August 22nd, 2022 Photo Contest
All are invited to judge today’s six images as if they were entered in a photo contest. Pick your three favorites and let us know why you made your choices.
iPhone Favor
If you have an old iPhone — the older the better — that is sitting in a drawer, unused, please consider sending it as a gift to my 14-year old grandson, Idris Reimov. He is collecting them. Please shoot me an e-mail for the address. Many thanks, much love. artie
What’s Up?
The forecast for Sunday morning was for completely cloudy by 6:00am with a SE breeze. While they got the wind right, it was completely sunny until 3:00pm. A southeast wind in the morning at Nickerson make things tough for many reasons. I had some nice red light at sunrise but nearly all the birds were away, slightly to the east. I worked the beach down low at 1200mm, and then did some flight. It was, however, not the greatest morning ever.
The afternoon tide looked good for the north end of the East Pond. I met Muhammad Arif there at 3:30pm. The water level is the lowest I have seen in my lifetime. There were about 1500 shorebirds, mostly adult Semipalmated Sandpipers. There were many dozens of mostly adult Lesser Yellowlegs and many dozen fading adult White-rumped Sandpipers. I picked out one adult Western Sandpiper, saw the first juvenile Semipalmated Plover (along with a smattering of adults), saw the first Stilt Sandpiper, a juvenile, and had a total of three young Short-Billed Dowitchers. I was surprised by the still high numbers of adult birds and by the low percentage of juveniles.
Most of the time I was working at 1200mm on the flattened tripod. Once the clouds moved in, I was using ISOs as high as 4000. Again, the SE breeze was problematic as early all the birds were facing slight away from us. Anywho, despite the problematic SE wind, I would up with 185 keepers after the first round of editing. Those included a very few images that I love.
Today is Monday 22 August. The forecast for Lido Beach was for rain all day long, heavy at times, with lots of scattered thunderstorms. Needing some rest, I slept in. When I woke at 7:00, I was not shocked to see that it was not raining. I will likely take the whole day off to get some much-needed work done. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about two 1/2 hours to prepare (including the time spent on the six new image optimizations) and makes one hundred fifty days in a row with a new one. (It seems that I have corrected the day, date, and streak issues in the last few blog posts. Let me know if I screwed up again. Thanks to all who pointed out the errors. While I appreciated thier comments, it would be great if they could include comments on the photo and image questions at hand as well.
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!
Time is Running Out
Many folks are scheduled to join me at either Nickerson or JBWR in the next two weeks for an In-the-Field session or two. The first window for doing shorebirds at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge has closed. The second window is from 24-26 August. I have a private client on the 26th. See the additional details below. Muhammad Arif enjoyed three In-the-Field sessions and made lots of great images with his R5. I hope to share some of them with you here soon. Carlotta Grenier came for her third session recently and Sanjeev Nagrath learned a ton during his three Nickerson Beach sessions. Sandy Brown will be flying in from Seattle for an afternoon at Nickerson and a morning at JBWR this coming week. I head south to catch the Auto train on 31 August.
|
|
|
Clockwise from the upper left corner back around to the center: Wilson’s Phalarope, JBWR; just fledged Common Tern, Nickerson; Black Skimmer, adult skimming, Nickerson; Black Skimmer killing tiny skimmer chick, Nickerson; American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise, Nickerson; Common Tern chick swallowing baby bluefish, Nickerson; Short-billed Dowitcher, juvenile, double overhead wing stretch, JBWR; Black Skimmers, predawn flock blur, Nickerson; Black Skimmer, 10-day old chick, Nickerson.
Click on the card to view a larger version.
Nickerson Beach/East Pond JBWR composite
|
Nickerson Beach/East Pond at Jamaica Bay (JBWR) In-the Field Workshops
Both Nickerson Beach and the East Pond at JBWR offer some of the best midsummer bird photography on the planet. Hundreds of pairs or Black Skimmers and Common Terns along with dozens of pairs of American Oystercatchers breed at Nickerson each season so there are lots of chicks of all sizes and handsome fledged young birds to photograph. Provided that the water levels are low, hundreds of young shorebirds in their handsome fresh juvenile plumages stop by the pond each August on their way south.
