November 9th, 2022

See you this afternoon in Homer! And IV Hard to Believes

Photographing Bald Eagles (and more) at Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

A B&H Event Space Program

Photographing Bald Eagles (and more) at Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Today, Wednesday Nov 9, 2022, I will be presenting a B&H Event Space program from 5:00pm – 6:00pm ET.

I have been photographing bald eagles (and lots more) in Homer, Alaska for more than two decades with Canon, Nikon, and Sony gear. Photographing birds has been my passion for the past four decades. I will share my favorite images from more than 20 visits to Homer along with my thoughts on the best gear, on designing pleasing images, on seeing and using the light, and on getting the right exposure for these challenging black and white subjects. I will also share photos ranging from tight head portraits to small-in-the-frame bird-scapes, and, in addition, there will be lots of great flight photography tips.

Learn more or register for this free, online-only presentation here.

The Homer IPTs

If you are considering attending one of these great trips, please contact me via e-mail and I will do my very best to make it happen.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

2023 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 2.

IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 3.

IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Openings: 2.

Save $1,500.00 by doing back-to-back trips. Save $2500 by doing all three trips.

These trips feature non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.

In addition, we should see Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require a ton of good luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when creating bird-scapes.

If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will stay out and be in the right spot.

We will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country; landscape and scenic opportunities abound.

Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader, who is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony.

All images from Kachemak Bay in 2022!

What You Will Learn

You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer. But only if that is what you want.

You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes.

You will learn to make pleasing blurs working in manual mode and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode.

Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight images from tens of thousands of images.

You will enjoy working with the two best and most creative boat captains on their sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck crafts.

The second and third IPTs are the only Bald Eagle workshops that feature an incredibly helpful first mate.

Only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader.

Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

One four-hour or two two-hour(+/-) boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants. Airport pickup if possible)

What’s Not Included

Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.

Please Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips, or 24 hours for the second trip, the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer.

Deposit Information

A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 90 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check as above.

In Closing

I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of the three trips is to sign up for all three. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, two, or all three trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.

What’s Up?

I had a great morning at Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland on Tuesday. The party cloudy weather was perfect for the walk that I chose. I opted to go with the 200-600 and the small, lightweight (no longer available) Induro GIT 204L topped by a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Mini. It turned out to be the perfect combo with the sun peeking in and out. Images and the full story here soon,

My photo walk was three miles, I swam 66 lengths after brunch. And walked the back-nine before sunset for another 2.3 miles. Needless to say, it was a great blood sugar day. Today is Wednesday 9 November 2022. I had so much fun yesterday that I am heading back to Circle B Bar Preserve this morning. This blog post took 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred twenty-seven days in a row with a new one.

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.

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords 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.

1_Bald-Eagle-3200-adult-far-wing-raised-_A1G1890-Kachemak-Bay-AK

This image was created on 26 February 2022 on a Homer/Kachemak Bay IPT. Seated on gravel beach, I used handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600m) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/1000 second at f/8 (stopped down 2/3-stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 3:17:50pm on a cloudy afternoon. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be 1/3-stop to dark. That knowledge allows me to properly set the Exposure slider as the first step in the raw conversion.

Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.

Image #1: Bald Eagle — adult on beach with far wing raised.

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Heard to Believes

Hard to Believe I

It is hard to believe that I had not optimized today’s very fine featured image until yesterday.

Hard to Believe II

It is hard to believe that several clients from the 2020 and the 2022 Homer Eagle IPTs have told me that they still have thousands of images to go through from their trips.

Hard to Believe III

It is hard to believe how versatile the Sony 200-600 gm is

Hard to Believe IV

It is hard to believe how effective Topaz DeNoise is on Sony A1 high ISO AWR files.

Of Note:

I went from f/6.3 to f/8 for a bit more depth of field at point-blank range.

My choice of 1/1000 second as a minimum handholding shutter speed for possible action was perfect as it created a sharp on the eye image as the eagle lunged forward.

The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide

You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.

The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide

126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.

Purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.

I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back and forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:

Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.

Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.

You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store.

Typos

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

November 8th, 2022

Please Help Stop a Silent but Deadly Killer

18 comments

Please Help Stop a Deadly Killer

Please schedule an annual check-up with your physician. If you do not have a physician, find one by asking neighbors and friends.

If your doctor does not include an a1c test with your blood work, insist that he or she adds it. If they refuse, find a new doctor.

Bob Ries (say “reese”) signed up for two full days, on the third DeSoto IPT. He is 52. It was a pleasure working with him. Right off the bat, he shared his story with me. He had quit seeing a doctor for quite some time because he was feeling fine. At age 51, he began having problems with his left eye. In about a week, he lost all vision in that eye. As it turns out, and as many of you have guessed by now, Bob was an undiagnosed Type II diabetic. His a1c was over 12. He saw a doctor and in short order had his blood sugar controlled easily with diet, exercise, and a daily pill.

For the past two years I have been enjoying ice cream once or twice a week. Along with some cookies and a baked potato or two. My a1c had crept up slowly after from ten years at 5.0 (when I was on insulin) to 6.7. Meeting and working with Bob has inspired me to deal more responsibly with my blood sugar.

Coincidentally, I saw my ophthalmologist on Monday for my 9-month checkup. Macula? Perfect. My comprehensive dilated eye exam showed no retinopathy. And last but not least, the pressure in both eyes was normal with no sign of glaucoma. I have been lucky. Now I plan on being good.

If you have been remiss, give your doctor a buzz. And learn your a1c.

What’s Up?

Another tropical storm is headed toward the East Coast of Florida and is likely to become a hurricane. It was cool and breezy at ILE today. I swam twice and took a late walk on the golf course. I got lots of work done on my Event Space program. And am finalizing the letter to concerned NANPA members.

Today is Tuesday 8 November 2022. I am thinking of heading over to Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland in the morning. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an. hour to prepare and makes two hundred twenty-six days in a row with a new one.