What’s Up?
On getaway day, Bob Eastman and I were greeted by a glorious sunrise over China Post. Monte Brown joined us in our search for the Great Gray Owl that had been hanging out by the airport. Incredibly, Wilderness Bob spotted the owl along the edge of a huge, dense, spruce grove as we drove by. We could barely find the owl even after Bob pointed it out to us. The bird was quite accepting. and we left it perched in the very same spot as it was when we arrived.
Bob drove every inch of the way from Homer to Anchorage just as he had when we drove down. We had dinner at So Thai where they offer the world’s creamiest, sweetest, most delicious Panang Curry. I cannot wait to get back there next year to enjoy another bowl.
In yesterday’s blog post, I had a soft spot in my heart for the momma Moose image because she appeared so gentle. And yes, I know that more folks are killed each year by Moose than by bears.
The three of us hung out near the rental car counters and then checked in for our red-eye flights. Bob and I were thrilled that our two checked bags came in just under the 50-pound limit. Monte left first on his flight to Denver en route to Indianapolis and home. I was next for my 12:50am flight to Seattle connecting to Orlando arriving at 5:05pm. Jim and I will likely stop for dinner and be back at ILE by 9:00pm or so. Bob gets into Seattle an hour after I do, connects to Minneapolis, MN, and then faces a 350-mile drive home to Reedsburg, WI with a heavy snowfall predicted along the way. You will be learning more about Bob’s amazing life on the blog here soon.
Today is Thursday 9 March 2023. I am scheduled to arrive in Seattle at 5:17am for my flight to Orlando after a 3+ hour layover. This blog post took about two hours to prepare including the time spent on three image optimizations and makes three hundred forty-four days in a row with a new educational post written just for you.,. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.
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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.
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Price reduced $50.00 on 16 FEB 2023
Out of production for more than two years, BAA sold its last one in December. The good news? We have two more new-in-the-box tripods. They are now available for only $649.00 (were $699.00). The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now by clicking here to avoid being disappointed.
Bedfords Amazing 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, prior purchases.
Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
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
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
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.
Nikon D500 DSLR Camera Body
Larry Peavler is offering a like-new Nikon D500 DSLR Camera Body with only 2,408 actuations for a BIRDS AS ART Record-Low $749.00. The sale includes one battery, the charger, the cable, the front body cap, the strap, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via a major carrier to the lower 48.
Please contact Larry via e-mail
The D500 is Nikon’s top-of-the-line crop factor body. It multiplies your focal length by 1.5X. Joe Przybyla and Dan Kearl, both excellent photographers on Bird Photographer’s.Net, use the D500 as their workhorse camera bodies. Joe, the co-author of The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide, was after this old dog for a long time to try a D500 when I used Nikon. artie
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This image was created on 8 March 2023 in Homer, AK. Working from the balcony of my first floor hotel room, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 126mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 500: 1/50 sec. at f/5.6 (stopped down 2-stops) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:24:22am on a partly cloudy morning. Manual focus with Focus Peaking performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Sunrise over mountains and Kachemak Bay |
Bay View Rooms at Land’s End
The advantage of booking a bay view room at Land’s End Resort is that you can peek out your window to check on sunrise every day. Homer saved the very best sunrise color for our last morning. I had been using Red as my Focus Peeking color until Bob Eastman encouraged me to try Yellow. That is now my preferred Focus Peeking color. Using the 5-second self-timer on a windless morning with a sturdy tripod insured all sharp images. What fun!
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This image was created on 8 March 2023 in Homer, AK. Standing at full height on a snowbank, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens Manual focus with Focus Peaking performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Great Grey Owl |
Working on a Snowbank
Working off a tripod set up on a snowbank creates many challenges. At times, you and or your tripod may post-hole. This often results in the tripod being lower than you had hoped for and can be quite unstable. It is best to stamp your feet down into the snow and sink the tripod in until you have a fairly steady base. Then it is time to get to work.
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This image was created on 8 March 2023 in Homer, AK. Standing at full height on a snowbank, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted 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 1000: 1/500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:46:58am in the shade on what would become a sunny morning. Tracking: Expand Spot/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 #3: Great Grey Owl |
Your Calls?
Which is your favorite of today’s three featured images? Why? Which of the two Great Grey Owl images do you like best, the tighter image, #2, the one with direct eye contact, or the wider image, the one with the owl looking coyly away from the camera? Why?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
the pictures of the owl are just so beautiful
you are so gifted
I enjoy your pictures everyday
hope your having a peacefull flight
love ilene
Thanks, Sis. I agree 🙂
a-Bro
Image #1: Sunrise over mountains and Image #2: Great Grey Owl and Image #3: Great Grey Owl are all interesting and well made!
As almost always!
a
I like the owl with the eye contact. Regarding your moose, I was fishing one day with a guide on the Gallatin River near, but not in, Yellowstone NP. As the guide and I holstered our bear spray before entering the water, I asked him if he had ever had to actually use bear spray. He said, “Yes. Once. On a moose.”
Thanks, Neal. They can be quite dangerous if you are not careful. We stayed very close to our SUV.
a
Of course, the sunrise is glorious. I really like the owl photos showing it in its environment. It is easy to see why it was hard to spot! Nature’s camouflage is the best. It is wonderful you were able to capture this owl without any branches in front.
Thanks, Elle. As it was on the edge of the forest, the important thing was placing it in the center of two tree trunks.
artie