Jamaica Bay: Wilderness on the Edge/NY Times Post & What's Wrong With the Warbler Finch Image?

Jamaica Bay: Wilderness on the Edge/NY Times Post

Just received this link via e-mail from Michael Lustbader. (We had met in the late 70s at JBWR when I first began birding.) The link goes to a New York Times article. From past experience I know that these links expire very quickly so if you have any interest in learning about the condition and on-going restoration of one of my favorite places on the planet, do visit asap. In the article you will meet a very good friend of mine, Don Riepe (who used to manage the refuge). The article, by Alan Feuer, is in the NY Region section and is surprisingly accurate. Click here to enjoy.

What’s Wrong With the Warbler Finch Image?

Thanks to all of those who commented on the last post, “What is the Worst Thing About This Image?” From reading the comments one might think that this is the single worst image of a bird ever created. While it surely is not a competition winner–remember those words–it is in my opinion, a decent image. One that has sales potential.

In retrospect I could have done a better job with the color. In the improved repost here I desaturated the YELLOWs 20 points. I lost the dark branch that everyone hated (and the one below it as well). I did not mind the dark branch. And I darkened the bright yellow leaf above and behind the bird. So what did I not like about this image? The rear half of the bird’s body is unnaturally angled away from us. You could say that the butt angle is poor. Several folks nailed the problem in the comments, first and most notably Elinor Osborn. At the very end, Ron Sprunger, Bill Brinkhorst, and Kathy Graff got their horses hitched up to the right wagon 🙂

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the images in this blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon 1.4X III TC. This new TC is designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern.
LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.

Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card. These high capacity cards are fast and dependable. Clicking on the link below will bring you to the Delkin web site. There is lots of great stuff there. If you see a product that we do not carry let us know via e-mail; we will be glad to have it drop-shipped to you and save you a few bucks in the process.

I pack my 800 and tons of other gear in my ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V2.0 rolling bag for all of my air travel and recommend the slightly smaller Airport InternationalTM V2.0 for most folks. These high capacity bags are well constructed and protect my gear when I have to gate check it on short-hops and puddle jumpers. Each will protect your gear just as well. By clicking on either link or the logo below, you will receive a free gift with each order over $50.

Think Tank Free Offer