My Sony a-1 ii arrived on Friday afternoon and I began setting it up on Friday evening. The good news for me is that the Menu is virtually identical to that of the a9 iii. I finished the job early on Saturday morning and worked with it morning and evening in the field. Saturday morning was terrible for bird photography with sun and a northwest wind. But we worked hard and wound up with a very few good chances despite the brutal conditions.
The body itself is in an a9 iii chassis, slightly larger with far better ergonomics and the position of the shutter button improved. Using gloves with the original a-1 is difficult at best so this marks a great improvement. For folks already using my a-1 setup, the learning curve for an a1-ii (with my settings) will be flat. You will not have to learn any new buttons and dials.
Inspired in part by Bob Eastman, I tried a new AF method, Tracking: Spot XS (which I assume stands for eXtra Small); I was quite impressed with it and the rest of the AF system that did an excellent job of tracking the eye of various bird species. With only two a-1 ii sessions under my belt, it is far too soon to compare the AF system with the AF systems of the a-1 and the a9 iii. Another AF improvement that I noticed immediately is that when you move the position of the Zone brackets away from the center, Bird Face-eye tracking is vastly improved. At this point, I believe that overall the a-1 ii features the best AF Bird Face-eye tracking, but again, that is only my first impression. Stay tuned.
Aside from the improved ergonomics as compared to the a-1, other nice features include the fact that the rear screen tilts both ways. Pre-capture will surely prove to be a plus while in my option, the Speed Boost feature is a total waste for bird photography.
So, the bird 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 using my a-1 ii. The differences between the a-1 ii and the original a-1, are neither huge nor eye-opening. 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).
With the price of a new a-1 having recently dropped $1500.00 to $4,998.00, the decision for new Sony buyers is a very tough one. The a-1 II sells new for 6,498.00. And the price of used a-1 bodies will continue to drop (but not as much as I had thought before using the a-1 ii).
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 CAMSETii.DAT file), the Buttons and Dials Guide, and an INFO sheet. 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 $227.43. If you are at all confused and do not want to screw up your order, please get in touch via e-mail.
What’s Up?
Today is Sunday 22 December. Bob Eastman and I will be heading down to the lake at 6:45am despite the fact that the forecast is identical to yesterday’s: sunny with a NW wind. Whatever you choose to do, we hope that like us, you opt to be happy and have fun.
ps: Bob will be going down a bit early to put out the 200-pound road-killed Wild Boar that is currently residing in the back of his truck!
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — 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 any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
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.
This image was created on 21 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and the top-of-the-line Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +1.0 stop. AUTO ISO set ISO 3200: 1/500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 7:06:38am about 10 minutes before sunrise.
Tracking: Spot XS with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: Snowy Egret foraging
The First Series
The images of this Snowy Egret foraging in the soft pre-dawn light surprised me. I tried Tracking: Spot XS for the first time and it grabbed and tracked the eye perfectly through the entire sequence. The reflection of the pink sky to the west was not as evident in the RAW file but the color was in the RAW file waiting to be juiced up during the post processing. I did need to Update Adobe Camera Raw to v17.1 in order to convert the RAW files. That was easy-peasy.
This image was also created on 21 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Again, seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens (at 493mm) and the top-of-the-line Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500: 1/2500 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:48:54am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/6 stop short of perfect.
Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: Black Vulture landing away in wind against sun conditions
Wind-Against-Sun Ramifications
With the sun behind you and the wind in your face, most birds will be landing directly away from you. At times, as here for me, the back landing shots may have some merit.
This image was also created on 21 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Again, seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the hand held <Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens (at 600mm) and the top-of-the-line Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500: 1/2500 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:52:20am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: 1-year old Bald Eagle in gliding flight
Wrong Way Bird
When dozens of vultures that had been perched in the trees on both sides of the canal took flight, I said to Bob, “An eagle must have just flown by.” From the back seat, he pointed to east and said, “Here it comes!” The young eagle flew right at us pretty much right down sun angle. Yes, we took lots of images.
Image #3A: Tight crop of the 1-year old Bald Eagle in gliding flight image
a-1 ii Crop-ability
As with the predecessor a-1, sharp a-1 ii raw files stand up fabulously well to large crops.
This image was also created on 21 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Again, seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens (at 600mm) and the top-of-the-line Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000: 1/1600 second at f/9 (stopped down one stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:31:58am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Spot XS AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #4: Sandhill Crane tight stretching far wing
Tracking: Spot XS Again
Again, Tracking: Spot XS performed superbly here, nailing and tracking the crane’s eye as it preened and then stretched. I stopped down one full stop here for some extra depth of field as we were very close to the subject, perhaps within 10 feet.
Sony 200-600
Notice that my Sony 600mm f/4 remained on the passenger seat protected by pillows and the 400mm f/2.8 was in the back of my SUV, also supported by pillows. On sunny days, it is hard to beat the versatility of the Sony 200-600 (despite the fact that/6.3 aperture at the long end). Five of today’s six featured images were made with the incredible Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens. If you are considering moving to Sony, a used a-1 with my settings and a 200-600 will have you making great images from Day 1.
This image was also created on 21 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Again, seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens (at 600mm) and the top-of-the-line Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000: 1/2500 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:34:22am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead solid perfect.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #5: Cattle Egret non-breeding adult in flight
Flight AF Performance with the a-1 ii was as expected — quite excellent but not quite perfect. Tracking: (center) Zone nailed the eye of this Cattle Egret. More than 50% of the original pixels were cropped away during the image optimization. Working with the a-1 ii RAW files was a pleasure as I found the color natural and easy to work with.
This image was also created on 21 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, 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 top-of-the-line Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +1.0 stop. AUTO ISO set ISO 2000: 1/2500 sec. at f/9 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 5:31:29pm (just minutes after sunset) on a partly cloudy evening. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/6 stop short of perfect.
Wide AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #6: Boat-tailed Grackles flying into roost at sunset
200-600 plus the 1.4X TC!
We had a gorgeous sunset with very few birds. A few days ago I discovered a nighttime grackle roost. I decided to experiment by adding the 1.4X TC and working at f/9. AF performance and image sharpness were both superb. Who knows? I might wind up with two a-1 ii bodies and zero a-1 bodies. Or not … Time will tell.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
What’s a bird photographer to do when there are no birds? Look for something interesting and attempt to photograph it well.
Your Calls?
Which two of today’s five featured images do you like best? Why for each? Which of the five is the most boring photo? I will share my answers here soon.
Today’s Lesson
When there are no birds to photograph at sunrise or sunset, look for something else to shoot.
What’s Up?
Today is Friday 20 December. Bob Eastman and I will be heading down to the lake at 6:45am despite the fact that the forecast is identical to yesterday’s: totally foggy with no sun until 10:00am. We’ve been photographing our favorite pair of cranes walking out of the marsh in the pre-dawn light. Yesterday I was at ISO 8000, 1/125 sec. at f/2.8. Other than that, we got nothing yesterday morning. Bob stayed in last night while I headed down to the lake at the last minute and got very lucky. Read to the end to find out how lucky I was. Whatever you choose to do, we hope that like us, you opt to be happy and have fun.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — 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 any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
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.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising (Royal Albert Hall, London/1970)
This image was created on 15 November 2024 from the South Jetty Parking lot July 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/640 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 5:34:40pm well after sunset. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be perfect.
Tracking: (upper right) Zone AF-C AF with Bird Face/Eye Detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy an inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #1: full moon rising
Good Images are Where You See Them
Good Moon on the Rise
Bob Eastman had been planning to shoot the rising full moon for more than a week. He had scouted several different locations, most of them with the intent of including the end of the North Jetty in the frame. The moon rose at about 5:20pm into a hazy sky. It was not very impressive. We made a few images. They were not very impressive either. Ten minutes later, when we got back to my SUV, I happened to glance to my left, and saw the full moon nicely framed by a tall cabbage palm and other semi-tropical vegetation, I called out to Bob, “There’s the shot!”
We both grabbed a lens and went to work. With Sony Zebras, getting the exposure right was child’s play. After selecting my shutter speed, I dialed up the ISO until there were faint Zebra’s on the moon. That done, the key to the success of this image was the processing. I worked selectively on the color and brightness of the sky, the vegetation, and the moon. All as detailed in Digital Basics II and in the Digital Basics III Video Series.
