The subdued colors of the female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) seem to be perfectly suited for the late autumn, when the muted shades of the fallen leaves seem to dominate the landscape.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
December 4, 2016 by Mike Powell
The subdued colors of the female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) seem to be perfectly suited for the late autumn, when the muted shades of the fallen leaves seem to dominate the landscape.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Beautiful portrait. I agree with you about the colours. I also like the way those thin branches almost frame her.
Thanks, Laura. Some of my viewers are really attuned to the species of the birds that I photograph, but I know that you pay equal attention to the composition and colors in my images. To the extent that I can, I try to use natural elements to enhance my shots. In this case, for example, I did not crop to closely precisely because I like the way the green vines helped to frame the cardinal.
Amazing colours, sharpness and detail, Mike! Wonderful image!
Thanks, Pete. Do you have cardinals like this where you live?
I don’t beleive we have them here, so it is a treat to see such marvellous photos from across the pond.
Thanks, Pete. I know that there are range maps available to show the geographic spread of certain species, but I am often to lazy to look them up. It’s easy for me to forget that the birds that I find to be common may not be present in other parts of the USA, much less in other parts of the world. To make things more confusing, sometimes we have similar names for different birds, like the robin and the blackbird.
I am constantly amazed at the diversity if species across the world, and more so with what photographers and artists are blogging here. It is ceryainly an education, and a pure joy!