BAA Record-low Price! Price Reduced $400 on 18 July 2022!
Galapagos IPT veteran (with wife Sandy), Don Selesky, is offering a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens in like-new condition the BAA record-low price of $6397.00 (was $6,797.00). The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens trunk and key, the original tough front lens cover, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
I used this lens, often with a 1.4X TC, as my main super-telephoto lens for five years. It is a superb lens that offers lots of reach for those working with birds that are skittish. It is great from the car. I was astounded that 15 of the 67 images in the San Diego exhibit were created with the 800. I missed it terribly for years. It will seriously kill with an R5 or an R6 and an RF-EF Adapter! This lens sells new at B&H for $12,999 but is back-ordered everywhere. Don’s lens is a superb buy; grab it now and save a very sweet $6602.00! artie
What’s Up?
Sunday morning began with blessed clouds. At 9:00am the sun came over a large cloud out over the ocean. With the wind from the west/northwest It was supposed to be from the perfect northeast. The afternoon was the opposite — bright sun with a southeast wind followed by large storm clouds. Though it was our most challenging day, everyone ended up with some great images.
With nine deposit checks in hand, and with good friend Ed Dow grabbing a single cabin, there are only three openings left on the 2023 Galapagos Photo-cruise of a Lifetime. The trip is now a go. If you have any interest in joining us, it would be best to get in touch via e-mail ASAP.
Speaking of IPTs, I am still looking for someone to do all three Homer Bald Eagle trips and driving the round trip from Anchorage to Homer and back with me. Toward that end, I am offering a ridiculously high discount of $4500.00, $1500 off each trip. The offer may not last long because there are only two slots left on the second IPT. If you are interested, or would like additional details, please contact me via e-mail.
Today Is Monday 18 July 2022. The forecast was for rain and drizzle. Instead, we got clear skies with a SW wind, in other words, more wind against sun. Surprisingly, we did quite well. 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 one hundred twenty 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!
The First DeSoto IPT
If you are interested in the first DeSoto IPT, 3 1/2 Days, Tuesday 27 September through the morning session on Friday 30 September 2022, know that I just reserved a three-bedroom AirBnB in Gulfport. Share it for four nights with many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown and me and save a ton on lodging: $83.69/night/person for a whole home. AirBnB photos available upon request. If interested, shoot me an e-mail.
Instagram
Follow me on Instagram here. I am trying to feature both new and old images, especially images that have not appeared recently on the blog. Or search for birds_as_art.
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
Induro GIT 304L Price Drop
Amazingly, we have two, brand-new-in-the-box Induro GIT 304L tripods in stock. They are $699.00 each (were $799.00) and the price now includes the insured ground shipping to the lower 48 states. Weekday phone orders only: 863-692-0906.
Still Listening to John Prine
Like me, John Prine liked to make up new words (see “boughten,” below), that fit the occasion.
Fort those who like good music and great songwriting, and have never heard of John Prine, click here.
Souvenirs
John Prine
All the snow has turned to water
Christmas days have come and gone
Broken toys and faded colours
Are all that’s left to linger on
I hate graveyards and old pawn shops
For they always bring me tears
I can’t forgive the way they robbed me
Of my childhood souvenirs
Memories, they can’t be boughten
They can’t be won at carnivals for free
Well it took me years to get those souvenirs
And I don’t know how they slipped away from me
Broken hearts and dirty windows
Make life difficult to see
That’s why last night and this morning
Always look the same to me
And I hate reading old love letters
For they always bring me tears
I can’t forget the way they robbed me
Of my sweetheart’s souvenirs
Memories they can’t be boughten
They can’t be won at carnivals for free
Well it took me years to get those souvenirs
And I don’t know how they slipped away from me
Canon 800mm f/5.6L ISUSM Lens/with extras!
BAA Record-low Price! Price Reduced $400 on 18 July 2022!
Galapagos IPT veteran (with wife Sandy), Don Selesky, is offering a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens in like-new condition the BAA record-low price of $6397.00 (was $6,797.00). The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens trunk and key, the original tough front lens cover, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
I used this lens, often with a 1.4X TC, as my main super-telephoto lens for five years. It is a superb lens that offers lots of reach for those working with birds that are skittish. It is great from the car. I was astounded that 15 of the 67 images in the San Diego exhibit were created with the 800. I missed it terribly for years. It will seriously kill with an R5 or an R6 and an RF-EF Adapter! This lens sells new at B&H for $12,999 but is back-ordered everywhere. Don’s lens is a superb buy; grab it now and save a very sweet $6602.00! artie
Tracking: Zone/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: Laughing Gull — bedraggled adult with broken wing
Sick, Injured, or Dying
I am not quite sure why I enjoy making images of sick, injured, dying, and even dead birds. Giving it some thought, I’ve come up with two main reasons:
1- I like to tell the whole story of their lives, the good and the bad, the successes and the struggles. Heck, the births and the deaths.
2- I like to try to have their beauty and spirit show through even in bad times or in death.
The Laughing Gull in Image #1 was obviously having a very bad day. Its broken wing will lead to its death, yet the bird was parading around on the damp sand as if it did not have a care in the world. It was picking at any scraps on the beach that might provide a bit of nourishment. Enlarge the image and you just might be able to see the bird’s spirit.
What Was Your Worst Day or Night Ever?
My worst night ever was sometime in the late summer of 1991, I believe. I had a herniated disc at L5-S1. I had not yet met Cliff Oliver and had no idea that there were alternatives to surgery that were often successful. The pain was so debilitating that I felt as if my life might be over. The, I talked to my friend Barry Cohen. I told him of my situation, and he mentioned that his friend, a neighbor named Harvey, had had the same problem, had surgery, and was back playing golf in two months. So, I called Dr. Gamache’s. office on a Thursday, saw him that Friday, and had my surgery on Monday morning.
Microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure for the relief of pain and other symptoms that occur when a herniated disc in the spine presses on an adjacent nerve root. During the operation, the surgeon frees the nerve by removing small fragments of disc, bone, and ligament.
Anyhoo, when I woke in the recovery room, they had (thankfully) removed the breathing tube from my throat. But my throat was very sore. And I felt like crap. I begged for ice water. The nurse said, “Sip it. If you don’t, you will be very sick.” I gulped down several glasses of ice water. Thirty years ago, general anesthesia was a lot less fun than it is today. Dr. Oliver explains anesthesia like this: the goal is to convince your body that it is dead.
My late-wife Elaine was there with me and kissed me good night. That night, however, turned out to be the worst I have ever felt. I don’t think that I slept for more than an hour. One minute I would have uncontrollable chills where I shook mercilessly and threw off my bed covers. The next minutes I was burning up as if I had a fever of 105 degrees. In between, I had dry heaves, but there was nothing in my stomach to throw up.
The next morning a team of residents came by and asked, “How are you doing, Mr. Morris?” I replied, “My left foot is totally numb, and it feels as big as a clown’s foot” I whined. “Oh, that’s too bad,” they said.
Thirty minutes later Dr. Gamache came by and asked the same question. I replied, “My left foot is totally numb and it feels as big as a clown’s foot.” “Oh, that’s too bad,” they said. He said, “Get your butt out of the bed and start walking up and down the halls.” So I did. As things turned out, I had the best result ever from this surgery. I ached for a week or two, lovingly nursed by Elaine. My back has been dead-solid perfect for more than 30 years (knock on wood). It’s funny how my worst night became part of one of my best days ever.
What was your worst day or night ever?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Our Saturday afternoon session was stellar. We enjoyed mostly cloudy skies, cool temperatures, and a zillion Royal Terns in flight. Well, almost a zillion. I tweaked my right shoulder in the morning, so I spent the afternoon handholding the 70-200 f/2.8 II lens with the 1.4X TC and an a1. I did gently backlit flight for two hours and then sat along the colony ropes with the Laughing Gulls after adding the 2X TC. David, who has kindly been doing the driving, borrowed my 400mm f/2.8 GM Lens for the afternoon and had a ball. John Dupps, his arms tired after too much flight photography in the morning, worked with his Nikon 500 PF and his new Z9 on a monopod with the monoball head. We stayed on the beach until 7:00pm. We will be at the park entrance on Sunday morning at 6:00am sharp.
I finished editing my images from Saturday afternoon before I hit the sack. I was amazed by the flight stuff. Working at only 280mm with a lightweight rig, every frame was sharp and I had tons of lovely wing positions and lots of birds with fish.
With nine deposit checks in hand, and with good friend Ed Dow grabbing a single cabin, there are only three openings left on the 2023 Galapagos Photo-cruise of a Lifetime. The trip is now a go. If you have any interest in joining us, it would be best to get in touch via e-mail ASAP.
Speaking of IPTs, I am still looking for someone to do all three Homer Bald Eagle trips and driving the round trip from Anchorage to Homer and back with me. Toward that end, I am offering a ridiculously high discount of $4500.00, $1500 off each trip. The offer may not last long because there are only two slots left on the second IPT. If you are interested, or would like additional details, please contact me via e-mail.
Today Is Sunday 17 July 2022. The forecast is for more east winds (great), more clouds (pretty good), a light rain beginning at about 8am (not so good). 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 one hundred nineteen 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!
The First DeSoto IPT
If you are interested in the first DeSoto IPT, 3 1/2 Days, Tuesday 27 September through the morning session on Friday 30 September 2022, know that I just reserved a three-bedroom AirBnB in Gulfport. Share it for four nights with many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown and me and save a ton on lodging: $83.69/night/person for a whole home. AirBnB photos available upon request. If interested, shoot me an e-mail.
