Jay

Hi Everybody,

This is a picture of a Jay that I took while in a Photography hide in the Lee Valley Park today. The techs were:

Nikon D2X, 200-400MM VR, 1.4 TC, 1/640TH sec at F7.1, ISO 640

C and C welcome

Thanks for looking.

Regards Chris
www.c-m-l.com

Hi Chris, interesting shot of a very hard bird to photograph. Colours, light and pose are all very nice, but I wish for some more DOF. I would think that working from a hide on a stable tripod you don't really need the 1/640 but instead opt for more DOF.

Cheers, Helge

Hello Chris

I'm afraid for me the pose sort of makes it look a bit ugly - which Jays aren't.

Agree with Helge on the DOF issue.

Regards

Appreciate how hard it is to get a picture like this Chris - but I agree with previous posters about the DOF



dennis

I have to agree regarding DOF and pose,Jays are stunning from the side but face on doesnt really work for me,great background-look forward to more

Fair play to you for getting a decent shot of an illusive subject
Head on poses rarely work and this is no exception. Jays are bonny birds from the side or quarter-on but pretty stale from the front.
If it had an egg or something in its mouth then it would have worked as a behavioural shot.

John

Hi Chris
beautiful BG just a pity that you didn't catch the Jay side on.
John
Aberdeen

Hi Chris

Agree with t'others I'm afraid, the pose is just a bit uncomfortable and a side view or at least more angle to the head would be better.

John

Hi Chris

Apart from Owls and Raptors generally head on shots don't work well!

David

Hi Chris

I like it, I find the pose quite engaging and interesting, even if it doesn't show the bird that well. Good autumn colours too. A shame the nut looks a bit too peanut like, otherwise nicely done.

cheers

Sean

The composition works quite well for me and having more of that attractive backdrop visible was definately preferable to having the bird higher in the frame,with more of the tree trunk showing.
I don't mind the forward facing stance although I'd definately agree the real beauty of these birds is to be seen from the side.However if you already have a selection of side-on shots,then this alternative view will complement the others very well.

The only thing that really spoils the image for me is the peanuts,both in the beak and wedged into the perch.For images such as this I always prefer not to see any trace of 'artificial' food whatsoever.
If you get a further oppurtunity and are able to replace the peanuts with acorns,you'll be onto a winner.