February 3rd, 2023 The Homer IPTs
No Reasonable Offer Refused
I hate sailing with a less than full boat. If you would like to make a low-ball offer on one or more of the Bald Eagle IPTs below, please click here.
IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 1.
IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 3.
IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Openings: 1.
Rooms at Lands End Resort are available for all of the dates above.
What’s Up?
It was foggy as all get-out on Thursday morning. I spent some time down by the lake, but did not come up with much aside from some eagle nest-tree fog-scapes and one decent eaglet image. Both of the large eagle chicks were flopping and flapping and jumping up in the nest in their Hurricane Ian-re-designed nest tree. I expect that they will be branching very soon. Directions to the eagle tree will be included in your purchase of the BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide.
I am feeling much better and did a half-mile in the pool on a warm afternoon. I have no idea what inspired me to get so much work done on my 2022 taxes so soon, but things are going very well. In yesterday’s blog post, I too liked the vertical with the adult eagle jumping out of the nest to a nearby perch best. I felt that the small in the frame chick feeding was also a very strong image.
I was glad to learn that Stu Gol of St. Louis will be joining Andrew Schonbek on the third DeSoto IPT in May.
Today is Friday 3 February 2023. The forecast for this morning is less than ideal with more cloudy skies and a continuing southwest wind. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes three hundred eleven days in a row with a new, educational post. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for all your new gear purchases.
The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to posting every other day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA sold its last one in December. The good news? We now have two more new-in-the-box tripods. They are now available for shipping. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now to avoid being disappointed.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
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. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Pre-RawDigger and a9 II Image Quality
Like most folks, I had been under-exposing most of my raw files for years until I began evaluating images with RawDigger. With Topaz DeNoise, the optimized image here looked pretty good. Working large with sharp a9 II images, it is easy to note the difference in image quality between those and sharp a1 image files. The a1 raw files feature far more fine feather detail and far less artifacting.
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This image was created on 12 February 2020 at Fort DeSoto during an In-the-Field session. Seated on dry sand, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 376mm) and the Sony a9II (now replaced by The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera). ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 400. 1/2500 second at f/7.1 (unnecessarily stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 9:15:12am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Royal Tern breaking to land
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The Colors of DeSoto
The aqua blue-green Gulf waters combined with out-of-focus tan sand routinely allow for gorgeous backgrounds at Fort DeSoto. The background color schemes at DeSoto are just one of the things that Brendan Burns loves about the place. If you missed his spectacular images, check them out in the recent “In Love With Low” blog post here and see how he has used the sweet DeSoto backgrounds. He does of course, “add green whenever possible.”
Sitting on a Tern Flock
On most DeSoto IPTs, we almost always have several chances to “sit on a flock of Royal Terns”. On the right wind, this technique offers great incoming flight photography opportunities for Royal, Sandwich and Forster’s Terns as well as breeding plumage Laughing Gulls. Join one of the Spring 2023 Fort DeSoto IPTs to learn how this is done. And a heck of a lot more.
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Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull landing on head of Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull in flight, Reddish Egret sunrise silhouette, Great Blue Heron with needlefish, Yellow-crowned Night Heron with ghost crab, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling in breeding plumage, and white morph Reddish Egret in glorious breeding plumage.
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The 2023 Spring Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #1: Tuesday 28 March through the morning session on 31 March 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers.
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #2: Tuesday 11 April through the morning session on 14 April 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographer/Openings five.
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #3: Tuesday 9 May through the morning session on 12 May 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers/Openings 4.
Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for terns and gulls, wading birds, and shorebirds in spring. Many of the birds will be in full breeding plumage. Simply put, DeSoto is the new Ding Darling. Migrant shorebirds are in abundance, and many are exceedingly tame. We should have great chances on Royal and Sandwich Terns and both white- and dark-morph Reddish Egrets. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two along with some American Oystercatchers. We will enjoy lots of great flight photography, especially with the Brown Pelicans.
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Again, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull in flight, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Sandwich Terns copulating, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret with reflection, breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, white morph Reddish Egret, and Snowy Egret in marsh.
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In Addition!
