December 17th, 2022 San Diego Burrowing Owls
If you know the Burrowing Owl location about an hour from San Diego, please get in touch with me via e-mail.
Iceland
My decades-long dream of spending time on Grimsey Island, Iceland, with the puffins — 13 days in this case!, will be realized this coming July. I am doing back-to-back trips as a participant. If anyone would like information on the world’s greatest Iceland/Atlantic Puffin trip this coming July, please contact me via e-mail.
What’s Up?
The story of what I did on Friday morning will be shared in tomorrow’s blog post. I did get lots of packing done for San Diego, and still have lots more to do today.
Speaking of which, today is Saturday 17 December 2022. I will be overnighting in an airport hotel at MCO on Sunday night as my flight on Monday morning is scheduled to depart at 7:15am. I will be on an early shuttle! The forecast for this morning is for mostly cloudy skies with a breeze from the northeast. I may head down to the lake after I publish today’s post. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred sixty-four days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
|
|
|
This image was created on Thursday 15 December 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at the bottom of the slope down to the canal that separates the South Peninsula from the South Field, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +2-stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 640: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be about 1/6 stop short of dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:17:26am just before the sun came over the distant trees.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Two Black Vultures (on our left) and one Turkey Vulture, perched for the last time my favorite Vulture Tree
|
The Last Sunrise
As the folks at ILE had cut down the largest of the three Vulture Trees on Wednesday morning, I figured that the last two would go down on Thursday. So, I arrived early and with some light clouds on the eastern horizon, I enjoyed some nice sunrise color. The sun rose, and then the end came.
Your Call?
Which of today’s two featured images do you like best? If you leave a comment, please let us know why you made your choice.
|
|
|
This image was also created on Thursday 15 December 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Again, standing at the bottom of the slope down to the canal that separates the South Peninsula from the South Field, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority at the metered exposure. AUTO ISO set ISO 100: 1/6400 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be a bit hotter than dead solid perfect. It was easy to tame the brightest area in the sun during the raw conversion. AWB at 7:21:48am just after sunrise.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
A single Turkey Vultures enjoying its last sunrise perched on my favorite Vulture Tree
|
Leaving the Scene
Several of the vultures roosting in the live pine trees took flight when the ILE forestry bucket truck arrived on the scene providing one last dead tree photo opp. I knew what was coming. As the chain saw was started, I toyed with the idea of making a photograph of the tree falling but could not bear to watch. On my Friday morning visit, I noted that the last remaining Vulture Tree, the one farthest south, had also been taken down on Thursday. Three down, none to go. Bummer.
San Diego IPT #1 & #2 Late Registration Discount Info and In-the-Field Instructional Photo Sessions
Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to receive the San Diego IPT #1 & #2 Late Registration Discount info. Note that due to one cancellation and one switch, there are now two opening on San Diego #2. As I will be in San Diego for five weeks, I have lots of free days for In-the-Field Instructional Sessions, again, e-mail for rates and details.
|
|
|
This all-new card includes images created on my JAN 2022 visit to San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
|
The 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 21 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 24 DEC 2022. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 5.
San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 7 JAN thru the morning session on WED 11 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 2.
San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 19 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 5.
Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT and In-the-Field Sessions.
Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.
Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
|
|
|
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
|
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.
|
|
|
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. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
|
It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well, often with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.
|
|
|
Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
|
The San Diego Details
These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.
|
|
|
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
|
Deposit Info
A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2022/23 San Diego IPTs. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: 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, is due three months before the trip.
|
|
|
Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
|
Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
December 16th, 2022 What’s Up?
The folks at ILE cut down the big vulture tree on Wednesday, and the tall skinny one — my beloved favorite, on Thursday morning. All as expected despite my pleas and explanations as to the value of dead trees to all sorts of wildlife, including and especially birds. I’ve done (and continue to do) The Work on the destruction, and I am at peace with it. I can hear my late Mom saying, “Oh well.” And I can here Katie asking, “Is that a stressful thought or a peaceful thought?” I did enjoy a nice Vulture Tree sunrise just before the proverbial axe (AKA chain saw) fell.
