Female Cardinal
Clear perfect feathers after the Fall molt on this Female Cardinal.
DSC_1833
NIKON D500
Aperture f/5.6 ISO 2200 Shutter 1/800 Focal Length 5000/10 
Darnestown, Maryland, US
Oct, 2020Views
226
Likes
Awards
Winter Award 2020
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Superb Composition
All Star
Outstanding Creativity
Emotions
Impressed
Happy
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
My wife and I have a large yard in the exurbs in Maryland outside of Washington, D.C. often frequented by the usual field and woodland birds of the area drawn by the pond near the edge of the property. We often sit on our small balcony overlooking an old forsythia hedge watching the local species go from lawn to bush alternating between feeding and hiding from the various raptors passing through. We nearly always have binoculars in hand with my camera within reach.Time
We usually find ourselves in place in the late afternoon and early evening as the golden light arrives coincidentally with the last feeding time of the day. The eastern bluebirds and kingbirds pick insects from the air as they launch from high perches in the tops of trees while the cardinals and flocks of cedar waxwings seek the berries and seeds of the various trees and grasses augmented by carefully placed feeders.Lighting
Although the Sun was high enough in the sky to light the vivid grasses of the background, the cardinal herself was in the even shadowy light of the house. The result made it easy to separate the bird from the brilliant background. The even, muted light made the detail of newly molted feathers of the early Fall show its gorgeous colors The female's adornment are more subtle than the male cardinals famously brilliant deep reds.Equipment
My camera of choice for my evening pleasure is a Nikon D500 with a 200 - 500mm zoom.Inspiration
I have been watching this particular female along with several others through the Summer when their feathers are tattered by wear and their colors bleached by the Sun. When the molt began in the late Summer, I wondered which of the flock would win the beauty contest of my mind. Finally my patience paid off. This gorgeous individual emerged one evening in just the right place and time to capture this image.Editing
I usually shoot in RAW. This image was brought into Lightroom where I adjusted the light, shadow, and contrast along with a little touch of the vibrance and clarity sliders. I brought down the highlights a bit and increased the shadow some.In my camera bag
I concentrate on birds and wildlife for the most part. I often carry my Nikon D500 with a Nikkor 200 - 500mm zoom and a 70 - 200mm zoom sometimes mounted on my Nikon D750. I have collected a variety of other lenses and a couple of tripods over the years, but in the interests of keeping things manageable, I rarely have much of it with me. In the interest of mobility, I shoot handheld nearly exclusively.Feedback
If birds and wildlife are your interest, it is best to learn as much about the habits of your quarry as possible. Where are their food sources at various seasons? Is a good question. Unless you have the luxury of following their migrations you will need to know when they will be in your area. Dress in dark clothing, proceed quietly and slowly. Exercise patience. The ethics of wildlife photography can be boiled down to a common sense concern for their life cycles. Leave them space and do not disturb their vital activities.
