What’s Up?
Though the sun broke through the clouds yesterday afternoon for a very few minutes, the unsettled weather continues. I did a few small white flowers with yellow centers while standing in a 6-inch deep puddle next to the road in a normally dry spot … The results were not-too-good 🙂 I will be heading out soon on Monday 8 JUNE 2020, yet another hot and humid day.
With the non-stop rains, the pool has cooled down a bit to a very comfortable 83 degrees. And we have not had to water the butterfly garden!
Please take a moment and leave a comment letting us know which of today’s two featured images is your favorite. And why. Much appreciated.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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86 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris |
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.
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.
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This image was created on 1 JUNE 2020 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 7:57:32am on a very cloudy morning. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #1: 3-week old Sandhill Crane chick waiting to get fed |
The SONY 200-600/a9/a9ii Combination
The SONY Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens combined with either an a9 or an a9 ii is a deadly combination for bird photography. When I am doing birds, there are lots of sessions when I take a walk with just my 2-6 and the a9ii, always with the 1.4X TC in my pocket or fanny pack. If conditions look really good, I will often head out with the 600 GM/1.4XTC/a7r iv or a9 ii rig on the tripod and the 2-6/a9 ii rig on a Black Rapid Curve Breathe Strap on my shoulder.
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
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This image was created on 1 JUNE 2020 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 7:57:35am on a very cloudy morning. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #2: 3-week old Sandhill Crane chick getting fed |
Down By the Canal
By working up and down the slope that leads to the canal between the South Peninsula and the South Field, I can photograph my subjects at or near eye level and control the background. To do the latter, I simply move up or down the slope to change my perspective until I like what I see. The two images were created 3 seconds apart. The reason that there is a strip of sky at the top of Image #2 but not in Image #1, is the difference in the original framing. For both images, I was using Tracking Flexible Spot and concentrating on keeping the AF box on the adult’s face. Foor Image #2, I might have taken a small step back and gotten a bit lower. One thing for sure is that in image #2 the lens was pointed up more than it was in Image #1. The final framing of each is similar because each image was cropped to that effect.
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 regularly visit 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 :).
Image #2, the closeness of the two, the interaction of the two, makes a better composition for my eyes!
Artie, glad you are really enjoying the 200-600. It’s my favorite walk around lens for wildlife with tremendous utility, reasonably solid IQ (CA bothers me), and I can hand hold and pan effectively. All that at an unbeatable price. If only it would play nice on the a7riv…
Both images are good but I much prefer #1. I just cannot get over the awkward feeling conveyed by the colt covering up such a large portion of the adult’s legs. I do get a connection between the two birds as the colt is looking to see what the adult is finding in the grass. The other folks have very valid points in their remarks but the overlap of the two birds just is not appealing to me.
I too prefer #2, despite the compositional awkwardness of the adult’s lower legs appearing to be supporting the colt (especially the leg under the neck). But the expression of the colt is irresistible, looking to see what the parent sees, receiving instruction, learning how to be a sandhill crane.
I agree with David. I also like the second image. It shows a relationship and interaction between the birds which better tells a story.
I didn’t like the head of the adult in the first image and later realized it is almost the same in the second image. But the interaction with the colt makes it much better.
Artie–
I prefer the second image as it best shows the bond between adult and chick.
Larry Hegstad
Artie: I prefer the second image. I like the birds’ matching poses. Also, the seem to be aware of each other, while image 1 they seem in the same frame by accident.