Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

What’s Up?

Got lots more work done on my 2014 tax return. All that I can say at this point is that I am most thankful that I was audited…. I will explain after the audit is completed. Had time for a swim and a really cold ice bath: 58.3 degrees when I got out after 44 minutes. I will sleep well tonight. Both Bosque IPTs are getting close to being sold out as we are filling a slot or two every day.

I learned yesterday that the sale of Dane Johnson’s just-listed used Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens is pending. You can see all of the current listings on the Used Gear Page here.

This blog post was published automatically at 5:30am on Tuesday, September 29, 2015.

This image was created on last year’s 4-day Bosque IPT last year with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the amazing Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 100. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/30 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. AWB. The Singh-Ray 3-stop drop-in Mor-Slo Neutral Density filter allowed me to get down to work at a fairly wide aperture that greatly minimized dust spotting. In addition, the 7D II is great with dust–somehow the sensor stays amazingly clean. I think that with each new generation of Canon cameras that they improve the auto sensor cleaning technology a bit…. With my 5-stop ND I can get down to 1/8 second even in bright sun as long as I remember to reduce the ISO as I did here. Center AF point/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Blackbird flock blur

Still 2,385 images in one folder…

In reviewing my Bosque 2014 to Transfer file I was shocked to see that busy as I am, I never finished my third edit. 2,385 images is a lot for me even though my stay last year was a long one: 24 days. Bosque is that good.

I have never ever been so far behind in finishing trip folder edits and getting the stuff onto the main office computer. I probably have close to 20 folders that need work.

Like or Not?

I kept exactly 14 images in this blur series. Each one is worthy of being presented in the blog but I am way too busy for more than one. So what do you like about this one?

1-the ghostly trees in the background.
2-the degree of blurring.
3-the soft light which is rare in mid-morning at Bosque.
4-the soft earth tones.
5-the smattering of individual male Red-winged Blackbirds.
5-the clean lower edge that is so important to the success of many birds-scapes, blurred or sharp. We teach the principle of having a clean lower edge every day on a Bosque IPT.

Bird Question

Do you see the single male Yellow-headed Blackbird? If yes, where in the frame is it? Is there one or am I pulling your leg?

Head Angle Answer

Kudos to multiple IPT veteran Doug West who did a great job with the head angle question with regards to the small in the frame red-tail image in yesterday’s blog post; here is his comment:

How is the head angle in this image?

I think the head angle is just fine. If the hawk would’ve been looking in your direction there would really be no separation between the head and the body cause the beak would’ve disappeared. With this image you can clearly see the head, helping making the identification easier.

How important is head angle when the bird is small in the frame?

I’d say that it’s probably just as important as it would be with a larger sized bird.

Many folks think that if the bird is tiny in the frame that head angle does not matter. It does, in spades. I remember talking to this bird and begging it to turn to the side. It finally did so right before it took flight.

Why Neutral Density Filters (with Super-Telephoto Lenses)?

Here is a question asked by Dan in a comment on the Nickerson Gear Bag blog post here:

In what situations would you require a 3 or 5-stop ND in your super telephoto lenses? Would it be purely when doing panning work and wanting to keep the aperture open wide to avoid distractions?

My (expanded) reply:

Hi Dan, In part. I use the Singh-Ray 3-stop resin or 5-stop glass Neutral Density filters (both the 52mm drop-in NDs to fit the filter holders of the Canon super-telephotos) and the 77mm circular NDs) for three main reasons:

1-Like many top professionals I choose and use Singh-Ray filters because they are the highest quality filters available.

2-I use the 3-stop and 5-stop NDs as noted above to achieve really slow shutter speeds in situations where doing so would be impossible even at the lowest available ISO. You simply cannot get down to 1/2 second on a clear sunny day without using an ND filter. And remember, with the 7D II you can only get down to ISO 100.

3-I use the 3-stop and 5-stop NDs as above to achieve really slow shutter speeds in situations where doing so would result in tiny apertures such as f/22, f/32, f/45, and f/64 (the latter two show up often when you are using TCs with telephoto lenses). When using really small apertures like those mentioned above (and even somewhat wider apertures like f/16 and even f/11) you will wind up having to spend lots of time cleaning dust spots from your images because even microscopic dust shows up when you are using small apertures. With wider apertures like f/4, f/5.6, and sometimes f/8, dust spots are minimized; only substantial dust bunnies will show up.

Many or even most potentially distracting background features will not be a problem when you are doing pan blurs at slow shutter speeds such as 1/8 sec., 1/4 sec., and 1/2 sec. Aside from being used to create pan blurs, ND filters are commonly used to achieve the slow shutters speeds needed when photographing moving water such as with waterfalls or breaking surf. At times many creative photographers use telephoto lenses to photograph moving water…. artie

My Do Not Forget List!

Whenever I choose to leave one of my Singh-Ray filters at home on a big trip I always come to regret it. Quickly. So I recently added the following items to my “Do Not Forget Items to Bring on all Trips” packing list:

Singh-Ray 77mm Warming Circular Polarizer
Singh-Ray 77mm Mor-Slo 5-stop Glass ND filter
Singh-Ray 77mm Mor-Slo 3-stop Resin ND filter
Singh-Ray 5-stop glass 52mm filter to fit the Canon drop-in Filter Holder

I absolutely love the Singh-Ray 3-stop Resin and 5-stop Glass Neutral Density Filters. I use the 77mm versions of these filters on my 24-105, my 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, and my new and beloved 100-400mm IS II lens so that I can create blurs on sunny days without having to stop down to f/too-many dust spots…. With a 5-stop glass ND in place I can easily get down to shutter speeds of 1/2 second and slower on clear, bright sunny days.

Important Corrected Ordering Info for Singh-Ray 52mm Drop-In ND Filters

BIRDS AS ART and A Creative Adventure worked with Singh-Ray to produce both a 3-stop Resin Neutral Density filter ($124) and a 5-stop Glass ND filter ($275) to fit the filter drawers of Canon Super-telephoto lenses. If you will be heading to Bosque this season, you will want at least one of the 52mm ND filters in your Xtrahand vest. To order one of the 52mm Mor-Slo filters for Canon, you will need to call Singh-Ray at 1-800-486-5501 (toll free) or 1-863-993-4100 (eastern time zone). Tell them that you want either the 52mm 3-stop Resin Mor-Slo ND or the 52mm 5-stop Glass ND (or both), give them the code artie10, and then arrange to send them your filter holder. Why? Singh-Ray needs to confirm a perfect fit for each order and in addition, they will install and clean the filter. That’s why you need an extra filter holder or two:) See below for info on those.

Folks who use other brand lenses will need to follow the procedure above, specify their lens brand and filter size, and mention the artie10 code. Those folks are invited to contact me via e-mail if they would like me to create a logo link for their brand-specific filter holder….

Please remember that you will not get your 10% discount without mentioning the artie10 code. And I would not receive my affiliate commission. Thanks as always for remembering to use our discount/affiliate code with your Singh-Ray phone and web orders.

Singh-Ray Filters

Singh-Ray filters have been used by the world’s top photographers for many decades. As always, I will have my 77mm Singh-Ray Warming Polarizer in my vest in case of rainbows. And I now travel (as above) with various Singh-Ray ND filters so that I can create pleasing blurs even with clear skies and bright sun. See here for a great example.

No other filter manufacturer comes close to matching the quality of Singh-Ray’s optical glass that is comparable to that used by NASA. And they continue to pioneer the most innovative products on the market like their ColorCombo polarizer, Vari-ND variable and Mor-Slo 15-stop neutral density filters. When you use their filters, you’ll create better, more dramatic images and, unlike other filters, with absolutely no sacrifice in image quality. All Singh-Ray filters are handcrafted in the USA.

Best News: 10% Discount/Code at checkout: artie10

To shop for a Singh-Ray’s most popular solid ND filter, the 10-Stop Mor-Slo Glass Filter liter (for example), click on the logo link above, click on “Neutral and color Solid Neutral Density Filters (glass), then click on “Mor-Slo™ 5, 10, 15 and 20-Stop Solid Neutral Density Filters (glass),” choose the size and model, add to cart, and then checkout. At checkout, type artie10 into the “Have a coupon? Click here to enter your code” box, and a healthy 10% discount will be applied to your total. In addition to enjoying the world’s best filter at 10% off you will be supporting my efforts here on the blog.

The 10- and 15stop Mor Slo filters are great for landscapes with water and moving clouds. With the 10-stop, 1/125th becomes 8 seconds and with the 15-stop, 4 minutes. I need to get at least one of those soon….

52mm Filter Holder Insanity

It would be complete insanity to have to screw out the glass filter and then screw in a 52mm ND filter each time that you need it. The only option is to purchase a spare filter holder or two, screw the filter in, and keep that setup intact and ready to use. Singh-Ray includes a really neat soft leather filter holder with each purchase. I store all of the filters that I travel with in one of the small upper zippered pockets of my Xtrahand vest. I have two extra filter holders and will be bringing both the 3-Stop 52mm Resin ND and the 5-Stop 52mm Glass ND to Bosque.

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A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

If you would like to learn the fine points of creating pleasing pan-blurs and in addition, would like to learn the many other techniques that Denise and I use to create our popular pleasingly blurred images, but can’t make an IPT, get yourself a copy of A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Many of them are downright cheap. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. With us you will have two full time pros there for you every minute we are in the field. Together they have more than 28 seasons of experience at the refuge. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time every day, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 3-FULL DAY IPT: NOV 22-24, 2015. $1149. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet and introductory slide program after dinner on your own at 7:00pm on SAT NOV 21.

Just 2 spots left.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 3 morning and 3 afternoon photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/21, 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 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 4-DAY IPT: (three full and two 1/2 DAYS) NOV 28-DEC 2, 2015. $1499. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet at 3pm on SAT NOV 28 followed by an afternoon photo session at the crane pools and the introductory slide program after dinner on your own.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 (11/28through 12/1), 4 morning (11/29 to 12/2) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/28, 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 $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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 after July 29.

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Typos

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What’s Up?

Got a ton of work done yesterday on the re-do of my 2014 taxes. I streamlined the new techniques that I came up with while preparing for my 2013 audit and the new system works like a charm; it allows me to work much faster and more accurately than before. For the first time ever I am planning on filing my 2015 taxes well before the deadline. And I still had time on Saturday for a swim and an ice bath.

This blog post took about an hour and 30 minutes to prepare and was published at 6:45am on Sunday September 27, 2015.

Good Luck Lady D!

Good luck to Denise Ippolito who is headed to the Adirondack Photography Institute in Inlet, NY today to teach a Creative Patterns in Nature workshop (Sep 28-Oct 2). Does anyone know how the fall color is up there right now?

Lunar Eclipse Note

If you plan on viewing or photographing the super moon eclipse tonight good luck for clear skies. If you wind up with exposure of greater than 1 second when photographing the eclipse in totality be sure to turn IS off. There are some comments on getting the right exposure when photographing the eclipse at yesterday’s blog post here.

Just for the record books for Sunday night, in the east:

Eastern Daylight Time (September 27, 2015)
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 9:07 p.m. EDT on September 27
Total eclipse begins: 10:11 p.m. EDT
Greatest eclipse: 10:47 p.m. EDT
Total eclipse ends: 11:23 p.m. EDT
Partial eclipse ends: 12:27 a.m. EDT on September 28

This image was created last year at Bosque with the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the amazing Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 via histogram check in cloudy bright conditions. Center AF point/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best with birds in flight). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. See my AF comments below. Click on the image to see a larger version. Blue morph Snow Goose braking to land

Nice Background!

As the geese drop out of the sky at Bosque, photographers need to be aware of potential backgrounds. I usually prefer clean backgrounds of sky or mountain or green alfalfa or yellow cornfield but in this case the white goose background turned out to be lovely. I love the head and neck of the single goose in the upper left of the frame sticking up from the flock. This image did need a small crop from the top to eliminate a row of white geese.

Do understand that the decision to go for the goose background was a conscious one. This is the best of a two-frame sequence of this bird with the background of white geese.

Blue Goose Exposure Comments

At Bosque, Blue Goose is a much-desired subject as this color morph, the very same species as Snow Goose, make up only 3-4% of the wintering goose population in a given year. “Blue Goose at one o’clock” is heard frequently. If I am working in Manual mode at 1/2000 second with the white geese I will generally go one click lighter on the exposure for a Blue Goose by dropping down to 1/1600 second in an effort to get more detail in the darker feathers. For me (and for most of you), that requires one clockwise click of the index finger wheel.

Join denise and me at Bosque to learn to work in Manual mode for flight and get the right exposure in all lighting conditions for the white geese, adult Blue Geese, Sandhill Cranes, juvenile snows, juvenile Blue Geese, and even the occasional Common Raven. And tons more. See the IPT details below.

The 600 f/4 L IS II/7D II Advantage

With the 600 II/1.4X III/1D X TC you are at effective 840mm. The 600 II/7D II (no TC)combo puts you at equivalent 960mm. But the focal length advantage is not the only one: autofocus at f/4 will always be faster (in terms or initial focusing acquisition) and more accurate at f/4 than at f/5.6 (even given the slight AF advantage that the 1D X has over the 7D II).

AF Comments

A year ago I was using rear focus 100% of the time and using AF Surround for flight. This year at Bosque I will be using shutter button AF and either Expand of center AF point (Manual selection) AF. The former change was made as I now believe that it is easier to do one thing (push the shutter button) than it is to do two things (push the rear focus button and the shutter button) when working in pure flight situations. The latter change was made because I came to realize that on average either Expand or single aF point would offer more accurate tracking than Surround.

Another advantage for shutter button over rear focus is that with long flight photography situations fatigue in your right hand especially around the thumb is greatly reduced. If you are using rear focus for flight and loving it and making lots of sharp images please do not switch on my account. The disadvantage of switching back and forth between rear focus AF (for static subjects) and shutter button AF for flight and action is that you are sometimes caught with your pants down; you think you are in one when you are actually in the other… But for me the advantages far outweigh the single possible disadvantage.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog or via a BAA Online Bulletin is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charges a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly–I offer free pricing advice, usually sells in no time flat. After a big rush things have slowed down a bit over the past few week. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the original 400mm IS DO lens have been dropping steadily.

You can see all of the current listings here.

Patrick, why are you selling your 1D X?

When I asked Patrick why he was selling his 1D X and going totally with the 7D II he mentioned its lighter weight and the no TC AF advantage that I discussed above. Living in San Diego, Patrick does a good deal of his photography in sunny conditions and does not have to worry much about high ISO performance; the 1D X does much better at the higher ISOs you need to deal with lousy light than the 7DII. On the other hand, you gain one stop of ISO by being at f/4 as opposed to f/5.6 (with the 1.4X TC)…. In any case, if you have been thinking of getting yourself a pro body but realize that the price of the rumored 1D XII (or whatever they wind up calling it) will be prohibitive for most folks, do get in touch with Patrick quickly….

