Two Spectacular Images: No Grousing When Ruffing It...

What’s Up?

On Wednesday I got up really early, stock-piled three blog posts, and took a nap before 9am. Then I went to work intent on finishing my slide show for DPI-SIG in Naples this Saturday. Then my core exercises and a swim. I answer e-mails all day long every day when I need to take a break from what I am doing. ADD I think, but definitely not ADHD…

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending IPTs and dozens of the folks whom I see in the field, and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

Facebook Live Interview

In conjunction with my Saturday morning speaking gig in Naples (see the details below) I will be doing a Facebook Live Interview/Podcast at 4pm eastern time on Friday, September 9 at 4 p.m. EDT with Peggy Farren of Understand Photography.

All that you need to do to watch the live podcast is head over to the Facebook page here at 4 p.m. on September 9 (2016). If you would like notification via Facebook, you can join the event here.

DPI-SIG Naples Speaking Gig

On the morning of Saturday September 10, I will be presenting “A Bird Photographer’s Story” at 9am in the auditorium at Florida SouthWestern State College located at 7505 Grand Lely Drive, Naples, Florida, 34113. Learn more here. If you live anywhere near SW Florida, I hope to see you there. Be sure to come up for a hug.

The Streak

Today’s blog post marks a totally insane, irrational, illogical, preposterous, absurd, completely ridiculous, unfathomable, silly, incomprehensible, what’s wrong with this guy?, makes-no-sense, 301 days in a row with a new educational blog post. There should be no end in sight until my big South America trip next fall. Or not… 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. And please remember also that if you are shopping for items that we carry in the new BAA Online Store (as noted in red at the close of this post below) we would appreciate your business.

Selling Your Used 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 advice, usually sells in no time flat. In the past few months, we have sold just about everything in sight. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the original 400mm IS DO lens have been dropping steadily. You can see all current listings by clicking here or by clicking on the Used Photo Gear tab on the yellow-orange tab on the right side of the menu bar above.

Used Gear Sales Rocking!

• Multiple IPT veteran Phil Frigon sold his barely used Canon EOS 5DSR in like-new condition for $2799 within three hours of listing it on September 6.
• Joe Alexander sold his Gitzo GT3532LS carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley V-2 WH-200 gimbal head both in like-new condition for $799 within an hour of listing it on September 6.
• IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon EOS 5DSR in like-new condition for $2799 in early September.
• Top pro Jim Zuckerman sold his Canon 7D Mark II in excellent condition for $899, his 5D Mark II in excellent condition for $799, and his Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM lens in very good condition for the amazingly low price of $1049 in early September, all within a week of listing.
• Yours truly sold his Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens in near-mint condition for $4783 in early September.
• Multiple IPT-veteran Sheldon Goldstein decided to keep his Canon EOS-5D Mark III and have it converted to Infrared by Kolari Vision using the link on the right side of each blog page. Folks who use that link will receive a free copy of my IR White Balance Guide.
• David Snyder sold his Nikon MF 500mm f/4P lens in good condition for $1199 in late August, 2016.
• Michael Hansen sold a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for $1599 in late August.
• Peter Noyes sold an Apple MacBook Pro with 15.4 inch Retina Display, 16 GB memory, a 1 TB Flash Drive, 2.8 GHZ Intel Core I7 processor, and Force-Touch keypad in excellent condition for $1,199 in late August.
• Multiple IPT-veteran Mike Goldhamer sold his Canon EOS-5D Mark III (with the battery grip) in excellent plus condition for $1550 in late August.

New Listing

Canon EOS-1D X with extras!

Ken Siegel is offering a Canon EOS 1DX in excellent condition with several extras for $2899. The camera is like-new but for two small scratches near the shutter button and a very few fine scratches on the rear LCD; Photos are available from Ken upon request. The camera shows less than 9,000 actuations. The camera underwent a clean and check at an authorized Canon repair facility a few months ago. The sale includes all original equipment including the front body cap, the unused strap, the battery charger, all manuals, CDs, and cords, the original product box, two additional LP-E4N batteries, a RRS B1DX “L” plate and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. The LP-EN4 batteries for for $164.95 each new at B&H. The B1DX “L” plate sells new for $220. That makes for $549.90 worth of valuable extras.

Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Ken via e-mail.

I used, depended on, and loved my two fast, rugged 1DX cameras as my workhorse bodies for more than three years after their release. The 1DX offers a great AF system, 10 frames per second, and the best high ISO performance in the Canon line. It is ideal for birds (especially in flight), wildlife, and sports. artie

Canon EOS-1D X/Like-new!

Roger Doughty is offering a Canon EOS-1DX in “like-new” condition for $2,749. The body has < 13,000 shutter actuations. The sale includes the rear lens caps, the charger, one extra battery for a total of two, the strap, the original box, the cables and CDs, the owner's manual and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears. Please contact Roger Doughty via e-mail or by phone at (208) 794-8810 (Mountain Time).