Nickerson often reveals nature at it rawest, most basic level. Most days we get to photograph all sorts of dramatic behaviors ranging from skimmers and terns fishing and feeding (and tending) their young. There are often chances to shoot a variety of predatory encounters — gulls eating large skimmer chicks, skimmers attacking (and sometimes killing) skimmer babies, and Peregrine Falcons hunting. And rarely, if we are lucky, Peregrine Falcons catching! Consider joining me to learn a ton both about bird photography and the birds.
I head south on 31 August and should be back home on 1 September (barring anything unforeseen). I am offering In-the-Field sessions at both Nickerson Beach and the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. If you are interested, please get in touch via e-mail or text me at 863-221-2372.
Whether you are a local or would like to fly in for several days of instruction — a sort of private, or small group. — at worst, IPT, LMK via e-mail so that we can work on a schedule that could possibly include both Nickerson and Jamaica Bay.
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. Order yours here while they last.
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.
|
|
|
This image was created on 20 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While seated on damp sand I used the lowered, no-longer available except from BIRDS AS ART, Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/800 sec. at f/5.6. AWB at 7:33:21am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #1: High-stepping adult Semipalmated Plover
|
Lucky Morning
On the cloudy Saturday morning past, I was glad to run into Muhammad Arif and his mom on the beach. He showed me a photo of an un-banded young Piping Plover — late and endangered. He said that he had seen the bird just west of the first jetty to the east. I made the walk, and when I arrived only one bird was feeding in the wash, the semi-plover above. So, I sat behind the lower tripod and went to work.
|
|
|
This image was also created on 20 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While seated on damp sand, I used the lowered, no-longer available except from BIRDS AS ART, Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/800 sec. at f/5.6. AWB at 7:30:06am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #2: Small in the big world juvenile Piping Plover
|
Look Who Showed Back Up
I had not been sitting long when the moderately worn juvie Piping Plover flew in a bit farther to the west. I made the image above in keeping with the small-fragile-bird-in-the-big-world theme. I thought to myself, “It would be neat to get a few images of both birds in the same frame.”
|
|
|
This image was also created on 20 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While seated on damp sand I used the lowered, no-longer available except from BIRDS AS ART, Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6. AWB at 7:30:35am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #3: Piping Plover/Semipalmated Plover standoff
|
The Standoff
The next thing I know, the two birds were standing and facing each other. The piping’s erect calling posture and the semi-plovers fan-tailed calling posture were meant to threaten the other bird. The dispute was about feeding territory. They never engaged in a squabble and the boundary between their foraging areas was set. Since the plover was feeding more to the west, I scootched about thirty feet farther down the beach to be closer to the plover.
|
|
|
This image was also created on 20 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While still seated on damp sand I used the lowered, no-longer available except from BIRDS AS ART, Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/800 sec. at f/5.6. AWB at 7:37:12am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #4: Semipalmated Plover facing vertical
|
Cropped to a Vertical
When the Semipalmated Plover walked up to the edge of the (imaginary) boundary between their foraging territories, it was very close to me. Amazing, Tracking Zone nailed the bird’s right eye as the bird faced me. With the a1’s 51,000,000 pixels, the crop to a vertical was the obvious choice.
|
|
|
This image was also created on 20 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While still seated on damp sand I used the lowered, no-longer available except from BIRDS AS ART, Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6. AWB at 7:45:44am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #5: Piping Plover eating tiny worm
|
Foot Trembling
The Piping Plover would stand in one spot on one leg with the other leg extended. It would rapidly tap the surface of the sand with toes of the extended foot. I made a great video of this behavior. I knew that it had something to do with improving the bird’s foraging success. I shared the video with Marc Wortsman when I ran into him at Bagel Chalet in Merrick on Saturday morning. He did some work online and sent me a link to a great paper on foot trembling in a related species, Ringed Plover. I read it (here) with great interest, and learned that there are actually two theories as to the purpose of the behavior. If I ever figure out how to process the a1 videos in i-Movie I will share it with you here.