Canon EOS-1D X

Multiple IPT and a Creative Adventure Workshop veteran Patrick Sparkman is offering a used Canon 1D X in excellent condition for $3,650. The sale includes the manual, an extra battery, the battery charger, two 32 gb CF Cards, and insured shipping via FED-EX Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Patrick by e-mail or by phone at 858-740-8455 (Pacific Time Zone).

This rugged professional body has been my everyday workhorse camera for more than 2 1/2 years. It is fast and dependable and has what is surely the world’s greatest AF system. Best of all, Patrick takes very good care of his gear.

ps: Patrick and wife Robin have traveled with denise and me pretty much from one end of the planet to the other. We consider them both the dearest of friends. artie

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Many of them are downright cheap. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. With us you will have two full time pros there for you every minute we are in the field. Together they have more than 28 seasons of experience at the refuge. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time every day, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 3-FULL DAY IPT: NOV 22-24, 2015. $1149. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet and introductory slide program after dinner on your own at 7:00pm on SAT NOV 21.

Just 2 spots left.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 3 morning and 3 afternoon photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/21, 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 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 4-DAY IPT: (three full and two 1/2 DAYS) NOV 28-DEC 2, 2015. $1499. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet at 3pm on SAT NOV 28 followed by an afternoon photo session at the crane pools and the introductory slide program after dinner on your own.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 (11/28through 12/1), 4 morning (11/29 to 12/2) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/28, 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 $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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 after July 29.

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Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!

We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

…..

Amazon.com

Those who prefer to support BAA by shopping with Amazon may use this link:

Amazon Canada

Many kind folks from north of the border, eh, have e-mailed stating that they would love to help us out by using one of our affiliate links but that living in Canada and doing so presents numerous problems. Now, they can help us out by using our Amazon Canada affiliate link by starting their searches by clicking here. Many thanks to those who have written.

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 :).

Stuff

My pre-audit meeting with Chip Jackson went extremely well. He said, “I have never gone into an audit with someone as well prepared and documented as you are.” We shall see how it goes. As a result of what I have learned getting ready for the 2013 audit, I have decided to re-do my 2015 return from scratch. It needs to be filed by 15 OCT so I am not under as much time pressure as I was.

This blog post took about an hour to prepare. It should be published automatically at 6am on Friday, September 25, 2015. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links for your major gear purchases; online orders only; no phone orders. Won’t cost you a penny! And helps me out tremendously. Many thanks for considering this important request.

Lie Down With Lions by Ken Follet

May be Ken Follett’s finest yet…The suspense mounts as swiftly as Afghan villagers running to escape Russian guns—and the pages will turn just as fast. Cosmopolitan

How good was this book? I hit the sack at 8:55pm last night and was asleep well before 9pm. I woke at 12:55am and stayed up reading for more than three hours to finish it. I was way too excited by the book to sleep. I finally shut my eyes at 4:10am and slept until after 7:30am. All in all it was not a bad night’s sleep…. But oh, what a book. If anyone out there has read it or other Follet works, please fee free to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

This image was created at Salisbury Plain South Georgia in late December, 2014 with the hand held Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (at 205mm), and the amazing Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/4.5. Center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. King Penguin emerging from surf

First Time in 20 Years…

For 20 years, Cheesemans’ has sold out every Southern Oceans trip that it has offered, trips to South Georgia and Antarctica often with a few stops in the Falklands. Spectacular stuff. Now, for the first time in 20 years, there are still a few spots left on their October 2015 South Georgia/Falklands trip. And for the first time in 20 years, they are offering a 20% discount to late registrants. Both Denise Ippolito and I will be aboard. To learn how to sign up and join the BIRDS AS ART group, please shoot me an e-mail with the words “South Georgia 2015” in the subject line. Remember, you only live once!

All of the images on the card were made on South Georgia. This remote wilderness island offers both spectacular scenery and hordes of tame wildlife and birds. From top left clockwise to the center: Southern Elephant Seal, courting King Penguin pair, King Penguin abstract, Grey-headed Albatross, King Penguin rookery on Salisbury Plain, Macaroni Penguin head portrait, King Penguin molting Okum Boy, Macaroni Penguin pair, King Penguin preening, Southern Elephant Seal yawning, the view of Gold Harbour from a Light-mantled Sooty Albatross nest. Click on the image to see an extra large version.

The Southern Ocean

South Georgia Expedition Voyage

I’ve been blessed. I’ve now made four trips to the Southern Ocean, three expeditions that visited the Falklands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula, and one to the Falklands and South Georgia. Each was a truly amazing experience. South Georgia has been the star of the show each time: rugged snow covered peaks, tame and abundant wildlife including Southern Elephant Seal and Southern Fur Seal, and penguins: more King Penguins than you could ever have dreamed of. Gentoos. And my favorite, the golden-yellow spaghetti-topped Macaronis. With four trips to South Georgi under my belt, I have a pretty good idea about how to make great images at each of the iconic landings. In addition, we should have some pretty good flight photography sessions from the stern of the ship. I would love the chance to share my knowledge with you.

Going Light

On last year’s recent trip, I found myself going ashore with shorter lenses and lighter gear than on any previous Southern Ocean Expedition. In part that was due to the crop factor of the 7D Mark II, in part because going light makes life (and landings!) much easier. I made many landings with just the 7D II, the 14X III TC, and the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS.

Cheesemans’ Well Deserved Kudos

I know from personal experience that if you are a photographer who is going to invest in Southern Ocean voyage, you will want to put your money on Cheesemans’. No other tour company goes as far out of their way to ensure making every possible safe landing. And no other tour company will have you spending more time on land. Michael Viljeon from South Africa was aboard the Ortelius on a Southern Oceans voyage that preceded the Cheesemans’ trip that we were both on. As we headed back to Ushuaia, he said, “The folks that ran that first trip were pathetic. Too rough. No landing today. Surf too high today. No landing. Wind wrong direction. No landing. Cheesemans’ routinely and safely gets folks on land in conditions where the leaders of other tour companies do not even bother getting out of their bunks.”

Here, from the” Way to Go CES! (Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris)” blog post here, is one of my favorite Cheesemans’ stories:

The landing at Bailey Head, Antarctica, was especially rewarding to me as I had been sitting in a zodiac 100 yards off shore on my 2007 trip when the zodiac in front of mine swamped and the captain of the ship called off the landing…. Early that day it looked as if my weather Karma might not be working. Ted’s “Good morning shipmates” was followed by the news that we would not be able to land at Bailey Head that morning as the swell was too big. The beach there is sloped tremendously and the sea strives to pull the zodiacs back into the ocean before folks have gotten off with their gear. Tom Murphy had said to me several days before, “We will get you on the beach at Bailey Head.” Ted concluded his morning greetings by saying, “We are sending out a scout team to see if landing is possible.”

After breakfast I was thrilled to hear Ted’s voice again on the PA, “We will be landing at 8am.” Afterwards folks noted that it was the calmest landing ever at this amazingly beautiful spot. My good weather Karma (courtesy of late-wife Elaine) had come through one last time. Along with St. Andrews Bay, it was one of my two favorite super-great once-in-a-lifetime days of the trip. And we even got to enjoy three additional hours at Hannah Point, Antarctica before calling it a wrap and heading for the feared Drake Passage. All thanks to Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris.

