What’s Up?
As we get to know the bay behind the Convention Center on South Padre Island better and better, we are having more and more success each morning. There are lots of birds, including a nice flock of southbound Franklin’s Gulls, all set in still blue water with perfect reflections. Similarly, we are doing quite well on the beach and the jetty at Isla Blanca Park at the south end of the island in the afternoons so we extended our stay an additional two nights. We plan photographing in the bay on Monday morning and then heading up to Golden, Colorado to visit BPN friend Brian Sump.
Today is Saturday 14 November 2020. It is 6:05am and we are heading for the bay in just a bit.
All are invited to let us know which of today’s two featured images they like best (or not), and why.
Topaz Still on Sale!
Right now Topaz is offering price reductions on the Utility Bundle and the Creator Bundle. The former normally sells for $359.96. It is on sale for an amazingly low $199.95. Click here, scroll all the way down to the sale, and enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%! The Creator Bundle usually sells for #279.97 and is now on sale for $249.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $212.49!
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 eleven months at the bottom of the page.
New Listing
Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body with Extras!)
Used gear page veteran and SONY-e-Guide reviewer Craig Elson is offering a Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body in near-mint condition for only $2498.00. The sale includes a like-new Sony VG-C3EM vertical grip (a $348.00 value) and a Mieke MK-X1EM metal bracket hand grip (a $39.99 value that provides improved ergonomics if using an a9 without the VG-C3EM Vertical Grip), the original box, one battery and the charger with the power cord, the micro USB connector cable, the strap, the body cap, the accessory shoe cap, the manuals, a glass LCD screen protector, and insured ground shipping via major courier to continental U.S. addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Craig Elson via e-mail or by phone at 704.904.7953 (Pacific time zone).
The incredible AF system, the frame-rate, and the quality of the 24.2 MP images files of the a9 — my first SONY body — blew me away and quickly put Nikon in the rear view mirror. (By that time,Canon was well-rusted in the junkyard …) The a9 was replaced by the a9 ii with its slightly wider chassis being the only difference between these two great bodies. Oh, there is one more difference: the a9 ii sells for a whopping $4,498.00. You can save a whopping $2,000.00 by being the one to grab Craig’s camera. One more thing, the a9 is pretty much out of stock everywhere … artie
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
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 just a while back 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.
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.
|
|
121 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 near the jetty at the south end of South Padre Island on 12 November 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens 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 dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. RawDigger showed this as absolutely perfect. AWB at 6:09pm on a clear afternoon. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Brown Pelican diving for fish in the surf |
Handholding the SONY 600 GM
In San Diego last January, I tried handholding the 600 GM and did well. But since the action was non-stop, my left shoulder was hurting bad by the next morning so I quit it. On our first afternoon on the beach at Isla Blanca Park, I decided on a whim to try handholding the 600 again. I had a prolozone shot in each shoulder before we hit the road in late October, and both have been feeling great since then. I have been doing pretty well handholding the six and my shoulder feels fine. The freedom on handholding is a huge plus when you are hurrying up and down the beach to stay on sun angle on groups of diving pelicans and Caspian Terns, and I am doing pretty well at keeping the birds in the frame as well.
Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto and Topaz Sharpen AI//Stabilize (that latter on a selection of the bird’s face) both helped to improve this image.
|
|
This image was also created near the jetty at the south end of South Padre Island on 12 November 2020. Again, I used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/5000 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode. RawDigger showed this one as 2/3 stop too dark as a result of operator error. AWB at 5:44pm on a clear afternoon. 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: Caspian Tern diving away |
Diving Away
I am not sure why, but in spite of the fact that this bird is angling away from me, I love this image. The bird seems quite intent on a making a successful dive. I rarely press the shutter button when the birds tail is the closest thing to me, but in this case I am glad that I did. I am working at being more aggressive when photographing flight and action and am pleased with my progress.
I had a bit of bad luck here with the dark form of the curling wave cutting through the bird.
|
Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise on the Caspian Tern diving away image at 200% |
Topaz DeNoise on the Caspian Tern diving away image
As part of my now-regular workflow, I began with Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto. Be sure to click on the image to enlarge it and note the now smooth as a baby’s tush background with the noise completely eliminated. It is worth the time it takes to run DeNoise even on perfectly sharp, perfectly exposed images as they will be rendered that much cleaner and that much sharper.
|
Image #2B: Topaz Sharpen AI on the head and bill of the Caspian Tern diving away image at 200% |
Topaz DeNoise on the head and bill of the Caspian Tern diving away image
A New Sharpen AI Tip
I selected the head and bill of the tern using the Quick Selection Tool, put it on its own layer, and brought that layer into Topaz Sharpen AI. I began with Auto which selected Stabilize. I moved the Noise Suppression slider to zero as I usually do. Because the image looked a a bit crunchy with the Sharpness slider at 50, I moved it to 30 and thought that it looked pretty good.
After hitting Apply, the image opened in Photoshop. I enlarged the image by click-drawing a box around the head with the Zoom Tool and noted that the selection still looked over-sharpened and too crunchy so I simply reduced the opacity of that layer to 50% and everything looked great. The AI in the names of the Topaz plug-ins stands for Artificial Intelligence but at times, we need to depend on HI, human intelligence. By that I mean that are the best to judge your images. Feel free to experiment with the Topaz Plug-ins — the Auto settings are often amazing, but be sure to check your result at 100 or 200% and to make changes as needed.
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 don’t really care for the pelican shot — the bird’s in a very awkward position. (I do like the way the three feather-tips just touch the water.) The tern photo is a bit better, but there’s really nothing special about it.
I like the Pelican photo best. The angle of the head, low proximity to the water and position of the bird’s left wing tell you the bird is preparing to get a meal.