What’s Up
When I woke on Tuesday morning and realized that it was my 70th birthday, my thoughts were of my two wonderful daughters and their families and my soon-to-be 94 year old Mom; she is hanging in there.
I was pleased to learn that Melissa Theil signed up for the 2017 Palouse IPT. That’s one so the trip is a go! I can’t wait to get back.
My co-leader and I fly from Spokane to Denver early on Wednesday morning and then on to our respective homes.
Thanks!
Thanks to the many who left Happy Bird-day wishes on the blog and the zillions of folks on Facebook who did the same. Though it would have been impossible to respond to each of you I did read every single one 🙂
later and love, a
The Streak
Today’s blog post marks a totally insane completely ridiculous 220 days in a row with a new blog post. And I still have dozens of new topics to cover; there should be no end in sight until my big South America trip next fall. As always-–and folks have been doing a really great job recently–-please remember to use our B&H links for your major gear purchases. For best results use one of our many product-specific links; after clicking on one of those you can continue shopping with all subsequent purchases invisibly tracked to BAA. Your doing so is always greatly appreciated. Please remember: web orders only. Please remember that if you are shopping for items that we carry in the BAA Online Store (as noted in red at the close of this post below) we would appreciate your business.
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This image was created on the afternoon of Day 4 of the second Palouse IPT with the hand held Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens (at 13mm) and my Kolari Vision converted Canon EOS-5D Mark II (now replaced by the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400: 1/250 sec. at f/10. Custom WB. Center AF point/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the tree as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Large tree/infrared capture |
Huge White Nuclear Fallout Tree with 11-24mm Super Wide Angle…
Though I love my Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens I do not use it often. But like the bad little boy, when it is good it is really, really good. I used it in the Palouse for interior Urbex images and for big skies. And many of my very favorite Palouse images from this year were created with the 11-24.
Why Infrared?
Infrared can be the bomb when you are faced with harsh, bright sun. Throw in some large puffy white clouds and a big tree and you are good to go.
Critique This Infrared Image
Do you like the image? Why or why not? Would you do the work needed to eliminate the tree to our left of the main subject? Same question for the small tree/large bush just to the left of the big tree? How about the brush pile on our right?
How would you rate this image for impact?
Do you like the color tones with the 720 nanometer conversion?
Kolari Vision Infrared Camera Conversions
If you are ready to join the fun and have a body converted to Infrared, use the Kolari Vision logo-link above to order your conversion and I will send you my simple guide to properly setting a Custom White Balance for infrared photography at 720nm. Simply artie me your receipt and I will be glad to shoot you the PDF.
Kolari Vision prides themselves on their fast turnaround times and excellent customer service; they are getting better and faster as they employ several full time technicians to service everything as quickly as possible. The filters they use have been specifically designed for each camera and filter combination to be the optimal thickness for best autofocus performance between lenses, and the best corner sharpness. The filters also fit directly into the frame making the conversion non-damaging and reversible if needed. Others uses a few standard-sized thick filters that they calibrate the camera around. Doing this reaches accurate autofocus with their test lens. But when a filter is too thick for what the optics were designed for, the sharpness can suffer, particularly in the corners, and other lenses will not consistently focus accurately. Some other IR converters glue their filters directly to the sensor; that makes it almost impossible to revert back or to change the filter.
Kolari offers a comprehensive shop for infrared bodies; customers can order converted cameras directly from KV. Their focus on optical quality built from the ground up has allowed them to recently offer a service that improves the performance of Sony A7 series cameras to the level of the Leica M240 cameras. Content-wise, Kolari has a very comprehensive article list and an exhaustive lens performance database chock full of technical details. Soon, KV will feature an interactive gallery that will showcase different camera/filter picture combinations to get rid of some of the mystery of picking a camera to convert.
Learn more about infrared and infrared conversions here and here or try a search for “Kolari” or “infrared” in the little white box on the top right of each blog post.