We should also get to photograph a variety of other shorebirds including Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, Snowy, and Piping Plovers, Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, and most especially, Red Knot, with many individuals in their handsome breeding plumages. In spring the T-shaped peninsula and the newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, are literally packed with avian treasures.
With just a bit of luck, we may get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable species: Roseate Spoonbill. And we will surely get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. With luck, they will have Laughing Gulls landing on their heads. And though not guaranteed, Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two.
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Yes, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: breeding plumage Dunlin, dark morph Reddish Egret displaying, Laughing Gull vertical front-end portrait, Laughing Gull with prey item, landing on head of Brown Pelican, breeding plumage Royal Tern displaying, Royal Terns — pre-copulatory stance, Laughing Gulls copulating, Laughing Gull head portrait, breeding plumage Sandwich Tern with fish, and a rare treat, a breeding plumage White-rumped Sandpiper.
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What You Will Learn on a DeSoto IPT
- 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
- 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
- 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
- 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
- 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds including various sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and possibly yellowlegs.
- 6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
- 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
- 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
- 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
- 10- More than you could ever imagine.
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You’ve got it by now! Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Roseate Spoonbill, immature Brown Pelican in flight, the heron/egret hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, immature Royal Tern on railing, Great Egret morning silhouette, Black Skimmer in surf, and underside head portrait of Great Blue Heron.
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The Details
Morning sessions will run two and one-half to three hours; afternoon sessions about two. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till noon and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy. We may opt to visit a great North Tampa rookery if conditions warrant that.
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each of the three full days. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field as early as possible and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:30am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We will be getting wet.
Your $599 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check three months before the trip begins. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice two months before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
February 2nd, 2023 The Homer IPTs
No Reasonable Offer Refused
I hate sailing with a less than full boat. If you would like to make a low-ball offer on one or more of the Bald Eagle IPTs below, please click here.
IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 1.
IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 3.
IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Openings: 1.
Rooms at Lands End Resort are available for all of the dates above.
What’s Up?
It had been cloudy every morning since I got back from San Diego. On Tuesday, it dawned clear and sunny. So on Wednesday, I peeked out the pool deck door, and saw the same. So, I headed down to the lake well before sunrise and was glad that I did. I realized that there might be a nice backlit situation at dawn. As you will see below, there were two. Afterwards I had some good chances on Cattle Egret, Savannah Sparrow, and Turkey Vulture.
In the On Understanding the Angle of Declination. Sweet Light blog post here, I judge the light to be a lot warmer in Image #2 than in Image #1. For me, Image #2 is best by far because of the more dynamic pose and the lower perspective. And yes, the sweeter light. I like the more out-of-focus background in Image #2. The angle of declination while standing was probably about 15°; while seated it was likely about 5°. Kudos to Galapagos 2023 registrant David Pugsley for his thoughtful and accurate comments.
In yesterday’s Brendan Burns’ blog post, 1, 3, and 5 garnered the most positive comments. I loved them all, but was alone in picking Image #7, the Great Blue Heron swallowing flatfish. Why? The bird is in fine feather, the perspective low, and the about-to-be-swallowed prey item is both amazing and perfectly positioned; you could not have painted it in a better spot. Thanks again to Brendan for allowing me to share his fine images with you here. His favorite is #1 because it of the difficulty of getting a symmetric shot like that with even underwing lighting (and few shadows).
I got lots accomplished on my 2022 taxes on Wednesday and will continue those efforts today.
Speaking of which, today is Thursday 2 February 2023. I continue to feel better and will almost surely get back in the pool this afternoon. At 7:00am, it was densely foggy so I am delaying heading down to the lake until it begins to brighten up a bit. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes three hundred ten days in a row with a new, educational post. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for all your new gear purchases.
The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to posting every other day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that 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.
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This image was created on 1 February 2023 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. While seated on damp grass and mud along the edge of a canal, I used the lowered, no-longer available (except from BAA) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 400. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1000 sec. at f/8 (stopped down two stops). RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect plus a bit, just as I wanted it. AWB at 7:25:09am on a clear, soon-to-be sunny morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #1: Adult Bald Eagle in nest feeding chick
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Clear Sunrises Offer Color
I got down to the lake at about 7:00am. As I drove to the silhouette side of the eagle nest tree, I was glad to see a nice yellow/orange golden glow low in the eastern sky. I needed to get low in order to place the nest above the distant trees on the background, so I made my way down to the edge of the canal between the South Peninsula and the South Field. It was very muddy, so I grabbed an old lens bag from the trunk, sat on it, and went to work.
