Score Six for Bruce Dudek's Canon R3/RF 600mm!

What’s Up?

On Thursday morning it was sunny and clear with a strong west wind; not even I could manage anything very special in such difficult conditions (he said modestly). Conditions were much better in the afternoon. Possibly for the first time ever, I headed out with the 600mm f/4, no TC, and no tripod. I was happy with my decision.

I was glad to learn the other day that Carlotta Grenier sold her Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for the asking price soon after it was listed.

In today’s post, enjoy some of Bruce Dudek’s fine images from his two In-the-Field sessions at Nickerson. Please be sure to pick a favorite or two and let us know why you made your choice or choices.

Via e-Mail from Bruce

Artie,

After my first cull, I’m down to 376 images out of 7386 from the two In-the-Field sessions. It will take me a while to work through those and find the real keepers.

Here are some things I learned:

I don’t have much experience in photographing beach-nesting birds; you provided both the big-picture and detailed guidance that allowed me to get the hang of it. Learning and re-learning the importance of minor positional changes relative to the subject and the wind and light directions helped me to “see” the compositions. Anticipating bird behavior is something that I focus on, but the nuances of beach-nesting bird behavior is certainly in your realm of expertise and I appreciate the generous sharing. I also made great strides in overcoming my chronic tendency to underexpose in fear of overexposing the whites. The constant gentle and clear guidance on exposure and composition is an effective teaching style that is much appreciated. I am also now motivated to continue up the learning curve in Photoshop skills with the tutorial video that you created for me – that is something that I have resisted for too long. All good stuff. It was well worth the trip down. Thanks!

Bruce

Bruce Dudek: Professor of Psychology and Biology at the University at Albany, State University of New York.

Nikon Z7 II Mirrorless Camera/with extras!

$300.00 Price Drop 6/15/23!

BAA Used Gear Page veteran David Rice is offering a Nikon Mirrorless Z7 II in excellent plus condition for a very low $1,446.95 (was $1746.95). The sale includes the original box and the manual, three Nikon batteries (a $138.00 extra value) with the charger, the front body cap, a 64GB XQD Lexar Memory Card, the strap, the front body cap, a RRS L-Bracket (a $210.00 value), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.

Please contact David via e-mail.

High-Resolution Image Making

Improved processing, greater versatility, but familiar in design, the Nikon Z7 II takes everything that was great from the original and ups its capabilities even more. Sporting a high-resolution 45.7MP FX-format BSI CMOS sensor and dual EXPEED 6 image processors, the Z7 II is clearly aimed at the detail-obsessed image-maker. Improving upon their initial efforts, Nikon has revised the Z7 platform to offer more speed, faster processing, and greater versatility without sacrificing the beloved qualities of the original camera. The sensor’s design omits the optical low-pass filter for greater detail recording capability and the sensor supports a native sensitivity range down to ISO 64 for lush, rich captures. Updated processing also yields faster speeds, including a 10 fps continuous shooting rate and a deeper buffer for working with moving subjects. Updated autofocus now includes Eye and Face Detection for both humans and animals in the Wide-Area AF mode, for both photo and video recording. Nikon and B&H

If you are a general nature photographer looking to get into Nikon mirrorless without spending $5,500.00 on a Z9, you are in the right place. I’ve seen some great flight images with the Nikon Z6 II so I have no doubt that the Z7 II can do the same even better. As this body sells new for $2,996.95, you can save a bundle by being the one to grab David’s Z7 II along with some great extras. artie

This image was created by Bruce Dudek of Albany, NY on 13 June 2023 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, LI, NY on a BAA In-the-Field morning session. Seated on dry sand, he used the handheld Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens with Canon’s best autofocusing camera body, the Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless. ISO 640: 1/800 second at f/5.6. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be perfect. Auto WB at 7:13:41pm on a then sunny afternoon. Image #1: Black Skimmer in flight Photo Courtesy of an copyright 2023: Bruce Dudek Image optimization by BIRDS AS ART

Smelling Like a Rose

Bruce was using the toe-pod technique when he saw this skimmer flying at him. He followed my oft-given advice: when unexpected action occurs push the shutter button as you do not have time to change any settings. As this is the full frame original capture, it is easy to see that he did a great job of fitting the whole bird in the frame. We are both scratching our heads as to how he managed to make a super-sharp image at only 1/800 second handheld. For flight, Arash and I recommend shooting wide open (Bruce was stopped down one full stop) with a shutter speed of 1/3200 or even 1/4000 second (if you have enough light).

Bruce got photo-bombed by a skimmer in the background. I created a Camtasia how-to video on the image optimization; I will share the before image with you here soon.

