The Last Blog Post
In the last blog post, Homer — the Last Day: Typically Atypical here, my three favorite images in order with the strongest first are as follows:
First — Image #5: Bald Eagle in flight just above dead earthquake-drowned tree background. I guess that I am a sucker for the flat flight/747/down the lens barrel stare. In addition, I love the layered tones of the background, the drowned ghost trees, and the splashing water that serendipitously entered the frame when another eagle hit the water at just the right time in just the right spot.
Second — Image #4: Bald Eagle starting dive. I love the jet fighter/start of a dive flight pose, the position of the bird in the fog bank, and the hint of the distant snow-covered mountain ridge in the upper left of the frame.
Tied for Third — Image #7: Bald Eagle bright sky silhouette — Golden Eagle and Image #8: Glaucous-winged Gull taking flight. The former for the color brought out in a seemingly white sky situation and for the latter for the elegant and unusual “look ma, no head” flight pose.
Thanks to the (only) four folks who left a comment. Of those, three liked Image #3: Bald Eagle in flight over scenic headland best.
If you are impressed by the images you in this and in recent blog posts and by the unparalleled learning that takes place on a Homer IPT and are seriously interested in joining me next year, please LMK ASAP via e-mail or via text to 863-221-2372. Several spots are already spoken for.
What’s Up?
When I got home after my red-eye flight that arrived in Orlando on Tuesday at 5:48am, I slept for four hours from 9:00am till 1:00pm and fell asleep early in my Lazy Boy while catching up on Jeopardy on Tivo. I hit the sack at 10:30pm and slept until 7:30am on Wednesday. Ten minutes later I was down by the lake where I found two crane chicks about a week old at the south end of the South Peninsula. The only images that I made were of the usual suspects, Turkey Vultures and Cattle Egrets.
I spent the rest of the day catching up on e-mails, IPT stuff, and getting back to work on my 2024 tax return.
Today is Thursday 27 February 2025. I woke at 6:00am and will be headed back down to the lake to check things out. Whatever you plan on doing, I hope that you too opt to have a wonderful day. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
AN INVITATION TO INQUIRY
Welcome to The Work
I discovered that when I believed my thoughts I suffered, but when I didn’t believe them I didn’t suffer, and that this is true for every human being. Freedom is as simple as that. I found that suffering is optional. I found a joy within me that has never disappeared, not for a single moment. That joy is in everyone, always. And I invite you not to believe me. I invite you to test it for yourself.
– Byron Katie
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This image was created on 23 February at Kachemak Bay, AK on the last day of the second 2025 Homer IPT. Standing at full height on the boat, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 50: 1/15 sec. at f/6.3 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 10:10:06am on a cloudy morning. Tracking Spot XS/AF-C (with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled) performed adequately. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper high resolution version Image #1: Grove of earthquake drowned trees — vertical pan blur |
Vertical Pan Blurs
To create a vertical pan blur, choose a slow shutter speed and then pan up or down while pressing the shutter button. I usually move the camera upwards. Make lots of images. Unless you are creating a pure pattern shot, check to see that you have some sort of border above and below. Working on a tripod often helps to keep all your lines straight.
The Great 1964 Alaska earthquake created numerous ghost forests around the state where groves of trees were killed and preserved by salt water. The drowned tree forests in China Poot can only be reached on the highest tides.
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This image was also created on 23 February at Kachemak Bay, AK on the last day of the second 2025 Homer IPT. Standing at full height on the boat, again, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 10:16:03am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed adequately. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper high resolution version Image #2: Bald Eagle adult — China Poot Bay scenic |
Tracking: Zone AF/C
When I am going to try for small in the frame bird-scapes, I hit the set button once to switch from Zone to Tracking: Zone. With the latter, I acquire AF with the bird in the center of the frame and then re-compose as the AF system will continue to track the bird in flight even when it is placed outside of the zone brackets. Another option is to check the box for and switch to Wide AF/C.
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This image was also created on 23 February at Kachemak Bay, AK on the last day of the second 2025 Homer IPT. Standing at full height on the boat, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 10:17:57am on a cloudy morning. Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed adequately. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper high resolution version Image #3: Bald Eagle adult turning in flight against white sky |
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This image was also created on 23 February at Kachemak Bay, AK on the last day of the second 2025 Homer IPT. Standing at full height on the boat, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 10:27:36am on a cloudy-bright morning. Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed adequately. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper high resolution version Image #4: Bald Eagle tight flight |
A Never-Before Published Flight Photography Secret
Here is a tip for making great action shots in non-stop flight photography situations:
The longer you can keep your lens raised with the subject centered in the frame, the greater the chance of capturing images that feature dramatic flight poses, banks, turns, and dives. Whatever lens you are using, if the lens is down in the rest position, nobody is fast enough to get on the subject once the action starts. You need to get in the habit of following birds in flight for extended periods of time so that when the bird flinches, you can press and hold the shutter button and grab those great shots.
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This image was also created on 23 February at Kachemak Bay, AK on the last day of the second 2025 Homer IPT. Standing at full height on the boat, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 10:43:49am on a cloudy morning. Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed adequately. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper high resolution version Image #5: Glaucous-winged Gull winter adult taking flight |
Sony a-1 ii AF at 420mm
Theoretically, autofocus needs light to work efficiently. The more light it has, the better it is supposed to work. Thus, AF when a 1.4X teleconverter is added (robbing one stop of light), is supposed to be slower at acquiring focus and less sticky on the eye when compared to the bare lens alone. With the a-i ii and the 1.4x TC on the 300mm f/2.8 lens, however, Bird Face-Eye AF-C at f/4 seems to be just as good as it is with the 300mm lens alone at f/2.8. in other words, mind boggling.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Art: I love #4: (1)The intensity of the bird’s eye, (2) the bird’s head/wing against the forest and (3) the gorgeous tail against the white sky.
My favs: all of them.
#1 I love creative blurs of trees. This is Once again I learned something from you: “check to see that you have some kind of border above and below”.
#2 very majestic and spectacular. Love the layers of texture and color of the background and positioning of the eagle
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#3 Great action pic and I am drawn to pics of eagles when the eagle stands out against a white background.
#4 is probably my fav of them all. You captured the intensity of the eagle’s focus.
#5 has an angelic look to it.
Artie, image #2 and image #4 are spectacular; in #2, the lighting, wing and head position, the environmental nature of the shot, the color and clarity…simply a beautiful shot. #4 has a heightened sense presence because of the tight-framing as well as the same wonderful light, color and clarity. Both are well composed. Wow. Thank you for sharing.
All the best.
My pleasure. And thanks for your kind words, John. I can’t say that I disagree at all.
with love, artie