Your Call
Which are the two strongest of today’s nine featured images? Why?
What’s Up
Sunday morning belonged to Bob Eastman. We were ready to give up and head back to our AirBnB for some eggs. Just as Bob started the car, we noticed five Ospreys in the air right in front of us. We hesitated. Two of the birds dove and each emerged with a fish. Bob was first to the rocks. As one of my a-1 bodies had gotten wet, I went to the trunk to grab my second a-1 body. When I could not find it, I grabbed an a9 iii and headed toward the action.
Bob said excitedly, I just got one emerging with a fish!” “Great!” I said, “There is no card in this camera.” I headed back to my SUV and grabbed the card out of my wet a-1.” When I got back to Bob, he was so excited that he could barely speak. An Osprey dove in front of him, just left of sun angle. The bird had caught a large bunker and was struggling to lift it out of the water. Bob fired away. Then an adult Brown Pelican dove on the Osprey and grabbed the fish. Bob kept firing. The two birds battled for the fish. The Osprey flew off fish-less. We reviewed the images. Bob had gotten several great ones. I got three eggs over easy.
I will of course be sharing some of Bob’s pelican thievery images with you here on the blog fairly soon.
Every morning has been great, and we’ve done well in the afternoons too. The fish are migrating and the Ospreys are diving. If you would like to join Bob and me, scroll down for details and then get in touch via e-mail or cell phone: 863-221-2372 ASAP, and get yourself a plane ticket. There is lots of room for you at the nicest AirBnB I’ve ever been in.
Today is Monday 4 November. Yes, we will be up early and heading for Sebastian. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a great day.
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This image was created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. 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 800. 1/80 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 7:26:25am with lots of clouds in the eastern sky. Tracking: (upper center) 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: Wood Stork with Mullet |
Face Replacement
I was trying to create some pleasing blurs when a Wood Stork grabbed a Mullet. I raised the shutter speed and the ISO a few clicks each hoping to possibly make a sharp image. I kept four of about 15. The first image had the face sharp and the last image was the best pose. After creating a Quick Mask of the sharp face and eye dropping it in place was child’s play.
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This image was also created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Again, 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 250. 1/50 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 7:32:26am with lots of clouds in the eastern sky. 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: Great Egret landing |
Insane Sharpness at 1/50 Second
A mixed species group of birds had cornered a school of baitfish against the shoreline in a small lagoon. When this Great Egret flew in to join the feeding spree, I saw the opportunity to create a nice pleasingly blurred image. While reviewing my 1000 or so images from our Saturday session, Image #2 looked fairly sharp. When I enlarged it in Photo Mechanic, I was stunned to see that the bird’s eye was razor sharp. Yes, matching the speed of a bird in flight with your panning speed helps, but attaining such sharpness at 1/50 sec. is still mind boggling.
Note the sweetness of the background at f/2.8. Can you say bokeh?
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This image was also created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Again, 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 1250. 1/2500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 8:03:20am on a still 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 #3: Sanderling flock on beach |
I’ve been spending some quality time with the Sanderling flock on most cloudy mornings. On Friday past, they put on a wondrous show, blasting off every few minutes and swirling and turning our over the breaking waves. On Saturday? No so much. But I did like this pano crop for the mood.
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This image was also created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, 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 1600. 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 dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:32:42am on a then partly sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #4: Osprey turning in flight looking back |
Ospreys Diving on Saturday Morning
Early on Saturday morning, there were more than 30 Ospreys patrolling the inlet. With the east wind, sun angle is a challenge. The solution is to get as far out on the jetty as possible. Without endangering yourself or your gear. I pushed the envelope (as usual) and nearly got knocked off my feet when a large wave hit me from behind at knee level.
The bummer was that a had about a dozen birds hit the water right down sun angle from me; each came up without a fish 🙁
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This image was also created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, 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 1600. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/4000 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:38:44am on a then mostly sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #5: Peregrine soaring and staring |
Peregrine!
