Which of today’s three featured Red Knot images is your favorite? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
Just for the Record
If you are not using a Sony a1 for bird photography, you are making your life far more difficult than it needs to be. Period.
What’s Up?
When I crawled into bed after 9:00pm on Tuesday evening, I had one thought: What a great day to have been alive!
The first morning of the Spring 2022 Instructional Photo-Tour was beyond anything I could have dreamed of. Every year I tire of the “there are no birds at DeSoto” reports. Keep reading to learn what we experienced that morning. The afternoon, that ended with a dozen spoonbills, was one of my best DeSoto afternoons ever. But that is another story.
Today is Wednesday 27 April 2022. The forecast for St. Pete in the morning is not quite as good as it was on Tuesday morning, but partly cloudy with a light northeast breeze is nothing to sneeze at. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes forty-seven 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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
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.
This image was created on 26 April at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL. 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) with the One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1000. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was dead solid perfect: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:48:30am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to view the high-res JPEG.
Image #1: Red Knot in breeding plumage — classic field guide pose
Light and Deadly
With clear skies and an east wind on Tuesday morning I left the 600 f/4 GM lens and the tripod in my vehicle and headed out light, lean, and mean with the hand held Sony 200-600 GM lens and an a1. A single 1.4X TC was in my fanny pack, along with a soft paint brush — the better to whisk the sand off your expensive camera body, my dear. Our morning began with some handsome Laughing Gulls followed by an absolutely fluorescent Little Blue Heron in breeding plumage. As I had seen several groups of shorebirds flying up and down the beach, I suggested to the group that we walk to the Gulf and see if we could find some breeding plumage Red Knots. When we were ten yards from the water’s edge, a group of about forty knots landed right in front of us. Many were in full breeding plumage. I got the group seated in position and instructed everyone to mount their teleconverters. They did. The birds were copacetic. With the early morning light, the breaking waves, and the wet sand, conditions could not have been better. We worked the flock for almost 30 minutes. I created roughly 950 images and kept 98. I deleted about 500 perfect photographs.
This image was created on 26 April at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL. I used the hand held 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) with the One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1000. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was dead solid perfect: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:49:35am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to view the high-res JPEG.
Image #2: Red Knots in surf — sharp/soft juxtaposition
When Photographing Two Birds …
When photographing two birds on different planes, it is almost always best to focus on the closest bird. I love the juxtaposition of the two birds, and the differences in molt; the bird on our right is in full breeding plumage, the bird on our left still has a way to go. Note that I never entertained the thought of stopping down to attempt to get both birds in focus. With the birds at fairly close range and one several inches behind the other, getting enough depth of field to get both sharp would not have been practically possible. Not to mention that I love the soft/sharp look.
The Rest of the Morning
After I removed the TC, the rest of the morning was equally wonderful. We had lots of Royal Terns flying by at eye level with fish. Least Terns diving for bait. I made at least one really good Piping Plover flight image. We had Sanderling, Dunlin, Piping Plover, and Ruddy Turnstone in the surf. At my morning backup location, the action was nonstop. Dozens of wading birds fed on the greenbacks that escaped the fisherman’s nets while terns and pelicans dove and smash into hug schools of baitfish. Lunch and image review at the Neptune Grill was both delicious and educational. The highlight was making two videos of Red Knot image optimizations for the group.
This image was created on 26 April at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL. I used the hand held 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) with the One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1000. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was dead solid perfect: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:52:53am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to view the high-res JPEG.
Image #3: Red Knot scratching
Red Knot Basic Biology
Half of the population of Red Knots in North America winter at the tip of South America. They begin their northward migration in late March or early April when they join knots that wintered in the southeastern US. During their migration, they stop at food-rich locations where they will often double their weight in ten days laying fat on their breasts. Then they continue to their breeding grounds in the high Arctic, always above the Arctic Circle: they lay eggs on Banks, Victoria, and Baffin Island in northern Canada as the snow and ice are melting. In a perfect world, the eggs hatch just as the tundra comes to life with the hatching of the billions of insects that provide fodder for the world’s shorebird chicks.
Imagine that you are a 140-pound marathoner. You eat enough pasta in two weeks to double your weight to 280-pounds. Then you start running and do not stop until you are back to 140. That’s what Red Knots do every year.
The Flight of the Red Knot
The Flight of the Red Knot: A Natural History Account of a Small Bird’s Annual Migration from the Arctic Circle to the Tip of South America and Back, by my friend, Brian Harrington who devoted his life to the study of Calidras rufa, the Red Knot
This beautifully illustrated book follows the extraordinary 18,000-mile annual migration of the Red Knot. Click on the logo to purchase.
