A Ton of Learning From a Single Osprey Image

Today’s Featured Image

You can learn an absolute ton by carefully perusing my comments on the creation and processing of today’s featured image. Join us on the Sebastian Osprey Adventure for lots more of the same and a ton of great photography. Details at the bottom of this post.

What’s Up?

Since Helene passed, the mornings have been mostly cloudy with a wind from the south or southwest. Not great. I have been down to the lake every morning and most days, have come up with a decent image or two. Most recently, I’ve had two young Great Egrets threatening each other by sky pointing on the South Peninsula. I’ve seen the eagles at both nest trees. It is looking as if they will re-use last year’s nest as I’ve twice seen them adding sticks to that nest. The good news is that that nest is much more photogenic than it was last year as lots of branches came down in various wind storms. I am really hoping that I am around when the large chick or chicks begin flapping — (they fledged two last year) in the nest to strengthen their wings. Perhaps in late January (after San Diego) or early February (before Homer).

Several folks have signed up for the Sebastian Inlet Osprey Adventures, three for the as yet not formally announced San Diego IPT, and two for the as yet not formally announced Stick Marsh Roseate Spoonbill experience. If you would like to get in on the fun, learning, and amazing photography, shoot me an e-mail.

In the “It’s a Bummer” category, I learned yesterday that the home of Chip, my friend and accountant in Clearwater, was totally flooded by the storm surge in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Clean-up and repairs have already begun.

Today is Wednesday 2 October 2024. Can you believe how time flies by? The forecast is for partly cloudy with a slight breeze from the north/northeast — better than most. Whatever the heck you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

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.

Supporting My Efforts Here

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, are all set for gear, or live overseas, consider leaving a BAA Blog Thank You Gift here.

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.

In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.

Need a New Laptop?

Need a new laptop for photography? Consider the Apple 16″ MacBook Pro (M3 Max, Space Black).

Key Features

Apple M3 Max 16-Core Chip
128GB Unified RAM | 8TB SSD
16″ 3456 x 2234 Liquid Retina XDR Screen
40-Core GPU | 16-Core Neural Engine
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Bluetooth 5.3
Thunderbolt 4 | HDMI | MagSafe 3
SDXC Slot | FaceTime HD 1080p Camera
Backlit Magic Keyboard
Force Touch Trackpad | Touch ID Sensor
macOS

In other words, the bomb. Looking to spend a bit less? Click here and search for Apple MacBook Pro M3. Feel free to e-mail or call (863-221-23720 for laptop advice.

Why Not Buy Your MacBook Pro From Apple?

If you purchase a laptop from Apple and have a problem right off the bat they will fix it for you in a few days or a week after you send it to them. They will not replace it. If you purchase a laptop from B&H and have a problem right out of the box, they will send you a new one no questions asked.

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 code in 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 is the Photo Mechanic screen Capture for today’s featured image. Image #1: Osprey with fresh caught Yellowfin Menhaden

The Lying Histogram

If you believed the histogram here, with all of the data left of center, you would think that this images is severely under-exposed. On the other hand, RawDigger showed more than a thousand severely over-exposed pixels in the specular highlights of the fish’s yellow tail. Had I believed the lying histogram and added light in the field, the image would have been far beyond saving.

Note that on sunny days you try your best to get right on sun angle but that you never know exactly where or when an Osprey will emerge with a fish. With today’s featured image, the sun was from over my left shoulder rather than right over the top of my head. As a result of being a bit off sun angle, the left side of the bird’s head was in shade. Check out Image #1C (below) to see how I dealt with that problem.

In-the-Field Tip: when photographing Ospreys diving for fish on a sunny day, set your exposure at least 1/3-stop darker than you normally would so that you do not toast the flashing silver on the fish as the Osprey pulls it out of the water. Doing just that with today’s feather image saved the day.

a-1 Crop-Ability

With a sharp Sony Alpha 1 raw file and the nice reflection of the fish below the bird, the decision to go with a vertical crop here was an easy one. I was not, however, thrilled with the overall color. Keep reading to see how I handled that.

