Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Worth the Weight? The Skinny on the Two New Canon Super-telephoto Lenses

This morning, February 7, 2011, Canon finally and officially announced the lightweight updated versions of both its 500mm and 600mm f/4L IS USM Series II professional super-telephoto lenses. Both are similar to the EF 300mm and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses that were released last August. The two new big guns feature completely new optical designs and water-repellant Fluorine coatings along with lighter weight construction. A new IS mode has been added that activates stabilization only during exposure. The lenses also offer optional long or short foot tripod mounts suitable for monopods or tripods and a smoother tripod collar rotation mechanism that should make it easier to rotate the lenses to vertical. (In the past, individual 500s and 600s often became quite sticky with age and some folks had problems right out of the box).

Here is the skinny on the weights:

The new 500 f/4L IS II weighs 7 pounds. This represents a weight reduction of 1.5 pounds from the 8.5 pound 500mm f/4 L IS.

The new 600 weighs only 8.8 pounds, down 3 full pounds from the weight of the 11.8 pound 600mm f/4 L IS lens.

The 800mm f/5.6L IS lens weighs 9.9 pounds.

The relatively new 800mm f/5.6 lens was the first to offer the amazingly revolutionary 4-stop Image Stabilization system. All four of the Series II super-telephoto lenses offer 4-stop IS.

The new 600 IS II offers far greater versatility than the 800mm and offers a longer effective focal length with functioning central sensor-only autofocus (1200mm with the 2X for the 600 IS II as compared to 1120mm with the 1.4X for the 800). In addition, the new 600 weighs 1.1 pounds less than the 800.

It should be mentioned at this time that the Series III teleconverters will offer improved AI Servo tracking accuracy only with the Series II Super-telephoto lenses. The micro-chips in the Series III TCs cannot communicate with the older super-telephoto lenses. Do note however that early reports indicate that the EF 2X Extender III is noticeably sharper than the EF 2X Extender II.

I will surely order one or both of the new lenses right off the bat….. If one, I have not decided which. Prices have not yet been announced 🙂

Here is the press release:

London, UK, 7th February 2011 – Canon today launches two new super-telephoto lenses for its leading EOS Digital SLR (DSLR) range – the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM and the EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM. Designed to meet the needs of the most demanding sports and wildlife photographers, both lenses offer breakthrough performance, delivering consistently high-quality images and incredible mobility. The launch of the models follows a development announcement in August 2010, and the display of prototypes at Photokina 2010 in Cologne, Germany.

Launching into Canon’s professional L-series, the models replace the widely-respected EF 500mm F/4L IS USM and EF 600mm F/4L IS USM, and are designed to achieve unparalleled levels of image quality. Each includes the highest-quality optics and the latest Canon Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, while magnesium alloy constructions with titanium components make each lens significantly lighter and even more durable. Launching as the lightest lens in its class*1, the EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM benefits from an exceptional 27% reduction (1.4kg) in weight compared to its predecessor, while the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM offers an impressive reduction of 17% (680g).

New levels of performance

Both lenses feature completely redesigned optics, with 16 elements in 12 groups. Canon has over 40 years of experience in the manufacturing of fluorite lens elements, and has utilized two high performance fluorite elements in these lenses– delivering high resolution, high contrast shots rich in detail across the frame.

Both lens’ optical elements feature Canon’s Super Spectra Coatings and a SubWavelength Structure Coating (SWC), optimized to effectively reduce ghosting and flare. A water-repellent fluorine coating is also used on the surface of the front and rear elements, repelling dust and dirt for clearer shots, and keeping the front element free of marks by ensuring water droplets run off the lens quickly.

Enhanced IS, precise AF

Both models feature Canon’s latest Image Stabilizer system, offering outstanding image quality during handheld shooting and allowing users to shoot at speeds up to four times slower than normally required. IS Mode 2 features new algorithms to improve performance when panning, and the new IS Mode 3 is also included, assisting users when switching between subjects by activating the IS unit only during exposure.

Both lenses offer a constant f/4 aperture, allowing photographers to achieve excellent image quality in low light and capture clear, sharp shots of fast-moving subjects. The wide aperture also allows users to creatively isolate their subjects from the background, with a nine-blade circular iris creating beautiful background blur that instantly adds atmosphere to an image.

