The Streak Continues: 261
This blog was published at about 5:15am from my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. It took me about 3 1/2 hours to assemble; this one makes 261 consecutive days with a brand new blog post. As always, I would appreciate your using the BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases, using our Amazon logo-link for all of your household purchases, and visiting the BAA Online Store for your tripod, tripod head, LensCoat, miscellaneous, accessories, and eGuide purchases as well.
The 2015 UK Puffins and Gannets IPT
There are just 3 slots left on the 2015 UK Puffins and Gannets IPT; if you are seriously interested in joining us on this truly wonderful trip it would be best not to tarry…. Click here for complete details. artie and denise
Nickerson Update
From Greg Gulbransen: Lots of skimmers feeding chicks out front in the open at Nikcerson. Lots of photo ops. Next week will be perfect. For info on my 2-DAY trip click here and scroll down to near the bottom. artie
Your Help Is Needed
Sales for the first half of August, 2014 via our BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate links have been microscopically abysmal at best. If you need to purchase some new camera gear, please remember to use either our B&H logo link below or one of the product-specific links in the blog or the Bulletins. All should feel free to write me via e-mail for gear advice.
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This image was created at Bosque del Apache NWR on the very early morning of November 22, 2013 with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (with the internal TC in place at 436mm) and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops as framed in Tv Mode (with ISO Safety Shift). Central sensor/AI Servo/Surround–Rear Focus AF as framed 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.
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Festival of the Cranes Early Morning Photography In-the-Field Workshops
Festival of the Cranes Early Morning In-the-Field Photography Workshops: 5:50-10:30am. Limit 16. NOV 20/21/22 & 23: $125/session. Please see the important registration information below.
Join fulltime professional photographers Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART and Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure for four 1/2 hours of fun and learning at the refuge. You will learn how to create pleasingly blurred images in the low predawn light, to spot the good situations, to understand the effects of wind speed and direction on bird (especially in flight) photography, to photograph individual cranes in flight, to see and understand the light, to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and to design pleasing images. In addition you will learn and live Artie’s early morning Bosque del Apache strategies, strategies based on over two decades of experience at the refuge. This is a caravan event and a refuge pass will be provided. Dress with layers for warmth and bring snacks and plenty of water. Workshop leaves sharply at 6:00 AM. This workshop is being offered on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Combining one or more all of the Early Morning Photography In-the-Field Workshops immediately above with the Bosque del Apache 2014 A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART “Creative Photography Instructional Photo-Tour” (IPT) immediately below and/or the Bosque del Apache Photography Two-Part Seminar (scroll down for details) is a fabulous and economical way to maximize your educational and photographic opportunities on a 2014 Bosque visit. Why not take advantage of these great relatively inexpensive events and learn from two of the world’s most talented, most creative, most caring, and most respected photographic educators, educators with a combined 26 years of Bosque experience?
Please note: the 4-DAY Bosque del Apache 2014 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure IPT (NOV 29–afternoon photo session through DEC 3–morning session is sold out with a waiting list as is the BIRDS AS ART Bosque del Apache/Canon EOS Destination Workshop (DEC 5-7, 2014).
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Join Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris for two great days of photography, fun, and learning at one of our favorite soul places. We will surely be taking you out of the box on this workshop. Please click on the card to enjoy a larger version. |
Bosque del Apache 2014 A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART “Creative Photography Instructional Photo-Tour.” (IPT). NOV 24-25, 2014. 2-FULL DAYS: $729. Leaders: Denise Ippolito & Arthur Morris. Introductory Slide program: 7:00pm on Sunday 11/23.
Get Out of Your Box!
The Creative Bosque IPT is perfect for folks who want to learn to think outside the box, to create new and different images. This workshop is the perfect add-on for folks who are planning on attending the Festival of the Cranes. Learn to unleash your creative juices at the wondrous Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico with two great leaders including the amazingly talented and creative Denise Ippolito. In-the-field instruction will include tips on gear set-up, on creating a variety of pleasing blurs, on getting the right exposure, and on designing pleasing images. And lots more. From vertical pan blurs to subject motion blurs to zoom blurs to multiple exposures we will cover it all. If conditions are perfect, we will not hesitate to take advantage of them to do some traditional bird photography. This workshop will include an inspirational introductory slide program on Sunday evening, 11/23, after dinner on your own, two morning and two afternoon photography sessions, all lunches, a digital workflow and Photoshop session after lunch on Monday, and an image critiquing session after lunch on Tuesday.
A $329 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2014. If 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. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.
Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.”) You can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.