Starting with the bare lens at 600mm, the chicks were tiny in the frame. I knew that the only way to make a halfway decent image would be to make a photo that had the adult giving a tiny scrap of food to one of the chicks. The 30 fps of the a1 helped me succeed toward that end. I wound up with two decent ones, with Image #1 above being my favorite by a small margin.
Notice the perched songbird in the extreme upper left corner of the frame. I think that it might be a Northern Cardinal.
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Image #1A: This is a 100% crop of the Adult Bald Eagle in nest feeding chick image
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The Hundred Percent Crop
This huge crop shows the incredible sharpness and image quality of sharp Sony A1 files. Please understand that this is a cropped version of Image #1.
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This image was also created on 1 February 2023 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Again, while seated on damp grass and mud along the edge of a canal, I used the lowered, no-longer available (except from BAA) Induro GIT 304L 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 400. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 second at f/8 (stopped down 1 stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect plus a bit, just as I wanted it. AWB at 7::31:05am on a clear, soon-to-be sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Bald Eagle — adult jumping out of nest after feeding chicks
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Dealing With the Sun Moving in the Frame
As the sun rose, it seemed to move to the south, that a result of the earth’s rotation. Each time it would peek into the frame, I needed to move to the north, to my left, and take my butt protection with me. After adding the 1.4X teleconverter, I shot some horizontals before rotating the lens in the tripod collar. At this point, I was hoping for some sort of action, perhaps the second adult flying into the nest. The higher the sun got in the sky, the more light I had to work with. I kept raising the shutter speed so that I had Zebras on most but not all of the sky. That resulted in parts of the sky showing as over-exposed in RawDigger, but those areas were easily dealt with during the raw conversion.
When the adult decided that breakfast was over it jumped up to the perch on our right of the nest. I followed my own advice and pressed the shutter button when the unexpected action occurred. Image #2 was the best from that 8-frame sequence by a very small margin. I had two goals and was pleased that I accomplished both of them!
Note: the head of the eaglet on our right was facing away at the moment of exposure. So, I painted a Quick Mask of the other large chick’s head, moved it into place, and transformed and warped it a bit so that my craftiness would not be easily detected. Though the sky color was a perfect match, I had to add a Regular Layer Mask to erase a tiny bit of the new neck.
Your Call?
Which of today’s two featured images is the strongest? Why. I think that the choice may be more difficult than it seems at first glance.
I am hoping that the two young eagles begin branching (leaving the nest to exercise their wings on nearby perches) before I head first to Florida’s west coast on 13 February and then fly to Anchorage, AK on the 18th for the Homer Bald Eagle IPTs. Learn about photographing at Indian Lake Estates and other great central Florida locations in the BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide.
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Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull landing on head of Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull in flight, Reddish Egret sunrise silhouette, Great Blue Heron with needlefish, Yellow-crowned Night Heron with ghost crab, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling in breeding plumage, and white morph Reddish Egret in glorious breeding plumage.
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The 2023 Spring Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #1: Tuesday 28 March through the morning session on 31 March 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers.
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #2: Tuesday 11 April through the morning session on 14 April 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers.
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #3: Tuesday 9 May through the morning session on 12 May 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers/Openings 5.
Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for terns and gulls, wading birds, and shorebirds in spring. Many of the birds will be in full breeding plumage. Simply put, DeSoto is the new Ding Darling. Migrant shorebirds are in abundance, and many are exceedingly tame. We should have great chances on Royal and Sandwich Terns and both white- and dark-morph Reddish Egrets. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two along with some American Oystercatchers. We will enjoy lots of great flight photography, especially with the Brown Pelicans.
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Again, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull in flight, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Sandwich Terns copulating, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret with reflection, breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, white morph Reddish Egret, and Snowy Egret in marsh.
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In Addition!
