Stellar Jay in Pose

1/800
f6.3
D7000 w/
70-200VRii w/ tc2.0eiii extender
400mm
iso640
aperture priority

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/...C_2708_2-1.jpg

The light seems too harsh and coming from the right putting the left side of the bird in the shadow. The pose and the HA are okay, but the position in the frame should have been more to the right. The head/eye could use some sharpening.

Dan:

Vivid colors, good head angle for this pose,erect crest.

As mentioned the light was fairly contrasty and off to your right, hence the shadows. The head angle helped illuminate the face fairly evenly.

The post, although not natural, is an interesting graphic element and provides strong leading lines to the bird.

I normally would suggest cropping from the right, to get the bird out of the center, but the mass and lines of the perch help make it work for me as posted.

If not done already, a small negative S curve might help tame the contrast a bit.

Cheers

Randy