Common Bird Project

[Mark Schmitt]

This is, indeed, a common bird in California; ubiquitous actually. I feed them regularly, and true to corvid nature they are supreme opportunists, and theives amoung themselves. This inidvidual was about to abscond with a peanut that a mate had taken. The perch leaves some to be desired, but it is part of a rail fence surrounding the yard.

PP: crop, some dodge and burn, BG promoted to layer and blended and reduce noise, levels for contrast and sharpen.
Was not sure how to crop this one, the perch is the problem. Thought of landscape with more room to right, as that is where the bird's attention is heading.

EXIF
Canon 30D
Lense: Canon EF 500 IS L
Metering: Pattern
ISO: 500
White bal: custom, 4800
Exp: 1/1000 @ f 5.0, -.66 EXP COMP, fill flash + .33

[DanWalters]

Beautiful pose and I really like the soft light. Great details in the bird as well.

[Markus Jais]

Great light, wonderful BG and fantastic pose!

Markus

[Phil Ertel]

Hi Mark, Cool pose, nicely exposed and sharp. I think the soft simple background shows off the bird nicely. If the birds routinely use the same fence posts you might consider attaching a more pleasing perch in hopes the birds will land on it. Thanks for sharing.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose, good eye contact, sharpness and BG. If this is a backyard bird, offering him a smaller perch would make it even stronger.

[Callie de Wet]

Hi Mark! Lovely pose and bird. Blue Jay? Not generally know on the western side of the big pond between you and us here in Africa! The perch is what he choose, man made yes, but the action is far more eye-catching than the perch IMO.

[Mark Schmitt]

Cool pose, good eye contact, sharpness and BG. If this is a backyard bird, offering him a smaller perch would make it even stronger.

Absolutely correct. In fact I have perches in the yard, near the food even, but this was about the pose.

Thanks again for your input, much appreciated. ;)

[Stu Bowie]

Mark, comp works well as is, and just love the pose. I like the overall colours, and good eye too.