We should also get to photograph a variety of other shorebirds including Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, Snowy, and Piping Plovers, Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, and most especially, Red Knot, with many individuals in their handsome breeding plumages. In spring the T-shaped peninsula and the newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, are literally packed with avian treasures.
With just a bit of luck, we may get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable species: Roseate Spoonbill. And we will surely get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. With luck, they will have Laughing Gulls landing on their heads. And though not guaranteed, Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two.
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Yes, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: breeding plumage Dunlin, dark morph Reddish Egret displaying, Laughing Gull vertical front-end portrait, Laughing Gull with prey item, landing on head of Brown Pelican, breeding plumage Royal Tern displaying, Royal Terns — pre-copulatory stance, Laughing Gulls copulating, Laughing Gull head portrait, breeding plumage Sandwich Tern with fish, and a rare treat, a breeding plumage White-rumped Sandpiper.
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What You Will Learn on a DeSoto IPT
- 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
- 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
- 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
- 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
- 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds including various sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and possibly yellowlegs.
- 6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
- 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
- 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
- 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
- 10- More than you could ever imagine.
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You’ve got it by now! Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Roseate Spoonbill, immature Brown Pelican in flight, the heron/egret hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, immature Royal Tern on railing, Great Egret morning silhouette, Black Skimmer in surf, and underside head portrait of Great Blue Heron.
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The Details
Morning sessions will run two and one-half to three hours; afternoon sessions about two. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till noon and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy. We may opt to visit a great North Tampa rookery if conditions warrant that.
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each of the three full days. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field as early as possible and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:30am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We will be getting wet.
Your $599 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check three months before the trip begins. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice two months before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
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Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action.
Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!
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The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By June 1, 2022, the group was up to an astounding 124 lucky and blessed folks. (More than a few folks own two or more a1 bodies! Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive six e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will receive new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.
All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
February 1st, 2023 The Homer IPTs
No Reasonable Offer Refused
I hate sailing with a less than full boat. If you would like to make a low-ball offer on one or more of the Bald Eagle IPTs below, please click here.
IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 1.
IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 3.
IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Openings: 1.
Rooms at Lands End Resort are available for all of the dates above.
What’s Up?
I will share my thoughts on the two Tricolored Heron images in yesterday’s blog post tomorrow as folks are still commenting.
I continue to feel better. I may get back in the pool again on Wednesday. Again, I got lots accomplished, especially on my 2022 taxes. I was glad to learn that Andrew Schonbek signed up for DeSoto #3. May is a wonderful time to be at DeSoto. But heck, so are March and April!
I could not choose a favorite from yesterday’s three running shorebird images as all were sharp, perfectly exposed, and nicely designed. And I loved the backgrounds.
Today is Wednesday 1 February 2023. I will continue to work on my 2022 taxes, catch up on e-mails, plan the 2023/24 San Diego IPT dates, and begin work on a San Diego January flight photography video. This blog post took about two hours to prepare and makes three hundred-nine days in a row with a new, educational post. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for all your new gear purchases.
The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to posting every other day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that 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.
All of today’s great images were created with the Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens. Several folks are interested in this lens but are quibbling over price. My advice: grab it now!
Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens with extras
Blog regular Anthony Ardito is offering a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens (USA warranty) in like-new condition for a very low $10,498.00. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, the original front lens cover, the lens strap, the original product box (and everything that came in it), a Rolanpro Nylon Waterproof Lens Camouflage Rain Cover (a $118.00 value), a CR-X Low Foot (a $122.00 value), 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 Anthony via e-mail at e-mail.
The 600mm f/4 lenses have been the state-of-the-art super-telephotos for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. I never leave home without mine. In short, they are the weapons of mass destruction for nature and sports photographers. The Sony 600 GM is the best ever as it is super-sharp with both the 1.4X TC and the 2X TC. I even shoot flight at 1200mm! It is the lightest 600 f/4 ever manufactured. And with most of the weight to the rear, it the best balanced 600 out there, and thus, it is easier to handhold than any of its competitors. This lens sells new for $12,998.00 and is almost universally out of stock. If you have been dreaming of a Sony 600mm f/4 for years, grab Anthony’s pretty much new lens right now and put $2,500.00 in savings into your pocket. artie
In Love With Low
Last year, a young photographer named Brendan Burns joined me for two days on the Hooptie Deux then again on a Spring DeSoto IPT. It seemed to me that he did not spend a single minute in the field with either group. Why? He is totally in love with getting low. He works very hard to get his lens exactly two inches above the water. His favorite angle of declination to the birds is zero degrees. Heck, in some of his featured images below he is actually shooting up at the subject! In addition, he loves to go off on his own to explore.
So why did he attend two IPTs last spring? See the next item below, “The Mystery.”
The Mystery
Brendan seemed to enjoy himself on the two IPTs and participated vigorously in the image review and Photoshop sessions before, during, and after our extensive working brunches at the Neptune Grill in Gulfport. I was, however, puzzled as to why he always wandered away from the group in the field, so I asked him what he found valuable about the two IPTs. Here is what he said:
The most valuable part of the IPT for me was drawing on your four decades of experience in everything from camera set-up to post-processing. I thought I had a solid grasp of the basics, but I was able to train my eye and develop better attention to detail through your iterating sessions in the field and the images critiques. As a result, I left the IPT with a higher “photographer IQ” as a result. The instruction helped me make the most of each opportunity, and there is no better shortcut to improving your skills than by learning from someone with vastly more experience so you can avoid making the same mistakes repeatedly.
In response to your previous e-mail – yes, I do have Photoshop, but I have a long way to go in terms of using it more effectively. I need to pick up a copy of Digital Basics II! As always, there is a lot to learn. I am going through a lot of my images and re-optimizing them as we discussed.
(Brendan must have spent more time with the group more than I remembered.)
From Merriam-Webste.com:
iterate
transitive verb: to say or do again, or again and again
How He Does It
Brendan has used a variety of techniques to get his lens just above water level. For a while he used a Wimberley VII Head on a Skimmer II, but quickly grew to find that too limiting when he needed to work in water deeper than a few inches. Today, he simply handholds his 600 whether he is lying down on the ground, the beach, a mudflat, or even in several inches of water! When working in deeper water he may sit, kneel, or stand, sometimes in water up to his chest! He is obviously strong, fit, and confident. He is fanatical about getting super-low, and as you can see here, the results are spectacular.
How Low Can You Go?
I have never seen anyone consistently work with their lens as close to the water as Brendan. In the spectacular image above, he is shooting up at a bird that is flying less than a foot above the surface of the lagoon!
Problem Solving
During the IPT Brendan mentioned that he was having some AF problems when photographing wading birds taking flight. We discussed it at length. After understanding what happened, I suggested that he try moving the zone up a notch. He was thrilled with the solution.
And by the way, Brendan uses Tracking: Zone for all of his low perspective photography. He will be trying the new AF option that was detailed very recently in SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Notes Group e-Mail E.
Note: Brendan sent me this image as a (somewhat cramped) horizontal. As it was sharp with superb image quality, I expanded canvas using Content-Aware Crop and then cropped to the vertical above.
What Brendan Loves About Fort DeSoto
Though Brendan does not live in Florida, he visits DeSoto several times each year. Here’s why he loves it:
1) There are at least three locations in the park that are just off the charts photography-wise. By paying a lot of attention to tides and going dozens of times, I’ve been figuring out how to be in the right place at the right time quite consistently.
2) The colors are exceptional. I hate overcast days at De Soto and much prefer cloudless and windless days with powder-blue water and a lot of contrast on the subject.
3) The ease of obtaining subject-background separation and getting the camera down to water level. You can reliably find “clean” situations and focus on everything else.
4) It’s easily accessible from St. Petersburg and Gulfport where inexpensive lodging may be found.
5) You never know what you might see. One day I saw a bald eagle take down a gull. Another day I found a 5-foot long Eastern Diamondback boxattlesnake in the road.
6) Perhaps most importantly, you have almost-total freedom to walk around and pick your subject and composition. I hate boardwalks, raised trails, scenic drives, and other places where either the terrain or the rules limit this flexibility. De Soto rewards you for working hard and covering a lot of ground.
Your Difficult Call?
Which of Brendan’s exquisite images do you like best? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice or choices. I have a clear favorite.