Rapid, quiet Auto Focus (AF) is provided by a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM). Photographers can also utilize full-time manual focusing functionality, which enables the fine-tuning of focus even when the AF system is activated, providing even greater control over image capture. Power Focus mode also assists users during video shooting, allowing the photographer to smoothly adjust focus during filming by twisting the focus recall ring.

Premium L-series design

Both lenses have been designed as part of Canon’s renowned elite L-series, combining exceptional-quality optics with stylish designs. Both also feature a revised layout, with carefully-positioned controls that improve everyday operation. The AF stop buttons are now location-adjustable, improving ergonomics by allowing users to custom-select the position of the lens grip where the AF stop buttons are located.

Mechanical improvements include optional long or short foot tripod mounts suitable for monopods or tripods. An improved tripod collar rotational mechanism provides a smoother movement when turning the lens from portrait to landscape orientation, and a Kensington-type wire security lock has also been included, keeping the lenses secure during location-based shoots. The robust design is also weatherproof, making both lenses suitable for use in extreme conditions when paired with a weatherproof EOS body.

*1 According to Canon market research conducted in December 2010.

Series III 2X TC Gut Reaction

I got to try my brand new Series III 2X today and my gut reaction is that it is quite a bit sharper than the old 2X, the EF Extender 2X II. I have not done any formal testing and will not be able to do any for several months, but the sharp images that I created today with the new, new combo were exceptionally sharp. This Anhinga seemed about ready to jump off of the screen of my HP laptop…..

More on this to follow soon.

Ah, BTW, there is a post in the gear Forum with some examples of test images that showed that the new 2X was a bit sharper than the old 2x. Scroll down here to see some test images.

More on Depth of Field (Though Beyond Me….)

I received the e-mail below from Daniel Gomez-Ibanez in response to my comments on depth-of-field in the last blog post here. He covers lots of technical stuff, most of it far beyond me….. I am sure, however, that it will be of interest to at least a few of you. If you post any questions for Daniel, I will make sure that he sees them.

After reading your blog on depth-of-field I went to the DOF MASTER site and tried it out. The DOF calculations on this site seem very generous (that is, they yield a DOF which is much deeper than I’ve experienced using Canon digital bodies). Why? It’s because DOF MASTER is using a standard for “acceptably in focus” (the so-called “circle of confusion”) which doesn’t come close to doing justice to the resolving power of our lenses and our modern digital sensors.

Thanks again, Artie, for all your wonderful images and helpful writing. I’m always learning a lot from you and I’m a big fan!

Thanks for sharing your technical expertise with us Daniel.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X teleconverter.
Canon EF 2X III TC. As above, my initial reaction is that the new 2X III TC is much sharper then the 2X II TC. Both of the new (Series III) TCs have computer chips that will communicate only with the new Series II Super-telephotos. With those lenses we are hoping to see faster initial focusing acquisition and increased AI Servo AF tracking accuracy.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera bod.y And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used..

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card. Fast and dependable.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.

Abstract Thoughts

When I asked “Like it or Hate It?” in the last post here, I never expected such overwhelmingly negative responses; 4 for delete, 1 ambiguous, 1 OK “but only because I have been there,” and 1 sort of liked it. The image was received quite differently in my BPN thread that featured the same image: Seven loved the image and found it interesting and provocative. Zero hated it. You can see that thread here. Thanks to Marina Scarr for suggesting a crop from the right in Pane 10 there. The opening image here is similar but not identical to Marina’s crop.

Several folks stated or implied that they would delete the image because “they did not know what it was.” Jeez, I thought that that was the point of an abstract….

From Dictionary.Reference.com: abstract (adj.)

Fine Arts

a: of or pertaining to the formal aspect of art, emphasizing lines, colors, generalized or geometrical forms, etc., esp. with reference to their relationship to one another.

Go figure.

And oh, by the way, I liked the original but I like the repost above even more 🙂 No hard feelings though. (I never take it personally.) Heck, the last time folks were so vehemently against an image that I liked we sold it for $700 to Oprah magazine. You gotta love it.

Larry Warfield wrote, “I generally like the pattern, but the white on the right hand edge and the portion of the wing on the left hand edge keep distracting my eye from the interesting triangular pattern. I also wish the back was a little more in focus. That being said, it’s easier to be a critic that an artist. I wish I could take something, at all close to that good. Nice shot.”

The crop from the right takes care of the white. I too wish that the back were a bit more in focus but pelicans are very large bird and depth of field is quite limited with big lenses near minimum focusing distance. A quick visit to DOF Master revealed that with a focal length of 1200mm (the closest drop down menu value to 1120mm) and an aperture of f/11 (that’s what I used to create this image) that the total depth of field would be .36 inches, less than 1/2 inch. If I dropped down to f/22 the total depth of field would increase to .72 inches (just a shade less than 3/4 inch). That means that I would have gained .18 inch behind the neck (that’s where I focused) and .18 inch in front of the neck, i.e., the back. So stopping down from f/11 to f/22 would have gained only a fraction of an inch of extra d-o-f, not nearly enough to render the back feathers in sharp focus. Those back feathers are several inches closer to us than the neck….

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon 1.4X II teleconverter This is my most used accessory; I would be lost without it.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera bod.y And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used..

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Double Bubble Level You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card Fast and depen.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.

Two Simple But Great Tim Grey Photoshop Tips

When I created the image above, I had not cleaned my sensor in a while. When I processed the image, I noted three serious dust spots. I usually eliminate dust spots with the Patch Tool (“P” for me but not the default) but this time hit “J” for the Spot Healing Brush. Digital Basics folks will be familiar with the fact that I use lots of keyboard shortcuts (including many that I create myself such as “P” for the Patch Tool). In any case, I have been disappointed in the Spot Healing Brush ever since I switched to CS-5. When I have used it, I have always gotten smudging, even with something as simple as a dust spot. I had correctly set Content Aware on the Option bar but was still getting horrible smudging.

Whenever Tim Grey co-leads an IPT with me I make sure to have a list of Photoshop stuff that has been bugging me. (I am trying to sign him up for Bosque next year….) At the first opportunity, I asked him about the problems that I had been having with the Spot Healing Brush. He responded instantly, “What do you have the hardness set to?” “Zero,” I replied. “I teach folks to set the hardness of all brushes to 0%. ” “Wrong!” he said. “The Spot Healing Brush with Content Aware set works best at 100% hardness.” I tried it and it worked perfectly, not only for dust spots but in a variety of others situations as well.

“Furthermore,” he continued, “you complain that when you use the Clone Stamp Tool that you get color but no texture. What do you have the hardness set at?” “Zero again,” I said confidently. “Wrong again,” Tim shot back. Yikes, I thought, I have been teaching folks to set their brushes to 0% hardness for years. “50% works great for the Clone Stamp Tool,” said Mr. Grey. Not wanting to give in completely I set the hardness for my Clone Stamp Tool to 40% and have been thrilled with the improvement.

Live and learn. Thanks Tim!

Which coot image do you like better, the wide image or the tight image? If you leave a comment let us know why you prefer the one that you do.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera bod.y And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used..

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Double Bubble Level You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card Fast and depen.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.

Long Lens Depth-of-Field Question and a TC in the Pacific Tale

Here is the question: considering that the Heerman’s Gull (that’s the one in the front :)) was much more sharply rendered than the Brown Pelican in the back, what aperture do you think was used to create the image? Wide open for the combo is f/5.6.

BTW, here is a cute lover of what is story from La Jolla. On the morning before the IPT began I was checking out the current pelican situation. I went down to the shelf below while most folks stayed back by the platform so that the pelicans would have room to land on the point. Then I looked up and saw one guy standing up at full height and in plain view behind his tripod. I called up to him, “Excuse me sir. The birds have been very skittish this year. If you sit down or move back there would be a much better chance of the birds landing on the point.” He looked at me as if I were from outer space. I asked, “Do you have a problem with my request?” He said, “Listen Dude, I have been photographing here for 20 years and the birds have no problem with me being here.” I replied politely, “As I said, this year the birds are acting differently.” He stared at me and was obviously not going to back down so I said, “Whatever.”

I had one friend sitting with me. We sat so the birds would fly in and land. The birds refused to land up top because the dude guy was standing in full view so we had dozens of pelicans land right in front of us on the lowest cliff ledge, right into the wind. After about twenty minutes two guys–bored by the lack of birds on the upper cliffs, come down to the lower ledge with their tripods on their shoulders as if they were strolling down the supermarket aisle and were late for dinner. The birds freaked and moved to the lowest part of the cliff pretty much out of sight but for the one gorgeous bird on the perfect knobby rock to the right. I turned around and said, “Easy fellas. You just about scared away every bird.” As my new favorite author Lee Childs writes often, “They said nothing.” Any Jack Reacher fans out there?

In ten more minutes there were about 15 photographers standing behind us enjoying the pelican action. Including my friend the dude guy. At least the rest of the gang came down carefully and quietly. I though about trashing the dude guy by asking him how he could possibly have been wrong in view of his 20 years of experience. But fortunately I refrained.

Why fortunately? As it got hotter, I took off my sweatshirt on laid it beside me. At some point, I laid one of my two 1.4X teleconverters on the sweatshirt and folded the material on top of the TC. Fatal mistake…. For some reason I picked up the sweatshirt. The TC fell out of it and as fate would have it, it landed on its side and rolled inexorably down the cliff towards the Pacific Ocean. There was not even a tiny pebble to stop it. Everyone behind me gasped as it went over the edge. I laughed. It was an old one that had served me well and I would soon be ordering a Series III TC anyway. It was just part of staying in business and I try not to sweat the small stuff. Heck, I try not to sweat the big stuff either. That’s all part of being a lover of what is. (Check out the work of the wonderful Byron Katie at TheWork.com.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X teleconverter.
Canon EF Teleconverter 2X II. This 2X is currently being replaced by the EF 2X III TC.
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera bod.y And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used..

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Double Bubble Level You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card Fast and depen.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.

Using the Right Tool

After two hours of photographing feeding Marbled Godwits with the 800, I realized that I was simply working too tight; I was using the wrong tool. So I left my big lens on the beach, grabbed my favorite zoom lens along with the 2X TC, and waded back into the surf.

By using a shorter lens, I was able to include more of the gold beautiful reflections. When I reviewed my images, I was disappointed in all of the images made with my big lens. The image above was my favorite by far.

Surf Scoter Image Quiz Comments

In the January 18, 2011 blog post here, I posted two Surf Scoter head portraits and asked five questions. You will find them below, along with my comments.

1-If you see a drake Surf Scoter swimming right at you on a sunny day would you want to be in Av Mode or in Manual Mode? And why? (Clue: there is only one right answer….)

You need to be in Manual mode. As several folks pointed out, as the bird gets larger in the frame there will be more black influencing the meter resulting in the bright whites being over-exposed. Becky was the first to answer correctly. Kudos to Kaustubh for his excellent explanation:

“When the …. light is constant, better to be in manual metering mode so that …. changes do not change the exposure. Exposure preset so as to not blow the whites/red but have them pretty close to the right side of histogram( which will make sure blacks aren’t blocked).”

2-However you choose to expose in the above situation what should be your main concern be?

My main concern was to avoid over-exposing those very bright whites. I created a single image in Av Mode when the bird was far away and saw that the two large patches of white were flashing at 1/1000 sec. at f/8 so I went a third stop darker to 1/1250 sec. at f/8 and eliminated the blinkies. As the bird swam closer to us I stopped down to 1/640 sec. at f/11 for the first image in the post. (At a given aperture, depth of field at a given aperture is reduced as the subject gets closer to the camera; that’s why you need to learn to stop down when working close to your lenses minimum focusing distance.) When the bird swam right up to the boardwalk I noted that I had a few blinkies so I stopped down an additional 1/3 stop to 1/640 sec. at f/13.

3-Which of the two images is your favorite? And why?

I love them both but favor the first image just a bit because of the crystal clear reflection and the softer blue water.

4-Why is the water a darker blue in the second image?

When the bird was a good distance from the boardwalk, the water reflected the distant, very light blue sky not too far above the horizon because the angle of declination of the lens is relatively shallow. As it got closer to the boardwalk I needed to point the lens down more and the angle of declination became steeper. Now the water reflected the darker blue sky more directly overhead…. When you are working from well above the water the sky will become progressively darker as the bird gets closer. That’s why its great to get down on the ground when possible.

5-The first image has a critique-able flaw. BPN Out of the Box Forum moderator Denise Ippolito spotted it in an instant. What flaw was she talking about? (Clue: it is not something subjective; it is something that can be proven….)

