Northern Cardinal

Posted by Gene Gwin on Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:18 pm

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Photo of a Male Northern Cardinal photographed at the Laguna Seca Ranch in deep South Texas. Posted this image without the background blacked out in the Birds section a couple of weeks ago. Played around with the new Lightroom options and thought this image was more "dramatic." Curious what you think about the image presented with the blacked out background. Don't worry, you can't hurt my feelings.

Looks better viewed large.

1/3200
f/6.3
ISO 800

www.lagunasecaranch.com

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by david fletcher on Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:12 pm

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Gene Gwin wrote:
Photo of a Male Northern Cardinal photographed at the Laguna Seca Ranch in deep South Texas. Posted this image without the background blacked out in the Birds section a couple of weeks ago. Played around with the new Lightroom options and thought this image was more "dramatic." Curious what you think about the image presented with the blacked out background. Don't worry, you can't hurt my feelings.

Looks better viewed large.

1/3200
f/6.3
ISO 800

Tricky one Gene.

Cannot fail to like this. Liked the former image also, so for me a matter of taste. My own taste leans towards your first image.

Former Image

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by ADKShooter on Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:14 pm

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I normally side with being able to see the environmental background. I went back and looked at your prior image of this cardinal which I think is terrific for the diagonal element of the shot. However, in this case I think I like the dark background, because the natural background was a bit too busy to accentuate the dynamic look of the bird. Your style of images normally tend towards more very soft OOF backgrounds so except for being dark this fits your style. Either way, a very nice shot.

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by Cynthia Crawford on Sat Dec 04, 2021 9:30 pm

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I like the drama of this-I would not compare the two as they have such different intentions. The black background is a very nice artistic approach. I could see altering the cardinal slightly as well, with some other application like Topaz, just for fun. But this works for me "as is".

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by Mary Brun on Sun Dec 05, 2021 2:17 pm

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Definitely dramatic image compared to the first version.
Perhaps, but only for my personal taste, I would have created some shadows or fades in the black background
to give a touch of depth and a touch of naturalness that would go well with the subject so magnificent in itself and in its action.

Mary

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by Carol Clarke on Mon Dec 06, 2021 6:36 am

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I love both - the original because it is a beautiful action capture in natural habitat, and this one for its dramatic makeover, Gene! The two are not to be compared as they stand alone in their own right so beautifully IMO. This one with its vivid colours would make a glorious print pattern on black silk, or velvet - either as a repeat run of material, or a stand alone print on maybe, a cushion/pillow? Either way, stunning!

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by John Labrenz on Wed Dec 08, 2021 12:08 am