Steller's Jay II

Gallery: AvianPosted October 28, 2016167 views6 comments

We actually got some nice weather today and I spent a bit more time in the blind and set up some auxiliary perches around the old round where we've been scattering the peanuts. The Jays are incredibly skittish, unlike most of their ilk and I can usually get off no more than a couple of frames before they fly (if that). The perch here is an old fence post I propped against the round and I managed to get two usable frames (different occasions) out of my session. I feel like I had the bird framed a bit low in this image, so I'm presenting an uncropped version as the main post and one where I took a touch off the right and a fair amount off the top as a comment. I'd be interested in seeing which you prefer.

7DII, Sigma 150-600 C @ 293 mm, hand held from blind, f/9, 1/250, iso 1250, aperture priority, pattern metering, -1/3 EV. Processed in LR5 & CS6. Taken at 1:01 PM today.

Comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 28, 2016 at 11:05 PM

Here's the cropped version. You can click on the image for a 1200 pixel version.

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

Comment posted by David Rowe on October 29, 2016 at 6:01 AM

Hi Dennis
Your takes on the Steller’s Jay get better and better! For me, the third one takes the biscuit. The perch is more interesting and continued inclusion of light purple bokeh in the BG is a definite plus. Detail in the blacks has been enhanced. In all, the third cropped shot is simply stellar.
David

Registered on December 20, 2013, 133 Posts, 286 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 29, 2016 at 5:30 PM

The skittishness must be why the bird looked so alert in the last image and in this one. The colors and detail are incredible.

I like the amount you took off the right in the cropped version, but I personally would like less taken off the top. For me an in-between version would be perfect.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on October 29, 2016 at 6:55 PM

Another nice shot, Dennis. Detail and exposure are great, and I still can't believe you hand hold the 150-600. I tried that the other day and felt like I was trying to keep a buggy whip steady in a wind storm!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on October 29, 2016 at 8:36 PM

This is also my favorite. I really like the background bluish purple color and would only crop it very slightly from the top. The lighting is excellent, and the little blue, vertical mark on its forehead is an example of a detail that adds interest and character to images.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 31, 2016 at 4:37 PM

Well done, Dennis. I'm sur[prised you report them as skittish. My experience is the opposite.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments