Your Favorite?
Which of the three very similar flight poses do you like best? All are invited to leave a comment letting us know why they made their choice. Ambitious folks may wish to put them in order with their favorite first and the weakest of the three images last.
What’s Up?
The morning of day two of the first 2022 Homer/Kachemak Bay IPT was a success. With zero wind, it was not as productive as Day 1 had been, but we still enjoyed many great chances. Considering that it was supposed to rain the whole day, we felt blessed with the completely dry morning.
Be sure to click on each image to see the amazing sharpness of the high-res versions.
Today is Tuesday 22 February and the sun is supposed to be shining this morning. 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, and makes 100 days in a row with a new one.
Please Remember
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links on this page and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. And please consider joining a BAA IPT.
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.
Brand New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex 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 check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists 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 a 1, 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.
Important Note
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Please Remember Also
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 (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — 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.
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. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
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This image was created on 19 February 2022, the scouting day for the Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 195mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras: ISO 400. 1/4000 second at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 11:02:07am on then sunny morning. a somewhat foggy afternoon. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Bald Eagle beginning dive – A |
The Quality of Light at 11:00am
We are so far north that the light is still very sweet at 11:00am in Homer, AK in winter. Why? Because the sun is relatively low in the sky. Sunshine is not all that common here in winter. When you have both the sun and the wind behind you, conditions are perfect. If the wind is in your face, you still have a good chance for the spectacular banking and turning images. The sun is supposed return today, Tuesday 22 February 2022.
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This image was created on 19 February 2022, the scouting day for the Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 195mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras: ISO 400. 1/4000 second at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 11:02:07am on then sunny morning. a somewhat foggy afternoon. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Bald Eagle beginning dive – B |
The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 II/1.4x TC/a1 Combination
As stated yesterday, the The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 II/1.4x TC/a1 combination has been my most valuable, most-used rig on this trip. When I used Canon dslRs, I would pray for one sharp flight image out of ten. When I used Nikon, things were a bit better; I’d get about five sharp out of ten. With Sony, when I get one flight shot in a series that is not sharp, I am stunned. With the Sony A1, I am so confident in the AF system that I rarely enlarge an image while picking my keepers. Why? It is pretty much a waste of time as everything is razor-sharp on the bird’s eye. Imagine how wonderful that that feels.
Sony Alpha 1 AF
What can I say about a1 autofocus? With today’s featured image, it nailed accurate focus on the eye in a super-difficult situation — a too large in the frame bird flying right at you.
SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. The group is now up to an astounding 110 lucky and 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. The best news is that all who wish, can request an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. I finally finished the consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE and distributed it yesterday. New a1 folks will now receive three e-mails instead of the previous 28! It is a lot easier on me and is an incredible resource for folks new to the a1.
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 group 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.
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This image was created on 19 February 2022, the scouting day for the Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 195mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras: ISO 400. 1/4000 second at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 11:02:07am on then sunny morning. a somewhat foggy afternoon. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Bald Eagle beginning dive -C |
Saving the Whites
Click on each image to view the high-res version. I “saved the whites” on two of today’s featured images. If you can tell which one did not have the detail in the whites restored, please leave a comment letting us know which one is lacking detail in the whites.
The Saving the Whites (and lots more!) Video
One of my biggest challenges when optimizing images involves restoring detail to the WHITEs and highlights of properly exposed images. There are four things that I do to accomplish the latter. All are covered in detail in this 21+ minute video, along with a dirty trick to try if the first four do not work perfectly. Sit with me at my laptop as I teach you how to save the WHITEs. I begin with the raw conversions of two different raw files, today’s featured Snowy Owl image, and Joe Usewicz’s spoonbill image that was featured in the Extraordinary Over-Exposed (?) Spoonbill/Saving the WHITEs Optimization blog post here.
In addition to learning how to save the WHITEs (in both images), you will learn how to expand canvas using the amazingly convenient Content-Aware Crop Tool, to set the White Balance (color temperature), to set the WHITE and BLACK points, see Digital Eye Doctor and RawDigger in action, learn to make a Color Range Selection, and lots more.
To purchase your copy of the Saving the Whites Video (and lots more!) video, you can send a PayPal for $37.00 to us at birdsasart@verizon.net, call Jim in the office at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand, or visit the item in the BAA Online store by clicking here.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I would rank them C, B, then A (or is it 3, 2, and 1). Unlike some of your other readers, I’m not crazy about the position of the left wing in image A (it may be how dark the front portion of the wing appears). Image C, the full spread of the wings draws me in. One thing I did notice with all three of the images is that they needed to be enlarged to be fully appreciated. There was a noticeable difference between the image in the post, and when clicked on in full screen.
#3, full forward view.
Number one for me, more action at the beginning of the dive.
Would choose #3 – wing feather detail, #1 – forward angle of wings, then # 2. Would be happy with any
I like #3 best as the “wings-forward” position appears more powerful!
I like the wing position in #1.
I LIKE THE FIRST PIC BEST BECAUSE OF THE WING ANGLE: I CAN FEEL IT IN MY SHOULDERS.
All three are good and I really like #1 because Bald Eagle looks bigger and closer.
For us, the wing position on #3 is the best – better balanced image and feather tips all visible.
I suspect these are a product and example of the exceptional 20-30 FPS of the A1, when the tiniest millicent of a second can produce a slightly-different pose. JB
#1 is lacking details in the whites overall on the head.
#2 and #3 are ok. Even though there is still two small bands, one over the eye and one from the beak towards the back, that might still be lacking some bits of details IMO.
I’ll go with C. I like seeing the tips of all the primaries.