Cardinal Portrait

[Judy Howle]

This was made with snow on the ground casting light from the bottom. The cardinal was not dark red so I darkened it a bit and used Topaz Adjust and then Fotosketcher. It looks better on black background!

[Keith Carver]

Excellent capture with perfect pose and light, Judy. I love the watercolor treament of the Cardinal, but somehow the textured canvas BG doesn't work for me. Maybe if the ORIG BG was black, that's what you should use. But it's a minor nit - overall I really like this.

[Judy Howle]

Here's another version with a little different background and lightened a bit.

[Keith Carver]

Here's another version with a little different background and lightened a bit.

Judy, I like this one better.

[Indranil Sircar]

Beautiful composition, Judy. I like the color tone here and the bg is nice too. Both versions are nice. TFS.

[Christopher Miller]

Very nice pose and treatment, Judy. I love the colors, and I think the second BG works better. Well done.

[denise ippolito]

Judy, I like the second one better. It's a bit tight in the frame but it is a lovely capture of a Cardinal and the filtering makes it very special.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Judy, I like the second one better although I'd like it better without the black outline under the tail which wasn't in the first image. I especially like the purple hues that are in the background and the wings. :)

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Judy, I like the second one better too. Agree with Denise on being a little tight. Maybe you could add a little canvas. Beautiful colors and pose also.

[Judy Howle]

Thanks everyone! I cropped it tight to eliminate several other branches.

[Hazel Grant]

I also vote for the second. The texture on the first seems to my eye to give it just a blur. The second makes it more of an artistic effect. good capture.