|
|
|
This image was also created on 20 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While still seated on damp sand I used the lowered, no-longer available except from BIRDS AS ART, Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1600: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6. AWB at 7:57:42am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #6: Piping Plover stopped
|
Zero Beach Clean-Up
Often, when I post images of birds standing on perfectly clean beaches that have been cleaned up a bit, folks will say, “That looks phony. No beach could be that perfect.” Well boys and girls, I did not clean up a single speck on the gorgeous beach in Image #6. I did some beach clean-up in the first five images. In retrospect, when viewing the enlarged image on the blog, I see that I missed one tiny round light speck. If it bugs you, leave a comment and LMK where it is. Its location is rather easy to describe.
|
|
Image #6A: A7 INFO screen grab for the Piping Plover stopped image
|
Sony a1 Tracking: Zone
Incredibly, with the last firmware update to v1.30, Bird Face/Eye detection was improved significantly. With Tracking: Zone, you can acquire focus within the zone brackets and the AF system will track the eye anywhere in the frame, even when you recompose with the bird’s eye well outside the brackets (as I did with Image #2). This gives you increased compositional freedom; you can put the bird anywhere in the frame even when using (Center) Tracking: Zone.
|
|
|
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 127 lucky and blessed folks. (More than a few folks own two or more a1 bodies!) Some, like me, own three. 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.
August 21st, 2022 Your Favorite Image?
All are invited to leave a comment letting us know which of today’s seven featured images is their favorite. Please do not choose #2 as it is intended for comparative ID purpose only. And please let us know why you made your choice.
Canon 100-400mm EF f/4.5-5.6L IS II Zoom Lens
Multiple IPT veteran Geri Georg is offering a Canon 100-400mm EF f/4.5-5.6L IS II zoom lens in excellent-plus to near-mint condition for a very low $1399.00 The sale includes the original box, the front and rear lens caps, the carrying case with strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-40 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Geri via e-mail or by phone at 1-970-219-4493 (Mountain time zone).
This incredibly versatile zoom lens — with its amazing .98 meter close focus — was my favorite Canon telephoto zoom lens ever. By far. It is easy to hand hold, great for tight portraits, for birds in flight, for quasi-macro stuff, and lots more. For flight, it is fabulous with an EOS R, R5, R6, or R7! This lens sells new for $2399.00 so you can save a handsome $1000.00 by grabbing Geri’s lens right now. artie
What’s Up?
Saturday began with quite a bit of cloud cover. There was some lovely color right on the horizon that resulted in some pink reflections on the wash* and the wet sand. I tried some blurs. Once it clouded over completely, I photographed some young Black-backed Gulls standing on the beach at the edge of the Atlantic. Then I ran into student/friend Muhammad Arif and his Mom on the beach. He told me that there was an un-banded juvenile Piping Plover foraging just inside the first jetty. It was a long walk, but I was well rewarded. Photos soon. On the long walk back to the car I tried to make some nice images of the adult Great Black-backed Gulls up on the berm but did not do too well. Nonetheless, it was a great morning, in part because it was so different from what you might expect at Nickerson Beach.
Wash, swash, or forewash, in geography: a turbulent layer of water that washes up on the beach after an incoming wave has broken.*
With a southeast wind and blue skies at Nickerson in the afternoon, I sat on the sand well back from the colony ropes and shot the midair skimmer fights. I have high hopes for a few that I saw while peeking at a few with Playback. I ran down to the western colony for what was a spectacular sunset but might have arrived just a bit too late.
Today is Sunday 21 August. The forecast for Lido Beach is for cloudy with a SE breeze. Not great, not terrible. I will be heading back to Nickerson to see what’s around and maybe find something different. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about two hours to prepare (including the time spent on the seven new image optimizations) and makes one hundred fifty 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!
Time is Running Out
Many folks are scheduled to join me at either Nickerson or JBWR in the next two weeks for an In-the-Field session or two. The first window for doing shorebirds at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge has closed. The second window is from 24-26 August. I have a private client on the 26th. See the additional details below. Muhammad Arif enjoyed three In-the-Field sessions and made lots of great images with his R5. I hope to share some of them with you here soon. Carlotta Grenier came for her third session recently and Sanjeev Nagrath learned a ton during his three Nickerson Beach sessions. Sandy Brown will be flying in from Seattle for an afternoon at Nickerson and a morning at JBWR this coming week. I head south to catch the Auto train on 31 August.
|
|
|
Clockwise from the upper left corner back around to the center: Wilson’s Phalarope, JBWR; just fledged Common Tern, Nickerson; Black Skimmer, adult skimming, Nickerson; Black Skimmer killing tiny skimmer chick, Nickerson; American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise, Nickerson; Common Tern chick swallowing baby bluefish, Nickerson; Short-billed Dowitcher, juvenile, double overhead wing stretch, JBWR; Black Skimmers, predawn flock blur, Nickerson; Black Skimmer, 10-day old chick, Nickerson.
Click on the card to view a larger version.
Nickerson Beach/East Pond JBWR composite
|
Nickerson Beach/East Pond at Jamaica Bay (JBWR) In-the Field Workshops
Both Nickerson Beach and the East Pond at JBWR offer some of the best midsummer bird photography on the planet. Hundreds of pairs or Black Skimmers and Common Terns along with dozens of pairs of American Oystercatchers breed at Nickerson each season so there are lots of chicks of all sizes and handsome fledged young birds to photograph. Provided that the water levels are low, hundreds of young shorebirds in their handsome fresh juvenile plumages stop by the pond each August on their way south.
Nickerson often reveals nature at it rawest, most basic level. Most days we get to photograph all sorts of dramatic behaviors ranging from skimmers and terns fishing and feeding (and tending) their young. There are often chances to shoot a variety of predatory encounters — gulls eating large skimmer chicks, skimmers attacking (and sometimes killing) skimmer babies, and Peregrine Falcons hunting. And rarely, if we are lucky, Peregrine Falcons catching! Consider joining me to learn a ton both about bird photography and the birds.
I head south on 31 August and should be back home on 1 September (barring anything unforeseen). I am offering In-the-Field sessions at both Nickerson Beach and the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. If you are interested, please get in touch via e-mail or text me at 863-221-2372.
Whether you are a local or would like to fly in for several days of instruction — a sort of private, or small group. — at worst, IPT, LMK via e-mail so that we can work on a schedule that could possibly include both Nickerson and Jamaica Bay.
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. Order yours here while they last.
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.
|
|
|
This image was created on 18 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While standing, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 563mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 4000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:06:54am on a sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: 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: Lesser Black-backed Gull in relatively cold light
|
Wind-Against-Sun Birds on the Ground
With the sun a bit north of east and coming over your shoulder and the wind blowing in your face from the west/southwest, most birds will be facing away from you mosts of the time. Foraging birds may occasionally turn toward you so that they are square to the sensor. Then you just need to check that the head is not turned away from you. Note that the bird in image #1 is angled a bit away from me and the plane of the sensor. The trick then is to wait for the look-back head turn. When this bird obliged, I pressed the shutter button.
Note the quality of the light at nine in the morning and compare it with the quality of light in Images # 4, 5, and 6, those all made before seven am on a sunny morning. What differences are you seeing?
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull is slimmer and smaller than its larger and more robust cousin, Great Black-backed Gull. Adults like this bird have yellow legs. The long wings protruding well beyond the tail give it is slimmer, elongated look. Five decades ago, lesser was extremely rare anywhere in North America but it can now be found regularly in many locations in eastern North America. There are dozens to hundreds of Great Black-backed Gulls on the beach at Nickerson for most of the year. Lessers are uncommon but fairly regular. On rare occasion, I’ve seen multiple lessers on the beach at once.
|
|
|
This image was created on 20 August 2022 at at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While standing, I used the no-longer available except from BIRDS AS ART, Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 640: 1/800 sec. at f/7.1. AWB at 8:28:55am on a partly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #2: Great Black-backed Gull worn adult
|
Great Black-backed Gull
Image #2 is presented for comparative identification purposes. Note that great black-backeds are large, stocky gulls that dwarf their smaller cousins, the lesser black-backeds. In the northeastern US, they are the second most common large gull species aside from Herring Gull. Note the flesh-colored legs and that the wings protrude just a bit beyond the end of the tail.
|
|
|
This image was created on 18 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While standing, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 4000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:08:47am on a sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: 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: Lesser Black-backed Gull flying away in relatively cold light
|
Wind-Against-Sun Flight
With the sun a bit north of east and the wind blowing in your face from the west/southwest, most birds will be flying away from you into the wind. Sometimes, it pays to push the shutter button. Or not? I like this one.
|
|
|
This image was created on 19 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While seated on damp sand, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm)) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Shutter Priority + 1.3-stops. Auto ISO set ISO 500. 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 6:24:23am just after sunrise. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead-solid perfect.
Tracking: Spot S — AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #4: Lesser Black-backed Gull backlit at sunrise
|
Backlight at Sunrise
I have been working hard on the backlit at sunrise images at Nickerson. I stumbled upon a great one in 2014, but never followed up on the concept. This year, I have been hammering it on every clear or mostly sunny sunrise. My recent successes were published in the Sleep-deprived at Nickerson Beach for Good Reason blog post here. And another was featured yesterday’s miracle-card-came-back post.
The more I try for them, the more I learn. Want to learn what I know? Join me for an In-the-Field Session at Nickerson on a clear morning when I am not at JBWR.
|
|
|
This image was created on 19 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While standing, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800 second. 1/1000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:36:58am on a sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #5: Lesser Black-backed Gull drinking in surf
|
Going for Behavior: Drinking
After I make the desired portrait image, I strive to create some decent images of various behaviors. Here, the bird has taken a sip of salt water. The salt is extruded through the nares, the nasal opening in the bill.
|
|
|
This image was created on 19 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While standing, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800 second. 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:40:22am on a sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/3-stop under.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #6: Lesser Black-backed Gull hunting sand crabs
|
Going for Behavior: Foraging
Here, the gull is hunting for the same sand crabs that the terns cherish. Whenever the bird caught a crab — they were usually successful when the rushed out to the base of a wave, they turned away from me into the wind. Bummer.
|
|
|
This image was created on 19 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While standing, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800 second. 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:44:17am on a sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/3-stop under.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #7: Lesser Black-backed Gull posing
|
The Sweetest Background and the Most Elegant Pose?
The square-to-the-sensor subject, the perfect head angle, the sweet light, the raised foot, the tiny bit of seaweed on one leg, and the still blue water combine to make this one special. Is it the best of the lot?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
August 20th, 2022 Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM Lens in Stock
Steve Elkins of Bedford Camera asked me to let you know that he has one Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lens in stock with your name on it. Act fast and remember to use the BIRDSASART code at checkout for 3% back on your credit card and free second-day air Fed-Ex. Huge thanks to Sanjeev Nagrath who grabbed a Canon RF 600mm f/4 IS L lens from Bedfords on Friday and used the BIRDSASART code at checkout!
What’s Up?
I got to Nickerson very early on Friday morning and had some more fun with the red-light sunrise stuff. While doing Ring-Billed Gulls and oystercatchers, I noticed a larger gull with long wings — a Lesser Black-backed Gull. I made some fine images of the handsome bird in the red light, and once the sun rose, moved around to shoot the formerly very rare gull front-lit in the golden early morning light. It was likely the same individual that I had photographed with Sanjeev on Thursday morning. With a NW wind on both mornings, the bird spent most of its time angling away from the light and looking to the west. The trick was to get the bird square to the sensor with a decent head angle. I succeeded doing that on both mornings, but most of Thursday’s images will be deleted on the second edit as the light was much harsher.
