One Labor Day at Nickerson Beach I enjoyed one my best morning sessions ever at one of my favorite locations on the planet. Everything that I did turned out to be right. The day dawned partly cloudy with a north wind that switched to northeast as the clouds first increased and then thinned out. After that, the sun played peekaboo but for the most part I was working in cloudy bright conditions. I started by opting to walk down the west sideof the remaining coastal flooding pond in hopes of getting some Canada Geese (!) in bright pink reflections. To do that, I needed to walk through about a foot of water. I used the 600 alone on the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro. My plan, however, succeeded almost perfectly. As the wind was slightly east of north, some of the geese were angled slightly away; some were right on the borderline.
In that same wind, the skimmers were skimming away from the photographers on the west shore who had been trying unsuccessfully to create some backlit blurs. So, I headed for the eastern shore and created some nice blurs of my own. I chose a spot with a small flock of skimmers right in front of me and thus, had the birds flying right at me. As the morning brightened somewhat, I switched to sharp early on and made some wonderful images of both young and adult skimmers skimming in cloudy bright conditions. Once the flock departed (for unknown reasons), I decided to follow my nose. I grabbed the 600, left the tripod standing on the edge of the pond, and headed to the ocean handholding my big lens. As mentioned here previously, I have gotten stronger from working so much with the 400-800 that I am not able to handhold the 600 f/4 fairly easily and without much trepidation.
There were lots of American Oystercatchers working the surf line so I sat and worked an unbanded adult with one unbanded juvenile. At 7:39:13am I noticed a pissed-off-about-something oystercatcher running right at me from down the beach. I began firing as the bird took flight and created a 96-frame sequence as the bird flew just to my right. I clipped many frames but came up with a few stunners. I will be creating and sharing a new YouTube Picking My Keepers video soon.
Anyhoo, I was set up to do flight on the incoming skimmers and terns carrying fish at ISO 2500/1/3200 second wide open at f/4 when I spotted an obviously juvenile shorebird a bit down the beach. At a glimpse, I thought that it might be a juvenile Sanderling. I made two distant frames so that I could ID the bird by magnifying the image. I was thrilled to see the long wings, warm brown tones, streaked upper breast, and neatly edged upperparts feathers of a juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper, regular but uncommon on the East coast during fall migration. It was likely the same individual that I had seen and photographed poorly the day before.
As the young shorebird is not as bright as a tern or a skimmer, I immediately and instinctively slowed the shutter speed down one click to 1/2500 second. The bird continued heading east so I picked a spot below the berm with a clean stretch of low tide beach in front of me and sat down. The bird kept coming. I began firing as the bird moved to my right and then cut sharply to its right to head towards the Atlantic. I had two frames in the sequence where the Baird’s had both feet off the ground as it ran. Image #1 below was the better of the two because the running pose was a bit more dramatic and the head angle a tad more pleasing.
As I sat on the beach the magic kept happening with the help of the now fully northeast wind. When a young skimmer coming in from the ocean flew directly at me, I made another 96-frame (!) sequence and clipped only a few wingtips when the bird got really close. The whole experience was exhilarating. When I had a moment to catch my breath, I checked out some of the Baird’s images on the back of the camera and when I saw the running sequence with the bird square to the back of the camera, my exhilaration grew. My hunch to head down to the ocean turned into a thrilling and totally unexpected 37 minutes of action during which I created 1736 photographs. My total for the morning was 5072 still yet-to-be-edited images.
On Monday evening I drove out to Bayshore to have dinner at Fatfish on the Water in Bayshore with my younger daughter Alissa, her husband Ajiniyaz, their son Idris, and my two granddaughters, Samantha and Maya. Sam and Maya — both living in Brooklyn, are the children of my older daughter Jennifer and my son-in-law Erik. Jen and Erik live in Florida and were not able to fly up for the family dinner.
Today is Tuesday September 2, 2025. Though conditions were perfect, the Monday magic was not with me at Nickerson this morning. My best images were some takeoff shots of a molting Black-bellied Plover and a killer fly-by juvie American Oystercatcher. And I shot lots of bathing gull photos as well. Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
This image was created on 1 September 2025 by yours truly at Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. Seating on damp sand I used the handheld (!) Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by experience as detailed below. ISO 2500: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 9:27:55am on a cloudy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Baird’s Sandpiper in fresh juvenal plumage running on clean sand beach
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
Baird’s Sandpiper
There are five North American peep species. Peeps are small sandpiper species of the Calidris genus. Baird’s and White-rumped Sanpdiper are the only two peep species with long wings that protrude well beyond the end of their tails. Why the long wings? As they winter primarily in Argentina, they make far longer migratory flights than their three cousins: least, semipalmated, and western. Least and Western Sandpipers winter primarily in the southern US while all the semis make it down to northern South America. No Semipalmated Sandpipers winter in the US.
I recall struggling to find a Baird’s Sandpiper at the East Pond in the late 1970s. And I remember fondly the day that the late Thomas H Davis knelt down in the mud at the East Pond to draw the shape and long wings of Baird’s for me.
Some folks love warblers, some love Osprey, some love owls, and some love all raptors. Shorebirds have long been my first love and are still my favorites.
Written for naturalists and birders, the text tells you everything you’ve always wanted to know about North America’s sandpipers, godwits, yellowlegs, phalaropes, plovers, avocets, stilts, and oystercatchers. Topics covered include identification and aging, shorebird behavior, their incredible migrations, feeding and diet, mating and breeding strategies, eggs, nests, and young, conservation efforts, and shorebirding tips. Also included are approximately 50 species accounts covering all of the regularly occurring North American shorebird species. With 70 of Arthur’s images and 26 more by some of the world’s best nature photographers, this book, at publication, contained the finest collection of shorebird photographs ever published in a single volume.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Here is my 4-favorites list from the last blog post: 1 & 3 (tied for first), 6, 5. Lot of folks went with 3 and the spectacular splashes and several even liked the scratching blur. Amazing.
What’s Up?
For the most part, bird photography at Nickerson Beach in the late season continues to excite. Saturday morning dawned a chilly 58° and with the bright sun and a brisk NW wind, things were tough. The tern blastoffs on Saturday night were breathtaking.
Today is Sunday 31 August 2025. The opportunities this morning at the remaining coastal flooding pool were fabulous. Had the wind been from the northeast rather than from north with a touch of west, I would have created a lot more than the 5,701 images that I still have to edit 🙂 I had countless opportunities with skimmers and terns where the birds turned about 20° away from me and away from the light when they flapped facing slightly to the northwest after their baths and I never pressed the shutter button. I a thousand or two images made in the same situation where the bird was facing ever-so-slightly away from me; all were near misses and all were deleted.
This just in at 3:52pm Eastern time on Sunday. I deleted 5553 photos and kept 148 after the first edit that took me about 45 minutes.
Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1-ii from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1-ii Info and Updates Group, a roughly $225.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created on 29 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering at zero EC. AUTO ISO set ISO 12800: 1/80 second at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:48:43pm on a mostly cloudy afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Canada Goose in coastal flooding pond after sunset
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
To begin, the AF system was struggling to see the subject in the next-to-no light situation — it focused only rarely. Next, shooting at 1/80 second handheld when working at 800mm is not recommended. But, I pushed the envelope and somewhat amazingly, created a single sharp image. My double noise reduction technique cleaned up the image beautifully. A good deal of the credit goes to the a-1 ii’s IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization) system.
This image was created on 30 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Seated on dry sand, I used the footpad technique with the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 785mm) and The Latest Greatest Flagship Body, the Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2500: 1/125 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:27:39pm on a partly cloudy afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Black Skimmer large chicks on beach
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
Handholding the 400-800 in Low Light
Handholding the 400-800 at the long end in low light is pushing the envelope a bit and requires a some luck. 1/125th second was as slow as I was willing to go with Image #2. Wide AF/C tracked the eye of the closer bird on my left as it turned toward me. I did my best to sharpen the eye as the bird’s head suffered some motion blur. I went with Topaz Sharpen AI and followed that up with a Contrast Mask. The result: acceptable but not the world’s sharpest image.
This image was created on 30 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 700mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +1.3 stops: AUTO ISO set ISO 5000 (!): 1/8 second (!) at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:49:36pm on a cloudy afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: Common Tern flock blastoff blur
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Think it was Dark?
After the birds took Friday night off, the tern blastoffs on Saturday evening returned to being beyond spectacular. The darker it got, the more the flocks blasted off. As my ISOs were getting ridiculously high, I dropped the shutter speed to the lowest possible in Electronic Shutter: 1/8 second. I still wound up at ISO 5000. Again, my double noise reduction technique eliminated both the luminance and the color noise beautifully.
While tracking and framing the flock, I concentrated on panning smoothly with the panning rate matching the speed of the birds in flight as closely as possible.
Learn my double noise reduction technique and tons more including the use of the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with the new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.
You can order your copy here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
In Stock!
Bedfords has both Sony a-1 ii bodies and 400-800 zoom lenses in stock. I am at a loss as to why so few folks have bought into the 400-800 as it has quickly become my all-time favorite lens. Purchase both and use my discount code at checkout to get back 3% on your credit card and earn a free copy of both my a-1 ii settings and guide and the lens guide as well.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After months of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please click here to order yours or send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Here is today’s difficult challenge: list your four favorites with the strongest one first.
In Stock!
Bedfords has both Sony a-1 ii bodies and 400-800 zoom lenses in stock. I am at a loss as to why so few folks have bought into the 400-800 as it has quickly become my all-time favorite lens. Purchase both and use my discount code at checkout to get back 3% on your credit card and earn a free copy of both my a-1 ii settings and guide and the lens guide as well.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
The Sony 400-800
Since the storm surge died down and the sun came out, I have been heading out mornings and afternoons with just the 400-800. It is so, so versatile. With a Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Card in my a-1 ii I head out with only a single extra battery in one pocket and my paint brush in the other (for removing sand from my gear). Best of all: no tripod ever! The f/8 aperture takes some getting used to but the 400-800 focal length versatility and 800mm at the long end are a tough combination to beat.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After months of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please click here to order yours or send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
What’s Up?
Thursday morning was a rare treat with still water, sweet light, incredible reflections, and skimming skimmers providing lots of action. The wind howled from the south that afternoon as the huge blastoffs of mostly migrating Common Terns continued just before and after sunset. Friday morning could not have been more different than Thursday morning as the strong south wind continued; it was hard to believe that I was in the same place.
Today is Friday 29 August. Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
This image was created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 534mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +1.7 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 1600: 1/60 second at f/7.1 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 6:17:15am on a clear morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer pink striking blur
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Coastal Flooding Pond Finally Pays Off Big Time
Two of the three coastal flooding ponds at Nickerson Beach have receded to nothing and next to nothing. The western-most pond still has a few acres of water. The forecast for Thursday morning was for sunny with a wind from the northwest (bad). But, when I arrived, there was little to no wind. The surface of the large pond was smooth as glass. Early on there were no birds. A whisper of a breeze came up from the northeast and kissed my right ear as I was looking to the southwest with the sun behind me (fabulous). Some birds, mostly skimmers, flew into the pond. Conditions were perfect with mirror-like reflections. With only a slight wind, the skimmers were skimming in all sorts of directions. But I had dozens of great chances and a few of them paid off nicely.
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 685mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 6:47:35am on a then sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Black Skimmer skimming
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Skimming Skimmer Autofocus Challenges
Skimming skimmers are a very tough challenge for any autofocus system in part because it is difficult to discern the dark eye in the birds black cap. And when the birds are skimming sideways, that is, parallel to the back of the camera, the system may grab somewhere on the wings rather than on the eye or the bird’s head. Lastly, splashing water about the head will often interfere with eye tracking. Though not every a- ii image will be sharp on the eye, Wide AF/C nailed the eye with this one.
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 490mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/3200 sec. at f/7.1 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 6:50:44am on a then mostly sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: Black Skimmer skimming splash
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Mirror-Like Reflections
With chilly mornings with northwest winds, the weather since Vasili left has has been more like October than August. By being relentless and getting out every morning regardless of the forecast poor conditions, you will often be rewarded by a stunningly beautiful and productive morning.That was the case for me on Thursday!
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/3200 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop in error) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:02:26 am on a then mostly sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #4: Laughing Gull post breeding molting > winter plumage floating
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Sony 400-800 G Zoom Lens
The Sony 400-800 G Zoom lens was the perfect choice for what turned out to be a fantastic morning. Yes it is on the slow side at f/8 at the long end and yes, it is on the heavy side — less than a pound lighter than the 600mm f/4, but the 800mm of reach, the 400-800 focal length versatility, and no need for a tripod make it hard to resist for a visit to the beach on a Sunday morning. Here, in order from shortest to longest, are the focal lengths used to create what I see as today’s very fine ten-image collection: 462mm, 490mm, 534mm, 685mm, 745mm, 755mm, 790mm, 800mm, 800mm, & 800mm. Had I brought the 600mm f/4 I would have been encumbered by a tripod and would have clipped at least 2 excellent images. If I had opted for the faster, lighter by 2/3-stop 200-600, I would have been on the short side for seven of the photos.
The long end of the 400-800’s focal length range is ideal for creating static portraits as even when you are standing, the angle of declination to the subject is decreased. On Friday morning, I grabbed the lighter 200-600 in hopes of skimmer blastoffs but as they never materialized I wound up wishing that I had brought the 400-800.
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 745mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600: 1/4000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:03:47am on a then sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #5: Black Skimmer screaming dive
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Crazy Black Skimmer
Over the course of the last week, I have been seeing a skimmer acting crazy, twisting and turning and flying upside down. I am not sure if it is always the same individual or if there are a few of the loonies around. It is easy to spot them but they fly so fast and erratically that it is almost impossible to get them in the frame. I managed to get two frames of the bird on Thursday morning; Image #5 was the best of the two.
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 462mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/4000 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop in error) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:05:35am on a sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #6: Black Skimmer perfect pano reflection
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Perfect Pano Reflection
I am pretty sure that I have never before created an image with such a perfect reflection. If I lightened the bird in the water a bit and turned the image upside down, I am not sure it you could tell which side was up and which side was down. Such opportunities are extremely rare. My favorite rig did not fail me.
