Just Me and the Jays

Yesterday morning I spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the backyard photoblind. The Western Gray Squirrels chattered and complained about my presence. It took some time but eventually the Steller's Jays ignored the squirrels warnings and protestations and came to get some sunflower seeds. Once they started they didn't stop. Free seed is always a good draw. I called it quits when the blasted cat Papaya showed up. I had made sure she was contained before I went out to the blind but some family member must have set her free. I didn't really mind as I had one really nice image that I was looking forward to share. God's love and peace to all, chris Image created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens at 210mm. Camera settings used were AV mode,ISO 400,F6.3 at 1/400th of a sec. Camera was placed on a Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a Bogen 3055 Ballhead. Please spread the word to all of the photographers and birders you know about my upcoming book, "Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography". It is available at Amazon and other fine book sellers and is scheduled for release on Sept.11, 2014.

Are You Tired of Jays Yet?

I spent a couple hours in the backyard photoblind this morning. The Steller's Jays pretty much took over with very few chances to photograph any other birds. As much as I like Steller's Jays I'd like to photograph some other birds! I think it has reached that time of the year to mix it up with a few Jay proof feeders. May you have a blessed day, chris

Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM , Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV Mode,ISO 400,F5.6, Shutter speed varied

No Photography Day

Yesterday I didn't create any images in camera but I did create some on the computer. It was a computer catch up day in processing some images that needed some work. If you are like me that often times means spending quite a few hours at it as I mostly shoot in RAW + JPEG. The only time I shoot in just JPEG is when I'm going to shoot in volume and give most of the shots away. A good example of this is when I shoot images for Vacation Bible school at church. I will shoot several hundred images that I'm going to give away. I think the processing time would kill me in that case.

Yesterday I rescued one image of a Stellar's Jay that I really like. When I was creating the image I chopped the poor little guys tail tip off . (He screeched a little bit and then settled down) but I really liked the rest of the image. So I extended the canvas on one edge and duplicated a tiny section of tai,l flipped it and then added it onto the Jay. Then I did some cloning around it to blend it in. Now that I have told you what I did I'm sure the very alert observer will be able to pick it out. Otherwise I don't feel that it would be noticeable. Take a look and see if you agree with that or not.

OK. OK so it was a photography day. Just not using the camera.

Sincerely and God bless everyone,

chris