Nice capture of Mr. Jay. Where was it taken?
Good exposure of the pale bits, despite harsh light. The lower parts are under-exposed. I also wish that branch was not covering part of the face.
Is this full frame? If not, maybe crop less tightly.
Would help having the exif.

...Beautiful, nice shot

Beautiful capture...top marks!

A very good capture. A bit more space on top would be nice.

@roadrunner
Thanks, I updated the photo after a little shadow/highlight adjustment in PS> Indeed, the light was harsh. In most of my shots of this guy the top of his head is blown out. I also had my ISO at 500 and forgot to change it.

I do have shots where he isn't "hiding" but I liked the character of this one. I linked to a full, uncropped version and an alternate shot of the bird upright.

Thanks, Sebastian. Good choice, this one is sharper than the other.

The belly, under-tail coverts look nicer now.

Seeing the branch at the top, I also understand the crop, though I think it would be better to heal it (seems like it should be very easy in this case) at give more space from top.

Yes, the branch, plus all that other very high contrast stuff in the background.

I've expanded the top a bit. I don't know if it's enough, but I didn't want to go too far from the original post.

nice work +9

This capture is quite beautiful. Well composed; excellent color and DOF. Well done. +9

it looks like a postcard - so beautiful. Great colors and light!Great shot!

Nice capture!

More ordinary than your prevous post but still nice.

Would have been better to see the face more and less of the branch.

Good work.

excellent capture
i agree with moser... still, very good work

Beautiful capture! Great composition!

Beautiful capture!
great composition

very nice photo... no critiques 9/9

Nice capture. I prefer the uncropped version, even with the branch peeking in; it gives the photo more breathing room around the bird.

Great capture, great composition.

love it. i would have loved a little more "widescreen" layout.

@moser
Point well taken. I thought I'd go with a safer, cute animal shot this time.

The shots of the jay with head fully in view where, in a way, even more ordinary. In this one it looks like he's being shy, hiding behind the branch but looking out with curiosity.

@purplerose/ceogar
If I were to print this I would definitely go wider. In the future I'll try to resist my desire to show the details and rely on people to look at the full linked version for that. It's hard in this format to do horizontals. I find myself choosing vertical shots simply so they'll show better.

Thanks everyone!

Very good. I'd remove the little spot above the head.

Great capture and composition!...good work!
Carlos

Nice capture, beautiful lighting and composition....!!!

Nice composition, good work

Very good focus. I'm not sure what tree that is but it looks a bit too yellowish... also, the composition is slightly too right heavy for my taste. Overall I'd say 6/8

Love the composition and the pose of the Jay. Very well done.
John

@L-INC
You'd probably like the full version then. In that the jay's eye is near dead center.

Nice compositino and pose.
Don

Great detail. Wings are superb Everything else looks great too.