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 790mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600: 1/3200 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:17:48am on a sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #7: Common Tern with Sand Eel
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Not Many Sand Eels This Summer
There have not been a lot of birds flying in with Sand Eels for their chicks this summer. As below, Sand Eel populations fluctuate widely. Adapted from AI Overview:
Northeast Sand Eel (or Sand Lance) populations in the Western North Atlantic are known to fluctuate. While populations have historically been abundant, they are often found in the Gulf of Maine and along the continental shelf, with abundance closely linked to predator presence and food availability. Spawning occurs in fall and winter over sandy bottoms, with larvae carried by currents to coastal waters, where they transform into juveniles and burrow into sand to avoid predators.
Fisherman and others might enjoy learning more about Sand Eels in the article here.
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 755mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/4000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:23:40am on a sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #8: Black Skimmer posing after bath
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Striking a Handsome Pose
I made many perfect side shots of this skimmer where the bird (and its reflection) were perfectly parallel to the back of the camera. This image, however, in which the bird is angled slightly toward me with its head held high, was my favorite of the series.
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/4000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:25:45am on a sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #9: American Oystercatcher flapping after bath
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Getting in the Right Spot
I pride myself in being in the exact right spot most of the time by recognizing changing situations better than most. There were three other photographers enjoying the fabulous morning. When the skimming action slowed, I alone moved left and closer to a group of skimmers that had landed on the edge of the big pond. I made Image #8, got some good photos of bathing skimmers, and when several oystercatchers landed behind the small skimmer flock, I created a long series of the bird in Image #9 flapping after its bath; the last one was the winner!
This image was also created on 28 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1250: 1/4000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:55:53am on a sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #10: Herring Gull adult swimming pano
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Under-Appreciated Gulls
Gulls are under-appreciated by most photographers. I love them for many reasons: they are common, often approachable, and make great practice subjects. Herring Gull is by far the most numerous gull in the northeast. Before the NYC garbage dumps were capped, Christmas count HEGUs numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Over the past few decades, their numbers have been reduced significantly. The worn adult in this image is looking a bit wet and bedraggled but I love the soft light and the soft reflection.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
In the last blog post I asked folks to rank the four featured images with their favorite image first. Here is my list: 4, 1, 3, 2. Apparently John Storjohann is my long lost twin brother as our preferences were identical. Image #4 really grew on me over the past few days.
What’s Up?
Tuesday morning was the worst of my trip with clear skies and a brisk NW wind. The research team was out early for their big annual chick capture (party) and banding program. If you care about the birds, it is tough to watch. Several dozen humans traipse through a large portion of the West Colony with huge four-foot tall nets on poles herding the skimmer chicks that cannot fly into what eventually becomes a relatively small enclosure where they are grabbed and processed. I stand by my statement that in just five minutes of the several hour long project the disturbance of the birds far exceeds the total disturbance caused by the hundreds of bird photographers who visit Nickerson Beach for four months each nesting season.
Afternoon bird photography sessions have been and continue to be excellent with strong winds from the west and mostly clear skies. Huge flocks of Common Terns (including large numbers of southbound migrants) have been blasting off every evening down the beach to the west just before and after sunset. Unfortunately, the next few mornings at least are all looking like the last two mornings — wind-against-sun 🙁 I may make a wiggle and visit Jones Beach on Thursday for a look around. Today is Wednesday 27 August 2025. One of the key lessons in the two recent blog posts detailing how to succeed with west winds on sunny mornings is to arrive very early to take advantage of sunrise color and a variety of backlit situations. You can visit them here and here. I followed my own advice this morning and was reward with some skimmers in spectacular color in a coastal flooding pool. On sunny mornings I have been working exclusively with my now beloved 400-800 zoom lens. Steve Elkins has several in stock and one of them has your name on it. Anyhoo, once the sun came out it was pretty much game over.
Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1-ii from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1-ii Info and Updates Group, a roughly $225.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Screen Capture #1: Black Skimmer chick with small snapper (baby Bluefish) just after getting fed by one of its parents
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
What to Do?
Would you have deleted this one because it is too cluttered?
I was set up for flight and doing OK when an adult skimmer with a baby Bluefish flew in just to the right of sun angle and fed its
youngster. There was no shot of the handoff as the chick was facing away but when it turned toward me and separated from the adult I made a few images. The raw file for the best of those few frames is depicted in the screen capture above. As images of skimmer chicks with anything but silversides or Striped Killifish are rare, I decided to do some serious Photoshop on the image. See the results of my effort below.
This image was created on 25 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Seated on dry sand I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The Latest Greatest Flagship Body, the Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600: 1/4000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 6:52:10pm on a sunny afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer chick with small snapper (baby Bluefish) just after getting fed by one of its parents
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
The Image Optimization
As the image was made late in the day, it was a bit too yellow for my taste so the first thing that I did was lower the color temperature. Next I moved the adult bird in the background left in the frame to improve the compositional balance. I used the Patch Tool set to destination to move the bird left and down a bit and then used Content-Aware Fill to eliminate the original bird. I did the same thing to remove the other adult and its shadow. Removing the adult bird on the right frame edge required a bit more work. I used the Divide and Conquer technique to cut the bird into manageable sections; each of those was removed using Content-Aware Fill and fine-tuning was done with the Remove Tool. Then I executed the pano crop that I had envisioned from the get-go. Last was minimal beach cleanup. As noted previously, last week’s coastal flooding left many areas of nearly pristine beach.
The resulting photo illustration pleases me and is a lot easier on the eye than the cluttered original. The natural history of the moment has been persevered to some degree– a young skimmer received a small Bluefish from one of its parents.
Feel free to share your thoughts …
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized two years ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.
You can order your copy here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Since the storm surge died down and the sun came out, I have been heading out mornings and afternoons with just the 400-800. It is so, so versatile. With a Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Card in my a-1 ii I head out with only a single extra battery in one pocket and my paint brush in the other (for removing sand from my gear). Best of all: no tripod ever! The f/8 aperture takes some getting used to but the 400-800 focal length versatility and 800mm at the long end are a tough combination to beat.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After months of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please click here to order yours or send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
Your Call?
Here is today’s challenge: rank today’s four featured image by putting the strongest image first and the weakest last. Like this: 2, 1, 4, 3.
In the Last Blog Post
In the last post I asked folks to pick the two strongest and the two weakest. Here are my favorites: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10. Sorry, I could not get down to two. Though strong images, #s 9 and 11 were at the bottom of my list. One reader chose #9 as their favorite.
What’s Up?
Eighty-three year old multiple IPT veteran and friend Carlotta Grenier drove down from her home in Connecticut on Sunday morning. After leaving at about 4:15am, she met me in the Nickerson Beach parking lot at 5:45. Our morning began slowly but things heated up fabulously and we wound up photographing in partly cloudy conditions until well after ten. I cherry-picked 27 of fine images off her three flash cards. Each was made with her a-1 ii and her 200-600 G lens. I will be processing some of those and sharing the best of the best with you here soon. Along with a photo of Carlotta in action!
After coffee and brunch, she headed home with a brand new Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Card. No more changing cards in the field for her. When I put a Delkin 960GB card in my a-1 ii the counter in the upper left corner of the viewfinder shows 9,999 images left –it cannot count beyond 4 digits. The most I’ve shot in a morning session had ben 4567 images. As I headed back to my vehicle I noted that the counter in the upper left corner of the viewfinder still showed 9,999 images left. It is difficult to fill one of those puppies!
Large flocks of skimmers have moved onto the beaches in front of the two colonies and massive blastoffs have become commonplace. Many hundreds of skimmer chicks survived the coastal flooding and many are fledged and flying. Significant numbers of small chicks and late eggs did of course perish.
Today is Monday 25 August 2025. The big blast-offs continued early. Then it clouded over for a bit before the sun broke through for good at 7:40am. I found a winter plumage female American Avocet in one of the large coastal flooding pools and then several juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers and an adult White-rumped Sandpiper in a small pool that shrank down to nothing in less then an hour as I worked the birds, trying for one good one of each species. I will be heading out at about 7:00pm today for tern and skimmer flock blurs at sunset. Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1-ii from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1-ii Info and Updates Group, a roughly $225.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created on 24 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing on the beach at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 495mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +2 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 125: 1/20 second at f/11 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 6:49:50am on a then cloudy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer flock blastoff
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Shutter Priority for Pre-Dawn and Cloudy Morning Blurs
When set up properly, updated Sony a-1 bodies and all a-1 ii bodies allow the user to quickly switch from Manual mode with ISO on the Thumb Wheel to Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO and Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Wheel. As noted here previously dozens of times, the latter set-up can be ideal for bird photography as long as you are working with backgrounds of relatively consistent tonalities. Before the sun rises and on cloudy mornings, the sky, the water, and the sand beaches are all light toned. Working at +2 or +2 1/3 stops will almost always produce excellent exposures with little to no chance of over-exposing any highlights.
I love this one because of the degree of blurring, the juxtaposition of the two flocks and the diagonal line of the front flock.
This image was also created on 24 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Seated low on damp sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/4000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:30:53am on a then partly sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Ruddy Turnstone in fresh juvenal plumage
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
400-800 Ease of Maneuverability
You are 100 times more mobile with a telephoto zoom lens than you are with a 600mm f/4 lens and a tripod. I saw this bird working the sand just above the berm, moved into position, and got down on the ground with the 400-800 without having to touch the sand with my hands, praying all the while that the bird would stay on or close to sun angle.
I love this one because of the low perspective, the sweet light, the sharpness, and the fact that the bird posed right on sun angle.
This image was also created on 24 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Seated on damp sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 630mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 3200: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:35:10am on a then cloudy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: Fledged and flying young Black Skimmer in fresh juvenal plumage
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
So, So Handsome
As the young skimmers continue to grow, they become quite handsome. As their wings lengthen, they become stronger, more adept fliers, attain a sleek, slim attenuated look, and bear small resemblance to their former stubby chubby selves.
As it clouded over, we set up near a practically unblemished stretch of clean sand, smoothed and scrubbed perfectly by coastal flooding. Several adult and young skimmers flew a short distance into the SW breeze and landed on our perfectly planned backdrop. This handsome youngster was the bomb. Moments after this image was created, it took flight. Thanks to Pre-capture I got several nice leaning forward/wings partially raised frames, but when it lifted off I did not zoom out quickly or wide enough and clipped a zillion wings.
I love this one because my plan paid off. And I love the super-clean background and the streamlined, sleek look of the very handsome your skimmer.
This image was also created on 24 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Seated on damp sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600: 1/1000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 9:25:29am on a then cloudy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #4: Juvenile Laughing Gull beginning molt to first winter plumage
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Exit Strategy
Just before we got to the walkway to the parking lot, we spotted several gulls on one of the flooded beach pools. We opted to work the juvenile Laughing Gull. The three grey feathers on its back are the beginning of its molt to first winter plumage. In a month, the bird will sport a grey saddle of feathers on its upper back. I opted to go super low for this one so as to include the distant snow fence with some beach vegetation in the background.
I love this bird-scape because of the bird’s spiffy plumage and the clever image design that includes the out-of-focus snow fence and the beach vegetation.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
After clicking on each of today’s fourteen featured images (including one by student/friends Steve Shore and Vasili Chernishoff), be so kind as to leave a comment as to what you think are the two strongest images and the two weakest images. From where I sit, the former will be a challenge while the latter seems obvious. Or not. There is only one way to tell …
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post, I was absolutely ecstatic when I saw Steve Shore’s backlit image of the skimmer chick digging a scrape. My first pick, however, was clearly Vaisili’s predation image. It is miles better than any similar image that I have ever seen or created. The blue feather shafts, the wings and the two legs sticking out of the gull’s maw, and the chick’s fluffy white belly put this one far over the top for me.
Nickerson Beach Park was closed on Thursday and again on Friday morning due to coastal flooding from Hurricane Erin. It was the 11th Category 5 storm in the Atlantic basin since 2016. On Thursday we headed to the beach in front of our AirBnB in Long Beach to photograph gulls early and then surfers. There were only a few of the former but more than a hundred of the latter as there were lots of 10-foot and taller waves.
Friday afternoon was excellent at Nick as the sun returned along with a SW wind. Saturday morning was wind against sun but we did quite well by arriving early and getting some nice backlit stuff. I was headed back to my SUV by 7:00am but found two good situations along the way that kept me busy for more than an hour. As is often the case on weekends, there were several folks with $20K+ of photo gear who had zero clue when it comes to creating decent bird photographs. Best of all, one of them told me how easy it is to photography birds as long as you have the best camera and the best lens. When I asked where I could see his images online he changed the subject. You gotta love it.
Today is Saturday 23 August and I am looking forward to another good afternoon with sunny skies and a SW wind. The beach at Nickerson is still mostly flooded but the water is receding. Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
I still have room at the AirBnB for you on the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $2299.00.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
by Arash Hazeghi, Ph.D., and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight: $99.00
You can check out four sample pages in the blog post here.
I had long dreamed of becoming a great flight photographer. When using dSLR gear, making sharp images was a huge problem. Most of the time, the camera bodies simply were not up to snuff. Things have changed dramatically with mirrorless technology. The high-end mirrorless camera bodies now feature science fiction-like autofocus systems and frame rates of 30, 40, and even 125 fps. Nowadays, getting the eye sharp is no longer a problem. The problem more often involves selecting the strongest image from a long series of sharp images.
The truth, however, is that there is a lot more than owning a Canon EOS R1, a Nikon Z9, or a Sony a-1 ii to consistently creating great photographs of birds in flight. Some of the biggest factors to success include gear choice, shooting strategies, and understanding the importance of sky conditions and wind speed and direction. Once you have the techniques and technical aspects down pat and can routinely create sharp images, learning the importance of flight poses, wing positions, backgrounds, and subject placement and image design enable you to create and then select superb flight images. And you guessed it, each of those topics and tons more are covered in detail in The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight.