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All images on this card were created by Arthur Morris on the Hooptie Deux at Alafia Banks
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2023 Spoonbill Boat 1-1/2 DAY MINI-IPT: $1199.00.00. Limit: 5 photographers/Openings: 2.
A full day on WED 15 FEB and the morning of Thursday 16 FEB 2023: 1 1/2 days.
Two morning and one afternoon photo session (weather permitting) via customized pontoon boat.
For early-arriving folks, artie is throwing in a free afternoon In-the-Field session at a little-known but very active rookery in North Tampa on Tuesday 14 February.
We will be leaving the dock in Gibsonton, FL very early for the morning sessions in hopes of photographing a pre-dawn White Ibis blast-off and creating some dramatic silhouettes or pleasing blurs. The morning sessions are planned for the Alafia Banks Roseate Spoonbill Rookery. We have several options for the afternoons including returning to Alafia. We may spend one afternoon on foot at the North Tampa rookery mentioned above. There will be lots of opportunities for flight photography of several species including and especially Roseate Spoonbill. Also likely for flight photography are nesting Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, and Double Crested Cormorant, many carrying nesting material. This IPT includes all boat and guide fees, in-the-field instruction from two great leaders, chest waders (feel free to bring your own of course to assure a perfect fit), and three working lunches (Monday thru Wednesday). For the most part we will be standing in mid-calf to knee-deep water behind our tripods. We help you get in and out of the boat safely with your gear. This is likely not the best trip for folks with mobility or balance problems. Note however that some folks opt to stay on the boat to photograph. They usually have lots of chances for flight photography of spoonbills and other species but are almost always pretty far away from the spoonbills that land.
Mid-February is prime time for photographing spoonbills at the absolute peak of breeding plumage. For unknown reasons, the spoonbills at Alafia are much more colorful than the birds that breed at Stick Marsh later in the season. The Hooptie IPT represents an incredible opportunity and I do hope that you can join us. All of the images on the cards were made on the Hooptie Duex during the last two weeks of February, prime time for the spoonies in mega-breeding plumage.
You may hold your spot with an e-mail request. Then, you may either secure your spot by calling Jim or Jennifer at the office at 863-692-0906 and leaving the $599 deposit on credit card or sending your check for payment in full to us as follows with the check made out to:
BIRDS AS ART
Please send it via US mail here:
BIRDS AS ART
PO BOX 7245
Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855
If you call to leave your deposit, you will be asked to mail your check for the balance ASAP. Be sure to give us your e-mail address.
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Images courtesy of our guide; copyright 2017 Captain James Shadle (aka Froggie). All of the images here were created at Alafia Banks. Card creation and design by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART.
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Everybody Wants Spoonbills!
Roseate Spoonbill is one of if not the most sought after avian photographic subjects in Florida. They are generally hard to find and somewhat difficult to approach. They are relatively easy to find at Alafia Banks—heck, you can’t miss seeing them, but even there they can on some days be somewhat difficult to approach. On some days we may be able to get ridiculously close to them. The huge incentive to get out to Alafia Banks in mid-February is the chance to photograph this species at the height of its spectacular breeding plumage…. with long telephoto lenses. A 500 or 600 with a 1.4X TC is perfect for flight.
As above, there will — weather permitting — three boat trips — 2 mornings and 1 afternoon — on this MINI IPT. All to Alafia Banks for spoonbills and Brown Pelicans (with lots of flight photography often with the birds likely carrying nesting material), Double-crested Cormorants, ibises (both Glossy and White) in breeding plumage. Many of the White Ibises will be sporting their spectacular, distended, red, naked (un-feathered) throat pouches—typically larger in the females. In addition, we may get to photograph egrets including Great and Reddish, both in full breeding plumage, shorebirds, and more. There will be lots of flight photography opportunities. Afternoon trips either to Alafia Banks for spoonbills and more or to a more sheltered inland rookery location for a variety of nesting birds. In the event of horrific weather artie will either take the group to Fort DeSoto or will conduct an image review/Photoshop session. This IPT includes lunches on the full day with small group image sharing and review and some over-the-shoulder Photoshop instruction.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
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