Nutty Blue Jay

Gallery: AvianPosted November 12, 2013210 views7 comments

This morning I visited Green Cay Wetlands in South Florida, and while the diversity was low I saw quite a few things I had never witnessed before and got some really unique images. Lucky happened to be on my side as well, which is always nice.

For this shot, I channeled my inner "Howard Cheek". I saw this Blue Jay shooting across the sky and the D7100 locked on immediately. It wasn't until I got home that I realized the bird had something in its mouth - and I was surprised to realize that there are quite a few in there (probably 3-4 total). I can say with confidence that my previous D300 with this setup would not have produced this image.

**Note: I didn't sharpen the image because I'm on my laptop and don't have photoshop and am unfamiliar with sharpening in LR

Nikon D7100 300mm f4 + 1.7X TC HH
f/6.7
1/2500s
ISO 500

Cropped to 35% of image, minor adjustments in LR4

- Luke

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 12, 2013 at 10:40 PM

Luke, this is a fun picture. It looks like the bluejay is on autopilot and ready to glide in for a landing. Nice work.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on November 13, 2013 at 7:41 AM

You caught they jay in a dynamite profile and even though the image is not razor sharp it's still an incredible image in my opinion. Good job!

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on November 13, 2013 at 11:32 AM

Interesting behavioral shot. One time I saw one stuff three acorns in its mouth.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 13, 2013 at 12:21 PM

Pretty unique flight shot of the Blue Jay. It looks like a blue rocket! Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 13, 2013 at 6:33 PM

Still a trifle soft, but I suspect you can bring out more detail when you get back to your main machine. A most interesting image. All those fruits are really filling up the bird.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on November 13, 2013 at 7:04 PM

For this shot, I channeled my inner "Howard Cheek". Love that comment! Pretty nice shot! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on November 17, 2013 at 10:39 PM

Hi Luke

A very interesting flight shot.

i fink these birds hard to shoot in flight

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments