Thanks

Sincere thanks to the many who left congratulatory comments on a solid year of educational blog posts. Your kind words were and are greatly appreciated.

The Streak Continues: 366

On Sunday, the morning of first full day of the 4-Day Bosque IPT, we lucked out with a killer sunrise–an eight out of ten for Bosque–with big flocks of geese flying back and forth through the color for more than fifteen minutes. We did well for the rest of the day and everyone learned a ton. This blog post was published from my hotel room in Socorro, NM at 4:00am.

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Thanks a Stack! The last six weeks have been great!

The last six weeks have been quite rewarding with more and more folks making it a habit to use my B&H links especially for their major gear purchases. It is great to feel appreciated. Thanks a stack to all who used our links for purchases large and small.

To show your appreciation for my efforts here, we ask, as always, that you use our the B&H and Amazon affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your purchases. B&H Is recommended for you major photography gear purchases, Amazon for your household, entertainment, and general purpose stuff. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially Gitzo tripods, Wimberley tripod heads, and the like. We sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And we are always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

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This image was created at 6:36am on the morning of Sunday, November 30, 2014, the first full day of this year’s 4-Day Bosque IPT. I used the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod), the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (at 200mm), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 100. Evaluative metering 1 stop as framed: 1/30 sec. at f/6.3 in Tv mode. Central Sensor Surround/Rear Focus AF as framed. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Bosque Sunrise

The State of the Bosque

I’ve been here for more than two weeks, during this, my 20th consecutive Thanksgiving at the refuge. As always, things are different. And as always, whatever the conditions, Bosque can be wondrously inspiring and exciting at any given moment. The early morning fly-ins and blast offs have been both dependable and spectacular; if you are lucky enough to have some thin clouds in the east at 6:30am, you will be blessed with some of the best opportunities that you might ever have imagined.

With the total corn crop at zero this year–the refuge has been unable to attract the best farmers since they were screwed by the Feds and the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow –during a severe drought, the movement of the large flocks around the refuge during the daylight hours has been hit or miss at best. Daytime goose blast-off opportunities have been virtually absent for the past ten days.

Management has however done some neat stuff by moving water around creatively. This and that field have alternately flooded and drained. This has provided some excellent duck and blackbird blastoff opps, and earlier on, some good Snow Goose blasts as well.

Neither crane pool was plowed because the mud created by unexpected late summer rains made it impossible to get bulldozers and other heavy machinery safely into them. Harry’s Crane Pool is pretty much an overgrown mess. The Ed Kranepool is in much better shape but for reasons unknown to me, the birds are staying well back in the pools.

The temporary tour loop road, opened only briefly this past weekend was hit or mostly miss. Why is it open only three weekends each year? Why must you stay in your vehicles on the south to north and north to south legs? I was told last year by a higher up in the refuge management team that the “Remain in your vehicle” signs would be removed. They were not.

On the subject of questions, why was the fence in front of the refuge HQ removed? It was a good spot to photograph crows and ravens in early morning light? Why has the pond just west of the March Deck been kept dry for the past several years. It was a great spot to photograph pintails in sweet afternoon light from your vehicle.

And here is a neat Bosque story. For as long as I can remember there were lots of young willows lining the banks of the irrigation ditch between the Willow and Coyote Decks. And there was always a viewing window a bit closer to the Coyote Deck than to the Willow deck. When I arrived last year I noted that this viewing window, one that has been in existence for probably two decades, was overgrown. There was no line of sight to the birds.

I asked that the window be cleared. I was told that the young willows were habitat for the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse and that the state had forbidden the refuge management team from altering the habitat in any way. On my first drive around two weeks ago I was stunned to see that the willows lining the banks had been razed, slashed right down to ground level.

Really? Who is minding the store? Just whom are we supposed to trust or believe?

On a positive note, two large stands of willow and salt cedar that obstructed views of the eastern horizon as viewed from well north of the Flight Deck were removed at my request. Thanks to Assistant Refuge Manager Aaron Mize for getting that work done. It has relieved over-crowding on the Flight Deck to some degree.

This image was created at 9:18m on the mostly clear morning of Sunday, NOV 30, 2015 at Bosque del Apache NWR. I used the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod), the Mongoose M3.6 head, Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero off the blue sky 30 degrees up from the horizon: 1/3200 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. AWB. This is the equivalent of our ISO 400 bright white/bright sun exposure: 1/2500 sec. at f/8. Central sensor/AI Servo surround Rear Focus AF on the curve of the bird’s breast was active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Adult Snow Goose landing with wings forward

Socks Knocked Off…

As I typed the paragraph above–thank you Denise for driving so much on this trip, I spotted some geese landing on the road well ahead. Bingo! Within minutes we had the whole group in position with hundreds of geese landing right at us into the wind that shifted from southeast to south to northeast. Just when you least expect it, Bosque will knock your socks off with great photographic opportunities.

Canon EOS-7D Mark II User’s Guide

For the 89th time :), my plan is to work on a 7D Mark II User’s Guide on the long sailing legs of my upcoming Southern Oceans trip and to have make it available a few days after I get back home (on January 12, 2015). Just for the record books, I set Custom AF case 3 exactly as described in the 1D X and 5D III User’s Guides.

Canon EOS-7D Mark II Back in Stock at B&H and Now Shipping

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In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 3-FULL DAY IPT: NOV 22-24, 2015. $1149. Meet and greet and introductory slide program after dinner on your own at 7:00pm on SAT NOV 21.

Tens of thousands of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with two of the world’s premier photographic educators at one of their very favorite photography locations on the planet. Top-notch in-the-field and Photoshop instruction. This will make 21 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for artie. This will be denise’s 7th workshop at the refuge. Nobody knows the place better than artie does. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the sky conditions, the light, and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home being able to apply what you’ve learned on your home turf will prove to be invaluable.

This workshop includes 3 morning and 3 afternoon photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/21, all lunches, and after-lunch digital workflow, Photoshop, and image critiquing sessions.

There is never a strict itinerary on a Bosque IPT as each day is tailored to the local conditions at the time and to the weather. We are totally flexible in order to maximize both the photographic and learning opportunities. We are up early each day leaving the hotel by 5:30 am to be in position for sunrise. We usually photograph until about 10:30am. Then it is back to Socorro for lunch and then a classroom session with the group most days. We head back to the refuge at about 3:30pm each day and photograph until sunset. We will be photographing lots of Snow Geese and lots of Sandhill Cranes with the emphasis on expanding both your technical skills and your creativity.

A $449 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. If you cancel and the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. Whether or not your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.

Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.”) You can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 4-DAY IPT: (three full and two 1/2 DAYS) NOV 28-DEC 2, 2015. $1499. Meet and greet at 3pm on SAT NOV 28 followed by an afternoon photo session at the crane pools and the introductory slide program after dinner on your own.

Tens of thousands of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with two of the world’s premier photographic educators at one of their very favorite photography locations on the planet. Top-notch in-the-field and Photoshop instruction. This will make 21 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for artie. This will be denise’s 7th workshop at the refuge. Nobody knows the place better than artie does. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the sky conditions, the light, and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home being able to apply what you’ve learned on your home turf will prove to be invaluable.

This workshop includes 4 afternoon (11/28through 12/1), 4 morning (11/29 to 12/2) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/28, all lunches, and after-lunch digital workflow, Photoshop, and image critiquing sessions.

There is never a strict itinerary on a Bosque IPT as each day is tailored to the local conditions at the time and to the weather. We are totally flexible in order to maximize both the photographic and learning opportunities. We are up early each day leaving the hotel by 5:30 am to be in position for sunrise. We usually photograph until about 10:30am. Then it is back to Socorro for lunch and then a classroom session with the group most days. We head back to the refuge at about 3:30pm each day and photograph until sunset. We will be photographing lots of Snow Geese and lots of Sandhill Cranes with the emphasis on expanding both your technical skills and your creativity.

A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. If you cancel and the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. Whether or not your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.

Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.”) You can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)

For a listing of all currently offered IPTs, click here.

Click here for BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) General Information.

Click here for BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) Deposit and Cancellation Policies.

Click here for BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) Registration and Release Forms.

DPP 4 eGuide 7D II Update

If you have purchased the DPP 4 eGuide and have purchased a 7D II, please request the free update by shooting Jim an e-mail with the words DPP 4 7D II Update cut and pasted into the Subject Line. You must include some sort of proof of purchase; a cut and paste of page 2 of the current guide will suffice. If you send your request without including proof of purchase your updated eGuide will not be sent 🙂

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Typos

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