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Northern Cardinal
2nd PlaceNorthern Cardinal
timfythetoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Birds II (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro for Canon
Date: Jan 21, 2008
Date Uploaded: Jan 21, 2008

 Votes: 154
Views: 322
Avg Vote: 7.3571
Comments: 24
Favorites: 3
Wish Lists: 0
Updated: 01/31/08 06:12 am

Whooh hooh! This was taken at one of our local metro parks. I have had excellent luck with these guys in past challenges and felt that I could do real well in this one. I went out a couple times this week with the kids. This day it had just snowed and the feeders were booming. Easily 20 cardinals, dozen blue jays, couple different woodpeckers and then 8 or so other types of birds hanging out. I just sat by the window and shot as these little guys landed on the branch nearby.

This one was by far the cleanest of the bunch. Did a decent amount of editing, but not a whole lot on birdie overall. About an hour before rollover I opened it up again and recropped it. I originally had a decent amount of negative space on the left which probably worked better by those artistic rules of composition. But centered up semmed more powerful for DPC tastes.

My score began in the 7.4s, dropped into the 7.1s the second day and has worked its way back up to the above. I am hoping for a yellow. I believe yakatme has the blue. These challenges always score so high I am just glad to be up in the running. I dont really consider myself a nature photographer.

Post challenge - Whooh hooh! 2008 is shaping up to be a good year. I was really not sure if my core would ribbon. I knew yakatme had a big score working and figured there were others. Rollover was good to me as I went to bed a couple of hours earlier with a 7.33. I really do enjoy shooting these little guys. Which probably shows as I think this is my 6th entry or so of a cardinal. ANyways - thanks for the votes and comments. This was a fun week.

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 251
Avg (all users): 7.4104
Avg (commenters): 8.6176
Avg (participants): 7.2574
Avg (non-participants): 7.5495
Views since voting: 11367
Views during voting: 467
Votes: 212
Comments: 84
Favorites: 28 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/05/2008 09:34:42 PM
WOW!, best Cardinal pic I've seen, maybe ever. The crispness is amazing. Great quality job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2008 05:22:02 AM
Just like a cartoon figure! :D Great capture, well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/07/2008 10:26:10 AM
What a beautiful capture. You can use this for next year's holiday cards!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2008 09:58:31 PM
I love how you captured individual feathers and the combination on red, green balsam and snow. Good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2008 01:04:19 AM
Nice job, you are rolling now! Congrats on a great finish in a tough field
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2008 09:36:27 AM
Congrats on your Red Ribbon win, beautiful capture of this beautiful bird, great focus and composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2008 03:13:12 AM
Tops Tim, and another wonderful bird shot from you.....

Well done matem and also congrats on the red ribbon.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 10:48:28 PM
Congrats Tim on an excellent score and fine shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 09:36:46 PM
Great shot Tim, really good job with the bokeh and the editing, congrats on a ribbon in this incredible turn out of a challenge, very well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 08:50:08 PM
gave it a 9. you are on fire. how am i supposed to compete with this?? :O
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 06:05:22 PM
That is one plump Cardinal! Congrats man!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 03:33:55 PM
nice shot! reminds me of a picture of a cardinal i saw recently, the caption? "One day... I'll be Pope!" hah.. gotta love colorful birds!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 02:41:57 PM
Outstanding entry. Red rocks....bird and ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 02:31:29 PM
Nice shot Tim, and well done on another ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 01:13:01 PM
This little guys were hard to shoot when I was down in Texas. Are they really that shy? Very pretty little bird. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 01:01:38 PM
Congratulations on your ribbon!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:06:10 PM
Tim- excellent work again! Congrats on a ribbon in an extremely strong field of entries
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:03:04 PM
A beautiful picture and well worthy of the ribbon,
Paul.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 11:02:52 AM
Excellent shot Tim,well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 11:00:30 AM
Loved this little guy when I was voting! Congrats on a red ribbon for the red cardinal!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 10:47:16 AM
Excellent shot all round. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 10:08:20 AM
Congratulations on the winning Ohio State Bird.
Well obviously, a Red ribbon for a Red bird.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 10:02:26 AM
Excellent shot Tim, well deserved
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 10:02:15 AM
Tim, beautiful shot! wonderfully composed. I think you were right in making the crop. Congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 09:55:51 AM
SWEEET. Nice going, Tim.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 08:33:56 AM
gave this a ten- wanted it to be the blue...You have my utmost admiration, Tim !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 07:47:39 AM
Timothy, you are a master with these cardinals! What a beautiful shot - the little catchlight in his eye is just perfect!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 06:55:43 AM
Tim
OMG magicical shot
congrats on the red mate

Message edited by author 2008-02-04 06:56:12.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 06:39:50 AM
Hey Tim,

Congrats on the RED, I think you have completed all your ribbon colors. Beautiful photo. I wish I had this one in my portfolio.