I spotted the Peregrine just as someone well to my left screamed it out. I quickly adjusted the exposure for the darker-than-an-Osprey subject and found the bird in the frame as it first flew toward me and then turned left and streaked east down the center of the inlet. Whenever I have an exciting subject in the frame, a spurt of adrenaline increases my heart rate. Oftentimes, I get so excited that I screw up by misframing every image. On Saturday morning, I nailed them all.
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This image was also created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, 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 1600. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/4000 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:38:46am on a then mostly sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #6: Peregrine in driving flight — full upstroke |
Why 840mm?
Most everyone at Sebastian is hand holding. That includes everyone using 600mm f/4 lenses. Except me. And nobody using a 600mm f/4 lens has mounted a 1.4X teleconverter. Again, except me. It is much easier to keep a bird in the frame at 600mm than it is when working at 840mm. In addition, it is much easier to avoid clipping wingtips when using a shorter focal length.
So why do I add the 1.4X TC? I want raw files with more pixels on the subject than the rest of the boys and girls. Not to mention that a lot of the action takes place in the middle of a very wide inlet.
Enlarge the image and check out the fine feather detail on the falcon’s underwing.
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This image was also created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, 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 1250. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/4000 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:42:59am on a then mostly sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #7: Osprey kiting — looking for fish |
Why a Tripod?
Easy question. I almost always use a tripod with my 600mm f/4 lens because I cannot comfortably hand hold it for more than a few moments. And contrary to popular opinion, with the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro it is relatively easy to get on flight and action.
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This image was also created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens 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 #8: Brown Pelican juvenile taking flight with bill open |
East Wind Afternoons
The winds have blown from the east since we arrived. Sunny afternoons are quite difficult as you have wind against sun conditions. On Saturday past, it was cloudy so we worked the inlet. There were lots of Ospreys patrolling but they were not diving. I concentrated on the young pelicans fishing. Just after this young bird had scooped up some small batfish with his bill pouch, it took flight.
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This image was also created on 2 November 2024 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens 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 #9: Osprey overhead |
White Sky Exposures
In a recent e-mail, Alan Murphy, wrote: I remember shooting with you in Florida one gray sky day and I was inspired by how quickly you nailed in-camera composition and exposure. The best in the field.
With the white skies and the Ospreys not diving, I went for the overhead “T” shot. That after adding 2 1/2 stops of light to the gray sky exposure. You need to have a ton of blinkies on those gray or white skies in order to come up with a good exposure for the birds above you.
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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 migrating 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
Right now, I have four folks for the last week, 17-22 NOV. So any few days (or a week!) after 28 OCT and before mid-NOV would be fabulous.
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 400mm DO, a 200-600, a 100-500, a 300mm f/2.8 with TCs, or one of the great new Nikon Z telephoto or telephoto zoom lenses.
Bob Eastman is driving from Wisconsin and doing all 26 days, from 28 OCT thru the morning session on 22 NOV, prime time for Ospreys diving and catching a variety of saltwater fish. There are four bedrooms in this great AirBnB property that is 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. Please note that NOV 21-22 are sold out.
Hopefully, those who come would stay for a week or ten days (or all 26 days!) to maximize the opportunities. As above, fewer days would work also. Fly to Melbourne (MEL) or Orlando (MCO) 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.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I should have read that before I hit send — two typos! But then I was multi-tasking — waiting on the line for AMEX for ten minutes while reading/responding to your blog).
Typos fixed. With love, artie
Art: I think the strongest images are #6, the falcon with the incredible detail on the raised wings, and #7 the osprey with it’s talons spread ready to catch a fish.
We miss you Sue. Artie and friends.
Sue who?
with love, artie
Images 6 and 9. Perfect, classically beautiful shots. My favourite being Image 6, the Peregrine, fantastic bird. Not a lot of action in either, but you have captured them in all their glory with no doubt as to the species.
Thanks for your kind words, Maggie.
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