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My first acceptable Blue Jay


My first acceptable Blue Jay
Photo Information
Copyright: Michel Pilon (pilonm) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 588 W: 90 N: 975] (3321)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-10-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, Canon 300mm F4L IS USM + 1.4x ext
Exposure: f/8, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2011-10-20 5:00
Viewed: 2744
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello all,

Here is my first acceptable picture of a Blue Jay photographed at Jacques-Cartier Park in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

I was hoping for such a close-up for a long time of this so nice bird.

Hoping you'll like it as much as I do :)

Cheers,

Michel

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Cool Facts
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•Thousands of Blue Jays migrate in flocks along the Great Lakes and Atlantic coasts, but much about their migration remains a mystery. Some are present throughout winter in all parts of their range. Young jays may be more likely to migrate than adults, but many adults also migrate. Some individual jays migrate south one year, stay north the next winter, and then migrate south again the next year. No one has worked out why they migrate when they do.

•Blue Jays are known to take and eat eggs and nestlings of other birds, but we don’t know how common this is. In an extensive study of Blue Jay feeding habits, only 1% of jays had evidence of eggs or birds in their stomachs. Most of their diet was composed of insects and nuts.

•The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. These calls may provide information to other jays that a hawk is around, or may be used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present.

•Tool use has never been reported for wild Blue Jays, but captive Blue Jays used strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside their cages.

•Blue Jays lower their crests when they are feeding peacefully with family and flock members or tending to nestlings.

•At feeders in Florida, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Florida Scrub-Jays, Common Grackles, and gray squirrels strongly dominate Blue Jays, often preventing them from obtaining food.

•The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs.

•The black bridle across the face, nape, and throat varies extensively and may help Blue Jays recognize one another.

•The oldest known wild, banded Blue Jay lived to be at least 17 years 6 months old.
vanda, maurydv, Sawwhet, anel, eqshannon, Hormon_Manyer has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To tuslaw: Thank you Ronpilonm 1 10-21 04:57
To Athila: Merci Alainpilonm 1 10-21 04:55
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Michel,
Outstanding! This more than acceptable. A fantastic portrait of one of my favorite birds. The lighting is excellant!
Denis.

  • Great 
  • vanda Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 338 W: 25 N: 754] (3673)
  • [2011-10-20 7:56]

Hi Michel!
I agree with Denis. Your capture is more than acceptable, it is very good! Perfect focus and great details. Lovely light and nice blurred BG.
Very well done: congratulations.
ciao! Vanda

Hallo Michel,
a fantastic portrait of the Blue Jay taken from an excellent point of view with impressive details and marvellous colours, very beautiful close composition
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2011-10-20 10:18]

Hi Michel,
Very nice portrait of a beautiful bird.Gorgeous light and colours.
Good composition and sharpness details.
Perfect background.
First acceptable? - shot first class.
Regards Jiri.

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2011-10-20 13:05]

Hello Michel.
Wonderful close-up shot with amazing sharp details on its plumage. Superb lighting, exposure and DOF. The BG lets it stand out perfectly. I like your top POV to portray it and the marvellous composition.
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2011-10-20 15:05]

Salut Michel,c'est vraiment magnifique cette photo! Quelle perfection des details et couleurs et quelle artistique composition de fond,il semblait une peinture abstracte.Mes compliments et belle soiree',Luciano

Salut Michel

Très joli portrait. Techniquement rien à redire, c'est sharp, bien exposée dans une lumière pas trop contrastée. Composition classique mais très efficace. Le flou arrière est intéressant bien qu'un peu dritrayant. C'est flou mais pas assez pour empêcher d'accrocher, on dirait des coup de pinceau dans une toile. Une ouverture plus grande aurait par contre pénaliser l'oiseau qui gagne à être totalement net. J'aime bien sa huppe, juste suffisament dressée pour bien l'indentifier sans pour autant sentir de l'agressivité. Ta patience a grandement porté fruit. Du très joli travail, bravo.

Alain

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2011-10-20 18:26]
  • [+]

Hello Michel,
Awesome close-up image of a bird that seems to elude my camera. Love the super fine detail and beautiful colors. Excellent exposure and great DOF.
I'm not sure what the BG is, but I love the swirled look to it. Well done!!
Ron

Michel,
Une photo très bien réussie avec une très belle netteté, un arrière-plan flou et bien efficace. J'aime beaucoup la composition et les couleurs riches et naturelles. Bravo!

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2011-10-21 4:29]

Bonjour Michel,
Enchantée d'avoir ce beau portrait comme voisin! Quelque fois il faut s'y prendre à plusieurs reprises pour obtenir l'image qui nous convient. Celle-ci est vraiment réussie. Excellent cadrage, très bonne netteté et un magnifique arrière-plan finement coloré.
Bien vu!
Amitiés
Anne

Quite acceptable.. even more so. I loved your art comment on my last pic...it is what I am...and if you want any notions on shooting Jays or even birds overall.. try Mario Belanger. There were none better, He stopped posting here ages ago but his images still live, such as
http://www.treknature.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=186976

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2011-10-24 12:19]

Hello Michel,
Indeed a beautiful portrait of this Blue Jay. Fantastic sharpness, details and splendid natural colours. Pleasing eye contact. Excellent choice of composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Michel,

Now that is a fine portrait of this little fellow!
The expression is well recorded, possibly a bit confused by being photographed hehehe...
Lovely details in the plume, rich vivid colours!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Michel,
Fantastic portrait. Tack sharp plumage, and the background blur is very spectacular as well. Great eye contact, wonderful composition. Absolutely delightful! Bravo!
Kind regards from Ireland, László

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