Congrats again,
Rich
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 06:30:27 AM
Beautiful! The detail, color and comp makes this perfect. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 04:19:46 AM
well done/congrats stunning
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 03:49:07 AM
It crossed my mind that this was yours when I was voting. Congratulations, Tim. Red bird, Red ribbon...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 03:32:52 AM
It is a great shot. Well deserved ribbon.
The colour of this little bird is crazy.
Wish I looked so good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 03:25:42 AM
Very beautiful shot. Congrats on the ribbon, Tim.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 03:16:05 AM
Congrats man, well deserved ribbon. So this is your "new approach to DPC this year"?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 01:07:03 AM
1? this got a 1?

You know what I mean when I say "some people here are really stoneheads"... HEY, whoever gave "1" to this photo, McDonalds hiring, did you know?

A very nice photo, i don't even know why 3's and 4's here tissk tissk...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:55:17 AM
A beautiful Ohio Cardinal! Perfect colors, focus and so clear I feel I could touch it. The little touch of snow completes the package.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:49:06 AM
Just can't buy a yellow, can you? :-) Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:34:12 AM
Grats on the ribbon Tim :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:18:05 AM
knew this would do well. Nice job. Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:17:26 AM
Great work and congratulations on the red.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:12:55 AM
great shot and finish Tim. congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:10:57 AM
You ended up a lot closer to at the finish than what you thought. We must have been neck and neck the whole time. Great detail and the red...WOW! Very nice. Congratulations on the matching red ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:05:56 AM
Congrats for the red Tim
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:05:37 AM
Congrats! Beautiful little guy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:02:34 AM
Congrats Tim!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/03/2008 07:55:49 PM
Nice capture. Love the snow but the bird is a little too saturated for my tastes. Still one of the challenge highlights!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2008 07:46:11 PM
Very nice photograph. The lighting, focus, colors, and DOF are great. A gorgeous Cardinal. Bump
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2008 07:41:05 PM
WOW, great colors, this should be in the top 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2008 06:16:41 PM
Crisp, vibrant, wonderful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2008 09:57:58 AM
One of my three tens. Wonderful shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2008 08:15:23 AM
Arrestingly beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2008 12:30:24 AM
I'm a sucker for Cardinals, and this one is outstanding. Beautiful bird, and perfect capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2008 02:24:14 PM
The contrasting colors and DOF really make this a top notch shot! 10! Best of luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2008 01:07:20 PM
Beautiful bird, very nicely captured. The colors are outstanding and the photo is sharp. I would suggest cloning out the light speck on his beak (near his eye) -- although it is tiny, it keeps drawing my eye. A high score from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/02/2008 12:21:44 PM
Beautiful. Crisp, clear, sharp, colors are right and not over saturated. Top notch photo here complete with a catchlight in the eye. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2008 06:24:15 PM
8 - Nice colors, including control of. Wonder about a little less on the left and possibly the top, but your call.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2008 03:23:42 PM
Fantastic colour and DOF-great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2008 12:10:26 PM
Beautiful colours, dof and composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2008 08:09:11 PM
Nice and sharp! I like the soft background and the color. My only suggestion would be for a different crop- the way it is right now feels a little heavily weighted towards left of the photo and is taking my eye out of the image rather than in.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2008 10:42:58 AM
Tim? Very well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2008 08:57:47 AM
Simply beautiful!!! I really wish we had cardinals in Newfoundland. I have only ever seen one from a distance when I was in Ottawa.

This is my top pick for the challenge. If this doesn't win there is something wrong!!! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/31/2008 12:05:02 AM
wow - excellent complimentary colors and clarity. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2008 07:15:41 PM
I love cardinals and this photo is so perfect! Would make a great Christmas card!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2008 07:14:27 PM
Great shot of a beautiful common bird. Nice bokeh. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2008 06:31:48 PM
Beautiful detail and color.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2008 02:59:44 PM
Very nice crisp shot. The clarity is awesome. Nice composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2008 11:42:44 AM
I like the contrast between the red and the green.

Nice picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2008 10:14:55 AM
Nice semi profile and composition. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/30/2008 08:35:21 AM
A classical shot of the cardinal. good for Christmas cards! Nice job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2008 10:56:02 PM
Perfectly captured with the vivid reds, greens and the snow. Beautiful detail and the eye is perfect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2008 08:18:04 PM
Brilliant!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2008 08:12:16 PM
Beautiful colors and detail...you even got catch lights!! Just lovely!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2008 03:43:27 PM
You've probably got enough now to make a calendar. Really does show very nicely, though there's the tiniest bit of blue fringing on one of the foreground branches.... :-) (Comment only, no vote.)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2008 03:27:23 AM
My favourite of the stationary birds. Beautiful lighting and focus. Nice amount of negative space around your subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 11:14:43 PM
Lovely colors and processing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 06:50:35 PM
Very well done. Perfect exposure IMO.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 04:12:19 PM
Did you also get a shot of the pope? 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 02:06:13 PM
How beautiful. The colours are a treat.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 02:05:00 PM
best in show so far,great image! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 01:02:41 PM
good. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 11:15:24 AM
Excellent capture. Nice bold bright colours and not over sharpened. Great capture. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 06:30:58 AM
The red really contrasts well with the background, nice shot 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 01:51:40 AM
Beautiful... the composition is wonderful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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