Gray Jay

Gallery: AvianPosted February 27, 201090 views9 comments

The Gray Jays of Mont Tremblant are as much fun to photograph as they are to watch. They are extremely tame birds, and will eat out of your hand like chickadees and nuthatches. They usually wait around the resting area for the snowshoers, skiers, and hikers to arrive with the birdie treats.

Nikon D300
Nikkor 70-200mm VR f/2.8

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 27, 2010 at 2:55 PM

This is really nice and I think if you bring down the whites in the snow just in front of him, it would be near perfect! Good detail and eye contact. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 27, 2010 at 4:03 PM

Super sharp with nice eye contact. I wish there was a little more detail in the snow in front of the bird, but that's minor

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 27, 2010 at 4:26 PM

Hal,

I love this species and the only times I see them is when I don't have my camera in hand. I like the pose of the jay, the dark background and the light in the eye. I would like to see the white snow a little less bright near the left side of the frame, right now it does pull my eyes away from the bird.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 27, 2010 at 8:19 PM

Nice one, bar the bright snow - they are the same over here at Whistler-Blackcomb.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 27, 2010 at 10:18 PM

A fine composition and a sweet attentive pose, so typical of these guys. There is an unusual round spot in the background above the bird's head (at least on my probably overly bright imac monitor), perhaps from increasing the levels on the shadows in photoshop - just guessing? I can usually count on being visited upon by one of these guys when I am out tromping around the woods near home. Love their soft voice.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 27, 2010 at 11:15 PM

Nice shot, Hal. I like the dof you used here, that kept most of the foreground foliage in reasonable focus. The subdued bg also works well with this subject.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 28, 2010 at 12:45 AM

Nice shot of this camp robber Hal. I like the setting. I would crop some off the top, imo it would improve your comp and remove most of the oof white snow in the upper rhc.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 28, 2010 at 6:58 AM

Nice one Hal - really like the light in thos shot plus the snow on the branch.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on February 28, 2010 at 2:51 PM

Very nice, with perfect details on the subject. The white of the snow is a bit too high IMHO.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments