What’s Up?
The drive home was long and exhausting. I stopped at St. Augustine Alligator Farm on the way home. I got to ILE at about 2pm and tried to nap. By this point, I was feeling really lousy and realized that I had a fever. Suspecting that I had contracted COVID, I began the alternative protocol for early treatment. I took a home antigen test that was positive. So yes, I have COVID. I am feeling much better today, the fever is gone, and my pulse ox this morning has ranged from 94-98.
Today is Thursday 14 April 2022. I will be resting most of the day, picking my keepers from several day folders, and catching up on laundry. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 30 minutes to prepare and makes thirty-four days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
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This image was created on 11 April 2022. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). Multi-metering +1.7 stops set AUTO ISO to ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority Mode. The raw file brightness was one full stop too dark when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 7:37:22pm on a clear afternoon. Tracking: Zone with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Royal Tern landing |
Which Way Is the Bird Flying?
When creating a silhouette of a single bird in flight, it is often challenging to determine which way a bird is flying, toward or away? Optical illusions are common in such situations.
In yesterday’s blog post here, Angie Frederick commented with certainty:
This is actually the back of the bird flying away, yet appearing like the front. Do you think that Angie was right?
What Bugged Me
What bugged me is that the bottom tertial on the bird’s left wing was slightly displaced and merged with the body. But I still love the image.
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This image was created on 11 April 2022. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). Multi-metering +1.7 stops set AUTO ISO to ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority Mode. The raw file brightness was one full stop too dark when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 7:37:22pm on a clear afternoon. Tracking: Zone with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Royal Tern landing |
How to Know for Sure
There is an easy way to determine if a silhouetted bird is coming or going. Bring the image into Photoshop and lighten it dramatically (rather than darkening it). Thus, my response:
Hi Angie,
While that happens at times, it is not the case here. I lightened the image, and you can clearly see that the bird is landing toward us.
with love, artie
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I agree with Layton, I assumed the bird was flying toward you because you would not have wasted the pixels on a bird flying away from you….
Glad you are already feeling better today!
Thanks. I am feeling every better on Saturday morning. But your assumption is wrong. On several occasions, I have photographed a bird flying away from me in silhouette and more than 50% of the folks swore that it had been flying toward me. Until I lightened it. I call such images optical collusions 🙂
with love, artie
Sorry to hear that Artie. Rest up, and get well.
Feel Better our Pen Pal Photo friend. Don’t worry about how many blogs in a row. Take it easy and get yourself well. Age, weight, blood sugars can all give the virus a bit of a fighting chance. When I came down with Covid around the 1st of the year it took me a month and a half to finally get a negative test. At that time I still had a cough and some mucous, blowing my nose a lot still and coughing phlem? at times. The fatigue may need more sleep including naps. Don’t get yourself run down worrying about us, we’ll be here. I didn’t have the advantage of taking Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine as none of my Anthem Blue Cross Dr’s. would prescribe it for me. Your a strong dude of mind and body. Be smart and use your good common sense and Dr’s. advice and I’m sure you’ll beat fast. My wife and the other relatives who got it at our Christmas get together all got over it in like 3-5 days. I was the only one who had a more lengthy version. Here’s to praying for your health and a short duration. God Bless & heal up.
Thanks, Jeff. I enjoy doing the blog posts. No pressure at all 🙂 And I love working on images. It is all very relaxing to me. Were your follow-up tests antigen tests or PCR tests?
I am of course, hoping to beat the long term cough business.
with love, artie
Test at CVS & Walgreens most PCR – but one of the last ones (I had done a Walgreens test & it was taking forever to come back, web site kept saying waiting for sample to arrive) was a rapid test thru a CVS I had to drive a bit of a ways to get it done. By the time I got back home the result was in as negative. 2 days later the Walgreens PCR test also came in as negative. So it was kind of nice to get a 2nd confirmation of the negative test and thru 2 different testing methods.
Some folks have some of that myocarditis or pericarditis from just getting the virus. So be careful with your swimming and long walks for a while until you are sure your ticker is ok and unaffected.
Keep getting your rest & eating good nutrient dense foods. I felt like eating those small mandarin oranges (called cuties in our market) helped with the good natural vitamin C.
Take Care & God Bless
Thanks, Jeff. Sunday morning and I am feeling very good. Every day is better. Pulse Ox is 95. I want 98 or 99 🙂
with love, artie
Artie,
Hope you recover quickly.
Thanks, Monte. 48mg Ivermectin for five days!
with love, a
Sorry to hear you have Covid. Hope it is a mild case and you get well soon.
Thanks Pat and the rest of the gang. I am feeling much better today thanks to the protocol recommended by Dr. Oliver.
with love to all, artie
Dear Art:
Sorry to hear that you got Covid. I hope it is a light case and you feel better soon.
Love ‘ya,
Pat and Stokes
I hope you feel better soon! Take care.
Hello Artie ! Did you see my neighbor Ted at the AF ? He was due there this week also. He says you can go early before they actually open and photograph the birds. Gosh, I hope you get well soon.
Did not see Ted. There were many folks there.
with love and thanks,
a
Knowing you, a butt shot would be out of the question!! Wishing you a speedy 100% recovery!
Feel better my friend!
Bummer on Covid-19, Artie. I trust you get better quickly.
The response was a guess based on your question of what bugs you. Obviously, this is not what bugs you. Can you tell us what does?
I revealed that above.
with love, artie