Cheesy Magpie Photo

Photographer’s Note

I have a few magpies around the house that I feed on a regular basis, not that they need it so much during summer when nature offers all they can eat.

Normally they get dry bread. Not their favourite but that is what they get, and usually they wait until I have moved away from the window before they come to eat.

However I have done some research on their preferred food and the list goes like this:

Danish salami
Gouda cheese
Sweet biscuits

......

Dry bread with liver pâté
Dry bread

For instance when cheese is offered they go in like kamikazes no matter where I am, and they don’t secure one piece no they get as much as they can carry and take off!

Normally I never comment my own images but here I feel it is appropriate to add this is photographed through a double pane window, influencing slightly on the sharpness…

The workshop image shows the bird right after he picked up the cheese.

dareco, feather, cknara, Buin, Kielia, dip, AROBN54, gracious, mvdisco, ktanska, AiresSantos, pierrefonds, ruisc_pt, Didi, UlfE, MLINES, danos, jhm, belido, ChrisJ, nivaldo, goldyrs, TGULUMSER, stego, jafadabret, carper, bakes888, Giorgio, papagolf21, clio, josepmarin, evanrizo, Wandering_Dan, anducina, paura, Uhu, izler, shevchenko, axiotea, John_F_Kennedy, syd1946, Gerrit, cunejo200, nels, Henryk_Bilor, plimrn, chrisnet, skippy007, adores, riclopes, robertosalguero, jaywalker, jusninasirun, kiwi_explorer, jvachon, edytungkal, JCG, maloutim, Ola_Kwiatek, Urs has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

feather (49858) 2008-08-12 8:00

Excellent shot of this greedy little fellow. He'll have to find a private place to put it down so he can eat it without choking. ;D
Your zoom allowed you to fill the frame with the bird and for being shot through the window it is surprisingly clear. F5.6 allowed you to blur the background nicely.
Magpies are considered unlucky in the UK.
Kath

cknara (553) 2008-08-12 9:07

Nice shot Pablo.Its sharp with right focus to the bird.

Thanks
Nara

Buin (37412) 2008-08-12 9:36

Hallo Pablo!
Congratulations to this photo! You can be proud of it! A wonderful shot - but I do not like them because here they regularly plunder the singing bird's nests. I must admit, it's really a beauty! ;-)
Greetings from thundery Germany!
Frank

Kielia (8387) 2008-08-12 10:11

Hi Pablo,
you have captured a real beauty of a magpie! And the wonderful green in the background is even stressing the colours of the feathers. And I also like your note very much. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

dip (12534) 2008-08-12 10:30

Hi Pablo,
excellent captured and composed the scene through the window,
very good DOF,the WS is also very nice,
well done!
Greetings,
Dimitris.

AROBN54 (10721) 2008-08-12 10:33

Hello, Pablo,
what a cool shot and interesting note. I love the colors and I think the details are great. I had no idea birds ate cheese. The f stop was perfect for that wonderfully blurred BG, too. Those are lovely birds. Many thanks and warmest regards,
Shelly

gracious (20017) 2008-08-12 13:04

Hello Pablo,
Very nice to see my friend posting of a Magpie that sharing with us! beautiful image!
still good sharpness even though taken through the window to me with beautiful colour and good pose of it in a good feed of cheese!
thank you, Pablo!
take care and regards
Tony

mvdisco (11452) 2008-08-12 13:26

Bonjour Pablo,
Nice catch of this bird , Excellent POV. and details , very sharp and beautiful colors birds, excellent POV. and light, not easy to take,,
Well done.
Michel

jmdias (19071) 2008-08-12 17:17

pablo

beautiful macro showing this beautiful bird. I liked the pov and the light, sharpness is goos to show us every detail and the blured green background is interesting too

hugs

jorge

jplebrun (16818) 2008-08-12 17:23

Bonsoir Pablo
cette photo t'inspire de la fable de Lafontaine ou maître corbeau sur son arbre perché ect
belle vu de cet oiseau bien clair et précis.
Amitiés Jean-Pierre