If you are looking for a great holiday gift for your favorite Nikon bird photographer (or yourself!), the Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera is in stock at B&H. It has been nearly impossible to find since its release on 24 December 2021. If they (or you) already have a Z9 or are getting one soon, you will surely want to get them (or you) a copy of The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers by my friend Warren Hatch
Be sure to check out Alan’s great videos and e-books here and enjoy 20% off your purchase by using the HOLIDAY code at checkout!
Today is Friday 16 December. The forecast for the morning is for mostly cloudy skies with a breeze from the southwest. If I had any brains, I would stay in and do some more packing for San Diego. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred sixty-three days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
|
|
|
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.
The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers
|
The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers/by Warren Hatch
Editorial Consultant: Arthur Morris
In this downloadable e-book (you will receive a link by e-mail), you’ll learn everything a wildlife photographer needs to know about the Nikon Z9. The Z9 is one of the most complex camera bodies ever made. In this guide, the brilliant Warren Hatch will teach you exactly how to set up your Z9 for bird, wildlife, and nature photography. The camera offers hundreds of settings and options. Selecting the right combination of these is essential in order to effectively use the Z9 in the field. This guide has been updated to reflect the latest firmware version.
This 83-page guide, created in the tradition of the many mega-successful BIRDS AS ART Camera User’s Guides, includes:
1- Extensive information on the autofocus system and the optimal settings for the various shooting situations that wildlife photographers encounter including and especially for birds in flight.
2- The camera controls – what they do and how to customize them for your shooting style and varying conditions.
3- Configuring the camera so that you never need to take your eye from the viewfinder when the action unfolds.
5- Insights and details on using legacy F-mount lenses on the Z-9.
6- Practical advice about the camera batteries and chargers.
7- How to take advantage of the new capabilities introduced with firmware v2.00.
8- The AF-area Modes you should use and those you should avoid.
Order yours here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.
So, Who the Heck is Warren Hatch?
When it comes to Nikon camera bodies and nature photography, Warren Hatch is not chopped liver.
Warren retired from the information technology field eight years ago. He began as a computer programmer and retired as the Chief Information Officer of a multibillion-dollar consulting firm. He has been photographing full-time since then. His images have been honored by Audubon, Nature’s Best, and other international photo contests. Like me, photography is both his profession and his passion. For decades, Warren has made a concerted effort to understand what each and every camera body feature does and believes that his in-depth knowledge of his cameras’ buttons, dials, and capabilities has improved his photography.
Because of his close ties to Nikon, Warren was one of the first in the US to get his hands on a Z9. Not to mention a Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens!
For the past ten years, Warren has extracted the encrypted metadata from the Nikon NEF (raw) files for all Nikon professional camera bodies. The metadata contains the camera settings that include detailed autofocus information that is not available in Nikon’s NX Studio. He shares the extracted metadata with Phil Harvey who uses it in his hugely popular ExifTool software.
Alan Murphy
Alan Murphy has been a great bird photographer for many decades. He’s made great images with whatever Nikon camera he has had in his hands. That said he has upped his game since going to the Z9. Last fall, he moved from his home in Houston, Texas, to the Rocky Mountains, west of Denver, Colorado. He and wife Kim are now settled in and loving their new home and property. They purchased 1.5 acres at 7,500 feet elevation and built their home. The first order of business was putting out some bird feeders 🙂 He is going through 20 pounds of seed a day and using lots of suet as well. The bird life is fantastic! In addition, within the first two days of moving in, we saw Black Bear, Red Fox, White-tailed Deer, elk, and skunk, all in our backyard.
Though Alan concentrates on birds in flight and in action, he knows how to design gorgeous images of static birds as well. I love the inclusion and placement of the three fronds of conifer needles in the image above.
Alan Murphy on the Z9 Guide
I was excited to learn that Warren Hatch had written a guide to the Nikon Z9 as I began learning about the camera from him the moment I got mine. I’ve had the Z9 for almost a year now. Whenever I was puzzled by my new mirrorless camera body, I’d call Warren. He always had the answer. Now, everything that he knows about this great camera body — it continues to amaze me, is available to everyone. Warren’s Z9 guide is great asset for Nikon shooters.
Totally Sick!
Take two of American’s most elusive and difficult-to-photograph warbler species, have them battle in midair right in front of you against a sweet green background, and throw in two perfect head angles and the result just might be one of the more amazing images you could ever hope to see. (Note: this image was featured in a previous blog post but is so good that I opted to re-run it today.
Do Understand
Do understand that while Alan is justifiably crazy about the Nikon Z9, he possesses the superior strength, stamina, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills needed to handle large super-telephoto lenses effectively for bird photography. In addition, his knowledge of bird behavior and his ability to create a variety of effective set-ups enable him to create amazing images on a consistent basis.
Alan’s e-Books and Videos
Alan offers a great variety of e-Books and videos that can teach you to be a better bird photography. Click here to see all the titles. Be sure to see The Guide to Songbird Setup Photography.
|
|
Birds Through the Lens Volume 1
|
Birds Through the Lens Volume 1
Click here to purchase.
The first video in the series will cover topics that include:
How to look for, find and choose the right perch
What perches do not work and why
How to match the perch for a particular species
How to trim a perch
How to support the perch
How many perches?
Working with mounds, stumps and elevated perches
How to choose a good background
How to deal with background challenges
How to break up a flat background so that it’s mottled
How to find and use gradient backgrounds
How far should the background be from the perch?
Should you wear camo?
Working from a blind
How to set up your lens and tripod for blind work
Is concealment important?
Plus, many tips for being a better bird photographer
This Hi Definition MP4 video can be either downloaded to your dropbox, computer, tablet, mobile device, or can be streamed. Total run time: 1 hour.
|
|
Birds Through the Lens Volume 2
|
Birds Through the Lens Volume 2
Click here to purchase.
This second video in the series is now available and covers topics that include:
How to prepare your backyard for photography
How to work with backyard feeders
Which feeders work best for bird photography
How to get birds from your feeders onto perches
How to set up a water drip
How to work with berry perches
How to make and use homemade suet
How to bring in woodpeckers
Which food works best for what species
How to set up perches around feeders
Photo blinds for the backyard
The video can be downloaded to your Mac or PC, streamed to your favorite device, or saved to your Dropbox Account.
Total run time: 1 hour: More than 1 hour.
|
|
Birds Through the Lens Volume 3
|
Birds Through the Lens Volume 3
Click here to purchase.
This third video in the series is now available and covers topics that include:
How to do ambient light hummingbird photography
How to setup for multi-flash hummingbird photography
How to photograph songbirds in flight using a tiny feeder
How to setup and use a PhotoTrap trigger system
How to make and use a decoy owl for photographing raptors in flight
What gear and settings work best
Blind construction and camo for flight photography
Flight photography techniques that will help you succeed
The video can be downloaded to your Mac or PC, streamed to your favorite device, or saved to your Dropbox Account.
Total run time: 1 hour: More than 1.5 hours.
Your Call?
Which of today’s four featured Alan Murphy images do you like best? Leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice.
December 15th, 2022 What’s Up
As it was very cloudy and dark on Wednesday morning, I opted to stay in. I spent several hours making travel arrangements for three big trips coming up next spring and summer. And I got started packing for my San Diego trip. As you will see below, my short evening session just before sunset was fun, challenging, and productive.
