Norther Cardinal on a Snowy Day
I like the detail in this photo, the snow on the cardinal, the snow falling around it, the snow on the branches of the tree....
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I like the detail in this photo, the snow on the cardinal, the snow falling around it, the snow on the branches of the tree.
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NIKON D750
Aperture f/5.6 ISO 450 Shutter 1/250 Focal Length 5000/10 
Columbia, Maryland, US
Dec, 2019Views
331
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Action Award
Zenith Award
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Top Shot Award 21
Spring 21 Award
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Peer Award
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Outstanding Creativity
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo from my kitchen, after closing it off as best I could from the rest of the house, and even though it was quite cold with snow falling, I opened the sliding glass door to the backyard with a view of the bird feeder and cherry tree.Time
My first photo that morning was at 7:00. I started early because a lot of birds were in the backyard feeding. I was excited by the snow, and even though I remember someone said not to take photographs when it is snowing, I plowed ahead anyway. I had coffee with me, probably had breakfast along the way, and the last photo I took was at 9:30. I took multiple photos of Cardinals at different times that morning. It was early morning, the first day of spring and I had already had over 2,000 photos.Lighting
I like morning light and afternoon, evening light. This morning was different because of the snow, making the overcast sky and light somewhat darker. I find daytime light, regardless of the time of day to be a challenge, and I continue to learn how to read it.Equipment
I used my Nikon D750, with my Nikon 200-500 mm lens mounted on a tripod.Inspiration
I was inspired by the snowy morning and wondered what impact it would have on my photos, wondering if I would be wasting my time.Editing
I used Photoshop to make an adjustment to the exposure, which made the red pop more, and exposed all the details that I like in this photo: the snow on the bird’s feathers, the bird’s eye, the pink of the buds. I flipped it horizontally then cropped it from 6000 x 4000 to create a vertical 3300 x 4200, using the rule of thirds.In my camera bag
The weather that day provided an opportunity to use my tripod, otherwise, I use a harness or sling to hold my camera and lens, leaving me free to walk and move around. I usually use one lens, my long 200-500 mm or my more versatile 80-400 mm lens when I am photographing birds. It depends on my destination and subject: my macro or wide angle lens might be suitable. An air blower is always with me.Feedback
When photographing birds, I use my camera’s shutter priority setting starting at 1/2000 to capture flight, movement, and detail. Birds move quickly and often surprise me when they burst into flight. Continuous shooting is often preferred. The Cardinal was almost stationary on the branch and a slower shutter speed worked.
