red and brown

[mikedelaney]

canon 40D
70-300 lens
f 8
1/500 s.
ISO 400

i never get tired of cardinals. they are common but pretty, not only the males, but females too.:o

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Nice eye contact and good-looking specimen. I find the branch in the BG distracting and there are some square cloning leftovers.

[mikedelaney]

i see what you mean. details, details. there are so many. i should have picked these up, especially the squares.

[Beth Goffe]

Mike, I'd been watching some of your posts on the ETL board and I think this cardinal is your best shot yet. The bird is nice and sharp, well-lit and composed. Axel is right about the cloning artifacts. It appears as if you duplicated the log and copied it behind the bird? Nice job, you're definitely on your way with this one. The Photoshop stuff just comes with practice.

[Alfred Forns]

I agree with Beth on this being on your finest Mike !!! Lots of good things here !!! Agree on the cloning and would also take some from the left Keep it up Mike !!!

[Fabs Forns]

we need a little less room on the left and some more care when cloning, other than that, you are doing great :)

[mikedelaney]

Wow!! i knew it was a nice bird but thanks for all of the encouragement on my technique. i really should have caught the clone square.
thanks again,
mike

[Desmond Chan]

Good job Mike !

Now I guess we have to look for you on this board, eh? :D:D

[mikedelaney]

hi Desmond,
i hope my photography holds to this kind of scrutiny. i'll keep trying here as long as i can.