If you draw a line from the the pupil in the bird’s eye in to the pupil in the reflection in the first image, you will see that the image needed a small clockwise rotation. Subhrashis was on the right track there 🙂

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X teleconverter.
Canon EF Teleconverter 2X II. This 2X is currently being replaced by the EF 2X III TC.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera bod.y And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used..

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card. Fast and dependable.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.

“I Know Him Pretty Well…”

When I got to Bolsa early on Monday morning, there were very few birds around. Very few. Some Lesser Scaups, a few Ring-billed Gulls, and some Willets flying by. Yikes. I made the drive up from San Diego as I had an appointment with human health specialist Melvin Tann at his new office in Santa Ana. The guy is amazing. Learn more about Zenergy here. In any case, I did not know of any other options so I stayed to see if anything developed. I chatted with the first photographer to arrive after me, a really nice guy named Art Holland. He told me that some Surf Scoters had flown in in the morning the previous day and hung out near the boardwalk. Ah, I had hope. I had photographed this species on film at Bolsa more than a decade ago and was excited about having a chance on them with digital.

Two more photographers showed up and at about 7:20 am so did the scoters: two adult males, two females, and an immature male flew in and landed about 100 yards from the boardwalk. Within ten minutes a single drake began swimming towards us and we had some good chances. Note: the two images in this blog were not created until just before 9am in relatively harsh light. (“When the light is bright, think tight.”)

After our first scoter chance, I heard one of the photographers say, “I’d love to go to one of his workshops or seminars but they are just too expensive. I think that he has a seminar in San Diego soon.” Half curious and half pretty sure that they were talking about me I asked, “Who are you guys talking about?” One of them answered, “Art Morris.

I said, “I know him pretty well. Very well in fact.” I walked up to the first guy, put my hand out and said, “Your name…” “Don Burd,” he answered. “Arthur Morris,” I responded. I don’ think that Art or Ramon, yet another nice guy, had had a clue as to who I was. But as soon as I said “Arthur Morris,” each began to smile. Don looked quite confused for a few moments. Eventually it registered with him and he blurted out “No way!” “Way” I said. And we all had a good laugh.

Surf Scoter Image Questions

1-If you see a drake Surf Scoter swimming right at you on a sunny day would you want to be in Av Mode or in Manual Mode? And why? (Clue: there is only one right answer….)

2-However you choose to expose in the above situation what should be your main concern be?

3-Which of the two images is your favorite? And why?

4-Why is the water a darker blue in the second image?

5-The first image has a critique-able flaw. BPN Out of the Box Forum moderator Denise Ippolito spotted it in an instant. What flaw was she talking about? (Clue: it is not something subjective; it is something that can be proven….)

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon 1.4X II teleconverter This is my most used accessory; I would be lost without it
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Double Bubble Level You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card Fast and dependable.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.

Two Tramps in Mud Time

At the very end of the January 13 blog post, My Thoughts on “Bright Ideas: You be the Photo Editor”, I wrote: “A parting thought: after viewing the lightbox consider how blessed a life I have led….”

This morning while checking the comments I found this:

Glen Fox (January 14, 2011 at 9:24 am) re: ”A parting thought; after viewing the light box consider how blessed a life I have led…”

It takes a wise man to realize that. Where you have travelled, what you have seen and witnessed, captured and created is certainly a gift. Your days as a school teacher clearly were a blessing to some of your students who went out of their way to tell you and thank you. You are one of the lucky few who have never had a job, but rather a vocation. It hasn’t always been an easy road. Thank you for sharing it with us. We are all the richer for it.

I responded: “Thanks Glen for your kind, appreciative, and supportive comment.”

As I read Glen’s comment, the word vocation immediately spurred thoughts of a Robert Frost poem that had grabbed my attention a few years ago. But I could not remember the title. I remembered vocation, Frost, and two eyes. So I typed “vocation Frost two eyes” into the Google address bar and hit Enter. Bingo. In less than a fraction of a second “Two Tramps in Mud Time” appeared at the top of the list. It was the first of 200,000 hits that were brought up in 9/100 of one second. Talk about an amazing time to be on the planet….

