Webinar Invitation
If you would like to receive a link for tonight’s webinar, click on this link to shoot Jim an e-mail requesting same. The webinar is entitled Designing and Creating Pleasing and Dramatic Natural History Images. It will begin at 7:30pm eastern time zone tonight, Wednesday 7 April 2021. It is being sponsored by the South Shore Camera Club, Long Island, NY and Bedford Camera and Video.
Jeopardy and Alex Trebek
Over the decades I was never a Jeopardy fanatic, but I watched and enjoyed many hundreds of episodes. Alex Trebek hosted more than 8000 of them. I always had great respect for him and that respect has heightened as I have been watching the various guests hosts almost every day. Now don’t get me wrong, the guest hosts have all been great — Ken Jennings and Dr. Mehmet Oz have been my two favorites — but Alex was so, so sharp, so, so clever, so so smooth, so so fast and so well-prepared that he will never be equalled in his role. Most of you know that after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, he continued to do the show until production was shut down by COVID 19.
I happened across a video that detailed his life from his beginnings as a disk jockey and game show host in Canada until his dignified death on November 8, 2020. Alex was personable, friendly, witty, a loving and caring husband and father, and a generous philanthropist. He won seven Emmy Awards. Whether you were a huge fan or someone who rarely if ever watched Jeopardy, spending 41 minutes to learn about living and dying right, would likely do your soul some good. Bring tissues. You can see the video here.
What’s Up?
IPT veterans Mike Gotthelf and Morris Herstein — all of 86 years young! — I had a long and productive morning session at Stick Marsh. Once the sun came, up we had a long procession of gorgeous Roseate Spoonbills flying in to pick up nesting material; the action was fierce for more than an hour and steady until we headed to lunch at the nearby Marsh Landing Restaurant. After reviewing images and instructor nap time (I never napped), we decided to do the thanks-for-coming dinner at Di Mare Vero Beach (French and Italian Fine Dining). For me, the fine dining easily made my top-ten-ever best meals list. Heck, probably top five.
Today is Wednesday 7 April 2021. The forecast my last morning with the group at Stick Marsh is for clear and sunny and very still. I am over-nighting again in Vero Beach tonight to ensure a good internet connection for the webinar. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.
This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes 106 consecutive days with a new one. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links or to save money at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.
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This image was created Punta Suarez — Espanola (Hood Island), Galapagos, Ecuador on 1 August 2019. I used the hand held Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter (at 428mm) and the Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 800: 1/800 second at f/9 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:32am on a very cloudy morning. Waved Albatross clacking display |
Espanola (Hood Island), Galapagos
Other than a few breeding pairs along the coast of Ecuador, all of the world’s Waved Albatrosses nest on Espanola. The population has been relatively stable at about 34,000 pairs. Only a small section of the colony is seen by visitors along parts of the (at times) rocky trail on one of the great landings in all of the archipelago. The trail is rife with Red-tailed Tropicbirds, Swallow Tailed Gulls, and Marine Iguanas. We should have lots of chances on Waved Albatrosses in flight and doing their elaborate courtship dances. In fact, the landing at Hood Island is so good that we do it twice. And the same is true of spectacular landings at Darwin Bay and North Seymour.
I hope to be making one last voyage to the Galapagos in August 2022. If you are interested in joining me on the 2022 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, please get in touch via e-mail. Dates and details will be announced here soon.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Hi Artie
Sid’s typo alert…
his beginnings as a disk jokey….disc jockey
Cheers
Maurice
Thanks, Maurice and Sid. I finally got it. No joke!
with love, a
Artie:
I’ve gone back and was reading about the A1 EVF black out and wondered if Canon was having the same problem. Certainly seems like something Sony sought to remedy with a complete redesign. The dust on the IR sensor bit (A7R4 and A9’s) seemed absurd. For Sony to have any problem in this realm seems negligent at this point, particularly with a camera at this price point. Any update?
Also, I don’t see you listing gear for sale – is that a momentary situation? I am ready to sell my A7R4 for an A1.
Stacy
Hi Stacy,
I did not have any blackout problems when using the R5/RF 100-500 extensively for three months.
Agree, the situation with the a1 is not too cool right now. I know that they are working on it as I type.
The Used Gear Page is alive and well here: https://www.birdsasart-blog.com/used-photography-gear-for-sale/
As always. Only new listings and price drops appear in the daily blog posts.
with love,
a
ps: please use one of my affiliate links to purchase your a1 (plus benefits).
Hi Artie,
You have a “jokey” typo.
Thank you for the link about Alex Trebek. My wife and I haven’t missed an episode in decades.
Have a great day!
Sid
Hey Sid, Thanks. I and confused by your “joke” typo comment. (Perhaps Jim fixed it while I was photographing …)
My late wife Elaine and I watch Jeopardy religiously. When one of us knew an answer that none of the contestants got right, we would jump up and shout it out as we yelled, “Creamed the board.”
with love, artie