Stellar's Jay [Archive] - BirdPhotographers.net

Nancy Bell

02-29-2012, 11:01 AM

I was able to sit inside and photograph this jay through an open window. They are very jumpy birds and I cause less disturbance by being inside. I have bird feeders but can only photograph through these windows in cloudy/snowy conditions or else the sun is always at the wrong angle.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 400 f4 DO IS, 1/320, f5.6, ISO 400, manual, used a chair back for camera support and camouflage.

c & c most appreciated.

Stu Bowie

02-29-2012, 11:21 AM

Hi Nancy, I like the pose, and well exposed on the blacks of the head. Love the pastel blues too. Comp wise, I would come in from the left to create more a vertical - maybe to the edge of the perch at the bottom of the frame.

Robert Holguin

02-29-2012, 03:57 PM

Wonderful shot. Real nice pose and feather detail. Lovely background and I really like the perch.
Well done.

Carmelo Cannova

02-29-2012, 05:32 PM

Beautiful shot , great pose also.

Carmelo

Daniel Cadieux

02-29-2012, 06:19 PM

You knew the strategy and employed it very nicely! Nice colours, good perch (you could darken it a tad), and love the crest. I like the comp as is, but a vertical as per Stuart would be good too.

Perhaps these guys are crazy about shelled peanuts like Blue Jays are? If so it may be worth using those to lure them in. (Blue Jays are normally very jumpy too but come very close for these treats).

Nancy Bell

02-29-2012, 06:51 PM

Thank you every one. Daniel, those peanuts are a great idea. I'll try them. I'll also try the vertical comp.

Art Kornienko

02-29-2012, 07:09 PM

Would have been nice to see a bit more of the tail feathers but lovely work and nice pose, I like the crop as is.

jack williamson

02-29-2012, 10:23 PM

Nice shot of a cool looking bird, like the raised crest, good exposure, sharp. Would like to see more of this bird.

Jack

Don Nelson

03-01-2012, 01:16 AM

Daniel
The Stellars Jays in Oregon are crazy about unshelled peanuts. So are the Scrub Jays and Pinyon Jays.
Don

Frank Schauf

03-01-2012, 11:45 AM

Excellent pose and details, Nancy.

Nancy Bell

03-01-2012, 05:20 PM

Thank you all. I see another vote for using peanuts. I can imagine these jays grabbing a peanut and then flying out of camera range :S3:!

Don Nelson

03-01-2012, 08:43 PM

Nancy
They do -- but put a perch over a tray of unshelled peanuts.
You'll see them stop just long enough to make an image

And they don't steal just one at a time. They carefully choose a first one that they swallow whole (later regurgitating and shelling) then grabbing a second and fleeing to a hidden perch to devour their prizes.... and coming back for more until the peanuts are all gone.

arash_hazeghi

03-02-2012, 12:09 AM

very nice pose good details and BG. I'd selectively sharpen the crown a bit

very nice work

Arno Ellmer

03-03-2012, 01:50 PM

Superb shot of a beautiful bird ,Nancy. Beautiful pose.
Agree with darkening of the perch and sharpening the crest.