November 26th, 2022 NANPA Tidbit of the Day
Yesterday, I sent this e-mail to the President and the Executive Director of NANPA:
Dear Madams,
I hope that you both enjoyed Thanksgiving Day with your families.
Please, at your earliest convenience, send the following documents:
1- A copy of the minutes for all 2022 Board Meetings.
2- A copy of the Letter of Intent.
3- A copy of the agreement between NANPA and ASMP signed by both parties.
Without all of the above documents, it is not possible for anyone to know what is really going on.
Thanks with love, artie
They did not answer yesterday, and the fact is that I do not expect to hear back from them.
What Can You Do?
NANPA members, prospective NANPA members — I have heard from many such folks, and anyone who simply cares about what’s right and wrong in the world can comment by clicking on this link. Again, you do not need to be a NANPA member to comment. Thanks to the many who have helped already.
What’s Up?
I got back down to the lake on Saturday morning. Though it was foggy early on, it was a lot brighter than it had been on the previous two days. I worked with the usual suspects, the Turkey and Black Vultures that roost in the trees on the right at the end of Banyan Drive.
Today is Saturday 26 November 2022. It is solidly foggy so I will be headed down to the lake at about 7:45am. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred forty-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.
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.
When You Have a Tree Full of Vultures, Think Vulture Soup
More than a few friends and acquaintances have wondered why I spent so much time at the Vulture Trees on my morning photography outings via SUV. Understand that the vultures are rarely my first choice of subjects. I will always check The Perch in the North Marsh and the area around the pier. The latter includes the small hill to the north that abuts the parking circle. For some reason, there are often cranes atop that hill.
When there is not much going on, I will always head to the Vulture Trees. It is a rare day when there are no vultures to photograph. But what do I get out of photographing such ugly birds day after day after day when I am home? Here are a few:
1- I get to fine-tune my understanding of exposure in all lighting and weather conditions.
2- I get to experiment with the amazing AF system of the Sony A1.
3- I get to use the AF system to improve my image designs.
4- I can often come up with new techniques that improve sharpness when working from a vehicle. I figured the bit about turning off DMF when working off the BLUBB while doing perched vultures. More recently, I discovered the advantages of using a remote release for bird photography at this location. I had railed against that idea for well more than three decades.
5- I learn a ton about bird behavior.
6- At times, I get to photograph other, more attractive bird species. Not to mention wildflowers and orchids.
7- Once in a while, I make some really good images.
8- It’s fun.
And I am sure that I left a few out.
|
|
|
This image was created on 25 November 2022 down by the lake near my home. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV with the window half-lowered, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/800 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:56:50am on then partly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Turkey Vulture folding left wing after elegant stretch<
|
I Could’ve Been Famous!
I was photographing this bird on my very favorite Vulture Trees perch — hint: it is the lowest one. Anyhoo, I had just added the 1.4X TC for some 2/3-frame verticals when, without warning, the bird stretched its left wing; it would have made a perfect horizontal. In addition to the fact that I was shooting verticals, I had too much focal length. I needed to rotate the rig to vertical. Though that took only one second, I missed the elegant stretch, just catching the bird as it folded its far wing. Bummer. Heck, there’s another reason to keep going back.
|
|
|
This image was created on 25 November 2022 down by the lake near my home. Walking on the South Field, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/3200 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 9:09:16am with a bit of fog obscuring the sun.
Tracking: (center) Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Turkey Vulture — white sky flight
|
The 400 f/2.8 for Handheld Flight
As some of the bird flew off and circled at bit, I removed the a1 from my 600mm f/4, mounted it on the 400mm f/2.8 (yes, I am blessed), exited my vehicle, and got lucky as single Turkey Vulture that had taken off to the north circles back toward me. I experimented with Tracking: (center) Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled (rather than Tracking: Zone) and was totally blown away by the AF performance. Of the 15 or so frames that I kept, the system nailed the eye or the face on every single frame except for today’s featured image. Though the AF point for that frame was on the sky above and slightly to the right of the bird’s head, the image was acceptably sharp.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
November 25th, 2022
|
|
|
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/Sold Out.
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.
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.
What’s Up?
I got back down to the lake on a foggy Thursday morning, but for birds, it was not as good as Wednesday had been. I found and photographed two different species of wildflowers. Once in a flower mood, I photographed a perfectly gorgeous orchid blossom. The plant had been wired to a magnolia branch by the nice lady who lives in the in the “vulture house.” The vulture house is the last one on Banyan Drive, right before the canal. I had fun and made some very nice images.