If you would like to see exactly how I processed this image in Volume II of DB III, please shoot me an e-mail.
This image was created on 24 November 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height, I used the jiggle blur technique with the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 444mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +1.0 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 100: 1/3 sec. at f/25 (stopped down 3 full stops). AWB at 5:35:56pm on a then cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy an inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #2: tree at sunset — jiggle/zoom blur
Necessity is the Mother or Invention
In the Socratic dialogue Republic, Plato famously wrote: “our need will be the real creator. Over time this became the English proverb, Necessity is the mother of invention.
Anyhoo, when you have so little light that making a sharp image would require ISO 256,000, think blurs. I often teach that when trying to create new and different pleasing blurs, playing around is a great idea. Peter Gray would surely agree with that.
This image was created on 8 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +0.7 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 1000: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 5:42:02 pm on a then cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy an inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #3: strange cloud at sunset
A Very Strange Cloud at Sunset
With few birds flying on the late afternoon of 8 December, Bob and I both enjoyed photographing a strange cloud in the western sky. Neither of us had ever seen anything remotely like it before.
Tracking: (left center) Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the inexplicably sharper high-res version.
Image #4: dead and live pine trees at sunrise
The Sunrise Spot
There are very few spots at Indian Lake Estates where you can take advantage of pre-dawn and sunrise color. This was the 2024 Bald Eagle nest tree. After Hurricane Milton took down this nest, the birds began re-building in the same tree. But when I got back from Sebastian Inlet, we discovered that they had moved across the canal and built a huge new nest in a live pine tree. Photographing the nest well is a 100% impossibility.
Most mornings, the vultures land in the dead tree when the oranges and yellow are most vivid. What’s a guy to do when the birds do not show up?
This image was created on 18 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 594mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) ISO 640. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 5:33:38pm just after the sun dropped below the horizon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the inexplicably sharper larger version.
Image #5: Bob Eastman’s Pine Perch at sunset
A Very Creative Perch
Bob had grabbed a very attractive pine tree perch and erected it at the south end of the South Marsh. Bob put up this perch about two weeks ago. As he was walking back to his truck, a Great Egret landed on it. On the morning of 16 December, I photographed a Turkey Vulture on Bob’s Pine Perch in pre-dawn light. I will share that one with you here at some point.
The perch is so pretty that on Wednesday evening, I photographed it against some lovely sunset color. Ah, for want of a bird.
So last night, Bob opted to stay in. I ran down to the lake about 15 minutes before sunset. There was nothing on The Perch II. Nothing on Bob’s small perch. And there was nothing on The Perch III. As I approached Bob’s Pine Perch in my SUV, there were three Turkey Vultures sitting on it. One flew off. The color was getting sweeter by the minute. Needing to get lower, I grabbed the 200-600 G lens, exited the vehicle, and went to work in Shutter Priority with EC on the Thumb Dial. Then I enjoyed a miracle or two when a second vulture took flight and then returned to land on the perch, wings outstretched.
When I showed Bob some of the images on the back of the camera, he said dejectedly, Oh, no!
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
When it comes to a workhorse focal length for bird photography, I would recommend a 600mm f/4 over the 400mm f/2.8 for just about everyone. Why? The size of the bird in the frame is determined by the square of the focal length. Thus, a 600mm focal length will always have a huge 36:16 advantage over a 400mm focal length. Except, perhaps, for some folks living in either southern corner of the US. Bird photographers living in San Diego or in many Florida locations have access to lots of fairly large and tame birds. That said, I’d still recommend that all bird photographers should own a 600mm f/4 lens before considering a 400mm f/2.8.
So, aside from sports photographers, who is the Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lens meant for? It would be the perfect complement for serious bird photographers who already own a 600mm lens who wish to change up their style a bit while enjoying the hand hold-ability of a 400mm f/2.8 lens and who wish to routinely produce images with smooth, soft, creamy, luscious, de-focused backgrounds like those seen in today’s 9 featured photographs, all made in only three mornings. Robert Hollyer’s 400mm f/2.8 lens is now priced at rock bottom and we could not find a single used copy available from any of the major retailers. If the 400 f/2.8 is a good fit for you, it would be best to get in touch with him immediately.
Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens
Price reduced a shocking $600.00 on 13 July 2024 Price reduced a shocking $400.00 on 18 December July 2024
Used Gear Page veteran Robert Hollyer is offering a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens in Like-New condition for a BAA record low $9398.00 (was $9,998.00). The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, the lens hood, the lens strap, that hard case & strap, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Bob via e-mail or by phone at 1-206-359-0018 PST.
I purchased my Sony 400mm f/2.8 two years ago to complement my 600mm f/4. Robert is selling his because he rarely uses it, opting instead for the 600mm f/4! 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 kills for flight with or without the 1.4X teleconverter. This lens sells new right now for $11,998.00 at B&H and there are used copies going for $10998.00 as well. Act quickly to save a handsome $3,000.00 by grabbing Robert’s might-as-well-be-new 400mm GM lens. And remember, you can’t beat the f/2.8 bokeh! artie
Today’s Blog Post
Including the time spent on the nine image optimizations, today’s blog post took more than six hours to create. That plus an additional six plus hours in the field. There is a wealth of information in today’s post. Please take the time to read and enjoy it.
If you missed the item on bokeh in the last blog post, you might wish to check out the rerun by scrolling down to the bottom of this post.
What’s Up?
Today is Wednesday 18 December. Bob Eastman and I will be heading down to the lake at 6:45am to put out a dead, smelly, rotting raccoon. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it. Whatever you choose to do, we hope that like us, you choose to be happy and have fun.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — 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 any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
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.
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 #1: 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 out flight shots. 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. Again, seated on a pillow on the South Peninsula, 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 2000. 1/2500 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 8:08:51am 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 #2: Black Vulture in flight
.
Look for the Odd-flying Bird
In the morning with the wind from the north with a touch of west, the trick is to find the one bird out of dozens that is not flying and landing into the wind. This was one of the very few that morning.
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 #3: 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, you will likely consider the soft, sweet background in this image something to die for.
This image was also created on 14 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Now standing on the slope that leads down to a canal, I again 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. 1/3200 sec. at f/3.2 (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 8:48:18am on a then sunny morning.
Tracking: (upper center) 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: Sandhill Crane adult head and neck portrait
Curiosity
This crane walked right up to me and posed. What’s not to love about the wide open 400mm f/2.8? Another incredibly soft and sweet background, more bright colors, and more incredible sharpness and contrast.
This image was created on 15 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, 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 640. 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 7:08:26am on a mostly sunny 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: Crested Caracara braking to land
A New Roadkill Cafe Location
I have long considered setting up a morning roadkill cafe in winter at the edge of the canal that abuts the North Field. During the (relatively) colder months — it was 85° here yesterday, the sun comes up well to the south of east allowing for being perfectly on sun angle. When we got back from Sebastian, Bob set up a low perch in the perfect spot we had discussed previously.
The first menu item was an 80-pound female Wild Boar we had picked up on SR 630. Yes, 80 pounds. We set it out on the afternoon we had found it, Saturday past, as we figured it would last several days at least. To our surprise, the entire carcass but for a single lower jawbone, was gone the next morning. We were puzzled until we noted a trail of flattened grasses going down to the water. “Woodsman” Bob figured that the only explanation was that it had been a midnight snack for a large gator.
Anyhoo, we put out some old fish scraps and lots of birds came to the party. Though far smaller than either of the vulture species, the caracaras more than hold their own at the dining table.
This image was also created on 15 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Still working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, 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 640. 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 7:54:29am on a 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 #6: Bald Eagle in flight gaining altitude
Bokeh
I would describe the bokeh in this image, i.e., the quality of the out-of-focus background, as sweet and luscious. That thanks for the most part to the Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lens.
