After driving over 5000 miles in the last 3 weeks my wife and I are finally back home. Of course, I had to unwind by going out and getting shots of a few birds local to me.
It's taken awhile but I finally got a Steller's Jay in good light near where I live. They are present in good numbers in my area but I was never able to get them so that they were out from the branches and needles of the conifer trees they so love. Today was different and I was able to capture this bird. Finally!
20D, 300/4L IS + 1.4x TC, 1/80 @ f5.6, ISO 800
Posted by Darren White on June 18, 2006 at 7:25 AM
Postcard quality....very nice....I love the midline seperation between the bark of the tree and the foilage in the background with the bird covering the two!!!
Posted by Geoff Shapiro on June 18, 2006 at 10:32 AM
Thanks, Darren - that boundary between bark and out-of-focus green bg was something that I liked too. This one came out well enough that it will be one of the photos I use for my exhibit at the Charbonneau Country Club in July where the theme will be "The Birds of Charbonneau".
Hi Jim, and thanks for your compliment! This one is natural light only which is why I was so happy that I finally got the bird in good light. It was taken about 6pm. At the time I took this I was really trying for an osprey that was hanging out around the Willamette River's edge near where I was. My plans for the osprey were blown away after some of the boaters came roaring down the river and scared it away. I am still ashamed to say that my mastery of the 580ex and BB is next to nil still. I think I could benefit from a little field trip with you and some words of advice as I feel my use of that equipment is still more guesswork than any sort of knowledge-based technique...
Very nice Geoff, I know the normal circumstances that these guys provide and this is not one of them. He gave you an opportunity and you pulled it off! Perhaps a shave off the LH side, shifting him of center a tad would help, nothing more!
Discussion
5 repliesIt's taken awhile but I finally got a Steller's Jay in good light near where I live. They are present in good numbers in my area but I was never able to get them so that they were out from the branches and needles of the conifer trees they so love. Today was different and I was able to capture this bird. Finally!
20D, 300/4L IS + 1.4x TC, 1/80 @ f5.6, ISO 800
Hi Jim, and thanks for your compliment! This one is natural light only which is why I was so happy that I finally got the bird in good light. It was taken about 6pm. At the time I took this I was really trying for an osprey that was hanging out around the Willamette River's edge near where I was. My plans for the osprey were blown away after some of the boaters came roaring down the river and scared it away. I am still ashamed to say that my mastery of the 580ex and BB is next to nil still. I think I could benefit from a little field trip with you and some words of advice as I feel my use of that equipment is still more guesswork than any sort of knowledge-based technique...