The guide consists of 267 pages and 21,013 words. There are 82 illustrative photos scattered throughout the text, two screen captures, and a 112-image gallery that includes examples created by Canon, Nikon, and mostly Sony gear. As seen above, each of the 194 inspirational photos is labeled with an educational caption.
Arash Hazeghi, Ph.D. is a principal electron device engineer. He received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in 2011, from Stanford University, Stanford, California. His pioneering research on Carbon Nanotubes has been cited many times. In the past decade, Arash Hazeghi has been a major contributor to the research and the development of some of the most cutting-edge technologies introduced by Silicon Valley’s most reputable names including SanDisk, Intel and Apple.
More relevant here is that he is widely recognized as one of the world’s best birds in flight photographers. He specializes in raptors and the technical aspects of bird photography.
Flight photography is a skill that can be studied, practiced, and learned.
The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
By Arash Hazeghi Ph.D., and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
What you will learn (about):
1- Weight and handholding super-telephoto lenses.
2- Weight and handholding intermediate telephoto and telephotos zoom lenses.
3- Choosing the right flight photography lens or lenses for you.
4- The importance of focal length for flight photography.
5- The importance of lens speed (the maximum aperture for flight photography.
6- Choosing between fixed focal lengths and zoom lenses for flight photography.
7- The importance of AF speed and performance for flight photography.
8- Handholding tips and techniques.
9- Shooting flight off a tripod with the Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro.
10- Flight poses and wing positions.
11- Why artie changed his mind about the 400mm f/2.8 lenses for flight and more.
12- The advantages and disadvantages of using teleconverters for flight photography.
13- Why to stay away from off-brand lenses.
14- Understanding the importance of wind direction and speed for flight photography.
15- The relationship between sky conditions and wind direction and how it affects flight photography.
16- Creating flight silhouettes in wind-against-sun conditions.
17- The importance of being on sun angle for flight photography (and avoiding harsh shadows).
18- Tips on doing flight photography in cloudy, foggy, or overcast conditions.
19- About the direction of light in cloudy, foggy, or overcast conditions and how it affects flight photography.
20- How your understanding of bird behavior can dramatically improve your flight photography.
21- Tips on attracting birds for flight photography.
22- What to do when your camera’s AF system is temporarily blind.
23- The vital importance of pre-focusing.
24- How Direct Manual Focus can help you with flight photography.
25- The importance of shooting aggressively when doing flight photography.
26- Everything that you need to know with regards to rest positions for flight photography.
27- The importance of getting low when doing flight in many situations.
28- Getting the right exposure when doing flight photography.
29_ Why to use Manual mode 95% of the time for flight.
30- Tips on finding the bird in the frame, acquiring focus, and tracking the bird in flight.
31- How to set and best utilize your lens’s image stabilization feature (and why).
32- Setting the focus range limiter switch on your flight lens or lenses.
33- To choose the best shutter speed for photographing birds in flight.
34- The vital importance of pre-focusing. And yes, this is so important that it is on the list twice.
This image was created on 14 August 2025 by student/friend/multiple IPT veteran Steve Shore on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand, he used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1000: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 6:18:33pm on a sunny afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer in flight with snapper (baby Bluefish)
Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Steve Shore
Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Flight Photography Bar Has Been Raised
With dSLR gear, creating sharp-on-the-eye images of birds in flight was a big challenge. With today’s high end mirrorless gear, that is no longer the case. during every flight photography session, competent folks will create dozens if not hundreds of sharp images. Well let, razor sharp photos of birds in flight with pleasing wing positions are now a dime a dozen. For a flight image to stand out, your images need something special.
Like the baby bluefish in the bill of the skimmer in Image #1. When I was twelve or thirteen, I used to fish for (and catch) snapper blues off the docks near Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U. Until they built the Kings Plaza mall right there. Breaded and fried crispy the made a delicious snack.
This image was also created on 14 August 2025, this one by yours truly on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2500: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:30:29pm on a partly hazy sunny afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Black Skimmer braking during midair squabble
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
So What’s Special About This One?
It is rare to see a bird braking in flight (as if it were landing) when it is involved in a midair squabble.
This image was created on 18 August 2025 by student/friend/multiple IPT veteran Vasili Chernishof on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand, he used the handheld Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens (at 216mm) and the remarkable Canon EOS R1 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 2000: 1/2000 sec at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:42:46am on a partly cloudy morning.
Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: Black Skimmer in attacking mode
Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Vasili Chernishof
Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Super Sharp!
When I first saw Vasili’s image, I was impressed by the incredible sharpness he achieved with his 100-300 zoom lens. I cropped this one from a horizontal image and added canvas both above and below.
With many of the young skimmers outside of the colony ropes, we would grab a seat with the wind and the light behind us (when possible). Several skimmers would fly at us halfheartedly and present some good opportunities with short fast lenses. The good news is that unlike the Common Terns, the skimmers will never make contact with your head. If you ever get way up north, beware of the Arctic Terns; they will leave you bloody and bowed when defending their eggs and chicks.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #4: Adult Black Skimmer chasing juvenile Laughing Gull
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
Aerial Defense
Whenever a gull flies over the colony, one or more adult skimmers will take to the air to chase off the intruders that are always looking for a small chick as a snack, or a large chick as a meal. For Image #3 I replaced the attacking skimmer with one from another frame in the series.
This image was also created on 18 August 2025 by yours truly on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand I used the handheld (!) Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 3200: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 56:08am on a still-cloudy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #5: Juvenile Common Tern banking in flight
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
Juvenile Commons
August is a wonderful time to attempt to photograph young Common Terns in flight as nearly all the chicks are fledged and flying. Handholding the 600mm f/4 made it a bit easier to track and frame the bird as it turned in flight As I mentioned here recently, handholding the Sony 400-800mm lens so much has made me stronger. I can now handhold the big gun, the 600mm f/4 GM, for more than a few seconds.
This image was also created on 18 August 2025 by yours truly on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the and The Latest Greatest Flagship Body, the Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1250: 1/4000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 6:32:21am on a sunny afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #6: Black Skimmer adult in attack mode beginning dive
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
One Out of Two Ain’t Bad!
On warm, windy afternoons, you will usually encounter many dozens of midair skimmer squabbles. The Sony 200-600 is the ideal skimmer fight lens as it enables you to zoom out to include both battling birds in the frame of zoom in to pick off a single bird. Here I zoomed to 600mm and created a full frame image of one of the combatants as it dived on the skimmer below it. The optimized image is a tiny crop.
This image was created on 19 August 2025 by yours truly on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1250: 1/4000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:09:46am on a cloudy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #7: Black Skimmer screaming in flight/head portrait
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
Amazing Mirrorless Autofocus
I instructed both Steve and Vasili to keep shooting when a bird flew right at them and to try to keep the bird in the middle of the frame. Why? The autofocus systems on today’s best mirrorless camera bodies are capable of tracking a bird in flight so accurately that head shots of flying birds are realistically possible even as they approach point blank range.
This image was also created on 19 August 2025 by yours truly on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 800: 1/4000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:09:46am on a then partly cloudy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #8: Black Skimmer in flight with Striped Killifish for a chick
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
Full Frame AF Magic
It is hard to believe that the a-1 ii is capable of tracking a bird’s eye to the bottom of the frame even as the bird is practically filling the frame. When I was a Canon Explorer of Light, one of the original 55, I used to tell the folks in Lake Success that it would be great if we had an AF system that was science-fiction-like in its tracking accuracy. Today, the high end camera bodies from all three of the major camera manufacturer’s offer AF systems that come pretty darned close to what I always dreamed of.
This image was also created on 19 August 2025 by yours truly on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 800: 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:19:08am on a then partly sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #9: Black Skimmer group in flight
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
Group Flight Shots
The Black Skimmers at Nickerson will often blast off in large or small groups seemingly without rhyme or reason. My advice to Vasili was to frame a group, acquire focus, create a short series of images, and then repeat the process several times. When you are using a relatively large focusing area such as a zone or a group, or the full screen pattern, it is impossible to tell which bird in the group the system will focus on. Theoretically, it should always focus on the closest subject but don’t bet your life on that. And choosing a single point and attempting to get it on and keep it on a single bird while designing a pleasing image is 100% impossible. Thus, my advice to focus, frame, rinse and repeat. This strategy may rarely result in a pleasing motif as seen in Image #8 above.
This image was also created on 19 August 2025 by yours truly on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1250: 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:38:28am on a then partly sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #10: Black Skimmer midair squabble
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Real Deal
On this trip alone, I have created thousands of photographs of squabbling skimmers. I have the birds biting each other, kicking each other, and screaming at each other. Most of my successful images are the result of grabbing a bird from each of two images in a series and combining them. As with Image #3 above.
Only very rarely do you come up with an image where both birds are relatively sharp and nicely juxtaposed. Image #9 is one of those rare ones.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #11: Adult Black Skimmer shaking off water in flight after bathing
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/birds as Art
This image was also created on 22 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Seated on damp sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1250: 1/3200 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 6:39:37pm on a sunny afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #12: Common Tern taking flight after bath
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Perfection Never Hurts a Flight Shot
Super sharp, pleasing image design, sweet light, gorgeous blue water, a perfect raised wing pose, a good head angle, and zero underwing shadows make this a very strong image. Is it good enough to make my top two?
Why would this image have been worse if I had gotten lower?
Once I spotted the situation, Sony’s Zebra technology enabled me to nail the exposure without have to make a test image. This was the first from I created after I sat down. You gotta love it.
This image was also created on 22 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing in a foot of water, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 434mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2500: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open?) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:15:41pm late on a sunny afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #13: Juvenile American Oystercatcher in flight
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Pan Faster!
Universal advice for better flight photography: pan faster to keep the bird back in the frame. I panned too slowly when making this image so the bird was much too far forward in the frame. Thus, I needed to add canvas in front of the bird while cropping the image from behind. Me thinks that I did a masterful job with that …
This image was also created on 22 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Again, standing in a foot of water, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2500: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open?) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:20:11pm late on a sunny afternoon.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #14: Juvenile Black Skimmer in flight
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Juvenile Skimmers in Flight
Photographing young flying skimmers is a challenge as the usually do not fly very high in the air and their flight is quite erratic. With the right conditions, we should have some chances on fledged flying Black Skimmers skimming along the edge of the surf. At times, they will skim the sand for practice.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s two featured student images would you wish was yours? Why did you make your choice? Though I love both of them, my choice would be crystal clear. I will share that along with my reasons in the next post.
I’ve been saying for years that beginning and intermediate photographers with their high end cameras set up properly and a modicum of instruction can often create photographs that would be the envy of experienced professionals. Even those with 42 years of experience 🙂
What’s Up?
On Tuesday morning everything at Nickerson Beach was relatively normal. We had a good morning with skimmers and terns in flight — mostly sunny with a northeast wind. Though we had heard of the possibility of coastal flooding on Long Island, we were shocked when we got to the top of the boardwalk that afternoon; the beach had become a series of large saltwater lakes. By Wednesday morning, the water had receded somewhat. We set up behind a low snow fence and enjoyed a good session with flying and bathing terns and skimmers. On Wednesday evening beach access was denied and the entire visible beach was a huge saltwater lake. Both the East and the West colonies are several feet above sea level and hopes are that the majority of chicks have survived.
Today is Thursday 21 August 2025 and our plans are up in the air. Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
I still have room at the AirBnB for the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $2299.00.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1-ii from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1-ii Info and Updates Group, a roughly $225.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created on 19 August 2025 by student/friend/multiple IPT veteran Vasili Chernishof on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on damp sand, he used the handheld Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens with the Canon Extender RF 1.4x (at 840mm) and the remarkable Canon EOS R1 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 250: 1/4000 sec at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:57:25am on a sunny morning with a N/NE wind,
Image #1: Great Black-backed Gull swallowing Black Skimmer chick
Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Vasili Chernishof
Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Second Predation
As mentioned here previously, I had seen an adult great black-backed grab and swallow a skimmer chick about a week ago. On Tuesday morning, Vasili wandered down the beach and when he rejoined me, he had a big grin on his face. He had stumbled upon an adult Great Black-Backed Gull killing and devouring a Black Skimmer chick. In his own inimitable style, he created about 2,000 images in a very short time. Cherry picking from his card, I picked four of my favorites. The image above is a fairly large crop but the 24MP R1 files stood up nicely to having 75% of the original pixels eliminated. I was very proud of my student, envious of the opportunity he had, and thrilled that he had mastered the skills needed to take advantage of his great luck.
Important Note
If you have not studied and practiced and if your camera is not set up properly, it does not matter if you have the best gear in the world and are the luckiest bird photographer alive. But if you cannot make sharp, pleasingly designed images with acceptable exposures you will head home empty-handed.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Black Skimmer chick digging scrape
Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Steve Shore
Scrape Digging
Both male and female black skimmers participate in digging nest scrapes. While both sexes share this responsibility, males tend to do more scraping and create larger scrapes than females. After several scrapes are made, one is eventually chosen to be the nest. After the eggs hatch the chicks will begin to wander. For the first few days, the adult bird that is tending the chicks will create a new scrape and invite the chicks to brood beneath her. Rinse and repeat. By the first week, the chicks instinctually begin digging their own scrapes. In heavy used areas, it is not unusual to count several dozen scrapes in a ten yard square.
On the morning Steve created this gem, I was thrilled to get some nice stuff on an adult digging a scrape with the sand flying. When he shared his best chick image on the camera body’s rear monitor, I was both proud and envious. Since Steve’s bird photography has improved so drastically since Sebastian last fall, I am wondering how much the a-1 ii has to do with it …
I have found that eye-tracking for general bird photography with the a-1 ii is far, far better than with the original Sony a-1. It grabs the eye and tracks it faster and far more consistently and focus is rarely lost, even with backgrounds other than sky.
For birds in flight, the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body has no equal. As Arash Hazeghi says, “It is better than the a-1.” When I am late getting on a bird in flight, I have consistently been amazed at how often the AF system of the a-1 ii finds and tracks the bird’s eye.
When it comes to Pre-Capture with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body, Arash and I agree 100%. And with my slower reflexes, Pre-Capture is more important for me than it is for Arash. Understand that in each of the images in Composite #3, I did not push the shutter button until after the bird took flight!
I now own and use two Sony a-1 ii bodies. Every day that I use them, the more I am amazed by speed and accuracy of the Bird Face-Eye tracking in AF-C and the overall performance of the camera.
Aside from the improved ergonomics as compared to the a-1, other nice features include the fact that the rear screen tilts both ways — the lack of a tilting rear screen on the original a-1 always ticked me off. Pre-capture has proven to be a huge plus almost exclusively for take-off flight images. In my opinion, the Speed Boost feature is a total waste for bird photography because you should always be utilizing the maximum frame rate. In addition, the resolution on the rear monitor has been improved dramatically. I must mention again that Bird Face-Eye tracking on the a-1 ii is vastly improved as compared to both the a-1 and the a9 iii and that the 51MP files are to die for.
So, the big question is, is the a-1 ii “worth” a gear upgrade. Remembering that I can never know whether or not something is worth it to you, I can say that I was not floored when first using my a-1 ii. The differences between the a-1 ii and the original a-1, seemed to be neither huge nor eye-opening. But over time, I have come to realize that I was 100% wrong. The huge difference between the new camera body and the a9 iii is, of course, the 51MP a-1 raw files (as compared to the 24MP files rendered by the a9 iii).
The price of a new a-1 is $5,898.00. The price of a new a-1 ii is $1,100.00 more: $6,998.00. As the a-1 ii is clearly far superior for bird photography to the original a-1, the choice for folks new to Sony or for those upgrading from lesser Sony camera bodies is an easy one. Prices for used a-1 bodies has not dropped drastically as I anticipated. At this point, a-1 folks who like showing flight and action and can afford an a-1 ii, are advised to purchase an a-1 ii. Please remember that life is short; we only get one ride on the merry-go-round.
If you do purchase an a-1 ii, be sure to use one of my two affiliate links so that you will receive my a-1 ii settings (in the form of a CAMSEa1ii.DAT file), the Buttons and Dials Guide, and an Info Sheet for free. Using my links will never cost you one penny and may actually save you some money. Folks who do not purchase their new a-i using my B&H link or from Bedfords here and entering the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout will be able to purchase the a-1 ii guide for $244.93. If you are at all confused and do not want to screw up your order, please get in touch via e-mail. If you would like to chat about upgrading, shoot me a text to 863-221-2372 and LMK a good time to call you.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Vasili Chernishof is back in action. On his first morning at Nickerson with his Canon EOS R1, he created 17,867 images. On his second morning, 17,240. On his third morning, he slipped all the way down to 15,756 photos. I have not kept track of his afternoon totals. We continue to have good luck with Black Skimmers and chicks of varying sizes, Common Tern adults and fledged flying young, and adult and juvenile American Oystercatcher.
Today is Tuesday 19 August 2025. Vasili wandered off down the beach a bit and returned with photos of a Great Black-backed Gull devouring a medium sized skimmer chick. We will be heading out at about 6:00pm today for skimmer midair squabbles and tern flock blurs at sunset. Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
I still have room at the AirBnB for the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $2299.00.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1-ii from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1-ii Info and Updates Group, a roughly $225.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created on 13 August 2025 by yours truly on a wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on damp sand I used the foot-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +1 stop. AUTO ISO set ISO 1600: 1/2500 second at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 6:25:03am on mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer in the “Red Light District.”
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Pro Wind Against Sun Tip — Working the Red Light District
On sunny or mostly sunny summer mornings at the beach with a wind blowing at the sun, red light district opportunities are possible if you know what to look for. As soon as the sun comes up and hits the beach, you need a bird directly between you and the sun. And you need to get low, the lower the better. With a bit of haze or fog in the eastern sky, the color is intensified. Isolating a single bird can be difficult but doing so can pay big rewards. In this image, the rear end of the oystercatcher in Image #3 was removed from the frame.
Similar situations may be found at sunset on occasion.
This image was also created on 13 August 2025 by yours truly on a wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on damp sand I used the foot-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +1 stop. AUTO ISO set ISO 1250: 1/2500 second at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 6:25:07am on mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Black Skimmer taking flight in the “Red Light District.”
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Shutter Priority for Sunrises and Sunsets
As regular readers know, when working with sunrise or sunset color, I will often go from Manual mode with ISO on the thumb dial to Shutter Priority mode with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial and AUTO ISO. That provided there is no chance of a dark background causing gross over-exposure of the sky. Four seconds after I made Image #1, the skimmer took flight. Working at 1200mm with the lens on your insteps for flight photography is not recommended. But I followed my own oft-given advice and fired away when the action occurred. I created about a dozen frames. Not surprisingly, the wings were badly clipped in all but two of those.
Here is a tip that I offer on all IPTs: when a bird flying at you seems to be too large to fit in the frame, keep firing! You might get lucky, or very lucky as I did with Image #2. Though nothing was clipped in the raw file, I did expand canvas at bit left, below, and above.
This image was created on 13 August 2025 by student/friend Steve Shore on a wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on damp sand he used the flattened Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +1 stop. AUTO ISO set ISO 640: 1/1250 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 6:36:20am on mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: American Oystercatcher in the “Red Light District.”
Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Steve Shore
Good Students Listen
Steve Shore had been asking about the Red Light District for days so I was glad that we had a chance last Wednesday to get some practice in what turned out to be spectacular conditions. Kudos to him for listening to the instructor when I suggested that he work in Shutter Priority mode with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial and AUTO ISO. As he was on a tripod he went with 1/1250 sec. As the foot-pod technique is not as stable as a tripod, I went with 1/2500 sec. When my skimmer took flight, my choice of a higher shutter speed turned out to be perfect.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s two featured images best tells the story? Why?
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post everyone chose Judy’s soft light landing spoonbill as their top pick (and that included me as well). My second pick was image #1, the tern with its wings raised and the nice blue sky.
What’s Up?
Steve Shore made it safely back to Dallas on Saturday after spending seven days with me at Nickerson Beach. His photography has improved dramatically since Sebastian Inlet last fall. Vasili Chernishof arrived safely from Pasadena and arrived at the AirBnB even before we got back from our morning session that day. He will be here for eight days. We attended the Mets game at Citi Field last night, got to witness a great game, and saw Mets rookie pitcher Nolan McLean go behind-the-back to begin a wicked ending inning double play. His first ever major league appearance got him his first major league victory. Check out the smile on his face after he makes the amazing play below. And check out the smile on the face of Mets first baseman Pete Alonzo; he thought it was a pretty darned good play! The batter: not so much.
Today is Sunday 17 August 2025. Vasili’s first session went quite well, again despite the wind against sun conditions. We did lots of backlit flight. We will be headed to the beach at about 6pm for some more fun and learning. Whatever you opted to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
I still have room at the AirBnB for the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $2299.00.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
This image was created on 16 August 2025 on the second 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Standing on the beach, I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78 at 6.8mm. ISO 64: 1/480 sec. at f/1.8. 7:26:30am on a cloudy bright morning.
Image #1: Fledged and flying young Black Skimmer
Image Copyright 2025 by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART<
My First Instinct
My first instinct when I saw that the handsome and healthy young skimmer had been run over by a beach vehicle, most likely while it slept on the beach, was to go in tight with the I-phone and shoot straight down. Note the blood drops in the image above.
My first emotion was anger as such deaths occur pretty much every day. When I ask the research about preventing all driving on the beach in the vicinity of the colony I’m told that such a move would be impossible (for a variety of reasons mostly having to do with local ordinances. The number of vehicles on the beach seems to have been reduced over the years but there are still way too many — police cars, safety officers, garbage trucks, and beach cleaning machines are a common sight.
This image was also created on 16 August 2025 on the second 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Standing on the beach, I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78 at 2.2mm. ISO 40: 1/340 sec. at f/2.2. 7:28:29am on a cloudy bright morning.
Image #2: Fledged and flying young Black Skimmer run over by vehicle
Image Copyright 2025 by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART<
On Second Thought …
On second thought, I realized that a wide angle bird-scape might work well so I went to .5X. Note the three photographers sitting peacefully by the colony ropes in the top left corner of the frame (properly positioned for the cloudy skies and southeast breeze) as well as my unattended tripod on the beach. Note also the almost countless sets of tire tracks.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which two of Judy’s four featured images do you like best? Please let us know why you made your choices.
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post, my favorite image was the consensus pick, the pink sky Common Tern silhouette. My second favorite was one that did not touch anyone else, the young Great Black-backed Gull pano with the ghostly Common Tern with its wing raised.
What’s Up?
Photography at Nickerson Beach continues to be excellent. On Thursday morning, dozens of skimmer chicks of all ages moved out of the Easy Colony onto the open beach as they usually do at this time of year. We shall see on Friday if that repeats. I forgot to mention that on Tuesday morning Steve Shore and I witnessed an adult Great Black-backed Gull swallow a large skimmer chick whole. There will be lots more of that in the coming weeks.
Today is Friday 15 August 2025. We headed to the beach early. Steve experienced his first wind and sun together morning with a nice northeast wind and sweet gorgeous light. After five straight days of clear skies and southwest wind, he created more than 8,000 images with his handheld Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, either TC, and an a-1 ii. We will be headed to the beach at about 6pm for some more fun and learning. I still have room at the AirBnB for the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $1899.00.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created by Judy Stepenaskie on 9 August 2025 on the first 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand she used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens (at 428mm) and the impressive Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using the in-viewfinder histogram and confirmed after evaluation of blinkies on the JPEG. ISO 1000: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1. AWB at 7:46am on a sunny morning.
Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Adult Common Tern with Atlantic Silversides for chick
Image Courtesy of and Copyright 2024: Judy Stepenaskie
Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Judy Stepanaskie
Judy’s first IPT was Nickerson Beach in 2024. In the Judy Proves that Bird Photography is Not Rocket Science blog post here, I wrote:
Judy showed up barely understanding how to operate her Canon gear. After a 90-minute camera body setup session, a phone call to Dan Cadieux for menu help, and a bit of in the field instruction, she began making some excellent images. And she continued to do so for the next five days. When she got back home, she shared some of her images with her partner, Dave, and sent me this e-mail:
Hi Artie: I can’t believe it – Dave was looking at some of my pics and he said: “You never made pictures like this before”!!!
I can believe it. Bird photography is not rocket science. If you cannot join an IPT, be sure to study and bookmark the Improve Your Bird (and Nature) Photography By Leaps and Bounds blog post here. Judy has been working hard to improve. She attended a Stick Marsh IPT last March and came back to Nickerson Beach last week for another crack at the terns, skimmers, and oystercatchers.
This image was also created by Judy Stepenaskie on 9 August 2025 on the first 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand she used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens (at 400mm) and the impressive Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using the in-viewfinder histogram and confirmed after evaluation of blinkies on the JPEG. ISO 1000: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1. AWB at 7:54am on a sunny morning.
Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Adult Common Tern in flight straight down the lens barrel
Image Courtesy of and Copyright 2024: Judy Stepenaskie
Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART<
1- The lens does not feature internal focus; it gets longer physically as you zoom in and shorter when you zoom out.
2- Even when it is on the Smooth setting, the lens does not zoom smoothly. It is very sticky in one direction (but cannot remember which). At times I suggest that you need an oil filter wrench to zoom in or out.
Kudos to Judy for zooming out perfectly with her three Common Tern flight shots, especially this one as it is presented full frame, un-cropped.
The Pink Hotel
When you are working on sun angle at Nickerson Beach, you will often wind up with the old “pink hotel” in your backgrounds. In this image, it adds rather than detracts as it often does. The former Lido Club Hotel is now Lido Beach Towers, a high end condominium.
This image was also created by Judy Stepenaskie on 9 August 2025 on the first 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand she used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens (at 324mm) and the impressive Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using the in-viewfinder histogram and confirmed after evaluation of blinkies on the JPEG. ISO 500: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1. AWB at 8:23am on a sunny morning.
Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Juvenile Common Tern looking down in flight
Image Courtesy of and Copyright 2024: Judy Stepenaskie
Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART<
R6 II Photo Mechanic Alert
If you use an R6 II and opt to capture in HDR PQ, Photo Mechanic will not be able to render your images; you will not be able to view them.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. PQ stands for Perceptual Quantization. Select [HDR shooting ]. Select [Enable]. On the screen during shooting and playback, converted images are displayed so that that resemble how the images would look on an HDR display device. HDR PQ settings do not affect the raw file so turning this feature On makes zero sense to me. Judy had no idea how it got activated on her camera.
This image was also created by Judy Stepenaskie on 28 March 2024 on a Stick Marsh Extended IPT. Seated on on a milk crate, she she used the handheld Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z lens (White) with the Canon Extender RF 1.4x (at 280mm) and the impressive Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using the in-viewfinder histogram and confirmed after evaluation of blinkies on the JPEG. ISO 5000! 1/1600 sec. at f/4.. AWB at 6:24:57am on a hazy morning.
Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #4: Roseate Spoonbill landing
Image Courtesy of and Copyright 2024: Judy Stepenaskie
Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART<
Lessons Learned Well
More kudos to Judy for purchasing the RF 70-200Z lens and the RF 1.4X TC just for Stick Marsh. Kudos to Judy for not being scared of ISO 5000. Kudos to Judy for selecting a reasonable shutter speed in low light conditions, and for creating the lovely spoonbill image featured above.
Note: the first Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens did not accept either teleconverter. I commented at the time of its release that that made zero sense to me.
Which two of today’s nine featured images do you like best? Please let us know why you made your choices.
Please note that to better guide you, the nine images are arranged by time of capture (without regard to the date).
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post here, I loved both of the avian images but if I could have kept only one, it would be the bird-scape, Image #1. I love the placement of the bird, the relatively soft light, the nest image design, and the included beach vegetation. IMHO, Patrick Sparkman’s comment put a smile on my face. That and my response are worth reading.