Instagram
Follow me on Instagram here. I am trying to feature both new and old images, especially images that have not appeared recently on the blog. Or search for birds_as_art.
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
Induro GIT 304L Price Drop
Amazingly, we have two, brand-new-in-the-box Induro GIT 304L tripods in stock. They are $699.00 each (were $799.00) and the price now includes the insured ground shipping to the lower 48 states. Weekday phone orders only: 863-692-0906.
Please Remember
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 🙂
If You Enjoy the Blog …
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
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… 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.
Tracking: Zone/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: Royal Tern — with juvenile Mutton Snapper
Never Seen This Fish Before!
When I edited my 2900+ images from Saturday morning, I ran across a few that showed a tern carrying a reddish pink fish with a yellow eye. I quickly sent a screen capture to Dr. Fish, blog regular David Policansky. Viewing his image on the phone, en route to the UK to visit his sister, he is pretty sure that it is a juvenile Mutton Snapper. Then I went back to edit my 2700 images from Friday afternoon and found an even better image with the same fish. Happy birthday! Every time I visit a tern colony on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, David is amazed by the great variety of small fishes and invertebrates that are captured on a regular basis. And so am I.
More On Monopods
With the non-stop flight photography at JAX, I have been working almost exclusively with the 400mm f/2.8/1.4X TC/a1 rig on the monopod. With each session, I learn something new. I am at a point now where I am doing much better at getting the bird in the frame than when when working on a tripod. And you will never find a head that pans more smoothly than a monopod. All this while working with a virtually weightless lens thanks to the Wimberley MonoGimbal Head. It is the brilliant design of the head that allows you to point the lens anywhere, anytime.
That said, remember that a monopod cannot stand on its own. Somebody has to hold it in place.
Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the higher res version.
Image #1A: Tight unsharpened crop of the Royal Tern — with juvenile Mutton Snapper image
The Sony Alpha 1
What can I say? Eye AF/C for this frame was so accurate that the tern’s eye is sharper than the eye of the fish. Not to mention that the image quality remains superb despite the relatively huge crop. Please note that Image #1A is unsharpened; it as simply a tight crop of the optimized tif file.
Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action.
Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By June 1, 2022, the group was up to an astounding 124 lucky and blessed folks. (More than a few folks own two or more a1 bodies! Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive six e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will receive new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.
All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide 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.
Which of today’s two featured images do you prefer? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
What’s Up?
The Google-maps supposed drive of “three hours 44 minutes” took five hours 44 minutes with a few pit stops, several construction delays, one grocery shopping stop, and two big accidents. We headed out to the beach a bit to early at about 4:30pm and encountered a bright early afternoon sun with the wind blowing directly at it from the southeast. It was time to employ the wind against strategies covered in recent blog posts. So we did. A big dark cloud late in the day provided our best opportunities.
Today is Saturday 16 July. The forecast looks perfect for both morning and afternoon with big thunderstorms scheduled for midday. 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 one hundred eighteen days in a row with a new one.
Saturday morning was excellent. The wind, however, was not as advertised. It blew gently from the north by a bit west. Fortunately it clouded over by 7:30am. I created another 2800 images, mostly flight. I taught David and John the basics of positing yourself near a group of terns with the wind behind you so that the incoming adults with fish are flying right at you as they come in to look for their large chicks. I call this “sitting on a flock of terns.” It works on any beach anywhere. The one problem that we had to deal with was having too many birds in flight in the frame at the same time!
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!
JAX In-the-Field Sessions
I have room for one photographer for four sessions at Huguenot Memorial Park along with an inexpensive shared room at our lovely AirBnB. Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning. If interested, please e-mail ASAP.
Instagram
Follow me on Instagram here. I am trying to feature both new and old images, especially images that have not appeared recently on the blog. Or search for birds_as_art.
Tracking: Zone/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: Royal Tern — circling fly-by with shrimp
Wind Against Sun and Circling Flight
With the wind blowing almost directly against the sun, we eventually found some circling birds less than one hundred years from my SUV. Many, like the bird in Image #1, were carrying for items for their young. Though I had not begun picking my keepers from the first afternoon, I did grab two images for today’s blog post. Now I have almost 6000 photos to go through. I am hoping to get a few more good ones (and am pretty sure that I will).
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enable performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Royal Tern — backlit, braking to land
A Really Good Situation
We were doing well with the circling birds. At about 7:00pm, a light cloud edged in front of the sun. I turned around to check out the sky and was glad to see the sun right on the edge of a large dark cloud to the west. Best of all, lots of terns were landing right at us with their tails gently backlit. I suggested setting a “compromise” exposure, one that would not toast the brightly backlit birds near the sun, and would be only slightly exposed for the bird’s against darker cloud backgrounds (like Image #2).
Image Design Question
Would you have moved the sea oats stalk in the middle of the frame to the left side of the frame? Why or why not?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
