Win Twenty Dollars! RawDigger e-Guide and BAA Road Trip and IPT News. And Toy Lens Price Drop!

What’s Up?

On Sunday morning I photographed some cranes down by the lake. A new family consisting of two adults and two full grown colts showed up. I had never seen them before. I finished the morning up photographing a large ball-shaped white flower …

The plan right now is that I will be driving from ILE to California and back leaving in late October in my new SUV with a Roof Box (cartop carrier) and returning in mid-March 2021. I will be doing the Bosque IPT, the San Diego IPT, flying to Alaska for the two Homer Bald Eagle IPTs, and then driving back to ILE getting home in mid-March. The plan is subject to revision, but I will be doing all three IPTs with masks required for indoor activities and social distancing. Learn more here. See below for Bosque IPT info.

I will be headed out at about 7:15am to do some photography this morning — Monday 31 AUGUST 2020; the days are getting shorter. The forecast is the usual: early sun turning cloudy with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon.

I learned yesterday that Patrick thought that I did a great job with the RawDigger e-Guide. He wrote, I finally got a chance to read our RawDigger e-Guide. This is some of your best work. It is very easy to follow and technically spot on. I really don’t have much else to add. Every point is well articulated, and you cover a broad range of situations in both over and underexposure, and the images are really nice. You note it, but it is interesting to see how so many of your underexposed examples came from your Canon and Nikon DSLR days. Sony Zebra’s rule!

Steve Elkins Comes Through Again!

Via e-Mail from IPT veteran Joel Eade

Artie, Writing to again thank you for informing everyone about Steve Elkins and Bedford Camera. As you recall Steve recently was successful in finding me a Canon R5 Kit which was great. More recently, I called him to inquire about the new 100-500mm RF lens which has been on backorder for many months with all the major vendors. He told me that he had just received 4 of them!

I placed an order immediately (using the BIRDSASART code at checkout) and received the lens in 2 days with free shipping and a $50 discount…. amazing! I would encourage anyone looking for camera gear to check with Steve. He answers his phone and is very pleasant to deal with. Using the BIRDSASART code at checkout also gets you free priority shipping along with the discount on items over $1000.

You can’t find a better deal. Thanks again, Joel

Please Remember

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

BIRDS AS ART

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

The BAA Used Gear Page

The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

Jim Babbitt is offering a Canon 500 mm f/4L IS II lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $5248.00. The lens was serviced regularly by Canon with the last service in February 2020. The sale includes the lens hood, the rear cap, the heavy-duty front lens cover, an Aquatech Silicone front cover, the lens trunk, the lens strap, the manual, both feet, a tired but functional LensCoat, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Jim via e-mail or by phone at 1-760 626 6435 (Pacific time zone).

The 500 f/4 super-telephoto lenses have long been the world’s most popular for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. Canon’s Series II version is light, fast, super-sharp, and produces amazing images with both the 1.4X and 2X III TCs. The 500 II is relatively small, easily hand-holdable for some folks, and is much easier to travel with, focuses closer than, and costs a lot less than the 600 II. Lastly, and you might find this amazing, the magnification for the 500 II is the same as it is for the 600 II: .15X. How is that possible? Magnification is calculated at the minimum focusing distance of the lens — 12.14 feet (3.7 meters) for the 500 II and 14.77 feet (4.5 meters) for the 600 II. Simply put, the 500 II focuses more than two feet closer than the 600 II. The seller for the last one that sold here had five calls the first day; the first four folks quibbled on price. The fifth one jumped right on it … Please do not tarry if you are seriously interested in Jim’s lens as it too should sell almost instantly. Or not 🙂 As the 500 II goes for $8999 new you will be getting a pretty much new lens while saving $3751.00. I loved my 500 II 🙂
artie

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $100.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!
Price reduced $25.00 on 31 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens in near-mint condition for a very low $524.00 (was $649.00). The sale includes a LensCoat Hoodie, the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, the zippered lens case, the tripod collar, 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.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 400 f/5.6 is my beloved “toy lens.” I put it on the map more than 20 years ago when I began using it for birds in flight. Today, it is still a great flight lens and would make a great starter lens for a new bird photographer, especially one with a 7D Mark II. artie

Canon EOS 20D dSLR

Price reduced $10.00 on 22 AUGUST 2020!

BAA friend Kay Kaylor is also offering a Canon EOS 20D dSLR in near-mint condition for a silly low $64.00 (was $74.00). The sale includes the front body cap, the strap, the manual, two BP-51 batteries, and insured UPS Ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Certified bank check or credit card or PayPal +4%.

Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

The 20D was an early Canon dSLR. I owned and used one successfully for nearly three years. Kay’s body would make an excellent starter dSLR for a youngster or a beginning bird photographer, especially paired with either the “old 100-400” or the 400 f/5.6 listed above. artie

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Lens

BAA Record-low Price!
Price reduced $50.00 on 5-28-20
Price reduced $50.00 on 6-13-20
Price reduced $50.00 on 7-29-20

Arthur Morris is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $646.95 (was $796.95). The sale includes the front and rear caps, the original box and lens bag, 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 artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 before 4pm Eastern time. Please leave a message or text if no answer.

This lens is smaller and lighter and costs a lot less than the f/2.8 version. It is relatively fast, very sharp, and extremely versatile. It pairs well with the TC-14E. It sells new right now for $1,396.95. Grab it now to save $750.00 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.

107 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 of more than $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.

Head portrait of Sandhill Crane colt hatched May 9 or 10, 2020

Win Twenty Dollars!

This image was created on the clear morning of Saturday 29 August 2020.

If you are the first to leave a comment noting the exact focal length and the aperture that I used for this image, you will win a $20 discount on any item in the BAA Online Store. Phone orders only.

Hints

The correct focal length is in multiples of 100mm. And the aperture is a full stop aperture.

Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT Notice 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: 6.

Extra Day Options: Please e-mail to learn about the before or after In-the-Field Day options.

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 blastoffs, 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 non-refundable $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 non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.

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.

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 :).