Why Sign Up Through BIRDS AS ART?

If you have been thinking and dreaming of finally visiting South Georgia, this is the trip for you. Quit dreaming and act now. Though I will not be an official leader on this trip, those who have traveled with me know that I cannot help but teach. I will make pre-trip gear recommendations. I will hold informal pre-landing briefings. In the same vein, everyone will receive a free copy of our Antarctica Site Guide once they are paid in full (July 2, 2015). I will be available on the ship to review your images,, answer questions, and conduct informal over-the shoulder Photoshop sessions. And best of all, everyone who signs up under the auspices of BAA are invited to tag along with me on the landings where I will be glad to offer invaluable in-the-field advice. And the same goes for the ship-board birds in flight and marine mammal photography opportunities.

Do join us. To learn how to be part of the BAA group please e-mail me with the words Antarctica/Extended Expedition BAA Info Please cut and pasted into the Subject line.

Important Notes

#1: If you fail to e-mail me as noted directly above, and register directly with CES you MUST let them know that you would like to be part of the BIRDS AS ART group.

#2: Joining the BIRDS AS ART group as above will not cost you one penny.

The Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris South Georgia Expedition Voyage

An in-depth Adventure aboard the Ortelius: October 29 to November 17, 2015

From the CES website:

We are very excited to be able to bring this special in-depth expedition to you. This is a product of years of experience leading voyages to South Georgia and a passion for everything found here. Our itinerary is specifically designed to take advantage of the vibrant early season on South Georgia when snow blankets the mountains and early summer brings special wildlife treats seldom experienced. We will explore vast colonies of King Penguins, elephant seals in their peak of breeding activity, and colonies of Wandering, Gray-headed, Light-mantled, and Black-browed albatross. This cruise allows us many days to explore this truly unique island, the crown jewel of the Antarctic. The landscape filled with expanses of glaciers pouring into the sea provides rare beauty and photogenic impressiveness that words cannot convey. We will enjoy about nine days in the midst of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich island on the planet! Exceptional leadership expertise will enrich your experience throughout the voyage. Our priority on this special expedition is to give you the maximum time possible in the field so you can explore at your own pace during a special time on South Georgia. Come explore South Georgia with us!

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Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack!

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!

We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

…..

Amazon.com

Those who prefer to support BAA by shopping with Amazon may use this link:

Amazon Canada

Many kind folks from north of the border, eh, have e-mailed stating that they would love to help us out by using one of our affiliate links but that living in Canada and doing so presents numerous problems. Now, they can help us out by using our Amazon Canada affiliate link by starting their searches by clicking here. Many thanks to those who have written.

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 :).

Stuff

I am just about ready to meet the accountant on Thursday for our pre-audit meeting. I skipped my swim as my shoulder ached a bit but enjoyed my ice bath a ton. I will be back in the pool tomorrow for sure.

This blog post took about 1 1/2 hours to prepare, most of that time for the writing. It should be published automatically at 6am on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links for your major gear purchases; online orders only; no phone orders. Won’t cost you a penny! And helps me out tremendously. Many thanks for considering this important request.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog or via a BAA Online Bulletin is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charges a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly–I offer free pricing advice, usually sells in no time flat. In the past few months, we have sold just about everything in sight. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the original 400mm IS DO lens have been dropping steadily. You can always see what is for sale and what has sold along with the prices on the Used Gear Page by clicking here.

New Listing

Used Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L Lens

Roger Windemuth is offering a used Canon 400mm f/5.6L lens in excellent condition for lowest ever BAA price of $840. The sale includes the tripod collar, the front and rear lens caps, the case in new condition, the original box, and the Canon CD. Once your check clears–PayPal is also an option–your lens will be sent insured by either USPS or FedEx Ground–your choice. Please contact Roger by e-mail or phone at 360-904-2726 (Pacific time).

I put my then beloved “toy lens” on the map more than 20 years ago by pioneering its use for photographing birds in flight. Wow, did I love that lens along with the Canon A2 camera body and Fuji Velvia pushed one stop to ISO 100! Though I sold mine a few years back it is still a great lens for flight for those who do not depend on IS and it makes a great starter lens as well. Put it on a tripod with the 1.4X III TC, a 7D II, and the Mongoose M3.6 and you will enjoy 896mm of effective reach. Again, this lens is priced to sell. artie

Would You Believe This Fish Story?

2015 was a bad year for catching halibut in Alaskan waters. On our Inside Passage cruise, Captain Ben said that they had caught only a handful all season. We fished for a few hours twice. I love using a diamond jig–a shiny four-sided metal lure–for halibut, rather than bait; it is way more fun. I landed two “chicken halibut” on the Discovery, perfect eating sized halibut that weigh 10-15 pounds. One was more than enough for dinner for everyone on board including the crew. I also lost a big Silver Salmon, about 20 pounds, at the net.

On the bear boat, I would often grab a rod at dusk while we were anchored up in a protected bay. I tied on a jig at Geographic Harbor after a great day of photographing bears eating salmon. Fish on, but not a big one. It was a small pollock of about two pounds. Next cast, another fish. Chuck told me that it was the first year that he had ever seen the young pollock in the bays. “They are eating every baitfish in sight,” he said. After catching and releasing several between a pound and a half and two pounds, I suggested to Chuck that they might make a nice dinner. Donna and Bev, who had also gotten their fishing licenses, joined in the fun. We caught as many as we wanted and then Chuck and I went to work filleting what would become another great dinner.

On the bear boat, the halibut story was the same. Chuck said, “There just have been no halibut. We’ve caught only above five all season.” The first time that we fished, I got skunked. Along with the rest of the fisher-gals. The next day I got two decent keeper halibut–one about 20 pounds, both on the diamond jig. (High tides are usually not very good for bear photography.)

The group decided that we had done so well for four days with the bears catching salmon photography that we should navigate back to Kodiak to try for Sea Otters. So we did, crossing the Shelikof Strait in time for a late afternoon of otter photograph from the skiff. Everyone had a ball as we had a big group of otters in the kelp at Whale Pass. Once the tide quickened the little sea mammals scattered and we headed back to the boat.

I grabbed my jig rod to try for halibut but caught only a few small bottom fish. I cut some up and the group joined as I chummed up a few Black-legged Kittiwakes for flight photography. I put my teaching hat back on and we all had more great fun. Before heading in for dinner, I put two large fish baits on heavy rod with two big circle hooks for halibut and forgot about it.

I was climbing into my very comfortable bunk when I remembered that I needed to check the baited halibut rod. At about 9:30pm I went to check on the rod. I had left the drag loose to prevent a big halibut from breaking the line or the rod. I noticed that a lot of line had been pulled off the reel. I figured that I had hooked some kelp and that the tide had taken it out with the strong current. It took quite a while just to reel in the slack. After that it was just hard work reeling in a dead weight. As nothing was pulling I was sure that there was a big load of kelp on the line.

Whatever I had on the line it did not feel like a fish. I reeled and reeled and soon the presumed kelp was near the surface. Then a funny thing happened, a big halibut saw the boat and started taking out line again. I realized that I would need the captain to help me land what felt like a pretty good fish. Chuck was already in bed and it was pitch dark. I called out, “Chuck, Chuck” and miraculously he heard me and said “Is that you causing trouble again artie?” Yeah. I have a big halibut on. Can you help. When he first got on deck he thought that I had hooked kelp but just as he said that the fish made another run.

Once the fish was at the surface he saw a nice halibut of about 20 pounds and said, “We can swing it into the skiff.” He tried but could not lift the fish into the skiff. Then he shouted, “You’ve got two, a doubleheader!” He climbed down into the skiff and pulled the first halibut into the engine well. The second fish was a lot bigger. He loaded the harpoon one into the well and then we saw that the second one was about a 40 pounder. He got tied them up by their tails with heavy rope and put them in the water. And then we both hit the sack.

The next day I organized a photo contest. Whomever took the best image of me and my halibut would have their photo appear in a blog post. Thanks again to Elston for sharing his excellent image with me. I especially liked that he went vertical and not only did he avoid cutting my feet off he included the rope on the floor of the skiff with a nice border below.

This image was created on the recently concluded Bear Boat IPT by Elston Hill wit the hand held Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens (at 60mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 1000. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/60 sec. at f/7.1. Chuck, artie and halibuts. Image courtesy of and copyright 2015: Elston Hill.

I Love Fishing, and Eating Fish!

How do you like the smile on my face?

That afternoon I shipped home 37 pounds of halibut fillets from Kodiak via Fed-Ex.

IPT Updates

Assorted IPTs

There is still time to join Denise Ippolito and me for an inexpensive Creative Adventure workshop/HDR seminar at Old Car City in White, Georgia. You can learn more here. The first (3-DAY) Bosque IPT is a near-sellout but there is still a bit of room on the second (4-DAY) trip. See below for details. Like pelicans? There are still a few spots open on the San Diego and Lake Kerkini, Greece IPTs. Same with both Palouse workshops. Finally there is still a single spot left on the UK Puffins and Gannets IPT. Click here and scroll down for complete info on all of those.

The Namibia and Galapagos IPTs

Both of the above mentioned trips are off to great starts with 5 or 6 spots spoken for on the April 2016 Namibia trip and 4 or 5 deposits on the way for the 2017 Galapagos Photo-Cruise IPT. Learn more about the Namibia IPT here. And learn more about our next great Galapagos trip here. Denise Ippolito will be co-leading both of these great workshops. Lots of Happy Campers are on board already. And Bill Lloyd who recently joined us on the 2015 UK Puffins trip is signing up for both Namibia and Galapagos!

The 2017 Bear Boat IPT(s)

Mid-July offers folks the very best chance to photograph football sized Brown Bear cubs at famed locations like Hallo Bay in Katmai National Park, AK. The sows almost never bring their tiny spring cubs out in the open in June or even early July; they are so small then that predation by other bears is likely. But by mid-month, these little cuties are often seen nursing and frolicking with each other. Though little in nature photography is guaranteed, mid-July offers the absolute best chance to photograph the small cubs with their moms. In order to get our mid-July dates we had to reserve out dates four years in advance. We can guarantee that you will see and photograph a great variety of Brown Bears, the coastal from of Grizzly Bear, at close range. They will be of different age classes and and come in a great variety of colors–the blondes are my favorites. They will be clamming and grazing on the luxuriant meadow grasses. In addition, we will get to photograph both Horned and Tufted Puffins and several species of shorebirds. Common Mergansers with chicks are possible. Wolf is a remote possibility.

If you would like to be put on the Interested List and receive early notice of the two great trips that we are planning, please shoot me an e-mail with the words “2017 Bear Boat Spring Cubs IPT” cut and pasted into the Subject line. Denise and I hope that you can join us. Dates and rates TBA very soon.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Many of them are downright cheap. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. With us you will have two full time pros there for you every minute we are in the field. Together they have more than 28 seasons of experience at the refuge. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time every day, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 3-FULL DAY IPT: NOV 22-24, 2015. $1149. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet and introductory slide program after dinner on your own at 7:00pm on SAT NOV 21.

Just 2 spots left.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 3 morning and 3 afternoon photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/21, 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 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 4-DAY IPT: (three full and two 1/2 DAYS) NOV 28-DEC 2, 2015. $1499. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet at 3pm on SAT NOV 28 followed by an afternoon photo session at the crane pools and the introductory slide program after dinner on your own.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 (11/28through 12/1), 4 morning (11/29 to 12/2) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/28, 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 $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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 after July 29.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack!

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!

We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

…..

Amazon.com

Those who prefer to support BAA by shopping with Amazon may use this link:

Amazon Canada

Many kind folks from north of the border, eh, have e-mailed stating that they would love to help us out by using one of our affiliate links but that living in Canada and doing so presents numerous problems. Now, they can help us out by using our Amazon Canada affiliate link by starting their searches by clicking here. Many thanks to those who have written.

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 :).

A Belated Happy Birthday

I’d like to wish my Mom, Hazel Louise Morris, a belated happy birthday; she was 93 on Saturday. She’s been a great Mom forever. I got to “see” her today when my younger daughter Alissa Skyped me on her i-Pad.

Condolences

Condolences to both the NY Football Giants and their fans (like me). They made history on Sunday. They became the first team in NFL history to lose their first two games after leading both by ten or more points in the fourth quarter.

Stuff

After tons of work today I have only one major task to complete before tidying things up for the audit of my 2013 tax return, all Schedule C. With what I have learned going over 2013 however, I will be completely re-doing my 2014 return…. Therefore, no end is in sight.

Another sunny swim today and another very cold ice bath. This blog post should be published automatically at 6am on Monday, September 21, 2015.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog or via a BAA Online Bulletin is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charges a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly–I offer free pricing advice, usually sells in no time flat. In the past few months, we have sold just about everything in sight. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the original 400mm IS DO lens have been dropping steadily. You can always see what is for sale and what has sold along with the prices on the Used Gear Page by clicking here.

Brand New Listing

Canon EOS-1D X

Multiple IPT and a Creative Adventure Workshop veteran Patrick Sparkman is offering a used Canon 1D X in excellent condition for $3,650. The sale includes the manual, an extra battery, the battery charger, two 32 gb CF Cards, and insured shipping via FED-EX Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Patrick by e-mail or by phone at 858-740-8455 (Pacific Time Zone).

This rugged professional body has been my everyday workhorse camera for more than 2 1/2 years. It is fast and dependable and has what is surely the world’s greatest AF system. Best of all, Patrick takes very good care of his gear.

ps: Patrick and wife Robin have traveled with denise and me pretty much from one end of the planet to the other. We consider them both the dearest of friends. artie

This image was created at Old Car City in White Georgia with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (at 274mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/6 sec. at f/22 in Av mode. As with many of my flower images I used the 2-second timer and Live View (for mirror lock) to ensure a sharp image. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the emblem and re-compose. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Emblem, side panel, and bumper trim detail: vintage Chevy Impala

Why is an old car graveyard like a heron and egret rookery?

Why is an old car graveyard like a heron and egret rookery?

At rookeries such as those at Gatorland and St. Augustine it is easy to create more than 1,000 lousy images in a single photo session. There are lots of subjects and there are lots of distracting elements.

At old car graveyards like the one at Old Car City, GA it is easy to create more than 1,000 lousy images in a single photo session. There are hundreds of subjects and there are lots of distracting elements.

Join denise and me in White, GA during the second week of October: learn to see a good image, to frame what you see, and to isolate your subject while winding up with a pleasing background. In short, learn to see and think like a pro. We will be looking over your shoulder and reviewing your images on the rear LCD while we are in the field so that we can offer compositional and exposure guidance right on the spot.

