Lucky 13! Painting with slow shutter speeds . And why a 95mm 3-stop Neutral Density Filter?

What’s Up?

We got the Thule Roof Bars installed on the top of my new SUV as we are beginning to get ready for the Big Road Trip. Our plan right now is to head west on the early morning of 22 OCT. Yikes!

Wednesday morning was flowers. This morning Thursday 8 OCT 2020 — we are headed back to Sebastian Inlet with hopes of lots of diving Ospreys catching jacks. On Tuesday past, we had lots of action with diving pelicans but only a very few chances with the Ospreys.

Food for Thought

Thanks to Alpha Epsilon Pi/Phi Theta Brother Don Dunning for sharing this with me.

“Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

~ Lao-tzu, 6th century BCE Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism

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 to 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 is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

The BAA Used Gear Page

Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is 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% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past year at the bottom of the page.

The Used Gear Page has continued to be red hot:

Karen McCormick sold her Nikon D5 in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $3200.00, a Nikon D500 in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $750.00, and a Nikon D800 in very good condition for a very low $450.00, all within two days of being listed.
Amazingly, I arranged for the sale of Patty McCulloch’s Canon 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $5497.00, the sale of her Canon EF Extender 1.4X III in near-mint condition for a very low $229.00, the sale of her Canon EF Extender 2X III in excellent condition for only $228.00, and the sale of her Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro lens in excellent plus condition for a very low $499.00,all before they were to be listed in late September 2020.
Sean Werle offered his Canon EOS-1D X body in excellent condition for $1499.00 but it never sold. He made a gift of the camera to a friend in South America — he said that the camera had been “re-homed” — and kindly offered to pay 4% of the original asking price.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon 11-24mm f/4L USM lens in near mint condition for $1530.00 (was $1599.00) in mid-September 2020.
Multiple IPT veteran Morris Herstein sold his Sony a9 in mint condition (with about 900 actuations) for the bargain price of $2498.00 just a few days after listing it in early September.
Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in near-mint condition for the $2750.00 (was $2797.00) locally in early September and kindly sent me a check for 4% of the original asking price.
Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon Extension Tube Set, the EF 12 II and EF 25 II, in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $122.90 in late August. And he sold his Canon EOS 70D in like-new condition to a friend for $400 (was $499.00).
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body in excellent plus condition (was $1399.00) and his Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens in near mint condition (was $549.00) to a single buyer for $1900.00 in early September.
Multiple IPT veteran and good friend William Schneider sold his Sony FE 2.8/16‑35 GM wide angle zoom lens in like-new condition for the very low price of $1400.00 (was $1498.00) in early September.
BAA friend Kay Kaylor sold her Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens in near-mint condition for a very low $524.00 (was $649.00) in early SEPT 2020.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for a very low $549.00 in early September 2020.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $1349.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for $799.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for $549.00 and a Canon EF 400mm f/4L DO IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for a BAA record low $3049.00 all within the first two days of being listed in early SEPT 2020.

Price Correction

Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens (with a great extra!)

Art Leyenberger is offering a Canon EF 100mm Macro USM lens in near-mint condition with a great extra for the silly low price of $349.00. The sale includes the original box, the front and rear lens caps, a near-mint Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG (36mm, 20mm, 12mm) for Canon EOS lenses (a $129.90 value), 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 Art via e-mail.

This, the original non-IS version of this hugely popular very sharp macro lens, was Denise Ippolito’s favorite for many years. It is great for flowers and bugs large and small. The tripod collar for this lens requires a separate purchase. This lens, still in production, sells new at B&H for $599.00 (though it is currently on back-order). The IS L version II sells for $1299.00, artie

New Listings

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR Lens

Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR lens in excellent plus condition for the very low price of $650.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 Karen via e-mail.

The relatively lightweight and inexpensive 16-35mm wide angle zooms are great for serious landscape shooters on a budget. The heavier faster Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED lens sells for a shopping $1951.95. Who needs the speed when you are on a tripod? The 16-35 f/4 Nikkor sells new for $1096.95 so you can save a pretty penny by grabbing Karen’s lens. artie

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens

Sale Pending First Day of Listing

Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens in excellent condition for the very low price of $500.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 Karen via e-mail.

I loved my versatile, all purpose, don’t-leave-home-without-it, mid-range 24-120 zoom lens when I used Nikon. I felt it was much sharper than all versions of the Canon 24-105 lenses. And the VR allowed me to create sharp images handheld at silly-low shutter speeds like 1/8 second. This one sells new for $1,096.95 so you can save a very cool $596.95 by purchasing Karen’s copy. artie

Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens

Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens in excellent plus condition for the very low price of $850.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 Karen via e-mail.

The I loved my versatile, all purpose, don’t-leave-home-without-it, mid-range 24-120 zoom lens when I used Nikon. I felt it was much shaper than all versions of the Canon 24-105 lenses. And the VR allowed me to create sharp images handheld at silly-low shutter speeds like 1/8 second. This one sells new for $1,096.95 so you can save a very cool $596.95 by purchasing Karen’s copy. artie

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens and TC-1401 1.4x Teleconverter Kit for Nikon F

Karen McCormick is offering a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens and TC-1401 1.4x Teleconverter Kit for Nikon F in excellent plus condition for a remarkably low $500.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 Karen via e-mail.

