Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Your Call?

Which of Monte Brown’s four excellent flight images is the strongest? Why?

Catching Up

Check out the comments in the previous blog post to learn the answer to the Sun Ball Perspective Question.

Monte Brown in Action with his favorite flight rig

Monte Brown

Monte Brown was born in Muncie, Indiana in October 1953. As a kid he had severe asthma and almost died twice (and eventually outgrew that). He swam competitively at Muncie Central High School. He loved to fish and hike and took to bird watching because his mom loved the birds. He worked on a Masters degree in Communication and Information Sciences at Ball State University (but wound up three credits short). He handled investments at a local bank for 11 years and then transitioned into commercial real estate. He has worked for Coldwell Banker Commercial since 1998. His 2nd wife Nancy wants him to retire, but he likes being around people and solving problems and still enjoys property management so he keeps at it. Monte and Nancy quit tent camping almost 20 years ago and now enjoy RV-ing.

Monte’s daughter from his first marriage, Brenna, a physical therapist, lives in Blacklick, OH with her husband Gary and their son Ryvor. At age five, Ryvor declared that he would become a professional ice hockey goalie. At age 13, he is in goal for the Cincinnati Cyclones junior team.

Monte decided that he wanted to do some bird photography and an online search brought him to BIRDS AS ART. His first Instructional Photo-Tour was to St. Augustine Alligator Farm. He was so frustrated after that first trip that he did not touch his gear for six months. But he never gave up. Since then he’s been to San Diego (twice), on three bear boat trips, Bosque (twice), Homer, AK for Bald Eagles, Jacksonville, DeSoto (twice), and a SW Florida President’s Day IPT (not necessarily in that order). He shot Canon for 14 years. Since switching to Sony mirrorless three years ago, he has really blossomed as bird photographer. Early on, he sold a beloved Chevrolet Corvette and used the money to grab a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 lens. My kind of guy and a good friend for many years to boot.

What’s Up?

Monte, Judy Stepenaskie, and I have killed when conditions have been great and we have killed in challenging conditions by being in the right place at the right time. Period. The number of photographers with great gear who set themselves up in locations where — because of light angle and wind direction considerations, have absolutely zero chance to make good or great images, continues to astound me. Judy , a relative beginner who continues to make excellent images with her hand held Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens/Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless camera body rig, already has a firm grasp as to the importance of sky conditions, light angle and wind direction. She has been a quick study and a great student.

We all struggled to make a few good images on Monday evening with the 20mph plus south wind and partly sunny skies. As conditions were not favorable on Tuesday morning, Judy and I worked the four unbounded oystercatcher family and were blessed bye a Common Tern that landed right in front of us and got fed several times. Monte stayed in because of a bad back.

Today is Wednesday 31 July 2024. The forecast is for rain all day. I never believe such forecasts until I see deep puddles. As it rarely rains all day — exactly once on me in 35 years of doing photo trips, I am pretty sure that we will get in some decent photography here and there. I hope that you too have a great day and that you learn something.

Scroll down to the bottom if you are interested in earning a free guide for your new Sony 300mm f/2.8 lens and your new a9 iii. Just below that, consider joining me at Nickerson in August.

Please remember to use the B&H 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!

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.

Supporting My Efforts Here

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.

In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.

Summer On Long Island

Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& JBWR) IPT offerings here or scroll down and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.

Save 15%!

If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.

I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.

Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.

Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com

B&H

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Simplified

Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

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, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

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 stave 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 also created by many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown on 28 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY on the (extended) IPT. Standing at full height he used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/4000 second at f/4.5 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:57:55am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect. Zone AF/C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Common Tern in fresh juvenile plumage braking to land

Juvie Common Terns in Flight

Over the years I have not had much luck photographing fledged and flying young Common Terns. Monte has made several very excellent ones so far on the extended IPT,, Image #1 being the best by a slim margin. (I have made some good ones too.)

Monte loves everything about my favorite avian flight photography rig, the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera.

He says, The autofocus is fabulous and I love the light weight of the lens. When I tried the 200-600 last night I realized how heavy it is and how much faster the 300mm f/2.8 acquires focus. Yeah, the zoom lens gives us more versatility, but for flight at 420mm, you cannot go wrong with the 300mm f/2.8/1.4X TC/a9 iii rig for birds in flight.

I taught Monte a neat trick with the a9 iii that helps train you to avoid touching the manual focus ring when photographing with the 300mm f.2.8 lens. If you have both the 300 and the a9 iii guides, shoot me an e-mail and I will get you the info.

