What’s Up
Thanks to all who left holiday wishes at yesterday’s short blog post.
I’ve been swimming every day with the pool at a very comfortable 76 or so degrees. I went down to the lake this morning and did some underexposed testing. As I figgered, the images made at the right exposure looked great at ISO 1000: 1/800 sec. at f9. When I reduced the ISO to 50 and lightened the image in post, the image was very noisy and excessively contrasty.
I head to DeSoto tomorrow for two days with a new private client.
Enjoy today’s Keeping Warm video (below) by clicking on the Play arrow. There will be lots more videos coming soon. You should be able to use your Amazon Prime account after clicking on any of the Amazon links below.
San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount
I am offering a $400 late registration discount on the San. Diego IPT. Please e-mail if you would like to join us.
IPT Updates
- The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
- The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience. August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00.
Do check out the San Diego Gallery here.
Click here for complete IPT info and details.
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 over $1000.00, 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. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
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.
The Keeping Warm Video
There is nothing worse than being confronted with great birds right in front of you with your hands so cold that you cannot feel or press the shutter button. Learn how I have finally figured out how to beat cold hands and cold feet after only 36 years by pressing the Play button above. Enjoy, and stay warm.
Your questions and comments are of course welcome.
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The World’s Greatest Heated Gloves
Several years ago, against my better judgment, I purchased a pair of heated gloves for my last trip to Japan. They were 100% bogus; my hands froze. The batteries lasted ten minutes. But a friend from Canada who routinely vacations in places with temps in the -20 to -30F range recommended these highly. In short, the MotionHeat 12V Heated Gloves – Full Set performed amazingly well. As shown in the video, I fine-tuned the set-up for photography. You can order a pair by clicking here and then choosing Shop USA. or Shop Canada. Or, you can call John Victor at (+1) 905-492-8886. Follow his sizing advice. If you call, please let them know that you learned about his gloves via BIRDS AS ART. If you order online, please do the same or shoot John an e-mail. Be sure to watch the whole video before ordering.
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Neos Navigators
Neos Navigators will keep your feet warm and dry in snowy, slushy conditions. Wear them on top of your hiking boots or even your Sunday-go-to-meeting footwear. You will, however, need two pairs in different sizes to do that. Or wear them on top of a pair of MEC Get Down Booties to keep your feet warm anywhere anytime. Like I did for three days on the sea ice with the Emperor Penguins …
TrailHeads Men’s Running Gloves – Black Touchscreen Gloves – Power Stretch Lightweight Gloves make great glove liners underneath the MotionHeat Heated Gloves. I keep an extra pair in my Think Tank bag for cold mornings in Florida and warm mornings at cold places. These lightweight touchscreen gloves have conductive fabric on tips of the thumbs and forefingers so that you can use your touchscreen devices without having to remove your gloves.
A pair of Columbia Arctic Trip Insulated Waterproof Snow Ski Pants in nasty, cold, wet, snowy, and or windy conditions will keep you warm and dry.
Wear a pair of Carhartt Men’s Relaxed Fit Straight Leg Flannel Lined Jeans –I own and travel to cold places with two pairs — under your Columbia Snow Pants and you will not need long underwears until the temps drop below -10 F.
I will have one or two Carhartt Men’s Acrylic A18 Watch Hats on my head to stay warm on cold or very cold mornings. These are the same hats that I use for packing my camera gear safely into Think Tank Rolling Bags for air travel.
On really, really, cold and windy days I will go with a Carhartt Men’s Fleece 2 In 1 Hat for maximum warmth.
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San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount
I am offering a $400 late registration discount on the San. Diego IPT. Please e-mail if you would like to join us.
The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; WED JAN 7, 2020.
Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.
Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.
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Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.
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Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
The San Diego Details
This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-lunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own.
A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due upon registration. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. 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.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. 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. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. 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 or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
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Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.
If In Doubt …
If you are 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 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 or Bedfords, 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.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, 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.
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 :).
Guru, you’re great. Love your boots.
The MEC boots you mention are supplemented with a synthetic fill bootie. On sale today but normally about 1/2 the price of down.
Synthetic dries faster than down and stays warmer longer when wet than down. One good puddle can otherwise ruin your day.
And today my wife gets the gift of warm feet for her anniversary.
And for people in the US, the price on the website is in the Peso to the North, the Canadian dollar. So the US price will be much less.
Despite advances in imaging technology, we still need to expose correctly. The CIA can read license plate from space, but in certain it doesn’t look good!
Artie do you experience any focusing problems with the A9 and A92 on still photo’s?
Doug, with what AF. mode/pattern?
with love, artie
Great tips on the warm weather gear for those of us who live in more temperature challenged areas of the country. Surprisingly, it hit 50 degrees yesterday and I was fortunate enough to be treated to some wonderful photographic opportunities with the a7riv.
YAW. Any flight stuff?
with love, a
ps: where do you live?
Recently re-lo’ed to Michigan. These day’s it’s rather slim pickings though enjoying trumpeter swans (it’s amazing when they fly by with the thump, thump, of their wings like a helicopter blade), the usual passerines, hawks, and pursuing the proverbial snowy with the Sony like the guy chasing the Idaho potato in the commercial.