Steller's Jay

Gallery: AvianPosted October 11, 2010311 views27 comments

Here's another shot from my backyard feeder setups. I find this species to be fairly difficult because it's always moving and spooks easily. I like this image but would have liked to get the tail in focus as well. However, I like the pose best in this shot so that's the one that I'm posting. It's cropped to about 90% of FF.

MkIII 500F4 1/125 F5.6 iso 640, Gitzo tripod, living room blind.

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on October 12, 2010 at 7:13 AM

Wonderful image Nate, excellent details and colors. Love the eye contact.
I saw my first Steller's Jay last week while in the Sequoias. (Couldn't get any shots off though)
You captured the beauty of this species very well. Nice job.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 12, 2010 at 7:13 AM

Cool bird, great shot -in light of the blurred tail. Looks as though you're doing well with your backyard rig Nate.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 12, 2010 at 7:32 AM

Great techs here Nate. Super BG and nice exposure. Details and sharpness look great. Yes, the tail is soft, but that is no issue for me.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 12, 2010 at 7:35 AM

Beautiful colors and the jay looks great Nate. I'd likely have made the same choice you did - best pose over an overall sharp bird (if all that's OOF is the tail). I don't think the OOF tail is a significant issue here.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 12, 2010 at 7:56 AM

Nicely done. No nits as far as I can tell. Nice and sharp image, good color detail. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 12, 2010 at 9:36 AM

Beautiful blue n wonderful pose!
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on October 12, 2010 at 11:13 AM

Beautiful image, Nate. The SJ is one of my favourite birds, the colours are just superb, no nits from me.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on October 12, 2010 at 12:38 PM

I love observing this species. Thanks for sharing this absolute beauty.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on October 12, 2010 at 1:50 PM

Beautiful! Great setup here, with that perch full of character, and a nice background.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on October 12, 2010 at 2:30 PM

You are getting some really nice shots out of your BY Nate. I like the alert pose, and detail in the large version is great. The OOF tail is a non issue for me when everything else falls into place as it has in this image...well done.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 12, 2010 at 2:58 PM

What a great image Nate. Beautiful background and very sharp. Very difficult species to get on an uncluttered perch. Usually found deep in a pine tree with lots of clutter. Nicely presented Nate.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on October 12, 2010 at 3:03 PM

That is gorgeous. The blue is eye popping incredible. Nice perch and ready to go pose. I just wish he had the white eyebrows like the ones down here do. Not much you could do about that.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 12, 2010 at 3:18 PM

A fine image. Your setup is working well.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 12, 2010 at 4:23 PM

Nate,
I really like everything in this image. A wonderful shot.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 12, 2010 at 4:35 PM

Good pose, perch, background and the focus looks sharp where it really needs to be, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on October 12, 2010 at 5:40 PM

Nice perch, and good lighting. The tail doesn't bother me personally. No issues for me. Good job!

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by wade pettitt on October 12, 2010 at 8:41 PM

Nate, this is amazing. Great detail and eye contact. This has been a nemisis species for me. Well Done!!.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on October 12, 2010 at 9:23 PM

Nate I agree, the pose is really nice! The BG and perch are just right and the sharpness is in the places where it counts. Congrats!!

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 12, 2010 at 9:25 PM

Nate,

I like the pose shown here and the tail being OOF isn't an issue for me at all. The colors are lovely, very natural looking. Beautiful look at the eye, nice exposure, details & sharpness.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce Palla on October 12, 2010 at 9:38 PM

A handsome shot of a handsome bird. Nice catch light, too bad about the tail, but I'd be happy with this shot.
Got to love the living room blind, especially in the rain!

Registered on December 19, 2007, 25 Posts, 328 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 12, 2010 at 10:48 PM

Great image. Great detail in the blacks. Colors are terrific. I don't think the tail is OOF- I think that is motion from the bird. Well done.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 12, 2010 at 11:04 PM

Sweet job, Nate. I like the pose and bg and you had good light for this species.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 13, 2010 at 4:29 AM

Amazing detail and rich colour Nate

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by denise ippolito on October 13, 2010 at 3:19 PM

Fantastic!!! Sharp and beautifully exposed.

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on October 13, 2010 at 3:26 PM

Wonderful shot. I don't find the OOF tail an issue. Great eye contact.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 14, 2010 at 1:37 AM

A Beauty Nate

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 14, 2010 at 5:33 PM

I almost let this one slip past. Excellent light to bring out the dark plumage.

Well done.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments