This Just In: 1/18/2024 — 12:16pm Pacific Time
Not too late to join me in San Diego …
Thursday morning at La Jolla was beyond spectacular. In perfect conditions, I created 3460 images. Now all I need to do is pick the best ones. But first, a nap.
What’s Up?
I did a bit of photography on Wednesday morning and took a long scouting walk. Of yesterday’s three images, my favorite was Image #3, the bill pouch cleaning. Nobody liked any of the images. Sorry to Sue, she does not count. She always likes all of them but the silhouettes that she feels are “too dark.”) All the rest are “well made and interesting.” Many folks have kindly tried to explain to her what a silhouette is but she ain’t having it.
In the previous post, the golden brown background was my favorite.
Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day. My late Mom would not be shocked to learn that I am headed out early to photograph pelicans! If you are interested in joining me for an In-the-Field Instructional Session in San Diego this month, please get in touch ASAP either via e-mail or by calling or texting my cell at 863-221-2372. I was thrilled to learn recently that two folks signed up for San Diego #2. Both are first timers: Jeanette LaPorte and Tom Baker. It is not tool late to sign up for either IPT and be ensured of almost private instruction. Get in touch as above to learn of the couples or late registration discounts.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
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.
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This image was also created on 17 January 2024 on the cliffs at La Jolla. Again, standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber 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 3200. 1/2500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 7:32:03am on cloudy 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: Brown Pelican Pacific race juvenile braking to land |
If …
If you have a question about this image, please leave a comment.
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This image was created on 17 January 2024 on the cliffs at La Jolla. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber 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 2000. 1/2500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 7:53:13am on cloudy 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 #2: Brown Pelican breeding plumage Pacific race with bill pouch distended right after head throw |
If …
If you have a question about this image, please leave a comment.
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San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.
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Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning, there is usually some excellent flight photography, at times with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego. Each IPT will include one or two duck sessions.
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Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
The San Diego Details
These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon shoot. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.
Deposit Info
A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2024 San Diego IPT. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.
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Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
How much red do you add to make it pop? Is it really that vibrant in person? I’ve never been to La Jolla except for golfing at Torrey Pines a couple times. But, I’ve been to Bolsa Chica and I’ve never seen those pouch colors your pelican photos are so famous for. Perhaps the birds at Bolsa are non-breeding juveniles. (sub adults)? Enjoy yourself and count your blessings.
Like the bird in #1 but don’t like the part white, part dark background. Do like the colorful red, and yellow in #2.
I didn’t really understand the bill pouch cleaning of yesterday’s pelican. How it opens and how cleaned.
Hi Elinor,
Funny. I did a Google search and found this:
The Behavior: Bill Pouch Cleaning
When a pelican opens its bill and pulls its lower mandible down over its distended neck, it is cleaning its bill pouch (even though that does not make much sense to us humans). It is often a clue that the bird will be doing a head throw.
On my blog!!! So I guess that I am the world authority on that behavior. When I get home I will check it in the Birds of North America account. Not sure where I learned that or if I made it up 🙂
a
The spectacular color of the bill pouch in image #2 coupled with the partial appearance of the wing feathers in image #1 make image #2 my clear favorite.
Thanks Mr. Master 🙂
a
I prefer image #2. The in-flight image (#1) is interesting but the pelican itself is less colorful and the background is distracting. Although there is less action in image #2, the blue background is pleasant and makes the red of the much nicer specimen pelican “pop”.
Thanks for commenting. I actually like the 2/3 cliff / 1/3- water BKGRND in #1. Go figure.
with love, a
Both Image #1 and #2 Brown Pelican are interesting and well made. The other images showing many birds and some show other things are well made and interesting.
Both images are well made and interesting. I love them both for different reasons. The first one just looks impossible. How can such tiny (appearing) wings keep that big bird in the air? The wings look like a Galapagos cormorant’s wings. The bill pouch in the second image also looks impossible for that amazing rainbow palette of colors.
Thanks, David. The thinness of the wings is somewhat of an optical illusion. They are actually quite broad.
See you in Homer!
with love, a
Love both, can’t make my mind up, though I did go “oh wow” when I saw Image 2!
Glad that you liked.
a