SteveH (3885) 2008-08-12 18:19

Hi Pablo, the magpies in Australia are different to this, they don't have the blue feathers and are very aggressive birds in spring, when they swoop people near their nests, sometimes causing injury. Their diet is similar though :-). A problem photographing dark birds is that sometimes their eyes get lost in the black. I often use selective contrast brighness, just on the eye and a dodge and burn layer to bring out more detail in the dark areas. I've done a WS to show what I mean. Cheers, Steve

[workshop] [compare]

gunbud (27763) 2008-08-12 19:27

Hi Pablo,
This vivid close up is a depature from your usual countryside landscape.
That said it is a very pleasing depature from the usual with striking clarity and razor sharp details.
Very humorous note with a menu fit for a king.
Regards, Tom

jurek1951 (25896) 2008-08-12 19:54

Hi Pablo,

Excellent closed up image.Good POV and sharp image.Good composition and natural colours.
Georg

ktanska (16514) 2008-08-12 22:52

Hi Pablo,
They are beautiful birds with the shiny blue feathers. And their behaviour is very interesting too. Good catch for both you and the bird. Green background works well too.
Kari

Graal (57647) 2008-08-12 23:34

Hi Pablo,
good shot, fine DOF and colours, theme good to TN also. I like it. Well done.
Gr., Aleksander

AiresSantos (41866) 2008-08-13 0:29

Hi Pablo
Very well caught the bird with food !
Excellent POV, DOF and colours
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

molla (6883) 2008-08-13 1:31

Pica pica.
Skata and sjöra in my local dialect.
few birds has the beauty of this light metal bird that's so well living up our neigborhood.
perfect shot both DOF and POV.
Anders

dareco (17104) 2008-08-13 1:49

Of all the bird shots I've seen on here this is the first magpie. An excellent capture, nice pose and beautiful color. As kids my brother and I rescued a little family of magpies and managed to hide them away for at least a week before our parents discovered them :) TFS and have a happy day!

UnTrained (0) 2008-08-13 1:51

Hi Pablo,
I try to displace them from my garden as they displace other birds and we have only a few gardens inside our town. Clear and sharp view with the 200, excellent balance of sharpness for the right point. Do you think it flew away with opening the window? Here they would not.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

MarcT (21093) 2008-08-13 3:18

Hi Pablo,
Nice shot and great title to it. Very well seen and presented.
Cheers
Marc

pierrefonds (26105) 2008-08-13 3:35

Hi Pablo,

A nice close-up imahge of the magpie with a piece of cheese in its beek. The point of view is allowing us to see the details and colors of the bird. The subject is clear and sharp. The luminosity brings out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

izmirli (3019) 2008-08-13 6:10

merhaba dear pablo
excellent timing and good idea.excellent colours and bird.wonderful composition and details.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

ruisc_pt (6206) 2008-08-13 7:06

5.6 @ 200 mm that's not all I guess.
This is a fantastic image Pablo.
Indeed
TFS
Rui

Didi (35998) 2008-08-13 11:03

Hi Pablo
I saw one this morning but I had no camera with me
Well done for this nice catch; a very good selective setting on the subject.
Best regards.

clic (4063) 2008-08-13 11:40

Hello Pablo
After your research on bird preferences, you'll have to setup
a new budget for delicate foods!
But it's worth it; this fine portrait would not have been possible without a few sacrifices on your behalf. Cut on beer to compensate for the extra expense!
Very nice bird over the appropriate backdrop for better visibility; thanks to the long lens.
Cheers.
Robert

UlfE (8937) 2008-08-13 11:56

Hei Pablo,

I always enjoy very much when you post something different. Superb shot of this magpie that has not only one piece of cheese in its bill but three. I also like the diagonal very much TFS and have a nice evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

gneufeld (15167) 2008-08-13 18:27

Hi pablo,
A good capture of this magpie. This bird is very common on the Canadian Prairies and seen by many as an outright pest. Well seen and TFS. Gerald

yedirenk (7283) 2008-08-13 21:07

Hi friend,
very amusing compositon.good idea.sharpness,light and clarity are superb.very Sympathetic and lovely Magpie.but It was very hungry.also great frame.very well done.TFS.
greetings

Cevdet

MLINES (10856) 2008-08-13 21:21

Hi Pablo, Good to see you adding some wild-life to your broad gallery! Good DOF effect and clear focus. Only slight distraction is the roof rather than a branch but still very good. Hope to see more like this. TFS. Murray.

danos (32198) 2008-08-14 0:13

Good morning Pablo,
nice the 'portrait' of this cute bird with the bread in its beak.i like the rich blue color and the pose that have taken.Well done.

Regards,Danos

belido (16273) 2008-08-14 5:10

Hi Pablo,

very nice see this image in your gallery. Pretty different than you usually post but here I see that you are good also in close-ups. Perfect decisive moment...pure nature! Great job, my friend!
Regards,
Carlos

ChrisJ (70019) 2008-08-14 5:22

Hi Pablo

Well controlled dof, with good fg sharpness on the bird. I like the diagonal of the tail, & the blue vs green color contrast. Tfs!

serp2000 (9355) 2008-08-14 5:51

Hmm, very nice shot! How long distance between you and bird?
Good sharpness and details! Excellent colours!
Serghei

nivaldo (13000) 2008-08-14 6:02

So sharp, so beautiful!
Great capture, Pablo. Bravo!
TFS.
Um abraço, Nivaldo

scroller (2883) 2008-08-14 8:28

Hei Pablo,
I never really thougt about that the magpie also incude green in its feathers. As many already comment its a nice composition and I like the blury background wich is portrait-like.
Ha det!
/Stefan

goldyrs (136) 2008-08-14 19:41

I was on vacation, Pablo, and what a shot to come back to!
Love the moment you've captured, apart from the other details!And what a note!;)
Cheers!
Goldy

Nicou (44491) 2008-08-15 1:33

Hello,

Superbe oiseua, quel beu plumage, avec ce bleu-gris, tout doux, avec sont dîner dans on bec, trsè beau captage, pas facile à réaliser, mangigique.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

jhm (82201) 2008-08-15 3:02

Hello Pablo,

You show two wonderful lovely pictures of this magpie, but it's a very great robber.
He deprived almost all the small bird the newborn young.
He is protected in Belgium, but I try these friend on distance to keep.
I find your picture very well, and your note is certainly interesting, very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

giorgimer (21000) 2008-08-15 5:38

Hi Pablo, nice view. Beautiful colors and details, good moment capture. TFS. Gio

TGULUMSER (12496) 2008-08-15 10:05

Hello Pablo,
Nice capture and informative note,
Best regards,
Tulay

Cricri (43030) 2008-08-15 12:39

Hi Pablo,
Une image qui vaut amplement tout les sourires,
magnifique détails et couleurs bien resorti par le fond flouté, superbe
Best regard
cricri

stego (22350) 2008-08-15 12:49

Hi Pablo,
An amazing wild life shot, with spotless sharpness and wonderfully framed. A photo that makes everybody happy: the bird for the delicacy you offered him, yourself for getting such a great photo and ourselves for enjoying it.
Regards, José.

zeca (20026) 2008-08-15 23:48

Its a great capture, Pablo! The bird is beautiful! The unsharp background enhace its beauty. Well done!
Regards,
Zeca

jafadabret (39357) 2008-08-16 6:08

Bonjour Pablo.
Cette pensionnaire a l'air d'apprécier la table. J'aime la belle couleur bleu-vert de ses plumes. La composition est bien conçue pour avoir l'oiseau dans la diagonale.
Jacques

carper (64546) 2008-08-16 9:29

they call it ekster by us Pablo,
a fine shbirdshot here, one with a fine pov, a good dof, I think you can do some good here with a highlight tool. I would say, try it out.
good photojob, have a nice evening my friend.
gr. jaap

rodgerg (23717) 2008-08-16 12:46

Hello Pablo,

Congratulations for the goog timing. The composition is well balanced with the bird well located in the image. The bird arise very well in the green decor. An another good photowork.
Best regards,
Roger

bakes888 (18101) 2008-08-16 18:19

Hi Pablo. Nice capture. We have magpies here also but ours are different and come from Australia so are not native. They seem just as brave and full of character. Good sharpness even shot through a window and well defocused BG. Nice colours also. Thanks for sharing.
Have a good Sunday, Paul.

Giorgio (8670) 2008-08-16 23:11

- Splendid macro for this nice coloured bird, there also, it was necessary to shoot at good instant, anyway bravo Pablo good job! Thank you for having me signal that it was *500 I don't take a care ;o)
Have a good sunday, bad weather in Paris.
giorgio

papagolf21 (56159) 2008-08-17 1:08

Cher ami Pablo,
Très belle prise de vue de cet oiseau en train de récupérer un morceau de nourriture. J'ignorais que les pies avaient des goûts si particuliers quant à la nourriture !
Félicitations pour cette prise de vue, il est toujours difficile de saisir un oiseau en perpétuel mouvement.
Amitiés.
Philippe

clio (22548) 2008-08-17 1:18

Hi Pablo,
A very beautiful greedy magpie! Excellent definition and DOF.
A beautiful and funny photo.
Congratulations
Diane

TopGeo (21639) 2008-08-17 5:01

Hi Pablo! excellent shot! good composition!A beautiful picture! They is a bird where we consented also to Greece! Have characteristic voice and I like the colours and fly! Have a beautiful imprinting of bird!
Georgios

foozi (4689) 2008-08-17 5:59

Hello Pablo.
a master classic shot, of a subject in action. Very sharp and very clear indeed. great posture with great diagonal composition.
Excellent presentation.

regards,
Foozi

josepmarin (33785) 2008-08-17 6:14

Hi Pablo,
Perfect capture of this magpie enjoying a small chunk of cheese, in an image with good sharpness in spite of the double pane window, and with a fantastic defocused background.
I like the light, the color and the spontaneity of the scene.
Nice work, my friend.
Best regards,
Josep

evanrizo (456) 2008-08-17 9:18

-:)) The clever friend there poses very nice to show us how he enjoy his action.
The details on the bird are very good and nice isolated from the around place-background.
Best wishes.
Evangelos

Wandering_Dan (3211) 2008-08-17 9:54

Hello, Pablo -

Excellent capture, and well worth the gouda! The WS does clear up a few problems I was having with the original image.

Best,
Dan

anducina (8085) 2008-08-17 11:14

Hello Pablo,
Excellent capture, those birds are funny and amazing ! Interesting note. I like the WS version too. Nice colors...nice attitude....

TFS,
Andreea

paura (38266) 2008-08-17 11:34

Pablo,
Uma excelente macro aqui, com detalhes bem mostrados ao extremo. Cores e ajustes de exposição muito bons.

Abraço

Paulo

Uhu (7356) 2008-08-17 12:57

I think it's amazing work, Pablo. Fantastic sharpness! Of course they like cheese, they'll like pig lard even more!

izler (6) 2008-08-17 14:31

hello pablo
congratulations its successful bird photo
i like POV, BG, light, colours and details
TFS
regards
izler

shevchenko (9862) 2008-08-17 21:55

Hi Pablo,
Patience and good shoot to a bird to obtained it natural posture, I like it colourful feathers, distinct image, thanks for sharing.
Ally

axiotea (16031) 2008-08-17 23:13

Hello Pablo
A funny title for this compo and good to know what's their food habits ;) The blurred greenery makes for a good BG on which stands out nicely the 'cheesy magpie' The photo in ws is also a good one!
Cheers
Marilyn

John_F_Kennedy (31197) 2008-08-18 0:31

A lovely shot of this bird The textures are excellent with sharp focus and details.
Best wishes,
Achim

syd1946 (17869) 2008-08-18 1:11

Hello Pablo,
Excellent captured of the bird at the best time!The blur and momochrome background gives all the interesting to the bird!
I like it very much!

Have a nice day,
Thomas

Gerrit (35593) 2008-08-18 4:14

Hi Pablo,
I once saved a little one that fell out the nest. I raised it with brown bread and minced meat. He became a beautiful bird and went with me in the streets travelling on my shoulder or head. He flew out six months later.
Regards, Gerrit

bracasha75 (21960) 2008-08-18 6:27

Helo Pablo
This remaind me on the famous story from Grin brothers about the ....you know and second or first ,the shot is extraordinary
TFS
Cheers,Braca

cunejo200 (7157) 2008-08-18 8:04

Hello Pablo,
This bird image is a very pleasant surprise from you Pablo. Super sharp, well framed, and very lovely bokeh. It was worth it trying to repeatedly log-in to TE (so darn slow last few weeks). Have a good week. Danilo

zahoor_salmi (2409) 2008-08-18 8:19

very sharp and beautiful colors birds,

nels (2455) 2008-08-18 11:37

hello pablo, lovely colours, the magpies in the U.K are b&w and are classed as vermin, they are not as colourful as this one. nice composed shot
regards
adrian

Henryk_Bilor (20365) 2008-08-18 11:56

Hi Pablo
Hehe, great list of preferable food ;).
Nice capture of feeding magpie. Good moment and DOF :).
Regards

plimrn (19600) 2008-08-18 16:16

Hi pablo,
I LOVE your note; it is so funny that I read it out loud to my husband asnd he roared with laughter!!

The photo is even better!! The detail is excellent, amazing for through a window. I was also surprised to see the blue feathers; I always think of Magpies as strictly B&W. When I see blue feathers, I think jay; so I have learned something. Magpies are also special in Norway.
HLJ, Pat

Sanderson-Brown (1697) 2008-08-18 23:23

Hi Pablo,
just saw in the news this morning that seemlingly magpies can recognise them selves in mirrors!? i personally dislike this creature for i find them scavenous.
well captured, the blue is very well caught.
tfs
regards
paul

zeynepe (9342) 2008-08-19 1:01

The magpies are so lucky because of you :)
You captured a superb moment , it is so lovely composition:)
Congrats,
And have a nice week Pablo,
Zeynep

chrisnet (20364) 2008-08-19 12:17

Hello Pablo,
Good capture of this beautiful bird, very nice sharpness and bokeh, well done.
Regards

berek (28849) 2008-08-19 12:36

Hello my friend,
its so cute bird. very good timing and clear picture . congratulations. best wishes.
Burak

Angshu (33551) 2008-08-19 20:45

Hello Pablo
Something very different from you & I like it. Excellent, sharp shot. With your full zoom you have made the magpie cover almost the entire frame. Good use of shallow DOF to isolate him (?) out as well. Well done!
Regards
Angshu

ahmetgedikli (21799) 2008-08-19 23:22

Merhaba Pablo,
Perfect shot! Excellent light, nice colors and good POV.
Well done.
Ahmet

skippy007 (6963) 2008-08-20 20:02

Hello Pablo, Very interesting bird, we have magpies but they are different, I think not as blue & also their eating habits are very different. They prefer 1. Vegemite sandwich
2. peanut butter
3. cherryripe
I'm joking HeHeHeHe, seriously I think they look different & only eat live insects, worms etc.
Enjoyed your note as well as your high quality pics.
Thank you
Regards
Santo

Khattakphoto (676) 2008-08-21 1:15

Hi

This is very good picture

regards
Hanif Khattak

adores (15463) 2008-08-21 18:22

Hi Pablo!
Very good shot! Focus and colours are really good. I like the blurred background. Seems he has found something to eat, good moment too!

fkokol (1614) 2008-08-22 8:03

Good timing really! well composed and framed. beautiful colours and detail.
greetings,

figen

Silvio1953 (41438) 2008-08-23 15:39

Ciao Pablo, splendid bird in great pose with fantastic colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

riclopes (32957) 2008-08-24 6:22

Olá Pablo, nice story and beautiful capture of your 'friend'. I like the texture of roof and the details of the white feathers and feet in the WS. This one has a lovely green background and 'he' looks like standing on a throne. The suggested WS adds a shinne on the eyes which is nice.
Greetings,
ricardo

Tobias__Ortmann (2589) 2008-08-24 8:40

Hi pablo,
nice shot from this bird in germany called elster.
Nice details and very good quality
well done
Toba

jaywalker (12190) 2008-08-26 13:38

Hi Pablo, A wonderful nature photo, the colours are perfect & the shallow DOF really draws out the bird, superb detail, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

robertosalguero (2763) 2008-08-26 19:05

Hi Pablo,

Interesting image and research done on their diet! I like the fine details on the bird and the attractive colours of its feathers. Nice composition and a little different from your others. Thanks Pablo.

Roberto

jusninasirun (10150) 2008-08-28 9:11

Hello Pablo. With this new VR optics, you really need to be back posing stuff in TN. Excellent shot at this magpie robin with very nice perch. The exposure of the plumage is excellent. I like the framing and the focus on where it matters. Pleasing blurry background for the image that pops :-) Thanks for sharing and best regards. Jusni

claudeD (11258) 2008-08-29 9:03

Hello Pablo,

very interesting shot with a perfect sharpness and excellent colors.I like the shot very much.Good fotojob.

With regarsd from Luxembourg

Jean-Claude

devimeuxbe (55853) 2008-08-30 2:53

Hi Pablo
good cropping and sharpness on this bird. The light also is nice and the magpy is expressive
Well done
Bertrand

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2008-09-02 3:08

Hi Pablo,
So you spoil these birds ... some magpies are a bit of a hazard because they attack people especially when they are protecting their young. You must have a very clean window because it has no effect on the sharpness :) Well captured and presented! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

edytungkal (4519) 2008-09-03 19:58

I still learn how to compose a good close up picture and i found a perfect one on your shot and you just capture this eating bird on the best moment. Its a wonderful nature around your homeland Pablo, thanks for share to us :-)

greetings
daniel

JCG (25147) 2008-09-04 11:16

Hi Again... Pablo,

During the my holidays I had fun on several occasions to take titmouses, blackbirds and sparrows, in the garden of my parents in Brittany. These birds are fond of delicacies seeds of sunflowers or cacahuettes. I will publish certainly some photographs. In all the cases you made us a very pretty portrait of this magpie, I like much the photograph in WS. Cheer Pablo.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

maloutim (3933) 2008-09-14 1:15

Hi Pablo!
Great sharp capture of this robber of a bird, which they all are! Have you never had anything stolen through an open window, just because it glittered?
Anyway, I like the colours of the magpie and its position here against the blurred greenery gives the best effect!
Thanks for sharing!
MarieLouise.

edal (6567) 2008-10-16 8:11

Hello, Pablo!
Funny they are - these noisy creatures. Very good close capture - I see you've obtained a vibration reduction tele... Vibrant colors and shallow dof are remarkable.
Friendly,
Anton

ImageMaker (83) 2008-11-13 2:24

Hi Pablo,

It's my first time I see you captured a bird here, the last time I saw you captured a bird was a flying dove, your last farewell shot from TL :-)

A pin sharp shot indeed.
Dennis

Ola_Kwiatek (2380) 2009-06-01 9:23

Amazing bird. Wonderful background. Nice lightness. Ideal sharp.
Cheers

Urs (2726) 2009-09-29 23:48

Hi Pablo

Actually it is not so important if you took the shot through the window or not, the sharpness for the circumstances is fine. and what is more important, your show us the "cheesy" side of birds. Also your note is very interesting and prove how deeply you studied their behavior. I like your bird picture very much, you are very good at nature pictures. Well done

Best regards
Urs