The Promised Revelation...

What’s Up?

I wrote this blog post on my red-eye flight from Atlanta to Buenos Aires, Argentina. If things go right this blog post should be published either by Peter Kes from Switzerland or by Jim Litzenberg from ILE sometime fairly soon after we set sail. Thanks Guys.

Along with the rest of my shipmates I will board the Ortelius on the afternoon of 15 DEC and disembark on the morning of 9 JAN. There is no wifi on the ship. That means that I will effectively and absolutely be without internet at least from 14 DEC through 9 JAN. At present I am further behind with answering e-mails than at any time since I have began answering folks’ photography-related questions about 25 years ago.

Please therefore refrain from e-mailing me at the usual samandmayasgrandpa e-mail address until I get back home on 13 JAN. You can reach my right-hand man Jim Litzenburg by e-mail here or reach Jennifer here as usual.

Important Blog Notice

I hope to have some time before getting on the ship to prepare a few new blog posts and to have them published during my absence with the help of either Jim or the invaluable Peter Kes, the BAA webmaster. In addition, my plan is to resurrect a collection of older but important educational blog posts and have them re-published during my absence. Please enjoy. Please consider signing up for an IPT. And please continue to do a great job of using my B&H and other affiliate links while I am gone.

This image was created on 7 DEC at 8:29am in a bright sun with the hand held Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens , the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter) (at 280mm), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 100. Evaluative metering + 2/3 stop as framed (to the point of blinkies on the resting geese): 1/8 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Two sensors below the central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

Understanding the Blur-blend Phenomenon

A while back we spoke here of the blur-blend phenomenon. On a sunny day, working in Manual mode with a relatively slow shutter speed no faster than 1/15 sec., keep the lens still while pointed down sun angle at some white geese. Make some test exposures while using a wider and wider aperture until you have significant blinkies on the birds. Those will usually occur one click after the first blinkies appear.

Next, create a pan blur or two of the same scene. At 1/15 sec. you will need to pan fairly quickly. At 1/8 or 1/4 sec., (remember, you always want to set the lowest possible ISO when creating intentional blurs), you can pan more slowly. Make a few images while panning. Surprise! The blinkies that were originally caused by 2/3 stop of over-exposure, will be gone.

Why? Because of the blur-blending effect. The bright WHITEs of the geese are blended with the yellow grasses or the brown dirt or whatever else is in the background as you pan and become a much more pleasing off-white color. And these off-whites are much easier to deal with exposure-wise than the bright WHITEs are. Thanks to Denise Ippolito for opening my eyes to the blend-blur phenomenon. She described it; I named it. Understanding the blend blur effect explains why so many pleasing blurs of white subjects need to be lightened either during RAW conversion or in Photoshop. To get bright WHITEs with your pleasing pan blurs, be sure to set your exposures one or two clicks into blinkies.

Please continue on to learn about my revelation.

This image was created on 7 DEC at 3:03pm in a bright sun with the hand held Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens , the <Canon Extender EF 2X III (at 400mm), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 200. Evaluative metering + 2/3 stop with the geese on the ground was about +1 1/3 stops as framed (again, to the point of blinkies on the resting geese): 1/8 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Two sensors below the central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

The Promised Revelation…

After the fact the revelation that I had will seem obvious to most of you. None-the-less, understanding the concept that I am about to share with you was indeed a huge revelation for me. I was talking with blog-regular and IPT veteran David Policansky on one of the Festival of the Cranes In-the-field Early Morning Workshops. David has never been a huge fan of pleasing blurs. He persisted in creating sharp images of sunlit blastoffs.

At one point in our conversation I said, “I have never seen a sharp image of a white geese blastoff created in bright sun that I liked at all.” He asked, “Why?” It was then that it hit me. The blur-blend phenomenon turns glaringly bright WHITEs with their accompanying harsh shadows into soft, pleasing off whites. By getting to a slow shutter speed and panning you can transform, harsh, jangling images into softly lit masterpieces even in the bright sun of a clear midday in New Mexico. And working in either cloudy WB or 8000K can enhance the pleasing light effect even more.

