DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal
timfythetoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Wildlife III (Advanced Editing V)
Camera: Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Lens: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro for Canon
Location: Blendon Woods Park
Date: Jan 19, 2007
Galleries: Nature, Animals
Date Uploaded: Jan 15, 2007

 I am a zoo guy. This was a pleasant stretch for me. COlumbus has a large numebr of metro parks around town. The kids and I went to one of them that has bird feeders right outside a window in their main building (even with microphones outside to pump the bird noises inside while you watch them) and also has more feeders down by a lake where you can hang out inside a small outbuilding to view. There were an amazing number of cardinals among other birds hanging out. I got so many good pictures that I really had a struggle as to which one to enter. This was a standout. I physically feel good and warm when I open this picture. Its clean, sharp, the bokeh rocks, the colors are very pleasing and the composition couldnt be better IMO. I am very pleased with this image. To the point that I think that this could score a high 6 of not a low 7. I would not normally make predictions like this on any shot of mine but I think its that good. Now watch me get dissappointed.

Editing - RAW conversion, NO CROP, auto levels and then that layers opacity dropped to 20%, soft light on duplicate layer and dropped to 20% or so and then erased off the bird, high pass sharpen, NI, USM, dodging and burning on the bird, and a slight saturation adjustment, resize for web, USM, and border.

Statistics
Place: 15 out of 218
Avg (all users): 6.8898
Avg (commenters): 7.8378
Avg (participants): 6.6373
Avg (non-participants): 7.0699
Views since voting: 2760
Views during voting: 551
Votes: 245
Comments: 50
Favorites: 11 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 01/30/2007 07:01:38 PM
Great shot Tim, this bird pops off the page. Congrats on 15th place in this tough challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 11:21:21 AM
One of the best songbird shots I've seen. Beautiful job Tim. Who would have thought a 6.8+ shot would end up 15th! Damn fine showing and a wonderful image. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 09:36:16 AM
Tim, this one sure one I expected to see on the front page. Those different tones of red just blow me away. They're so rich and warm! A truly awesome photo!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 07:21:54 AM
congrats! Beautiful shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 06:42:04 AM
awesome Tim...great finish and a great score
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 03:26:09 AM
Beautiful image here Tim, and you should be very proud of his one mate.....
Awesome DOF here in this one, and the focus on the bird, is excellent mate.....,

Message edited by author 2007-01-29 09:38:24.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 03:20:28 AM
Wonderful work, Tim. I love the background as much as the bird. Congrats on the top 20.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 01:43:34 AM
You did a lot better than me trying to photograph a bird for this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 12:16:29 AM
Very nice Tim!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/29/2007 12:14:01 AM
Congratulations on your Top 20 Finish in a very very tough challenge!!! I thought this photo was absolutely beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/28/2007 11:56:10 PM
Excellent clarity on the bird and I like the tangle of branches.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 11:27:22 PM
dof is awesome, love the focus! worthy 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 09:50:19 PM
Elegant portrait of a beautiful bird.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 09:38:17 PM
Beautiful shot. These are gorgeous birds.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 08:30:15 PM
I like the background is out of focus......great comp
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 06:21:56 PM
This is an outstanding shot. Wonderful color, bokeh and composition. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 06:05:31 PM
I like the blurred backround and the place where the cardinal is.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 05:44:19 AM
Beautiful bird. Beautiful shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2007 05:05:14 AM
Beautiful image...8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2007 07:52:16 PM
I love this shot.. sharp, loads of detail and love the colour! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2007 05:41:12 PM
I gave this an extra point for the straight-on angle of the cardinal. it's a rare photo that allows us this perspective. Look at the square of black it creates! 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2007 03:18:44 PM
Interesting angle... the black markings on his head look like a square, which I've never seen before.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2007 09:06:44 PM
he's a beauty. Lots of photos of these, this is the nearest to a good one I've seen
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2007 07:41:05 PM
Nice and sharp and the saturation of the red is wonderful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2007 11:02:10 AM
He is giving you a very inquisitive stare, nice shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2007 07:39:23 AM
Excellent work! Very appealing composition/bokeh!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2007 05:53:58 PM
very nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2007 04:32:01 PM
The color of the bird really pops against the brown background and draws your attention right to its face. Like the composition. Excellent shot in my opinion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2007 08:49:26 AM
Very enjoyable photo. Background bokeh and focus on the bird are excellent. 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2007 05:16:05 AM
Fantastic shot, the background it outstanding. Best of the cardinal shots and to be honest one of the best in the challenge - 10 Good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2007 10:31:41 PM
Really beautiful. Love the focus!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2007 09:32:50 PM
I like how the red stands out. good composition
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2007 07:13:50 PM
The cardinal really stands out thanks to your DOF and background color. Nice job with the rule of thirds. Nice image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2007 07:19:34 AM
Beautiful!!! Very nice color. Background is interesting and the bokeh is nice. I like how you kept the rule of thirds in mind when composing this image. I'm so glad he isn't smack dab in the middle of the pic. Good luck with the challenge!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2007 12:38:13 AM
A bit too much space on the left, but otherwise a great shot. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 10:50:07 PM
Lovely colors and composition. 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 08:19:26 PM
What a handsome looking chappy - Great colour against the muted background.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 08:09:28 PM
Great picture. It is nice and vibrant. Keep up the good work.

Rupypug
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 07:55:31 PM
Very nice detail and he's even looking at the camera!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 05:47:13 PM
Very nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 03:57:58 PM
Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, I love this picture 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 03:30:25 PM
very pretty
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 02:20:26 PM
Good capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 02:08:21 PM
Love the composition and bokeh. Really helps this little guy stand out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 11:38:56 AM
Absolutely outstanding. One of the better jobs of controlling BG while still providing context that I've seen on a DPC bird shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 10:48:39 AM
Gorgeous! One of my Favs of the Challenge....<10>
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 09:12:35 AM
Nice clarity on the bird. Good composition. Best cardinal shot I have seen so far.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 08:57:58 AM
Beautiful color!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 05:11:11 AM
absolutely beautiful photograph ... beautiful rich colours ... great composition ... and love the bokeh ..... =9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2007 12:24:48 AM
Wow - he's looking right at you. Very nice. Love the contrasting golden bokeh. Quite a shot!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/25/2024 08:25:02 AM EDT.