Occasional Roadkill Cafe Visitors
The Bald Eagles that nested in two different trees in the South Field for the past three years moved across the South Canal and built a new nest in a live pine tree. Photography is pretty much impossible. Another pair of lakefront eagles has always nested somewhere in the woods northeast of the North Field. On occasion, a Bald Eagle will drop by for a look-see. This bird flew over the bait once, circled behind us, and then flew by again right at us. It was a very good chance and both of us made some really nice images. A few years ago, I put out a dead rabbit on the South Peninsula. The light (cloudy bright) and wind (east) were perfect as the first vulture landed. Then a Bald Eagle swooped down and flew off with the rabbit. Party over.
This image was also created on 15 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated on the grass beside my SUV, I used the knee-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 640. 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 8:10:54am on a 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 #7: Black Vulture taking flight
The Knee-Pod Rest Position
In the second edition of the revised The Art & Science of Photographing Birds in Flight with the Sony α-1 (and More), I write in detail about how I use my left knee as an efficient rest position while seated and hand holding the 400mm f/2.8 GM lens. On our first morning at the new location, birds were constantly landing on and taking flight from the handsome new perch. (Great Job, Bob!). Though only 4 ounces lighter than the Sony 600mm f/4 lens, I can hand hold it easily for long flight sessions. Holding the lens up while waiting for a vulture to take flight is, however, another story.
Details on the updated version will be available here soon.
So I sat on the grass, bent my left knee, and rested my forearm on the knee until a bird would take flight at which point I would need only to lift the rig an inch or two while firing away. Wide AF tracked the bird’s face and eye perfectly. Fortunately, the a9 iii features Pre-capture. When I am shooting take-offs, I take a moment to visit My Menu and increase the Pre-capture time to the max, 1.0 seconds. At 60 fps, I had a hard time picking the best image from about 7 keepers.
The new Sony a-1 II will feature Pre-capture along with the brilliant 51MP raw files and a rear screen that tilts both ways.
Sony a-1 II Pre-order Info Updated
The new camera will begin shipping in two days.
Those who wish to receive my Sony a-1 II settings for free in the form of a CAMSET.DAT file with instructions and an explanatory Buttons and Dials Guide should pre-order from one of my affiliate programs as below.
To pre-order your Sony a-1 II from B&H, you must use this link: Sony a-1 II
Once your camera ships, you must send me your B&H receipt to me via e-mail.
If you were on the B&H please-notify-me list and order using a link that they sent you, I will not receive the credit and you will not receive my camera set-up guide information for free.
Those who prefer more personalized service, a far shorter wait list, enjoy free second day air FedEx, and receive 3% back on their credit card when their a1 II ships, should to visit the Bedford website here, at or after 9:30am today, search for the Sony a-1 II, pre-order they camera body, and enter the BIRDSASART discount. There is no need to e-mail Steve Elkins.
Thanks to those who pre-order using one of my affiliate links and for the faith they place in the information provided by BIRDS AS ART.
This image was created on 16 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. 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 7:18:06am 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 #8: Turkey Vulture taking flight
A Slightly Different Tack
When shooting flight from the car, I usually prefer to move the BLUBB to the front passenger seat and place it on top of my lens collection. That gives me more room to maneuver the lens. When trying for the takeoff shot, however, I rest my left forearm on the big beanbag (instead of on my left knee as in the previous example). Older folks like and including me, will find Pre-capture a huge plus when photographing birds taking flight.
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.
Detective Question
How is the water level in Lake Walk-in-Water at this season? How do you know?
Bokeh
The word “bokeh” was used often in today’s post. First off, nobody is sure how to pronounce the word. A web search offers several alternatives. The video might or might not have the definitive answer, but it is a fun watch.
Not only are most folks not sure how to say the word, but not everyone agrees on its meaning. Some state that it refers only to the quality of out-of-focus specular highlights, while others are sure that it refers to the quality of the out-of-focus areas in the background. Some say that bokeh is determined by the focal length and aperture, while others believe that bokeh has more to do with the construction of a given lens. Check out the Bokeh: A Term that Means More than Blurry and Fuzzy article by Allan Weitz on the B&H Explora page here. Mr. Weitz makes some interesting points along with more than a few that I do not agree with.
When it comes to bokeh, I am not sure of much. I am sure, however, that some spectacular bokeh is featured in many of the images above.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