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Palouse 2016 Horizontals Card |
The 2017 BIRDS AS ART Palouse Instructional Photo-Tour
June 8-14, 2017. Seven full days of photography. Meet and greet at 7:30pm on Wednesday, June 7: $2,499
Rolling farmlands provide a magical patchwork of textures and colors, especially when viewed from the top of Steptoe Butte where we will enjoy spectacular sunrises and at least one nice sunset. We will photograph grand landscapes and mini-scenics of the rolling hills and farm fields. I will bring you to more than a few really neat old abandoned barns and farmhouses in idyllic settings. There is no better way to improve your compositional and image design skills and to develop your creativity than to join me for this trip. Photoshop and image sharing sessions when we have the time and energy…. We get up early and stay out late and the days are long.
Over the past three years, with the help of a good friend, we found all of the iconic locations and, in addition, lots of spectacular new old barns and breath-taking landforms and vistas. What’s included: In-the-field instruction, guidance, lessons, and inspiration, my now extensive knowledge of the area, all lunches, motel lobby grab and go breakfasts, and Photoshop and image sharing sessions. As above, there will be a meet and greet at 7:30pm on the evening before the workshop begins.
To Sign Up
Your non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold your spot. Please let me know via e-mail that you will be joining this IPT. Then you can either call Jim or Jennifer at 863-692-0906 during business hours to arrange for the payment of your deposit; if by check, please make out to “BIRDS AS ART” and mail it to: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail: artie.
Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options. You can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check. Whenever purchasing travel insurance be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
Please Remember to use our Affiliate Links and to Visit the New BAA Online Store 🙂
To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And we are always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
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, and for everything else in the new store, 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 those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack!
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 🙂
Happy birthday, hope you had a good one doing what you love with those you care for the most.
Yes on the former but I was far from family. But I spoke to all of them and all were in my thoughts.
later and love, a
Artie, Great title “Huge White Nuclear Fallout Tree ” for an interesting image. Everything should stay all the elements give impact to the image…the leaning tree looks like it’s blasted by the winds. One thing I would consider removing would be the shadow of the tree. Also on the left behind the leaning tree, is that a road & bridge?
Enjoy your 70’s…May you Mother reach the century mark and beyond!
I like the image, but don’t love it. I find the elements interesting, but not the composition. This may just be me but I never like the main subject smack dab in the middle of the frame. It stops my eye from traveling through out the scene.
Happy birthday, and many more to come! Thank you for all that you do.
The brushpile doesn’t bother me but I think that I would want to remove the tree on the left, but being a Lightroom user with only a copy of PS Elements that I can barely use, I would not be up to it.
Overall, nice image, almost looks like the result of an October snowstorm.
I like the image a lot. I don’t know if the leaning tree is actually leaning or the result of using the 11-24. Could you free transform it and straighten it some. It doesn’t really bother me but I don’t think I’d miss it if it were gone. Brush pile is fine. I like the clouds as leading lines toward the tree.
Whenever you point a super wide angle up or down you will get major distortion. If you free transform this image to straighten the left hand tree you would be stretching a lot of pixels and losing a good part of the image. I would not recommend doing so.
a
Art, I like this image, but then I am very partial to IR imagery these days, shooting a 5D III with a 590nm conversion. I am also glad to see that your 11-24 worked in IR as it means mine will. The only thing I am not sure about is the leaning tree on the left. I might have been tempted to remove it. The other thing that might be nice to see is the result of a channel swap for the blue sky, but that’s just me being curious about end results. 🙂
Yes – I would remove the leaning tree. It detracts from the beautiful framing of the clouds. A startling image. I like it a lot.
Mr. Artie…
Happy Birthday… God’s Blessings
Happy B-day Art! Let’s hope for many more to come. The image is great, interesting how IR can change the image in a surreal picture that has a lot of character.
Cheers, Wilfred
This is a fascinating image. Its cold and disturbing – kind of feels like a still from Mad Max or some other post-apocalyptic movie. I really like the tree on the left – the slant gives the impression of wind and movement and is complimented nicely by the angles in the clouds. The brush pile on the right doesn’t really add or distract from the image, to me.
I think I could stare at this image for a long long time, and keep finding new details. I’m not sure I’d want it on my wall – the first impression is too stark and arresting, but in a gallery or somewhere else, I’d love to spend a good long time with it.
Very cool.
Happy birthday Art!
Hi Artie,
I like the image. The tree on the left along with the cloud directly above it point to the main subject and add to the composition. As for the brush on the right it points to the clouds above it which lead back to the central tree.
John