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2nd
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Cardinal Bracing Against The Snow Storm
1st PlaceCardinal Bracing Against The Snow Storm
Drake


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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: National Geographic (Advanced Editing I)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Nikon D100
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Date: Jan 17, 2004
Aperture: F5.3
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/40
Galleries: Still Life, Animals
Date Uploaded: Jan 17, 2004

This little gal was all puffed up, staying warm, while waiting for her turn at the bird feeder.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 124
Avg (all users): 7.8479
Avg (commenters): 8.7174
Avg (participants): 7.5882
Avg (non-participants): 8.0152
Views since voting: 33533
Votes: 217
Comments: 90
Favorites: 94 (view)


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AuthorThread
03/25/2010 12:39:02 PM
Well, with 90 favorites...not sure if you need another one...but I just can't help myself! Breathtaking and an instant FAV!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/26/2007 11:18:35 PM
Glad to come accoss this photo, this is absolutely gorgeous!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/06/2007 07:54:14 PM
The good thing about winning a current challenge is that it makes people check back your work. :-)
I love this one a lot. The DOF is amazing and the sharpness and color on the bird are wonderful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/21/2005 04:44:16 PM
Would make a beautiful Christmas card
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/13/2005 03:20:08 AM
nice pic i wana say ' i can feel it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/15/2004 10:56:29 PM
What an image. beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2004 03:37:22 PM
A Critique Club comment:

The mood is beautifully captured and I like the framing. One of the things that is serendipitous but why it works so well is the color balance (reds, orange, rust, cream against the bluish gray of the perch and the warm brownish grays in the background). The sharpness of the bird's feet gripping the perch is nice. I keep wanting to see more detail in the face but I don't know if any more was available since the rest of the bird is so clear.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2004 03:48:01 PM
VERY NICE , I LOVE THE MOVEMENT OF THE SNOW
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2004 09:47:05 AM
Great shot, a well deserved winner. van
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2004 04:40:32 AM
Bravo. This is absolutely wonderful capture.
COngratulations
Biliana
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2004 02:02:10 AM
wow, beautiful shot! love the colors and the dof. from her pose, looks like it wasn't her first time in front of a camera. haha. amazing pic. and congrats! :o)

Message edited by author 2004-01-28 02:03:20.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2004 03:54:38 PM
beautiful picture! congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2004 12:19:55 PM
This one was my FAVORITE by far!

Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2004 08:04:30 AM
Absolutely great. I feel like I could just reach out and touch the wispy feathers blowing over the birds chest and onto the wing...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 10:26:12 PM
Beautiful capture. Congratulations on your ribbon!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 06:15:24 PM
Congrats on a well deserved first ribbon!! A great capture! I love female cardinals...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 05:20:25 PM
Spectacular. I especially like that the snow is blowing around her and she's just stoically sitting there. Congratulations.

Message edited by author 2004-01-26 17:20:52.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 03:41:32 PM
Binkman - Reference my note below.
01/26/2004 03:30:34 PM
BEUTIFUL PICTURE HOW CLOSE WERE YOU AND HOW LARGE OF AN OPTICAL ZOOM DO YOU HAVE.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:23:58 PM
Great shot. Wonderfully in detail. Loved it!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 11:11:36 AM
Stunning photo -- fabulous win! What a score! Many congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 10:53:37 AM
congrats on a wonderful prize winning image! awesome work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 09:27:32 AM
A big congratulations to you on a well deserved win!!!

Ursula
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 08:49:20 AM
Congratulations, a wonderful picture and a deserved win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 08:06:09 AM
Congratulations on the blue ribbon, it's a fine image and way too cold.
Our feeders have been full of visitors.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 07:59:51 AM
Drake, this is a beautiful shot... I have been trying to catch some birds with my camera also... nice work :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 06:58:22 AM
Great capture. You definitely deserve the ribbon on this one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 06:51:02 AM
Thank you all very much for the kind comments! I am really excited about this first win. This site has been a great benefit to me in helping improve my photo skills.

A little more detail on the pic: I took this thru my dining room window of the Cardinal perched on top of the rod that supports the bird feeder mounted on the rail of my sundeck. She looked so pathetic bracing against the high wind, cold and blowing snow.

I used my Nikon 80-400 mm AF VR lens. I was "zoomed" to about 230mm. This shot was taken without a tripod, just me leaning against the window frame and hoping the VR feature on the lens (vibration reduction) worked - as the light level was a bit low and the camera was at 1/40 sec. (And yes we keep the feeder full!).

Thanks again,
Drake
01/26/2004 03:08:58 AM
Congradtulations! This is a great shot. It's so beautiful. Captured at the exact moment. Well deserved indeed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:49:56 AM
Way to go, Drake! Your first DPC winner and your first blue ribbon winner here! Excellent! Rob
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:31:29 AM
this is such a beautiful shot! Unlike any other in th challenge. Congrats on your first ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:26:22 AM
Extremely beautiful photo. Very-well deserved ribbon. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:24:11 AM
Congratulations!! This a wonderful photo. I am so glad it won first place. I voted it a 10.