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This image was created at Bosque del Apache NWR on one of last year’s Bosque IPTs on the morning of November 22, 2013, with the hand held Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter) (at 180mm), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital camera body ISO 50. Evaluative metering +2 1/3 stops off the white sky: 1/13 sec. at f/14 in Manual mode, with the Hoya 77mm Neutral Density (ND) 0.9 (3-stop) Pro 1 Digital Multi-Coated Glass Filter Central sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus/Suround AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
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Bosque del Apache Photography Two-Part Seminar
Bosque del Apache Photography Two-Part Seminar. Thursday, NOV 20, 2014. 2:00-4:30 pm at the refuge visitor center with Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito: $50.00. Please see the important registration information below.
Part I: Bosque del Apache Photography Basics
Artie and Denise will cover the basics of lens selection, tripod and head selection, image design, getting the right exposure, autofocus options, and the relationship between light direction and wind direction, and will give an overview of the best photographic opportunities at the refuge. Artie and Denise have more than 26 years of experience photographing Bosque and count it high on their list of soul places.
Part II: Creative Photography at Bosque del Apache
Artie and Denise will teach you to think outside the box when photographing at the refuge (and elsewhere!). You will learn to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images by using slow shutter speeds, by photographing moving subjects, and by zooming or by panning with the lens during the exposure. They will teach you to take advantage of spectacular lighting and weather conditions. They will also cover post processing creative techniques.
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It’s been a 20+ year love affair…. |
“Love Affair with Bosque.” Sponsored by Canon. Friday, NOV 21, 2014; 1:00 to 2:40pm. Free, at the Bodega Restaurant, Socorro.
A slide program by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. Limit 200. Please see the important registration information below.
Arthur Morris first visited Bosque del Apache Refuge in December, 1992 while on sabbatical with his late-wife Elaine While leading his first Bosque del Apache photographic workshop in December, 1994, quite soon after Elaine’s death, he created two iconic Bosque images. His “Blizzard in Blue” was honored in the prestigious 1998 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. “Fire in the Mist” was similarly honored in the 2001 BBC competition and soon thereafter was featured as wrap-around cover art on the coffee table book, Life on the Earth, a celebration of 30 years of the best images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competitions. Those two images laid the foundation for his more than two decade love affair with the refuge. He has returned every year since then at the Thanksgiving season while leading BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. In addition, he has two February visits along with two September visits, the latter visits in conjunction with the Bosque del Apache Open Windows Volunteer Program that he founded. Join us for Artie’s photographic celebration of his “Love Affair with Bosque.”
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This image was created at Bosque del Apache NWR at 2:22pm on the afternoon of November 21, 2013 with the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 IS lens (now replaced by the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens) hand held at 16mm with the Canon EOS-5D Mark II (now replaced by the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/8. AWB. Central sensor/AI Servo/Surround–Rear Focus AF on the closest geese and re-compose. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
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Finally, the Important Registration Information 🙂
Warning: if you do not read this information carefully you will likely screw up and experience some degree of disappointment. Forewarned is forearmed (praemonitus, praemunitus in Latin).
The best way to register for one or more of the Festival of the Cranes Early Morning Photography In-the-Field Workshops, the Bosque del Apache Photography Two-Part Seminar, and/or the free “Love Affair with Bosque” program is to use the registration button at http://www.festivalofthecranes.com.
Here’s the rub: Online early registration for Friends of the Bosque members only will begin on Tuesday September 2, 2014 at 9:00 AM (MDT). Non-member online registration will begin a day later on Wednesday September 3, 2014 at 9:00 AM (MDT). E-mail confirmation of your registration, your receipt and your schedule will be sent automatically when you register online. Your schedule will be your ticket.
What to do?
If you wish to be assured of registering for the events that you wish to attend I recommend strongly that you click here right now and become a member of The Friends of the Bosque. Friends of the Bosque is a non-profit group that was organized in 1993 to support the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and to promote appreciation and conservation of wildlife and habitat through environmental education and natural history experiences. I have been a member for many years. Joining the Friends group now will ensure that you can take advantage of the priority registration process that is reserved that is for their valued members on September 2 at 9:00am Mountain Daylight Time. Learn more about Friends of the Bosque here.
After you join, set your alarm to ring at 8:55am Mountain Daylight Time on September 2, 2014. As you might surmise, we expect that all three festival events will sell out quickly.
Update
Registration is now open to the public; all BAA/A Creative Adventure events are filling quickly. Please click here to register.
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s three images would you hang on your wall? Which of the three would you enter in a prestigious international photography contest. Be sure to let us know why for each.
The Bosque Site Guide
If you cannot make any of the events above for whatever reasons it would behoove you to get yourself a copy of our Bosque del Apache Site Guide. Simply put, I share everything that I have learned about his world-class photographic location with you. BAA Site Guides are the next best thing to attending an IPT. See the rest of the Site Guide collection here.
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Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
No. 3 is my favourite; it’s very emotive.
Image #2 I would hang on the wall, why, because it is spectacular!!
Image #3 I would hang on the wall, why, same as above.