This shot was made at the Helen and Alan Cruikshank Sanctuary. PP'ed in CS3, selective sharpened with Nik Sharpener Pro, Selective NR on BG with Noise Ninja.
Camera Model: NIKON D200
Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Exposure mode: Manual
Flash: On SB 800 high speed fill -2.0
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
Lens: 80 to 400mm
Focal length: 400mm
Very nice image made with a lens that is not always easy to use. You did well with this one. The BG makes the subject "pop" even though it seems a bit bright. It could be toned down a bit and perhaps some cropped off the top.
A bird I still have yet to capture in my repertoire. Very nice pose and exposure. The flash brings out the colors and the eye. Where is the sanctuary you refer to , Dan? Is it in FL?
Nice bird and pose. I like the upper BKGR a lot better than the lower BKGR.
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I'll take the opposite stance of Artie and say that I prefer the bottom background (:)), and really like the mix of smooth at the top and more habitat details in the saw palmetto fronds on the bottom. I like the exposure and pose of the bird. I do find the top-left portion of the perch to look a bit odd as if the background was selected around it in PP...maybe that is a remnant from background blurring that you could tighten up a bit around the perch? Nice work!
Florida Scrub Jay portrait
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