS1D MIII, EF 400mm 5.6
Flash, manual, -2/3
6.3, 1/300 sec
ISO 1000
Welcome Christine! Your image looks quite good for ISO 1000, so I wouldn't sweat it. Sharpness is excellent on the head. Love that red color! I wish the bird were giving you more of a profile instead of looking at you; the beak gets a little lost. I would remove the part of the perch coming out of the top of the bird. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for the comments. I looked back and I had taken two shots. The other one did have a different head angle - but the body on that one was very poorly positioned - so through the magic of Photoshop - I put the good head on the good body - just to see what it would look like. I also cloned out the branch at the top.
Suggestion are great, I like the first post better as in the second one it looks like he has turn his head a bit away from you, I also feel like it could have more volume and texture, it feels overfalshed to me, but for a first post it is terrific as presented, repost with no perch up looks great, good job! Congratulations!
Welcome to BPN! I like the first pose better, - the light is lovely. The second pose is also nice.. Good exposure and great job holding detail in the red. Lovely perch, and I guess I am a dissenter....I don't mind the branch behind the bird at all. Nice sharp detail and pretty bg. Well done.
Cardinal Portrait
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