The Giants put up a good fight in the first half but wound up as the Dallas Cowboys/ Thanksgiving Turkeys. Bummer, but the Cowboys are simply a much better team.
Today is Friday 25 November 2022. It is foggy again and I will be headed down to the lake at about 7:30am. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred forty-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.
|
|
|
This image was created on 18 January 2018 on a San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the EOS-1DX Mark II. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/15 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops). AWB at 7:03:15am on a cloudy morning well before the sun came of the hill.
AF Method unknown. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1 — the first optimized version of the Western Gull in-flight blur image
|
I Almost Deleted This One
In the Almost Deleted This One. And the Mother of Invention blog post here, I wrote:
What Bugged Me?
From the start, one thing bugged me about today’s image. It could have been eliminated during the post processing. If you think that you know what it is, please leave a comment.
The first to nail the answer:
Joel Eade/November 23, 2022 at 9:14 am
I think perhaps the thing that bugs you a bit is the yellow patch on top of the bird’s head created by the blurring of it’s bill.
Jim Amato and David Pugsley mentioned the dark area on the (secondary coverts) of the near wing, just in front of the gull’s feet.
The second and third folks to come up smelling roses:
Anthony Ardito/November 23, 2022 at 5:37pm
The bill blur above the bill bugged you. I think the image is beautiful!
Elinor Osborn/November 23, 2022 at 2:17 pm
I agree with Joel. Anyway that blur from the beak does bug me. Otherwise it’s a very beautiful image.
|
|
|
This image was created on 18 January 2018 on a San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the EOS-1DX Mark II. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/15 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops). AWB at 7:03:15am on a cloudy morning well before the sun came of the hill.
AF Method unknown. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Western Gull in-flight blur REDO
|
The REDO
I had barely noticed the the dark area on the near wing; it was eliminated in two seconds using the Patch Tool. The orange blur above the bill was fixed with a large Quick Mask refined by a Regular Layer Mask. The edges were touched with the Clone Stamp Tool at 60% Opacity. That done, the white blur above the hind neck looked unnatural; that was eliminated in the same manner. Next came additional Eye Doctor — sharpening the eye selectively with Topaz Sharpen AI at reduced Opacity and restoring the red color of the eye skin. Working large, the eye skin was selected with the Quick Selection Tool and the color was restored with the Paint Bucket Tool. Last was some work on the dark streaks in front of the bird done with the Patch Tool, Content-Aware Fill, and smoothed a bit with a Gaussian Blur.
What do you think?
|
|
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
|
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
November 24th, 2022
|
|
Have a Great Day. And more.
|
What’s Up?
Today, Thursday 24 November 2022 is Thanksgiving Day. It is foggy here and I am headed down to the lake the moment that I hit Publish. This blog post took an hour to prepare and makes two hundred forty-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 Thanksgiving Day. a great week, a great month, a great year, and a great rest of your life. I am thankful for my family, my health, and the great life and career I have enjoyed. And, as I say often, I ain’t done yet.
Best and love, artie
ps: I am hoping that the NY Football Giants do not wind up as the Dallas Cowboys’ turkey today beginning at 4:30pm ET. But their chances are very slim.
|
|
|
This image was also created on 25 May 2022 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 640. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6 (stopped down one stop). AWB at 8:17:49am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Wild Turkey — displaying tom
|
Tom Turkey Lessons
1- If you own a lens that offers DMF (Direct Manual Focus) and you are working off a BLUBB, be sure to move the DMF switch to OFF. Then remember to move it back to ON for all other applications including hand holding and tripod-use. Then, on the rare occasions that the AF system is blind and does not focus, you can focus manually and get back in business very quickly.
2- The light blue top of a tom turkey’s head is a lot brighter than you think. For SONY users with Zebras set properly, shoot for a very, very few Zebras before pressing the shutter button. I had to delete several dozen excellent images because of over-exposure. This image, one of the better ones from that day, still showed 2,000 OvExp pixels on the top of the head.
3- Even with perfect exposures, you will need to restore the detail in the light blue on the top of the head. That begins during the raw conversion where you can move the White and the Highlight sliders to the left and continues in Photoshop with a Linear Burn.
4- Many birds have large eye ridges that put the eye in deep shade on sunny days. For today’s featured image, I used Tim Grey Dodge and Burn to lighten the eye and the shaded area around it. Tip: after applying the Linear Burn add a Regular Layer Mask and then paint away the effect incrementally as needed.
|
|
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
|
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
|
|
