2014 Bosque Secrets Revealed

The 2014 Bosque Quick Start Guide/Current Conditions Update is available as a stand alone purchase. See below for details.

2014 Bosque Secrets Revealed

Every year at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is different. Heck, after 20 straight years of visiting in late fall I can honestly say that every day is different. Every year however there are major trends that differ from the year before. And these trends can have a big effect on the quality of your photographic experience. I have just finished working on the 2014 Bosque Quick Start Guide/Current Conditions Update.

I know where to make images like this on most mornings. Do you? The 2014 Bosque Quick Start Guide/Current Conditions Update tells you exactly where and when to be…. On most but not all mornings of course. And if the situation is not there, you will be in the right place anyway! Image #1: Snow Goose Flapping After Bath

“Announcing the 2014 Bosque Quick Start Guide/Current Conditions Update”

The 2014 Bosque Quick Start Guide/Current Conditions Update will be sent at no charge to folks who have previously purchased our Bosque Site Guide. In this new, stand-alone guide I will enlighten you as to what’s new at the refuge and what’s old that works. Where should you be at dawn with a north wind? Which crane pool is better? What’s with that new pond? Where are the two best spots to be at sunset? Where should you be at 7:30am on a cloudy morning?

All of those questions are answered in detail in the new Quick Start Guide/Update. The Quick Start Guide contains a basic synopsis of the complete guide including the best pre-dawn strategies, the best crane pool strategies, the best afternoon strategies, and the best sunset strategies. Heck, BAA Site Guides are the next best thing to being on an IPT. This new e-Guide includes 41 images, all but one created in 2013. Most are spectacular and inspiring, all include an educational caption designed to teach you to be in the right place at the right time in the right weather. Take advantage of my 20 years of experience at Bosque by getting yourself a copy of this great new guide right now.

For folks who already own our Bosque Site Guide, here’s the rub: My daughter Jennifer, who sends out all updates, is enjoying the holidays with her husband’s family in Gainesville, FL. She will be back on December 30. She will send the update that Monday or Tuesday. If you will be visiting Bosque this week and need the update now, please cut and paste (or screen capture) the top of the first page of the Bosque Site Guide into an e-mail and shoot it to Jim via e-mail with the words “Early Request for 2014 Bosque Update” cut and pasted into the Subject Line. Everyone on the list should receive the update early next week.

Most folks are headed back to Socorro when images like this are there for the taking. It’s all about knowing where to be when…. And of course, the Quick Start Guide lets you know. Image #2: Snow Goose Evening Fly-In

More on the “2014 Bosque Quick Start Guide/Current Conditions Update”

If you purchase our Bosque Site Guide ($50) today, you will receive the complete Bosque Site Guide in one e-mail, and then you will receive the 2014 Bosque Quick Start Guide/Current Conditions Update at no charge to you.

We are, as we did last year, offering the 2014 Bosque Quick Start Guide/Current Conditions Update as a stand-alone purchase for only $25. You can order your copy right now in the BAA Online Store by clicking here. Your PDF will be sent via e-mail.

How well do you understand the relationship of wind, the direction of light, and flight photography. Image #3: Sandhill Crane Taking Flight

Wind, Light, and Flight Photography.

The Quick Start Guide explains the basic relationship between wind, light, and flight photography. And it explains many of the fine points as well. It tells you exactly where to be and when for photographing outbound cranes like the one above in flight, and even tells you what to do when the wind direction is less than ideal.

Few folks know of a good shorebird photography location at the refuge. I do, and I share it with you in the new guide. Image #4: Long-legged Shorebird Foraging

ID?

Can you identify the shorebird in the image above? Can you tell us anything more about it?

If not, you should get yourself a copy of Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers.

Your Favorite?

Which of the four images above is your favorite? Be sure to let us know why you like the one you do.

Bosque del Apache 2014 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). NOV 29-DEC 3, 2014. 3 FULL and 2 HALF-DAYS: $1449. Leaders: Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito. Introductory Slide program: 7:00pm on Sunday 11/29.

Tens of thousand of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with two of the world’s premier photographic educators at one of their very favorite photography locations on the planet. Top-notch in-the-field and Photoshop instruction. This will make 21 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for artie. This will be denise’s 6th workshop at the refuge. Nobody knows the place better than artie does. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the sky conditions, the light, and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home being able to apply what you’ve learned on your home turf will prove to be invaluable.

This workshop includes 4 afternoon (11/29 through 12/2), 4 morning (11/30 to 12/3) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/29, all lunches, and after-lunch digital workflow, Photoshop, and image critiquing sessions.

There is never a strict itinerary on a Bosque IPT as each day is tailored to the local conditions at the time and to the weather. We are totally flexible in order to maximize both the photographic and learning opportunities. We are up early each day leaving the hotel by 5:30 am to be in position for sunrise. We usually photograph until about 10:30am. Then it is back to Socorro for lunch and then a classroom session with the group most days. We head back to the refuge at about 3:30pm each day and photograph until sunset. We will be photographing lots of Snow Geese and lots of Sandhill Cranes with the emphasis on expanding both your technical skills and your creativity.

A $449 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2014. If the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.

Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.”) You can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

Bosque del Apache 2014 A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART “Creative Photography Instructional Photo-Tour.” (IPT). NOV 24-25, 2014. 2-FULL DAYS: $729. Leaders: Denise Ippolito & Arthur Morris. Introductory Slide program: 7:00pm on Sunday 11/23.

Learn to unleash your creative juices at the wondrous Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico with two great leaders including the amazingly talented and creative Denise Ippolito. In-the-field instruction will include tips on gear set-up, on creating a variety of pleasing blurs, on getting the right exposure, and on designing pleasing images. And lots more. From vertical pan blurs to subject motion blurs to zoom blurs to multiple exposures we will cover it all. This workshop will include an inspirational introductory slide program on Sunday evening, 11/23 after dinner on your own, two morning and two afternoon photography sessions, all lunches, a digital workflow and Photoshop session after lunch on Monday, and an image critiquing session after lunch on Tuesday.

A $329 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2014. If the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.

Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.”) You can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

IPT Info

Many of our great trips are filling up. You will learn more about how to make great images on a BAA IPT than anywhere else on the planet. Click here for info on the Anhinga Trail IPT. Click here for info on the Estero Lagoon IPT. Click here for info on the just announced San Diego Short Notice IPT–only 2 slots left on that one. And click here to learn about the just-announced 2014 Bosque IPTs. You will find additional IPTs and general info here.

Great Buy: Used Canon 800mm f/5/6L IS Lens for Sale

Friend and multiple IPT-veteran Monte Brown is offering his lightly used Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens in excellent condition for sale for $9,500. Purchase includes the lens case and hood, the 4th Generation Design Low Foot, the original foot, a LensCoat, the original invoice and the original Canon shipping carton. The lens was purchased new from B&H in April 2009 and was recently underwent a pre-sale clean and check by Canon. The buyer pays insured shipping via UPS Ground to US addresses only. The lens will be shipped only after your check clears.

The Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Autofocus lens sells new for $13,223.00 so you will save a bundle on a great lens. No need to ever use a 2X…

If interested you can contact Monte by phone at 1-765-744-1421 or via e-mail.

Last Year’s Grand Prize winning image by Lou Coetzer

Time is Running Out!
BIRDS AS ART 2nd International Bird Photography Competition
The December 31, 2013 closing deadline is fast approaching.

Learn more and enter the BIRDS AS ART 2nd International Bird Photography Competition here. Twenty-five great prizes including the $1000 Grand Prize and intense competition. Bring your best.

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