Probably my very greatest blessing is that I love what I do. I love making images. And I love teaching others to make better images. My job is my passion. And that is good 🙂

TWO TRAMPS IN MUD TIME

Out of the mud two strangers came
And caught me splitting wood in the yard,
And one of them put me off my aim
By hailing cheerily “Hit them hard!”
I knew pretty well why he had dropped behind
And let the other go on a way.
I knew pretty well what he had in mind:
He wanted to take my job for pay.

Good blocks of oak it was I split,
As large around as the chopping block;
And every piece I squarely hit
Fell splinterless as a cloven rock.
The blows that a life of self-control
Spares to strike for the common good,
That day, giving a loose my soul,
I spent on the unimportant wood.

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.

A bluebird comes tenderly up to alight
And turns to the wind to unruffle a plume,
His song so pitched as not to excite
A single flower as yet to bloom.
It is snowing a flake; and he half knew
Winter was only playing possum.
Except in color he isn’t blue,
But he wouldn’t advise a thing to blossom.

The water for which we may have to look
In summertime with a witching wand,
In every wheelrut’s now a brook,
In every print of a hoof a pond.
Be glad of water, but don’t forget
The lurking frost in the earth beneath
That will steal forth after the sun is set
And show on the water its crystal teeth.

The time when most I loved my task
The two must make me love it more
By coming with what they came to ask.
You’d think I never had felt before
The weight of an ax-head poised aloft,
The grip of earth on outspread feet,
The life of muscles rocking soft
And smooth and moist in vernal heat.

Out of the wood two hulking tramps
(From sleeping God knows where last night,
But not long since in the lumber camps).
They thought all chopping was theirs of right.
Men of the woods and lumberjacks,
The judged me by their appropriate tool.
Except as a fellow handled an ax
They had no way of knowing a fool.

Nothing on either side was said.
They knew they had but to stay their stay
And all their logic would fill my head:
As that I had no right to play
With what was another man’s work for gain.
My right might be love but theirs was need.
And where the two exist in twain
Theirs was the better right–agreed.

But yield who will to their separation,
My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where love and need are one,
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really done
For Heaven and the future’s sakes.

I am not sure how I did it, but I have united my avocation and my vocation “as my two eyes make one in sight.” And for that I am glad.

I am holed up in the Marriott Courtyard Orlando Airport. I fly to San Diego at 6:55am tomorrow for a few appointments with health care professional friends and the sold out IPT that begins on Tuesday and ends on Sunday. I will be back soon with some pelican images 🙂 This trip begins a four month stretch of extensive travel for me; I will be visiting San Diego, Everglades National Park, conducting the sold out SW President’s Week IPT, speaking in the cold at Klamath, Oregon, flying to Greece for the sold out Dalmatian Pelican IPT, flying to Homer with Robert O’Toole for two sold out Bald Eagle IPTs, and then flying to Hawaii for five days and continuing on to Midway. Yikes! Folks often ask me, “Don’t you hate waking up in a motel more than half the year?” My answer, “If I did not love the travel I would stay home.”

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X teleconverter.
Canon EF Teleconverter 2X II. This 2X is currently being replaced by the EF 2X III TC.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera bod.y And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used..

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card. Fast and dependable.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.

My Thoughts on “Bright Ideas: You be the Photo Editor”

It’s been a while since I posted “Bright Ideas: You be the Photo Editor.” Helen Longest-Saccone, the Editor-in-Chief of Nature Photographer magazine, has been busy up in Maine working on some new projects and just got back to me yesterday with her selects. I will share those with you at the end of this post. You will find the original post here. And you can view the Editor’s Lightbox here.

Do understand that I love each of the images in the lightbox; I never send anything out for consideration that I do not judge to be technically excellent and artistically pleasing. Here I present my picks for each category. If you would like to see the tech specs you can find them with each image in the lightbox in slideshow mode. They will be on the lower left and you will need to scroll down a bit to view them. Thanks a stack to all who tried their hand at making the selections.

To learn more about Nature Photographer magazine click here but do not expect to connect until the blizzard leaves Maine 🙂

My Picks

Below are my category picks each followed by a brief educational comment.

I remember moving the blind a bit every ten minutes so that the sun angle lined up perfectly with the left edge of the tiny man-made pond.

Here the sun was coming a shade from the right so I got in tight and used just a bit of flash.