Today is Thursday 15 December. The forecast for the morning is for partly cloudy skies with a breeze from the south. I will head down to the lake for a bit. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred sixty-two days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
|
|
|
This image was created on 14 December 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated on the South Field I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +1 stop. AUTO ISO set ISO 500: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be a bit hot in the RED channel but was easy to work with during the raw conversion. AWB at 5:27:27pm right before sunset.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Sandhill Crane head portrait with sun ball
|
It Ain’t Easy
I’ve been trying for this exact image at 800mm handheld for about a week.
Here are the requirements:
1- A crane in a relatively open spot
2- A crane that quits feeding and stands tall every once in a while
3- A setting sun very close to the horizon that is partially muted by very light clouds or by some moisture in the air. The latter conditions are fairly common at ILE.
Working handheld at 800mm presents many problems:
1- In order to place the bird’s head in the sun ball you need to be on the ground or kneeling.
2- Before you get low, you need to place the bird directly in line with the sun.
3- If the bird moves left or right, you need to move in the same direction. Sometimes this can be done by scooching. Otherwise, you need to get up and then down again. It helps that the cranes at ILE are very tame.
4- Once you are low, you must first acquire focus. This is best done by pointing the lens at the crane’s body and then raising the lens to frame the image with the bird’s head placed pleasingly in the sun ball. If you point the lens at the bird’s head with the sun ball right behind it, AF simply will not work most of the time.
5- The exposure compensation must be adjusted depending on the brightness of the sun. With Sony you have a chance as you aim for just a few Zebras on the sun ball.
6- The biggest challenge is fine-tuning the image design. Though the Sony 400 f/2.8 is only four ounces lighter than the 600mm f/4, it is much easier to handhold because it is shorter and much of the weight is to the rear. That said, the rig weighs a shade under nine pounds. Most folks can hold the lens up only for a few seconds before lactic acid builds up and their left arm begins shaking. How difficult is it to frame these images with this gear? Out of the 212 images that I created, all but a very few were badly mis-framed.
I guess if it were easy, it would not be so rewarding when everything falls into place.
Note: If you go to a lighter lens like the Sony 200-600mm, the size of the sun ball would be greatly reduced. As I typed the preceding sentence, I realized that the 200-600 with the 1.4X TC might be a better choice, albeit at much higher ISOs as you would be working wide open at f/9.
|
|
All images on this card were created by Arthur Morris on the Hooptie Deux at Alafia Banks
|
2023 Spoonbill Boat 1-1/2 DAY MINI-IPT: $1199.00.00. Limit: 5 photographers/Openings: 3.
A full day on WED 15 FEB and the morning of Thursday 16 FEB 2023: 1 1/2 days.
Two morning and one afternoon photo session (weather permitting) via customized pontoon boat.
For early-arriving folks, artie is throwing in a free afternoon In-the-Field session at a little-known but very active rookery in North Tampa on Tuesday 14 February.
We will be leaving the dock in Gibsonton, FL very early for the morning sessions in hopes of photographing a pre-dawn White Ibis blast-off and creating some dramatic silhouettes or pleasing blurs. The morning sessions are planned for the Alafia Banks Roseate Spoonbill Rookery. We have several options for the afternoons including returning to Alafia. We may spend one afternoon on foot at the North Tampa rookery mentioned above. There will be lots of opportunities for flight photography of several species including and especially Roseate Spoonbill. Also likely for flight photography are nesting Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, and Double Crested Cormorant, many carrying nesting material. This IPT includes all boat and guide fees, in-the-field instruction from two great leaders, chest waders (feel free to bring your own of course to assure a perfect fit), and three working lunches (Monday thru Wednesday). For the most part we will be standing in mid-calf to knee-deep water behind our tripods. We help you get in and out of the boat safely with your gear. This is likely not the best trip for folks with mobility or balance problems. Note however that some folks opt to stay on the boat to photograph. They usually have lots of chances for flight photography of spoonbills and other species but are almost always pretty far away from the spoonbills that land.
Mid-February is prime time for photographing spoonbills at the absolute peak of breeding plumage. For unknown reasons, the spoonbills at Alafia are much more colorful than the birds that breed at Stick Marsh later in the season. The Hooptie IPT represents an incredible opportunity and I do hope that you can join us. All of the images on the cards were made on the Hooptie Duex during the last two weeks of February, prime time for the spoonies in mega-breeding plumage.
You may hold your spot with an e-mail request. Then, you may either secure your spot by calling Jim or Jennifer at the office at 863-692-0906 and leaving the $599 deposit on credit card or sending your check for payment in full to us as follows with the check made out to:
BIRDS AS ART
Please send it via US mail here:
BIRDS AS ART
PO BOX 7245
Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855
If you call to leave your deposit, you will be asked to mail your check for the balance ASAP. Be sure to give us your e-mail address.
|
|
|
Images courtesy of our guide; copyright 2017 Captain James Shadle (aka Froggie). All of the images here were created at Alafia Banks. Card creation and design by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART.
|
Everybody Wants Spoonbills!
Roseate Spoonbill is one of if not the most sought after avian photographic subjects in Florida. They are generally hard to find and somewhat difficult to approach. They are relatively easy to find at Alafia Banks—heck, you can’t miss seeing them, but even there they can on some days be somewhat difficult to approach. On some days we may be able to get ridiculously close to them. The huge incentive to get out to Alafia Banks in mid-February is the chance to photograph this species at the height of its spectacular breeding plumage…. with long telephoto lenses. A 500 or 600 with a 1.4X TC is perfect for flight.
As above, there will — weather permitting — three boat trips — 2 mornings and 1 afternoon — on this MINI IPT. All to Alafia Banks for spoonbills and Brown Pelicans (with lots of flight photography often with the birds likely carrying nesting material), Double-crested Cormorants, ibises (both Glossy and White) in breeding plumage. Many of the White Ibises will be sporting their spectacular, distended, red, naked (un-feathered) throat pouches—typically larger in the females. In addition, we may get to photograph egrets including Great and Reddish, both in full breeding plumage, shorebirds, and more. There will be lots of flight photography opportunities. Afternoon trips either to Alafia Banks for spoonbills and more or to a more sheltered inland rookery location for a variety of nesting birds. In the event of horrific weather artie will either take the group to Fort DeSoto or will conduct an image review/Photoshop session. This IPT includes lunches on the full day with small group image sharing and review and some over-the-shoulder Photoshop instruction.
The 2023 Expanded Winter/Spoonbill Boat/DeSoto 3 1/2-DAY IPT: $2099.00.00. Limit: 5 photographers/Openings 3
MON 13 FEB thru the full day on TUES 14 FEB 2023 + 1 1/2 days on the spoonbill boat: a full day on WED 15 FEB and the morning of Thursday 16 FEB 2023: 1 1/2 days
Bird photographers, especially those wishing to escape the snow, ice, and freezing winter temperatures to the north of sunny Florida, can add two mornings at Fort DeSoto an afternoon at the little-known but fabulous rookery north of Tampa, and a second (free) afternoon at that same rookery, to the 1 1/2 days on the Spoonbill Boat. Shared lodging is a possibility. DeSoto is one of the very few bird photography hotspots that has the possibility of being great on any day of the year. It is generally superb in winter with lots of wading birds, terns, both species of pelicans, many species of shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, and lots of flight photography.
You can hold your spot with an e-mail request. Then, you may either secure your spot by calling Jim or Jennifer at the office at 863-692-0906 and leaving the $599 deposit on your credit card or sending your check for payment in full to us as follows with the check made out to:
BIRDS AS ART
Please send it via US mail here:
BIRDS AS ART
PO BOX 7245
Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855
If you call to leave your deposit, you will be asked to mail your check for the balance ASAP. Be sure to give us your e-mail address.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
|
|