I used, depended on, and loved my two fast, rugged 1DX cameras as my workhorse bodies for more than three years after their release. The 1DX offers a great AF system, 10 frames per second, and the best high ISO performance in the Canon line. It is ideal for birds (especially in flight), wildlife, and sports. artie

Canon EOS 7D Mark II/Like-new!

Roger Doughty is also offering a Canon EOS 7D Mark II in like-new condition for $1,049. The body has 17,537 shutter actuations. The sale includes the rear lens cap, charger, one extra battery for a total of two, the strap, the BG-E-16 battery Grip with its original box, the owner’s manual, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears.

Please contact Roger Doughty via e-mail or by phone at (208) 794-8810 (Mountain Time).

Simply put, the 7D II is the greatest ever value in a digital camera body. It’s 1.6 crop factor is great for folks wishing for greater reach. artie

Canon EOS 24-105mm f/4 L IS Lens

Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master is offering a Canon EOS 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens in excellent condition for $549. The sale includes the Canon soft lens pouch (LP1219), the lens hood, the front and rear lens caps, the instruction book, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Larry via e-mail at e-mail or by phone at 1-518-645-1545 EDT.

The 24-105mm zoom has been my go-to B-roll lens for longer than I can remember. When I leave it in the car I rarely get far before realizing that I need it. I use it for bird-scapes, images of photographers, landscapes, as a quasi-macro lens, and for just about anything under the sun (or clouds). It sells new for $999 so you can save a n=bunch by grabbing this one before it is gone. artie

This image was created from a blind on Dave Neilson’s property in Northern Wisconsin with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens with the EOS-1D X (now replaced by the high ISO king, the rugged, blazingly fast Canon EOS-1D X Mark II DSLR with 64GB Card and Reader. ISO 6400: 1/250 sec. at f/4. AWB. Fill flash at 1/32 power. LensAlign/FocusTune Microadjustment: +3. Image #1: Ruffed Grouse displaying/front view Image copyright and courtesy of David Neilson/Screaming Skua Gallery

No Grousing When Ruffing It

Many multiple IPT veteran Dave Neilson loves all kinds of grouse, prairie chickens, and pretty much any bird that displays on a lekking ground. When I mentioned that I was leading a trip to Finland to photograph Capercaillie, Black Grouse, and one of my most wanted shorebird, Ruff, Dave e-mailed immediately that he was pretty much good to go. Though it looks as if all four slots might be accounted for, do get in touch via e-mail if you are seriously interested. Limit four plus me. Plus our multiple BBC honored host and guide. Heck, I do not have any deposit checks yet and I do not even have a price from the organizer yet, so do not be discouraged.

In Nebraska the temps in March are 0 degrees Fahrenheit or so in the morning. April in Wisconsin they are in the twenties (all F). When he photographs Bald Eagles on his property in January and February the temps are -20 degrees F. He is usually arrive about 4am to get into the blinds in both Nebraska and Wisconsin. Milky way photography in the Sand Hills is outstanding at that time so he does a bit of that before entering the blind. The birds show up at about 6:00am.

lek (from Dictionary.Com)

noun. a traditional place where male birds assemble during the mating season and engage in competitive sometimes violent displays that attract females.

My Comments

With Image #1 the key to success is the sharp focus on the head. I find the relatively high shutter speed wing blur very pleasing (as we discussed somewhere on the blog a few weeks ago). Image #2 looks like a watercolor painting.

This image was created from a blind on Dave Neilson’s property in Northern Wisconsin with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens with the EOS-1D X (now replaced by the high ISO king, the rugged, blazingly fast Canon EOS-1D X Mark II DSLR with 64GB Card and Reader. ISO 6400: 1/1250 sec. at f/4. Image #2: Ruffed Grouse displaying/side view Image copyright and courtesy of David Neilson/Screaming Skua Gallery

Dave Neilson

Dave has a Gemologists Degree from the Gemological Institute of America, is a Certified Gemologist Appraiser, a member of the American Gem Society, has a BS in Zoology (1974 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and a Masters Degree in Ecology and Behavioral Biology from the University of Minnesota. He has been a Certified Gemologist and Master Goldsmith for forty years; he sells high end diamonds and colored stones in his own designs and was a pioneer in the development of CAD/CAM technology for the jewelry industry. (Note: CAD/CAM is a term that describes the two-part process of designing three-dimensional objects on a computer (CAD) and manufacturing them with a computerized machine (CAM).

Today Dave says, “I am more or less retired now but my customers keep finding me! So I sit up straight, salute and do what they ask.”

In 2015 he completed a 5-year photo study of Prairie Chickens and Sharp-tailed Grouse in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. Since then he has been photographing Ruffed Grouse on his property in the North Woods of Wisconsin and Sharp-tailed Grouse on the Nameakagon Barrens about 20 miles north of his place near Solon Springs, WI.

