Finger Mullet in the Surf. One-Stop Shopping with the Amazing Topaz Gigapixel AI! And What Makes a Good Flight or Action Image?

What’s Up?

On Saturday morning past, we enjoyed another fine photography session in the shallow bay just past the Convention Center on South Padre Island. Once again the American White Pelicans and the Franklin’s Gulls were the stars. We headed back to the jetty at Isla Blanca Park that afternoon. After two great afternoons, this location was pretty much a dud on Friday so we were not expecting much. After a slow start, things really heated up with groups of three to six pelicans diving into the surf right in front of us for two hours. Anita created 3200 images and though she has not finished editing yet, she had several dozen killer images as she waded out waist-deep into the waves with her 200-600. With the car keys in my pocket I stayed close to shore with the 600 GM. I can’t wait to see all her keepers when she is done selecting them. I got a few good ones and a single spectacular sunset silhouette …

We awoke on Sunday planning photograph in the bay again and then drive for 2 1/2 days to Golden, CO to visit BPN friend Brian Sump. It was cloudy and foggy at 6:30am with a super-low tide and very few birds so we turned around, packed up the car, and drove away from our AirBNB at 7:28am. We stayed at a great AirBNB in Lubbock, TX on Sunday night. After leaving the heat and humidity of South Texas, waking up to a clear and cold 42 degree morning in Lubbock was a shock to the system. Break out the hoodies and warm jackets. Today is Monday 16 November. We are headed another 551 miles to the north/northewest and should make our next AirBNB in Lakewood, CO late this afternoon or early evening.

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 now for $249.95. 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 $149.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $127.49!

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 ten months at the bottom of the page.

Sony Alpha a Series Body Listings

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

Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body

James Paula is offering a Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital camera body in excellent plus condition for $1098.00. But for several all scratches on the the (flash) hot shoe, the body would be near-mint. It has about 7200 activations and operates flawlessly. The sale includes the front cap, the strap, the battery & charger, 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 Jim via e-mail.

Distinguished by its updated sensor design, the Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera from Sony is a well-rounded camera suitable for both photo and video applications in a variety of working situations. Refined for improved speed and low-light performance, the full-frame 24.2MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processor pair to realize an impressive 10 fps continuous shooting rate and improved autofocus performance for faster, more reliable subject tracking along with wide frame coverage. This updated Fast Hybrid AF System employs a combination of 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection areas for quicker acquirement of focus in a variety of lighting conditions, and also maintains focus on subjects more effectively. In addition to speed and AF, the processing improvements also help to realize greater image clarity and reduced noise throughout the sensitivity range from ISO 100-51200, which can further be expanded to ISO 50-204800. Video recording capabilities have also been extended for enhanced quality when recording UHD 4K video with the full width of the full-frame sensor to minimize moiré and aliasing. Additionally, benefitting both stills and video operation, the a7 III utilizes a 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE sensor-shift image stabilization, which is now effective to minimize the appearance of camera shake by up to 5 stops.

Beyond just updates to the imaging system, the a7 III’s body design has also been revised to include a rear 3.0″ 922k-dot touchscreen LCD, which has a tilting design to better support working from high and low angles. A 2.36m-dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF is also featured for bright and clear eye-level monitoring. For greater shooting flexibility, dual SD memory card slots are now featured, and a larger NP-FZ100 battery is also employed to achieve up to approximately 710 shots per charge. Suiting the camera’s use in trying conditions, the magnesium-alloy chassis and weather-sealing also render the a7 III dust- and moisture-resistant. B&H and the manufacturer

This body, which sells new for $1698.00, was the first SONY body to feature a killer AF system. 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 by Anita North. She used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 518mm) 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. ISO 3200: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. ABW at 5:11pm on a clear afternoon. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked amazingly well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image courtesy of and copyright 2020: Anita North Image #1: Brown Pelican diving into a school of finger mullet in the surf.

Finger Mullet

At Sebastian Inlet, the fishing and diving Osprey photography is best when the mossbunker are running. At the inlet at South Padre Island, the fishing and diving pelican photography is best when the finger mullet are running. The prime target of the Sebastian fisherman are snook. At South Padre, we saw several folks land channel bass (redfish) between thirty and forty pounds. As far as the photo action, you are a lot busier with the diving pelicans in Texas than with the diving Ospreys in Florida. We had way too much fun.

