Mother's Day Miracle Crane Chick V-log. And a Used Nikon 500 PF and More!

What’s Up?

The photography on Tuesday morning was excellent. I spent some quality time with the new crane family. And then, surprisingly, I created a very nice frame or two of the Black-necked Stilts. At one point the female crouched in the water inviting copulation; I was sure that I was gonna be famous as the water was blue and still. But the nearby male was not interested.

On Tuesday afternoon the two chicks were on the grass right next to the pier. They were just standing there, completely tame. So I put the SONY 600 GM on the tripod, added the 2XTC, and concentrated on getting just above the grass but on sun angle and created a few killer head portraits. Both chicks have been feeding ravenously with the adults leading the way; I am thrilled to report that both are doing quite well.

Recently, I had two fly-by wood Ducks and two Semipalmated Plovers; the latter, an ILE first for me.

The comments on the freedom of speech/COVID-19/Plandemic posts continue to pour in. Many are incredibly interesting. I have too many favorites to single any out, but I would suggest that interested folks re-visit. I love the very few folks, who, after 3 posts out of 3019 dealing with freedom of speech and the virus, write that they are never coming back to the blog to learn about bird photography. Man, you gotta love it.

Today’s V-log is about 14 1/2 minutes long. It started at almost 17 minutes and I then spent a half-hour cutting out more than three minutes of throat-clearing, hemming and hawing, and pregnant pauses. There are many, many lessons in the video. As always questions and comments are welcome. Enjoy. And be safe.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera e-Guide (PDF) and videos Info

Yesterday I prepared the final PDF for the Sony Camera e-Guide. It will not be available in the store until early next week but you can order yours right now. The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the four (4) camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each The guide is now done.

If you would like to order the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY e-Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Note: please add $25 for each camera video after the first. And please be sure to type your e-mail address into your Paypal order. Then be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6 VR Lens

Gary Meyer is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6 VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $3096.95. The sale includes the original box, the front and rear caps, the soft case, a UV-filter 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 Gary via e-mail or by phone at 1-612-221-0150 (Central time zone).

This is a fantastic lens. When I used Nikon, it was my very favorite lens. It is an incredible flight lens and is great with static subjects with the TC-14E III (1.4X teleconverter). It is super-sharp and hand-holdable for almost everyone. It sells new for $3,596.95. Grab Gary’s pretty much new lens to save a spiffy $500.00! artie

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4 VR Lens

Gary Meyer is also offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4 VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $596.95. The sale includes the front and rear caps, 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 Gary via e-mail or by phone at 1-612-221-0150 (Central time zone).

I have always loved the lenses in this class. The Nikon version was a lot sharper than the Canon 24-105. It is a versatile multi-purpose lens with a thousand uses. I keep my SONY 24-105 on the front seat ever day. The 24-120 sells new right now for $1,096.95. Grab Gary’s pretty much new lens to save another $500.00! artie

Nikon

Gary Meyer is also offering a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $226.95. The sale includes the original box, both caps, the soft case, 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 Gary via e-mail or by phone at 1-612-221-0150 (Central time zone).

As regular readers know I have long-depended heavily on teleconverters and always traveled with two (or even three!) 1.4X TCs. The TC-14E III sells new right now for $496.95 to save a handsome $270.00! artie

SONY 200-600 Update

Steve Elkins now has five SONY 200-600s in stock; one of them surely has your name on it. Contact Steve as below to save $50.00.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

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… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

Mother’s Day Miracle Crane Chick V-log

Click on the play triangle above to spend a good part of Sunday, May 10 with me as I photographed a one-day old Sandhill Crane chick and observed its tiny, helpless, just-hatched nest-mate. I need to emphasize that the cloudy weather that day was the biggest blessing of all. Had it been a clear sunny day, photography would have been nearly impossible. Watch the video to learn how I was able to deal with all the clutter thanks to the giant soft-box of a sky. Along the way, you will pick up dozens of great bird and nature photography tips.

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

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Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).