What’s Up?
My flight to Iceland left at 9:00pm sharp and arrived at Keflavik at 6:20am local time. For the first time ever in my 77 years, I stayed up all night, having never slept a wink on the plane. For the most part, I was engrossed in reading yet another riveting John Grisham/Jake Brigance novel. After I got to the hotel, I took a one hour nap and was good to go for the rest of the day.
We headed out to a local bird reserve and — despite wind-against-sun conditions — had a great afternoon with a pond full of Red-throated Loons — as many as twenty in one two acre pond. A smaller pond held a pair with a half grown chick. Amazingly, most of the loons were quite acclimated to humans. We did not get back to the hotel until about 10:30pm.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
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The Fact$ of Life
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, many 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 4052! Yes, 4052 educational blog posts. Please, therefore, remember to use either my B&H or Bedfords affiliate links for your major purposes. It will not cost you one cent to do either.
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.
B&H Simplified
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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
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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 21 June 2023 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. Seated on dry sand behind my lowered tripod, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro: Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. Exposure was determined using Zebra technology: ISO 1250: 1/640 second at f/8 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect. AWB at 7:21:10am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger, sharper, high-res version. Image #1: Common Tern feeding chick at nest |
Taking a Varied Approach When Visiting Great Photographic Locations
Over the years, my visits to Nickerson Beach took place from mid-July through the very end of August into early September. Though there are lots of handsome young fledged Common Terns at those times, the Black Skimmers and their chicks ruled the roost. I had been looking forward to seeing more of the Common Tern reproductive cycle by visiting in June after my trigger finger surgery. Despite the somewhat unsettled weather, I had a great time and made many nice images of the commons and their chicks.
By visiting great locations during different months each year, you will often find that very new and different (and often spectacular) opportunities exist. That is exactly what happened with my December 2022 San Diego visit; I had never seen a zillion young pelicans in La Jolla on my many previous January visits. And it is one of the reasons I am really looking forward to the upcoming sold-out Galapagos Photo Cruise of a Lifetime late this summer. It will be my first ever visit in late August/early September. I am sure that we will be seeing some great new stuff as far as breeding and chicks.
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This image was created on 22 June 2023 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. Seated on dry sand behind my lowered tripod, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro: Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. Exposure was determined using Zebra technology: ISO 1250: 1/1600 second at f/6.3 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect. AWB at 11:19:51am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger, sharper, high-res version. Image #2: Common Tern feeding chick |
Your Call?
Which of today’s two featured images do you like best? Why?
High Level Depth of Field Question
Though Image #1 was created at f/8 and Image #2 was created at f/6.3, there is another factor the led to all the birds in the first image being in sharp focus while only the chick with the Sandeel is sharp in the second image. What is that factor?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Both are technically excellent, but #2 is more entertaining for me. I’d be proud of either if I’d made them. Good luck in Iceland. We were there last year, but only for a two night stopover. It rained a lot the whole time we were there. I guess we just have to go back again. Enjoy your time there, and hope the volcano does not mess up your trip. All the best.
Art, I really love both of these photos! Lots of action, interesting composition, and even a bit of natural environment, i.e., bird lifestyle photos.
Image #1 and image #2 Common Tern are cute to see it feeding a chick! It is a nice big amount that it is giving to the the chick that is eating it already!
Artie: what Maggi Fuller said. Image 1 really does nothing for me despite its good composition, focus, and color, but image 2 is captivating. How is that little chick going to swallow that sand eel? And the other chick seeming to be thinking “where’s mine?” us wonderful.
#1 for me. I like all the birds in focus. I’d like the adult more in focus in 2.
Were you closer to the birds in 2 causing less DOF?
Whilst Image 1 is probably technically the best, I have to choose Image two for the sheer amusement! The expressions of almost amazement on the adult bird and the second chick, really made me laugh…. which I could do with at the moment!