Stuff to Learn. Stuff I Learned ...

What’s Up

After waking at 2:50am Florida time on Tuesday, I got into Anchorage 20 minutes “late” at 3:50pm (Alaska time). Considering that door to door was about 18 hours, things went quite well. I grabbed my rental vehicle and headed to the nearby Lakefront Anchorage for an expectedly fitful night’s sleep. I got to bed at 7:30pm Alaska time and got out of bed at 3:30am. I spent a lot of time reading (and listening to) Ken Follet’s Hornet Flight. Both of my flights, totaling more than ten hours in the air, were blessedly uneventful. I did spend about nine hours culling image files. I was quite brutal and wound up deleting a hefty 210 GBs of images. No worries, I am running my Time Machine back-ups as I type.

I had some major realizations as I worked on images from the past few years:

• 1- Auto White Balance with the Sony A1 is far superior to AWB with the Sony a9, the a9 II, the a7R IV, the Nikon D850, and the Canon R5.
• 2- My exposures have improved by leaps and bounds since I began evaluating my images in RawDigger and fine-tuning my SONY Zebras strategies.
• More than half of the images I deleted would have been improved had I not been too lazy to get on the ground for a lower perspective.
• My processing skills continue to improve.
• Topaz DeNoise AI is fast and the results are amazing
• It’s a shame that the Gatorland Photographer’s Pass program no longer exists …

Today is Wednesday 16 February. I will be driving down to Homer today, leaving about mid-morning. In good conditions, the trip is about 4 1/2 hours. In a blizzard? Good luck! The last time I drove it took me more than nine hours (Homer back to Anchorage). And the roadsides were littered with overturned trucks of all types! The forecast for the next few days is for mixed snow and rain.

Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare (including the time spent on the two image optimizations) and makes 94 days in a row with a new one.

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.

Recovered Image Alert

Both of the images featured in today’s post were among the 135,000+ recovered images. 🙂

Other MacBook Pros with M1 Chip & Retina Display Options

As below, you do not need to spend $7K to enjoy the new super-fast M1 chip technology. There are 13.3, 14.2, and 16.2 sizes. There are two colors: Space Gray and Silver. And each can be configured as you wish as far as RAM (Memory), Storage, and Graphics configuration. To explore the many less expensive options, please start by clicking here, and then do a search for “MacBook Pro M1.”

As always, using my affiliate links will not cost you one penny and is a great way to thank BAA for the information and stories that you read here on the blog every day.

Less Expensive Souped Up MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip Options

I am totally in love with my new laptop. The speed is totally amazing, especially with Topaz Sharpen AI. The set-up is almost complete. The only thing I need to download and install is Sony Imaging Edge (and that is not very important at all). I have my workflow down pat on the 16.2″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip (Late 2021, Space Gray): Apple M1 Max 10-Core Chip (Processor), 64GB Unified RAM (Memory, 8TB SSD (Storage), and the 32-Core GPU (Graphics configuration), and things are really humming. Really serious photo folks can save $1200 by dropping down to the totally souped up 4TB SSD model, this one: Apple 16.2″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip (Late 2021, Space Gray) Those who do not keep their images on their laptops would save another $600.00 and do quite well with the totally souped up 2TB model, the Apple 16.2″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip (Late 2021, Space Gray). All three of these amazingly fast machines feature the Apple M1 Max 10-Core Chip (Processor), 64GB of Unified RAM (Memory), and the 32-Core GPU (Graphics configuration).

With all due respect, B&H will get you the new MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip of your choice a lot faster and more reliably than Apple … Be sure to add 3 years of Apple Care.

This image was created on 11 April 2021 at Fort DeSoto. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 529mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) ISO 1250. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:12:31am on a cloudy morning. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Red Knot beginning to molt into breeding plumage

Stuff to Learn

Whether on an Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) or during an In-the-Field Instructional Session, spending time in the field photographing with me will make you a much better photographer. And that is true no matter how smart or how good you are. Sorry, just the facts … After more than 38 years, I have figured out a few things. Below Image #2 is a partial list of what you would learn in the field with me while creating images like those featured today. He said modestly.

This image was created on 11 April 2021 at Fort DeSoto. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 529mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) ISO 800. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:22:16am on a then-sunny morning. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Short-billed Dowitcher beginning to molt into breeding plumage

Stuff You Will Learn

• Subject-to-sensor plane orientation: both images.
• Getting the right exposure in soft light (Image #1) and in full sun (Image #2). In all systems, those are two completely different animals.
• Image design basics: both images.
• Executing the perfect crop: both images.
• Recognizing great situations
• Picking your keepers/looking for that something special — the raised foot in both images.
• Head angle fine points: both images.
• (Shorebird) identification and aging: both images.
• The importance of wave placement: Image #2.
• Working on sun angle: Image #2.
• Getting close to free and wild birds: both images.
• Isolating the subject: both images
• Converting your Raw files: both images.

Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull landing on head of Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull in flight, Reddish Egret sunrise silhouette, Great Blue Heron with needlefish, Yellow-crowned Night Heron with ghost crab, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling in breeding plumage, and white morph Reddish Egret in glorious breeding plumage.

The 2022 DeSoto Spring IPT/April 26 through the morning session on April 29, 2020. 3 1/2 DAYS: $2099.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings 5

Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for breeding terns and gulls and wading birds in spring. Migrant shorebirds are in abundance, and many are exceedingly tame. We should have great chances on Royal and Sandwich Terns and both white- and dark-morph Reddish Egrets. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two along with some American Oystercatchers. We will enjoy lots of great flight photography.

Again, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull in flight, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Sandwich Terns copulating, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret with reflection, breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, white morph Reddish Egret, and Snowy Egret in marsh.

We will also get to photograph a variety of other shorebirds including Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, and Piping Plovers, Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, most especially, Red Knot with many individuals in their handsome breeding plumages. In spring the T-shaped peninsula and the newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, are literally packed with avian treasures.
With luck, we might get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable species: Roseate Spoonbill. And we will almost surely get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. With luck, they will have Laughing Gulls landing on their heads. And though not guaranteed, Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two.

Yes, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: breeding plumage Dunlin, dark morph Reddish Egret displaying, Laughing Gull vertical front-end portrait, Laughing Gull with prey item, landing on head of Brown Pelican, breeding plumage Royal Tern displaying, Royal Terns — pre-copulatory stance, Laughing Gulls copulating, Laughing Gull head portrait, breeding plumage Sandwich Tern with fish, and a rare treat, a breeding plumage White-rumped Sandpiper.

On the IPT you will learn:

• 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
• 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
• 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
• 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds including sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and possibly yellowlegs.
• 6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
• 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
• 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
• 10- How and when to access the magical sandbar safely.
• 11- More than you could ever imagine.

You got it by now! Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Roseate Spoonbill, immature Brown Pelican in flight, the heron/egret hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, immature Royal Tern on railing, Great Egret morning silhouette, Black Skimmer in surf, and underside head portrait of Great Blue Heron.

Morning sessions will run at least three hours, afternoon sessions 2 1/2. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings, when the photography is excellent, we may opt to extend the morning session and skip the afternoon, especially if the afternoon weather is not looking too good. There will be a Photoshop/image review session after lunch (included) each day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. This IPT will run with only a single registrant (though that is not likely to happen). The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area — Gulfport in this case, rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away.

Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field early and stay late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:30am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We will be getting wet.

Credit cards are OK for your $500 deposit. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. After you leave the deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice a month before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.