Today is Saturday 20 August 2022. The forecast for Lido Beach is for more light winds from the west. With mostly cloudy skies, the morning should be more productive. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about two hours to prepare (including the time spent on the one image optimization) and makes one hundred forty-nine 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!
Time is Running Out
Many folks are scheduled to join me at either Nickerson or JBWR in the next two weeks for an In-the-Field session or two. The first window for doing shorebirds at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge has closed. The second window is from 24-26 August.As above, I have a private client on the 26th. See the additional details below. Muhammad Arif enjoyed three In-the-Field sessions and made lots of great images with his R5. I hope to share some of them with you here soon. Carlotta Grenier came for her third session recently and Sanjeev Nagrath learned a ton during his three Nickerson Beach sessions. Sandy Brown will be flying in from Seattle for an afternoon at Nickerson and a morning at JBWR.
|
|
|
Clockwise from the upper left corner back around to the center: Wilson’s Phalarope, JBWR; just fledged Common Tern, Nickerson; Black Skimmer, adult skimming, Nickerson; Black Skimmer killing tiny skimmer chick, Nickerson; American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise, Nickerson; Common Tern chick swallowing baby bluefish, Nickerson; Short-billed Dowitcher, juvenile, double overhead wing stretch, JBWR; Black Skimmers, predawn flock blur, Nickerson; Black Skimmer, 10-day old chick, Nickerson.
Click on the card to view a larger version.
Nickerson Beach/East Pond JBWR composite
|
Nickerson Beach/East Pond at Jamaica Bay (JBWR) In-the Field Workshops
Both Nickerson Beach and the East Pond at JBWR offer some of the best midsummer bird photography on the planet. Hundreds of pairs or Black Skimmers and Common Terns along with dozens of pairs of American Oystercatchers breed at Nickerson each season so there are lots of chicks of all sizes and handsome fledged young birds to photograph. Provided that the water levels are low, hundreds of young shorebirds in their handsome fresh juvenile plumages stop by the pond each August on their way south.
Nickerson often reveals nature at it rawest, most basic level. Most days we get to photograph all sorts of dramatic behaviors ranging from skimmers and terns fishing and feeding (and tending) their young. There are often chances to shoot a variety of predatory encounters — gulls eating large skimmer chicks, skimmers attacking (and sometimes killing) skimmer babies, and Peregrine Falcons hunting. And rarely, if we are lucky, Peregrine Falcons catching! Consider joining me to learn a ton both about bird photography and the birds.
I head south on 31 August and should be back home on 1 September (barring anything unforeseen). I am offering In-the-Field sessions at both Nickerson Beach and the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. If you are interested, please get in touch via e-mail or text me at 863-221-2372.
|
|
The Delkin card near the spot where Carlotta Grenier found it
|
A Double Delkin Card Miracle Thanks to Carlotta Grenier
As noted here previously, when I reached into my pocket for the Delkin Devices 160GB BLACK CFexpress Type A Memory Card at brunch-time on August 14th, I came up empty. I searched the car for the missing card. I searched the AirBnB. I made an hour round-trip from Valley Stream to the Whole Foods Market in Garden City I had visited earlier in the day in hopes of finding the card on the floor near the register. That had worked for me once before. But no luck this time. When I got back to Nickerson at 5:30 that day, I searched the parking lot around the spot I had pulled into 12 hours before. I expected that the card would come back to me, but it seemed that it was not to be.
The First Miracle
Three days later, Carlotta Grenier joined me for a third In-the-Field session, a morning at Nickerson. She sat in the shade near the concession tables to get out of her surf booties and put on dry shoes and socks. Then she walked toward the ladies room. The next thing that I know, sh is walking toward my car waving something. “I found it! I found your card!” How in the world she ever spotted the card will forever be beyond me.
I was amazed, but not surprised.
