Gray Jay.

[Karl Egressy]

I took this picture in Algonquin.
Just came home last night.
I post the original in jpeg as well, no PP done to it at all.
It has blue cast in the bird's body and magenta cast mostly in the bird.
I got rid off the colour casts for the sake of BPN members.
Which colour version do you like better?
I like the original better.
Maybe the best would be something in between.



tter Speed ) 1/800
Av 7.1
ISO 1600
EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Flash at -2 1/3

[Jack Breakfast]

Karl that is a splendid portrait. I love the background color, details in the bird, and the perch. I've never seen a Gray Jay but I'm told that they're quite accessible in Algonquin PP. They are also known as whiskeyjacks, I believe? Anyhow, I don't know from color casts and rarely care about that sort of thing, but my eyes can easily tell me that I much prefer the first picture. What a saucy bird, so toothsome. Approachable was he? I'm more than curious. I see that you removed the bird's band. Are some/most/all of the gray jays banded?

[Karl Egressy]

Karl that is a splendid portrait. I love the background color, details in the bird, and the perch. I've never seen a Gray Jay but I'm told that they're quite accessible in Algonquin PP. They are also known as whiskeyjacks, I believe? Anyhow, I don't know from color casts and rarely care about that sort of thing, but my eyes can easily tell me that I much prefer the first picture. What a saucy bird, so toothsome. Approachable was he? I'm more than curious. I see that you removed the bird's band. Are some/most/all of the gray jays banded?

Thanks Jack.
Yes, they are very tame this time of the year as they collect peanuts and rasins from people's hand.
They land on your hat, on your camera, car, etc.
My wife (and many others) feed them from their palm.
She says that they look at her eyes and say; thank you.
She knows better as she talks to them as well.
Almost all of them are banded. It is a more than thirty year research project, done by an ornithologist with the help of graduate students.

[gail bisson]

The first image is way better,
Great BG and nice perch and lookback pose.
For my tastes, the original image is a bit oversharpened but that is a personal preference thing.
Gail

[Bill Dix]

Lovely portrait, Karl. My preference is for the first one. To my eye the mantle seems slightly greenish, but no big deal for me. In any event, a fine image with good comp, perch, bg and head turn.

[Varun Bellie]

Lovely shot, HA, details & BG , the processed version is fantastic, the Blue cast is trademark for Canon :-)

[Jonathan Ashton]

First one by a mile! Lovely pose and nice perch.

[Melissa Groo]

Such a stunning image, Karl! That background is breathtaking, and I love the bird's pose and the pines. Great job removing the cast. I am much more aware of my color casts too, thanks to this forum.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Karl, I like the head turn towards you, and nicely framed between the two sets of foliage. The colours in the BG really enhance the image, and if I had to choose, Im going for the OP, but do see a bit of too much green.

[Richard Stern]

Hi,

I too prefer the color of the 1st image. Can I assume you cloned out the colored band on the bird's left leg?

Richard

[Satish Ranadive]

Karl,
Magnificent image.I like the composition.
Love the look back pose of bird,colors,nice perch and beautiful multicolored background.
As far as the choice of version is concerned I will go with you.

Regards,
Satish.

[Frank Schauf]

Very nice shot. Great background, real nice perch, and great pose, and excellent comp.

[Marina Scarr]

The OP is really working well for me, Karl, and I absolutely love all the elements of this image. It's quite artistic, and the BG colors are awesome and are a great backdrop for this bird.

[mohammad reza shahab]

hi Karl
Love the look back pose of bird,colors,nice perch and beautiful multicolored background.

[Karl Egressy]

The OP is really working well for me, Karl, and I absolutely love all the elements of this image. It's quite artistic, and the BG colors are awesome and are a great backdrop for this bird.

Thanks Marina.
It was one of the rare acassions when I could do a setup to control the perch and the background as well.
I got compliment from other photogs who took andvantage of my setup as they happen to have been in the same spot at the same time.

[Shawn Zierman]

Gorgeous Gray Jay image karl. Nice job with the set up too.
The fall background colors make this one very special.
I prefer the optimized version or (post processed version),
and not just because of the colors...I also think the slightly
tighter crop works better.

[arash_hazeghi]

first image is sharp and has no color cast. well done

[Don Nelson]

Best image is the first one with no color casts.

[Corey Hayes]

Awesome I am hoping to get some grey jay pictures this weekend in the park.

[Ivan Ellison]

Lovely image. nice pose x the bird and good exposure x you. For me the first is the best. and again for me the band doesn't detract too much, although ,I do understand why you have removed it.