Nickerson Gear
I have been heading to the beach most sessions with my new love, the Sony 400-800mm G Lens. On some afternoons, I grab only the 300mm f/2.8 lens with both TCs in my beloved fanny pack. By Monday I had used the 600mm f/4 L GM lens only once, that in the afternoon. But the last two mornings I have headed out with the 600, both TCs, and my tripod. After shooting the backlit stuff on the tripod I grab the 600 and have been handholding it up and down the beach for feeding oystercatchers, flight, and more. The funny thing is that after doing so much handheld work with the relatively 400-800 I am much more capable of handholding the six! Go figure.
What’s Up?
Despite the continuing sunny mornings with south and southwest winds (bad), Steve and I have been doing quite well. In today’s post, the first of two parts, I share nine images from Sunday and Monday that can give you some ideas as to what to try when things are looking bleak because of wind-against-sun conditions. On Tuesday, Mr. Shore got a killer image of a backlit skimmer chick digging a scrape; you should be seeing it in the next blog post. This morning, we had some decent chances on getting a few red light district photos …
Today is Wednesday 13 August. We will be headed to the beach at about 6pm for some more fun and learning. I still have room at the AirBnB for the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $1899.00.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created on 11 August 2025 on another wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RCM-439 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod, 65/Wimberley MonoGimbal Head-supported Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Shutter Priority +2.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 1000. 1/30 second at f/8 (wide-open). AWB at 6:05:24am on a clear day before sunrise. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Wide/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Canada Goose flock blur (with one Common Tern)
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Number One Rule for Dealing with Challenging Wind-Against-Sun Conditions in the Morning
The first thing you need to do to have a chance when the forecast is calling for clear skies and west or southwest winds in the summer is to get out early, well before sunrise. This gives you chances for creating blurs and, if there is some color in the eastern sky, a few pleasing silhouettes. Some light clouds, fog, or haze in the east will often yield some nice sky color at sunrise, and, in addition, create opportunities for using gentle backlight. On dead-clear mornings, you have a chance for the Red Light District photos. We have been trying for those without success.
As folks who have been on an IPT and those who study the blog regularly know, I am a huge fan of using Shutter Priority with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Wheel for predawn blurs. I set that up on my a-1 ii so that I can be ready instantly when something interesting flies by. As with Image #1.
Keep reading for some additional tips on succeeding in wind-against-sun conditions.
This image was created on 10 August 2025 on another wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Seated on dry sand, I used the Robus RCM-439 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod, 65/Wimberley MonoGimbal Head-supported Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 5000!: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:54:55am on a sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Common Tern landing at nest site — peach sky silhouette
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Hazy Sunrises!
For traditional front lit flight photography, you want the wind and the sun behind you so that the birds are flying, landing, and taking off towards you. When faced with wind-against-sun conditions, the wind will be behind you and the rising sun in your face. Throw in some haze as we had on Sunday morning and you can experience some magical sky colors. Handheld flight with the handheld Sony 400-800 is a great option. But for some or many folks like me, your shoulders (my right) will feel it after a while.
On Monday afternoon I did a long flight session with the Robus RCM-439 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod, 65/Wimberley MonoGimbal Head-supported supported Sony 400-800. The funny thing is that the more I practice with that combination the more comfortable I become and the more successful I am. Go figure.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: Gently backlit Black Skimmer on two-egg scrape
Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Steve Shore
Knowing Bird Behavior Helps All the Time
After I spotted this two-egg clutch, we sat down about 20 feet from the scrape just as the sun was breaking though the haze. With the nest lined up with the sun, this provided the gentle backlight you see in Steve’s fine image. Once we got on the ground, the bird came back to sit on her eggs in less than a minute. With the southeast breeze, it was highly likely that the skimmer would be facing us as she nestled down. And that is exactly what she did. I love Steve’s choice of height perspective and background. I made about 200 images of this same bird but none were as good at Mr. Shore’s.
This image was created five seconds after Steve Shore created Image #3 (above) on 11 August 2025 on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600!: 1/400 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 6:34:19am on a sunny morning with a west wind.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #4: Black Skimmer on ridge with beach grass background
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Look for Subjects Facing the “Wrong” Way
This advice usually applies to birds in flight but is equally applicable when looking for subjects on the ground; for whatever reasons, birds do not always face into the wind. A universal tip for improving your bird photography is to get in the habit of checking behind you every once in a while. While Steve was creating Image # 3, I happened to look behind me and was surprised to see this handsome skimmer sitting on a ridge facing pretty much to the south rather than the expected southwest. I pointed the situation out to Steve and said, “All we need now is a slight head turn toward us.”
This image was created on 11 August 2025 on another wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 600mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600!: 1/4000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 6:52:09am on a sunny morning with some haze in the eastern sky.
Wide AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #5: Black Skimmer calling in flight — golden sky silhouette
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
A Bad Flight Wind Direction is Best for Silhouettes
As the sun was already about 15 degrees above the horizon, my directions to Steve were to look for birds flying above the grasses but below the sun. I added, “Though the sky there looks pretty white to us, there is a ton of gold in it.” The haze, of course, helps with the color.
This image was created on 11 August 2025 on another wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600: 1/1250 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:01:31am on a sunny morning with some haze in the eastern sky.
Wide AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #6: Black Skimmer attacking sleeping chick (not its own)
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Watch For Backlit Action
I turned back around too the gentle backlight and when an adult skimmer approached a chick to our left that had been sleeping in its scrape for more than half an hour. I swing the lens around just as the adult began whacking at the chick with its bill. Adult skimmers will instinctually attack and even kill chicks from other nests that wind up in their territories. I acquired focus and fired away before the check scooted. As the chick did not respond to the first few pecks, Steve, for a few seconds, thought that it was dead !
Had it been a bright sunny morning, this backlit image would not have worked because the contrast would have been too great. A little bit of haze never hurts!
This image was created on 10 August 2025 on another wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Standing in the shallow surf to stay close to sun angle, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/4000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:15:14am on a fully sunny morning.
Wide AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #7: American Oystercatcher with mole crab
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Look for Feeding Shorebirds in the Surf
Though foraging shorebirds are affected by the wind direction to some degree, they will at times feed, run, or pose parallel to the imaging sensor. With the morning high tides, we have been having a hard time with the oystercatchers feeding in the surf. Every time we approach a foraging family, they run up onto the beach above the berms before we even get near them. This was the first one we had any luck with. We did quite well on Tuesday morning on an adult with a handsome juvenile in the gorgeous white foam of breaking waves.
This image was created on 10 August 2025 on another wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Sitting on damp sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 715mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1000: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:23:35am on a sunny morning.
Wide AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #8: Great Black-backed Gull on berm at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Keep Looking for Subjects Facing the “Wrong” Way
Rather than looking to the southwest into the relatively strong breeze, this bird — for reasons unknown, stood facing southeast and thus, was perfectly square to the back of the camera. I made lots of frames in search of the best breaking wave. The ghost of a Common Tern with its wings raised was the icing on that cake!
This image was created on 10 August 2025 on another wind-against-sun morning on a Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Sitting on dry sand and facing into the wind, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 445mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1250: 1/3200 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:45:07am on a sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #9: Black Skimmer with Striped Killifish for chick(s)
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Look for Subjects Flying the “Wrong” Way (or Banking)
Later in the mornings when the backlight is too harsh, turn around, put the sun at your back, and see if you can get on a bird or two that is flying toward you. You need to be fast as the bird will be flying with the wind behind it and thus will be traveling much faster than birds flying into the wind. At times with wind against sun conditions, you can make some good images of birds turning in flight. To improve your chances for those, study the flight patterns carefully. And, with really strong winds blowing right in your face, you can always try for the back shots of birds braking to land. Though made on a cloudy day, the Common Tern landing away images in the blog post here (#s 6, 7, & 8), are superb examples of what you might be looking for.
Image #9 is not the greatest flight shot ever. The light is getting harsh and I do not like the placement of the horizon line. But it is a good example of what to look for when trying to create front-lit flight shots in wind-against-sun condition.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After months of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please click here to order yours or send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Super-Telephoto lens (the “old five”) with many Extras!
Avian audio recording expert Lang Elliott is offering a used Canon 500mm f/4L IS USM super-telephoto lens (the “old five”) in very good plus condition plus a ton of extras for a ridiculously low $1999.00. Included are a 1.4X III TC in near-excellent condition, a 2X II TC in near-excellent condition, the front leather lens cover, the lens trunk — sorry, no key), the rear lens cap, the original drop-in clear filter, a drop-in circular polarizing filter, a drop-in screw filter (with three ND lenses to choose from), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only. Your items will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
I owned, used, and traveled with “the old five” for many years back when I was a Canon Explorer of Light, one of the original 55. It was and is much lighter than all but the most recent versions of theCanon 600mm f/4IS lenses (and a lot smaller as well) and thus is a lot easier to travel with. It is a sharp lens and does just fine with either TC. With so many extras, Lang’s lens is an absolute steal. It does quite well with any of the high end Canon mirrorless camera bodies (with one of the RF to EF adapters). artie
Canon EOS 7D Mark II with Extras
Price reduced $50.00 on 11 August 2025
Good friend and many multiple IPT veteran Indranil Sircar is offering a Canon EOS 7D Mark II in excellent plus condition with several extras for a now ridiculously low $399.00 (was $449.00). The shutter count is 31001. The sale includes the Canon Battery Grip BG-E16 (a roughly $69.00 value), the original and one extra Canon battery (a roughly $50.00 value), the original box, the cables and software and manuals, the battery charger, the front body cap, Canon Remote Release RS-80N3 (a roughly $50.00 value) and insured ground shipping via UPS to lower-48 US addresses only.
If you are looking to get started with a Canon dSLR, Indranil’s 7DII is perfect for you. Both Patrick Sparkman and I used and loved the 7D Mark II bodies until about ten years ago when we both committed to using full-frame Canon bodies. We both made some truly great images with it. Two of my three 2016 Nature’s Best honored entries were created with the 7D II, one still, and one video. The 7D Mark II remains one of the greatest-ever values in a digital camera body. artie
What’s Up?
After grabbing Steve Shore at JFK on Saturday afternoon, we had a nice fish dinner at our Long Beach AirBnB and then headed to Nickerson. There was a gentle south wind and we did well with flight and skimmer chicks of varying ages. Sunday morning was tough with wind against sun conditions but the morning was saved when I found a tiny skimmer chick. With a brisk SW wind, Sunday afternoon was stellar for skimmer flight and midair fights.
Today is Monday 11 August and we will be headed to the beach early to face the morning wind-against-sun conditions 🙁 I still have room in the AirBnB for the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $1899.00.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
This image was created on 10 August 2025 on the first morning of the Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Seated on dry sand I used the foot pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1000: 1/3200 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:54:55am on a sunny morning.
Tracking Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: 3-day old Black Skimmer chick bird-scape
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Pulling One Out of the Hat!
With bright sun and a brisk wind from the southwest (wind-against-sun: bad), Steve Shore’s first morning was a challenging one. That after Judy Stepanaskie enjoyed three east wind mornings (wind and sun together: good). We took a long walk down the beach and found one un-banded American Oystercatcher catching mole crabs in the surf. While sitting trying flight photography with the wrong wind, we stumbled across a tiny skimmer chick.
When it nestled down 3/4 facing me in a small scrape to the right of a small stand of beach vegetation, I thought “bird scape!” 800mm with a small crop turned out to be perfect.
This image was created on 10 August 2025 on the first morning of the Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Standing at full height I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Focal length: 6.8mm. (iPhone 15 Pro Max back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78). ISO: 64: 1/12000 sec. at f/8.
Image #2: artie’s seated butt crawling tracks in the sand
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Very Arduous Butt-Crawl
Boys and girls, those are not sea turtle tracks. Honest. As described here previously, I put my rig on my lap and pushed myself forward with my hands. I got down at the starting point and somewhere along the journey created Image #1. The tiny chick kept moving west. One of the parent birds landed briefly near the chick several times and then flew off. From the starting point to “A” was about 15 yards. From “A” to “X” was about 12 feet. Sitting at “A,” I photographed the chick in a small scrape at “X.”
This image was created on 10 August 2025 on the first morning of the Nickerson Beach Extended IPT with multiple IPT veteran and good friend Steve Shore. Seated on dry sand I used the foot pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 1071mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1000: 1/1000 sec. at f/13 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:15:31am on a sunny morning.
Tracking Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: 3-day old Black Skimmer chick bird-scape
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Sony 400-800 + the 1.4X Teleconverter
On sunny days, the Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter is a viable combination. The results are incredibly sharp. I have used this combination previously but never got around to publishing the image. At least I do not think that I did. Please correct me if I am in error.
Was the Arduous Butt-Crawl Worth It?
This, perhaps, is the same question: which is the stronger image, #1 or #3? Why did you make your choice? Either way, a good bit of field skill was required to get close to the very small chick. Note that the “eye tooth” is still visible on the tip of the upper mandible.
The original pre-clean-up files for today’s two featured images
More Too Bad That They Do Not Award Nobel Prizes for Image Cleanup
I used my usual cadre of cleanup tools to clean up today’s images. Those primarily included the Patch Tool and the Remove Tool. I finished Image #1 by applying a 65-pixel Gaussian Blur that was painted in judiciously (I hope) with brushes of varying Opacities after the addition of a Hide All (Inverse, or Black) Layer Mask. While both results are quite impressive (he said modestly), the process is actually very easy to learn. All you need to do is master the use of a handful of Photoshop Tools.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
Sony 400-800 GM Lenses
Steve Elkins of Bedfords texted me yesterday and let me know that he has six of my favorite lenses in stock. To grab yours, click here and choose standard shipping. When you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Best of all, you will earn a free copy of the BAA Sony 400-800mm GM Lens Guide.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After months of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please click here to order yours or send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
Summer bird photography at Nickerson Beach is excellent.
Nickerson Beach 2025 Educational Opportunities
Please note that prices for both the IPTs and the ITF sessions have been reduced in an effort to attract new blood. Please e-mail for late registration discount info.
Breeding Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young.
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $1899.00.
Three afternoon sessions, three morning sessions, two brunches with Image Review & Photoshop sessions. AirBnB lodging and rides with the leader possible. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
Breeding Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young.
Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $449.00/per session
Available dates: AUG 10-31, SEPT 1-5, 2025. Please get in touch with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net (and please BCC birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) and/or via a text to 863-221-2372 with questions or to register.
Available dates: AUG 10-15 & 17-31, SEPT 3-5, 2025. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
Morning and afternoon sessions may be combined and multiple days of instruction are feasible.
Morning In the Field Instruction at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge may be available — 7/21-22/25.
Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they combine to affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- More than you could ever imagine.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Nickerson Beach in August is a bird photographer’s paradise. Clockwise from top left back to the center: Black Skimmer with tiny fish for chick (400-800 at 800mm); Great Black-backed Gull juvenile playing with seaweed (400-800 at 800mm); American Oystercatcher head portrait (400-800 at 800mm); Common Tern landing at nest with fish for chick (400-800 at 750mm); American Oystercatcher in fresh juvenal plumage (400-800 at 457mm); small Common Tern chick (400-800 at 800mm); Common Tern fledged flying young (400-800 at 800mm); Black Skimmer adult with needlefish for chick (300mm f/2.8 GM w/1.4X TC at 420mm); Common Tern on snow fence post at sunset (300mm f/2.8 GM w/2x TC at 600mm). Be sure to click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
From the First Three Days
After two pretty good cloudy sessions, conditions the last few mornings have been good: sunny with a northeast wind usually switching to east. A strong east wind has made sunny afternoons challenging. I’ve managed to make a few good ones each day and so did multiple IPT veteran Judy Stepanaskie who just waved goodbye. I will be heading to JFK in a few minutes to pick up multiple IPT veteran Steve Shore who is here for a week. Note that seven of the images in the composite were created with the Sony 400-800 GM, even those made in overcast conditions.
Nothing New
On a sunny Saturday morning, there were at least 20 bird photographers at Nickerson Beach. One or possibly two of them had a clue as to how to create a good bird photograph. Most everyone was shooting 90 degrees of sun angle. Simply put, they were not in position to create a pleasingly lit image. Every ne I am talking about was carrying gear that cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 or more. But, spend a few dollars to learn how to improve? Out of the question.
Scroll down to learn about joining me at Nickerson Beach before I head home in a month.
On our way back to the car I spotted a nice juvie oystercatcher just posing. I got on the ground to soften up the tire track background. Here comes a guy with a Nikon 600 on his shoulder walking right down the tire track toward my bird. I could have said something, but opted not to. Anyhoo, the guy, 100% oblivious, kept coming and of course flushed the bird I was photographing. He turned around and still standing, began to photograph a band adult AMOY on the beach. I got up, intentionally walked right in front of him, and flushed the bird. I was hoping that he would have something to say. But he did not.
Sony 400-800 GM Lenses
Steve Elkins of Bedfords texted me yesterday and let me know that he has six of my favorite lenses in stock. To grab yours, click here and choose standard shipping. When you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Best of all, you will earn a free copy of the BAA Sony 400-800mm GM Lens Guide.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After a month of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please click here to order yours or send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer on scrape with one of its two chicks
Wish That I Had Been a Bit Wider
This image was made on Friday afternoon as Judy and I sat by the colony ropes. After I pressed the shutter button on this one, I said to her, I just got a very good one!. I was right. I would have liked to have been a bit wider so as to include the complete shadow of the adult’s bill. But I love all the sharp detail that I got at 1200mm. I could have expanded canvas tried to re-create the shadow but opted to go to bed instead.
Too Bad That They Do Not Award Nobel Prizes for Image Cleanup
I used my usual cadre of cleanup tools to create a more pleasing image. Those primarily included the Patch Tool and the Remove Tool. I finished up by applying a 65-pixel Gaussian Blur that was painted in judiciously (I hope) after the addition of a Hide All (Inverse, or Black) Layer Mask. While the results are quite impressive (he said modestly), the process is actually very easy to learn. All you need to do is master the use of the Tools.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized two years ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.
You can order your copy here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
Summer bird photography at Nickerson Beach is excellent.
Nickerson Beach 2025 Educational Opportunities
Please note that prices for both the IPTs and the ITF sessions have been reduced in an effort to attract new blood. Please e-mail for late registration discount info.
Breeding Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young.
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $1899.00.
Three afternoon sessions, three morning sessions, two brunches with Image Review & Photoshop sessions. AirBnB lodging and rides with the leader possible. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
Breeding Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young.
Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $449.00/per session
Available dates: AUG 10-31, SEPT 1-5, 2025. Please get in touch with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net (and please BCC birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) and/or via a text to 863-221-2372 with questions or to register.
Available dates: AUG 10-15 & 17-31, SEPT 3-5, 2025. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
Morning and afternoon sessions may be combined and multiple days of instruction are feasible.
Morning In the Field Instruction at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge may be available — 7/21-22/25.
Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they combine to affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- More than you could ever imagine.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s four featured images is your favorite? Why? Is there one you would have deleted? Why?
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post most folks went with the calling Limpkin image for all the obvious reasons and that was my first choice as well with the skinny vertical caracara a close second.
What’s Up?
The most traffic that I had driving from Lorton, VA to Long Island after I got off the Auto Train on Tuesday was in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY. All on my mainly I-95 route was amazingly clean and green before I drove over the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, the Marine Parkway Bridge of my childhood. Thoughts of driving my bike along the Belt Parkway to look for Cecropia Moth cocoons and to fish under the bridge filled my head. And when I got over the bridge and turned to the east I remembered the first time that my Dad’s Mom, Grandma Selma, took me fishing. We caught several small Bergalls. They are also know as Cunners. They are usually considered a trash fish, but Selma took them home and fried them up for lunch!
Wednesday morning was cloudy and overcast. The stars of the morning were several American Oystercatcher families feeding along the surf with handsome pairs of chicks — the fledged youngsters were all un-banded. Most of this year’s Common Tern crop are fledged and flying. It seems that there are fewer Black Skimmer chicks than last year. I found some tiny ones and some fledged and flying. Multiple IPT veteran Judy Stepanaskie drove up from Philly and joined me at the AirBnB for an early dinner. On a hunch, I tried an out of the way spot and we were rewarded by finding some tiny skimmer chicks and several nests with eggs right by the ropes. The overcast weather continued but we did much better than I expected.
Today is Thursday 7 August 2025 and Judy and I enjoyed a productive morning session that began cloudy with a northeast wind and wound up mostly sunny as the wind switched to the east at about 15 mph. Early on,, we worked a small Common Tern chick that was very cooperative as well as some skimmers on both eggs and chicks. Then we headed east and had some good flight photography. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If you’ve been thinking of joining me at Nickerson Beach, please e-mail for late registration discount info.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Wide: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Brown Pelican Pacific race preening
A La Jolla Secret
Getting a sunlit pelican with a dark background is tricky. You need to be somewhat off sun angle and get as tall as possible to utilize the dark shaded cliffs as background. The results are always different and can be stunning.
This image was created on 17 January 2025 on the 2025 San Diego Extended IPT. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the and The Latest Greatest Flagship Body, the Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. Evaluative metering +1.7 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 125: 1/8 sec. at f/32 in Shutter Priority mode. Exposure determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Wheel. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect: AWB at 7:31:08am well before the sun came over the hills of La Jolla.
Lower center Tracking: Spot XS/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly.
Image #2: Brandt’s Cormorants leaving the wall
Dependable But Different
Early every morning at La Jolla, hundreds of Brandt’s along with a very few Pelagic Cormorants fly out from the nesting wall, sometimes en masse. I most often try to create pleasingly blurred motifs. Image #2 was created by combining two photos — one of the birds and one of the Pacific Ocean, and playing around with the Blending Modes. Both images were created at 1/8 second.
This image was created on 18 January on the 2025 San Diego IPT. Seated on damp sand and worked off the tilted read screen I used the foot-pod technique with the the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1600. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel; 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect: AWB at 7:09:56am just after sunrise at Coronado Beach.
Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly.
Image #3: Marbled Godwit distal rhynchokinesis
Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Distal Rhynchokinesis
Most long-billed shorebird species (Scolopacidae) worldwide have the amazing ability to bend the flexible tip of their upper mandibles upwards, as seen dramatically in Image #3. Distal rhynchokinesis has long been commonly associated with the deep probing feeding method. In 2007 Sora M Estrella and José A Masero reported for the first time the use and occurrence of distal rhynchokinesis in wild long-billed shorebirds feeding on small prey items suspended in water! Learn more about their discovery here.
Marbled Godwits are not easy in San Diego but I know the perfect spot to try for them in early morning light.
This image was created on 17 January 2025 on the 2025 San Diego Extended IPT. Seated on grass and dirt, I used the knee-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the and The Latest Greatest Flagship Body, the Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel. ISO 1250: 1/1000 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 4:01:53pm in the shade.
Wide: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #4: Wood Duck leucistic hen
Leucism in Birds
Bird leucism is a genetic mutation that results in a total or partial reduction of color in a bird’s plumage. The reduction of color in the bird’s plumage is due to an inadequate deposition or fixation of pigments only in the bird’s feathers. Other parts of the bird’s body have normal coloration. I like to describe luecistic (loo-si-stuhk) birds as mocha colored. This hen Wood Duck was quite tame and posed for the group on several afternoons.
Leucistic birds have the normal pigments and amount of melanin. The pigments are inadequately fixated or fail to be deposited properly in the feathers. This means that leucistic birds have a normal coloration of the eyes, bill, legs, and bare parts. Unlike albinism, which affects all pigments and results in pink eyes, leucism only affects the deposition of pigment in the feathers; the eyes typically retain their normal coloration.
The above was adapted in part from the Avian Report here.
San Diego offers an incredible variety of attractive avian subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of Brown Pelican. Clockwise from top left back to center: juvenile and sub-adult Brown Pelicans; Heermann’s Gull; Western Gull; Allen’s Hummingbird; Brandt’s Cormorant; Gadwall hen; Wood Duck drake; Willet; Brown Pelican tight flight. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
The 2026 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #1: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 8 JAN thru the morning session on MON 12 JAN 2026: $2599.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
San Diego IPT #2: 4 1/2 DAYS: FRI 16 JAN thru the morning session on TUES 20 JAN 2026: $2599.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $449.00/per session
Available dates: JAN 14 & 15 and 21-23 2026. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
AirBnB accommodations and ground transport with the leader are available for all IPTs and for all In the Field Instructional Sessions on a first come, first served basis. Please e-mail for details and information on personalized pre- and post-IPT morning sessions.
Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.
Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.
Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning, there is usually some excellent flight photography, at times with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego. Each IPT will include one or two duck sessions.
Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
The San Diego Details
These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon shoot. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Deposit Info
A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2024 San Diego IPT. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.
Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Peter Kes, friend of 3 decades and longtime BAA blog webmaster, is a brilliant IT (information technology) and computer expert. He is currently living on and running a Bushveld Farm in Dinokeng Game Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, RSA (Republic of South Africa) and is looking to re-locate. You can learn more about Peter and check out his impressive resume at his LinkedIn profile page here. You can contact Peter via e-mail.
Add Green Whenever Possible
I think that those words were first penned in the original The Art of Bird Photography. If you are doing bird photography, they are just as true today as they were three decades ago. As you view today’s three featured images, consider the use of green in the backgrounds and in the last two photos, note the placement of the line of demarcation.
Please do not be fooled by thinking that the placement of the line of demarcation is either “what it is” or is accidental. You change the placement of the quasi-horizon line by getting your lens a few inches higher of lower. But only if you notice it while designing the image.
Your Call?
Which of the three is the strongest image? Why?
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post that featured the Tricolored Heron/dragonfly images, most folks preferred the second image for a variety of very good reasons. I preferred Image #1 because of the elegant position and “pose” of the dragonfly that resulted in the photo having a lovely flow to it. In addition, I like the wider view in the first image. And I far prefer the background in the first image because the line of demarcation does not merge with either the bird’s bill or the dragonfly in it. And yes, Add Green Whenever Possible!
What’s Up
The Auto Train trip so far has been blessedly uneventful so far. We should be arriving in Lorton, VA a bit early at 8:30am I pay the $65 extra for Early Off — they guarantee that your vehicle will be among the first 30 off the train. I cannot say that I am lookin forward to the drive to Lido Beach. Google Maps shows it as “typically 4 hours 40 minutes to 6 hours 40 minutes.” In other words, you might hit some nasty delays. I will try to get out of the car every 90 minutes or so to loosen up. Throw in a stop for brunch and gas and I would be thrilled to get to my AirBnB by 6pm. If that happens and it is sunny with a west wind, I might actually head out to the beach to see how the birds are doing.
I did get lots of work done on the train. First, I consolidated all of my June and July 2025 images from Jacksonville, ILE, and Nickerson Beach (on my BILD visit). Then I did second edits on the three new folders along with Homer 2025. The result: I gained .15TB of space by getting from 4.75 TB available down to 4.9 TB available by deleting many thousands of pretty much perfect photographs.
I learned on Monday (!) that multiple IPT veteran Judy Stepenaskie was taking advantage of the late registration discount and will be joining me for the mini IPT; she is driving up from Philadelphia on Wednesday.
I still have room in the AirBnB for the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $1899.00.
Today is Tuesday 5 August 2025 and I have lots of driving to do. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
This image was created on 17 July 2025 on the North Field near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from my SUV, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 700mm) and the SONY a-1, (now replaced by The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2500: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:29:50am on a sunny morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane large colt about 4 months old.
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Sweet
Sweet early morning light, a distant background, the nice clean bill, and one of the (at least) two surviving lakefront colts combined here to create a dramatic head and neck portrait of the handsome young crane. How did zooming out for 800 to 700mm help with the depth of field?
Speaking of zooming with a super-telephoto lens, I will often go with the much slower Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) and leave the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens in the back of my SUV (or on the passenger side front seat). Why? Being able to fine tune the image design by zooming in or out adds tremendous versatility.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Crested Caracara on pier railing
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
A Rare Second Chance
With large piles of dead mayflies at the base of the pier, a pair of caracaras had been hanging around for several days. On the 18, I put my 1200mm rig on the monopod for the first time ever, and attempted to get in position for a shot by sneaking out from behind the corner of the small pump house just north of the base of the pier. I was too aggressive and both birds flew. Next day: same deal. Only this time I was much more cautious and poked my lens just out from the corner of the structure with me mostly hidden behind it. The second time was the charm.
Sharp at 1200mm at 1/800 sec. on a monopod is nothing to sneeze at. I leaned my right side onto the small building and took care to held as still as possible by bracing the lens against the corner of the structure. The Optcial Stabilization System OSS) on the lens and in the camera (IBIS) insured a sharp image in iffy conditions.
If I had been on the tripod I would have scared the birds for sure and gone home empty-handed. As much as I am not a huge fan pf monopods, there are certain situations when they cannot be beaten.
Why the tall, skinny crop? I do not like including the pier railing in an image unless it is absolutely necessary.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: Limpkin on pier railing calling
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Monopod to the Rescue — Again!
By no stretch of the imagination is the Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) a lightweight. When photographing birds, the battle is often waiting for the bird to do something neat. Or exciting. Or both. When head hunting handheld on the pier with the 4-8, keeping the shot frame indefinitely is an impossibility for me. Fatigue becomes a problem in about a minute. Oftentimes, the moment you take a break, the bird does something fabulous. So, when I begin to hurt, I need to lower the lens for a few seconds, raise it again, and the hope that something good happens. Rinse and repeat. With the lens supported by a decent monopod with the world’s best monopod head, I can wait all morning. On the morning of the 19th, the monopod was the right tool for a variety of jobs.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After a month of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
The summer doldrums continue but I manage to rustle up a good chance or two every morning. I spent most of Friday morning with a young Great Egret preening on The Perch II. I kept only a very few. Saturday morning was next to nothing. I kept only a few Limpkin images.
I’ve been using the 400-800 more and more every day. It pairs perfectly with either the 600mm f/4 GM and the 2X or with the 300mm f/2.8 GM bare or with either TC. The more I use it, the more I love it. If you decide to purchase one, be sure to use one of my two affiliate links to earn a free copy of the BAA Sony 400-800mm Lens Guide. Confused? See the info on the guide below.
On Saturday, I seriously began getting some stuff in a suitcase and getting my photo gear cleaned and organized my trip to Long Island. I take the Auto Train north to Lorton, VA on Monday afternoon.
Today is Sunday 3 August 2025 and I will of course be heading down to the lake early in search a miracle or two. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If you’ve been thinking of joining me for one of the two Nickerson Beach IPTs, please e-mail for late registration discount info. See here and scroll down for details.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created on 27 July 2025 as I walked the pier at the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 633mm) and the SONY a-1, (now replaced by The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600: 1/1600 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:36:52am on a sunny, hazy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Tricolored Heron adult subduing a Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps).
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Recovered!
When I accidentally formatted a card with eight days of images (some miraculous) while helping Pat Fishburne with her a9 iii menu, I was confident that I would be able to recover them. You are, however, always a bit edgy until you see them on your computer. Had I lost the images, the tricolored/dragonfly series was the one I would have missed the most. I kept 14 of about 350 of the photos that I created during the fifteen seconds that the bird was square to me. Depth of field and dragonfly position and pose issues were the main factors that separated the wheat from the chaff.
After jumping off the railing and grabbing the baskettail in midair, the bird posed perfectly (as above) and then turned away from me as it attempted to swallow its prey. It struggled for a minute until only the tip of one forewing was sticking out of a corner of its mouth. But, it could not get the insect down completely. Next, it choked it back up, and promptly dropped it into the lake! A lot of work with no gain.
Thanks Blair
I first met Blair Nikula probably 40 years or so ago on Cape Cod. He was doing shorebird surveys at Monomoy for the then Manomet Bird Observatory. I was doing the count at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in the mid-1980s. We were both friends with the renowned Red Knot expert Brian Harrington. Anyhoo, he took me out to Monomoy for a day of shorebirding and photography. Blair liked to go fast and I can still remember that kidney-pounding ride!
Over the years, Blair became a dragonfly expert. He kindly responded to my e-mail query as to the species in the bill of the tricolored:
Good to hear from you – I’m still an avid follower of your blog! All is well here in MA, except it’s too damn hot!
The dragonfly is a Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps). They generally fly at treetop level, well out of the reach of most predators (other than kites), but that’s a female (a “Princess” baskettail ;)) who apparently was about to lay eggs. You can see some the yellowish egg cluster at the tip of her abdomen in the second shot. Unlike most dragonflies that lay their eggs a few at a time, baskettails carry all of their eggs in one large cluster (or “basket”) at the tip of their abdomen (thus the name “baskettails”), before dropping them into the water all at once. This lady obviously got nailed before she completed her mission. But maybe some of those eggs dropped into the water and will survive – if they’re not eaten by fish, or frogs, other dragonfly nymphs, birds, or any of a myriad of other potential predators.
After I sent him a few more dragonfly images to identify, he suggested that I get a copy of Dragonflies of North America (Princeton Field Guides). He wrote, It is a superb field guide by Ed Lam (a fellow New Yorker) and was published late last year. It is quite simply one of the finest field guides to any group of organisms I’ve ever seen, and at only about $20 it is one of the all-time great book bargains.
This image was also and obviously created on 27 July 2025 as I walked the pier at the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 685mm) and the SONY a-1, (now replaced by The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600: 1/1600 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:37:06am on a sunny, hazy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Tricolored Heron adult subduing a Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps).
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Fourteen Seconds Later
Notice that the exposure was never changed during the bursts but that for this image, I did zoom in a bit (to 685mm).
Your Call?
Which image do you like better, #1 or #2? Why? Which background do you like better?
Image Rescue Programs
Several folks ask what programs I use for image recovery; I have two favorites:
Both work exceedingly well. I have previously tried other programs but found them too complicated. Both of the programs above are straightforward.
Image #2A: An unsharpened 100% crop of the “Tricolored Heron adult subduing a Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps)” image.
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Sony 400-800 Sharpness
Folks often ask me, Is the 400-800 G lens as sharp as the 600mm f/4 GM lens? As I work only on my MacBook Pro, I cannot see any differences at all. As you can see above, the 400-800 is capable of creating superbly sharp incredibly detailed images.
In this tight crop, you get a good look at the dragonfly’s yellowish string of eggs.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After a month of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
The summer doldrums continue but I manage to rustle up a good chance or two every morning. Wednesday yielded a few decent keepers: Snowy Egret, Black Vulture, and Anhinga. There was a big mayfly hatch on Thursday morning at the north end of the North Field. Eight young Great Egrets, an adult Little Blue Heron, two dozen White Ibises, and two dozen very shy Fish Crows feasted on the small but juicy tidbits.
I’ve been using the 400-800 more and more every day. It pairs perfectly with either the 600mm f/4 GM and the 2X or with the 300mm f/2.8 GM bare or with either TC. The more I use it, the more I love it. If you decide to purchase one, be sure to use one of my two affiliate links to earn a free copy of the BAA Sony 400-800mm Lens Guide. Confused? e-mail me for details.
I began packing for my trip to Long Island. I take the Auto Train north to Lorton, VA on Monday afternoon.
Today is Friday 1 August 2025 and I will of course be heading down to the lake early in search a miracle or two. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If you’ve been thinking of joining me for one of the two Nickerson Beach IPTs, please e-mail for late registration discount info. See here and scroll down for details.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created as I walked west on the pier at the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL: 29 July 2025 during the ILE summer doldrums. I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 553mm) and SONY A-1, (now replaced by The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2000: 1/2500 second at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:32:06am on a sunny, hazy morning.
Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Today’s Featured Image: Great Blue Heron flying away
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Great Blue Heron Pier Party
Early on Tuesday past, there was a young Great Blue Heron in the bay south of the pier. I made a few images with both the 400-800 and the 600mm f/4 with the 2X TC. When it flew up to the pier railing, I drove around the lakefront for a very few minutes but came up empty. So I headed back to the base of the pier. Not only was the handsome young heron still on the railing, there were four adult great blues farther out on the pier, all standing on the railing. I had never seen more than two before that. There was also a Great Egret, a Limpkin, several Anhingas, a young Green Heron, and a half dozen vultures. I took off my shirt to get some Vitamin D, put on my sun hat, and grabbed the 400-800. I created a variety of head and neck portraits of the young great blue and kept nearly two dozen of those (out of about 400). The best of those will be featured in a future blog post showing some of the options available when working a tame subject.
With the sun behind me and coming over my right shoulder, a brisk wind from the west was right in my face. On occasion, one or more of the GBHs (including the young bird), would take flight and re-alight on the railing farther out on the pier. With the lessons from Quintessential firmly in my head, I realized that there was a tiny chance of making a very good image as the bird flew away from me and braked to land. So I did exactly what I wrote and came up with one very special flight shot.
Note that zooming out to 553mm with my now favorite and most-used lens, the Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E), saved the day as the image as presented in nearly full frame. The a-1 did a fine job by getting the focus point on the heron’s neck; the distance took care of the depth-of-field so that the bird’s eye was sharp at the wide open aperture.
Continue reading to check out the advice that I followed.
Sample Page #1. Image copyright 2024: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, the senior author.
Page 254 of The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
Sample Page #1
Birds in flight that are flying away from you may at times provide spectacular views of the dorsal wing surfaces.
Image copyright 2024: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, the senior author.
Sample pages #2 & 3.
Pages 106 & 107 of The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
Sample pages #2 & 3
It is — for many reasons, imperative that you shoot aggressively when doing flight photography. If you wait for it to be perfect, you will usually wind up with nothing. That said, most of my flight sequences rarely consist or more than seven or eight frames; I do not blast away at specks and once the bird is past the light and flying away from me I quit shooting.
Image copyright 2024: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, the senior author.
Sample page #4
Page 108 of The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
Sample page #4
Sometimes you need to press the shutter button just in case the bird or birds turn back to look at you. The Great Egret above was flying directly away from me but turned abruptly when the gull grabbed the fish. With today’s featured image, the bird was landing and looking away. It raised its crest and turned it head because there was an adult great blue chasing it from below right. About and inch of the tip of the adult bird’s bill was in the original uncrossed frame.
Shooting flight aggressively can enable you to make images that on the surface, would seem impossible.
The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
by Arash Hazeghi, Ph.D., and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight: $99.00
I had long dreamed of becoming a great flight photographer. When using dSLR gear, making sharp images was a huge problem. Most of the time, the camera bodies simply were not up to snuff. Things have changed dramatically with mirrorless technology. The high-end mirrorless camera bodies now feature science fiction-like autofocus systems and frame rates of 30, 40, and even 125 fps. Nowadays, getting the eye sharp is no longer a problem. The problem more often involves selecting the strongest image from a long series of sharp images.
The truth, however, is that there is a lot more than owning a Canon EOS R1, a Nikon Z9, or a Sony a-1 ii to consistently creating great photographs of birds in flight. Some of the biggest factors to success include gear choice, shooting strategies, and understanding the importance of sky conditions and wind speed and direction. Once you have the techniques and technical aspects down pat and can routinely create sharp images, learning the importance of flight poses, wing positions, backgrounds, and subject placement and image design enable you to create and then select superb flight images. And you guessed it, each of those topics and tons more are covered in detail in The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight.
The guide consists of 267 pages and 21,013 words. There are 82 illustrative photos scattered throughout the text, two screen captures, and a 112-image gallery that includes examples created by Canon, Nikon, and mostly Sony gear. As seen above, each of the 194 inspirational photos is labeled with an educational caption.
Arash Hazeghi, Ph.D. is a principal electron device engineer. He received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in 2011, from Stanford University, Stanford, California. His pioneering research on Carbon Nanotubes has been cited many times. In the past decade, Arash Hazeghi has been a major contributor to the research and the development of some of the most cutting-edge technologies introduced by Silicon Valley’s most reputable names including SanDisk, Intel and Apple.
More relevant here is that he is widely recognized as one of the world’s best birds in flight photographers. He specializes in raptors and the technical aspects of bird photography.
Flight photography is a skill that can be studied, practiced, and learned.
The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
By Arash Hazeghi Ph.D., and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
What you will learn (about):
1- Weight and handholding super-telephoto lenses.
2- Weight and handholding intermediate telephoto and telephotos zoom lenses.
3- Choosing the right flight photography lens or lenses for you.
4- The importance of focal length for flight photography.
5- The importance of lens speed (the maximum aperture for flight photography.
6- Choosing between fixed focal lengths and zoom lenses for flight photography.
7- The importance of AF speed and performance for flight photography.
8- Handholding tips and techniques.
9- Shooting flight off a tripod with the Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro.
10- Flight poses and wing positions.
11- Why artie changed his mind about the 400mm f/2.8 lenses for flight and more.
12- The advantages and disadvantages of using teleconverters for flight photography.
13- Why to stay away from off-brand lenses.
14- Understanding the importance of wind direction and speed for flight photography.
15- The relationship between sky conditions and wind direction and how it affects flight photography.
16- Creating flight silhouettes in wind-against-sun conditions.
17- The importance of being on sun angle for flight photography (and avoiding harsh shadows).
18- Tips on doing flight photography in cloudy, foggy, or overcast conditions.
19- About the direction of light in cloudy, foggy, or overcast conditions and how it affects flight photography.
20- How your understanding of bird behavior can dramatically improve your flight photography.
21- Tips on attracting birds for flight photography.
22- What to do when your camera’s AF system is temporarily blind.
23- The vital importance of pre-focusing.
24- How Direct Manual Focus can help you with flight photography.
25- The importance of shooting aggressively when doing flight photography.
26- Everything that you need to know with regards to rest positions for flight photography.
27- The importance of getting low when doing flight in many situations.
28- Getting the right exposure when doing flight photography.
29_ Why to use Manual mode 95% of the time for flight.
30- Tips on finding the bird in the frame, acquiring focus, and tracking the bird in flight.
31- How to set and best utilize your lens’s image stabilization feature (and why).
32- Setting the focus range limiter switch on your flight lens or lenses.
33- To choose the best shutter speed for photographing birds in flight.
34- The vital importance of pre-focusing. And yes, this is so important that it is on the list twice.
Miracle of miracles, after lengthy phone calls to Apple Care on Thursday, Friday, and Monday, my MacBook Pro arrived at ILE at 1:00pm on Tuesday. Though it took them long enough — 7 days in all, they did a great job of overhauling my laptop. All free with Apple Care.
I had an adventurous Monday morning. I was working on the phone with Pat Fishburne helping her with her a9 iii menu. She wanted to copy her settings in case she screwed anything up. So I grabbed my 400-800 with an a-1 on it. Just for fun, I hit Playback and checked out a few of the wonderful images I had made during the past eight days. As noted previously, I had a single Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Card in each of my two camera bodies. Anyhoo, the first step for Pat was to grab an old card, stick it in the camera, and Format it. “I worked through the process while looking at the Menu on my camera. And, despite the fact that I had just finished looking at the images on the card, “demonstrated” the steps for her on my camera. A minute later during a lull in the conversation, I hit Playback again and was aghast to see “No Images.” I had deleted more than 2,000 images from my recent laptop less morning sessions. Those included the tricolored with the dragonfly.
How could I possibly have done that? Like a plane crash — I have been binge-watching Air Disasters for the past ten days, several things (2 in this case) had to happen in the exact right order.
#1: I had to send in my laptop for repair. Thus, my regular workflow — shoot, download, pick my keepers, back-up twice, was disrupted.
#2: My brain was in “helping Pat” mode. In that mindset, I was not in any way aware of the fact that what I was doing would delete the images on the card in the rig that was in my hands.
The story has a happy ending. I used an Image Rescue program called EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro and in less than ten minutes had recovered all the images. I back up the laptop once I had recovered the images, formatted the card, copied the entire folder back to the card, and Ingested the images with Photo Mechanic so that they would be place in the proper Month/Day/Year folders with the location, “Indian Lake Estates,” affixed to the file name. Then I Ingested the other cards I had used before I came up with the 960 Black plan. Working like a madman after my swim I edited eight day folders with well more than fifty five hundred images in them. I kept 286 after the first edit, a keeper rate of slightly more than 1/2 of one percent.
One of the tricolored/dragonfly images was the pick of the litter. I will share it here in the next post.
In the last blog post, two out of three folks suggested cropping or otherwise eliminating the pelicans at the top of the frame. Doing either would upset the compositional balance and reduce the effect of the atmospheric perspective caused by the diminishing depth of field. (There might be a better term for this phenomena, but it is eluding me at the moment. Any ideas? Please leave a comment.)
Today is Wednesday 30 July 2025. I will of course be heading down to the lake early in search of yet another miracle. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If you’ve been thinking of joining me for one of the two Nickerson Beach IPTs, please e-mail for late registration discount info.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
San Diego offers an incredible variety of attractive avian subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of Brown Pelican. Clockwise from top left back to center: juvenile and sub-adult Brown Pelicans; Heermann’s Gull; Western Gull; Allen’s Hummingbird; Brandt’s Cormorant; Gadwall hen; Wood Duck drake; Willet; Brown Pelican tight flight. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
The 2026 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #1: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 8 JAN thru the morning session on MON 12 JAN 2026: $2599.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
San Diego IPT #2: 4 1/2 DAYS: FRI 16 JAN thru the morning session on TUES 20 JAN 2026: $2599.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $449.00/per session
Available dates: JAN 14 & 15, 2026. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
AirBnB accommodations and ground transport with the leader are available for both IPTs and for In the Field Instructional Sessions on a first come, first served basis. Please e-mail for details and information on personalized pre- and post-IPT morning sessions.
Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.
Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.
Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning, there is usually some excellent flight photography, at times with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego. Each IPT will include one or two duck sessions.
Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
The San Diego Details
These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon shoot. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Deposit Info
A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2024 San Diego IPT. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.
Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.
What’s Up?
Today is Monday 28 July 2025 and I will of course be heading down to the lake early in search of yet another miracle. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If you’ve been thinking of joining me for one of the two Nickerson Beach IPTs, please e-mail for late registration discount info.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
#1:Have you ever purchased a new Nikon, Canon, Olympus, or Sony camera body that came with a battery that could not be charged with the stuff that came in the original box? If yes, which one?
#2: The Sony a-1 ii costs $6,998.00 new. It comes with a double charger, Sony BC-ZD1 Battery Charger. However, no cord or plug is included with your purchase. (I did not notice until Friday past when I began setting up Alvin Stevens’ camera body.) I called Sony Pro Support to verify that I had not misplaced the cord. I was told that they no longer included a cord or a plug for the charger because “everybody has one and other companies are doing the same thing.” So, I asked exactly what was needed. First, I was told to purchase Sony Part Number 1-912-742-21 for $13.95. That cord is perhaps six inches long at most. I also encountered this notice: This item is currently out of stock until 08/06/2025 (or 9 days). But, this cord does not come with any sort of plug. So, I called back and was told to purchase a Sony 30W Fast charger XQZUC1/B- for $49.99. It comes with a cord that looked to be about six inches long (but nobody could verify that).
So, the question is, what are your thoughts on a $7,000 camera body that comes without a usable charger and requires you to make an additional purchase if you wish to charge the camera body?
What’s Up?
I was hoping to have my laptop back before this is published. I sent it to Apple in Memphis, TN by Fed-Ex on Monday 21 July. As I never look at or work my images on a desktop computer, I have been keeping all the images from my morning shooting sessions on Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Cards, one in each of my two Sony a-1 bodies. I am hoping to get laptop back very soon. As always, you can get in touch by e-mail. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
The last two mornings have been typically slow but with (at least) one miracle per session. On Saturday, I ran into a very handsome, ridiculously tame Black-bellied Whistling Duck. After getting out of the car and making head and neck portraits with the 400-800, I stood up, went back to my SUV, and switched that for the 600mm f/4 and the 2X TC so that I could create some nice head portraits. On Sunday, I photographed a handsome adult Tricolored Heron in the bay south of the pier. Every time it ran to grab a tiny fish it either ran away from me or ran well off of sun angle. After a bit, it flew to the pier and landed on the railing. Long story short, I grabbed the 400-800 and walked right up to the bird. Amazingly, it snatched a medium sized dragonfly out of midair. It had trouble swallowing it breakfast so I created several hundred images. I am, as always, hoping for one really good one.
Today is Monday 28 July 2025 and I will of course be heading down to the lake early in search of yet another miracle. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If you’ve been thinking of joining me for one of the two Nickerson Beach IPTs, please e-mail for late registration discount info.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
This image was created on 5 July 2025 at Hueguenot Memorial Park, Jacksonville, FL. Standing at full height I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1600. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel; 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was 1/3 stop short of dead solid perfect: AWB at 6:47:51pm on a cloudy afternoon.
Manual focus trick performed perfectly. Learn more below.
Image #1: (Handsome) Royal Tern chick on crowded beach with terns, gulls, and pelicans.
Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Bird-scape Tips
1- Always focus on the closest bird.
2- In a perfect world, the closest bird will have something special about it, a neat pose, or in this case, a handsome plumage. I call the plumage of this young royal “checkerboard.” It is my favorite of the many, many variations.
3- Whether you are shooting horizontally or vertically, always place the closest bird in a corner of the frame.
4- Work wide open so that depth is added to the image as focus falls off with the distance.
A Handheld Bird-scape Focusing Trick
As noted above, focusing on the closest bird is of utmost importance; that is why it is #1 above :-). For years I have always moved a small focusing point so that it falls right on the (small in the frame) subject and attempted to focus actively when making a short series of images. This is much easier to say than to do — especially when handholding. If the lens moves a smidgeon, the selected AF point will fall of the subject and focus will be thrown off.
I say often that every time I am in the field (in other words, pretty much every day recently), I am striving to learn or figure out something new. One afternoon at Huguenot I had a revelation. While creating the bird-scape above I got tired of struggling with the focus. So, with the smallest AF point in the middle of the frame, I focused on the handsome bird and then reached up and turned the AF switch to M. Standing in the same spot — I did not need to be terribly precise at all as depth of field at a distance is large, I simply reframed the image and made a few photos. All of them were sharp on the subject bird. And, if your camera is set up for focus peaking, the subject will be overlaid in whatever color you have set in the menu. In my case, red.
If you are handholding, why will this trick work only with distant subjects?
I’ve used manual focus before for bird-scapes when working on a tripod but never realized how effective it can be when handholding (until recently) :-). If you have already tried focusing when creating handheld bird-scapes, I tip my hat to you.
Bird-scape?
If you look for a formal definition of the word bird-scape, you will come up empty. Why? It is one of the many bird photography terms coined by artie in his 42-years of doing what he loves.
Summer bird photography at Nickerson Beach is excellent.
Nickerson Beach 2025 Educational Opportunities
Please note that prices for both the IPTs and the ITF sessions have been reduced in an effort to attract new blood. Please e-mail for late registration discount info.
Nickerson Beach 3 Day Mini IPT: WED AUG 6 afternoon thru the morning session on SAT AUG 9, 2025: $1899.00.
Three afternoon sessions, three morning sessions, two brunches with Image Review & Photoshop sessions. AirBnB lodging and rides with the leader possible. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
Breeding Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young.
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $1899.00.
Three afternoon sessions, three morning sessions, two brunches with Image Review & Photoshop sessions. AirBnB lodging and rides with the leader possible. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
Breeding Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young.
Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $449.00/per session
Available dates: AUG 10-31, SEPT 1-5, 2025. Please get in touch with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net (and please BCC birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) and/or via a text to 863-221-2372 with questions or to register.
Available dates: AUG 10-15 & 17-31, SEPT 3-5, 2025. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
Morning and afternoon sessions may be combined and multiple days of instruction are feasible.
Morning In the Field Instruction at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge may be available — 7/21-22/25.
Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they combine to affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- More than you could ever imagine.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I had been hoping to have my laptop back before this was published. Not. They told me by phone that the part had arrived and that “they were working on it,” but that has not been reflected
on the My Support page. I guess my best hope now might be Tuesday …
As I never look at or work my images on a desktop computer, I have been keeping all the images from my morning shooting sessions on Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Cards, one in each of my two Sony bodies. When I finally get to download and view the images, it will be like X-mas and Chanukah combined as despite the summer doldrums, I have had one or two very good opportunities every morning. Last week I had a first-ever July kingfisher and my second ever for ILE Black-crowned Night Heron. I spotted the latter bird on the pier railing just before sunset on a cloudy afternoon.
As I have access to webmail on one of the two office computers (mega-annoying!), you can get in touch as always via e-mail. Or call or shoot me a text: 863-221-2372. Huge thanks to multiple IPT veterans Pat Fishburne and Sandra Calderbank for getting an a-1 ii from Bedford, and new-comer Alvin “Red” Stevens for getting his from B&H. All using my affiliate links of course. The world’s lightest and best ever for bird photography camera body has been in stock at both places for about a week or more. Both Pat and Red opted to have their new bodies shipped to me so that I can set up their camera bodies. Sandra will be dealing with the .DAT file on her own. There will be lots more on Red at some point. All will receive the a-1 ii Buttons and Dials Guide and the INFO sheets via e-mail so that they can begin using their cameras that same day and start making great images.
Today is Saturday 26 July 2025 and I will of course be heading down to the lake early to see if I can make a good image or two. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on an Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025) in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh mid-March 2026, please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
This image was created on 15 July down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Crouching low, I used the handheld Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel — ISO 2000: 1/80 second at f/16 (stopped down 5 stops) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was 1/6 stop short of perfect. AWB at 7:46:15am on a then cloudy morning.
Tracking Spot XS (moved toward the bottom of the frame)/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Mayflies on sand beach
Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Long Time No Use
I brought the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens to Jacksonville in hopes of a mega sunrise or some incredibly huge thunderheads. No dice there. When I turned onto the sand beach south of the pier on Tuesday morning past, my SUV was enveloped by clouds of mayflies. There had been a large hatch just before dawn. I am not sure why I grabbed the 12-24 but I did and made several dozen images with it. I made lots of quasi macro images like the one above and tried some wider images as well. None of them thrilled me. But Image #1 at least does a decent job of telling the story of the hatch.
This image was also created on 15 July down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel — ISO 2000: 1/1600 second at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 9:08:15am on a then partly cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed well. Click on the image to enjoy an inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Snowy Egret swallowing mayfly
Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
The Plan
Seeing a grackle and a crow on the railing of the pier chowing down on mayflies, I grabbed the 400-800 in hopes of getting some images of the birds gobbling down the juicy winged insects. I got one decent frame of the crow with two mayflies in its bill but a less than ideal head angle. Seeing a Snowy Egret foraging for breakfast along the shoreline, I got back in my vehicle and approached the year-old wading bird. I moved my SUV several dozen times up and back on the beach trying to stay on sun angle as the sun peeked in and out.
After more than a half hour. I finally had a few good close chances as the egret’s slender bill snatched mayfly after mayfly. I was hoping for one good one.
In addition to the crows and grackles, a handsome pair of Crested Caracaras along with numerous cranes chowed down on the decaying and some more recently hatched mayflies for more than a week.
A Two-Frame Stitched Pano
I had gotten a few. In my very favorite frame, Wide AF had failed to track the snowy’s eye and focused on the middle of the upper mandible instead. I noticed that two frames back ( _DSC5181), the bird’s head was in a similar position with sharp focus on the eyes. After painting a Quick Mask of the sharp eyes and the top of the lores I moved the new layer into position on the base image (_DSC5183). First I warped the selection so that the position of the eyes matched and then refined the mask with Regular Layer Mask. That done, I did some extensive cleanup on lores and the proximal upper surface of the bill.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