The Card, However …
The card, however, had seen better days. A lot better. I had never walked by the spot where Carlotta found it, so I have no idea how it got there. It was obvious that the card had been run over by multiple vehicles, if not by several M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks. I was glad that the card came back to me, but had already given up hope of ever seeing the images. Once I saw the condition of the card, all hope disappeared. The black metal cover was peeled back, held in place by some sort of rubber adhesive.
I called Scott Clark at Delkin and described the condition of the card. Since it seemed that the severely damaged card would clearly not fit in a card reader, Delkin would not be able to attempt to recover the images. Scott suggested that a data recovery outfit might be able to remove the chip and recover the images. He sent me the info. I quickly decided that I was not going to spend $765.00 to recover the images.
|
|
|
This image was created on 14 August 2022 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While seated on damp sand, I used the flattened, no-longer available except from BIRDS AS ART, Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). Shutter Priority at zero. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. AUTO ISO set ISO 160. 1/800 sec. at f/8 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, it was determined that the raw file exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 6:17:55 am what would become a clear morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Black Skimmer with wings raised backlit at sunrise
|
The Second Miracle
Throwing caution to the wind, I carefully tore the metal cover off the card, rubbed away the rubber cement, and stuck what was left of the card into the reader. The 1347 images downloaded perfectly on the first attempt. The image above was the best of those.
To help facilitate card usage in almost any environment, as well as keeping your content safe, Delkin has built its BLACK Series with a rugged design that is waterproof and shockproof, as well as resistant to temperature extremes. In order to further enhance reliability and functionality, the BLACK Series is protected by a lifetime warranty and a 48-hour replacement guarantee upon registration with Delkin.
Delkin 48-Hour Replacement Guarantee
Delkin BLACK memory cards come with a premium 48-hour replacement guarantee in addition to their lifetime warranty policy. Delkin will replace any non-working card within 48 hours or less (not including weekends), prior to receiving your non-working card. You can also replace your card over the counter at any authorized Delkin BLACK reseller. To activate your BLACK card’s free replacement program and lifetime warranty, simply register your card online with Delkin.
Delkin Devices 160GB BLACK CFexpress Type A Memory Card
Read Speed: Maximum: 880 MB/s
Write Speed: Maximum: 790 MB/s
Sony 160GB CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Card
Read Speed Maximum: 800 MB/s
Write Speed Maximum: 700 MB/s
The Delkin 160GB BLACK CFexpress Type A Memory Card reads 10% faster than the comparable Sony card, and writes 13% faster. In addition, with Delkin you get a virtually indestructible card that comes with a lifetime 48-hour replacement guarantee. And I do not think that you want to run over your Sony card with a tank.
All Delkin Black cards are incredibly rugged and come with the 48-hour replacement guarantee. Find the right Delkin card for your camera in the BAA Online Store here.
Why Delkin Cards?
Whether I am photographing on a bucket-list trip to Snow Hill Island in Antarctica (via Russian icebreaker), or shooting Sandhill Cranes down by the lake near my home, I use and depend only on Delkin cards. Not only does Delkin make a great product, but they also stand behind their stuff (though that is rarely necessary).
I was very lucky to meet Alan Parry (then of Delkin) a zillion years ago at a NANPA meeting, actually in 2001. That was the very dawn of my digital age and I have been using Delkin cards from Day One. Delkin cards are as dependable as they get. I have put Delkin cards in the washing machine without a problem. I have even dropped them in saltwater with the same results. Once at Point Pelee my card spent about 8 hours in a plastic trash bag at a Chinese Restaurant filled with cooking fat, house special fried rice, and spare rib bones. Really. (Management kept insisting that they did not have the card but I persisted until they searched through the trash and found it.) Once I got my hands on the card, I brushed it off and was able to download my killer Red-headed Woodpecker and Baltimore Oriole images without a problem. Really. Just so you know, Delkin cards are made in the USA, right there in Poway, CA.
No matter how poorly you treat your Delkin card, the manufacturer will replace it free of charge. And they will do their very best to recover any images on the card. And they are pretty darned good at that.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
|
|
