Stuff
The word on the street is that sunny afternoons at Bempton Cliffs are best. Not. They are OK, but Thursday morning dawned cloudy and we absolutely killed. It took a while to find the best spot, but once we did, we enjoyed non-stop action for several hours.
PHOTOEXPO 2018
If you missed the PHOTOEXPO 2018 announcement and live anywhere within driving or flying distance of Memphis, TN, click here for the info. I am still looking for a ride to Beale Street!
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D and 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. You can always see the current listings by clicking on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
Recent Sales
Pierre Williot sold his Canon EOS 7D Mark II in like-new condition for a very fair $848.00 in late June, 2018.
Top BAA used gear seller Jim Keener sold his Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens in like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $1349.00 the first day it was listed in late June.
Jim Keener sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark III body in excellent condition for the BAA record-low price of $999.00 (was $1149.00) in mid-June.
Jim Keener sold a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $1099.00 in Early June.
Steve Traudt sold an Xtrahand Vest, the Khumbu model, size XL, in very good condition for the BAA record-low price of $179.
Jim Brennan sold a used Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens in good condition for $249.00 in late May.
Larry Padgett sold his Canon EOS 5D Mark III body in excellent condition for $1160 soon after it was listed in late May.
Charlie Curry sold his Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens in mint condition for a BAA record-low price of $750.00 on the first day of listing in late May, 2018.
New Listings
BAA-friend “Bug” Bob Allen is offering the following items:
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Zoom Lens
This lens, the original 100-400, is in excellent condition with a very few spots of minor paint wear on the white finish. The sale includes the tripod collar, the hood, the front and rear lens caps, and the zippered storage pouch. Price: a BAA record low $527.00.
Canon EF 100mm/ƒ 2.8 Macro USM Lens
This is the original non-IS version in very good condition but for a few very small, shallow scratches on the front element. The sale includes the front lens cap and the Canon 58mm Close-up lens 500D. Price: $299.00.
Small scratches on the front element of a lens will not effect your front-lit macro photographs. Problems arise only when the lens is pointed toward the sun. artie
Canon Extender EF 1.4X and Canon Extender EF 2X
Both the 1.4 and 2X teleconverters are the original versions. Both are in very good to excellent condition and the sale includes the front and rear caps. Please check with Bob (as below) to check on the compatibility with your camera/lens. Price: $99.00 each.
Kenko 1.4X Teleplus Pro 300 C-AF Teleconverter
This is the white version. It works with most Canon EOS bodies & EF lenses, even the new models. The TC is in very good to excellent condition. Price: $60.00.
Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash
This item is not in working order as the motherboard is — according to Canon, irreparable. If you are a techie who might this for parts to repair another unit, Bob is offering this for free with the buyer paying for insured ground shipping via major courier to US & Canadian addresses only.
All sales above include insured ground shipping via major courier. For all items, please contact Bob via e-mail.
Ten Nikon D850s and a Nikkor AF-S 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Lens! Available Right Now!
Contact Steve below to get your D850 tomorrow. Or e-mail Steve about a special del on the big Nikon zoom lens that is especially great for a trip to Africa or the Galapagos.
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 DeSoto IPT used the Booking.Com link below for there Edinburgh hotels, 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 photographers 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.
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This image was created at Bempton Cliffs on the cloudy morning of Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Bempton Cliffs, UK. I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens and the Nikon D850. ISO 1250. Matrix metering +2 stops off the grey sky: 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Natural Auto WB at 8:02:22am. Center Group (grp) AF was active at the moment of exposure. The array was on the bird’s upper breast with the upper point on the right side of the bird’s face as originally framed. Image #1: Northern Gannet braking to land |
Clouds Rock/Clouds Mandatory
With the sun coming up over the ocean, it is near-impossible to photograph at Bempton in the mornings on sunny days. With clouds, you can do quite well, especially since the wind is almost always from the east. Once we got to the right of a spot where the gannets were landing, we had many excellent opportunities. BAA veterans Paul Reinstein (500 II) and George Golumbeski (600 II) had their long Canon glass with them and first-timer Bun Chan had his Nikon 600mm; they really cleaned up on courting, fighting, and copulating gannets on the top of the cliff. I will take my Nikon 600 along tomorrow morning. The forecast was for cloudy. Alas, Friday dawned bright and clear. Most of the group opted — against my advice — to head to the cliffs with Peter Kes, Amy, and Anita in the lead.