Creative Thinking Question

Do you see one or more images within today’s image? If yes, what is it that you like, and how would you go about framing and creating the image that you see in your mind’s eye?

Old Car City

Old Car City, in White, Georgia, boasts 4,500 old cars on 34 acres mostly along wooded trails. Old cars have an allure that can’t be explained. They feature sublime colors, are full of interesting curves and lines, and many have unique hood ornaments and emblems. Old Car City is a treasure trove just waiting to be unwrapped by folks who have or learn to develop a creative eye. During this workshop we will cover all of the steps needed to produce eye popping HDR images of old cars, trucks, buses, wheels and much, much more. So get out your old jeans and dirty sneakers and prepare to roll up your sleeves for another creative adventure. Join us for a workshop and seminar rolled into one.

My Old Car City Gear Bag

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Talk about versatility…. This lens, on the tripod, will practically be a one-size fits all answer to my lens needs on this IPT. It was a fairly easy decision to leave the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens at home for OCC. Why? With the 100-400 II being a a tripod 100% of the time, the speed of the 70-200 f/2.8 is a non-factor.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens. I am not very good with this lens and in addition, I love to work tight rather than wide. I would expect to use it rarely if ever during the workshop. Denise is a master with this lens. At some point, I would love to do a blog post featuring some of the many outstanding images that she has created over the years with this lens. The images feature an amazingly wide range of subject matter.

Micro Four-Thirds Stuff

If things worked out as planned, denise and I will be testing some of the latest/greatest micro 4/3 cameras and lenses. If that happens, we will let you know if we had any fun and made a few good images….

Camera Bodies

5D Mark III. For flowers, scenics, and Urbex photography the 5D III is always my first choice.

EOS-1D X. I will have my rugged pro body along as a back-up.

Think Tank Rolling Bags

As I will be traveling very light I will be using the smaller of my two Think Tank rolling bags, the Airport International™ LE Classic.

Think Tank Urban Disguise Laptop Shoulder Bag

Both denise and I use and love this amazing bag as it has tons of room and enables us to bring tons of extra stuff. We both use the largest, top of the line model.

Please click on my Think Tank affiliate link here to earn a free gift when you purchase a Think Tank Rolling Bag.

Delkin Flash Cards

As always, I will have a 64gb Delkin e-Film Pro Flash Card in each camera body so that I never have to change cards in the field thus reducing the chance of losing a card…. Please note the new lower prices here. I do have a few extra 32 and 64gb cards in a Delkin CF Memory Card Tote, mostly to protect against loss.

Images and Card Design courtesy of and copyright 2014: Denise Ippolito

Old Car City Workshop October 9,10, & 11th 2015: $399. Workshop fee includes two $25 admissions!

Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris.
Monday Morning Railroad Museum Add-on: $50!

Thursday Evening, October 8, 2015

Meet & Greet. 8:00 pm at the hotel ~ Join the group for an informal meet and greet session: folks will have the chance to get to know each other and the schedule a little bit better. Denise will give a brief orientation and while this is not mandatory it is a valuable addition to the workshop. Door Prizes will be given out at the Meet & Greet; you must be present to be eligible.

Friday October 9, 2015

9:00am- 9:30am ~ HDR Photography Overview, on location at Old Car City
9:30am -10:30am ~ Exposing Properly for HDR’s & Histogram Review. During this session at Old Car City we will show how to properly expose all of your bracketed images. This will help you to capture all of the information needed to create a true HDR image. Note: this is more involved than simply setting your camera to auto bracketing. We will also explain in-depth how to correctly read your histogram while uncovering lots of misconceptions.
10:30am-12:00noon: ~ Composition Work: In-the-field hands-on work including creative image design, highlighting interesting details, when to go wide, and getting in close for background elimination.
12:00noon- 1:00pm ~ Break for lunch on your own-there is a restaurant directly across the street from OCC.
1:00pm- 4:00pm ~ Photo shoot at Old Car City.

Saturday October 10, 2015

9:00am-12:00 noon ~ Photo shoot Old Car City
12:00noon- 1:00pm ~ Break for lunch on your own.
1:00pm- 4:00pm Photo shoot Old Car City

Sunday October 11, 2015

9:00am- 1:00pm~ HDR Image Processing using Nik HDR Efex Pro and creative post-processing tips using a variety of plug-ins, filters and effects, layers and masks. At this time workshop participants are encouraged to share 5 images that they have captured during the workshop. These can be shared and viewed on your laptop or iPad or you can put them on a thumb drive for us to project. Best but not mandatory to bring your laptop.

Optional Add-On Day, Monday October 12, 2015

If you would like to join us at a nearby railroad museum/yard for a morning of photography the day after the workshop, simply let us know. You can pay the additional fee upon registration or on the spot with cash or check. Arrangements have been made so that we will have the place entirely to ourselves; they are normally closed on Mondays. We will be able to photograph the insides and outsides of the old trains, even an old mail car. If you like old trains then this day is a perfect addition to the workshop.

To Register

To register, please shoot me an e-mail and then either send your check made out to “Arthur Morris” for the total amount due to Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855 or call Jim at or Jen at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. At this late date payment in full is due.

Stuff

Took a day off from audit stuff on Friday; Jennifer did not. 🙂 I sent Jim home early for service above and beyond the call of duty. As usual.

After somewhat of a lull, several more items on the Used Gear Page sold in the past few days. See the complete listings here.

This blog post is scheduled to be published at 6:00am on Saturday, September 16, 2015. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links for your major gear purchases; online orders only; no phone orders. Won’t cost you a penny! And helps me out tremendously. Many thanks for considering this important request.

This image was created on the 2015 San Diego IPT with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the rugged professional camera body, the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 stops as framed: 1/640 sec. at f/6.3. The AF point two up from the center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Brown Pelican head and shoulders/staring down the lens barrel

Still More 100-400 II Versatility

The 100-400 II kills on the cliffs at LaJolla. While hand holding it I am able to quickly get into position in a variety of situations where it would be impossible to do so with the tripod-mounted Canon 200-400 with Internal 1.4X Extender. The close focus and zoom range also make it extremely valuable with San Diego’s gorgeous pelicans. And as you have seen in other San Diego blog posts, it does quite well with the 1.4X TC though you are limited to the center AF point by necessity. It is entirely conceivable that you could do all of your pelican photography with only the new 1-4….

Being able to get really low allowed me to use the gray sky as background and to achieve the high key look that I wanted.

This image was created on the 2015 San Diego IPT with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the rugged professional camera body, the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 stops as framed: 1/640 sec. at f/6.3. The AF point two up from the center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Brown Pelican head and shoulders/standard pose

White Sky Pelican Pose Choices: What You Lookin’ At? vs Standard…

Which pose do you think is more powerful? Why?

How is the head angle in the standard pose?

San Diego

It ain’t just pelicans!

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects. With annual visits spanning more than three decades I have lot of experience there….

2016 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) JAN 8 thru the morning of JAN 12, 2016: $1899 (Limit: 10)

Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins
Two great leaders: Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito

Join us in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s and Double-crested Cormorants in breeding plumage with their amazing crests; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heerman’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions likely; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the two IPT cards there are some nice landscape opportunities as well.

Did I mention that there are wealth of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter?

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings.

The San Diego Details

This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, five lunches, after-lunch image review and Photoshop sessions, and a thank you dinner. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility.

A $499 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855. Or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 11/1//2015. 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. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. 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.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack!

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!

We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

…..

Amazon.com

Those who prefer to support BAA by shopping with Amazon may use this link:

Amazon Canada

Many kind folks from north of the border, eh, have e-mailed stating that they would love to help us out by using one of our affiliate links but that living in Canada and doing so presents numerous problems. Now, they can help us out by using our Amazon Canada affiliate link by starting their searches by clicking here. Many thanks to those who have written.

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 :).

Stuff

More work on the audit. A swim and an ice bath. This week’s ritual. I am making some good progress on the audit.

This blog post took well less than an hour to prepare. It should be published automatically at 6:00am on Thursday, September 16, 2015.

This image was created on the recently concluded Bear Boat IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III, and the rugged Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800: 1/200 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual Mode. Cloudy WB. One AF point below the center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF as framed was active as originally framed. AI Servo AF is always best with flying birds and all moving subjects. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Bald Eagle, immature landing

When Unexpected Action Occurs, Push the Shutter Button!

In The Art of Bird Photography II (ABP II: 916 pages, 900+ images, on CD only; the continuation of the classic how-to The Art of Bird Photography) I wrote something to this effect: When unexpected action occurs, push the shutter button! Do not think of the shutter speed; do not think of the aperture; do not think of anything. If you try to change something the only thing for sure is that you will wind up with nothing.

It has taken me more than a decade or two, but I may finally have learned this lesson. At least once…. Someone in the group called out, incoming Bald Eagle left. I had been set up for dark bears in Manual mode at 1/200 at f/5.6 in dreary conditions. I was likely +2 stops off the light grey stream-side rocks which was probably more than +3 stops of the grey sky. I wheeled the lens to my left, acquired focus, and ripped off three frames.

Many folks advise that shutter speeds as fast a 1/1600 sec. are needed to create good flight photographs. I advised otherwise in the blog post here. At 1/200 sec. I did not think that I had much of a chance. But the eyes and the faces of two of the three images were more than sharp enough. Don’t think: push the shutter button.

The more closely you can match the speed of the bird with your panning rate the more chance that you have of making a sharp-on-the-eye image at a silly-slow shutter speed….

Learning flight photography. Learning to work in Manual mode.

There is no better place to learn place to learn flight photography while working in Manual mode than a Bosque IPT with artie and denise. And there are tons of opportunities to do that every day. And so much to learn. Scroll down just a bit to learn more.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog or via a BAA Online Bulletin is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charges a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly–I offer free pricing advice, usually sells in no time flat. In the past few weeks we have sold nearly everything in sight. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the original 400mm IS DO lens have been dropping steadily.

You can see all of the current listings here.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Many of them are downright cheap. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. With us you will have two full time pros there for you every minute we are in the field. Together they have more than 28 seasons of experience at the refuge. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time every day, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 3-FULL DAY IPT: NOV 22-24, 2015. $1149. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet and introductory slide program after dinner on your own at 7:00pm on SAT NOV 21.

Just 3 spots left.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 3 morning and 3 afternoon photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/21, 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 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 4-DAY IPT: (three full and two 1/2 DAYS) NOV 28-DEC 2, 2015. $1499. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet at 3pm on SAT NOV 28 followed by an afternoon photo session at the crane pools and the introductory slide program after dinner on your own.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 (11/28through 12/1), 4 morning (11/29 to 12/2) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/28, 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 $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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 after July 29.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack!

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!

We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

…..

Amazon.com

Those who prefer to support BAA by shopping with Amazon may use this link:

Amazon Canada

Many kind folks from north of the border, eh, have e-mailed stating that they would love to help us out by using one of our affiliate links but that living in Canada and doing so presents numerous problems. Now, they can help us out by using our Amazon Canada affiliate link by starting their searches by clicking here. Many thanks to those who have written.

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 :).

The 3 originals for this in-camera Art Vivid HDR image were created at Old Car City in White Georgia with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (at 250mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/10 sec. at f/16 in Av mode (+/-2 stops). As with many of my flower images I used the 2-second timer and Live View (for mirror lock) to ensure a sharp image. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the 8 and re-compose. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Grill and hood ornament detail of a vintage Plymouth Belvedere

New HDR Thoughts…

I have long been a fan of in-camera HDR images with both the 5D III and the 7D II. But more recently I have come to realize that many such images have image quality issues that result from the in-camera blending. Keeping the camera perfect solid-still on a tripod and working with Auto-align disabled reduces such image quality problems. With light sky clouds and darker foregrounds I have recently begun working with a single image–always the best exposure, and have come up with a nice workflow that yields optimized images with great tonal range. I am not sure that such an approach will work with Urbex stuff like old cars. I am most interesting in learning Denise’s HDR workflow. If you attend you will see me taking copious notes at the Sunday image processing seminar/session.

The 3 originals for this in-camera Art Vivid HDR image were created were created at Old Car City in White Georgia with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (with the internal extender in place at 242mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/6 sec. at f/18 in Av mode (+/-2 stops). As with many of my flower images I again used the 2-second timer and Live View (for mirror lock) to ensure a sharp image at a very slow shutter speed. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the center of the lower edge of the leaf. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Leaf on hood of old car.

Your Favorite?

Which of today’s two images do you like best? Please let us know why you made your choice.

Old Car City

Old Car City, in White, Georgia, boasts 4,500 old cars on 34 acres mostly along wooded trails. Old cars have an allure that can’t be explained. They feature sublime colors, are full of interesting curves and lines, and many have unique hood ornaments and emblems. Old Car City is a treasure trove just waiting to be unwrapped by folks who have or learn to develop a creative eye. During this workshop we will cover all of the steps needed to produce eye popping HDR images of old cars, trucks, buses, wheels and much, much more. So get out your old jeans and dirty sneakers and prepare to roll up your sleeves for another creative adventure.

My Old Car City Gear Bag

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Talk about versatility…. This lens, on the tripod, will practically be a one-size fits all answer to my lens needs on this IPT. It was a fairly easy decision to leave the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens at home for OCC. Why? With the 100-400 II being a a tripod 100% of the time, the speed of the 70-200 f/2.8 is a non-factor.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens. I am not very good with this lens and in addition, I love to work tight rather than wide. I would expect to use it rarely if ever during the workshop. Denise is a master with this lens. At some point, I would love to do a blog post featuring some of the many outstanding images that she has created over the years with this lens. The images feature an amazingly wide range of subject matter.

Camera Bodies

5D Mark III. For flowers, scenics, and Urbex photography the 5D III is always my first choice.

EOS-1D X. I will have my rugged pro body along as a back-up.

Think Tank Rolling Bags

As I will be traveling very light I will be using the smaller of my two Think Tank rolling bags, the Airport International™ LE Classic.

Think Tank Urban Disguise Laptop Shoulder Bag

Both denise and I use and love this amazing bag as it has tons of room and enables us to bring tons of extra stuff.

Please click on my Think Tank affiliate link here to earn a free gift when you purchase a Think Tank Rolling Bag.

Delkin Flash Cards

As always, I will have a 64gb Delkin e-Film Pro Flash Card in each camera body so that I never have to change cards in the field thus reducing the chance of losing a card…. Please note the new lower prices here. I do have a few extra 32 and 64gb cards in a Delkin CF Memory Card Tote, mostly to protect against loss.

Images and Card Design courtesy of and copyright 2014: Denise Ippolito

Old Car City Workshop October 9,10, & 11th 2015: $399. Workshop fee includes two $25 admissions!

Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris.
Monday Morning Railroad Museum Add-on: $50!

