Facing Away: Why Did I Make An Image If I Knew It In The Field?

Stuff

I went down to the lake to visit my Opossum Road Kill Cafe. The Black Vultures did a nice job on the carcass. It took a while to get into position but I did get some nice images with the tripod mounted 200-500 and the D5. Photo soon. I spent most of the rest of the day packing for my short trip to Phoenix. Jim drove me up to an airport hotel after dinner so that he did not have to wake at 2am tomorrow. My flight is at 6:20am. I connect in Dallas

There are lots of new Sale Pendings on the Used Gear Page here as the action continues to be hot and heavy.

When It Rains It Pours

I was pretty sure by 4pm on Monday afternoon that I have an inguinal hernia on my right side. I had one on my left side that was surgically repaired with a web about ten or fifteen years ago. Between the time I discovered the hernia until I had the surgery I did Africa, the Bear Boat, and a Galapagos trip. The year was 2006 I think.

Oh yeah, the shoulder still hurts too. 🙂

The Streak

Today makes two hundred forty-seven days in a row with a new educational blog post! This one took about an hour to prepare including the time spent on the image optimizations. With all of my upcoming free time (or not…), the plan right now is to try to break the current record streak of 480 … Good health and good internet connections and my continuing insanity willing.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Patrick Sparkman saved $350 on a recent purchase!

Booking.Com

Several folks on the Gatorland IPT used the Booking.Com link below and got great rates and saved a handsome $25.00 in the process. If you too would like to give Booking.Com a shot, click here and to earn a $25 reward on your first booking. Thanks to the many who have already tried and used this great service.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on morning of Thursday, January 12 at the Gilbert Water Ranch in Phoenix, AZ. I used the Induro GIT304L Grand Series 3 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Mongoose M3.6-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III, and the blazingly fast Canon EOS-1D X Mark II. ISO 1000 (via ISO Safety Shift). Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops in Tv mode: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6. K 7500 at 7:43am in quasi-fire-in-the-mist conditions. LensAlign/FocusTune micro-adjustment: +3. Center AF point/AI Servo/Expand/shutter button AF as originally framed; the selected AF point Click here to see the last version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see the spectacular larger version. Canada Goose flapping

What I See …

When I look at the optimized image above I see a goose facing us and flapping with the bird’s apparently larger right wing closest to us and the bird’s apparently smaller left wing farthest from us. I see the bird angled about 45 degrees toward us. It seems that we are looking at the underside of each wing. Appearances can be deceiving.

Another Optical Illusion?

From the recent Potpourri blog post here:

Is the goose in today’s featured image facing toward us or away?

Two out of three folks who commented on the blog, on my two Facebook pages, and on the NANPA Facebook page, thought that the bird was 100% facing away. About one out of three folks who commented on the blog, on my two Facebook pages, and on the NANPA Facebook page, thought that the bird was 100% facing toward us. Most were adamant as to how they knew they were right.

Scroll down to see the foolproof answer.

This image was created on morning of Thursday, January 12 at the Gilbert Water Ranch in Phoenix, AZ. I used the Induro GIT304L Grand Series 3 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Mongoose M3.6-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III, and the blazingly fast Canon EOS-1D X Mark II. ISO 1000 (via ISO Safety Shift). Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops in Tv mode: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6. K 7500 at 7:43am in quasi-fire-in-the-mist conditions. LensAlign/FocusTune micro-adjustment: +3. Center AF point/AI Servo/Expand/shutter button AF as originally framed; the selected AF point Click here to see the last version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see the spectacular larger version. Canada Goose flapping

Facing Away for Sure!

Once you see the much lighter original image, you know that the big goose was in fact facing away and flapping.

Why Did I Make An Image If I Knew In The Field that the Bird Was Facing Away?

Over the past 15 years I have learned that if you are shooting digital in quasi-silhouette situations that it often pays to make some action images in hopes of catching just the right pose for an optical illusion. Some of you may remember the Brown Booby facing optical illusion blog post here. It was exactly the same situation. The bird was facing away. I used a Levels adjustment to create a pure black silhouetted bird. Many were absolutely positive that the bird was facing me and posted their proof. Then I posted a lightened version here and the truth was told.

Similarly, I have had a crane flying away from me into a gorgeous sky at sunset and made an image where everyone would bet their life on the fact that the bird was flying toward me. So if you know that the possibility of creating a neat action optical illusion at sunrise (like the Brown Booby image) or at sunset (like today’s flapping Canada Goose), take a shot. Heck, it’s digital. And with the 1DX II or the D5 and their blazing frame rates your chances are increased.

IPT Stuff

All IPTs include an introductory briefing before the IPT begins so you know what to expect, frequent in-the-field instruction and guidance (priceless), image editing and small group Photoshop instruction during and after lunch. Breakfasts are on your own so that we can get in the field early. Lunches are on me. Dinners are on your own as well so that we can get to bed as the days in spring will be long.

Rides with the leader are available on a limited basis for $50/day.

Registering for an IPT

To register for an IPT call Jim or Jen in the office at 863-692-0906 from Monday morning through Friday lunch with your credit card in hand to leave your $500 non-refundable deposit. Balances may not be paid by credit card so you will be asked to send a check for your balance along with the signed paperwork that you will find here.

Spring at DeSoto is often magical

DeSoto IPT #1 Sunrise: 7:07 am. Sunset: 6:22pm.

3 1/2 DAYS: SUN 15 APR thru the morning session on WED 18 APR: $1599. Limit 5 photographers.

You must purchase a season Parking Pass in advance for early entry. Click here and scroll down for info. If you are not a local, the six month pass if fine. Best to order by mail. Join me to photograph a wide variety of birds of the shore including pelicans, gulls, terns, sandpipers, oystercatchers, heron, egrets, and night-herons. Many in full breeding plumage. Most are ridiculously tame. Osprey likely. Learn to get the right exposure, flight photography techniques, my secret DeSoto locations, how to see the best situations (nobody is better at that than me), and how to make great images in extremely cluttered situations. Enjoy some great sunrises and sunsets.

Which will offer better opportunities, Desoto #1 or DeSoto #2? I have no idea. Both have the potential to be great.

Tame birds in breeding plumage and heron and egret chicks are great fun.

Gatorland IPT #2. Sunrise: 6:48am. Sunset: 7:58pm.

3 1/2 DAYs: THURS 26 APR through and including the morning of SUN 29 APR. $1599. Limit 5 photographers.

(2 1/2 DAY option) FRI 27 APR through and including the morning of SUN 29 APR. $1199.

Must purchase Gatorland Photographers Pass. Click here for details. All early entry. Late stays Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Gatorland IPT #2 should have lots of chicks, and lots of birds in breeding plumage. We will get to photograph Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, and Wood Stork. The Cattle Egrets in full breeding plumage will be present in good numbers. Learn my Gatorland strategy, to get the right exposure, flight photography techniques, my secret Gatorland spots, how to see the best situations (nobody is better at that than me), and how to make great images in extremely cluttered situations.

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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 please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

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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 :).