Variety Times Eight at Anhuac

What’s Up?

First off, we decided to forego our Rockport plans and stay at Anahuac until Saturday and hope for a big cold front this time with lots of raptors … At least that is the plan. We have been getting out to Anahuac NWR early each morning for the past three days well in time for the big Glossy Ibis blastoffs. In addition, there have been some big flocks of Boat-tailed Grackles and blackbirds in the air along with good numbers of both species of whistling ducks.

On Monday afternoon we drove down to the Bolivar Peninsula and out on the beach to Bolivar Flats. What a wild place. With a zillion Brown Pelicans. Most amazingly we saw and photographed hundreds of American Avocets feeding in the waves of a fairly rough surf! I had no clue that they ever did that. I wound up losing all of my images from the afternoon by trying to save five minutes, but I am sure that they will be easily recovered.

Today is Tuesday 27 OCT 2020. The forecast for tomorrow is for rain all day hopefully followed by a big cold front … Good luck to those east of us along the Gulf Coast in the potential path of Zeta …

Your Favorite?

Please leave a comment letting us know which of today’s eight featured images you like best, and why you made your choice. I have a clear favorite. Better yet, list your top three favorites in order.

Shutter Priority Mode for Blurs

As detailed in both the Guide to Pleasing Blurs and the SONY e-Guide, working in Shutter (Tv) Priority mode with exposure compensation is the way to go when creating pleasing blurs. It is fun and easy. I generally go with +3 off the sky in dingy light and drop down to +2 1/3 stops when the marsh takes up part of the frame. As stated here previously, it is much faster than working in Manual mode where you always have to make more changes to your shooting parameters.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs approaching zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. 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 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.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be 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 ten months at the bottom of the page.

Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Art Leyenberger is offering a Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM lens in mint condition the very low price of $699.00. The sale includes the original box, the front and rear lens caps, the lens case and strap, 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.

When I shot Canon, I loved my 300 f/4L IS lens. With its 4.92′ (1.5 meter) minimum focusing distance and impressive 0.24X magnification, it was great for large flowers, dragonflies, butterflies, and frogs. With or without the 1.4X TC it makes a great starter lens for any bird photographer. It does very well on birds in flight and in action. I preferred it to my old toy lens, the 400mm f/5.6L lens as it offered Image Stabilization and greater reach at f/5.6 with the 1.4X TC. This lens is still in production and sells new for $1349.00. artie

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.

117 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

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 Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 25 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Multi-metering +3 stops: 1/13 sec. at f/5.6 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 160. ABW at 8:54am on a cloudy morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Glossy Ibis flock blur

The Early Morning Ibis Fly-outs

The early morning ibis fly-outs are quite impressive with thousands of birds departing en mass to feed at locations unbeknownst to me. With the prevailing east winds, it took me about five minutes to figure out exactly here to be by 7:00am each morning.

This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 25 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 216mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Multi-metering +2.33 stops: 1/18 sec. at f/5.6 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 320. ABW at 9:01am on a cloudy-dark morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Marsh reeds/vertical pan-blur

I Couldn’t Resist …

When I spotted a mostly isolated stand of marsh grasses I could not resist the temptation and created a few vertical pan blurs. I smoothed out the look with a -.87 degree Motion Blur in Photoshop.

This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 26 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Multi-metering +3 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/5.6 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 250. ABW at 8:23am on a cloudy morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #3: Glossy Ibis blast-off

Getting Smarter

On our second blur morning, I figured out right where to be so that the birds blasted off right at us. I love the sort of “manta ray” look of the birds in this one. Blurs are so, so much fun as you can vary your techniques and your processing and come up with a zillion different looks to your images.

This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX by Anita North on the morning of 26 OCT 2020. She used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the and the 61 mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera. Multi-metering +2 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/6.3 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 100. ABW at 8:49am on a cloudy morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image courtesy of and Copyright 2020: Anita North Image #4: Whistling Ducks “flying arrows” pan blur

Anita’s Flying Arrows Pan Blur

When creating the conventional pan-blurred look, it is recommended that you match your panning speed with the speed of the flock. If, however, you pan somewhat faster or slower than the flock in flight, you can come up with some really interesting looks as Anita did with this one.

This image was also created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 26 OCT 2020. I used the Induro GIT 304L/Levered-clamp FlexShooter-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. Multi-metering +2.3 stops: 1/30 sec. at f/5.6 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 200. ABW at 8:52am on a cloudy morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #5: (Four) Whistling Ducks pan blur

Low Over the Marsh

On two of our three mornings, we found a spot where there were no tall reeds between us and a large green section of marsh. By being on the lookout for low-flying ducks, we were able to create some pan blurs of the marsh. Here again I enhanced the pan blur effect by going Blur > Motion Blur and painting out the effect on the birds with a Regular Layer Mask.

This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 27 OCT 2020 by Anita North. She used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (at 200mm) and the 61 mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera. Multi-metering +1.3 stops: 1/125 sec. at f2.8 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 125. ABW at 8:57am on a totally foggy morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image courtesy of and Copyright 2020: Anita North Image #6: Fulvous Whistling Duck taking flight

For Whatever Reason …

For whatever reason, 20-30 Fulvous Whistling Ducks like to land on the tour loop road and sit there waiting to be disturbed by the next passing car. Anita cannot resist sneaking up on them. Here, as a car approached from behind her, she was able to get on a single bird with a very short, handheld lens as it broke away from the flock and turned left.

This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 27 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter (at 98mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. Multi-metering +2.3 stops: 1/30 sec. at f/4 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 200. ABW at 8:40am on a very foggy morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #7: Glossy Ibis blast-off in the fog with marsh grasses

In the Fog

It was mega-foggy on the morning of the 27th. At one point, we could not see my vehicle that was less than a hundred yards away. As far as the blast-offs have gone, the foggy morning was our least exciting, but we still had some good chances.

This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 27 OCT 2020 by Anita North. She used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (at 70mm) and the 61 mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera. Multi-metering +2 stops: 1/25 sec. at f/4 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 100. ABW at 8:49am on a totally foggy morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image courtesy of and Copyright 2020: Anita North Image #8: Ibises over marsh and channel

Going Wider Still

For this one, Anita removed the TC from here 70-200 and went wide enough to include the foreground channel, the marsh, and a departing group of ibises. She held the lens still to get the marsh grasses relatively sharp and let the birds blur themselves across the frame.

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 :).