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This image was created at Bempton Cliffs on the cloudy morning of Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Bempton Cliffs, UK. I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens (at 450mm) and the Nikon D850. ISO 1250. Matrix metering +2 stops off the grey sky: 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Natural Auto WB at 8:02:22am. Center Group (grp) AF was active at the moment of exposure. The array was on the bird’s upper breast with the upper point on the left side of the bird’s face as originally framed. Image #2: Northern Gannet braking hard to land |
9 Frames per Second with the D850
As noted previously, with the battery pack and the larger battery (and the battery door cover!), the D850 gets up to a respectable 9 frames per second. I failed to mention that folks who do not own a D5 will need to purchase the charger for the EN-ELb18 battery, otherwise know as the Nikon MH-26aAK Adapter Kit. The cost at B&H is $369.95. Bedford Camera offers a very fine off-brand option, the Wasabi Power Dual Battery Charger for Nikon MH-26, MH-26aAK, EN-EL18, EN-EL18a and Nikon D4, D4S, D5 (with Adapter for Canon LP-E4, LP-E4N) for only $59.99. Click here and search for the Wasabi Power Dual Battery Charger for Nikon for more info or to purchase.
What’s the Point?
The point is that 9 fps can be great for flight and for action. Both of today’s featured images and three others were made in the same one one-hundredth of a second.
The Stronger Image?
Which of today’s featured images do you think is the stronger? Please let us know why you made your choice.
Help Support the Blog
Please help support my efforts here on the blog by remembering to click on the logo link above each time that you shop Amazon. That would be greatly appreciated. There is no problem using your Prime account; just click on the link and log into your Prime account. With love, artie
If In Doubt …
If in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
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 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 :).
Thanks for the kind comments and the mathematical corrections. It is not the first time that I made the same error … The post should have been titled, Five Image in Less than One Second. I misread 8:02:22am as 22/100 of one second rather than as two minutes and 22 seconds …
with love, artie
Hi Artie, I also think that the second image is better because, to me, it is much more dynamic and entertaining. Hop everyone enjoys Bempton Cliffs and the rest of the UK IPT.
I will try to solve the maths problem. I am not sure so definitely correct me if I am wrong!
The D850 plus battery grip fires at a maximum of 9 frames per second
Shutter is open 1/1600 second for each image
You took 5 images
1 second – 9(1/1600sec) = 1591/1600 sec
1591/1600 sec is the fraction of the second during which the shutter is not open
1591/1600 sec dived by 9 = 0.11
The delay between each image takes 0.11 of a second.
1 second divided by 9 = 1.111rec
5 * 1.111 = 0.5556
5 images take a total of 0.5556 second including the gap between images. All of this is assuming that the gap between each image is equal. This could be affected by continuous autofocus. So the five consecutive images were all made within 5/9 of a second.
Jake
Or simply, 5 frames / 9 frames per second = 0.555556 seconds to take 5 shots.
Yes =)
Hi Artie, in reply to “stuff” – so glad you all have been enjoying Bempton. I love the platform at the south end of the reserve when the birds get busy and walking along to it and beyond it can give some great sudden appearances as the gannets come up view at head level. It can be really atmospheric in heavy cloud with gannets cruising in and out of view in the low viz. I expect you had fun with your 600 and Tcs for tight and graphic. Did the jackdaws eat your lunch for you at the cafe? I’m on the boat to the Farnes tomorrow and Sunday – it was forecast for mostly cloudy, but now looking clear most of the day. Best wishes to you all for the rest of your trip.
Clive
Hi Artie,
Both images are crazy sharp, and both are really great images.
But i prefer the second because of (a) the wing shape and position, and (b) his eyes / expression.
I just really like the way he’s glancing down to his right.
Best,
Tony
Wouldn’t that convert to 500 plus frames per second?
Hey Arthur, The second image has a more dynamic pose and the view of the eyes are more clear than the first image. I prefer number two.
Hi Artie,
Both are beautiful!
I prefer image #1.
I like the feather detail in image #2, but the dark tail feather is distracting – almost like a 3rd foot.
Image 1 has smooth clean lines; i love the individual wing tips in the right wing; i really like the detail in the left foot- i would prefer more detail in the right foot as well.
Hi, Artie. I think there’s a typo: 10 D850s and a Nikkor 180-400 available; that Nikkor should be 80-400, I believe.
I prefer the first image but not by much; both are great. I love that classic extended-wings position, even though some (and I am not attributing this to Frank Sheets) might think it’s a photographic cliche.
I have been trying to understand how you can get three, much less five, images in one one-hundredth of a second at 9 frames per second, and I can’t. Can you do the math for us (me), please?
Best wishes to you and to Anita, please.
Hi David, You and the rest are of course correct on the math. See my comments here and on Tuesday’s blog as well. As far as the lens, the Nikkor AF-S 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Lens is a new one designed to compete with the Canon 200-400 with internal TC.
with love, artie
Hi Artie,
For me the second image for sure. I like the position of the wings much more and they are in a position that provides more light on the subject. In the other image the only lit portion of the wings is the leading edge. Therefore the second image provides more range of light on the bird (for lack of a better way of saying it). Say “hi” to Paul for me if you don’t mind.
Have fun! Frank