What’s Up?
Tuesday was another gorgeous morning at ILE. I got a few nice frames of one of the crane babies on the short grass on someone’s front lawn. Then, I was off to sit on my milk crate in the marsh. Again, a pair of Black-necked Stilts copulated right in front of me. Working at ground level at 840mm, I knew what was coming when the pair began splashing each other. I did not have the guts to take the time to remove the TC, so I was a bit tight with some of the frames, but got some very sweet stuff. Then I moved 30 yards to my right to go after another pair of stilts — they are getting tamer and tamer. Anyhoo, had I stayed where I was, I would have had some really great chances with the Limpkin chicks …
Belated congrats to Phil Mickelson who at age 50 (going on 51), became the oldest player to ever win a major golf tournament. That brought back memories of Tom Watson in the 2009 British Open. At age 59, Watson bogied the 18th hole after a perfect approach shot to the green. And then lost in a playoff to Stewart Cink.
Today is Wednesday 25 May 2021. The forecast for this morning is calling for partly cloudy with a southeast breeze. 5:45 I was sitting on a bench outside of Quest Diagnostics, first on line for a blood draw. They open at 6:30 so I will be headed down to the lake to check things out as soon as I am done. This afternoon I am driving over to Gulfport to meet up with Clemens Van der Werf for three days of photography at Fort DeSoto. I’ll be home on Saturday afternoon. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.
This blog post took about an hour to prepare, and makes 152 consecutive days with a new one. Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords and is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great if you opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.
Please Remember
With income from IPTs now at 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, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
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 second-day air 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 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day air shipping. 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 (remember those?) 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.
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This image was created down by the lake at ILE on 25 May 2021. While sitting on a milk crate along behind my flattened Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed quite well nailing the adult’s neck just beyond the chin. Click on the image to see a larger version. Limpkin adult with hungry chick feeding |
It’s a Start …
I set out on Tuesday morning with plans to perhaps create a few decent images of the Limpkin family, two adults with three chicks. This cropped image was the best I could do. Had I been a bit more patient — not my strong suit, and stuck to the original plan, I would have had some really great chances.
I knew I had the perfect exposure for the stilts, so when the darker Limpkins showed up, I lowered the shutter speed two clicks. That was right on the money; the RawDigger adapted histogram showed the G channel pushed right to the 16000 line. The only OvExp pixels were on the specular highlights on the bill. I will take another crack at the Limpkins today and try to stick to the plan.
Your Call?
What do you like about today’s featured image? What don’t you like?
Sony Alpha a1 AF
Barring operator error, the performance of the Sony Alpha a1 AF system at any focal length — including at 1200mm as seen in recent blog posts — is, when the a1 is set up properly as detailed in the in e-mails to the Sony Alpha a1 Info & Updates group, more than remarkable. Early on, there was lots of discussion within the group with many preferring multiple back button approaches. For me a simple shutter button approach with the right AF settings that yield 99% sharp-on-the-eye images is best. By far. It is super-simple and mega-effective. In recent SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group e-mails, I shared what I have learned as to when and it what situations it is best to abandon Wide. And with what. The group has already learned to limit the AF Area choices and to switch AF Areas quickly and conveniently. The default method of switching AF points with the C2 button is both slow and cumbersome. In addition, recent e-mails have detailed the best program to use to pick your a1 keepers and the big problem with the Camera Set. Memory menu item.
SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group is going great guns as folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based advice. We are now up to an astounding 49 blessed folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. More recently, we have been in contact with folks at SONY sharing our thoughts, experiences, and frustrations with the EVF blackout problem.
All who purchased their Alpha a1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link will receive a free subscription to the Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up and Info Updates after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.) This same service may be purchased by anyone with an a1 body via a $150.00 PayPal sent to birdsasart@verizon.net indicating payment for Alpha a1 Info Updates. Alternatively, folks can call Jim weekdays at 1-863-692-0906 to pay via credit card. New members will receive composite e-mails that summarize all previous discussions.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Love this image, from the position of the parent/chick in the frame to the soft background colors and hint of a reflection.
Love the clean water and background (unusual with Limpkins in my limited experience) and the small size of the chick. Maybe just out of the nest? Many Limpkin images show chicks nearly as big as the parent.
What don’t you like??? Good lookin’ family pic, reflecting parenting and insecurity of chick in a big new world! Parent showing nothing to it…
I like the composition, colors, position of the birds in the brighter part of the image and partial reflection. Maybe a little more separation of the birds would be nice. Would like to see an image with the birds separated a little to judge side by side. If this was my image I would print it large.
Hi, Artie. I like a lot of things about this image. The only thing I don’t like is the fact that I wasn’t the one who took the picture 🙂
Arthur photos are always good and I also like all the setting info even though I use a Nikon. Most of that works for my camera also!
It is a real nice and clean image. I always like seeing the small droplets of water coming off the bill. Along with the little ripples in the water, they indicate the feeding behavior.
It was an outstanding example of discipline and focus for Phil. Just a typo in his last name; an h instead of k.
Thanks and fixed. With love, a
Absolutely perfect!
What’s not to like?
It is stunning, perfect light, perfect composition and perfect moment in the Limpkin’s life!
Aside from the perfect composition and color, the white band brings my eye directly to the chick, and the overall feeling of the image is that mom is protecting her chick.