Image #1A: Tight crop of the fish from the unprocessed raw file (as presented in Photo Mechanic)

Pretty Big Problems

In this tight crop, you can see that there are serious over-exposure problems at the base of the tail of the fish and with the specular highlights there and about the head of the fish as well. First, I reduced the luminance of the YELLOWs using a new trick that I developed myself using Point Color in Adobe Camera Raw; I will be sharing that tip in the first video of Volume II of the Digital Basics III Video Series (coming later this month). Next I used the amazing Remove Tool, my new J shortcut, to eliminate the glaring, over exposed highlights. I did that on a new layer and then reduced the opacity of that layer reveal just a hint of the original highlights. Again, check out Image #1C below to see the great (if not amazing) results.

This image was created on 27 October 2023 at Sebastian Inlet, north of Vero Beach, FL. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted 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.. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:29:59am on sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1B: The Optimized version: Osprey with fresh caught Yellowfin Menhaden

The Optimized Version

I was thrilled with the master .TIF file. I cooled the image down by lowering the color temperature from 6100 to 5400 during the raw conversion (but was still not thrilled with the overall color. I eliminated the over-exposed highlights. I lightened the shaded side of the Osprey’s face using Tim Grey Dodge and Burn. I cleaned up some of the crud in the water. Last I used my Image> Auto Tone/Auto Contrast/Auto Color trick and was finally happy with the color of the image.

Image #1C: Square crop of Osprey face and fish from the optimized version (1B)

Damn, That’s Good!

Notice:

1- The incredible image quality of a sharp a-1 raw file.
2- The dark shadow on the left side of the Osprey’s face has been eliminated.
3- The 80% elimination of the harshest specular highlights, most especially on the tail of the fish.
4- The totally natural colors.

Pupil Question

Why is the pupil of the bird’s left eye (on our right) noticeably larger than the other pupil?

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.

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

The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with 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.

Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.

The Digital Basics III Video Series

The Digital Basics III Video Series

I realized more than a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.

As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.

You can save $26 by ordering the first five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.

Do not click on the composite image; simply scroll down for the best viewing. While Sebastian Inlet is justifiably famous around the world for the Ospreys diving for saltwater fish each fall, there are a variety of desirable avian subjects there as well in October and November. Keep reading if you would like to join me on what will surely be a memorable photographic and learning experience.

Pick Your Own Dates Short-notice Sebastian Inlet Ospreys and More BAA Personalized Instructional Workshops

Ridiculously Inexpensive!

Dates: October 29 (arrive on the afternoon of Monday the 28th) thru the morning session on Saturday 22 November

As BIRDS AS ART lost more than $100,000 in tax year 2023, I am moving forward looking more at sharing expenses than at making money. Simply put, for more reasons than I will list here, sharing an AirBnB or VRBO place maximizes learning while reducing your overall travel costs.

Consider joining me at Sebastian Inlet this fall for some great bird photography and a ton of learning. Life is short; what are you waiting for? While a 600mm f/4 lens is ideal, you could do the whole trip with a variety of other lenses including a 500mm f/4, a 400mm f/2.8, a 200-600, a 100-500, a 300mm f/2.8 with TCs, or one of the great new Nikon Z telephoto lenses.

Bob Eastman is driving from Wisconsin and doing all 26 days. Thus, I have two bedrooms in the great 4-bedroom AirBnB just 22 minutes from the south jetty at the State Park, 24 minutes from the northwest pool where the Ospreys spent a lot of time last year.

Hopefully, those who come would stay for a week or ten days (or 26 days!) to maximize the opportunities. Fewer days would work also. Fly to Orlando and rent a car. Local folks who would like to arrange a morning or two of In-the-Field Instruction during October should get in touch via e-mail.

Here, if you stay in the AirBnB with me, are the ridiculous low rates for the in-the-field sessions (that include the daily Image Review and Photoshop sessions.

$250 for a morning session

$150 for an afternoon session.

Brunch and dinners at the AirBnB will cost you $20/day.

If you are interested, let me know your preferred dates via e-mail and I will get back to you with the per/night price for the lodging.

There is no need to travel an hour by car to get to Sebastian Inlet from Vero Beach.

Typos

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