Offering an impressively versatile range with a portable form factor, the Nikon F-mount 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM from Sigma is a Contemporary-series telephoto zoom characterized by its sophisticated optics and flexible handling. One FLD element and three SLD elements are used to reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range and a Super Multi-Coating also helps to suppress flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color accuracy when working in strong lighting conditions.

Balancing the optical design, this lens also features a Hyper Sonic Motor, which provides especially fast and quiet autofocus performance as well as full-time manual focus override. An Optical Stabilizer also works to minimize the appearance of camera shake for sharper handheld shooting. Additionally, a removable, rotating tripod collar is included to suit working on a tripod or monopod. B&H

I have seen many excellent sharp images created by folks on IPTs and on BPN. As this kit sells new for $1,289.00 Karen’s offering is a great bargain for a beginning bird photographer using Nikon gear. artie

Great Topaz News!

Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.

Topaz Stuff

As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.

Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.

Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro back in stock!

We received a dozen Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pros via DHL. We ordered twenty … Anita North has been using one and said, “With my weak fingers, the Levered-Clamp is a Godsend.

RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available

Save $10 Now

The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.

You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.

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 to 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 is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!

You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.

Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the 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 and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and 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.

This image was created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 3 OCT 2020. 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. Exposure was determined via Zebra evaluation with ISO on the rear dial as detailed in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide and One Camera Set-up Video. Multi-metering + 2.7 stops: 1/13 sec. at f/6.3 in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO set 320. ABW at 7:27am on a cloudy morning. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Mixed terns/skimmer/gull flock blur

Lucky Thirteen

When doing pleasing blurs, the classic blur shutter speed for flocks in flight and running animals has long been 1/15 sec. But it always pays to experiment. Working in Shutter Priority it is easy to roll a wheel or a dial (depending on which system you are using) and change the shutter speed even in the middle of a blast-off. For some reason, 1/13 second often proves to be a winner, as it was — at least for me — with Image #1 above. In this one I love the pan-blurred effect on the water and the waves and the beach.

Learn more in The advantages of using the Shutter Priority/Exposure Compensation/AUTO ISO method in low light blog post here. Despite the huge-for-most-folks Exposure Compensation (EC) of +2.7 stops, Raw Digger showed that this image was a bit less than 1/2 stop too dark. But with the low ISO and without any dark tones, noise was a non-issue. When was the last time you worked at almost +3 stops?

This image was also created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 3 OCT 2020. Again, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 257mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. A Singh-Ray George Lepp 3-stop Solid Neutral Density Filter was screwed on to the front of the 200-600 G. (More on that below.) Exposure was determined via Zebra evaluation with ISO on the rear dial as detailed in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide and One Camera Set-up Video. Multi-metering + 2.7 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/6.3 in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO set 100. ABW at 9:09am on a now cloudy-bright morning. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Mostly terns blast-off blur

Why a 3-stop Solid Neutral Density Filter?

In image #1, the light levels were so low early on the dark cloudy morning that achieving a slow shutter speed while keeping the ISO low was no problem at all. By 8:30am it has gotten much, much brighter so I affixed the 95mm 3-stop ND filter to the front of the lens so that I could work at a slow shutter speed without having the system choose a tiny aperture like f/22. At very small apertures, dozens of microscopic dust spots will require time and effort to remove.

I have a variety of 77mm ND filters for my SONY 100-400 lens along with a Singh-Ray 77mm Circular Polarizer. They are all left over from my Canon 100-400 II days. But the front element of the SONY 200-600 G requires a 95mm thread. You get to choose from the 3-, 4-, and 5-stop filters. The five-stop will likely be best on bright sunny days, but the 3-stop is better on cloudy bright days as you will always be able to maintain a low ISO. I was undecided as to whether to get the 3-stop or the 4-stop but wound up purchasing the 3-stop.

If you own the 200-600 and enjoy doing pleasing blurs, a good ND filter is a valuable tool. Can you say Bosque del Apache?

Order a Singh-Ray 3-stop ND filter for your SONY 200-600

To Order a Singh-Ray 3-stop ND filter for your SONY 200-600

To order a Singh-Ray 3-stop ND filter for your SONY 200-600, click here and then make your selections as shown in the screen capture above. Be sure to enter the ARTIE10 discount code at check-out to save 10% on your Singh-Ray order.

To order any Singh Ray filter, click here and then click on the Camera Filters tab and see the options on the dropdown menu. Again, be sure to enter the ARTIE10 discount code at check-out to save 10% on your Singh-Ray order.

A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

Learn everything there is to know about creating pleasingly blurred images in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly. This 20,585 word, 271 page PDF is illustrated with 144 different, exciting, and artistic images. The guide covers the basics of creating pleasingly blurred images, the factors that influence the degree of blurring, the use of filters in creating pleasing blurs, and a great variety of both in-the-field and Photoshop techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images.

Artie and Denise teach you many different ways to move your lens during the exposure to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images of flowers and trees and water and landscapes. They will teach you to recognize situations where subject movement can be used to your advantage to create pan blurs, wind blurs, and moving water blurs. They will teach you to create zoom-blurs both in the field and during post-processing. Artie shares the techniques that he has used and developed for making blurred images of flocks of geese in flight at his beloved Bosque del Apache and Denise shares her flower blur magic as well as a variety of creative Photoshop techniques that she has developed.

With the advent of digital capture creating blurred images has become a great and inexpensive way to go out with your camera and have fun. And while many folks think that making successful blurred images is the result of being a sloppy photographer, nothing could be further from the truth. In “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” Artie and Denise will help you to unleash your creative self.

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 :).