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Portrait of a BlueJay
1st PlacePortrait of a BlueJay
vawendy


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Masters' Free Study III (Advanced Editing VII*)
Collection: 2014 Challenges
Date: Jan 23, 2014
Date Uploaded: Jan 23, 2014


[Feb. 2nd, 2014 01:01:49 PM]

11 hours to go, and I'm at 7.2, 27 comments and three favorites, and I'm completely and totally floored by this. I thought the detail was interesting, but thought the photo was rather dull and was disappointed that I didn't have any good ideas for the challenge. Pretty much a last minute shot.

That being said, I was also pleased to get the shot. We don't get blue jays very often, and they're very flighty. Easily scared by any movement, and they don't stay long at all. This was sheer luck in that he landed about 4 feet from me and I was using my 100-400 lens. I had to lean back a bit to be able to focus, because it was about as close as you can get with that lens. It was fascinating to see the whiskers around the beak.

Thanks for all the wonderful comments and the favs! I'm so surprised and grateful!

Whoa... 1st?? No way!!! There were soooo many good ones in here!!

Huge thanks, all! What a way to start the morning!

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 98
Avg (all users): 7.2067
Avg (commenters): 8.0345
Avg (participants): 7.1875
Avg (non-participants): 7.2174
Views since voting: 4044
Views during voting: 409
Votes: 179
Comments: 68
Favorites: 11 (view)


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AuthorThread
03/05/2014 09:01:32 AM
A Blue Jay just visited my feeder and winked.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/08/2014 10:54:05 PM
Congrats! Super shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/07/2014 08:14:52 PM
GIVE EM THE BIRD WENDY!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/06/2014 01:31:25 AM
There you go, stirring up the whole of the DPC pot and such. Silly girl.... and with a bird. Why couldn't it be a squirrel? Have you abandoned the poor squirrels? Who will care for them? Feed them peanuts? Oh wait! You're giving the peanuts to the birds now! The poor squirrels.... At the very least, shoot a pigeon next, will ya? :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/05/2014 10:50:53 PM
Originally posted by Venser:

I can't respond in threads, but this had you written all over it.
I thought it was obvious, even amongst all the other entries.


Must be because of its awesomeness, then. :)
02/05/2014 09:48:49 PM
Congratulations, Wendy. Gorgeous photo, wonderful detail. I didn't specifically think this was yours - or not - there were a few which could have been.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/05/2014 07:25:56 PM
I can't respond in threads, but this had you written all over it.
I thought it was obvious, even amongst all the other entries.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/05/2014 03:30:24 PM
So perfect it's almost as if you brought the bird into the studio and posed him. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2014 09:26:48 PM
I knew this was yours! Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2014 04:05:18 PM
Wow, amazing detail, Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2014 10:34:44 AM
Love Love Loved this picture. Amazing detail! Congrats on your well deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/04/2014 02:39:27 AM
Great photography, congrats on a well deserved blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 08:41:58 PM
GO, WENDY!!!

YIPPEEE!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 02:02:15 PM
Congratulations on winning the blue with this splendid shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 01:17:08 PM
Congrats Wendy; nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:23:50 PM
CONGRATS!! I LOVED this one :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:22:18 PM
This is just perfect, congratulations on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:14:01 PM
I love the detail and the eyes...very expressive for a bird.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 11:33:14 AM
Congrats on a great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 10:48:36 AM
Congrats on a incredible capture and a well deserved blue ribbon. The whiskers are really cool, never noticed them on a Blue Jay before.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 10:47:57 AM
Congratulations! A well deserved blue ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 08:26:58 AM
Not bad for a last minute entry!!! Well done Wendy!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 08:04:07 AM
Technically acceptable, but artistically - meh. A 'Master's photo' should have art too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 07:00:30 AM
Fabulous shot Wendy. Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 04:18:55 AM
Congratulations.
Amazing photo. The detail in the feathers are awesome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 04:00:18 AM
You are a true master. Well done! Superb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 03:10:47 AM
Huge congrats Wendy on a superb catch !!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 02:50:17 AM
Mistress Wendy :)
So fitting that you're at the top. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 01:52:18 AM
Congratulations, Wendy!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 01:01:03 AM
Go Wendy! What a fitting challenge for you to get the blue bling!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:48:07 AM
big congrats wendy you rock!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:42:48 AM
Congratulations Wendy!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:42:20 AM
Congrats, mistress!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:35:38 AM
Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:27:28 AM
Detail doesn't get any better than this, does it? Congrats, O Mistress of the Masters :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:09:08 AM
Ha, I thought 4th was yours, good job Wendy.

You are the master!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/03/2014 12:07:08 AM
Congratulations. Yep, this is a winner - on all fronts.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/02/2014 11:21:23 PM
Amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/02/2014 07:29:32 PM
Very well done, I gave you a 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/02/2014 06:09:30 PM
worthy of any magazine
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/02/2014 05:23:54 PM
Love it. Amazing detail Wish the catchlight was a bit brighter.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/02/2014 08:32:26 AM
Amazing sharpness, beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/02/2014 03:06:36 AM
Amazingly sharp. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2014 07:32:12 PM
Great feather detail.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2014 08:48:48 AM
I can see every single feather!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/31/2014 04:56:47 PM
This is amazing!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/31/2014 03:02:18 PM
Masterly indeed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2014 07:59:11 PM
Awesome detail! Nasty buggers though, one got my dog on the head this week. LOL!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2014 02:54:05 PM
Very nice detail and I like the reflection in the eye.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2014 10:39:46 AM
Superb detail!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2014 07:45:06 AM
wonderful details - it almost looks like you did a bit of manipulation in the background around the back of head that gives this a little 'cut and paste' feel
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2014 03:52:53 AM
Are you sure you want to enter this?? :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2014 01:28:13 AM
Wonderful detail, especially the criss-cross pattern in the feathers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2014 07:38:13 PM
And a nice portrait it is too. Love the color and detail here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2014 01:47:33 PM
What a handsome fellow! Perhaps the feathers are a bit oversharpened...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2014 12:41:28 PM
So sharp. Great image. One of the best in the challenge for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2014 10:53:10 AM
Wow, look at that detail in the feathers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2014 10:43:48 AM
Wonderful image! Love the details and colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2014 08:56:55 AM
Wow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 08:08:34 PM
Incredible detail!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 07:58:49 PM
Top 3, doesn't get any sharper than this image and such detail
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 05:26:05 PM
Fantastic~
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 01:52:07 PM
Stunning! The detail is extraordinary....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 09:54:21 AM
Wonderful detail in the feathers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 09:04:16 AM
Great macro. WOW I can count the feathers!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 07:15:10 AM
Nice photo, exellent image quality and I know it takes skill to get this close, even if you leave that food out for it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 03:18:28 AM
great close-up!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2014 01:14:51 AM
Incredible detail. This is so close and so vivid, with such perfect focus, that I can only imagine it's been taken by this bird's nestmate or child. Obviously this would result in a DQ, which is a shame, as it's an excellent photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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