Project J has been one of my long running mini projects to try and capture European Jays in flight and I recently decided to start up on it once more. So far it has been going fairly well although I had forgotten how tricky they are, due to their erratic flight path. I have also added to the project this year with trying to capture some of the birds using remote wide angle at which I can claim to be at the bottom of a long learning curve.
This is one of the birds waiting, on a tree next to the car, for the magpies to fly off (there is a corvid pecking order) from the feeding area. Strangely its the first time I have managed to photograph a bird with its crest raised. I thought a good caption for this might be 'Mr J contemplates his new Bonsai Project'.
Taken with 1DmkIV and 500mm lens at ISO400 F7.1 -1EV 1/1000s
I agree with the above, but for me it's not a very big issue. I like the expression on the bird, the angle, and the sharp eye. Makes for an interesting and unusual image. The lighting on the breast feathers looks a bit harsh. Overall well-done!
Nice one Rich, I too am doing some work with Jays, they pose quite a challenge but they make for great subjects. I really like the lighting in this image and the pose is one not often seen.
Rich, I like the colours on the Jay, and nicely framed between the vertical twig and the edge of the frame. Comp wise, I would maybe come in from the left a tad.