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Frozen Goldfinch


Frozen Goldfinch
Photo Information
Copyright: Ulla Kruys (uleko) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-11-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot SX10 IS
Exposure: f/5.7, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2010-12-06 7:15
Viewed: 3071
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis

This small passerine Finch was captured through the window as a snowstorm raged outside. Like many parts of Europe we’ve had an early start to this winter and nearly ½ metre of snow. This is very unusual for the south of Sweden and many of our birds that normally spend winter here in the south are having problems in finding food. This little Goldfinch stayed in our garden near the bird food for a few days looking quite ill, cold and puffed up. It has now left and may not survive this winter while thick snow covers the ground and if the cold continues.

‘The average Goldfinch is 12–13 cm long with a wingspan of 21–25 cm and a weight of 14 to 19 grams. The sexes are broadly similar. with a red face, black and white head, warm brown upperparts, white underparts with buff flanks and breast patches, and black and yellow wings. On closer inspection male Goldfinches can often be distinguished by a larger, darker red mask that extends just behind the eye. In females, the red face does not reach the eye. The ivory-coloured bill is long and pointed, and the tail is forked.

The goldfinch breeds across Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia, in open, partially wooded lowlands. It is resident in the milder west of its range, but migrates from colder regions. It will also make local movements, even in the west, to escape bad weather. It has been introduced to many areas of the world’. Extract from Wikipedia

This was captured from a distance of about 5 metres. I’ve chosen to leave the bottom branch in the picture to create some tension and in the background are pine trees and a distant snow-covered roof. I could fix it and make it lighter or whiter but I've chosen to see it as I saw it on a dark day.
ramthakur, cloud, bahadir, zulfu, maurydv, flashpoint, marius-secan, siggi, boreocypriensis, Luis52, MMM, CeltickRanger, Adanac, marhowie, matatur, Pitoncle, CatherineD has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To matatur: Frozen Goldfinchuleko 1 12-08 08:03
To zulfu: Frozen Goldfinchuleko 1 12-07 02:59
To bahadir: Frozen Goldfinchuleko 1 12-06 11:48
To mwmod99: Frozen Goldfinchuleko 1 12-06 08:27
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Critiques [Translate]

I can feel it with you Ulla! Same here and around the northern hemisphere. I wonder if this beauty was prepared? Perhaps it's beauty hides as well an inner stoic strength.
Bob

After having seen Jane's Goldfinch, it is a pleasure to see a different Goldfinch from you, Ulla. This one so very cute!
Great shot with your SX10. I went for SX120 recently, but yet to try it fully.
The light BG behind the bird formed by a snow-covered roof actually adds to the beauty of this image.
Thanks and regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 497 W: 111 N: 1535] (9539)
  • [2010-12-06 7:24]

Hello Ulla,
Today we have almost only tits from Europa. The goldfinch is colourful winter bird and look on your photo very nice.
Regards, Pawel

Hello Ulla, Beautiful shot of this cute and poor goldfinch under snowing with lovely pose.
Great composition.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

Technically not a bad image in my opinion, when consider the use of the little Powershot here, dear Ulla. Good point of view. 1/80s seems fast enough to freeze the bird and slow enough to record the snow's movement in the air. Bravo, a good image with fine quality which deserve respect.
Regards,
George Veltchev

hello Ulla
a beauty of a bird with great details and nice pose in the snow
great shot
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-12-06 8:26]

Hello Ulla,
Beautiful photo of this Goldfinch in bad weather. After a week of snow, the thaw is setting in here.
Great pose, POV, sharpness and composition.
Regards,
Peter

Ciao Ulla.
Complimenti una bellissima foto artistcha con colori e nitidezza eccelenti, come la composizione con quei fiochi di neve che cadono.

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2010-12-06 9:18]
  • [+]

Hello Ulla, lovely and fantastic shot of this goldfinch with nice details and colours.
TFS and Regards,
Mehmet

Hallo Ulla,
a superb portrait of the European Goldfinch taken from an excellent POV in a great winter atmosphere, marvellous colours
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hello Ulla,
Fantastic shot. Excellent vivid colours, very good deatsils and great clarity.
Thanks for sharing. Lovely capture.
Marius.

Ciao Ulla, lovely bird in the snow, beautiful lighting BG, splendid colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

Ciao Ulla. Wonderful bright colours under the snowing. Great pic.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2010-12-06 11:54]

Hello Ulla.
A great shot of this European Goldfinch. Wonderful POV, sharp details, good light, beautiful colors. He is very pretty. TFS. Best regards Siggi

Hello Ulla,
To do this with ISO 100 and 1/80s, you have to know and manage very well your camera! Congratulations! An other beautiful photo that conveys very well the environmental conditions! brrrrr..... poor bird! :)
Regards, TFS,
Jesús

Hi Ulla,

What a fantastic capture of this pretty red-faced beauty under snow. Well composed with great details.
TFS and have a nice night!
Warm regards from Izmir.

Bayram

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2010-12-06 15:26]

Hi Ulla,what a spectacle this bird in this pic taken under the snow.I like a lot this composition and the great colors also in this difficult light,very very nice pic!Thanks for share,have a nice day,Luciano.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2010-12-06 15:55]

Hola Sra. Ulla.
Verdaderamente siento tristesa al ver a estos hermosos pajarillos en un medio ambiente tan hostil, buscando su comida diaria, sin embargo asi es la vida.
Aqui aun no hace tanto frio
Bella foto. Muy buen manejo de la camara para lograr esta foto desde adento de su casa.
Saludos
Luis52.

Has adelantado la felicitación de Navidad Ulla !
Un toma de gran delicadeza y que inspira a la vez que te hace pensar,
por lo que es una toma con mucha fuerza. Bien equilibrada.
Un abrazo: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1114 W: 0 N: 2546] (11425)
  • [2010-12-06 17:47]

Hi Ulla
Great closed up nice composition .Sharp image with great detail and beautiful colors.
TFS Michel

hello Ulla

WOW ! captured through the window and the image
quality it is very high, i love to see the snow
coming down on the background, photo shot with
very fine POV and framing, superbly focused
(through the window) with excellent sharpness
and details, the catch-light render the photo
always more beautiful, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2010-12-06 18:35]

Hello Ulla,
Your image of this beautiful goldfinch sure portrays the cold and snow that seems to be fairly wide spread in the northern hemisphere. Small birds and their ability to survive in this weather has always impressed me, as does this photo, thank you.
Rick

Good details Ulla, love the driven snow falling through your frame.
Nice head turn & catch-light too, it's a beautiful bird :)
Well done.

A fine, fluffy individual, which seems naturally isolated from that terrible looking snowstorm Ulla, your semi-frontal capture demonstrates the discomfort of the bird to a degree while providing us with salient details of it. TFS indeed!
Mehmet

Bonjour Ulla,
Très belle publication valorisant bien le sujet par sa bonne opposition sur l'arrière-plan.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Dear Ulla,
What a cute capture! Your photo was taken is difficult light conditions, with snow falling and you managed a very nice shot. Nice natural frame created by the trees. Very natural colours. The European Goldfinch is rare in Belgium: you are lucky to see it! Good night,
Catherine

Hola Ulla

Una foto genial de este pequeño jilguero de colores estupendos y bien contrastados. Una imagen sumamente agradable y buen POV.

Un saludo de Antonio

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2010-12-10 2:12]

Hello Ulla,
what a pathetic finch! Perching right on the small twig that resembles of an open palm.
Well seen and I think she is well cuddled too.
A nice composition ans pretty colours is well exhibited.
The effect of the snow on the capture makes this view artistic and abstract.

Regards,
Foozi

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