His interest in Grouse began when he went to Nebraska to see the Sandhill Crane migration in March, 2011. With some free time, he found and hooked up with the folks at the Switzer Ranch. They set him up in a remote blind 11 miles from their lodge to shoot Greater Prairie Chickens. He kept going back for four more years, five in all.

You can learn more about David on his website here.

Your Favorite?

Which of Dave’s images is your favorite? Be sure to let us know why.

Dave Neilson on his Bear Boat IPT Experience

I was on the 2013 Bear Boat IPT. We spent the whole time at the beautiful and remote Geographic Harbor in Katmai National Park, 100 miles west of Kodiak Is. After flying in by float plane, we disembarked onto our home for the week and were off after the bears; no wasted time there. The bears were a short 3 minute skiff-ride away and were fishing for pink salmon. The photo opportunities are in your face. Active fishing bears, playful cubs, portraits and snoozing bears in the sand. With Artie your shooting time will be maximized. As a former Antarctic explorer and field biologist, being out is the key. Weather be damned and so it is with Artie. He’s ready to shoot in all conditions and when the light is right. So bring your Gore-Tex rain gear and gear covers. Back on the bost there’s plenty of food, warm accommodations, and one-on-one and small group time with Artie to review your images and learn some Photoshop.

Images and card copyright Arthur Morris/BEARS AS ART 🙂

2017 Bear Boat Coastal Brown Bear Cubs IPTs: July 18-24, 2017 from Kodiak, AK: 5 FULL & 2 Half DAYS: $6699. Happy campers only! Maximum 8/Openings 3.

Join me in spectacular Katmai National Park, AK for six days of photographing Coastal Brown Bears. Mid-July is prime time for making images of small, football-sized cubs. The cubs, and these dates, are so popular that I had to reserve them three years in advance to secure them. There are lots of bears each year in June, but the mothers only rarely risk bringing their tiny cubs out in the open in fear of predation by rival bears. In addition to making portraits of both adults and cubs, we hope to photograph frolicking and squabbling youngsters and tender nursing scenes. At this time of year, the bears are either grazing in luxuriant grass or clamming. There will also be some two- and three-year old cubs to add to the fun. And we will get to photograph it all.

We will live on our tour operator’s luxurious new boat. At 78 feet long its 24 foot beam makes it quite spacious as well. And the food is great. We will likely spend most of our time at famed Geographic Harbor as that is where the bears are generally concentrated in summer. On the odd chance that we do need to relocate to another location we can do so quickly and easily without having to venture into any potentially rough seas. We land via a 25 foot skiff that has lots of room for as much gear as we can carry.

Aside from the bears we should get to photograph Horned and Tufted Puffin and should get nice stuff on Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Harbor Seal, and Steller’s Sea Lion as well. A variety of tundra-nesting shorebirds including Western Sandpiper and both yellowlegs are also possible. Halibut fishing (license required/not included) is optional.

It is mandatory that you be in Kodiak no later than the late afternoon of July 17 to avoid missing the float planes to the boat on the morning of July 18. Again, with air travel in Alaska (or anywhere else for that matter) subject to possible delays, being on Kodiak on July 16 is a much better plan.

Barring any delays, we will get to photograph bears on our first afternoon and then again every day for the next five days after that, all weather permitting of course. On our last morning on the boat, July 24, those who would like to enjoy one last photo session will have the opportunity to do so. The group will return to Kodiak via float plane from late morning through midday. Most folks will then fly to Anchorage and to continue on red-eye flights to their home cities.

What’s included? 7 DAYS/6 NIGHTS on the boat as above. All meals on the boat. National Park and guide fees. In-the-field photo tips, instruction, and guidance. An insight into the mind of two top professionals; we will constantly let you know what we are thinking, what we are doing, and why we are doing it. Small group image review, image sharing, and informal Photoshop instruction on the boat.

What’s not included: Your round trip airfare to and from Kodiak, AK (almost surely through Anchorage). Your lodging and meals on Kodiak. The cost of the round-trip float plane to the boat and then back to Kodiak as above. The cost of a round trip last year was $550. The suggested crew tip of $200.

Have you ever walked with the bears?

Is this an expensive trip? Yes, of course. But with 5 full and two half days, a wealth of great subjects, and the fact that you will be walking with the bears just yards away (or less….), it will be one of the great natural history experiences of your life. Most folks who take part in a Bear Boat IPT wind up coming back for more.

A $2,000 per person non-refundable deposit by check only made out to “BIRDS AS ART” is required to hold your spot. Please click here to read our cancellation policies. Then please print, read, and sign the necessary paperwork here and send it to us by mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855.

Your deposit is due when you sign up. That leaves a balance of $4699. The next payment of $2699 will be due on September 15, 2016. The final payment of $2000 is due on February 15, 2017. We hope that you can join us for what will be a wondrously exciting trip.

Please Remember to use my 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.

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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 🙂