Still Striving for Different w/the Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM Lens

Re-Published

Yesterday’s blog post is re-published below as the server was down all day while I was flying home from Anchorage, AK.

The First Ever BIRDS AS ART Lens Guide

Impressed by my Sony 300mm f/2.8 images? Use either my Bedfords or B&H affiliate link to purchase your Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and shoot me your receipt via e-mail and request a copy of the first-ever BAA Lens Guide. It will be published sometime in late March as I have a lot more to learn about this amazing new lens.

Text from Eugen Dolan who did both 2024 Homer IPTs

Thank you ever so much for all your teaching, and insight into your photoshop skills which gave me an absolutely wonderful and eventful ITP – the cold notwithstanding. Safe travels.

Eugen

My Call

My two favorite images from the last post were #2, Bald Eagle in flight set against shaded mountainside and #5, Bald Eagles braking to land in low light conditions, each because of the amazingly different backgrounds. My two weakest images were #1, Bald Eagle in flight/late day sun because it was boring and #4, Bald Eagles landing on distant spit on a then dark and dismal morning because it was made at ISO 10,000 and was simply not as strong as the others. That said, several folks liked that one. I actually do too.

Your Call?

Which is today’s strongest image? Why?

What’s Up?

Both Homer IPTs were fabulously successful; all the participants headed home thrilled. The last few days of the 2nd IPT were the coldest I have ever experienced in more than 20 years of visiting Homer. The key to survival was getting the group into sheltered spots with lots of eagles and a variety of backgrounds. We discovered two great new dining spots in Homer: River Cafe for breakfast and lunch, and AJ’s Old Town Grill for some fabulous steak and seafood dinners. Aside from the great folks I had along, my personal highlight was spending lots of quality time with the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E).

Today is Sunday 2 March 2024. I took a redeye from Anchorage to Seattle last night and should be flying to Orlando today, arriving in the early evening. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you are having more fun than me.

If you would like to enjoy some incredible world class photography and photographic instruction, do yourself a favor and grab one of the two remaining spots on each of the two 2025 Homer Bald Eagle IPTs. Better yet, save $1000.00 by signing up for both! It will be my last ever Homer trip … Both trips will surely fill soon. Scroll down for the details.

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.

Save 15%!

If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.

I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.

Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 codeine the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.

Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com

B&H

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.

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.

Bedfords Simplified

Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

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.

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 stave 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.

This image was created on 23 February 2024 at Kachemak Bay, AK on a Homer Bald Eagle IPT. I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/3200 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 (ho hum). AWB at 1:35:04pm on cloudy afternoon. 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: Bald Eagle in flight with spruce tree background

Spruce Hillside Background

With thousands of sunny day and white sky flight shots of both adult and young Bald Eagles, I am always looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. A spruce covered hillside provided something interesting and different. Unlike dSLRs, Sony a-1 autofocus has no problem with backgrounds other than sky. The adult eagle’s clean white head and pristine tail made this individual a perfect subject.

This image was created on 25 February 2024 at Kachemak Bay, AK on a Homer Bald Eagle IPT. I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 (stopped down 1/3 stop don’t ask me why) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 10:14:00am on partly 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 #2: Young Bald Eagle on berm

On The Edge

I am forever looking for subjects teed up on the edge of some sort of rise or mound so that I can make uncluttered images of birds set against distant backgrounds, When I spotted the handsome young eagle above sitting on the edge of the berm with a pleasing Kachemak Bay blue background, I crouched down and went to work. On average, the young eagles need about 2/3 more light than the white-headed adults.

This image was created on 25 February 2024 at Kachemak Bay, AK on a Homer Bald Eagle IPT. I used the handheldSony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter 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. 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 (stopped down 1/3 stop don’t ask me why) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 10:23:43am on partly 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: Adult Bald Eagle head portrait

Clean, Tight, and Graphic with the Sony 300mm f/2.8/2X/a-1 Rig

Headhunting with the handheld Sony 300mm f/2.8/2X/a-1 rig is a snap because of its small size and light weight. Thus, you can easily get into position while minimizing disturbance. Working with a big telephoto lens on a tripod is far more challenging. Note the perfect head angle and the detail in the white feathers.

This image was created on 23 February 2024 at Kachemak Bay, AK on a Homer Bald Eagle IPT. I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/3200 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 (ho hum). AWB at 11:54:29am on cloudy morning. Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed well enough. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Adult and Young Bald Eagle squabbling

You Know the Drill!

If you’ve heard it here once, you’ve heard it here a thousand times: when unexpected action takes place, push the shutter button. If you so much as think about or attempt to change the exposure or the AF method or point or anything else, you will miss everything. When the two eagles in the image above began squabbling, I had zero expectation of making even a half-way decent image. But I fired off a half dozen frames and was pleasantly surprised when one of the worked out nicely.

As I was properly exposed for the adult, the head and face of the juvie on our right was much too dark, that in part because the head of the young bird was shaded — yes, light almost always has a direction even when the sun is not shining. Once I had the TIFF in Photoshop, opening up the head with Tim Grey Dodge and Burn brought the image to life.

How in the World???

Considering that Zone AF grabbed the middle of the adult’s raised wing, how in the world were the eyes of both eagles rendered perfectly sharp?

This image was created on 23 February 2024 at Kachemak Bay, AK on a Homer Bald Eagle IPT. I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/3200 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 (ho hum). AWB at 11:54:29am on cloudy morning. 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 #5: Adult Bald Eagle on log framed by beach grasses

Choose Your Perspective Carefully

To improve your bird photography, be sure to check out your backgrounds carefully when photographing static subjects. With Image #5, I chose my perspective carefully so as to frame the eagle’s head between the two stands of golden beach grasses.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

No Homer IPT Price Increase!

Despite that fact that the hourly boat fee has been increased by 33%, I have decided not to raise the price of the 2025 Homer IPTs. Note that similar trips with 40% less time on the boat cost $5800!

2025 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: FRI 14 FEB 2025 through the full day on TUES 18 FEB 2025. Five days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings 2.

IPT #2: WED 19 FEB 2025 through the full day on SUN 23 FEB 2025. Five days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings 2.

Register for both trips to maximize your travel dollars and enjoy a $1000 discount while you are at it. In 2024, three of the five participants did both trips!

This trip features non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.

In addition, we should see Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require some good luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when pleasing creating bird-scapes.

If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If the conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will be in the right spot.

We will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country; landscape and scenic opportunities abound.

Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader and instructor. He is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer.

All images from Kachemak Bay in 2022!

What You Will Learn

You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer.

You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes. You will learn to make pleasing blurs working in manual mode and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode. Most importantly, you will learn to pick your best flight photographs from tens of thousands of images.

You will enjoy working with the best and most creative boat captain on his sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck watercraft.

There will be only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader.

Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.
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All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants.

What’s Not Included

Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.

Important Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $300.00/hour. The leader will pay for the bait.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer. In 2024 those included Moose, Sea Otter, a variety of sea ducks in the harbor, and Great Grey and Short-eared Owl.

Deposit Information

A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (the latter made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 90 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check.

In Closing

I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of these two trips is to sign up for both of them. If you have any questions, or are good to go for one or both of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.

Typos

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