Stellers Jay Extreme Closeup!

[George Scott]

During winter in the Pacific NW, good light and weather days are few and far between so I was playing around with my wife's macro lens and set up a lightbox to photograph anything of interest. This was a Stellers Jay feather from our backyard, they are as beautiful close up as they are from a distance!

Nikon D300
Sigma 150mm f2.8
ISO 800
1/60
f11
Lightbox

Comments & Critique most welcome
George

[Gus Cobos]

I like the composition with the diagonal merging lines and pattern on the central stem...the texture, fine details and the color rendition are superb...good show...:cool:

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

What a cool image. You just inspired me to do something similar. Hey, why not try and place the stem diagonally across the frame? Well done indeed. The detail is incredible.

[George Scott]

Thanks for the comments, I had fun doing this with various feathers - Akos, I liked the idea of moving the image diagonally, here's a repost - neat idea!!

[Mike Moats]

Hey George, love the contrast and like both versions.

[Julie Kenward]

I like both versions as well. Normally, I'd say get that feather on a diagonal but even in the top image the lines are moving at a diagonal from the center point so, IMHO, both work.

Great detail throughout the image, George...nice work.

[Ed Vatza]

Very nice composition and execution. I like both but actually may prefer the first. Very well done.