Thursday Evening, October 8, 2015

Meet & Greet. 8:00 pm at the hotel ~ Join the group for an informal meet and greet session: folks will have the chance to get to know each other and the schedule a little bit better. Denise will give a brief orientation and while this is not mandatory it is a valuable addition to the workshop. Door Prizes will be given out at the Meet & Greet; you must be present to be eligible.

Friday October 9, 2015

9:00am- 9:30am ~ HDR Photography Overview, on location at Old Car City
9:30am -10:30am ~ Exposing Properly for HDR’s & Histogram Review. During this session at Old Car City we will show how to properly expose all of your bracketed images. This will help you to capture all of the information needed to create a true HDR image. Note: this is more involved than simply setting your camera to auto bracketing. We will also explain in-depth how to correctly read your histogram while uncovering lots of misconceptions.
10:30am-12:00noon: ~ Composition Work: In-the-field hands-on work including creative image design, highlighting interesting details, when to go wide, and getting in close for background elimination.
12:00noon- 1:00pm ~ Break for lunch on your own-there is a restaurant directly across the street from OCC.
1:00pm- 4:00pm ~ Photo shoot at Old Car City.

Saturday October 10, 2015

9:00am-12:00 noon ~ Photo shoot Old Car City
12:00noon- 1:00pm ~ Break for lunch on your own.
1:00pm- 4:00pm Photo shoot Old Car City

Sunday October 11, 2015

9:00am- 1:00pm~ HDR Image Processing using Nik HDR Efex Pro and creative post-processing tips using a variety of plug-ins, filters and effects, layers and masks. At this time workshop participants are encouraged to share 5 images that they have captured during the workshop. These can be shared and viewed on your laptop or iPad or you can put them on a thumb drive for us to project. Best but not mandatory to bring your laptop.

Optional Add-On Day, Monday October 12, 2015

If you would like to join us at a nearby railroad museum/yard for a morning of photography the day after the workshop, simply let us know. You can pay the additional fee upon registration or on the spot with cash or check. Arrangements have been made so that we will have the place entirely to ourselves; they are normally closed on Mondays. We will be able to photograph the insides and outsides of the old trains, even an old mail car. If you like old trains then this day is a perfect addition to the workshop.

To Register

To register, please shoot me an e-mail and then either send your check made out to “Arthur Morris” for the total amount due to Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855 or call Jim at or Jen at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. At this late date payment in full is due.

Stuff

I did lots of work on my upcoming audit and answered lots of e-mails. Strangely, my latest addiction is Tivo-ing and watching every UFC event on the tube…. Strange because my last (and one and only fight if you could call it that), occurred when I was about 13. At Camp Welmet. Over a girl whose name was Judy. She had a long brown ponytail. And bangs.

This blog post took less than an hour to put together and was published at 8:30am on Sunday, September 13, 2015. It is the third straight day that I screwed up the automatic “publish at 6am settings.” 🙂

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog or via a BAA Online Bulletin is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charges a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly–I offer free pricing advice, usually sells in no time flat. In the past few weeks we have sold nearly everything in sight. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the original 400mm IS DO lens have been dropping steadily.

You can see all of the current listings here.

Brand New Listing/Lots of Extras

Used Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens

IPT veteran Larry Master is offering a barely used Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in mint condition for $4750. The sale includes all the items in original box: lens trunk, lens hood, fabric front cover, rear lens cap, wide lens strap, strap for lens case, CD and instruction papers. Also included is a Kirk LP-59 replacement foot, a Kirk LP-28 lens plate on the original lens foot, a LensCoat, an Aquatech soft front lens cap, and insured shipping via Fed ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Larry by e-mail or by phone at 518-645-1545 (Eastern time).

The 300 II is a superbly sharp and versatile lens that kills with both TCs. In addition, it is a great flight lens. Larry’s price matches the lowest-ever BAA price…. artie

This image was created at Ford’s Terror, AK on our Inside Passage cruise with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 263mm) and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/1250 sec. at f/8. Center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Denise Ippolito kayaking/backlit

Kayaking the Inside Passage/A Different Kind of Ice Bath…

The morning’s activity on the The 87′ classic wooden yacht M. V. Discovery was kayaking. At first I said, “Not me.” But after I saw denise and our two ship mates, Diane and Jeff, get easily into the kayaks I decided to give it a go. I got in easily enough, but within two seconds I was in the water wearing the kayak as a large hat. I was concerned for a moment as I was under the boat, but within a second or two I was away and swimming gently toward the Discovery. The water was quite cold, about 40 degrees. My main concern was how I would get out of the water with my bum left knee and bad right shoulder.

There was a small gangway down with a platform at the bottom and the skiff was in the water, for rescues I suppose :). I voiced my concerns about getting out and Captain Ben Swanson came up with a plan. I pushed my self up a bit with one hand on the skiff and one on the platform. Then Ben grabbed me by the scruff of my life jacket and pulled me up as easily as if here were lifting a child’s doll. Only my ego was bruised.

Once I got out of the water I felt a lot warmer than when I had been swimming. After a minute I decided to get back on the horse. Wet clothes and all I got back into the kayak. I did of course proceed with a lot more caution than on my first attempt. I enjoyed a nice paddle around a gorgeous bay. Getting a bit chilled I was the first one back on the boat so I grabbed my 100-400 II and created a few images of the still-dry kayakers.

All in all it was a fun morning.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Many of them are downright cheap. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. With us you will have two full time pros there for you every minute we are in the field. Together they have more than 28 seasons of experience at the refuge. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time every day, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 3-FULL DAY IPT: NOV 22-24, 2015. $1149. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet and introductory slide program after dinner on your own at 7:00pm on SAT NOV 21.

Just 3 spots left.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 3 morning and 3 afternoon photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/21, 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 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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.

In 2015, we are offering a 3-DAY IPT before Thanksgiving and a 4-DAY IPT after the holiday. You can attend either and spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Sign up for both and we will be glad to apply a $100 discount to your balance. We know that there are lots of less costly workshops being offered these days. Please remember that you get exactly what you pay for. If you want the finest in photographic instruction and want to be assured of being in the right spot at exactly the right time, do join us.

Bosque del Apache 2015 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). 4-DAY IPT: (three full and two 1/2 DAYS) NOV 28-DEC 2, 2015. $1499. Two great leaders: Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. Meet and greet at 3pm on SAT NOV 28 followed by an afternoon photo session at the crane pools and the introductory slide program after dinner on your own.

Tens of thousands 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 7th 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 (11/28through 12/1), 4 morning (11/29 to 12/2) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on your own on Saturday, 11/28, 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 $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2015. If you cancel and 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. Whether or not 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 after July 29.

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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 :).

Arctic Pro Muck Boots

As a diabetic, my feet are often cold. More so of course when I visit cold places to photograph. Both artie and Denise Ippolito wear Arctic Pro Muck Boots to keep their feet warm. And dry. In Japan. In the Falklands. On South Georgia. In Antarctica. At Bosque. For all of their cold weather photography.

Variety, the spice of life

Arctic Pro Muck Boots come in a variety of styles and patterns for both men and women. For more options, click here

Questions and comments on Arctic Pro Muck Boots are of course welcome.

Boot Puller Boot Remover

Thanks to multiple IPT veteran Muriel McClellan for recommending this accessory. I need to get a pair as I have struggled at times to get my boots off after a long day. I am not sure why but such difficulties seem to increase with each trip…. 🙂