On Getting Better
Consider joining me on a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). The San Diego, Homer, and the yet-to-be announced Spring DeSoto IPTs, the July 2023 Jacksonville IPT, and the July 2024 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime all offer the opportunity for you to dramatically improve your skills both in the field and at the computer and to make some astounding images as well. Click here and see which IPT might be best for you.
What’s Up?
The third DeSoto IPT got off to a great start. Our day began with about 1000 American White Pelican roosting on a sandbar, the largest flock I have every seen anywhere. Half of those flew right at us into the east breeze as the sun came up. There were lots of fishing and flying wading birds, mostly Great and Snowy Egrets. As the morning progressed, we had a tame juvenile American Oystercatcher in still blue water. Early on, I avoided getting my butt muddy but I finally decided to sit down in the water for super-low perspectives. As soon as I placed the lens barrel between my feet, every bird at North Beach took flight in fear as a Merlin streaked by. Since I was already wet, I stayed put and was rewarded when the oystercatcher flew back. A Great Egret joined it, as did the single Greater Yellowlegs in Image #2, below. It was the only one we saw. There were no sightings of the Bar-tailed Godwit.
Today is Tuesday 1 November 2022. Bob Ries will be joining us for two days of the IPT. 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 image optimizations and makes two hundred-twenty days in a row with a new one.
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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. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. 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 31 October 2022 on the first morning of the third DeSoto IPT. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/4000 sec. at f/3.2 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the exposure was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 8:04:37am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: American White Pelican in flight |
Positioning
Bird behavior tends to be repetitive. When the pelicans took off to our right, we moved right. If they took off to our left, we moved left. Most of our moves were of about one hundred yards. We moved several times; most turned out very well. As it got brighter and brighter, the birds quit taking off. We waited fifteen minutes and then headed for greener pastures. As we walked south, dozens of birds began taking off again to the east 🙁
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This image was created on 31 October 2022 on the first morning of the third DeSoto IPT. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/4000 sec. at f/3.2 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the exposure was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 8:04:37am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1A: A7 INFO AF points for the American White Pelican in flight image |
400mm f/2.8 Autofocus
Autofocus needs light and contrast to work. Many do not realize that with all things being equal, an f/2.8 lens — with its huge light gathering capabilities, will focus faster and more accurately than an f/4 lens. In the same vein, an f/4 lens will focus faster and more accurately than an f/5.6 lens. And so on an so forth.
As you can see in the screen capture above, Sony a1 AF performance with 400mmf/2.8 GM lens is superb, This lens has quickly become my favorite DeSoto lens, always used without a tripod, and often with the 1.4X TC.
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This image was created on 31 October 2022 on the first morning of the third DeSoto IPT. While seated in six inches of cool water I used the foot-pod technique with the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Greater Yellowlegs foraging |
Perspective Question
Is there such a thing as being too low? Why should I have had the lens on my toes rather than between my feet?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Yellow leg image is awesome. Love it.
Regardless of whether the lens rested on your ankles or toes, the Yellowlegs is a lovely image.
You are not giving yourself enough credit for this awesome image.
Thanks, Bill. Which one?
with love, artie
Support all of the comments. The yellow legs image is superb and hope to see more from that outing including the oystercatcher.
Image #1 American White Pelican in flight is interesting and cute! Image #2 Greater Yellowlegs foraging is interesting!
Image #2 What a beautiful image, the foreground and the background so smooth, and the Yellowlegs so detailed!
I second Elinor’s, Tom’s and David’s comment
to raise the camera to bring the bird’s head below the darker line instead of slightly in it.
Correct again. I keep making the same mistake.
with love, artie
Love the yellow legs – it screams DeSoto. As for being a bit higher you could’ve had better separation of the head from the distant, brown horizontal background.
Yes, sir.
a
Having your lens on your toes would have put the out of focus horizon just above the Greater Yellowlegs head.
Well done, Tom 🙂
with love, a