BIRDS AS ART 2nd International Bird Photography Competition Portrait Category Winners & the Readership Vote

IPT and I-T-F Updates

There is room on this Saturday’s Gatorland In-the-Field Workshop. Scroll down for details. There are only 4 slots left on the UK Puffins and Gannets IPT and on the NOV 29-DEC Bosque IPT. The St. Augustine, Fort DeSoto, Nickerson Beach, and the Bosque Creative IPTs all have lots of room. Click here for complete IPT details.

The Streak Continues: 152

This post marks 152 straight days with a new educational blog post. With so many folks getting in the habit of using our B&H links and our Amazon logo-links why quit now? To show your appreciation for my efforts here, we do ask that you use our the B&H and Amazon affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially Gitzo tripods, Wimberley tripod heads, and the like. We sell only what I used, tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know the tools that you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And we are always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

You can find the following items in the store: Gitzo tripods, Mongoose M3.6 and Wimberley heads, plates, low feet, and accessories, flash brackets, , Delkin e-film Pro Compact Flash Cards, LensCoat products, and our unique line-up of educational materials including ABP I & II, Digital Basics, Site and Set-up e-Guides, Canon and Nikon Camera Users and AF e-Guides, and MP-4 Photoshop video tutorials among others.

I would of course appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and visiting the BAA Online store as well.

This post took well more than 3 hours to create. Enjoy!

First Place: Snowy Owl Embrace/35 points

Snowy Owl Embrace

Congratulations to Gail Marie Bisson.

Second Place: Great Horned Owlets/34 points

Great Horned Owlets

Congratulations to Sandy Zelasko

Highly Commended: Bald Eagle pair/33 points

Bald Eagle pair

Congratulations to Jory Griesman.

Bird Portraits

First Prize	Second Place	Highly Commended	Sponsor
Airport Security Rolling Bag	.	.	Think Tank
$150 Gift Certificate	$75 Gift Certificate	$40 Gift Certificate	B&H PHOTO VIDEO
$60 Gift Certificate	$40 Gift Certificate	$25 Gift Certificate	Delkin Devices
Level 3 Gift Subscription	Level 2 Gift Subscription	Level 1 Gift Subscription	Nature Photographer Magazine
$75 Gift Certificate	$50 Gift Certificate	$25 Gift Certificate	Lens Coat

Portrait Category Prizes

Thanks a stack to our great sponsors. Please note that prizes will not be sent until all of the category winners and the Grand Prize winner have been announced.

1st Runner Up: Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying/25 points

Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying

Congrats to David R. Neilson

2nd Runner Up: Chinstrap Penguin preening/23 points

Chinstrap Penguin preening

Congrats to Clemens van der Werf

3rd Runner Up: Australian Emu/22 points

Australian Emu

Congrats to Phillipa Alexander

4th Runner Up (tie) Chickadee/21 points

Chickadee

Congrats to Missy Mandel

4th Runner Up (tie): White-backed Woodpecker/21 points

White-backed Woodpecker

Congrats to Niko Pekonen.

9th Place (tie): Black-footed Albatross chick/20 points

Black-footed Albatross chick

Congrats to Paul Mckenzie

9th Place (tie): King Vulture/20 points

King Vulture

Congrats to Diana Rebman

9th Place (tie): Chinstrap Penguin chicks at nest/20 points

Chinstrap Penguin chicks at nest

Congrats again to Clemens van der Werf

12th place: Broad-tailed Hummingbird/17 points

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Congrats to Denny Behn

13th place: Adelie Penguin/16 points

Adelie Penguin

Congrats yet again to Clemens van der Werf

The Public Vote

1st: Great Horned Owlets: Sandy Zelasko/207 points
2nd: Snowy Owl Embrace: Gail Marie Bisson/137 points
3rd: White-backed Woodpecker: Niko Pekonen/100 points
4th: Chickadee: Missy Mandel/93 points
5th: Australian Emu: Phillipa Alexander/89 points
6th: Bald Eagle pair:Jory Griesman/77 points
7th: Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying: David R. Neilson/54 points
8th: Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Denny Behn/47 points
9th: King Vulture: Diana Rebman/43 points
10th: Black-footed Albatross chick: Paul McKenzie/40 points
11th: Chinstrap Penguin preening: Clemens van der Werf/34 points
12th: Chinstrap Penguin chicks at nest: Clemens van der Werf/32 points
13th: Adelie Penguin: Clemens van der Werf/25 points

Stuff

Please understand that getting even a single image to the final round of category judging is a huge accomplishment. All of the images in the finals of the Portrait category are superb images; I would be proud to have made any one of them. Congrats again to all the winning and honored photographers.

Thanks to the 66 readers who voted. Thanks again to our sponsors and to the panel of judges. Special thanks to Denise Ippolito and Peter Kes who helped me with the early rounds of judging. Please feel free to comment on the any of the images or to analyze and compare the judging; please remember that judging any contest or voting on the images is purely subjective. Coming next: the Youth Category.

Join me at Gatorland next Saturday for a ton of learning. If you want to learn to use your flash and to make great photos in cluttered rookeries, you will not want to miss this one. Click on the composite image to enjoy a larger version. Click on the composite to enjoy the larger size.

Another Gatorland Short Notice Saturday Full-Day In-the-Field Workshop

Saturday May 3, 2014. 7:15am till 10:15am & 4:00pm till dusk. Lunch, image review, and Photoshop session included. Limit 6. A very small group is again likely: $399.

Late Registration Discount

One Signed Up: Join the Party!

Call us at 863-692-0906 for info on the late registration discount for the May 3 I-T-F Workshop.

The cost of your Gatorland Photographer’s Pass is not included.

