Sometimes You Just Have to Stick With It ...

Click on the image to see a larger version. Wednesday morning all with the hand held 200-600 G and the Sony Alpha a1

This Just In!

I enjoyed a great session down by the lake this morning. First, I found the single surviving colt feeding in tickseed blossoms along the lakeshore, and then I found the two now-large and still silly-tame chicks. The weather is looking good for the next few days especially Friday. If you would like to join me for a morning session with the cranes, please get in touch via e-mail or by phone or message to 863-221-2372 to discuss rates (inexpensive) and set up a schedule.

What’s Up?

Monte Brown and John Johnson and I went to Stick Marsh early on Tuesday. It was good but not great; the winds, out of the northwest, were a bit stronger than had been forecast. That said, Monte and John did have some great chances with incoming spoonbills as is par for the course at this location. John headed home to Naples and Monte came back to ILE with me for a smoked salmon brunch and to pick up his truck.

After checking out the 10-day weather forecast for Bismarck, ND I cancelled my Prairie Chicken trip. I usually do not shy away from photographing in bad weather but these tidbits caught my attention: temps in the low 20s with strong winds from the northwest. My pool is very warm right now … And inviting.

I headed down to the lake at sunset. The wind was perfect but there were no birds (other than a fly-by Boat-tailed Grackle or two.)

Thanks to the many who commented on the Marbled Godwit swimming in heaven images featured in yesterday’s blog post. My goal as always was to get folks seeing and thinking. I will share my thoughts tomorrow.

Today is Wednesday 14 April. The forecast is for clear skies with gentle winds from the east. Now that I do not have to pack for a cold weather trip today, I will be heading down to the lake early. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.

This blog post took about ninety minutes to prepare and makes 112 consecutive days with a new one. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links or to save money at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.

Sony Alpha a1 AF Magic …

The AF system of the a1 — set up as detailed in e-mails to the Sony Alpha a1 Info & Updates group, continues to amaze me. Early on, there was lots of discussion within the group with many preferring multiple back button approaches. For me a simple shutter button approach with the right AF settings that yield 99% sharp-on-the-eye images is best. By far. It is super-simple and mega-effective. Note: info on the program that I use to ascertain SONY AF point information is detailed in one of the SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group e-mails. I plan on making that information available here soon for all SONY camera users. You guessed it; I am working on a guide. 🙂

SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group is going great guns as folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based advice. We are now up to an astounding 35 folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. More recently, we have been in contact with folks at SONY sharing our thoughts, experiences, and frustrations with the EVF blackout problem.

All who purchased their Alpha a1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link will receive a free subscription to the Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up and Info Updates after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. This same service may be purchased by anyone with an a1 body via a $150.00 PayPal sent to birdsasart@verizon.net indicating payment for Alpha a1 Info Updates. Alternatively, they can call Jim weekday afternoons at 1-863-692-0906 to pay via credit card. New members will receive composite e-mails that summarize all previous discussions.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be very active. The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past eleven months at the bottom of the page.

Canon EOS-1DX Mark II Professional Digital Camera Body (with great extras!)

IPT veteran William Wingfield is offering a Canon EOS-1DX Mark II camera in near-mint condition with lots of extras for $2398.00. The sale includes the front lens cap, one extra battery, the battery charger, the original box, the manual, three CFast cards (two @ 128GB and 1@ 64GB), the CFast reader, One @ 64 GB CF card, 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 Bill via e-mail or by phone at 1-843-729-6670 (Eastern time zone).

The 1DX Mark II is a rugged, blazingly fast Canon professional digital camera body. It features an amazing AF system and high quality image files with great dynamic range. When he used Canon, it was the first choice of Arash Hazeghi, one of the world’s premier birds-in-flight photographers. This body is still in production and currently sells new for $4,499.00. Save a very sweet $2101.00 by grabbing Bill’s dSLR ASAP. artie

Canon EOS-5DS R dSLR (with extras)

Sold first day of listing

William Wingfield is offering a Canon EOS-5DSR camera in near-mint condition for $799.00.The sale includes the front lens cap, one extra battery, the charger, the original box, the manual, 3 Compact Flash cards (32GB, 64GB, 128GB), 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 Bill via e-mail or by phone at 1-843-729-6670 (Eastern time zone).

Though it is well-noted as a superb camera for landscapes and macro, I used this fine, 50.3 MP body to make lots of great bird photographs when I shot Canon. The 5DS R currently sells new for $1499.00 and is back-ordered in most places. Grab Bill’s 5DS R and save a very handsome $700.00. artie

Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

William Wingfield is offering a Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for $1499.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the tough fabric lens case, the original 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 Bill via e-mail or by phone at 1-843-729-6670 (Eastern time zone).

This incredibly versatile zoom lens — with its amazing .98 meter close focus — was my favorite Canon telephoto zoom lens ever. By far. It is great for tight portraits, birds in flight, quasi-macro stuff, and lots more. It sells new for $2399.00 so you can save some hard cash by grabbing Bill’s pretty much new lens now. artie

Canon EF Extender 1.4X III (teleconverter)

Sold first day of listing

William Wingfield is offering a Canon EF Extender 1.4X III (teleconverter) in like-new condition for $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the lens pouch, a LensCoat, 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 Bill via e-mail or by phone at 1-843-729-6670 (Eastern time zone).

As regular readers know, teleconverters are so important to what I do with my bird photography that I always travel with two back-up 1.4X TC and one extra 2X TC. This sells new for $429 without the LensCoat! artie

Canon EF Extender 2X III (teleconverter)

Sold first day of listing

William Wingfield is offering a Canon EF Extender 2X III (teleconverter) in like-new condition for $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the lens pouch, a LensCoat, 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 Bill via e-mail or by phone at 1-843-729-6670 (Eastern time zone).

As regular readers know, teleconverters are so important to what I do with my bird photography that I always travel with two back-up 1.4X TC and one extra 2X TC. This sells new for $429 without the LensCoat! artie

This image was created on 13 April 2021 at Stick Marsh. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 2500. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:50am on a sunny morning. Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and nailed the focus. Click on the image to see a larger version. Roseate Spoonbill with stick for nest

Sometimes You Just Have to Stick With It …

Trying for something different, I had walked over to Spot L (as per the annotated Stick Marsh Site Guide map). Creating images of spoonbills carrying nesting material is always difficult at Stick Marsh because 99% of the birds are angling away from you as they return to the rookery.

This bird doubly surprised me:

• 1- it was flying much closer to the shore (and to me!) than all of the other birds.
• 2- it was flying parallel to my position (rather than angling away).

The lens had been zoomed to 600mm while working (and expecting) more distant subjects, when I spotted this bird out of the corner of my left eye on an unexpectedly good flight path. I quickly raised the lens and fired off about ten frames knowing that I should have zoomed out. But my brain had not been set up for zooming out … A quick glance at the images revealed a few poor wing positions, lots of clipped wings, and the bottom end of the stick clipped. In retrospect, I knew that I had not panned very smoothly. But I had kept firing.

As I was editing the series, I had tagged two images to keep thinking that I might be able piece together a single good image from those. I was quite happy when I came across today’s featured image. I used the Divide and Conquer Technique to trim the branch. And I did some neat Eye Doctor work as well.

At Stick Marsh, I have been seeing this seemingly awkward flight pose often when the birds are carrying either very large sticks or sticks that are too heavy for them. As seen above, they raise their heads and rotate them, apparently to facilitate carrying the big sticks. As for me, I am glad that I stuck with it.

The Stick Marsh Site Guide Subscription Service

The Site Guide Subscription Service is a new concept. I e-mailed the first issue last week: Stick Marsh Site Guide e-Mail #1: The Basics. The Basics e-mail includes specific directions to the site, and a map of the rookery area with specific instructions and wind, weather, and where-to-be advice. I e-mailed the second installment recently. In it, I shared several new shooting locations and strategies. I will be sending e-mail #3 on Monday with lots more to come.

To sign up for the Stick Marsh Site Guide Subscription Service, call Jim in the office weekday afternoons at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand or send a PayPal for the $100.00 to us at birdsasart@verizon.net. Please be sure to include the words Stick Marsh with your PayPal. At some point, we will get this item in the BAA Online Store.

I fully understand that you can go to Google Maps, find the Stick Marsh, visit, and likely make some good or great images. You might think, I can do fine just without artie’s advice. But you will do a whole lot better with it. The annotated map alone is worth the price of admission.

Typos

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