Puffin Flying Circus and New UK Flight Gear Plan...

The 2015 UK Puffins and Gannets IPT

Due to a recent cancellation there are now two openings on this long sold out IPT. Scroll down for details and do not hesitate if you would like to join us. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris.

What’s Up?

My composition and image design presentation at the CNPA Annual Meeting was well received. Next up was “Refining Your Photographic Vision” during which Denise Ippolito and I explained what we saw and what we were thinking in a variety of shooting situations. As usual, our friendly bickering had folks rolling on the floor laughing out loud. We always enjoy trading (friendly) verbal insults but with Denise standing behind the laptop at the podium and me roaming the speaking floor with my own clicker, a new form of stand-up comedy was born: Clicker Wars. I guess that you had to be there to get it but the results were hilarious and the program received rave reviews. There were about 325 folks in attendance at each of the two programs.

I am doing a Photoshop session from 9-11am this morning and then heading to CLT for my 4:35pm flight to MCO.

This post took about 2 hours to prepare and was published at 6:20am from my hotel room at the Marriott in Spartanburg, SC.

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This image was also created on one of the seabird islands off the coast of the northern UK with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops off the sky: 1/3200 sec. at f/4.5 AWB. Central AF point/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF as originally framed. This AF point that was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding) was on the bird’s left shoulder yet the image was sharp on the eye. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1

Atlantic Puffin Flying Circus

On our first IPT to the islands off Seahouses in the northern UK we had lots of chances to photograph puffins in flight. Armed with the knowledge gained on last year’s trip both Denise and I are sure that we will do much better this July. There is lots to learn by studying the shooting data for each of today’s three images. Questions are of course welcome.

This image was created on one of the seabird islands off the coast of the northern UK with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 1/3 stops off the sky: 1/1600 sec. at f/4. Cloudy WB. Central AF point (manual selection)/AI Servo Surround Rear Focus AF as originally framed. This AF point that was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding) was on the bird’s left flank yet the image is sharp on the eye. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2

My New UK Flight Plan

As many of the puffin flight ops involved incoming birds at a fair distance I have decided that I will be bringing either my 600mm f/4L IS II or a 500mm f/4L IS II on the upcoming IPT. Either will open up more opportunities for both flight photography and for creating tight head portraits. I will of course be using my long Series II TC on a tripod with the Mongoose M3.6. I will discuss the rest of my UK gear bag here in a few months.

This image was also created on one of the seabird islands off the coast of the northern UK with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops off the sky: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6. Central AF point/AI Servo/Surround Rear Focus AF as originally framed was on the tip of the bird’s bill and was active at the moment of exposure. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. AWB.

Your Favorite?

Please take a moment to leave a comment and let us know which of the three incoming puffin flight images is your favorite and be sure to let us know why you made your choice.

Images and card design copyright 2014: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. Click on the card to enjoy a spectacular larger version.

The 2015 UK Puffins and Gannets IPT
June 29 through July 5, 2015: $5499: Limit 10 photographers/Two openings due to a recent cancellation. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris.

Here are the plans: take a red eye from the east coast of the US on 28 June arriving in Edinburgh, Scotland on the morning of Monday 29 June (or simply meet us then either at the Edinburgh Airport (EDI) or later in the day at our cottages if you are driving your own vehicle either from the UK or from somewhere in Europe. Stay 7 nights in two gorgeous modern country cottages.

There are 5 days of planned puffin/seabird trips—weather permitting, and 1 full day of gannet photography with 2 sessions on the boat.

Images and card design copyright 2014: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. Click on the card to enjoy a spectacular larger version.

The Details

We will be staying in upscale country-side cottages that are beyond lovely with large living areas and lots of open space for image sharing and Photoshop lessons. The shared rooms are decent-sized, each with two roomy single beds and a private bathroom. See the single supplement info below.

All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included. All 5 puffins boat lunches will need to be prepared in advance, taken with, and consumed at your leisure. I usually eat mine on the short boat trip from one island to the other. Also included is a restaurant lunch on the gannet boat day and a farewell fine dining thank you dinner. The cost of your National Heritage Trust is also included; that covers the twice a day landing fees.

Plan to fly home on the early morning of Monday 6 July or to continue your stay or travels.

Images and card design copyright 2014: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. Click on the card to enjoy a spectacular larger version. Scroll down to join us in the UK in 2015.

Single Supplement Info

The single supplement is $1475. As we will be renting a third cottage the $1475 is due with your deposit and is also non-refundable.

If you are good to go please send your $2,000 deposit check now to save a spot. The balance will be due on March 29, 2015. Please make your check out to “Arthur Morris” and send it to Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855. If you cancel and the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. Whether or not your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.

We do hope that you can join us.

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