What’s Up?
A single photographer needs to leave Homer a bit early (due to new, even more restrictive travel rules for Canadian citizens). This opens up two (or possibly three) pro-rated (with a late-registration discount) days on my 2022 eagle boat. This would seem to be a great opportunity for folks living in Anchorage or elsewhere in Alaska, or for folks who will be visiting the region soon. Please contact me via e-mail to staffbaa@att.net or try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. See below for details.
I had another good chance on the baby Bald Eagle sitting up in the nest on Friday morning. It seemed to have grown in a single day. Because of two delayed-by-bad-weather FedEx flights and an additional screw-up by Federal Express, I will not be able to share the whole gory laptop story with you here until this coming Tuesday. If my old computer is returned today — it has been upgraded to Saturday delivery, I may or may not have access to my samandmayasgrandpa@att.net e-mail today. There are often many related inconveniences after you shoot yourself in the foot. 🙂
After last week’s cold snap, it has been ridiculously warm here; yesterday’s high temperature was 86 degrees! I’ve been getting in the pool every day recently and doing my usual 44 lengths (1/2 mile). With a mildly injured right wing (shoulder), I have been doing lots of kicking and little actual swimming. I enjoyed a still, gorgeous sunset last night but there were very few birds.
That brings us to today, Saturday 5 February 2022. The forecast for today, and for the next ten days as well — until I leave for Anchorage early on the 15th, is calling for cloudy, cooler (but not cold) days, with the winds predominately from somewhere out of the north. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes 84 days in a row with a new one.
Please remember that you can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
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, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
|
|
This image was made with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. Not bad for Canon 🙂 Bald Eagle top shot sunset silhouette |
IPT Daily Schedules
Whenever folks on an IPT ask, “What’s today’s schedule?,” I chuckle. Why? Aside from the time and place to meet, the daily schedule on an IPT s never set in stone. We are always flexible depending on the sky conditions and the wind direction. Though I always have a plan, such plans are changed often in response to the conditions. At Kachemak Bay, the weather can change in a moment so are often changing the schedule during the day. When the chances are for sun in the afternoon, we will usually try to arrange things so that we are in place for some sunset silhouette opportunities, as seen in the image above.
As everyone almost always under-exposes colorful sky silhouettes, be sure to expose to the right by adding more light than you think you need and ignoring the RED channel of the in-camera histogram.
|
|
Pro-rated/Late Registration Discounted DAYs on the Second 2022 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPT
IPT #2: SAT 26 & SUN 27 FEB 2022: $900.00 per day (reduced from $1,100/day). (Friday 25 FEB is possible offering the chance for a 3-DAY IPT) This trip features non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
Also featured are a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader who is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and SONY. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic image designs, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will actually learn to be a better photographer.
The best and most creative boat captain.
A sturdy, spacious, sea worthy, open-deck craft.
The only Bald Eagle workshop with an incredibly helpful, full time, professional first mate.
Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image critiquing sessions.
|
All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK |
What’s Included
One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants.
What’s Not Included
Your airfare (if necessary) to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.
Please Note
On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 8 hours for two pro-rated days or 12 hours for three pro-rated days, you will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour.
Deposit Information
Payment in full is due now via credit card or by personal check made out to BIRDS AS ART and sent to us via US mail.
In Closing
I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of the two trips is to sign up for both. If you have any questions or are good to go for one or for both trips, please get in touch via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
The eagle’s bill slightly open showing the color between makes this image for me.
Unusual and lovely eagle image!