Going the Extra Mile. Dr. Fish - is this a Red Snapper?

This image was created on 10 May at Fort DeSoto Park in Tierra Verde, FL. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1600: 1/250 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:48:30am, five minutes before sunrise but long before the sun would be on the bird. Tracking: Zone with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed quite well. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Osprey beginning breakfast

Keep or Delete?

Would you keep or delete this image? Why or why not? If you would keep it, what would your plan be for the image optimization?

The Situation

Unfortunately, since the pandemic, DeSoto does not open until 7:00am. Rather than show up at 6:58am, I have the group leave very early so that we can look for subjects before the gate opens. On Tuesday, we did not find anything. But on Wednesday, I spotted this Osprey with a whole fish, possibly a Red Snapper. In any case, it had just caught a fish that was pinkish-red with a yellow iris. As we set up, I gave a quick lesson on choosing your perspective. From the road as we drove by, the thin branch intersected wit the bird.

What’s Up?

Though the pool that held many dozens of wading birds on Tuesday was empty, we enjoyed a second great morning that was clearly not as great as mega-Tuesday had been. We headed early to the New Far Bar and had a zillion good chances with a large flock of mostly Royal Terns. Until a couple with their dog came along. I’ve never seen so many birds disappear so quickly. The story was pretty much the same on Wednesday afternoon, but the last ten minutes were spectacular. Simply put, there is a ton of learning going on on this IPT.

Today is Thursday 11 May 2023 and conditions are again looking near perfect. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day; we will!

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The Fact$ of Life

Right now, the market for editorial sales of natural history images has virtually disappeared. The incomes of the world’s top stock photographers are down by at least 90%. Like me, most depend on income from photo trips, the sale of educational materials, and income from this or that affiliate program.

In 2001, BAA sold the publication rights to images for nearly one-quarter million US dollars. That amount dropped to about $20,000 by 2011, and in 2017, to slightly more than $2,000.00. We’ve stopped counting. IPTs used to fill within days. Now I am happy to go with one or two folks, but I’d much rather have you along. And so it goes. In 2009, I turned to creating educational blog posts, now to the tune of 4009. Yes, 4009 educational blog posts. So, please remember to use either my B&H or Bedfords affiliate links for your major purposes. It does not cost you one cent to do either.

B&H

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Iceland

My decades-long dream of spending time on Grimsey Island, Iceland, with the puffins — 13 days in this case!, will be realized this coming July. I am doing back-to-back trips as a participant. If anyone would like information on the world’s greatest Iceland/Atlantic Puffin trip this coming July, please contact me via e-mail.

This image was created on 10 May at Fort DeSoto Park in Tierra Verde, FL. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1600: 1/250 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:48:30am, five minutes before sunrise but long before the sun would be on the bird. Tracking: Zone with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed quite well. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Osprey beginning breakfast

The Image Optimization

The raw file was a bit too dark, and there were lots of branches to eliminate. The raw conversion took care of most but not all of the brightness issues. When I began, I had planned on a much looser horizontal crop, but after creating that, I bit the bullet and went vertical. I did lots of work on the Osprey including and especially some Eye Doctor work to brighten the iris.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

Everything that I did to create a decent image from a pretty poor raw file along with tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques, my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

The 2023 Fort DeSoto New Cut Current Conditions e-Guide Get your copy here for $25.00 in the BAA Online Store, or free with Fort DeSoto Site Guide proof-of-purchase.

The 2023 Fort DeSoto New Cut Current Conditions e-Guide: $25.00

The 2023 Fort DeSoto New Cut Current Conditions e-Guide details the photographic opportunities available at the New Far Bar and environs. It includes annotated maps, a safety warning, photography tips, recommended access, available subjects, updates on old locations, details on another new DeSoto hotspot, and a gallery. You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store. Folks who already own the Fort DeSoto Site Guide are entitled to a free copy. To receive yours, shoot me an e-mail that includes Fort DeSoto Site Guide proof-of-purchase with the words “New Cut Current Conditions e-Guide” cut and pasted into the subject line.

Robus RC-5558 Versus Robus RC-5558-3

The Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod has four leg sections. The Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod has three leg sections. At the last minute, I decided to bring the RC-5558-3 to Bonaire. Both weigh almost exactly the same (5.2 and 5.1 lbs. respectively) and can support any lens that you own. The closed length of the 5558 is 22.5″ as compared to 26.9″ for the 3-leg section 5558-3. That makes the 5558 a bit easier to pack. I recently came to realize that it is easier to work with a 3-leg section tripod than it is to work with a 4-leg section tripod as there is one few twist lock to deal with.

Topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro, either should be fine for folks up to about 6′ 1″ tall. Taller folks or those who need a tall tripod when working on a ladder, for example, are directed to the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod that comes in just about one foot taller and weighs only 5.6 lbs. If you are looking to save a bit of weight check out the Robus RCC-5560 Vantage Series C 4-Section Carbon Fiber Compact Tripod.

Do know that on average, RWS (Really Wrong Stuff) tripods cost more than twice as much as the comparable Robus models and do not perform as efficiently as my Robus 5558s do.

Typos

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