When Anita showed me this one I was stunned.

This image was converted in Capture One. Topaz DeNoise AI was applied to the entire image. The head and bill were selected and placed on a layer to which Topaz Sharpen AI was applied.

This image was created near the jetty at the south end of South Padre Island on 12 November 2020 by Anita North. She used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 518mm) 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. ISO 3200: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. ABW at 5:11pm on a clear afternoon. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked amazingly well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image courtesy of and copyright 2020: Anita North Image #2: Brown Pelican just after touch-down in a school of finger mullet in the surf.

Which is the Stronger Image?

Today’s first two featured images — both created by Anita North — were captured consecutively: _A938990 and _A938991. You’d have to agree that Anita’s timing and execution for these two were pretty much perfect. I struggled mightily when trying to decide which image was the stronger of the two. I couldn’t make up my mind, so I ran both of them. Please leave a comment and let us know which one of Anita’s two featured images you like best, and why.

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: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. RawDigger showed this one as perfect. AWB at 5:05pm 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 #3: Caspian Tern flipping finger mullet

The Crop

A9 ii files tip the scales at 24.2MP. They can easily handle small crops but do not handle large crops as well as the 61-MP monster, the a74 iv. But for flight and action the a9 series bodies (the a9 and the a9 ii) slay the newer a7 series bodies, the a7r iii and the a7r iv because of their superior AF and faster frame rates (20 fps Compressed Raw). The Caspian Tern in this image was flying a good distance from the beach when it dived, caught a fish, and turned to the south. As a result, I cropped away about half of the original pixels. Crops that large always affect the image quality. What to do?

Image #3A: Caspian Tern flipping finger mullet Topaz Gigapixel AI at 80% magnification

One-Stop Shopping with the Amazing Topaz Gigapixel AI!

When we shot hawks with Alan Murphy a few weeks back at Smith Point, TX, he raved about Gigapixel AI. I thought that these two heavily cropped photos –Images #3 and #4, would likely benefit from from a visit to Gigapixel AI. Image #3 was the first one that I did and when the preview on Auto rendered, I was completely stunned. I went with 2X since the TIF file had been cropped about 50%. Even though I mistakenly hit Compressed — I should have left it at Standard — the After image was cleaner and sharper and the noise had been eliminated. Remarkably, because I had hit Compressed, the before and after file sizes were the same. In the future I will stick with Standard, the default setting.

Gigapixel AI will enable you to create larger files from smaller ones, files that can stand up to large crops and to being printed large, all that while sharpening (non-destructively as far as I can see …) and effectively cleaning up the noise.

This image was also 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: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. RawDigger showed this one as almost perfect with a smattering of OvExp pixels on the side of the fish. AWB at 5:05pm 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 #4: Caspian Tern with finger mullet

a9 ii Frame Rate

The incredible a9 series bodies’ 20 frames per second frame rate with Compressed Raw enables you to capture sharp flight and action sequences that offer a variety of poses and wing positions. Images #3 and #4 were the two most interesting frames of what was a ten-frame sequence; each image was sharply focused on the tern’s eye.

What Makes a Good Flight or Action Image?

Sharpness Alone is No Longer Good Enough

With most major camera systems now offering near-science-fiction-like AF systems along with fast frame rates, folks are finally realizing that creating a sharp flight or action image is only a small part of the equation. The pose, the wing position, the image design (including other elements of the composition — if any), the juxtaposition of two or more subjects, the head angle or angles, the background, and the quality and direction of the light all must be considered when picking your flight and action keepers. Sharpness is nowhere near-enough any more …

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

San Diego 2021 COVID-conscious Brown Pelican IPT

January 12 thru the morning session on January 16, 2021. Four full and one-half day: $2299.00. Deposit: $599.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 7.

Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; MON JAN 11, 2021.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-brunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well.

A $599 deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due immediately after you sign up. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail. If you cancel due to COVID 19 concerns, all of your payments will be refunded.

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.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

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 :).