Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — The early morning light on our back deck caught the Cardinal when it make one of its rare visits and I just happened to be standing the open deck door photographing feeder birds. I know this does not look quite real…but it is indeed what I saw in the moment, just the effect of the light. I have not manipulated the photo other than global adjustments to shadows and highlights and sharpening. The glow is all the sun and the bird! Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. -0.3 EV to preserve highlights. Processed in Photomator.