To learn how I get to such slow shutter speeds even in bright sun and harsh light, keep reading.

This abstract pan blur was created on 7 DEC at 8:02am in a bright sun with the hand held Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens , the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter) (at 280mm), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 100. Evaluative metering + 2/3 stop as initially framed (again, to the point of blinkies on the resting geese): 1/8 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode. Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF as on the near edge of the goose flock, release and pan. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

New Pan Blur Tip

To introduce triangular wedges into your pan blurs try zooming from wider to tighter during the exposure as I did here. This technique should work well for flower fields as well.

Singh-Ray ND Filters to the Rescue

About the best that you can do at ISO 50 in bright sun is about 1/15 sec. at f/32 or so. It is impossible to get down to or below 1/8 or 1/4 sec., shutter speeds that allow you to get really creative (and/or really lucky). At small apertures in the vicinity of f/32 the time spent dust spotting will be considerable. No matter how clean you keep your sensor, the microscopic dust that is impossible to eliminate totally will make cleaning the dust bunnies a most unpleasant chore.

Remember that with Highlight Tone Priority turned off you can get down to ISO 50 with the 1D X (and with the 5D II as well). A careful look at the EXIF data for today’s three featured images will reveal that I actually had to raise the ISO to be able to shoot at the desired slow shutter speed. The Singh Ray 5-Stop Mor-Slo Solid Neutral Density Filter (glass) allows me to get down to the really creative low shutter speeds that I crave even in bright sunny conditions on clear days. I use the 77mm thin-ring (no front threads) with my favorite blur lens, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens and also with the 16-35mm IS lens. It would work just as well with either the 0ld 100-400 or with the soon-to-be-released 100-400 mm L IS II. Whatever your intermediate telephoto lens, Singh-Ray makes the 5-Stop in the size that you need. I go with thin as I will never be putting another filter in front of my NDs. Though it takes a moment for your eye to get used to the dark view I find the AF acquires quickly with the 5-Stop ND in place. On rare occasion I need to touch up the focus manually to get AF to grab.

On cloudy days I opt for the 77mm George Lepp 3 Solid Neutral Density Filter to avoid having to raise the ISO beyond 400. These more economical filters are handcrafted with the highest quality optical resin for outstanding image quality and no loss of color fidelity. As always, I opt for thin-ring.

While I use these two filters almost exclusively at Bosque for geese and blackbird blasts, they can be equally useful to landscape photographers who include moving water or clouds in their images. Even more valuable for those folks are Singh-Ray’s line of Variable ND filters….

To sum up I would no more consider being afield at Bosque without my Sing-Ray ND filters than I would of heading out without a camera and lens.

Singh-Ray Filters

Singh-Ray filters have been used by the world’s top photographers for many decades. Who? Art Wolfe, Tony Sweet, John Barclay, my new friend Ian Plant, my BFF and oft-business partner, Denise Ippolito, Nevada Weir, Brenda Tharp, Cole Thompson, Chuck Kimmerle, and the late Galen Rowell among others. Singh-Ray has been and is the name in quality filters. I often use a 77mm warming polarizer set to dark at Bosque to get to a slower shutter speed in too-bright conditions. Toward that end, BIRDS AS ART is working with Singh-Ray to produce a 5-stop Neutral Density filter to to fit the filter drawers of Canon Super-telephoto lenses. Stayed tuned for info on that.

No other filter manufacturer comes close to matching the quality of Singh-Ray’s optical glass that is comparable to that used by NASA. And they continue to pioneer the most innovative products on the market like their ColorCombo polarizer, Vari-ND variable and Mor-Slo 15-stop neutral density filters. When you use their filters, you’ll create better, more dramatic images and, unlike other filters, with absolutely no sacrifice in image quality. All Singh-Ray filters are handcrafted in the USA.

