Photographing a Northern Cardinal

Abundant in my area, Northern Cardinals are often seen and heard - they’re very easily identifiable. Northern Cardinals will often sit and sing high in the trees, and they aren't difficult to find or photograph - supposedly. Often seen in pairs, male cardinals are typically bright red with a black mask on their face. Females are often brown with red on their wings, tail, and crest.

My experience with trying to photograph them has been the opposite of typical. Using beginner photography equipment and being a beginner myself has led me to shaky and blurry photographs more than once. On my frequent walks at a local trail, they often fly directly in front of me and land. Before I can get my camera ready, they are gone. At one point I left the camera at home because I wasn’t having success. Naturally, on that day, one of them sat in front of me and sang for minutes. Rather than frustration, I enjoyed the moment and recorded the song on my phone.

I resolved to spend a few mornings before work on the same trail - no expectations, just enjoying being in nature. Early into the walk, a male cardinal’s song caught my attention. I started moving towards the sound and spotted him as he flew off. I followed in the same direction. As luck would have it, he had landed on some branches just by an overlook. I started quietly approaching while he preened his feathers. When he seemed to notice me, I would stop and wait until he continued. We continued this dance until I was at the edge of the overlook. Rather than rushing the process and hastily taking pictures, I took my time and waited. I was rewarded with him sitting for some portraits, and I thanked him as he departed.

I’ve since improved my skills and learned a valuable lesson. Birds don’t care about whether or not we get the perfect photo, so the phrase “luck is when preparation meets opportunity” is reinforced in my learnings. Having the camera settings right for your lighting and environment will generally yield the best results. Just showing up with no expectation but enjoying the moment helps too. I won't always leave with a great picture, but if I am patient and persistent, the moment might just present itself.