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I created this tight head portrait of a Laysan Albatross on our second morning at 8:58 am with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 1.4X III TC (hand held at 280mm) and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 set manually after histogram check. What can I say? I love my style. Though one might think that images like these are are a dime a dozen it does take some care to achieve perfection. With the distant azure-blue lagoon background I was able to stop down considerably to ensure a sharp head and bill at close range and took lots of images to ensure getting at least one with the absolute perfect head angle. (The above comment was excerpted from BAA Bulletin #370.) For more on my style, click here. |
Midway Revelation
The revelation is a simple one yet is one that needs to be reinforced every so often…. Yes, it is possible to make great images in your own backyard, in your own neighborhood, in your home state, and in your region, but when you travel to beautiful places with untold numbers of exquisitely gorgeous birds, birds that are silly-tame, it is far easier to create dramatic and powerful images. See, I told you that it was a simple revlelation 🙂 It does however explain my recent desire to travel to great places at the end of the earth before my days are done….
Laysan Albatross Images
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This image was created with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/125 sec. at f/14. This image gives the viewer just a clue as to the nesting density of this prolific species. |
Though the tsunami took more than 100,000 Laysan Albatross chicks and about 1,000 adult birds, there are still more than 920,000 adult Laysans and a shade under 400,000 fat and hungry chicks. Damage and loss on Sand Island, the only island of the three Midway islands now inhabited by humans, was minimal. Virtually all (15,000 albatross pairs with chicks) was lost on tiny Spit Island. And the loss on Eastern Island (about 1/4 of the total Midway nests of this species) was great.
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This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 1.4X III TC (hand held at 170mm) and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 set manually. |
It is extremely difficult to create tight images of albatrosses feeding their young. Here I found a chick getting fed with a nice white sand background. Then I strove to get relatively parallel to the birds and to create an image with two good head angles and with the eyes of both the youngster and the adult visible. I opted for more action freezing shutter speed and less depth-of-field. Then I pressed the shutter button at the peak of the action.
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This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 1.4X III TC (hand held at 175mm) and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 set manually. |
Creating pleasing images that depict various aspects of the intricate courtship dance of an albatross is a difficult assignment. The challenges are similar to those faced when trying to create good chick feeding images. Though it is not difficult to find dancing pairs finding them in a pleasing setting is rare. The next challenge is to have them relatively parallel to the imaging sensor–they usually dance around in circles. Here we found a pair dancing atop a sand ridge with the lovely blue lagoon incorporated in the background.
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This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 1.4X III TC (hand held at 250mm) and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/7.1 in Av mode. |
Going back lit is an obvious choice with the fuzzy chicks. Again, seeing and recognizing a good situation with a pleasing background is the key to success. Here I created a single test image at zero, noted the blinkies in the rim lit feathers, and subtracted 1/3 stop of light. Voila. This left the face a bit dark; I lightened it using Tim Grey dodge and burn as described in the recently updated Digital Basics. Paul Mckenzie, a skilled photographer making his 7th Midway visit, said to me that dodge and burn tip in the new update was “brilliant.”
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This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 2X III TC (hand held at 222mm) and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops off the sky: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. |
Situations with albatrosses landing with their feet dangling and clean backgrounds are hard to find. When the group tooled by a tsunami-exposed hill of sand I knew that it was just a matter of waiting for the right wind and the right light…. So we did.
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This image was created last night with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6. I set the color temperature to 7000K to somewhat enhance the sunset colors. |
Shopper’s Guide
Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X III teleconverter. I also use it a lot–depending on the situation–with the 1.4X III TC.
Canon EF 1.4X III TC. This new TC is designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
2X III teleconverter. The new 2X III TC is sharper than the older 2X II version.
Canon EF 1.4X III TC. This new TC is designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. The very best professional digital camera body that I have ever used.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Double Bubble Leve.l You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am on a tripod and not using flash.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card. These high capacity cards are fast and dependable.
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I pack my 800 and tons of other gear in my ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V2.0 rolling bag for all of my air travel and recommend the slightly smaller Airport InternationalTM V2.0 for most folks. These high capacity bags are well constructed and protect my gear when I have to gate check it on short-hops and puddle jumpers. Each will protect your gear just as well. By clicking on either link or the logo below, you will receive a free gear bag with each order over $50.
Hi Art:
Having Edmonton eagles compared to Homer at not even 1% – I guess I will have to wait to get some eagles photos in Edmonton then i will have an idea of how much better Homer is. Cost wise and time wise it will be a world of difference but photo wise, I expect Homer to be a world of difference as well only in Homer’s advantange. I think everyone would like to shoot at least once in Homer – But apparently there are other high concentration of eagles elsewhere, just have to locate them – but not too many people feed the eagles like they do in Homer – those are great images you have of eagles from Homer.
Clear Ken,
re:
Hi Art: How do you get the colours to pop so well.
As I have said to you via e-mail, I start with properly exposed RAW files and then I follow my workflow EXACTLY as described in Digital Basics. As for getting a properly exposed RAW file your e-mails have made it crystal clear that you have no clue as to how to do that….
That is the area I have to improve on.
Yes, it is good to learn to get the most out of our digital files.
I have most of your books and ebooks – but need more direction – I am a visual learner not a reading learner.
Well, I guess that you will have to sign up for several IPTs or hire me for a few private days….. Actually, if you can follow a simple cookbook you can follow the instructions in Digital Basics. That’s how I write….
With the Dick Berry’s comment – one’s own backyard (literally and their surrounding area) is usually the best source for photography of any kind really.
Well, I would need to disagree strongly with that. Yes, as I said, you can make great images close to home, but….
– It’s nice to travel all over, but if its not in one’s budget – look around – there lots of choices out there to photograph.
Agree.
I live in the Edmonton, Alberta area – and just found out a great source near Edmonton for eagles so will be checking it out.
It will not be 1% as good as Homer 🙂
later and love, artie
Whether it is the rockies, the prairies or Eastern Canada – there are always places to find whatever you are interested in. The same is true regardless of what country you live in Eh!
Dan, The oldest bird is right outside of Charley Barracks where we are staying. It has been out at sea squidding and has not been seen since we got here… Thanks for sharing the info.
Hi Art: How do you get the colours to pop so well — that is the area I have to improve on. I have most of your books and ebooks – but need more direction – I am a visual learner not a reading learner.
With the Dick Berry’s comment – one’s own backyard (literally and their surrounding area) is usually the best source for photography of any kind really – It’s nice to travel all over, but if its not in one’s budget – look around – there lots of choices out there to photograph.
I live in the Edmonton, Alberta area – and just found out a great source near Edmonton for eagles so will be checking it out –
Whether it is the rockies, the prairies or Eastern Canada – there are always places to find whatever you are interested in. The same is true regardless of what country you live in Eh!
All wonderful images but my two favorites are the first and third. TFS
That “tight head portrait of a Laysan Albatross” is truly masterful!
Artie, I understand your comment on traveling to places afar where great bird photography is possible. Issue as I see it is the cost. i want to do the traveling, but budget limits how many and how far the trips are.
Dick, All that all of us can do is consider how we spend our available funds wisely and then make our decisions. Photography on its own is an expensive hobby. The good news is that you can make great images in your own backyard.
Whoever taught you to take photos – they are just absolutely remarkable – With the portrait photo at the top, how do you get the colours to pop.
thanks,
ken
Artie,
Great photos. I hope to get there next year. I thought you might be interested in this recent bit of news about an a 60 year old albatross named Wisdom…
OUR OLDEST BIRD: AN ALBATROSS ON MIDWAY
In February, John Klavitter, deputy manager of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, spotted and photographed a Laysan Albatross that has been determined to be the oldest known U.S. wild bird. This female Laysan Albatross – given the name Wisdom – was first banded in 1956 by Chandler Robbins. Wisdom was incubating an egg at the time and was assumed to be at least five years old, which would make her over 60 years old today. She has sported and worn out five bird bands since 1956.
Remarkably, Chan Robbins returned to Midway in February 2002 to replace old, worn bands on previously banded albatrosses before the bands become unreadable. Fortunately, one of the birds he rebanded was Wisdom.
In February, Wisdom was spotted with a chick, making her a very experienced mom. In fact, Wisdom has likely raised 30 to 35 chicks during her lifetime. “To know that she can still successfully raise young at age 60-plus, that is beyond words,” commented Bruce Peterjohn, the chief of the North American Bird Banding Program at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland.
Although albatrosses are known to mate for life, it is unknown if Wisdom has had the same partner all these years.
This fascinating story was picked up by news bureaus and media around the world and was a story heightened by the drama of the Pacific-based tsunami last month.