With a bright sunny midday to contend with I used a Better Beamer on my flash and used full power: Manual Mode at 1:1 know that there was no way I could overexpose the shaded undersides of the bird. I was right! This very old digital image was created in January 2001 with the EOS-1D. Heck, it might have been 2002 if I had the date wrong on the camera….

This one was created at 10:31 am with a warming polarizer screwed onto the front of my 100-400 zoom lens and rotated to dark as possible. You can purchase the 77mm size here. You can learn lots more about creating pleasing blurs in “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” by Denise Ippolito and yours truly.

Here the flower was backlit by the strong New Mexico sun. The background was a pile of dirt that was obviously in its own deep shade!

Linda Robbins, the Hummingbird Queen, kindly shaded this patch of flowers for me with her body as I photographed it with a 500mm lens and two extension tubes.

I was walking down the beach in bright sun with a group. I said, “I want to find a flat rock completely covered with barnacles. But the barnacles need to be on the shaded side of the rock. And it needs to be a big rock so I don’t have to get down on my knees on this rocky beach. When we find the perfect rock, I will use a gold reflector to light up the barnacles.” I did just what I said, set up the image with the 180 macro lens (and film!). I invited the group to check out my image by looking through the viewfinder. (There were no LCD screens on film cameras….) Well, the first person who checked out my image immediately commented, “You are SO lucky.” Man, you gotta love it.

Since working right down sun angle is the most valuable tip that I can give for those hoping to create pleasing images in bright sun, I used two image to illustrate the concept 🙂

Helen’s Picks

Below are Helen’s picks. She was not constrained by categories as you were 🙂

American Wigeon head portrait calling male, Bosque Del Apache NWR, San Antonio, NM.jpg
Roseate Spoonbill wing stretch, Alafia Banks, Tampa Bay, FL
Marine Iguana showing teeth, Punta Espinoza, Fernandina, Galapagos.jpg
Yellow-billed Kite-best, Ngorngoro Crater, Tanzania
Olive Baboon yawning, Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania
Ring-necked Duck, vertical, head w water drops, Phoenix AZ
Mew Gull on nest in shade, Kukak Bay, Katmai National Park, AK
Horned Puffin flared flight backlit, Duck Island, Lake Clark National Park, AK
Sunflower backlit vertical, Bosque Del Apache NWR San Antonio NM
Gentoo Penguin, vertical w bill open, Sea-Lion Island,Falkland Islands
Turkey-Vulture, vertical, Indian Lake Estates, FL

You can view Helen’s picks in the Editor’s Lightbox here.

Helen picked 11 images so that she would have some leeway when it comes time for the color layout. We only picked two of the same images. No problema there as I did say that I love all of them. I love the spoonbill wing stretch. And the iguana showing its teeth. Canon chose that one for an on line Photo District News advertorial. Not sure how I did not pick the Olive Baboon yawning; it was created on a hellaciously sunny and hot afternoons in a deep forest. An instant before I created this image one of the clients asked, “Why are we here?” I pushed the shutter button, showed him the image on the back of the camera, and said, “Here’s why.” He of course missed the image…..

I will see you all again soon. Thanks to the almost 100 folks who have already ordered their Lens Align Mark IIs from us and to those who commented favorably on the tutorial. A parting thought: after viewing the lightbox consider how blessed a life I have led….

The Eider Hen Images/The Best of All Worlds

In the “Which is the Best? Keep two. Delete one. Why?” post here, folks did a great job with their comments. Thanks a stack to all who pitched in. I urge everyone to read the comments that accompany each post 🙂 When I first wrote this entry, my favorite image was A with B a close second. As it turns out reading your comments, revisiting the images, and re-thinking the whole nine yards proved that I was wrong on all counts; yes, you heard it here first, I was wrong on all counts.

With the bird swimming slightly away, the head in A was turned a bit too much back toward us. But the cleaner still water in front of the bird’s head in A was much nicer than the dark wavelets in B. With the bird swimming slightly away, B had the perfect head angle. But the dark wavelets and the drop of water on the bill were negatives. C is a strange one. With the bird swimming slightly away the pretty much parallel to the imaging sensor head angle is by-the-book perfect, but it simply does not work for me here as it gives the impression that it might actually be turned a bit away from us. But oh, that lovely drop in just the right place.

