San Diego. Pelicans and More Bird Photography Hotspot!

Your Call?

Which of today’s four featured images do you like best? Why?

What’s Up?

Photography continues to be good in the mornings here at ILE. This morning I had a gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawk posing on The Perch II.

I will be sending SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Notes e-Mail H (15 OCT 2024): Firmware Update 2.01 and 2.20 Options to the group tomorrow. If you own a Sony a-1 and are not in the group, it would be a very good idea to get in touch with me via e-mail.

My favorite image from the previous blog post was Image #1, the square Great Blue Heron with the very small fish. Why? I loved the image design, the soft light, the sharpness, and the fine feather detail.

While the spectacular Pacific-race Brown Pelicans are surely the stars of any San Diego IPT, Wood Duck and the nesting Brandt’s Cormorants are a close second. Then throw in a variety of gulls including and especially the drop-dead gorgeous Heermann’s Gull, lots of Royal Terns in flight and perched, a variety of ducks including the handsome Ring-necked Duck, many shorebirds species including Marbled Godwit, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstones, Spotted Sandpipers, and more, one or two species of hummingbirds with Anna’s being the most dependable, at least two species of marine mammals, and some great scenic photography as well. With 2025’s single IPT half filled already, there are only three slots left. San Diego is one of my very favorite teaching laboratories.

Please e-mail with questions or to save your spot.

Note: I will be sharing educational images of lots of the San Diego back-up subjects here on the blog for the next month or two.

Today is Wednesday 16 October 2024 and I will be headed down to the lake early. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too choose to have a great day. Remember, “Happiness is a choice.” Byron Katie, www.TheWork.com.

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This image was created on 18 January 2024 at La Jolla, CA. Standing at full height, I used the handheld 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 320. 1/4000 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 8:10:24am on mostly sunny 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 breeding plumage in flight plus one more on a rock

The Original Frame

Do you like that I left the out of focus pelican on the right side of the frame? Why or why not?

The Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM Lens

As I perused the San Diego JAN-FEB 2024 DONE file to look for some images to process for this blog post, I did not look at the gear that was used for each image. I was only a bit surprised to see that the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens had been used to create all three. It is pretty close to the perfect lens for San Diego. It was great for the pelicans both in flight and on the sandstone cliffs. It was great at Santee Lakes for the ducks. As the winter of 2024 was atypically cloudy, the f/2.8 aperture was tremendously useful. And it killed at the Brandt’s Cormorant colony for the same reason.

Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

Price reduced a shocking $600.00 on 13 July 2024

Used Gear Page veteran Robert Hollyer is offering a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens in Like-New condition for a BAA record low $9398.00 (was $9,998.00). The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, the lens hood, the lens strap, that hard case & strap, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Bob via e-mail or by phone at 1-206-359-0018 PST.

I purchased my Sony 400mm f/2.8 two years ago to complement my 600mm f/4. Robert is selling his because he rarely uses it, opting instead for the 600mm f/4! It is far easier for me to handhold the 4 ounces lighter, much smaller, and better balanced 400 f/2.8 than it is to handhold the 600mm f/4. The 400 kills for flight with or without the 1.4X teleconverter. This lens sells new right now for $11,998.00 at B&H and there are used copies going for $10998.00 as well. Act quickly to save a handsome $2,000.00 by grabbing Robert’s might-as-well-be-new 400mm GM lens. And you can’t beat the f/2.8 Bokeh! artie

Image #1A: a square crop of Image #1: Brown Pelican, Pacific race breeding plumage in flight

The Square Crop

I went with the square crop to eliminate the out of focus pelican on the left side of the frame. To improve the position of the bird in the frame, I needed to add a bit of canvas above. I did that with Content-Aware Crop.

How would you compare the two images, #1 and 1A? Which of the two (if any) do you like better?

This image was created on 18 January 2024 at La Jolla, CA. Seated on the edge of a lake, I used the handheld 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 500. 1/1000 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 8:26:02am on barely sunny 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: Wood Duck drake floating on lovely water

Photographing Drake Wood Ducks

Drake Wood Ducks present a difficult exposure challenge. Why? The elongated white oval on the bill is exceedingly bright. As are the white stripes on the face and the vertical ones on the forward flanks. In the meantime, you are striving to expose as far to the right as possible to open up the very dark tones on the wings and especially, the large black patch on the face. Getting the purple cheek patch exactly right is largely a matter of light angle and reflectance.

For all of the above reasons, I prefer soft early light, cloudy-bright, or shade. Full sun exacerbates the exposure challenges. Despite that, it is possible to create excellent drake Wood Duck images in sunny conditions.

After selecting the whites and putting them on a new layer, I changed the Blending Mode to Linear Burn, reduced the Opacity of that layer to 20%, added a Regular Layer Mask, and smoothed the edges with a 50% Opacity Brush.

All of the Photoshop stuff mentioned is detailed in both Digital Basics II and in the Digital Basics III Video Series.

This image was created on 18 January 2024 at La Jolla, CA. Standing at full height, I used the handheld 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 1000. 1/1000 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 11:40:20am on a cloudy sunny 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 #3: Brandt’s Cormorant on nest, displaying

The Brandt’s Cormorant Colony

The Brandt’s Cormorant colony at La Jolla is an absolute treasure that is often overlooked by visiting bird photographers. Most of the nests are in the shade for the better part of the day. Understanding the wind and the sky conditions is a necessity for photographing them flying in with a load of seaweed for their nests. Consider joining us in San Diego for the action- and learning-packed 2025 Pelicans and More Instructional Photo Tour.

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.

The 2025 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and More!) IPT

Price reduced $100.00 from last year!

2025 San Diego IPT: 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 11 JAN 2025 thru the morning session on WED 15 JAN 2024: $2599.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6/Openings 3.

Shared AirBnB lodging is available and maximizes learning as well.

Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT sessions.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

I discovered some really neat new spots on my 2024 visit. We will be visiting all of them early next year.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

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.

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.

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

This IPT will include five 3-hour morning photo sessions, four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and four working brunches at my AirBnb. Those 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 2025 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 two months before the trip.

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.