This image was also created by Bruce Dudek of Albany, NY on 13 June 2023 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, LI, NY on a BAA In-the-Field morning session. Seated on dry sand with a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro atop his tremendously over-priced RWS tripod, he used the Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens with Canon’s best autofocusing camera body, the Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless. ISO 2000: 1/2000 second at f/4. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to 1/6 stop short of perfect. Auto WB AT 7:40:49pm on a by-then cloudy afternoon. Image #2: Black Skimmer digging nest scrape Photo Courtesy of an copyright 2023: Bruce Dudek Image optimization by BIRDS AS ART

Kicked My Butt

Bruce kicked my butt on this one I have been trying for the scrape-digging posture for a week. Without success. Bruce nailed it in a single afternoon. As he was 20 feet to my left I got to witness the whole thing -:(.

This image was created by Bruce Dudek of Albany, NY on 14 June 2023 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, LI, NY on a BAA In-the-Field morning session. Kneeling on damp sand with a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro atop his tremendously over-priced RWS tripod, he used the Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens with Canon’s best autofocusing camera body, the Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless. ISO 400: 1/3200 second at f/4. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined nearly one stop too dark. Auto WB AT 7:26:56am on a mostly sunny morning. Image #3: First summer Great Black-backed Gull about to subdue a Blue Crab Photo Courtesy of an copyright 2023: Bruce Dudek Image optimization by BIRDS AS ART

Kicked My Butt Again

When I spotted this young gull on the berm I thought that it might have had a tern chick. It tossed it down toward the ocean and jumped down to subdue it. The bird was quickly joined by several hungry friends. We both missed the fight shots but Bruce nailed the crab fights back image (that I missed) 🙁 This R3 image and the one below it stood up nicely to a substantial crop.

This image was created by Bruce Dudek of Albany, NY on 14 June 2023 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, LI, NY on a BAA In-the-Field morning session. Kneeling on dry sand, he used the handheld Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens with the Canon Extender RF 1.4x and Canon’s best autofocusing camera body, the Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless. ISO 640: 1/2000 second at f/6.3. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. 7:52:03am on a sunny afternoon. Image #4: Black Skimmer chick running back to momma Photo Courtesy of an copyright 2023: Bruce Dudek Image optimization by BIRDS AS ART

R3 AF

Both Bruce and the R3 AF system did a good job of nailing focus when this oystercatcher chick, one of the recently discovered un-banded, 3-chick family. Clemens Van der Werf states emphatically that the R3 AF system is the best Canon has ever offered. If you are tempted, please remember to use one of my two affiliate links.

This image was created by Bruce Dudek of Albany, NY on 14 June 2023 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, LI, NY on a BAA In-the-Field morning session. Kneeling on damp sand, he used the handheld Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens with the Canon Extender RF 1.4x and Canon’s best autofocusing camera body, the Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless. ISO 500: 1/2000 second at f/5.6. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. 8:51:22am on a sunny afternoon. Image #5: Male Piping Plover posing on wet sand beach Photo Courtesy of an copyright 2023: Bruce Dudek Image optimization by BIRDS AS ART

Nailed!

When photographing most species of plover, keeping their step, step, stop foraging behavior in mind can lead to your making a fine image.

Nickerson Beach June 2023 Common Tern/American Oystercatcher/Black Skimmer In-the-Field Sessions

I am offering both morning and afternoon sessions from now through the end of this month. If you would like to become a better bird photographer, shoot me an e-mail to learn the details. Scheduling for these sessions can be arranged on short notice by checking the weather. A better option is to join me on the IPT. As I have nobody signed up, I can tailor the dates for the first one who does.

IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together are invited to e-mail for discount information.

Common Terns are among the stars of the Nickerson show in June

Summer 2023 Nickerson Beach Terns, Skimmers, & Oystercatchers Instructional Photo Tour (IPT): 3 1/2 (or 4 1/2) DAYS. Monday afternoon, June 19, thru the full day on Thursday June 22 (or Friday June 23), 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. (4 1/2 Days: $2199.00 includes four working brunches). Limit six photographers

The Summer 2023 Nickerson Beach Terns, Skimmers, & Oystercatchers IPT

I am offering two options for this IPT. Locals might prefer the 3 1/2 day IPT. Folks traveling from out of town will almost surely want to maximize their travel dollars by staying the extra day. The stars of the show will likely be the nesting Common Terns. As many have been on eggs for a week or more, we should get to photograph some small chicks and lots of birds in flight with fish. We should have lots of American Oystercatcher families with chicks of varying sizes. Photographing them at dawn along as they forage along the edge of the surf is an exciting experience. We will get to photograph early morning skimmer flock blast offs, lots of afternoon midair battles, and will likely have some skimmers on eggs. Flight photography for all three species will abound.

Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps camera bodies. And we will process a few images and distribute the screen capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. And all IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.

Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.

Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT

• 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
• 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
• 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
• 6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
• 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
• 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
• 10- More than you could ever imagine.

The Details

We will be on the beach very early to enjoy sunrise. The morning sessions will run at least 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will begin at 6:00pm and run till sunset. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till 11:30am or so and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy.

There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Slip (if you have lots of Southwest points. Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).

Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.

Your $599 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check ASAP for this short-notice IPT. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.

IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.

Typos

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