Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted February 7, 2016111 views5 comments
Have not had much snow this winter so far. Took this during our first snow. A bit chancy image, but I sort of like it for this challenge.
Canon PS SX60
1/200 @ F-6.5 ISO 400
Canon 3.8-247 @ 247mm.
Comments
5 comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 7, 2016 at 11:51 AM
John, I find this an interesting and challenging take on abstract story telling. The snowflakes flying past in the foreground and the cardinal in the background tell a good story. While I admit to being ambivalent about the image and at a loss as to suggestions to make it better, I do think this approach has potential.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 7, 2016 at 5:01 PM
That's a bold move, John. I don't think you could get away doing this with any other species - the simple colors of the cardinal make it identifiable even when far out of focus as in this image.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Marella on February 8, 2016 at 11:08 AM
I like the snow streaks, John. I'd say that I'd like to see the cardinal a little sharper, but that would also pull the background trees in more. I think it works really well as it is.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 8, 2016 at 3:23 PM
Interesting take on it, John. I kind of like it, though it's certainly not a classic photo.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by John Launstein on February 8, 2016 at 10:46 PM
Ha - too cool, John! Personally, I love it. I agree with Richard in thinking a male red cardinal might just be the PERFECT choice of species to do this with, and further, I think the angle of the head position helped even more in this execution.
Both Josiah and I have been doing this intentionally all year with bighorns and elk, but we've not had the opportunity to do this in the snow, which gives a wonderful in-focus foreground subject with the cardinal playing a supportive role. I think you did the right thing with the transitional shutter speed allowing for the snow to streak, especially with this moderate level of snowfall...in a heavy snowstorm, it might be cool to have gone very fast and freeze the individual flakes (just a thought for the next time you have this opportunity). Two thumbs up from me anyway!
Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments
Comments
5 commentsBoth Josiah and I have been doing this intentionally all year with bighorns and elk, but we've not had the opportunity to do this in the snow, which gives a wonderful in-focus foreground subject with the cardinal playing a supportive role. I think you did the right thing with the transitional shutter speed allowing for the snow to streak, especially with this moderate level of snowfall...in a heavy snowstorm, it might be cool to have gone very fast and freeze the individual flakes (just a thought for the next time you have this opportunity). Two thumbs up from me anyway!