What’s Up?
With both fields and the South Peninsula flooded, I have been sticking to the side streets in search of wildflowers. I learn a bit more about working with the tripod-mounted Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for Sony E.
I will be heading out early today — Wednesday 15 JULY 2020. Mid-July? Are you kidding me?
Thanks to the folks who commented on the color or B&W question in the Some Respite From the Heat; this would make a nice jigsaw puzzle. On Not Letting the Old Man In … And a Used Like-New Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens! blog post here. Opinions were divided 50-50. I far prefer the color version as the yellow leaves remind me that my favorite time at Bosque is early in the season when there are still some yellow leaves on the cottonwoods.
With one sign-up already, I am really going to try to make Bosque work, hoping that it will be the first-ever socially-distanced IPT … The very best news is that the 2020 Festival of the Cranes has been canceled so we will be able to visit on what are usually the perfect dates! Do check out my Bosque Gallery here to see the creative possibilities.
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
John Buswell is offering a Canon EOS 7D Mark II in near-mint condition for a very low $598.00. The sale includes the front lens cap, the strap, the one original battery and charger, a 32 GB Sandisk Extreme Pro 160 MB/s compact flash card, the manual, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact John via e-mail or via phone or text: 1-978-380-0456 (Eastern time zone).
Both Patrick Sparkman and I used and loved the 7D Mark II until about four years ago when we both committed to using full-frame Canon bodies. We both made some truly great images with it. Two of my three 2016 Nature’s Best honored entries were created with the 7D II, one still, and one video. One thing is for sure: the 7D Mark II is the greatest value ever in a digital camera body. If you have any doubts, type the word “Cadieux” in the little search box top right and follow any or all of the links to see the great images that BPN Avian Moderator Dan Cadieux has created with his 7D series bodies … artie
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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102 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 the morning of 11 JULY 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. I used the Induro GIT 404L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for Sony E and the 61MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body ISO 800: 1/30 sec. at f/? (probably f/8) in Manual mode. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger from a series of bracketed images. AWB at 8:10am early on a still, partly sunny morning. Manual focus using the combination of Manual Focus Toggle and Focus Magnifier tips from the SONY e-guide along with the 2-second timer. Plamped in place to combat the breeze. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #1: Green Garden Spider on Grassleaf Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia graminifolia) blossom |
The Situation
On the morning of Saturday past, I returned to the corner of Flamingo Drive and Bougainville Drive — just six blocks from my home — to check out the three Grassleaf Barbara’s Buttons blossoms. Two of the three flowers had a Green Garden Spider on it. I spent a good thirty minutes photographing the larger of the two spiders. The third blossom had a smaller brown spider on it; I passed on that one, opting to concentrate my efforts on the largest more colorful subject.
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This image was also created on the morning of 11 JULY 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. I used the Induro GIT 404L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for Sony E and the 61MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body ISO 1000: 1/200 sec. at f/? (probably f/5.6) in Manual mode. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger from a series of bracketed images. AWB at 7:58am early on a still, partly sunny morning. Manual focus using the combination of Manual Focus Toggle and Focus Magnifier tips from the SONY e-guide. Plamped in place to combat the breeze. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #2: Green Garden Spider on Grassleaf Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia graminifolia) blossom — wider view |
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s two featured images is the strongest? Do you like the tighter view in Image #1 or the wider view in Image #2? Do let us know why. Feel free to comment on the two image designs as well.
Depth-of-Field Question
Despite the fact that the aperture probably used for Image #1 was smaller than the aperture used for Image #2, much more of the spider is in sharp focus in Image #2. Why?
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Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. A 100% crop of Green Garden Spider on Grassleaf Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia graminifolia) blossom — wider view |
Manual Focus Question …
After clicking on Image #2 to enlarge it, take a close look and let us know if you think that focus on face was spot on, slightly back focused, or slightly front focused. Explain why.
Do note the incredible detail in 7r iv files ….
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Bosque del Apache 2019 IPTNotice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT. |
Bosque del Apache NWR 2020 IPT
NOV 18 (afternoon session) thru the morning session on November 23, 2020. 5 DAYS. Four full and two half days. $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 5.
Extra Day Options: Please e-mail to learn about the before or after In-the-Field Day options.
Be sure to check out my Bosque Gallery here to see the creative possibilities.
The very best news is that the 2020 Festival of the Cranes has been canceled so we will be able to visit on what are usually the perfect dates!
I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. In 2018, things had improved dramatically and in 2019 the photography was great. Simply put, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.
We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blast-offs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.
Lunch is included.
To Register
To register, send your $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your deposit on a credit card. Balances should be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. Remember that with the uncertainty of the pandemic, folks may cancel at any time for any reason and still receive a full refund.
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.
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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 :).
I prefer the second image as it allows the flower and the spider to be the subjects. Also the green bokeh is nice and soft. It appears the first image was taken at close range and hence the depth of field is quite narrow. The second image is taken at a distance which allows for a larger range depth of field. Spiders are such an interesting species. I don’t know why so many people are afraid of them.
Although slightly back focused, I like the second version better.
#1 works for me because of the separation of the green on green
The spider is a green lynx spider (Peucetia viridens). It’s the largest of the family Oxyopedia which are characterized by large erect spines on the legs. It is specialized for living on plants and hunts by roaming. On occasion it can spit venom up to about 3/4″. The venom is mildly venomous to humans. I like image 1 the best, but prefer the blown up version even better, high megapixels are great.
Image 1 does not work for me because of out of focus elements in the foreground.
Regarding the question – Closer the subject lesser the depth of field so we need to stop down more.
I love image #2 as everything flows together. The spider is facing at you and telling a story.
I think the spider is more on the same plain and the focus is getting more in focus. As image #1 the back of the spider is much further away?
Wisconsin Love
Image #2 is the stronger image and is my favorite of the two. The composition shows more of the animal in its classic pose. Since the body is closer to being parallel to the camera’s sensor plane, more of the green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans) is within the depth of field and thus in focus. More of the flower is in focus too.
Here one can see the eye pattern, important for spider identification, and the beautiful chevrons on the abdomen. Sometimes the spider is pinkish to nearly all pink!
I dig this quote from J.H. Comstock 1912, “The lynx-spiders are so called because some species chase their prey with great rapidity over herbage and the foliage of trees and shrubs; they even jump from branch to branch…”. Thank you for sharing, Artie!
Thanks, Bob. Is this a lynx spider?
Several folks (including you) are dancing around the correct answer without stating it clearly …
with love, artie
Although I like the closer image detail, especially the eyes. I find it a little confusing, busy perhaps. So I prefer the second cleaner image.
Looking at the 100% crop the dof seems to extend behind & slightly in front of the face so I assume you focused on the face. Perhaps slightly forward, it’s hard to tell though. I’m surprised the eye cluster is slightly soft as it appears to be in the sharp zone.