Small and large chicks in the nest. Breeding plumage Cattle and Snowy Egrets. And tons more. You will learn to spot the good situations, to choose the best perspective, to see and understand the light, to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system. A big part of the above is that you will learn how and why you must work in Manual mode 90% of the time at Gatorland.

At lunch we will review my images, take a look at five of your best images from the morning session (for those who opt to bring their laptops), and process a few of my images in Photoshop after converting them in DPP. That followed by Instructor Nap Time. Last Saturday all 3 folks had a great time and learned a ton. The long-range weather forecast for next Saturday is looking good with just a chance for afternoon thunderstorms.

Payment in full via credit card is due upon registering. Please call Jim or Jennifer at 863-692-0906 to register.

Used Nikon Super-Telephoto Lenses for Sale

A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART friend Kitto Kono is offering two great used Nikon super-telephotos lenses for sale.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR AF Lens

The first is a used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR AF lens for $5999.00. This lens sells new from B&H for $8999.00. The price includes UPS insured Ground shipping to the continental US. The lens comes with just about everything that came with the original purchase including the lens trunk, monopod collar, front lens cover, rear lens cap, slip on HK 33 Lens Hood, Slip-in Filter Holder, 52mm screw-in NC Filter, and LN – 1 Strap. The lens is in excellent condition with some minor blemishes and scratches on the exterior body and lens hood. Photos upon request. Potential buyers can contact Kitty via e-mail or by phone: 610-995-2339. Your check must clear before the lens is shipped.

The 400 f/2.8 is superb for large mammals, for birds at close range, and for work at bird feeders. Priced at $3,000 less than new this one should sell quickly.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm F/4G ED VR Lens

Kitty is also offering her used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR lens for $4.999.00. The B&H new price is $8399.00. The sale includes UPS insured Ground shipping to the continental US. The lens comes with just about everything that came with the original purchase including the trunk case, monopod collar, front lens cover, rear lens cap, slip on HK 34 Lens Hood for 500mm lens, slip-in filter holder, 52mm Screw-in FC filter, and the LN – 1 Strap. The lens is in excellent condition with some minor blemishes and scratches on the exterior and the lens hood. Photos upon request Potential buyers can contact Kitty via e-mail or by phone: 610-995-2339. Your check must clear before the lens is shipped.

The 500mm f/4 lenses have long been the world’s most popular super-telephoto lenses for both birds and wildlife. With a $3400 savings as compared to a new lens this one is a steal.

Used Canon Gear for Sale

Denise Ippolito’s 100-400 and her 100 macro sold in one day.

Used Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS Lens for Sale

Multiple IPT veteran, the too-kind Jim Bicket, is offering a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens in excellent condition for $8750. The lens is like new except for some wear on the bottom of the lens hood near the forward edge when the hood is reversed. The sales includes the LensCoat that has protected the lens since day 1, the leather hood, the original hard case and key, and insured shipping via UPS Ground to US addresses only. Personal checks only; your new lens will be shipped only after your check clears.

This great lens, my favorite for 3 years, sells new at B&H for $13,999.00. A month ago B&H was offering one in mint condition for a ridiculous $10,249.90; it sold overnight. Go figure. Jim’s lens will save you a ton of dough and you will have a great lens with lots of reach.

Interested folks can contact Jim via e-mail or try him at 501-915-9336.

Used Canon 400mm f/4L IS DO Lens for Sale

Friend and BAA webmaster Peter Kes is offering is offering a Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens in excellent condition for $4699. The sale includes the lens trunk, the leather lens hood, a Forest Green LensCoat, and insured shipping by UPS Ground to US addresses only. Personal checks only; your new lens will be shipped after your check clears. I owned and used a 400 DO for years; at 4.28 pounds it is a great lens for folks wishing to gain extra reach without having to carry around excessively heavy gear…. I used it often with both TCs and made sharp images. It currently retails new for $6,469 at B&H.

This sale will be made through BAA. Please call Jim at 863-221-2372 (weekdays) or shoot me an if you have any questions.

Used EOS-5D Mark II for Sale/Price Reduced $100!

Doug Bolt’s 400 DO sold early last week. Doug is offering a used EOS-5D Mark II in very good to excellent condition for $1099! There is a shallow scratch on the body and a faint smudge on the top LCD. The sale includes a RRS L-plate, an off-brand vertical grip, and the original box and all the stuff that came in it. The seller will pay shipping to US addresses only. This one is a great body for flowers and landscapes. Mine saved me on a Southern Oceans cruise when I trashed two EOS-1D Mark IV bodies in a rainstorm; it was a great back-up camera body. The item will ship only when the check clears.

Please contact Doug for a link to photos of the camera and for additional info via e-mail or try him by phone at home: at 301-937-3112 or on his cell at 301-537-8073.

Used Canon EOS-7D for Sale

Doug Bolt loves his 5D Mark III so much that he is also offering a used EOS-7D camera body for $799. The sale includes a RRS camera body plate. The seller will pay shipping to US addresses only. This one is a great starter body. The item will ship only when the check clears.

Please contact Doug for additional info via e-mail or try him by phone at home: at 301-937-3112 or on his cell at 301-537-8073.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog or via a BAA Online Bulletin is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charges a minimum of 20% plus assorted fees! Yikes. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly–I offer free pricing advise, usually sells in no time flat as did Dennis Cassidy’s 500 II recently on the blog. Larry Master’s 400 DO and his 800 f/5.6 sold within a week. From Larry via e-mail: Thanks for helping me sell the lenses so quickly!

A Creative Advanture

Many of you would enjoy subscribing to Denise Ippolito’s blog. You can check out her latest offerings here. And be sure to check out Denise’s brand new Facebook workshop page here; there is a cool image of me resting on the ground in the Willem-Alexander Pavilion. 🙂

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Typos

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