Blue Jay Taking Flight.

[Daniel Cadieux]

In order to get the Blue Jays to stay on the fresh snow longer I was throwing the shelled peanuts to bury deep in the snow...this made the jays land and forage for the shelled peanuts rather than swooping down in a non-stop motion. This fella searched for a peanut for a while, but came up empty, thus took off. I was so happy when I saw the pose, and that it "appeared" to be sharp where it mattered, and that it was almost FF! Viewing it on the computer I did a bit of a fist pump when the sharpness was confirmed:S3:.

Canon 7D + 500mm f/4 II, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/2000s., f/4, ISO 800, natural light, handheld, cropped for comp (about 80% FF), eye work (darkened pupils)

[Joe Subolefsky]

Unique frame for sure. As you said it's got the sharpness where it counts, very well done!

[Randy Stout]

Daniel:
I was pretty impressed just looking at the thumbnail! Great, dynamic pose, in your face framing.

I might try to tease out a sliver more texture in the snow, but very nice as is.


Congrats

Randy

[Karl Egressy]

Well done, Daniel. I have never seen a Blue Jay image taking off before.

[Grace Scalzo]

Looks way better here than it did on FB and I liked it there! The only thing that I do wish for is that the white outline of the tail was distinguishable from the snow, but I can't think of how that could have been accomplished. A unique photo, Daniel.

[dankearl]

I love the thumbnail, I have to say disappointed when I opened it....
Ridiculous shot to get right, But I would have like at least some focus on the wings.
A+ for creativity and effort......

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Wow Dan, congrats on this one. Very different perspective with sharpness where it matters. Loved it.

[Lorant Voros]

You always impress me with something, Daniel. Very creative photo and sharp where it matters. For the light conditions it has the DOF that is possible to achieve.

[gail bisson]

I would have done a happy dance for sure if I had this on the back of my camera! Love the blue against the white.
Head is tack sharp and that is what counts!
Well done,
Gail

[Marina Scarr]

What a killer image, Daniel!!! Never seen one like it. Head and chest are tack sharp and love the symmetry, pose and contrast between bird and snow.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Just smiles, thanks for sharing Daniel.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Daniel - your methodology paid off. Great sharpness in the head and an unusual perspective. It works for me.

TFS,
Rachel

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dan, you certainly nailed this. Sharp where it counts, and a great head on capture giving great eye contact. Always love the blues on these guys, and even better against the snow BG.

[Jerome Berthelemy]

stunning ! i absolutely love it !

[arash_hazeghi]

killer frame Dan, one of the best photos this specie

wish this was mine

[William Dickson]

A bird as Art. Fab capture Daniel

[shane shacaluga]

Amazing frame. The blurred wings portraying speed and motion with tack sharp face. Great one Dan!!

[David Salem]

Great looking take off shot Daniel!! The face is sharp and the wing and tail position looks awesome. Well captured

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Different and unique and superb. I like this one lots!

[Ivan Ellison]

Cant say much more, really good shot, as said above "bird as art", well done and thanks for sharing

[Shantanu Ambulgekar]

Yes yes yes..
Very true... It is an image which deserves some dance on the floor as well.
Awesome timing..great capture..

Regards,
Shantanu

[Binu John]

Wow! Wonderful shot, Dan! You nailed the focus. Excellent exposure and processing as usual! TFS