This image was also created by many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown. This one on 29 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY on the (extended) IPT. Standing at full height he used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 3200. 1/2500 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:57:55am on a dreary, cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect. Zone AF/C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Common Tern adult in driving flight Image courtesy of and copyright 2024: Monte Brown

Backgrounds Other Than Sky

As long as you can keep the bird in the center of the frame when using Zone AF with the a9 iii, the AF system will detect the bird’s eye even when the subject is flying against backgrounds other than sky (in this case beach vegetation) and track it accurately. When I as with Canon, I used to tell Rudy Winston that I dreamed that sometime in the future bird photographers would come to enjoy science-fiction-like autofocus. The a9 iii is as close as you can come to that. And the best Canon and Nikon mirrorless camera bodies are not very far behind.

I processed all four of Monte’s featured image during our Photoshop/Image review sessions. Both Monte and Judy were amazed when I transformed the (properly) washed out (exposed to the right), seemingly over-exposed raw file into an image that looks as if it were created in “good” light. All as detailed in the Digital Basics II PDF and the Digital Basics III Video Series.

This image was also created by many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown on 29 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY on the (extended) IPT. Standing at full height he used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/3200 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 9:49:35am on a dreary, cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect. Zone AF/C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Common Tern adult screaming in white sky flight

White Sky Exposures

A convert from Canon, Monte quickly mastered exposure using Sony Zebra technology. Most folks will underexpose white sky flight images by one to two stops. With Image #3, Monte zebra-ed most of the sky in order to expose properly for the white bird. Simply masterful. In fact, he nailed the exposure with each of today’s featured images.

This image was also created by many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown on 29 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY on the (extended) IPT. Standing at full height he used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/3200 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 10:06:27am on what had become a cloudy very bright morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect. Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Black Skimmer adult in flight with needlefish for chick(s)

Needlefish City

Right now, the needlefish are in. It seemed that every skimmer that flew by had one in its bill. If they land and cannot find their chick right off the bat, they will usually drop it in the sand briefly, pick it up, and circle around again and again in search for their progeny. After the first attempt, the silver fish is covered with sand. Monte did well to get this one with a nice clean fish.

We lucked out on Monday morning when the dreary skies brightened a bit and the wind swung to the southeast.

a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide

a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide

For those who think that my comments on the a9 iii are pure hype, know that I recently sold the second of my three a1 bodies.

If you plan on purchasing a Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera (or anything else for that matter), please remember to use or write for either my Bedfords discount code or my B&H affiliate link. Folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase the a9 III will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up), a Buttons and Dials Guide, and an a9 iii Info Sheet.

For those who did not use my link to purchase their Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, you can order your a copy here for $209.93. Click on the image to enlarge and to be able to read the fine print.

The BAA Sony 300mm f/2.8 Lens Guide

Impressed by my (or Pat’s) Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) images? Use either my Bedfords or B&H affiliate link to purchase your Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and shoot me your receipt via e-mail and request a copy of the first-ever BAA Lens Guide. I thought that it would take only minutes to create this guide, but I was dead wrong. In the process of creating it, I learned a ton about the lens. And even better, I discovered a simple yet potentially fatal flaw that was resulting in sporadically unsharp flight images. The set-up fix is simple. Just be sure to use one of my affiliate links and get the guide for free.

If not, you can purchase a copy here for $209.93. Yes, it never hurts to use my links and it never costs you one penny more. And if you contact me via e-mail before you make a major purchase, I can often save you some money.

Join me to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, American Oystercatchers, and more!

The Summer 2024 Nickerson Beach 3 1/2 day Terns, Skimmers, & Oystercatchers IPTs

Nickerson Beach IPT #2: August 5-8 2024. 3 1/2 days: Afternoon session on MON 5 August through the full day on THURS 8 August, 2024: $2099.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.

Join me at Nickerson Beach Park this summer to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers. The trip is timed so that we should get to photograph tiny chicks as well as fledglings. There will be lots of flight photography including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs. Creating great images of the chicks being fed is a challenge but I will do my best to help you toward that end. We will get to photograph a variety of breeding behaviors including courtship, sitting on (incubating) eggs, chick feeding, and more. We may get to photograph pre-dawn and early evening blastoffs. There is generally great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles sunny days. And with luck, we might even see a few tiny chicks in addition to fledged and flying young. We will also get to photograph the life cycle of American Oystercatcher. This will likely include nests with eggs and small chicks, young being fed, and surely a few fledglings.

Nesting Piping Plover is also possibly. There will be lots of gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few lesser black-backeds of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and maybe even Red Knot.

Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Black Skimmer fledgling skimming; Black Skimmer with large needlefish; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer fledgling taking flight; Black Skimmer adult with killifish; Black Skimmer adult landing near nest; Black Skimmer in midair chase; and Black Skimmers at dawn in the red light district.

Activities

Morning sessions will run from pre-dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am, roughly 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023.

Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. And we will process a few images and distribute the screen capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. And all IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.

Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.

Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.

Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT

• 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
• 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
• 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
• 6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
• 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
• 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
• 10- More than you could ever imagine.

Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Common Tern landing at nest with small baitfish; large Common Tern chick on pristine beach; American Oystercatchers courtship flight; Common Tern with pipefish; Common Tern fledgling; American Oystercatcher on eggs in high wind; American Oystercatcher nest with three eggs; and Black Skimmer midair battle.

The Details

We will be on the beach very early to enjoy sunrise. The morning sessions will run about 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will begin at 5:30 and run till sunset. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till 11:30am or so and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy.

There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).

Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.

Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.

IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.

Join me on the COMBO IPT this coming August to photograph adult and juvenile shorebirds at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY. Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs; adult Semipalmated Plover; fresh juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Least Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Stilt Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher; worn, molting adult Semipalmated Sandpiper; worn, molting adult White-rumped Sandpiper; and juvenile (left) and worn, molting adult Greater Yellowlegs.

The Combo IPT — East Pond, JBWR/Nickerson Beach: August 17 – 20, 2024. SAT August 17 through the morning session on TUES 20 August 2024. 3 1/2 days: $2199.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.

Join me for four mornings at the famed East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY (conditions permitting) to photograph southbound migrant shorebirds and for three afternoons to photograph beach nesting birds. The window for photographing juvenile shorebirds in fresh plumage is very narrow and this trip will of course get you to the right spot at the exact right time. You will learn to identify and age the shorebirds and to photograph them (at ground level). I will gladly share everything that I have learned during the 46 years I have been visiting the pond. Heck, I started late. After too many years of mismanagement, the gate valve at the north end of the East Pond has finally been repaired properly; water levels should be perfect this summer. If it is not, we will spend our mornings at Nickerson.

Afternoons (and mornings as well) at Nickerson Beach Park are superb in mid-August for photographing Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young of all ages. There will be lots of fledged chicks by mid-August, lots of flight including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs, and excellent chances to photograph both chick feeding and predation by gulls. The Great Black-backed Gulls see the young skimmers as potato chips. We should get to photograph the evening skimmer blastoffs. On hot sunny days, there is still great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles.

There will be lots of terns (mostly Common Terns) and gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and maybe even Red Knot. And we might encounter large, swirling flocks of Sanderling in flight over the ocean.

Join me this August to photograph at the East Pond at JBWR in the mornings (conditions permitting) and at Nickerson Beach in the afternoons. Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: Marbled Godwit (likely in juvenal plumage); Wilson’s Phalarope in first winter plumage; Black Skimmer adult in flight over the Atlantic; juvenile American Oystercatcher foraging surf; adult Lesser Black-backed Gull; Black Skimmer attacking tiny chick; Killdeer in fresh juvenal plumage; Least Sandpiper in fresh juvenal plumage ruffling; and juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and mixed shorebird flock.

Morning sessions at the East Pond will run from just before dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am. If the afternoon weather forecast is looking ominous, we may decide to photograph until after 11:00am and cancel the afternoon session. Afternoon sessions at Nick will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023).

Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. In addition, we will process some participant images and distribute the screen-capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. All IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.

Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.

Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.

Some of What You Will Learn on the COMBO IPT

• 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before you make even a single image if you are using SONY gear).
• 2-How to get low and super low
• 3- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
• 4- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 5- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
• 6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
• 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
• 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
• 10- To identify and age a variety of shorebird, tern, and gull species.
• 11- More than you could ever imagine.

The Details

There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session during and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. This IPT will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).

Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.

Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.

IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.

Typos

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

What’s Up?

Nickerson Beach has been excellent; I have been loving the cloudy conditions but the sun is coming. I saw Billy Joel’s last and fiftieth performance at Madison Square Garden last. It was an amazing experience. At 75, his voice is still great and his strength and stamina amazing; he was on stage for 2 hours, forty five minutes non-stop. Needing a new fanny pack, I drove into the city to shop at B&H before the show so I did not get back to my AirBnB until well after 1:00am. With clear skies and a NW wind I slept in on Friday. I did find the perfect fanny pack and will share the details here soon.
Multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown who is sharing my AirBnB in Lido Beach for the (extended) first Nickerson Beach IPT, arrived at 11:00am.

Today is Saturday 27 July 2024. We will head to Nickerson early for a morning session. First timer Judy Stepenaskie will be joining us for 4 1/2 days this afternoon. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Today’s post documents the amazing and eclectic life of my good friend, Dr. Greg Gulbransen. I urge you to read everything below and watch the two videos, especially the second one that details the work he did on his new book, Say Less. The Leica video below is a must watch. Say Less is a photo book. The images are beautiful, dramatic, and disturbing at once. In short, Greg is an amazing friend, doctor, person, and photographer. I look forward to seeing him at Nickerson again in early August.

