Heres one from a few days ago, light was still not the best but i try to salvage what i can especially when it comes to these guys because they are not regulars at my feeders.It's the first time that i notice a blue tint in it's feathers.
Nikon D80
Sigma 170-500mm
1/80 sec
F/6.3
ISO 200
500mm
No Flash
I can hardly ever get a good look at one let alone capture it! Great shot. The bird is so big! Do you think he is older or just fat. Or do they bulk up for winter?
Very nice capture and composition Glenn,
I like the vibrant red and sharp details...my suggestion would be to clone out the white out of focus blotch on the lower left side of the frame...my eye keeps going there; this takes the attention from your main subject...:cool:
Denise i have a feeling that he is a older specimen ,yesterday and again this morning i saw a much smaller one for a few minutes. Gus i will see what i can do about the white out of focus blotch . As i am now learning here, is that anything that distracts from the main subject should be cloned out or toned down .
glenn, just burn that blob down. that's the easiest way!! nice pose and perch. would like to see the bird a little brighter. especially the facial area. you did well with that backlight!!
Thanks for the CC guys it really helps , OK i did a retake on the things mentioned, toned down the white spot and lightened the face a bit .How does it look now. Don't be afraid to nitpick ,im here for CC :)
Hi Glen,
I like the lightening of the face you can see more of the eye especially the rim around it. Was wondering if you have too much space around the bird. Also I was wondering if you are getting colour spill on the beak. Is the beak usually yellow? Just some ideas for you? Not criticisms:)
Lol i knew someone would catch the beak , but in the original the beak is more on the red side than yellow and ill let you in on another secret i had to reconstruct his beak because it is terribly deformed . The lower part of his beak is a good half inch longer . Even his size is not natural and he is also very shy , Hes my first Cardinal so i did not want the photo to go to waste :).
Great suggestions Can add I would reduce saturation in the red channel The bird is over cooked and it happens in camera. They all tend over saturate the red channel !!
Gosh, by the time I got to the bottom of all the posts, I couldn't think of anything else to suggest. It is a terrific image. The 'blue' feathers may actually be more gray and you may be looking at a first-year male is is just finishing a molt to adult plumage (perhaps).
Gail
OK Alfred i toned down the saturation and at the same time got rid of a little noise. I hope he looks a little better :) My PS skill's will eventually improve lol.
Cardinal
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