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Northern Cardinal images - a nice surprise · 08:37 PM

Rule #1: Low light, below reciprocal FL shutter speeds, mid-ISO and birding photography generally don't mix...

I didn't have an opportunity to do much of what I wanted last week, although I managed to sneak in a few shots at the end of the day. I would never recommend photographing birds when the sun is barely above the horizon - the light is very low, the shadows are becoming more prevalent. Regardless, here are the attempts I came back with - it's good that they are becoming a bit (but not much) used to me...

Northern Cardinal (male) #1:

EXIF

Cropped to 2386 x 2032 for better composition/framing. Those are the actual wing feather details, untouched. Sorry about the foreground branch - no choice there unless I tried cloning it out or something similar.

Northern Cardinal (male) #2:

EXIF

No cropping, no sharpening, nothing - straight conversion from RAW.

Northern Cardinal (female) #1:

EXIF

No cropping or sharpening. Just a bit of a global exposure boost, nothing more.

Northern Cardinal (female) #1 - cropped for details:

EXIF

Cropped version is still over 3100 pixels on the long side.

Lesson learned about Rule #1: Sometimes you can be surprised by trying even when the odds are against you. I hope you enjoy these images!

Regards,
Marc

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 11-30-2009, 08:58 PM

Gorgeous images Marc, love the low light. Nice if you can get them in the open, most of mine are in the trees and one winds up having to use flash. Thanks for posting them.

PentX Girl · 12-01-2009, 04:51 AM

Great Cardinal images and yes I enjoyed them.

goddo31 · 12-01-2009, 07:53 AM

Nicely done Marc, I really like the lighting on the last 3. Looks you used the time of the day to your advantage

**Sailor** · 12-01-2009, 08:00 AM

Wonderful series, Marc. Looks like you know how to make the "rules" work for you. I'm impressed, as always.

Jer

scott-devon · 12-01-2009, 08:47 AM

Fantastic shots Marc. Those are beautiful birds.

**dcmsox2004** · 12-01-2009, 09:22 AM

thanks for capturing, so well, one of my most favorite birds...........

tdmsu · 12-01-2009, 10:02 AM

Great shots! I love that you can see the iris of the bird and so much detail in the feathers!

Thanks for the inspiration.

sawtooth235 · 12-01-2009, 04:00 PM

Marc,

Even your shots taken in challenging conditions are phenomenal. Well done.

Ray

**Ash** · 12-01-2009, 05:19 PM

Top result Marc.
Gorgeous rendition and textures produced by such a sharp lens.
Well done mate.

mel · 12-01-2009, 05:27 PM

I think these are my favorite local birds. But they're pretty elusive considering they're our official state bird and all. Gorgeous (jeeeaaalllooouuusss! lol)

**Marc Langille** · 12-01-2009, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

Gorgeous images Marc, love the low light. Nice if you can get them in the open, most of mine are in the trees and one winds up having to use flash. Thanks for posting them.

Thank you Heinrich and I certainly understand your comments. They can be most frustrating when in a shadowed part of a tree, not included foreground branches, etc.

Originally posted by PentX Girl

Great Cardinal images and yes I enjoyed them.

Much appreciated and thank you!

Regards,
Marc

8540tomg · 12-02-2009, 01:50 PM

Great stuff Marc,

The Cardinal is #1 on my bird hit list. I have hundreds of crummy Cardinal shots and not a decent one in the bunch. Perhaps this winter.....?

Tom G

JMR · 12-02-2009, 08:17 PM

Their good, but what really is striking is the quality of the light. Superb.

JMR

axl · 12-03-2009, 05:23 AM

great shots Marc
You seem to be able to pull it off no matter what conditions.
Congrats

Marc Langille
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11-30-2009, 08:58 PM	#2
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Gorgeous images Marc, love the low light. Nice if you can get them in the open, most of mine are in the trees and one winds up having to use flash. Thanks for posting them.

12-01-2009, 04:51 AM	#3
PentX Girl Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,700	Great Cardinal images and yes I enjoyed them.

12-01-2009, 07:53 AM	#4
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Nicely done Marc, I really like the lighting on the last 3. Looks you used the time of the day to your advantage

12-01-2009, 08:00 AM	#5
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	Wonderful series, Marc. Looks like you know how to make the "rules" work for you. I'm impressed, as always. Jer

12-01-2009, 08:47 AM	#6
scott-devon Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 2,140	Fantastic shots Marc. Those are beautiful birds.

12-01-2009, 09:22 AM	#7
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	thanks for capturing, so well, one of my most favorite birds...........

12-01-2009, 10:02 AM	#8
tdmsu Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 131	Great shots! I love that you can see the iris of the bird and so much detail in the feathers! Thanks for the inspiration.

12-01-2009, 04:00 PM	#9
sawtooth235 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Orange Park, Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 886	Marc, Even your shots taken in challenging conditions are phenomenal. Well done. Ray

12-01-2009, 05:19 PM	#10
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Top result Marc. Gorgeous rendition and textures produced by such a sharp lens. Well done mate.

12-01-2009, 05:27 PM	#11
mel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,531	I think these are my favorite local birds. But they're pretty elusive considering they're our official state bird and all. Gorgeous (jeeeaaalllooouuusss! lol)

12-01-2009, 07:44 PM	#12
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710 Original Poster	Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann Gorgeous images Marc, love the low light. Nice if you can get them in the open, most of mine are in the trees and one winds up having to use flash. Thanks for posting them. Thank you Heinrich and I certainly understand your comments. They can be most frustrating when in a shadowed part of a tree, not included foreground branches, etc. Originally posted by PentX Girl Great Cardinal images and yes I enjoyed them. Much appreciated and thank you! Regards, Marc

12-02-2009, 01:50 PM	#13
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Great stuff Marc, The Cardinal is #1 on my bird hit list. I have hundreds of crummy Cardinal shots and not a decent one in the bunch. Perhaps this winter.....? Tom G

12-02-2009, 08:17 PM	#14
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	Their good, but what really is striking is the quality of the light. Superb. JMR

12-03-2009, 05:23 AM	#15
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	great shots Marc You seem to be able to pull it off no matter what conditions. Congrats

Nature Northern Cardinal images - a nice surprise

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