Scrub Jay

Gallery: AvianPosted June 6, 2012122 views12 comments

I spent most of last week tied up in meetings on a business trip to the LA area. However, I did stay over Saturday and visited the small, but productive Tucker Wildlife Refuge and Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Tucker doesn't open the gates until 9:00, but I shot this over the fence a bit before 8:30. I like the patterns of the pine needles in the background.

1DIV, 500mm ISL + 1.4TC, Hand Held (propped on fence), f8, 1/20, iso 640, Av mode with no compensation. Cropped to 7MP. Normal processing in CS5. Note processing performed on my laptop, so adjustments were mostly made on histograms rather than screen look.

Your comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on June 6, 2012 at 11:48 PM

Processing looks good to me. I really like the environment and the depth of field is just right, I think.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on June 6, 2012 at 11:56 PM

Dennis this is really great. I agree that the DOF is perfect and the background needles add a wonderful texture to this. The placement of the bird against them also works just right.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on June 7, 2012 at 7:01 AM

This is very nice, Dennis! Like you, the BG is most pleasing to my eyes.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on June 7, 2012 at 8:43 AM

A very pleasing, natural looking image. The amount of background blur really works well for this image. Nicely captured.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 7, 2012 at 11:13 AM

A fledgling? (looks small and "fluffy")
Very nice - great environment, and nice detail on the bird.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on June 7, 2012 at 11:44 PM

The larger version of this is really nice, Dennis.......I like it a lot. From the small one, I thought it might be a bit dark, but the larger is spot on.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 8, 2012 at 11:41 PM

Great job getting this at 1/20 propped on a fence Dennis.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on June 9, 2012 at 7:50 AM

I really like the overall setting and I agree that the OOF pine needles enhance the shot. Also very sharp and good pose and a steady hand at 1/20. Nicely done.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on June 9, 2012 at 8:50 PM

Lovely image all around. Sharon

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

Comment posted by May Haga on June 12, 2012 at 1:12 PM

Excellent image Dennis. Lovely setting.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 25, 2012 at 6:31 PM

Really like the setting and the way the pine needles have influenced the outcome here Dennis, nice!!
I was just going through some closeups of this bird in my archives..what a diffference!
I had mid-day light and dead grass as it stood on the ground.
Bird's detailed & sharp but - OK, it kinda blows

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 26, 2012 at 4:21 AM

I fine all-round image: head turn, setting, presentation - all first rate.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments