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This mega-high key image was first inspired by a Todd Gustafson Cheetah image that he intentionally over-exposed four stops on a bright sunny day. All that you saw against the over-exposed background were the eyes, the bright pink gums,. and the yellowed teeth–everything in shadow. When I shared a Laysan Albatross image of the same ilk at the introductory Midway slide program everyone loved it. Then Paul Mckenzie suggested that the same approach might work well with a White Tern on a bright sunny day. So I tried it. This image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens, a 25mm Extension Tube, the 1.4X III TC, and the The original image was intentionally over-exposed at creation and lightened further during conversion. I did lots of bill clean-up as the bird’s beak was a mess. Note: if you put the extension tube in front of the TC as I did here you will be able to focus closer than if the TC were mounted in front of the tube. You will however need to focus manually. These situations are discussed in detail in ABP II (916 pages on CD only). |
Minor Surgery…
Knowing that I had to get up early, I was asleep on Monday evening by 9pm. Still a bit jet-lagged from the Midway trip, I woke wide awake at 10pm, my body thinking that it had had a nice nap. I read for 90 minutes and then slept fitfully for a few hours, finally getting up for good at 2:50 am completely awake…. Jim had his alarm set for 4:45 am and we both were in the car right on schedule at 5:15am Tuesday morning and headed north. Jim drove and I finished editing the Midway To Transfer folder. I created about 5,000 images on the trip. After my daily first edits that was down to about 1500. After additional culling I began this morning with 994 images. Right now I am down to 426 keepers. I will do one more edit before moving the folder onto the main computer.
We arrived at the Orlando Surgery Center a few minutes before 7am. After the required paperwork was filled out I was called in, changed into hospital gown, head net, and sock-slippers. An IV line was inserted and I spoke to a nurse and to the anesthesiologist, and then Hand surgeon George White stopped in for a chat. I was wheeled into the OR where they put a tourniquet on my left arm and started the dream sleep drip. I awoke in what seemed like minutes to learn that everything had gone just fine. The rather simple A-1 pulley surgery to repair the trigger finger–middle flinger left hand–was a 20-minute success. Left hand bandaged and left arm in a sling to keep it elevated we headed home, stopping at CVS to fill a pain-killer prescription that it seems I will not need. I have felt great all day and am–at 8:02 pm, just starting to get feeling back in the middle finger, numb all day from the local anesthetic. I gotta say that it feels great. I have been icing the hand off and on and making a fist many times each hour as instructed.
Cards, flowers, and sympathy are not required. 🙂
Tomorrow afternoon I drive up to the 9th Annual Florida’s Birding & Photo Fest in St. Augustine (scheduled for April 27-May 1, 2011). Click here for details. It is not too late to attend and there are a slew of great presenters and field trips. My field trips are all sold out. 🙂
Shopper’s Guide
Below is a list of the gear mentioned in today’s post and some other stuff that I use regularly to keep my sensors clean. 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 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EF 1.4X III TC. This new TC is designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
25mm Extension Tube. This vaulable accessory allows for closer focusing.
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 Sensor Scope. This cool, indispensable device allows you to see sensor dust so that you know where to clean.
Lens Pen Combo Kit. The answer to your sensor cleaning problems. Use the small pen on your sensor, the larger one on your lenses and teleconverters.
Giotto’s Super Rocket Blower. Don’t waste your time with smaller versions; you need to power of this large blower to clean your sensor successfully.
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.
Glad to hear you are on the mend. I just hope when you mentioned “An IV line was inserted” that it was a Mark IV line that was inserted.
I love your photographs of the birds I have taken many pictures of bird but never published. Since I saw your pictures it made think I should include with my wild life and tribes of the world. Best Regards: Baroness Danuté
Thank you Baroness. I visited your site. It is very interesting. I like your book. You surely have traveled a lot. Where are you living now? artie
Good grief! I missed this completely somehow. Anyway, thumbs up for a well healed finger Arty. I had a big toe operated on 39 years ago. Never had advice about flexing it or anything. Totally rigid it is to this day.
Having stated elsewhere that I’m not a fan of abstraction in nature pics, this one is stunning! A sort of practiced serendipity.
glad to here all is well take care of yourself nelson
Thanks Nelson and Jerry. Jerry, by Friday morning the finger was feeling excellent. My doctor’s advice was to bend it, extend it, and even use the other hand to force full extension. That after his assistant had told me to “rest it.” I called back and insisted on speaking to the doctor. Glad that I did.
Glad to hear your surgery went well. I had thumb surgery several years ago.
Just a word of caution- follow your doctor’s recommendations on use of your finger. You do not want to create a problem be doing too much with your finger too soon.
Art,
Since sympathies are not required I will offer you my Congratulations on getting what must have been a very annoying and inconvenient problem taken care of. I continue to look forward to your marvelous artistry.
Ken
Glad to hear every thing worked out OK. Get well quick.
Had that done to both thumbs — left one about 14 years ago and right one this past September. The Orthopod thought the left thumb was from years of focusing (probably like your left “bird” finger) and the right thumb from holding a camera for all these years. Didn’t need the pain pills either. A little Ibuprofen worked fine.
Always wonder why such a minor surgery couldn’t just be done in the Doc’s office. Put the finger/hand to sleep, minor incision at the base, snip the thingie that attaches the tendon to the bone, four stitches and done! Too many rules, regulations and possible malpractice suits these days, I guess.
Get well!!!
Recover soon!
Artie, so glad the finger’s been fixed and all went well.
As for the white tern – now THAT is ART! (in my opinion) :o)
Paul, Good luck. Arthroscopic? I have had that twice on my left knee.
Thanks all. I am feeling even better this morning and so is my hand!
Cards and flowers maybe, but sympathy ia ALWAYS required as are hugs smiles and friends, nice to hear that it went well.
We seem to be on similar paths. I have an identical White Tern image and I am headed for minor knee surgery on Friday (torn meniscus repair).
Good to hear everything went well and that you are doing well.
Speedy recovery Artie!!
I had the same surgery a few years ago. They asked if I wanted a general to put me to sleep or if I wanted a Bier(?) blocker. I said I wanted Beer. So that’s what I got! A surreal surgery where I was somewhat awake giving them feedback. I kept asking for the beer, but it never came… It went well without much post surgery discomfort. I hope your recovery goes just as well. Oh, and it took me a moment before I saw the tern’s beak above. For a fleeting moment, I thought you were doing something with paper airplanes. (Sorry…rough day at work…) Cool photo though! I love your creative eye!
I hope you recover from your surgery quickly and will soon be back in the field.
That image is amazing. I’ll try that next time the sun is out. 😉
And I’m glad to hear your surgery went well, and I hope your finger heals very quickly!