So what was I to do? I wound up (thanks to your comments…) liking Image B the best and used that as my base image. I painted a big Quick Mask of the calmer water in front of the bird in A, brought it into B on a layer, and used a Layer Mask to fine tune it. Then I cloned away the remaining dark wavelet right in front of the bird’s bill. Next I used a series of small Quick Masks to get rid of the drop of water on the bill. Lastly I painted another Quick Mask of the drop of water from C and brought that into B after removing yet another dark wavelet from below the sea duck’s bill. As I said, the best of all worlds. Thanks for your help.

I will now address a few specific comments.

Joerg asked, “Real question IMO: why does the brightness vary so much in a burst? Not sure you saw my BPN post about my (rented) 1DMkIV at Bosque showing frame-to-frame brightness variations. I think it was Jim Neiger suggesting that it may be due to a hanging shutter…

That might be possible, but do consider the following: when working in an automatic mode such as Av as I was for this series of images, even though the shutter speed shows as the same (1/800 sec.) for each image, it is actually an approximation. Because of tiny differences in framing one image might have been made at 1/720 sec. while another was made at 1/880 sec. resulting in small differences in tonality.

Johan asked, “Will you be at the NANPA Summit in March, Mr. Morris? I’ve received a High School Scholarship to attend, and it’d be cool to meet you.”

Actually, after a decade of trying to understand, I have had it with the favoritism, the cliques, and the political game-playing that rule NANPA. I have long supported both the high school and college scholarship programs with my time and money, and with the donation of books and large discount certificates for various IPTs. I have been privileged over the years to have worked with several high school groups on field trips and know for sure that I changed at least one life, that of Tyler Evert. I was offered a keynote presentation at the Charlotte Summit only because slated incoming president, my friend and colleague Darrel Gulin, stood before the board and said, “Arthur Morris is good for NANPA. If he is not offered a keynote in Charlotte I will not accept the presidency.” I got a standing ovation from 700 folks and I will always remember it as one of the great highlights of my career.

Since then I have submitted a proposal to speak almost every year. I have asked to be considered as a presenter at the various NANPA regional conferences. And I have shared my concerns with the past few NANPA boards. I was always told that the board valued the appearance of big name pros like myself, but when it came to speaking again I have been and still am personna non grata. Several years ago I was honored as a NANPA fellow, and at last year’s Forum the board went so far as to honor me with a NANPA Service Award. But my requests to speak were consistently either turned down or ignored. Have a great time at Summit.

Be sure to seek out and find the various board and program committee members and thank them for my absence. I do hope that our paths cross somewhere down the line. Say “Hi” to Ray Klass and the rest of this year’s scholarship students for me. Hey, when you have a chance, shoot me an e-mail.

Becky Field nailed the bonus question in the first comment (and thus spoiled my fun) when she answered correctly: “Bonus: you’re missing 99% of action if shooting 10 frames per second at 1/1000th of a sec.” I am, however, pretty sure that she learned that on the San Diego IPT last year….. Try asking that one at your camera club meeting; most folks will not have a clue 🙂

A 45-Point AF Question Answered

In a comment at yesterday’s “45-Point AF for Flight on the Hooptie Deux” post here, Jeff asked:

“Are you talking about all 45 points vs. picking a single point or are you using C. Fn. III-8, selection 3? What is the difference?”

I was talking about activating all 45 points by moving the active AF point manually to the edge of the array so that all of the outer points light up. (I used to call that the “ring of fire.”)

The difference between that and setting C. Fn. III-8-3 is that with C. Fn. III-8-3 you would first select a single point ; the setting would tell the system to utilize the 45 “surrounding” points if need be.

Here is an excerpt from the Mark IV User’s Guide that should help:

C. Fn. III-8 (AF expansion with selected point). C. Fn. III-8-1, 8-2, and 8-3 can be set to activate additional focusing points that surround the manually selected focusing point. 8-1 allows the AF system to utilize the AF point on either side of the active point, 8-2 allows it to use any of the immediate surrounding points. And 8-3 activates allows the AF system to use any one of the 45 AF points to continue to focus track.

For photographing birds in flight most folks either stick with the default setting so that they are using only the selected sensor; this should yield pinpoint focusing accuracy. Others like setting 8-1 as it makes it a bit easier to track the subject. You might wish to experiment with all of the choices in various situations here and see how you do….

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Double Bubble Level You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card Fast and dependable.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.