Jays in the rain

[Joel Eade]

It 's been raining an unbelievable amount the last few days in Kentucky but it hasn't slowed the Blue Jays from visiting my feeder, I liked this shot because of the second bird in the background coming in for a landing.

1d mk iii
300mm 2.8 + 1.4 TC
430 exii + better beamer at -1
iso 800
1/200
f/4.5
tripod
metering : pattern at zero

I shot this as a JPEG in camera and processed with DPP followed by transfer to CS4 to remove BG noise.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Joel I like the setting with the luscious bg !!! Would like the other bird if you could see entirely, with head obscured not sure is optimal !!!

[Troy Lim]

Nice try, I would have prefer just the blue jay itself, would have been an amazing shot.

[Dave Mills]

Hi Joel, I feel you handled the the Jay pretty well with a good pose and detail.The backround is also nicely muted.
Due to the heavy blurring and the branch running through it I don't feel including the backround bird is an asset to the image...

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Joel, I agree with the comments above. Can not really tell what the other bird is doing and is a bit distracting. With the branch intersecting it, not a value add IMO. I do like the Jay in focus, it sports a nice HA and eye.

Thanks for posting, keep em coming.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Joel
have to agree with the others. If that second bird was
clear of the branches would make a big difference
as it is it just draws the attenion away from the
main subject, which is well exposed and sharp
tfs

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Another vote for the blue jay by itself. Great HA and eye contact.

[Don Hamilton Jr.]

Blue Jay front only. Sharp, and great details. The distraction of the bkg landing, draws away .
TFS
Don