Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Wild-eyed Jay takes a bath!

  1. #1
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Brussels, Belgium
    Posts
    1,106
    Threads
    116
    Thank You Posts

    Default Wild-eyed Jay takes a bath!

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Normally, the Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) is so elegant and well groomed in his fine pink feathers, black mustache, beautiful blue and black coverts, and black tail. So it is hilarious to watch the disarray when he takes a bath - splashing vigorously and soaking his feathers, throwing his crest up and looking around after each plunge as he shakes off the excess water.

    I've tried to catch this comic of nature in mid-act here, so I hope you can enjoy!

    Image captured from a hide with a Canon 1D Mk III, EF500 f/4L IS. 1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 2500.
    Post production in LR2 included some Recovery to tone down some of the splashes. In PS4 some minor adjustments and NR on the background and OOF / moving parts of the Jay.

    I also have plenty of images of a well groomed Jay, but this is far more fun!

    Comments and suggestions most welcome.

    Gerald

  2. #2
    Fabs Forns
    Guest

    Default

    Fun it is! I like the idea, but I would decrease the contrast a bit with an inverse curve adjustment and also it is very tight at the bottom, if you cropped and had more space there, it could be added.
    Good eye contact and EXP control.

  3. #3
    Alfred Forns
    Guest

    Default

    Great suggestions by Fabs .... you could have put on a 2X and gone for a tight face shot !! ... one compelling face !!! Like it a lot !!

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Bangalore, Karnataka
    Posts
    3,800
    Threads
    236
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Loved the angle here and the hairdo puts this over the top..

  5. #5
    Robert O'Toole
    Guest

    Default

    Like this one a lot Gerald.

    Great sharpness on the important parts of the face. I can say that from experience that is not always so easy to do.

    The soft back/top light makes the water droplets really light up. As Fabs said, good EXP control.

    Robert

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Miami Beach, FL
    Posts
    555
    Threads
    193
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Gerald, I agree with Fabs about more room. I do like your low angle. I, too love the bathing images. They look like they're having so much fun. Congratulations on great exposure and a cool image.

  7. #7
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Brussels, Belgium
    Posts
    1,106
    Threads
    116
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks for the comments and suggestions.
    This is full frame and I did have to add a centimeter or so to the top, so not much opportunity for adding at the bottom. Happily, I also have some more similar images with more space around, as this was a favorite bathing spot for Jays and the tend to go really wild in the water.:eek:
    I'm going to back off the contrast a little on this one and see how it goes - thanks for the suggestion, Fabs.

    Gerald

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics