Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Flight Potpourri and Flight Photography Tips

I always wanted to be a very good flight photographer but for the most part, dSLR autofocus was not quite up to snuff. Thus, I am grateful to be alive at a time when mirrorless AF technology has made astronomical strides. And, as most of you know, I firmly believe that Sony has led the way and currently offers the very best system for those like me who are passionate about photographing birds. If you enjoy the tips that accompany today’s eight featured flight photographs, you will surely want to purchase a copy of The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight by Arthur Morris and Arash Hazeghi. Click the link or scroll down for details.

Your Call?

Be sure to click on each image to enlarge it. Study the light, the wing position, and the flight pose. Then leave a comment letting us know which two of today’s flight shots you think are the strongest and why you liked them.

ps: What do you think of the two headless flight shots?

What’s Up?

Tuesday was that kind of day. When I arranged Bob Eastman’s flight from Minneapolis to San Diego, I mis-typed his birthday :-(. After driving six hours through freezing rain he made it to the airport. Twice he was red-flagged and sent back out through security. On his third attempt, with his third boarding pass, he finally was able to get on the plane. The good news is that though the plane was a bit late, it did not crash — Bob is deathly afraid of flying.

On Sunday I ordered an iPhone 17+ to be picked up at the Verizon Store in Fashion Valley in San Diego. Easy, right?

I hit the sack at 7:30pm on Monday, woke at 12:30, and could not get back to sleep for a while. I had the alarm set for 3:30am. I finally did fall asleep and woke at 3:00. I noticed that my old iPhone was dead. I put it on the charger but it would not charge. Jim got me to the airport in plenty of time and my flight was uneventful. I met Bob and we picked up a big SUV and drove straight to the Verizon Store. A nice lady named Sandra located my order and my phone and handed it to me, and I was good to go. Almost.

I had gotten online on my laptop and was checking e-mails when an e-mail arrived from Verizon with this Subject line: You have successfully cancelled your order. What??? Nearly two hours later I walked out of the store but my phone would not activate perhaps because of the “cancelled” order. I was only 15 minutes late for my appointment with Dr. Cliff Oliver. We discussed my recent blood work results and best of all, he and his S-O Annie managed to charge my old phone and get my new phone activated. Bob and I had a great dinner at Beaumont’s in Pacific Beach (PB) and by the time I got back to Cliff’s all of my data had downloaded from the cloud. So, a happy ending.

Today is Wednesday 7 January 2026. Bob and I will be headed to La Jolla to check on the cormorants and the pelicans this morning. We pick up multiple IPT veteran and great friend Kevin and his S-O, Colleen, at SAN just before lunch. Kevin’s North Dakota photography friend Nora and her husband Doug (a non-photographer) will be arriving at the AirBnB this afternoon for the first IPT. I will be setting up her brand new a-1 ii and teaching her to use it; that should take about ten minutes. Anyhoo, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Please remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com (and as discussed in yesterday’s blog post).

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.

This image was created on 30 November 2025 at Sebastian Inlet by yours truly. Standing at full height in the water at Northwest Cove I used the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted 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 1600: 1/4000 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:07:12am on a cloudy morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #1: Back Skimmer first winter in flight Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

In Low Light Put Your Teleconverters (TCs) in Your Fanny Pack

With some birds in the Northwest Cove, I never even thought about adding the 1.4X Teleconverter.

Joining the Flock Flight Tip

When you see a group of gulls and terns roosting on the beach or in shallow water and note that other birds are flying in to join them, position yourself with the wind behind you, strive to get as close to them as possible without flushing the flock, and then get to work!

This image was created on 30 November 2025 at Sebastian Inlet by yours truly. Standing at full height near the base of the South Jetty I used the 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 1.4x Teleconverter 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 in Manual mode. ISO 3200: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 9:29:20 am on a very cloudy morning. Center Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #2: Osprey emerging with Yellowfin Menhaden in its talons Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Know When and Why to Add the 1.4X Teleconverter

Rarely do I see anyone at Sebastian Inlet using a 600mm f/4 lens with the 1.4X TC in place. Rarely will you see me at Sebastian Inlet using my 600mm f/4 lens without the 1.4X TC in place? When you cannot get closer physically my firm belief is that it is far better to add the 1.4X TC to get more pixels on the subject than to shoot the bare 600mm and then crop.

This image was created on 19 December 2025 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing on the South Field 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. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/2500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:06:59am on a foggy morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #3: Bald Eagle in flight — dorsal view Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

When There’s No Light, Grab Your Fastest Lens

With dense fog, an f/2.8 lens was the obvious choice. As I can no longer hold the 400mm f/2.8 GM lens, the 300mm f/2.8 was the obvious choice. I exited the car and with a south wind, positioned myself to the south of the perch tree. When the bird took flight, I made a few nice frames. In the original frame, the eagle was flying away from the out of focus tree. You can see the complete image optimization in Volume IV of the Digital Basics IV Video Series.

This image was created on 23 December 2025 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Walking west on the pier, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (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 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:13:33am 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 #4: Tricolored Heron turning hard right in flight Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

You Must Always See the Bird’s Face. Or Not?

The word on the street is that in order for a bird photograph to succeed you must have a good look at the subject’s face and eyes. Except when you don’t.

This image was created on 26 December 2025 down by the lake near my home. Walking on the pier, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) and the and The Latest Greatest Flagship Body, the Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1250: 1/4000 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:23:52 am on a variably sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #5: Cattle Egret flying away

A Viable Flight Rig: The Sony 200-600 Plus the 1.4X TC

Thanks to Eugen Dolan who taught me at Sebastian Inlet last fall that the 200-600 with the 1.4X TC can be used for flight on sunny days. He led the way by example! For folks on a budget a used Sony a-1 with the 200-600 and a 1.4X teleconverter in your pocket can serve as their workhorse super-telephoto lens. Hello Bob Eastman! He is a prime example of a skilled bird photographer using only his trusty 200-600 and an original a-1.

This image was created on 2 January 2026 by yours truly by the boat ramp in the South Field. Seated in the front seat of my SUV I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens 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 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:31:44 am on a variably sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #6: American Kestrel female diving Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Find a Cooperative Bird

As mentioned recently, most kestrels are extremely skittish. If you even slow your car down a bit, they take flight. For whatever reason, this individual was quite tolerant. As I was positioning my vehicle, I assumed that the bird would take flight. It did not. I stayed with it for nearly an hour as it dove off the utility wire and captured bugs and spiders. It would dive down, grab something, and fly back up to the wire. I moved the car many times and this lady never once reacted.

Shooting Flight Off the BLUBB Ain’t Easy!

But for a very few seconds, handholding the 600mm f/4 lens is no longer a feasible option for me. But I needed the speed and the reach, so I rolled the window up and supported the lens on the BLUBB. Relying in part on Pre-Capture, I slumped down in the driver’s seat, half-pressed the shutter button, and fired when the bird dove off the wire. After it hit the ground, I would sit up and try to get on the bird as it took flight. Not easy at all so I was surprised that I was able to make a few decent images. I got one nice one with a spider in the bird’s bill that I will share with you here at some point.

Though some may disagree, I feel that it is best to set the Direct Manual Focus switch to OFF when working on the BLUBB to avoid the possibility of throwing off the autofocus.

This image was created on 4 January 2026 by yours truly down by the lake near my home. Seated in the front seat of my SUV I used the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 500mm) 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 160: 1/60 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:40:47 am on a very foggy morning. Tracking: Zoone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #7: Cattle Egret taking flight blur Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Understanding the Wind

On Sunday past, there was thick fog with a NW wind. I spent an hour with a foraging flock of Cattle Egrets doing mostly flight blurs as they moved north time and time again in search of tiny gnats. The key was to drive a big circle around the flock and angle the car to the southwest so that the wind was behind me with the birds flying and taking off toward me as they always do. I created more than 1900 images and made one or two nice ones.

This image was created on 5 January 2026 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the front seat of my SUV that was positioned quite near the pier, I used 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. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:06:05am on a completely foggy morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #8: White Ibis juvenile taking flight from the pier railing Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Take the BLUBB Off the Door Frame for Handheld Flight

If I am going to handhold for flight (or action) with an intermediate telephoto or telephoto zoom lens, the first thing that I do is grab the BLUBB and place it on the front passenger seat. Why? The Big Lens Ultimate Beanbag is so large that if it is in place it will restrict movement and hinder your panning.

Understanding the Wind

This bird was perched on the pier railing just to the norh of my position. With a nice wind from the south, I knew that if it took flight it would not fly directly away from me. Again, Pre-Capture enables me to work these situations with great confidence.

This is a tight crop of the properly exposed raw file for Image #8. Image #8A: White Ibis juvenile taking flight from the pier railing Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Washed Out, Dull, Flat, and Lifeless

Properly exposed-to-the-right raw files should look washed out, dull, flat, and lifeless while exhibiting subdued colors at best. Especially those created in cloudy, foggy, or low light conditions. Exposing to the right ensures lots of detail across the board and the raw files are easily brought to life with just a few slider adjustments. The complete image optimization of this raw file will be detailed in Volume V of the Digital Basics IV Video Series.

This is a similar tight crop of the optimized .TIF file for Image #8. Image #8B: White Ibis juvenile taking flight from the pier railing Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Wow to the Eye Doctor Masking!

When I first brought the raw file into Adobe Camera Raw I was not convinced that this bird had the beautiful light blue iris. But when I painted an ACR mask with a small brush and moved the exposure slider to the right I could see a hint of blue. Next was to decrease the Color Temperature (cooler = more blue) and increase the Saturation. Next was to paint another mask and darken the pupil. Again, the complete image optimization of this raw file will be detailed in Volume V of the Digital Basics IV Video Series.

The title says it all. Purchase your copy here. 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.

You can purchase your copy here for $99.00.

Arash Hazeghi

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. Improve your skills by studying The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight

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.

You can see four sample pages in the blog post here. And you can purchase your copy here.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Your Call

Today’s two featured images are quite similar — each was created in the same second. They were the two keepers from a short series of about a dozen. If you like blurs and prefer one over the other, please leave a comment and let us know your reasons. If you hate all blurs, have a happy 2026!

In the Last Post

Huge thanks for all the comments in the last blog post and all the 2026 best wishes. Though I absolutely loved the Anhinga flight shot and was proud of myself for getting on that bird so quickly, the dancing crane fire-in-the-mist shot was my favorite by a small margin. In addition to the action and behavior I love the silhouetted vegetation (especially the spent flowers on the left side of the frame).

Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Your truly is offering a (barely) used Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Lens in near mint to like-new condition for the silly low price of $1,998.00. The sale includes the original box, the lens shade, the front cover, and insured ground shipping via Fed-Ex to lower 48 addresses. (Others please inquire.)

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372.

Ultra-Wide, Ultra Versatile

Comprising a range of ultra-wide fields of view, the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM is an E-mount zoom characterized by an impressively bright and versatile design. Ideal for landscape, nature, architecture, and interior applications, the lens’s constant f/2.8 maximum aperture and advanced optical design make it a perfect choice for working in difficult shooting conditions while still offering well-corrected imagery. As part of Sony’s esteemed G Master series, this lens is designed to achieve notably high resolution and sharpness through the correction of a wide variety of spherical and chromatic aberrations. Bright f/2.8 constant maximum aperture benefits working in difficult lighting conditions and also affords increased control over depth of field.
Nano AR Coating II has been applied to reduce surface reflections, flare, and ghosting for increased contrast and color rendering in strong lighting conditions. This updated coating is better suited for larger, curved elements and is especially adept at minimizing internal reflections.
Rounded nine-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality when employing shallow depth of field techniques. Sony & B&H

I am selling this lens because I rarely use it; I am a telephoto kind of guy. It is selling new for $3,248.00. There are used copies in lesser condition (9 – Minor surface marks) like this one for $2,585.95 and one in the same condition (10 — Good as new) here for $2,824.95. Get in touch with me today and save a handsome $1250.00 for my pretty much new lens. artie

What’s Up?

Three of the four College Football Playoff (CFP) games were heart-stoppingly exciting with the Ole Miss victory over Georgia taking the cake. And there are some great NFL games with playoff implications on the schedule both today and tomorrow.

Conditions were perfect on Friday morning — clear skies with a rare breeze from the southeast. The session began very slowly as my walk on the pier was totally unproductive. I almost gave up early but decided to check the boat ramp. I spent a wonderful hour photographing an American Kestrel in flight working from my vehicle at 840mm/f/5.6 with the 600 on the BLUBB! The bird was perching on a utility wire and then diving into the grass for bugs and spiders. I have tried this before but whenever I would stop anywhere near the perched raptor they would leave the scene. For unknown reasons, this female was quite accommodating. I wound up with several that I really liked — my best kestrel photos in nearly 43 years.

Today is Saturday 3 January. After heading down to the lake I need to start packing for San Diego. The second IPT is wide open and I have room for you at the AirBnB. We can do airport pick-up and ride with the leader so you would not need to rent a car. Scroll down to the bottom for details. As is usual when I am home, heading down to the lake well before sunrise to see what’s going on is at the top of the day’s agenda. I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Please remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com (and as discussed in yesterday’s blog post).

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.

This image was created on 31 December 2026 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing on the pier, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 264mm) and the 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 +1.7 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 125: 1/15 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. AWB at 7:18:00am before the sun rose over the woods 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: Boat-tailed Grackle/Cattle Egret pre-dawn blur Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

On Being Prepared

When you head out into nature to do some bird or wildlife photography, you must be ready to react almost instantly so that if something good, great, or amazing happens right in front of you you are good to go. Here are some simple suggestions that you should incorporate into your fieldcraft. Religiously.

1- Turn the camera on and leave it on until your session is done. I am amazed at how many folks turn their cameras off when they are not actively photographing “to save battery power.” I explain that if they turn off their camera every time that they are not shooting that in one decade they might save two cents worth of electricity while missing dozens of great chances while waiting the half second or so for their camera to boot up.

2- Be aware of what mode you are in, Manual or Shutter Priority. As the BIRDS AS ART Blog posts have shown for years (and most especially recently) that I will often work in Shutter Priority mode at sunrise and sunset and then switch to Manual (exposure) mode once the sun comes out or it brightens up considerably.

3- Before you head out, you also want to be aware and certain of your settings, most especially the chosen shutter speed, always step one in the process. If you are in Shutter Priority mode, make sure that you are in AUTO ISO and that you have chosen an appropriate shutter speed — slow for blurs, medium for static photography, of high for flight and action. Lastly in this mode you must be aware of the Exposure Compensation that you have set.

Once things brighten up and you switch to Manual (exposure) mode, adjust your settings for possible action by setting a fast shutter speed. For example, if I am walking the pier once the sun is out and their are Cattle Egrets on the railings, I will set 1/4000 sec. at wide open aperture with the ISO set for a bright white bird. If a darker subject flies by I will adjust for the tonality of the subject by raising the ISO or lowering the shutter speeds as needed.

With those three bases covered; you are ready to hit a home run when something special happens.

This image was created on 31 December 2026 (in the same second and four frames after Image #1, above) down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing on the pier, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 264mm) and the 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 +1.7 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 125: 1/15 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. AWB at 7:18:00am before the sun rose over the woods 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 #2: Boat-tailed Grackle/Cattle Egret pre-dawn blur Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Sometimes the Plan Works Perfectly

I generally peek out the door to my pool deck about 30 minutes before the time of sunrise. It is easy to tell if the sky is dead clear. If it is, I try to get down to the lake at least ten minutes before the time of sunrise as I know that the low sky opposite a clear sunrise — anywhere from northwest in the fall and winter and the southwest in the warmer months, will show a lovely palette of pink/purple/blue. This is the result of the low sky being in the earth’s shadow just before sunrise.

As I am driving down to the lake early every morning that I am home, I put a fresh battery in my a-1 ii and a Delkin 960GB Black CF Express Memory Card into card slot 1, view a few images to make sure I have downloaded the card and seen the photos on my laptop (and backed them up), and then format the card. Next I lower the ISO until it gets to AUTO, move the mode dial from M to S to get into Shutter Priority, set a slow shutter speed, and dial in +1.7 or +2 stops. If a nice flock flies through the pink, I not only know where I am but am confident that I am ready to create some nice pleasing blurs. I’ve done the exact same thing day after day after day, most days since I got back from Sebastian. Until the last day of the year, I had not been rewarded for my diligent efforts. I cannot say that any more :-).

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/4 openings. (AirBnB Sold Out)

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.

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 the second IPT. Please e-mail for details and/or to register.

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 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.

The San Diego Details

These IPTs will include five 3-hour morning photo sessions, four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and four working brunches (included) 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.

AirBnB Details

I have reservations for a wonderful AirBnB. I am able to cancel for free no later than 5 December 2025. Staying at an IPT AirBnB maximizes learning and allows for more time in the field. The cost of your private room in a lovely home will be $150/night. Explore the possibility of arriving early and/or staying on for additional photography sessions by getting in touch via e-mail. Brunch is on me. Dinners are provided for $25/day. I am an excellent chef and the food is both healthy and of high quality.

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 (plus half the cost of your lodging and meals) is required to hold your slot for one of the 2026 San Diego IPTs. 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 two months before the trip.

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.

On Choosing Happiness

In the What’s Up section that leads many blog posts, I often include something like this:

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.

It usually goes unnoticed. In a recent blog post, IPT veteran David Policansky left this comment:

Happy new year, Artie. I slightly prefer image #1 mainly because I enjoy rough seas and photos of rough seas. What made the green color? As for happiness being a choice, I understand the point, but there are situations in which happiness is very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. I know you have experienced situations where, at least for me, it would be very difficult to be happy. With love, Dr Fish

(Note: blog regular Maggi Fuller commented that she totally (and unfortunately) agrees with David.)

First off, thanks David for your comment and the new year’s wishes. The color of the ocean varies a lot depending on light angle, depth of the water (as noted by To Redd), and lots more. There was no sun at all that day.

As for choosing happiness, that is what The Work is all about. And they do not call it Work for nothing 🙂 Like happiness, choosing whether or not to do The Work is a choice. After my beloved wife and best friend Elaine Belsky Morris’ death from breast cancer in 1994, I was doing my best. That said, for seven years I chose to play the role of martyr. Yes, seven years. I would meet somebody on the beach and they would say, “Arthur Morris, BIRDS AS ART! How great!” Most to the time I would begin to sob, thinking, “The person who loved me the most is gone. How great is that?” Some time in 200 or 2001, Dr. Cliff Oliver, probably tired of hearing me cry on the phone, suggested that I go to The Work.Com website, print a worksheet –it’s free, and learn to do the work. I did, and it was not long after that that I quit sobbing and came to peace over losing Elaine.

Byron Katie Says

I discovered that when I believed my thoughts I suffered, but when I didn’t believe them I didn’t suffer, and that this is true for every human being. Freedom is as simple as that. I found that suffering is optional. I found a joy within me that has never disappeared, not for a single moment. That joy is in everyone, always. And I invite you not to believe me. I invite you to test it for yourself by clicking here.

In 2003, Katie wrote Loving What Is, introducing the world to The Work with the publication of Loving What Is. Nearly twenty years later, Loving What Is continues to inspire people all over the world to do The Work; to listen to the answers they find inside themselves; and to open their minds to profound, spacious, and life-transforming insights. The Work is simply four questions that, when applied to a specific problem, enable you to see what is troubling you in an entirely different light.

Artie Says

I firmly believe that happiness is a choice. In 2017, I was blessed to attend a 9-day School for the Work in Ojai, CA. I got to meet Katie, thank her for The Work and for helping me, and give her a hug. It was a truly wondrous and freeing experience, one that I will cherish as long as I live. Any time that you are pissed off, stressed, unhappy, angry, or sad, fill out a worksheet, answer the four questions, and examine the turn-arounds. Peace just might lie right around the next turn.

The first statement that I chose to hold up to inquiry was “Elaine should not have died.” I turned that around to “Elaine should have died.” Then I asked, could that possibly be more true than Elaine should not have died? Doing The Work, I learned that the turnaround to the opposite is almost always more true than the original statement. Why? Because the turn around is what actually happened, in other words, the turn rapid is the reality. That was the beginning.

Here is my very favorite Katie-ism: If you do not like reality grab both ears and bang your head against the Wall of Reality.

As noted above, you can print a free worksheet and learn to do The Work entirely for free by clicking here. Life is about choices.

My Call

As to the two Osprey images, there were some excellent and thought-provoking comments at the last blog post. I was thrilled to see a comment from Tom Schreffler whose e-mail to me inspired my comments on evaluating the work of other photographers in the A Baker’s Dozen. And the Usual Suspects, Also Plus One blog post here.

What’s Up?

I did quite well on Sunday morning with a Mottled Duck in the fog flapping after its bath. When the sun came out I made several nice tight shots at 1200mm of a Limpkin opening freshwater mussels and then chowing down on the meat. On Monday afternoon Jim e-mailed Volume IV of the Digital Basics IV Video Series to all subscribers.

Today is Tuesday 30 December 2025. It was 50° F at 8am with a 22mph WNW wind. With the wind chill, it was supposed to feel like 43* F, but it felt a lot colder than that. I should have headed home at 7:30am but stayed out till 8:15 and wound up with pretty much nothing. And yes, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. As above, 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.

This image was created on 28 December 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Crouching a bit I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens (at 280mm) with theSony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. TThe exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering -1.0 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 100: 1/5000 second at f/6.3 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops) in Shutter Priority mode. AWB at 7:59:25am just as the sun peeked through the fog. Tracking: Spot XS/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #1: Spider web with backlit dewdrops – wide Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Golden Backlight

It was totally foggy when I headed down to the lake at 7:30am on Sunday past. It was dead calm and the light was ethereal, especially as the sun struggled to get though the fog. Using the 70-200mm with either TC, I spent an hour doing quasi-macro backlit dewy spider webs and lily pad pattern shots. This was my favorite. I had left my Canon 180mm macro lens on the floor of the garage. Going with the super-versatile 70-200 allowed me total freedom as I did not need to use a tripod as I would have had to do with the 180 macro. I did my best to get parallel to the webs but they are never perfectly flat.

When the sun broke through the fog (barely) for a few minutes, I noticed its reflection in the South Canal. The key to the success of today’s images was crouching down so that I lined up the center of the web with the well-muted reflection of the sun on the water. In this and many similar instances, you will not see a whole lot of gold tones either through the viewfinder or in the properly exposed-to-the-right raw file. With experience, you will come to realize that the color is there waiting for you to bring it up during post processing.

Questions for Those Who Would Like to Learn

I created this image at f/6.3, stopped down 1 1/3 stops.

1- Should I have stopped down to f/16 (four full stops)?

2- If yes, why? If no, why not? (Remember that I was handholding …)

3- Would stopping down to f/16 have been feasible? (AGAIN, Remember that I was handholding …)

4- If yes, why? If no, why not?

This image was created on 28 December 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Crouching a bit I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens (at 280mm) with theSony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. TThe exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering -1.0 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 100: 1/5000 second at f/6.3 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops) in Shutter Priority mode. AWB at 7:59:25am just as the sun peeked through the fog. Tracking: Spot XS/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #2: Spider web with backlit dewdrops – cropped to a vertical Image courtesy of and copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Cropped to a Vertical

Image #2 is simply a tighter vertical crop of Image #1. Image #1 was a small crop of the original. I was able to crop without compunction because of the superb image quality of a sharp, 51MP a-1-ii raw file. In fact, this one was exceptionally sharp.

Your Call?

Which do you like best, Image #1, the wider version, or Image #2, the vertical crop of the same frame? Why?

70-200 Versatility

The 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are astonishingly versatile no matter what system you are using. All but the first edition of the Canon RF 70-200 f/2.8 do well with either teleconverter; this adds to their versatility. (Canon users are advised to purchase one of the two RF Z versions, the white one, the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens (White) or the black one, the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens (Black). Both accept either teleconverter.)

The Sony version II is a huge improvement over the original version as it offers with faster and more accurate autofocus with or without either TC. The lenses in this class are excellent for scenic and landscape photography, for pattern shots, for flowers, for quasi-macro — bugs, butterflies, dragonflies, and frogs for example, and for birds — bird-scapes, portraits, and for flight and action.

I use mine a ton for flowers at Indian Lake Estates, for Bald Eagle flight photography at Homer, and for the Brandt’s Cormorants in San Diego. The minimum focusing distances (MFDs) of this lens at various focal lengths are quite impressive. I believe that at 70mm it focuses down to 17 inches! The small MFDs allow for the quasi-macro stuff. Whenever I leave mine in my vehicle I usually wind up wishing that I had brought it along. If you are interested in the second San Diego 2026 IPT in mid-January (I have room at the AirBnB) or the Homer IPTs in February 2027, please get in touch via e-mail or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.

Check out the versatility of my Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens in these blog posts:

Franklin Flats, Homer Magic

Sometimes, I am Just Plain Lazy: 70-200mm Versatility, a Quasi-Jiggle Blur, and Captivated by a Beach Plant

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II Versatility (and Death) on the Beach

70-200mm Versatility is the Name of the Game at La Jolla

Sony 70-200mm II/a-1 (No Teleconverter!) Rocks La Jolla

e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Your Calls?

Which two of today’s five featured Pied-billed Grebe images is your favorite? Why did you choose them?

Which do you prefer — the grebes in the sun or the grebes in the shade?

My Calls

Thanks for all the comments on the 13 images in the last blog post. The consensus pick was the vertical Pied-billed Grebe and its reflection. Here are my top six (sorry) picks in no particular order:

1- The vulture tree sunrise for the sky color and the single bird landing.

2- The bathing Mottled Duck for the action, the spray, and the decent look at both speculums.

3- The perched juvenile Norther Harrier because of the soft light and the beauty of the bird and the bird.

4- The crane dismount because I stuck with the challenging situation and managed to pull out a single decent frame.

5- The Great Egret rain shower sunset for its uniqueness.

6-The caracara on the road kill for the low perspective.

Please note that I loved the other seven images as well.

What’s Up?

Opportunities during my morning photo sessions here at ILE have been pretty good recently yesterday, I had several chances with the perched juvenile harrier and made two very nice passerine images — a Palm Warbler with a juicy insect and a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher with its tail raised.

Today is Friday 26 December 2025. I will — of course — be heading down to the lake early. The forecast is calling clear and sunny with a slight NW breeze. 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.

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. To receive a free guide or free entry into a Sony Set-up and Info Notes e-Mail group, you need to shoot me your receipt via e-mail. The B&H receipts need to include the order number.

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 22 December 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and the Sony a-1 (now replaced by The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1600: 1/1600 second at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:07:47am on a sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Pied-billed Grebe floating in the sun Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Grebes

Grebes are specialized waterbirds which inhabit marshes and reed-fringed lakes. Virtually unable to move on land, they build floating nests and find all their food (arthropods and fish) in the water. Because of their total dependence on wetlands they are sensitive to changes in these ecosystems.

These ancient diving birds appeared suddenly in the fossil record around 23-25 million years ago in the Miocene, likely originating in the Southern Hemisphere. Extinct genera like Thiornis and Pliolymbus showed early diving traits, while modern grebes, with their unique leg placement and diving skills represent a highly specialized, isolated lineage from deep time.

All Grebes, especially the Pied-billed Grebe, are exceptional divers with remarkable buoyancy control, allowing them to sink silently like submarines to hunt prey or evade danger by trapping water in their feathers and expelling air, often disappearing with only their head showing before submerging completely. They propel themselves underwater with their powerful, lobed feet set far back on their bodies, making them agile underwater but clumsy on land. They can stay submerged for about 30 seconds, chasing fish, insects, and crustaceans, using their unique diving to hunt and hide effectively.

This image was created on 22 December 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and the Sony a-1 (now replaced by The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1250: 1/1600 second at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:12:16am on a sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #2: Pied-billed Grebe floating in the sun Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Pied-billed Grebe

The Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is a species of the grebe family of water birds primarily found in ponds throughout the Americas.

This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae in 1758 as Colymbus podiceps. Other names include American dabchick, rail, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, thick-billed grebe, and water witch.

Since the extinction of the Atitlán Grebe (Podilymbus gigas), the pied-billed has become the sole extant member of the genus Podilymbus. Atitlán Grebe was endemic at the Lago de Atitlán in Guatemala at an altitude of 1700 meters!
Outside of its own genus, the closest relatives of the Pied-billed Grebe are the small grebes of the genus Tachybaptus — the widespread Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) of Eurasia, Africa, and Australasia, and the Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus) of the Americas.

This image was created on 24 December 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1250: 1/400 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:03:16am in the shade of some large trees on a sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #3: Pied-billed Grebe floating in the shade Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Shade versus Sun

The pied-billeds in Images #1 & #2 were lit by the sun. Working in Manual (exposure) mode, the analogue scale showed +2/3 of a stop. The color balances were fine and the colors looked quite natural. The birds in Images #3, #4, and #5 were in the shade. The analogue exposure scale showed close to +2 stops. These images showed a distinct blue cast that was largely removed by increasing the color temperature during the raw conversion. ACR masks were used to lighten and further warm up the birds and to remove the remainder of the blue color cast especially from the wings of the bird in the rear of Image #5.

The masking feature in Adobe Camera Raw (in both Photoshop and Lightroom) allows making changes to the subject and or the background alone easy as pie. In Volume III of the Digital Basics IV Video Series. I introduced and detailed the use of a variety of ACR mask selection options including Subject, Background, Sky, Brush, and Linear Gradient. In the last two volumes I will cover creating Radial Gradient, Object (beyond amazing!), and both Color Range and Luminance Range masks. I have selected the six images for Volume IV and will create that video today.

The more I use and experiment with the Masking feature in ACR the more neat tricks I come up with.

Remember: when the sun is shining, your camera’s meter is fairly smart. In the shade, it is as dumb as a skunk. Also, the first step to correct the color of images created in the shade is to increase the color temperature during the raw conversion.

This image was created on 24 December 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1250: 1/640 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:03:43am in the shade of some large trees on a sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #4: Pied-billed Grebe flapping after dive Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Getting Lucky with Shutter Speed!

For the first 8 or ten images in the flapping sequence, I clipped the bird’s head as it rose unexpectedly and quickly from the water. When I finally got the bird centered in the frame without clipping the wings, most of the images showed enough motion blur on the head to ruin the photo. Because my shutter speed was not fast enough for intermediate action, this frame was the only keeper.

A better plan would have been to increase the ISO to 2000 and correspondingly raise the shutter speed to 1/1000 second. I did just that with Image #5 below but unfortunately, the horse had already left the barn.

Nearly Comprehensive YouTube Video Guide: Shutter Speeds for Bird Photography

View, bookmark, and study this 46-minute video and learn about choosing a suitable shutter speed for all types of bird photography — for static subjects, for flight, and for various types of action. Not to mention for creating the pleasingly blurred images that I love. There is so much info in this 46 minutes video that serious bird photographers will wish to bookmark it for study. Scroll down to see the succinct summary below.

For lots more on shutter speeds, see the blog post here.

This image was created on 24 December 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/1000 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:05:05am in the shade of some large trees on a sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #5: Two Pied-billed Grebes floating in the shade Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Two Bird Juxtapositions

When working with two birds in the frame, look for situations where the subjects are arranged pleasingly. Most times it is best to avoid merges. And unless the birds are virtually on the same plane, do not strive to render both birds sharp. That ain’t gonna happen with a telephoto lens if the birds are more than an inch apart. That the rear bird is out of focus adds a sense of depth to the image.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens with Extras!

Price reduced $1000.00 on 22 December 2025!
BIRDS AS ART Record Low Price (by far!)

IPT veteran Stan Driscoll is offering a Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens in near-mint to like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $7798.00 (was $8798.00). The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens strap, the lens trunk, the matching LensCoat, the 3.39 inch long 400mm Zemlin One Piece Lens Hood, the Zemlin Lens Cap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your new gear will not be shipped until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request by e-mail (as below).

Please contact Stan via e-mail or by phone at (910) 409-2362 (Eastern time).

I purchased my Sony 400mm f/2.8 three years ago to complement my 600mm f/4. Stan is selling his and downsizing to the 300mm f/2.8 GM because he is not getting any younger. Somewhat strangely, it is far easier for me to handhold the 4 ounces lighter, much smaller, and better balanced 400 f/2.8 than it is to handhold the 600mm f/4. The 400 f/2.8 is superb for large mammals and for flight with or without the 1.4X teleconverter. Being able to handhold this lens is a huge plus. That said, I use it a lot on the monopod for low light flight photography. And no matter the conditions, you can’t beat the f/2.8 Bokeh!

The Sony 400mm f/2.8 lens sells new right now for $13,399.00 at B&H and there are used copies in lesser condition there going for as high as $10,917.95 (here). Save an amazing $5,601.00 by grabbing Stan’s might-as-well-be-new 400mm GM lens right now. artie

The 400mm f/2.8 is great for birds, scenic photography, and mammals, especially the large ones for those who live out West.

This image was created on 16 November 2023 at Fort DeSoto Park. Seated on damp sand, I used the foot-pod technique with the hand held Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 600: 1/1250 sec. at f/6.3 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:10:17am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Snowy plover (probably worn first winter plumage) on lugworm burrow mounds

A Snowy Dreamy Plover

I have very little if any memory of creating this image. Last year, a dear friend from the Cape May, NJ days, Julian Hough, an expat Brit, asked me if I had this exact shot — non breeding, not an adult. He needed it for an article he is doing on Kentish and Snowy Plovers for his local Connecticut bird club journal. I found several old ones that fit the bill but was not happy with the quality. Then, I found this one. We were both thrilled.

If you enjoy really good writing, check out Julian’s blog here. He calls it Naturescape Images/The Anglo-American Birding of Julian Hough. The guest post, allegedly written by his son Alex, is a hoot. He does not post often but his writing is superb and I enjoy hearing what he has to say whenever I visit.

As for the photo, I love the soft light, the gentle curves of the worm hills, and the matching color of the subject and the background.

This image was created on 15 April 2024 at Fort DeSoto Park. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800: 1/4000 sec. at f/3.2 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:22:49am on a hazy, partly sunny morning. Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Royal Tern breeding plumage in flight

The Knee-pod Rest Position

When hand holding super-telephoto lenses for flight photography, sitting can be a great option. By resting your left forearm atop your left knee, you only need to raise your big lens a few inches to get the viewfinder to your eye. Not having to raise the big lens from your side greatly reduces potential fatigue. In addition, it moves the background farther from the subject.

This image was created on 15 April 2024 at Fort DeSoto Park. Seated on damp sand, I used the foot-pod technique with the hand held Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000: 1/1000 sec. at f/6.3 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 10:15:53am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Red Knot molting into breeding plumage — preening neck

Wintering Red Knots

Some North American populations of this species winter as far south as southern Argentina while some birds remain along the Gulf coast’s of North America. In some years, flocks of as many as two hundred can be fond at Fort De Soto Park from November through early spring. In late April and early May, some individuals are molting into their handsome breeding finery with brick red breasts and spangled silver and black upperparts. They breed only above the Arctic Circle, most often on Banks, Victoria, and Baffin Islands in northern Canada.

This image was created on 16 April 2024 at Fort DeSoto Park. Seated on damp sand, I used the knee-pod technique with the hand held Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:19:47am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Sandwich Tern in breeding plumage — head portrait — unusually long bill

Stopping Down at Close Range

When working close to the Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) of a lens, consider going to a smaller aperture to so that you have enough depth-of-field to cover the subject. Remember that at a given aperture, depth-of-field increases quickly as the distance to the subject increases.

This image was created on 1 May 2024 at Fort DeSoto Park. Seated on dry sand, I used the toe-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000: 1/2000 sec. at f/5.6 (stopped down 2 stops!) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:19:06am on cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #5: Ruddy Turnstone in breeding plumage

Full Breeding Plumage

Several species of shorebirds including but not limited to Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Western Sandpiper, and the aforementioned Red Knot, complete molting by late April or May and on occasion, can be found and photographed at Fort DeSoto. For me, each find is a treasure. A RUTU this richly colored is almost surely a male.

Do not ask me why I stopped down two stops for this one. That said, this image is beyond incredibly sharp..

This image was created on 1 May 2024 at Fort DeSoto Park. Seated on dry sand, I used the toe-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 (stopped down 2 stops!) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:50:14am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #6: Great Blue Heron scratching

Shooting Up

There are several locations at Fort DeSoto where you can get right below the birds and shoot up at a variety of herons and egrets. Several types of images can be made when you find the right bird in the right spot. Stopping down is generally a good plan though in this instance with a side view of a scratching great blue, it was not entirely necessary.

This image was created on 14 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated on a pillow on the South Peninsula, I used the toe-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/2000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:06:41am on a partly cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #7: Sandhill Crane adult foraging

Nosybody

We had set up a road kill cafe on the South Peninsula cafe but the wind was less than ideal. The light clouds were a blessing. The Turkey Vultures came in first followed by hordes of Black Vultures. A local pair of cranes moseyed on over and gave the vultures what for. At times they blocked our flight shots. I was seated on the grass when one of the foraging cranes wandered over to me; I put the lens on my toes and worked off the rear screen.

Without my reading glasses, I relied on Tracking Zone to render the eye tack sharp. I love the sharp eye with everything else in the frame blurred by the f/2.8 aperture and the point blank working distance.

This image was also created on 14 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Crouching on the slope that leads down to a canal, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 250. 1/4000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:43:43am on a then sunny morning. Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #8: Sandhill Crane foraging

Change of Strategy

Once the sun came out for good, I worked my way down the slope to the canal between the South Field and the South Peninsula in an effort to photograph the crane from a low perspective and include the wicked storm cloud to the west in background. As for the head angle, I am more and more liking the view of the top of a crane’s head with just a sliver of one eye visible.

Whatever your definition of bokeh (or how you pronounce it), you will likely consider the soft, sweet background in this image something to die for.

This image was also created on 16 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Again working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/4000 sec. at f/4.5 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7::47:38am on a sunny morning. Wide AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #9: Black Vulture dorsal view — turning in flight

Dorsal View/Wings Forward

The combination of flight pose and wing position in Image #9 is one of my very favorites. If you can think of a good name to describe this flight pose, please leave it in a comment.

This image was created on 21 February 2023. Seated on fresh snow, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/2500 sec. at f4 (stopped down 1-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 11:04:37am on cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #10: Bald Eagle adult braking to land

Adding to the White Sky

The 400mm was just wide enough to include a strip of woods and a snow-covered mountain in this frame. The full braking to land pose is beyond perfect. If you would like to join me in Homer in 2027, please get in touch via e-mail.

This image was created on 7 June 2022 at Fort DeSoto Park in Tierra Verde, FL. While seated on damp sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:16:24am as a cloud covered the sun. Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #11: Laughing Gull in basic (non-breeding plumage)

An Afterthought …

When you create a really nice image, you usually know it as soon as you press the shutter button. You are excited and cannot wait to see the image on your computer. After working some shorebirds, it began to cloud over. I walked away from the pool to chat with a young guy with a Sony 600 f/4. When I turned around and saw this plain looking Laughing Gull, I sat down, flipped out the rear screen, set the exposure, created a few rather small-in-the-frame images, and thought nothing of them. When this one on my the laptop, I fell in love with the super-low angle, the down-the-lens-barrel stare, and the suffused layers of earth toned colors offset by the lovely blue of the Gulf.

This image was created with the bottom of the lens hood placed right on the dried mud.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Traveling by Air? Think Tank — the Only Way to Go!

View the video to learn how to safely pack your camera gear for air travel in a Think Tank Rolling Bag using Carhartt Men’s Cuffed Beanies, hockey socks, and some old athletic socks. There is no need to waste your money on LensCoat BodyBags or Lens Pouches; they offer less shock and moisture protection and cost a lot more than the woolen watch caps and hockey socks that I use.

Correction

I always get these two great rolling bags confused. And that is exactly what I what I did in the video. The bag in the video is actually the (slightly larger) ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V3.0.

ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V3.0 & Airport International™ V3.0

I am blessed to own both the ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V3.0 (I use it on most of my trips) and the slightly smaller Airport InternationalTM V3.0 rolling bag. Both are fabulous roll-aboard carry-ons: they are roomy and sturdy and will protect your gear if you are forced to check your camera gear on a small aircraft. To learn more about or to purchase ThinkTank products, click here, and then scroll down and click on “Airport Rollers.” When you order merchandise totaling $50 or more you will be asked at check-out to choose an item as a gift from Think Tank. After 25 years of hard service, Think Tank kindly replaced my original ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V3.0 roller.

The Airport Security V3.0 is larger, designed for U.S. domestic carry-on limits, while the Airport International V3.0 is slightly smaller, built to fit stricter international carry-on dimensions, with the Security bag maximizing space within U.S. guidelines and the International version offering less room to meet global standards, so always check your airline’s specific rules before flying. If you own a large fast super-telephoto lens or several super-telephotos zooms, the larger bag is generally best. The Think Tank rollers are the industry standard. Think Tank also offers additional airport rollers and a wide variety of photography backpacks, camera bags, digital holsters, rain covers, and more. Click here to check out their huge collection of great gear.

The third generation of Think Tank’s award winning rolling bags redefine the gold standard for photo transport cases!

Carhartt Men’s Woolen Watch Caps

I have been using woolen watch caps to store my cameras, small lenses, and teleconverters in my Think Tank bags for several decades. They offer maximum protection from impact damage and moisture (the latter provided you do not drop everything in a lake or the ocean). Each camera is protected by two watch caps. The TCs go in single caps. For the past several years I have been using the Carhartt Men’s Knit Cuffed Beanies in a variety of colors and patterns.

You can order yours here.

Hockey Socks

In a similar fashion, I have been using hockey socks for my intermediate telephoto and telephoto lens when packing them for travel. You need to sew or have the bottoms sewn closed. They work great for many lenses including the 70-200s, the 80- and 100-400s, the 300mm f/2.8s, the 180- and 200-600s, and the 200- and 400-800 zooms as well. I recommend these: EALER HSK Series Multiple Colors Knit Hockey Socks Junior To Senior. Order yours by clicking here.

The First Level

The 400-800 is placed in the center. The 200-600 and the 300mm f/2.8 GM are alongside the 4-8 in hockey socks. The 70-200 f/2.8 GM is double hatted as are the two camera bodies. Remember that the lens hoods go into your checked bag or bags along with your tripod.

The Fully Packed Bag

Extra camera batteries go in old athletic socks as do the two lens feet with their Wimberley Lens Plates. The two additional camera bodies are double hatted while each of the five teleconverters go in single watch caps. The blue thing is the Delkin CF Memory Tote (for my extra Delkin flash cards). The strap is the Black Rapid Curve Breathe Camera Strap.

I should have mentioned in the video that if your bag is not full you should add a sweatshirt or two to prevent stuff from moving around.

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/4 openings.

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 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.

The San Diego Details

These IPTs will include five 3-hour morning photo sessions, four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and four working brunches (included) 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.

AirBnB Details

I have reservations for a wonderful AirBnB. I am able to cancel for free no later than 5 December 2025. Staying at an IPT AirBnB maximizes learning and allows for more time in the field. The cost of your private room in a lovely home will be $150/night. Explore the possibility of arriving early and/or staying on for additional photography sessions by getting in touch via e-mail. Brunch is on me. Dinners are provided for $25/day. I am an excellent chef and the food is both healthy and of high quality.

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 (plus half the cost of your lodging and meals) is required to hold your slot for one of the 2026 San Diego IPTs. 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 two months before the trip.

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.

Your Call?

Which three of today’s six featured images do you think are the strongest? Why?

My Call

In the Which is Better: More Pixels on the Subject or More Perch? blog post here, my favorite image by a mile was the wider view that included much of the color and detail on the v-perch. (Thanks to Bob Eastman!) I loved the overall feel of the image, the soft light, the image design, the compositional balance, and the far shoreline that served to anchor the image. The right-down-the-lens-barrel stare was another plus. Huge thanks for all the fabulous comments at that post. Keep up the good work here today.

If …

If you have a favorite image of a bird made with the Sony 200-600, you are invited to shoot me a sharpened JPEG via e-mail. Please size your JPEG at 2400 pixels on the long side and less than 600KB.

Solo Beatle Hits

While mindlessly scrolling through YouTube or Facebook or Instagram posts (I cannot remember which), I came across one that asked about the last #1 solo record by one of the Beatles. While I always loved the song above, I never realized that “I Got My Mind Set on You” was by George Harrison. The impressive flip in the video was of course done by a stunt double.

Below, in no particular order, are a few of my other favorite solo Beatle hits.

1- “Imagine” – John Lennon (A global anthem for peace)
2- “Maybe I’m Amazed” – Paul McCartney (A powerful ballad, often cited as his best)
3- “My Sweet Lord” – George Harrison (Harrison’s massive spiritual hit)
4- “Band on the Run” – Paul McCartney & Wings (A signature Wings epic)
5- “It Don’t Come Easy” — Ringo Starr (a statement on life’s struggles, paying your dues, and finding peace, delivered with Ringo’s signature warmth)

If I missed on that you love, please be so kind as to leave a comment.

What’s Up

Photography here at Indian Lake Estates has — somewhat unexpectedly for December — been very good to excellent. With the Sandhill Cranes being so tame, I have been using the 200-600 a great deal as I can handhold it easily and get myself where I need to be to make the shot. That while four other more expensive super-telephoto lenses sit by idly. Of note was a flock of 20 migrant sandhills on Friday morning — they were quite skittish, an ILE first-ever Lesser Scaup hen that same morning, and an ILE first-ever Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on Saturday morning. Today is Sunday 14 December 2025. I will be headed down to the lake early again 🙂 And then spend a good deal of the rest of the day watching various NFL games. 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.

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. To receive a free guide or free entry into a Sony Set-up and Info Notes e-Mail group, you need to shoot me your receipt via e-mail. The B&H receipts need to include the order number.

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 December along the lakeshore near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height on a slope that leads to the South Canal, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 321mm) 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 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:49:02am 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 #1: Sandhill Crane pair — female in front looking up Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Love is in the Air

The Sandhills at Indian Lake Estates usually lay eggs in February and Marsh. They began their courtship behaviors about two weeks ago. Making my way down the slope that leads down to the South Canal enables me to get down to the bird’s eye level. When the female sky pointed, I figured that either she was about to take flight or would be inviting the male to copulate with her. With the male coming up right behind her, I figured that the latter was a good bet.

This image was created less than three seconds after Image #1 on 11 December along the lakeshore near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height on a slope that leads to the South Canal, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 321mm) 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 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:49:05am 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: Sandhill Crane pair — female inviting copulation Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

I’m Gonna Be Famous!

When the female began to spread her wings, I was thinking, “I am gonna be famous.” An eye-level series of cranes facing me while copulating in morning sun. Are you kidding me? And then the male walked away. So much for fame.

Maybe this morning.

This image was created on 11 December along the lakeshore near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated on the South Peninsula I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 241mm) 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 Exposure Compensation (EC) on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +0.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 800: 1/3200 second at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 5:21:41pm just before sunset. 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: Sandhill Crane grass tossing courtship display Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Don’t Be A Square. Or Not?

While showing off the dancing crane image to some fisherman on the pier on my iPhone, I noticed that it looked much stronger as a tight square crop. And that brings us to Image #3 immediately above.

At the last blog post, Steve Schiff came up with one of the greatest ever comments when he wrote, “You were experiencing an avian solar eclipse.”

This image was on 12 December along the lakeshore near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Crouching a bit while facing the South Canal, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) 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 -1.0 stop. AUTO ISO set ISO 100: 1/250 second at f/14 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:32:27am on a then sunny morning. Spot S (small)/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #4: backlit vegetation along the edge of the South Canal Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

The Illusion of Height

On Friday morning it was downright chilly here at ILE — 41° at 7am. There was fire-in-the-mist fog on all of the canals. As the sun rose, the scene became spectacular. And the mist was so thick that it looked pretty good for more than 30 minutes. The crane family that I had photographed the previous morning was elsewhere and I was looking for something, anything to photograph against the orange mist. I created lots of images of the vegetation in Image #4. I varied my image designs by zooming in an out. For the last few that I made I moved back and zoomed out to 200mm. What I love most about this image is the feeling that you are in a tall forest looking up at the crowns of delicate trees.

This image was on 13 December along the lakeshore near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Crouching a bit while facing the South Canal, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 481mm) 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 +2.0 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 6400: 1/800 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:13:52am 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 #5: Sandhill Crane with pink sky background Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

As Noted Here Often

On clear or relatively clear mornings the sky opposite the sunrise, in this case the western sky, is often pink tinged. On dead clear mornings, I call that the pink/purple/blue effect. Ten minutes after the time of sunrise on Saturday, there was a light cloud in the western sky, colored pink. The background in this image is the reflection of that cloud in the still water of the lake.
The relatively new masking feature in Adobe Camera Raw allows making changes to the background alone easy as pie. Easier, in fact. In Volume III of the Digital Basics IV Video Series I introduced and discussed a variety of ACR mask selection options including Subject, Background, Sky, Brush, and Linear Gradient. I the last two volumes I will cover creating Radial Gradient, Object (beyond amazing!), and both Color Range and Luminance Range masks.

The more I use and experiment with the Masking feature in ACR the more neat tricks I come up with.

This image was on 13 December along the lakeshore near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing on the beach south of the pier, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1000: 1/3200 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode.RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:34:18 am 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 #6: Turkey Vulture braking to land Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Grab Flight Shots

Standing on the South Jetty at Sebastian Inlet with a 15 mph wind at your back is a great flight shooting situation. Standing in front of the Bridge Club in La Jolla on morning with a brisk breeze from the northeast, the prevailing wind direction by the way, is a great flight shooting situation.

So what, exactly, is a grab flight shot? Grab flight shooting situations pop up unexpectedly when you are least expecting them. You are busy looking for subjects on the ground or in the water, and suddenly there is a bird in flight in a pretty decent position. There is only one course of action — raise your lens, acquire focus, and create a short sequence. That is exactly what happened as I was head back to my SUV that I had parked on the grass just south of the base of the pier.

The best way to be prepared to make some good images when a grab shot situation materializes. When you are walking around doing nothing you must first know exactly what your settings are. To be prepared for action, you will want to set a fast shutter speed, usually from 1/2500 to 1/4000 second (or higher) on sunny days. In lower light situations, you might be able to get away with 1/2000 or even 1/1600 second. That said, on occasion, miracles do occur — you acquire and fire with a low shutter speed and create an image that is unexpectedly sharp on the eyes. But it is best, however, not to depend on luck — walk around after setting a fast shutter speed.

Whether you are in Manual mode (as is usually best for flight) or Shutter Priority mode, you will likely need to make almost instantaneous adjustments to your exposure settings. In Manual mode, you do that by changing the ISO in response to varying subject tonalities. In Shutter Priority mode you change the EC in response to varying subject/background tonalities. That is why Manual mode is generally best by far when doing flight photography.

What Bugs Me About This Image?

There is one thing about this image that really bugs me. Is there anything that bugs you? If so, please leave a comment.

The title says it all. Purchase your copy here. 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.

You can purchase your copy here for $99.00.

Arash Hazeghi

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. Improve your skills by studying The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight

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.

You can see four sample pages in the blog post here. And you can purchase your copy here.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

If …

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Your Call?

So, which do you think is the stronger image, the large-in-the-frame Image #1, or Image #2, the bird/perch-scape? Why did you make your choice. I have a clear choice that I will share with you here in the next post.

Out of Technology Hell!

Huge thanks to the incredibly talented and creative Tony Sweet for suggesting that I switch to ConstantContact for sending out blog post notifications. You can check out Tony’s great landscapes (and more) on his Instagram page here.

After two years of problems and false hope, I was able to get things up and running with ConstantContact in less than a day. I am pretty confident that things will continue to go well.

What’s Up?

After missing two mornings of bird photography when I visited Long Island briefly for Thanksgiving, I say with certainty that since October 7 of last year I have missed exactly 15 morning photo sessions. Fourteen of those were due to air travel and one more was spent driving down to Homer, AK. That makes me 415 of the last 430 mornings, a pretty good batting average of .965!

It has been cloudy, foggy, and/or overcast here at ILE for the past few days. I have been out every morning making a few good ones. Today is Wednesday 10 December 2025; the sun is supposed to come out later today. I headed down to the lake at 7:15am for my morning photography fix; as usual, I had a few good chances with the regular suspects. I hope that you choose to have a wonderful day.

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.

Supporting My Efforts Here

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, are all set for gear, or live overseas, consider leaving a BAA Blog Thank You Gift here. If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.

In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear from the wrong shop.

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. To receive a free guide or free entry into a Sony Set-up and Info Notes e-Mail group, you need to shoot me your receipt via e-mail. The B&H receipts need to include the order number.

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 8 December 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported 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 using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1600: 1/400 second at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 9:32:04am on a cloudy, overcast morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Red-shouldered Hawk adult on Bob Eastman’s V-perch Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Clean and Tight and Large in the Frame

As far back as the days of film — prehistoric times, I loved working at 1200mm with the 2x TC on a 600mm f/4 lens. A first — 42+ years ago, I assumed that the larger the bird in the frame the better. With digital, I assumed that more pixels on the subject was best. Overtime, I realized that stuffing the bird in the frame was not the way to go. Birds need room in the frame, room to live, room to be. Today, I will often choose a frame where the subject is slightly smaller in the frame as opposed to slightly larger in the frame.

I am 100% happy with the size of the bird in the frame in Image #1.

Loving Overcast, Clouds, and Fog

I absolutely the love soft light on overcast, cloudy, or foggy days. For many reasons:

1- Zero shadows ever.
2- Superb underwing detail with flying birds
3- When there are no shadows, you are not restricted by having to work on or close to sun angle. You can pretty much point your lens anywhere without paying a penalty.
4- While properly exposed to the right raw files made in these conditions often looks flat and washed out, a few simple adjustments in Photoshop, Lightroom, or Capture One, bring the images to life. Easily.

This image was also created on 25 November 2025 by yours truly down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Still seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, for this one I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 615mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1600: 1/160 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:57:14 am on a cloudy overcast 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: Red-shouldered Hawk adult on Bob Eastman’s V-perch Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

400-800 Focal Length Versatility

This past week I have had four or five lenses on the passenger seat every morning. My first inclination is always to work tight, thus the 1200mm image above, Image #1. Being sure to first turn the camera off (to close the shutter and minimize the chances of getting any dust on the sensor — as long as your camera is set up as it should be), I switched the a-1 ii to the 400-800. Using the 4-8 on a BLUBB is a bit tricky. Several methods for getting the best results are detailed in the BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide. Anyhoo, zooming out allowed me to include the bottom of the-perch as well as the distant shoreline. The latter serves as a base for the image. Exposing well to the right allowed me to bring up the earth tones on the perch during the raw conversion. And Wide AF enabled me to tuck the bird in the upper left corner of the frame for the desired and attractive image design.

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.

Composite #1: All with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body. Images copyright Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

The a-1 ii for General Bird Photography

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.

Composite #2: All with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body. Images copyright Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

The a-1 ii for Birds in Flight

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.

Composite #3: All the result of using Pre-Capture with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body. Images copyright Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Pre-Capture with the Sony a-1 ii

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!

All with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body. Images copyright Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Purchasing or Upgrading to a Sony a-1 ii

The Sony a-1 ii e-Mail Set-up and Info Guide

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.

Additional Blessings

In the last blog post, I hit “Publish” with some trepidation thinking that I was surely leaving someone or something off my list of blessings. (The original list appears immediately below). To my list of countless blessings I must add:

11- Serendipitously meeting Dr. Cliff Oliver nearly 30 years ago on a Bosque IPT. Cliff is a chiropractor/nutritionist who is far smarter than any doctor I have ever met or know of. I have no doubt at all that had I not met Cliff all those years ago I would have been pushing up daisies (or Leavenworth’s Tickseed blossoms here at ILE) for quite some time. Cliff inspired me to quit killing myself with food and to this day remains a great friend and my #1 health advisor.

Dr. Oliver has been involved in complimentary holistic medicine since 1972, working with nutritional and structural therapies for the last 33 years. He has presented numerous times at facilities such as UCSD Neurology Conference, Scripps Clinic, and SDSU.
Currently in private practice, Dr. Oliver has treated thousands of patients with major health issues ranging from acute to chronic. He has treated both professional and amateur athletes assisting in the facilitation of improved performance. Dr. Oliver also served on the Advisory Task Force for the Gerson Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the holistic treatment of degenerative diseases
Dr. Oliver’s extensive education and experience has provided him with the knowledge to make a major contribution in the creation of all three of the Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching Classes for the Chek Institute. He has integrated the holistic model of mind, body, and spirit into his teaching. For the last several decades he has been presenting international lectures in Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
In addition to his scientific and clinical background Dr. Oliver is an award winning and published nature (and surfing) photographer and an accomplished musician (having composed and performed the sound score for a documentary film) Having has shaped thousands of surfboards for some of the world’s elite surfers he holds several U.S. patents in surfboard design and has shaped thousands of surfboards for some of the world’s elite surfers.
He is in demand internationally by trainers, coaches and clients for his thought provoking, entertaining and practical approach to attaining and maintaining wellness. His patients, students and clients have nicknamed him “Doc Wellness” for his enthusiastic and passionate approach to helping them solve their problems and achieving their wellness goals. I call him “Doctor, doctor.”

12- The many thousands of folks over the past three decades who have commented on a blog post, attended a BAA Instructional Photo-Tour (or a seminar), assisted me on IPTs, purchased an item from the BIRDS AS ART Online Store, sold or bought used gear on the Used Gear Page, and those who have simply said “Hi” to me in the field.

13- The many supportive businesses who have kindly helped me out over the decades. Those include but are not in any way limited to B&H Photo and Video, Bedford Camera and Video, Canon USA (including especially Rudy Winston, Steven Inglima, the late Dave Metz, the late Michael Newler, and the late Chuck Westfall), Think Tank, and Delkin Devices.

From the previous blog post:

So what’s so wonderful in my life? In no particular order, here is the original (but incomplete) list:

1- I spent two months at Sebastian Inlet photographing birds every day.
2- I got to spend Thanksgiving my two truly wonderful daughters and their equally wonderful families.
3- While there, I learned that my grandson Idris, a high functioning autistic, was accepted to his first choice college, Pace University, and offered a four year, very generous scholarship.
4- I will be 80 years old this June. My health is pretty darned good. I have been a well controlled (for the most part) diabetic (on insulin) for about three decades. I have less than two pounds to go to get back to my fighting weight — 174. Almost seven months ago, I signed up for Body Magic Method, a course offered by Bruce Scott. It is a movement based practice that I have been following religiously since I signed up, never missing more than two sessions a month. Both shoulders have been problematic for at least twenty years. Eight years ago I slipped on a swim suit puddle in the hallway outside my bedroom and really messed up what had been my good shoulder, the left one, with a torn rotator cuff and more. My left knee (two arthroscopic surgeries thank you very much) has been giving me trouble for well more than five decades. The Body Magic program has helped a lot with both shoulders. Most importantly, it has — over time, become easier and easier for me to get up and down off the ground. This is of huge importance as getting low is an integral part of my photographic style. My left knee? Not so much, but I am keeping the wolf at the door. Recently the bone on bone discomfort and the restricted range of motion has improved (unexpectedly) seemingly as a result of taking Garden of Life Grass Fed Collagen Peptides Powder Unflavored Collagen Powder in hopes of strengthening the thin skin on my arms that rip and tear every time I brush against a wall or a door frame. Or the steering wheel of my BMW! There is lots of great free stuff on Bruce’s Instagram Body Mechanics Institute page here.
5-I have a comfortable home at Indian Lake Estates, FL where there is some decent bird photography pretty much 365 mornings a year (except leap years). The last two mornings here at ILE have been fantastic. And my lap pool is heated in winter and chilled in summer.
6-As noted here recently and often, I am enthralled by the autofocus capabilities of the mirrorless gear that I am using. I enjoy my time in the field immensely and somewhat strangely, I enjoy the heck out of processing my images and bringing them to life.
7-Being able to make a decent living doing what I love most is perhaps #2 on the list (after #4, above). I have, however, been mystified for years as to why so few folks have been signing up for IPTs. Why? Most but not all photography trip leaders do very little if any teaching.
8- Jim Litzenberg, who has worked for me for 22+ years, makes my life easier in more ways than you could imagine.
9- My ability to see the shot: to see a subject, evaluate the light and the wind, and then be able to put myself in position to create the image that I had visualized.
10- A closely related blessing is my ability to design an image instantly and utilize the a-1 ii’s AF system to pull it off.

(Please note: the best way for you to improve #9 and #10 is to join me on a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour.)

What’s Up?

Multiple IPT veteran and long time friend Ed Dow, visiting from California, stopped by ILE on Thursday afternoon. After a pool deck seared tuna dinner, we headed down to the lake for a bit. It was not great but Ed Was amazed at how tame the cranes are. We did photograph the rising super moon for a bit. Today is Friday 5 December. We rose early and headed back down to the lake. In short, we had an amazingly fabulous morning with a sunrise silhouetted tree full of vultures, a crane family and the setting super moon, dancing cranes, crane head portraits, a Little Blue Heron, a bathing Killdeer is early morning light, three foraging Limpkins, and a pied-billed Grebe in still blue water. We ended out morning by working several crane pairs in the North Field. I created 2490 as yet unedited images that include a few very good ones. Ed took off at noon for Fort Lauderdale to visit family. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you choose to have a wonderful day.

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.

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. To receive a free guide or free entry into a Sony Set-up and Info Notes e-Mail group, you need to shoot me your receipt via e-mail. The B&H receipts need to include the order number.

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 2 December 2025 down by the lake at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the handheld peashooter rig, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 112mm) 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 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:06:23am on a variably 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: Sandhill Crane adult dancing as last year’s colt looks one Image copyright 2025: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Help A Child Jump for Joy This Holiday Season

via e-Mail Martin Wood CEO, President, and founder of Delkin Devices

Toys for Tots is good for everyone! There is no better feeling than making a kid happy at the holidays. It is about love and giving back. It is non-denominational, non-nonpolitical, and tax deductible; everyone can participate. 100% of the contributions go to the kids. The Marines volunteer and not one penny is deducted for anything.

The San Diego event is tomorrow as below. Donations are at $32,589.50, only $12,410.50 short of our last year total donations. The Marine Corp Crane is up and running and will make a showing at this year’s event. Along with a Troop Carrier, a Willys Jeep and whatever else the Marines bring. There are already 55 boxes of toys in the lobby (valued at $24,750) and 26 Bicycles with helmets (another $3,250). My math says we are right now about $60,000 in toys and donations. Last year we reached $185,000.00 and this year’s goal is $200K. That means that we are very short we need toys and donations. Please. If you have not given yet, please do, if you have people you can e-mail, please send them over. If you are in San Diego and have toys to drop off, we look forward to seeing you.

Martin Wood (in the Santa hat) with Delkin CFO Frank Provost, two San Diego Marines, a huge Toys For Tots check for $147,520!

To make it easy to donate you now have many options.

1] You can donate via PayPal by clicking here. That goes to us to buy toys on our big company buying spree.
2] You can purchase toys from Amazon by clicking here; they will be shipped to Delkin.
3] You can send us a check, made out to us or Toys for Tots here: (Delkin Devices Inc., 13350 Kirkham Way, Poway, CA 92064-7117 or drop one off at the Delkin offices or at the event.

Date: Saturday December 6th, 2025
Time: 11:00AM to 3:00PM (we will be there earlier and later)
Location: In the parking lot at Poway Wal-Mart off Poway Rd and Community.

There will be music all day and coupons for free food. If you are in the area please invite your neighbors, your friends, and your family and all those you know to help us out this year. Please remember, every penny and barbie doll goes to the kids through the US Marines.

The Marine Troop Carrier at the Delkin Office

Please Help/Toys For Tots

Martin and Delkin need your help to reach their goal this year. As above, he has always put his money where his heart is for the needy children of San Diego. Please stop what you are doing and help by clicking on one of the convenient Donate Links above; nobody but you will know that you have donated, but it is guaranteed that you will be enveloped by a warm glow if you do.

The 2025 BIRDS AS ART Toys For Tots donation check.

Please Give What You Can Comfortably Afford

A donation of as little as $5.00 can put smile on the face of a child this holiday season. Please Donate whatever you can afford. Every little bit helps but you need to act fast.

Thanks with love, artie

Hanukkah

Hanukkah (also spelled “Chanukah”), is an eight-day winter “festival of lights,” which begins each year on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev. Because the Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle, the dates of Jewish holidays according to the Gregorian calendar change yearly. For this reason, the beginning of Hanukkah can range from late November to late December.

In short, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and spirituality over materiality.

This festival commemorates events in Judea more than 2,000 years ago when the Syrian king Antiochus ordered the Jews to abandon the Torah and publicly worship the Greek gods. This act provoked a rebellion led by Judas Maccabeus, climaxed by the retaking of the Temple in Jerusalem, which the Syrians had desecrated. The army of Jews won despite their small numbers. In an eight-day celebration, the “Maccabees” (as the rebels came to be known), cleansed and rededicated the Temple.

According to the Talmud, there was only enough consecrated oil to re-light the candelabra for one day, yet, miraculously, it remained lit for eight days until a new supply of pure oil (likely olive oil), was made.

Adapted from the article by Catherine Boeckmann on the ALMANAC website here.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Diving Osprey Addiction

If you live in Florida or are visiting, understand that conditions at Sebastian, after weeks and weeks of NW and west winds in the mornings, are finally looking excellent for tomorrow, Saturday 29 November, and for Sunday as well. Saturday morning is looking to be the better of the two as they are calling for mixed clouds and sun with 13mph east/northeast winds. Though this is pretty much perfect, there are never any guarantees when it comes to Ospreys diving for and catching fish in the inlet. If you would like to join me for an In-the-Field Session either day ($450.00) and learn a ton, please contact me via e-mail text me at 863-221-2372.

What’s Up?

I was quite proud of myself after the main meal at daughter Alissa’s home on Thanksgiving Day. I had small portions of all the usual fare, enjoyed everything tremendously, and did not go back for seconds. Then, I tried a piece of daughter Jennifer’s Cranberry-Cookie Butter Cheesecake made from scratch. With a bit of Trader Joe’s Ultra Chocolate Ice Cream. And a bit of Trader Joe’s Coffee Bean Blast Ice Cream, It was so good that I went for seconds. And then for thirds. Yikes!

Today is Black Friday, 28 November 2025. My 7:00am flight back to Orlando was delayed only slightly and was blessedly uneventful. After hanging out at Sebastian for two full months, I am, as noted immediately above, headed back there this weekend (leaving soon after I get home and get a nap) because they are finally predicting some wind from the right direction. With lots of it on Saturday. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day.

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.

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. To receive a free guide or free entry into a Sony Set-up and Info Notes e-Mail group, you need to shoot me your receipt via e-mail. The B&H receipts need to include the order number.

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.

Image #1: The Photo Mechanic Screen Capture for the Osprey with three fish in its talons image Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

The Photo Mechanic Screen Capture

As a general rule for bird photography, you will do best with the wind behind you. If it is sunny and the wind is in your face, you need to think silhouettes early on and then rather strong backlight. If it is cloudy enough so that there are no shadows, you have a chance to create some softy backlit images that can be processed to reveal all of the detail and color on the birds. Note that despite a dead-solid perfect exposure that the subject in the raw file looks hopelessly dark. All, however, is not lost for those who learn to ue ACR masks either in Photoshop or Lightroom.

On November 11th the wind was blowing hard from the NW in the morning we were blessed with lots of clouds. The sun broke through only on rare occasion. The Ospreys were catching lots of fish in the Inlet, closer to the South Jetty than to the North Jetty. The successful birds took flight into the strong NW wind and as a result, many flew pretty much right at us. As I wanted to try to get the birds at a distance diving and lifting off, I went with the 2X TC on the 600mm f/4. The trick is to add lots of light to the exposure suggested by your camera. This can be done in Shutter Priority mode by dialing in positive EC or in Manual mode by paying attention to the analogue exposure scale in the viewfinder.

As always, I recommend studying the section on exposure theory in the original soft cover The Art of Bird Photography even for those who are using Sony gear with Zebra technology properly set up and understood. For Nikon, Canon, Olympus, and others, understanding exposure theory is even more of an absolute must.

Exposure Fine Point

Regular readers know that on completely cloudy days I usually go with an EC of +2, +2.3, or even more. When Image #1 was created however, Zebras warned me that the sun was peeking through and lighting up small areas of the bird so I cut back to +1.3 stops. The Raw Digger item below (1C) reveals that the result was a dead-solid perfect exposure.

This image was created on 11 November 2025 by yours on a Sebastian Inlet Ospreys and More Extended IPT. Standing at full height on the North Jetty I used the 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 (EC) on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 1600: 1/3200 second at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 9:29:20 am on a very cloudy morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #1B: Osprey with three fish in its talons Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Seven ACR Masks!

During the raw conversion in Adobe Camera Raw I created seven masks that were responsible for bringing the bird in this somewhat backlit image to life. In Volume III of the Digital Basics IV Video Series I introduced and discussed a variety of ACR mask selection options including Subject, Background, Sky, Brush, and Linear Gradient. I the last two volumes I will cover Radial Grandient, Object (beyond amazing!), and both Color Range and Luminance Range.

Learn how and when to utilize the new, quite tricky Super Resolution feature in the latest versions of Photoshop and Lightroom. And learn how to use the masking features while converting an image in Adobe Camera Raw. This one hour video features six complete image optimizations. The Digital Basics IV Video Series/Volume III by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART You can purchase Volume III alone (59 minutes, 13 seconds) for $49.00 by clicking here. Or save $50.00 by purchasing the entire 5 volumes series by clicking here.

Digital Basics IV Video Series/Volume III

The two main thrusts of Volume III of the Digital Basics IV Video Series explains in detail how to handle when and how to use the new Super Resolution feature in Adobe Camera Raw to upsize your cropped .TIF files and how to use a variety of masks in ACR. Those include the automatic selections like Sky, Subject, and Background as well as Linear and Radial Gradients and how to create your own masked area using the Brush Tool. This feature has transformed my workflow and I am now routinely using as many as six or seven masks on a single raw file. I am even using painted masks to effectively do my Eye Doctor work.

Each of the six image optimizations takes you through my complete basic workflow that remains much the same as is detailed in both DB II and in the DB III Video Series. The steps include:

1- Setting the Color Temperature (when and if needed).
2- Setting the White and Black Points and adjusting the Highlights and Shadows sliders.
3- Setting the Clarity and Dehaze sliders.
4- Fine-tuning color using the Hue/Saturation/Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool, a huge step up from the Color Mixer Tool.
5- My 2-step noise reduction technique (now only with higher ISO images).

Once I have the .TIF file in Photoshop, I still use my usual cadre of clean-up tools and techniques including the Remove Tool, the Clone Stamp (only rarely), Divide and Conquer, Quick Masking, Layer Masking, Gaussian Blurs, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other image optimization strategies and methods adapted from previous versions of Digital Basics. I also demonstrate the selective use of Topaz Sharpen AI utilizing the masking feature. And last but not least, I share my JPEG creation methodology.

You can purchase Volume III alone (59 minutes, 41 seconds) for $49.00 by clicking here. Or save $50.00 by purchasing the entire 5 volumes series by clicking here.

Volume IV, coming in early December, will detail the use of the use of the much improved Remove Tool for an amazing variety of tasks and will follow up on previously introduced techniques.

The RawDigger Screen Capture for the Osprey with three fish in its talons image Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Ho Hum, Another Perfect Exposure

What can I say? The combination of Zebras live in the viewfinder (with your camera set up properly) and post-capture study of the raw files in RawDigger makes it pretty much child’s play to come up with perfect exposure after perfect exposure. And as implied above, for folks not using Sony Zebra technology RawDigger study is that much more valuable. It would be impossible to overstate how much I have learned by studying RawDigger and how much better my exposures have become since I started with the program almost five years ago. With the G channel coming right up to the 16000 line, the raw file brightness for today’s featured image is dead solid perfect.

RawDigger — not for the faint of heart …

Nothing has ever helped me learn to create perfect exposures to the degree that RawDigger has. I think that many folks are reluctant to learn that most of their images are underexposed by one or more full stops and that highlight warnings in Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, and your in-camera histogram are bogus as they are based on the embedded JPEGs. Only your raw files tell the truth all the time. Heck, I resisted RawDigger for several years … Once you get over that feeling, RawDigger can become your very best exposure friend no matter what system you are using. On the recent IPTs and In-the-Field sessions, we have demonstrated that fact over and over again. Convincingly.

The RawDigger Adapted (pink) Histogram

In the RawDigger e-Guide, you will learn exactly how to set up the Adapted “pink” RawDigger Histogram and how to use it to quickly and easily evaluate the exposure or raw file brightness of images from all digital cameras currently in use. RawDigger was especially helpful to me as I have struggled with R5 exposures and learned my new camera body, the Sony Alpha a1.

RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos

The RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos

by Arthur Morris with Patrick Sparkman

The RawDigger e-Guide was created only for serious photographers who wish to get the absolute most out of their raw files.

Patrick and I began work on the guide in July 2020. At first, we struggled. We asked questions. We learned about Max-G values. We puzzled as to why the Max G values for different cameras were different. IPT veteran Bart Deamer asked lots of questions that we could not answer. We got help from RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. We learned. In December, Patrick came up with an Adapted Histogram that allows us to evaluate the exposures and raw file brightness for all images created with all digital camera bodies from the last two decades. What we learned each time prompted three complete beginning to end re-writes.

The point of the guide is to teach you to truly expose to the mega-Expose-to-the-Right so that you will minimize noise, maximize image quality, best utilize your camera’s dynamic range, and attain the highest possible level of shadow detail in your RAW files in every situation. In addition, your properly exposed RAW files will contain more tonal information and feature the smoothest possible transitions between tones. And your optimized images will feature rich, accurate color.

We teach you why the GREEN channel is almost always the first to over-expose. We save you money by advising you which version of RawDigger you need. We teach you how to interpret the Max G values for your Canon, Nikon, and SONY camera bodies. It is very likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you. And lastly — thanks to the technical and practical brilliance of Patrick Sparkman — we teach you a simple way to evaluate your exposures and the raw file brightness quickly and easily the Adapted RawDigger histogram.

The flower video takes you through a session where artie edits a folder of images in Capture One while checking the exposures and Max-G values in RawDigger. The Adapted Histogram video examines a series of recent images with the pink histograms and covers lots of fine points including and especially how to deal with specular highlights. The directions for setting up the Adapted Histogram are in the text.

If we priced this guide based on how much effort we put into it, it would sell it for $999.00. We have, however, priced it at only $51.00. You can order yours here in the BAA Online Store.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.