Best News: 10% Discount/Code at checkout: artie10

To shop for a Singh-Ray 5-Stop Mor-Slo Fliter (for example), click on the logo link above, click on “Neutral and color
Solid Neutral Density Filters (glass), then click on “Mor-Slo™ 5, 10, 15 and 20-Stop Solid Neutral Density Filters (glass),” choose the size and model, add to cart, and then checkout. At checkout, type artie10 into the “Have a coupon? Click here to enter your code” box, and a healthy 10% discount will be applied to your total. In addition to enjoying the world’s best filter at 10% off you will be supporting my efforts here on the blog.

Learn the secrets of creating contest winning images in our “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs.”

A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

In our A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly, we discuss just about every technique ever used mankind to create pleasingly blurred image. Ninety-nine point nine percent of pleasing blurs are not happy accidents. You can learn pretty much everything that there is to know about creating them in this instructive, well written, easy to follow guide.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 3-FULL DAY IPT: NOV 22-24, 2015. $1149. Meet and greet and introductory slide program after dinner on your own at 7:00pm on SAT NOV 21.

Tens of thousands of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with two of the world’s premier photographic educators at one of their very favorite photography locations on the planet. Top-notch in-the-field and Photoshop instruction. This will make 21 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for artie. This will be denise’s 7th workshop at the refuge. Nobody knows the place better than artie does. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the sky conditions, the light, and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home being able to apply what you’ve learned on your home turf will prove to be invaluable.

This workshop includes 3 morning and 3 afternoon photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/21, all lunches, and after-lunch digital workflow, Photoshop, and image critiquing sessions.

There is never a strict itinerary on a Bosque IPT as each day is tailored to the local conditions at the time and to the weather. We are totally flexible in order to maximize both the photographic and learning opportunities. We are up early each day leaving the hotel by 5:30 am to be in position for sunrise. We usually photograph until about 10:30am. Then it is back to Socorro for lunch and then a classroom session with the group most days. We head back to the refuge at about 3:30pm each day and photograph until sunset. We will be photographing lots of Snow Geese and lots of Sandhill Cranes with the emphasis on expanding both your technical skills and your creativity.

A $449 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. 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.

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.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 4-DAY IPT: (three full and two 1/2 DAYS) NOV 28-DEC 2, 2015. $1499. Meet and greet at 3pm on SAT NOV 28 followed by an afternoon photo session at the crane pools and the introductory slide program after dinner on your own.

Tens of thousands of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with two of the world’s premier photographic educators at one of their very favorite photography locations on the planet. Top-notch in-the-field and Photoshop instruction. This will make 21 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for artie. This will be denise’s 7th workshop at the refuge. Nobody knows the place better than artie does. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the sky conditions, the light, and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home being able to apply what you’ve learned on your home turf will prove to be invaluable.

This workshop includes 4 afternoon (11/28through 12/1), 4 morning (11/29 to 12/2) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/28, all lunches, and after-lunch digital workflow, Photoshop, and image critiquing sessions.

There is never a strict itinerary on a Bosque IPT as each day is tailored to the local conditions at the time and to the weather. We are totally flexible in order to maximize both the photographic and learning opportunities. We are up early each day leaving the hotel by 5:30 am to be in position for sunrise. We usually photograph until about 10:30am. Then it is back to Socorro for lunch and then a classroom session with the group most days. We head back to the refuge at about 3:30pm each day and photograph until sunset. We will be photographing lots of Snow Geese and lots of Sandhill Cranes with the emphasis on expanding both your technical skills and your creativity.

A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. 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.

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.

IPT Updates

Would you like to visit some of the great bird photography locations on the planet? Would you like to learn from the best? Click here and join us.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack!

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!

We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

…..

Amazon.com

Those who prefer to support BAA by shopping with Amazon may use this link:

Amazon Canada

Many kind folks from north of the border, eh, have e-mailed stating that they would love to help us out by using one of our affiliate links but that living in Canada and doing so presents numerous problems. Now, they can help us out by using our Amazon Canada affiliate link by starting their searches by clicking here. Many thanks to those who have written.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).