Winter plumaged American Goldfinch.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Got this guy at a local bird feeding station a week ago. This species has been relatively scarce for the winter season, but a few can usually be found where easy food sources are found :). This was at the very beginning of a snow fall, with just a few flakes starting to come down. The drive home an hour later was a nightmare to say the least...

Canon 40D + 100-400L @ 400mm, evaluative metering, manual exposure (metered off the snow below, +2 stops), 1/125s., f/6.3, ISO 800, natural light, handheld, just about full frame, nasty-looking twig cloned out of perch in LLC.

[Aidan Briggs]

I love the snow, the look back pose, and the BG. The perch is a bit plain, but it's hard to find any good ones in winter. Maybe a slight mid-tones adjustment to lighten the bird a tad? I see you are still using my favorite lens :).

I just got my first ever American Goldfinch at my birdbath today! I have only ever seen a few in my area.

Well Done!

[John Blumenkamp]

Hi Daniel... wow, this is very nice. I love the quality of the light you've captured here, and the snow definitely adds something extra. I like the perch as it fades into the frame.

[Raymond Barlow]

beautiful shot Daniel, i like the snow, and the pose, the perch is killer., nice dof, and it looks like the angle of the main source of light is coming from the snow?

[Luis Villablanca]

I love the pose of the bird and the detail on the feathers. The background is great and nicely complements the color of the bird. The out-of-focus snow adds a lot to the image.

[Doug Brown]

I'm a sucker for falling snow. Image has a nice soft feel to it, yet the bird is quite sharp. The perch says winter to me. Like it a lot!

[Ilija Dukovski]

I like the overall pink-ish color in the BG and the birds pose.
Very peaceful feel overall.

[Martin Wallis]

I love the head angle, falling snow, DOF, sharpness, and light under belly (I guess from the snow). Couldn't get better

[Duane Noblick]

Everything is sharp from head to tail tip. I also agree the snow adds a lot to this image. Killer BG as well.

[Harshad Barve]

Daniel
This is such a Sweet image , lovely pose , falling snow , soft feel , beautiful light , big time congrats and TFS

[Bryan Hix]

Daniel,
The bird has a softness to it (in a good way) and because of it, it makes you feel like although it's snowing, the bird is warm and comfortable. I also like the HA and pinkish tint to the BG.

[kenn threed]

Daniel
This is such a Sweet image , lovely pose , falling snow , soft feel , beautiful light , big time congrats and TFS

Agreed with Harshad on all points Daniel, a beauty shot for sure.

I would only add that this appears to be a first year juvie from the faint butterscotch color. We have quite many Goldfinches here and we love 'em!

very nice work as usual,

Kenn