Backyard Bluejay

[Julie Kenward]

The bluejays recently discovered that there are peanuts mixed in with the birdseed and word has gotten out. I now have four of five bluejays divebombing the backyard feeders at any given moment. When life gives you bluejays, you make bluejay images!

Canon 40D, 70-200mm f/4L
f4 @ 1/400th, ISO 400
Manual mode, Pattern Metering
Handheld, natural light
Processed in ACR & CS4; large crop, levels adjustment, gaussian blurred the BG.

[Lana Hays]

Jules
I love the pose on your Bluejay....and the stump with seed. However, I can see where the Gaussian blur on the BG ended as there's a "rim" or "halo" especially visible around the bird.

[Julie Kenward]

Well darn it! I thought I toned that down. Any ideas what happened? Did I maybe feather too much?

[Julie Kenward]

Okay, I think I figured it out! :D

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Jules Can only add I wish you had a converter on that lens for getting closer. Would also minimize the perch !!!

[Julie Kenward]

Yeah, Al, you and me both! Normally, I would have taken more off the perch but I did such a big crop I was afraid to take much more out of the image.

How far off is Christmas??? I'm counting the days...

[Lana Hays]

Jules
Whatever you did.....it worked. He's still heavenly....especially without the halo!!!