Adjectives That Describe Dr. Greg Gulbransen

Skilled; passionate; caring; loving; appreciative; hard working; well adapted; talented; driven; artistic; adventurous; brave, courageous, fearless, diligent; happy; extroverted; pleasant; brilliant; honest; trustworthy; gracious; amiable; curious; dedicated; wise; considerate; soft-spoken; generous; successful; accomplished; connected; grounded; affectionate; adaptable; creative; ambitious; pleasant; intelligent; affectionate; persistent; dynamic; kind; patient; genuine; efficient; heartfelt; amazing; awesome; positive; extraordinary; calm; stellar; adept; joyful; sincere, fearless; capable; organized; honorable; knowledgeable; relaxed; warm-hearted; virtuous; humble; and devoted.

If you care to add any that I missed after watching the two videos, please do so by leaving a comment.

Dr. Greg Gulbransen

Greg started out shooting fashion but transitioned to documenting the lives of unique individuals with interesting stories. Greg loves meeting new people and tries to preserve their legacy with photography. Greg also enjoys the solace of cold weather wildlife. His images have been published in the New York Times, Daily Mail, ELLE, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Northwell Health, The Weather Channel, Spirit and Flesh, Grazia and Pandora to name a few. Some of Greg’s documentary work has been featured on the A & E Network’s History Channel.

You can check out his Photofolio site here.

I’ve known Greg seemingly forever. His life and his work have been documented here on the BAA Blog several times. His photography can only be described as eclectic. Early on, he began photographing birds and soon began to excel as a fashion and architectural photographer. More recently he has worked on self-assigned projects in West Virginia and in the South Bronx, NY, NY.

To get a better idea of who Greg is, check out his Instagram page here. Virtually every one of his posts will put a smile on your face.

The Tragedy

The story above has been shared here before. Greg took a huge tragedy and made sure that something good came of it. All while maintaining a healthy outlook and life, being happy, and accomplishing great things.

Say Less

Building Trust in Photography

Over the course of three years, in the South Bronx, Dr. Greg Gulbransen photographed Malik, a leader of the violent street gang, the Crips. Malik was shot and paralyzed in 2018 by the bullet from a rival gang, and as a result his world now centers around his small Bronx apartment in New York, where he is cared for by his family and fellow gang members.

Gulbransen, a practicing pediatrician, had been photographing in the Bronx during his spare time and had got to know some of the local kids. He began to notice a lot of young men in wheelchairs with spinal injuries and was professionally curious. He was told they had all been shot. He wanted to speak to someone in a wheelchair and was introduced to Malik through a fellow Crip.

‘As a physician, it was a way to explore one facet of the epidemic of gun violence in this country. There are shootings every day in the five boroughs of New York City and the Bronx is the worst. But across the country, gun violence and the availability of guns is a public health emergency. The effects are devastating. The physician in me wants to show people who don’t live in areas with high rates of gun violence how terrible it can be in these places, how complicated the problem is, how far-reaching the effects of the gun-violence epidemic are. The photographer in me is trying to show what it’s like to be a victim of gun violence while also being a part of the problem.’

Image #1: Malik’s bedroom in the Mitchel Houses, Bronx, NY Image courtesy of and copyright 2024: Greg Gulbransen Photography

Shot and Paralyzed

One summer night in 2018, Malik left his apartment to pick up a sandwich for dinner. He was shot in front of a 99-cent store by a rival gang. The bullets severed Malik’s thoracic spine and instantly paralyzed him from his chest down. Malik was one of the key leaders of the local set, and so, even after the shooting, gang members continued to come to his apartment at all hours of the day and night, to talk, plan and to take care of their leader.

Malik lives with his mother and grandfather in a housing project. There are no nurses or aides to help with Malik’s care so during the day his mother, Eyanna, manages his many medical issues such as changing his diaper and catheter, and his father is on call at night. The photographs in the book show Malik’s day-to-day life, the cramped apartment, the difficulties of inhabiting and navigating the small space in a wheelchair, the visiting gang members, hushed conversations, the closeness and love of his family, and the proximity to violence and loss.

‘It’s a very emotional space. There’s tension there, darkness, fear. It’s a place of turmoil. Yet at the same time there was always so much love and caring. The apartment was filled with contradictions.’

Image #1: Greg Gulbransen’s friend Malik Image courtesy of and copyright 2024: Greg Gulbransen Photography

Trapped

To this day, Malik can’t enter certain neighborhoods or travel down certain streets or there’s a good chance a rival gang member will try to finish him off. His world is his bedroom. He is trapped.

‘I’m trying to complicate things for readers (hopefully) by showing that passing judgment on people like Malik might not, morally speaking, be as easy as it might seem. There are a lot of victims here and, yes, some of them are perpetrators, too. I’m definitely not saying these guys are saints —- they’ve all made choices and they should absolutely be held accountable for those choices, but they’re victims, too.’

You can pre-order a copy of Say Less here.

Typos

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