Joan
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:11:48 AM
Congratulations on the "Blue Ribbon" Drake! This is a beautiful capture. It looks far too cold for that poor bird. Great work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:07:32 AM
What a gorgeous picture. Congrats on the ribbon, it's well deserved :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:05:07 AM
Wow, fantastic image. Looks cold, you captured the "moment" very well... I give an after-the-fact 9 for this one! Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:04:29 AM
saw it as a potd at digital photo contest, very nice, i like this crop even better!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:02:34 AM
Congratulations! Very nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2004 12:01:29 AM
congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/25/2004 11:14:06 PM
beautiful photo, love the capture of the snow falling.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2004 08:55:36 PM
Brrrrrr... Great shot! Color, exposure and composition all wonderful. Good Job, a ten from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2004 08:38:01 PM
Spectacular photo, great job and a 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2004 08:35:52 PM
Nice effect on the snowflakes. Good sharpness and DOF. Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2004 02:16:51 PM
Fantastic photo. Great colors, great sence of both speed (wind) and climate. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/24/2004 11:23:53 PM
This one really stands out. Very sharp. I like that you made such a simple composition interesting. I like the snow effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/24/2004 05:42:06 PM
Beautiful photo, congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/24/2004 12:03:13 PM
technically this is a great shot. very crisp & beautiful colours! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/24/2004 08:36:20 AM
makes me feel cold.. great picture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/23/2004 07:12:48 PM
One of my favorite birds! You did an excellent job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/23/2004 12:36:02 PM
Composition, focus, color all a visual delight!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/23/2004 12:19:53 PM
Beautiful! Very well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/23/2004 02:49:45 AM
Great depth of field. Love the great vibrant colors in the birds' feathers. You can almost feel the soft texture of the feathers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2004 11:25:07 PM
Brrrr, it looks cold! Lovely contrasts of reds/greys. Very nice composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2004 04:18:29 PM
amazing photo 9/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2004 09:31:23 AM
Really a great capture. The light is very good for a snowy day.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2004 07:20:12 AM
Great shot. Good still, and also good motion with the flakes aflyin'. The colors seem a little bit off. Maybe its just a regional thing. Ours are still pretty red around here.8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2004 08:48:08 PM
Poor bird,9 from me!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2004 02:19:37 PM
I never tire of looking at this picture. It is just marvelous. The whirling snow against the gray background gives us a sense of movement, cold, environment. The warm soft bright bird really pops out of the background at the viewer - somehow both solidly and precariously perches on the curve of metal. The birds expression is so determined. I love the contrast between the bright smooth beak, striations of the wing feathers, and the soft fluffy breast feathers. And the touvh o snowflakes dusting her face. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2004 12:34:03 PM
Colors, composition exposure, beautiful. And you even got the snow motion. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2004 09:30:00 AM
I guess we know whose picture this is now :) Congratulations on your win at DPContest, I loved it there, it's a beautiful picture, and I hope you do well here also. 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/21/2004 03:31:20 AM
Great picture.
01/20/2004 05:55:40 PM
great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 05:42:21 PM
excellent picture, beautiful bird, should do well
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 04:24:23 PM
I've seen this picture on another site, and its still a great photo! Great capture of its expression and posture. The blowing snow really adds to the effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 12:20:36 PM
Excellent shot! There seems to be some strong lighting beneath the Cardinal that adds a nice effect. - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 12:19:14 PM
Fat little one, isn't he! Nice snow gives it a dynamic atmosphere
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 12:05:11 PM
I'm ineligible to vote, but my prediction: WINNER!
01/20/2004 11:10:19 AM
Brrrrr, I get cold looking at this, excellent shot. The motion of the snow, the resolute look of the bird, very well done. I would have cropped just a tad tighter on the bottom so there is a little less of the bar he's holding onto in the shot. Just below the tail feathers :) A 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 10:59:15 AM
what i like best about this compared to alot of the other animal shots, is it didnt come from a zoo or an aquarium, but is actually an animal in its real habitat. making this much a national geogrpahic shot in my mind. good luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 10:24:35 AM
That's areal beauty! Like the colour, crispness and the snowflaks on the bird as well as on the background. I can feel the coldness! Good luck to you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 07:23:02 AM
Good effect on this picture. The colors are also beautiful and the DOF is very good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2004 05:20:44 AM
super shot and coloring. Like the bar he is perching on, great texture and color. The snow just ads to it so much. 10 I think this will ribbon 2nd, 1st perhaps the pink flamingos. ;) best of luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 11:57:22 PM
This is a great shot but seems more like Audubon Society than NG to me.
01/19/2004 11:16:55 PM
A nice shot, very cirsp. The snow is a wonderful effect. I wish the bird's face were a bit lighter though, something around his beak/nose isn't right.

Message edited by author 2004-01-26 10:08:39.
01/19/2004 09:44:11 PM
This is near perfect, I like it very much! (I wish the head had the sharpness of the wing) - The snow-motion is super! Composition very good in my opinion. Excellent shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 05:46:28 PM
gorgeous wildlife shot! great detail and color! love how you captured her endurance.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 02:41:56 PM
Great shot! Good focus. Very interesting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 12:39:21 PM
Incredible detail. Nice catch here!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 12:28:06 PM
wow, I like this
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 11:54:40 AM
Nice picture. Love the colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 11:46:35 AM
::claps:: Beautiful lady! Nice colors. I love the way the wind is lightly blowing her feathers and the snow is blowing around. Great shot! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 10:58:29 AM
Excellent colors with punch, nicely composed with blurry snow, good title. in total, well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 09:30:59 AM
I love this. Wonderful closeup and composition. Great effect with the snow blowing. Good luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 08:54:58 AM
I went out to shoot cardinals on Saturday and did not have much success. These guys are flighty little guys. You're capture is wonderful. I love how it appears to have lighting from below. 9 -danny
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 08:00:52 AM
Nice capture, glad he sat still for long enough!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 01:23:18 AM
GREAT SHOT!!!
01/19/2004 01:22:51 AM
wow! amazing shot!
01/19/2004 12:46:46 AM
Excellent shot, this is amazing, the detail is outstanding, the blowing snow adds alot to this shot 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 12:27:24 AM
Excellent capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2004 12:09:15 AM
The movement of the falling snow really adds a lot to this picture. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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