Red Knots are in the sandpiper family. They are barely ten inches long and weigh about twenty ounces. Each spring they breed above the Arctic Circle, but in the year that follows they will migrate to the southern tip of South America and back again in their quest for food. Why and how they travel more than 18,000 miles each year, often as many as 2,500 miles nonstop (and at speeds averaging between thirty and forty miles per hour), is the subject of this engrossing and beautifully illustrated book.
Based on a popular NOVA series on migration, The Flight of the Red Knot is the story of an ornithological marvel by one of the world’s foremost authorities. Here we learn of the marvelous physical equipment of the long-distance flyers, their extraordinary food storage capacity, and the nature of their ever-moving food supply. The methods of research into the Red Knots’ life cycle are also described. Bird lovers especially, but also anyone interested in nature will love this book.
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 early April, the group was up to an astounding 114 lucky and blessed folks. 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 three e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will see 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.
I headed for the West Coast of Florida and the DeSoto IPT just after 1:30pm on Monday. I had called the four folks on the IPT and invited them to a get-together session at the rookery in North Tampa, FL. The two first-timers were able to make it, so we had a good chance to go over the basics. As always at rookeries, photographing birds on the nest or at the colony is a challenge so we talked a lot about finding the best perspective.
I headed for my AirBnB in Gulfport and was all set up by 7:00pm and tucked in bed by eight. Today is Tuesday 26 April, Day 1 of the Fort DeSoto 2022 Spring IPT. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 45 minutes to prepare and makes forty-six 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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
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.
And 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 immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
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 25 April 2022 at the little-known rookery in North Tampa, FL. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber 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). The exposure was determined via Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/250 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 5:42:42pm with the subject in the shade on a mostly sunny afternoon.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Wood Stork chick in nest preening
The Situation
Subject-in-shade, background-in-sun is often one of my favorite situations. But for Image #1, the background had many light-toned distractions. It took some high stepping in Photoshop to optimize the image. That included using the Patch Tool and Content-Aware fill, and painting in a 65-pixel Gaussian Blur where needed on the background via a Hide-All (Black, or Inverse) Mask. All of that plus tons more as detailed in Digital Basics II.
As always, using your longest effective focal length at a wading bird rookery can yield some nice images by isolating the subject and reducing clutter (due in part to the narrow angles of view that you get when working at 840 or 1200mm).
This image was created on 25 April 2022 at the little-known rookery in North Tampa, FL. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber 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). The exposure was determined via Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/250 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 5:42:42pm with the subject in the shade on a mostly sunny afternoon.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1A: a 100% crop of the Wood Stork chick in nest preening image
Sony at 1200mm
With its beyond-superb AF system and stellar optics across the board, The Sony a1/2X TC/600 GM consistently produces the sharpest images I have ever had the pleasure of creating at 1200mm. To be able to use such a rig at relatively slow shutter speeds and produce such sharp images gives me a ton of confidence, not to mention some excellent results.
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 early April, the group was up to an astounding 114 lucky and blessed folks. 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 three e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will see 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.
I created 1352 images on Sunday morning in a bit more than an hour. On Saturday, an adult crane stood in the same spot for more than an hour and preened. On Sunday morning, it was in the same spot. I got down by the canal with the 600 f/4 and was determined to wait for an elegant wing stretch. I did not have to wait too long. From the beginning of the wing stretch until the bird re-folded its left wing, I created 122 images. Those included a few good ones. Next, I worked with the large colt family. Working vertically at 840mm, I was on one of the big colts as it ran across the South Peninsula to grab a big mole cricket from one of the parents. Though my shutter speed was marginal at 1/500 second, I did get a few good (sharp) ones. I was tooling around near the pier just about ready to head home when I spotted two fuzzy little birds on the grass. Then I photographed two Killdeer chicks for more than 45 minutes. They were the first I had seen at Indian Lake Estates in my 22 years here. What fun! I had given up finding the new chick, but on the way home I saw it with the parents on Park, two blocks up from the lakefront!
I finished editing the Z9 Camera User’s Guide and sent it to Warren Hatch via Hightail. I did my bursts and a swim after my nap and got back to work.
Today is Monday 25 April 2022. The forecast for this morning is for a gentle ENE breeze with clear skies, perfect for bird photography. I will be heading down to the lake for a short photo session. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes forty-five 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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
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.
This image is another that was created on 27 February 2022 on the second Homer IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 252mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel. ISO 50: 1/30 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:47:28am on a cloudy dark morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Bald Eagle adult — striking blur
Necessity, the Mother of Invention
When the birds are flying around in extreme low light conditions, you have a choice of trying to create a few pleasing blurs or working at high ISO settings while trying to create some sharp flight images. If my math is correct, you would have needed to use ISO 4000 to get to 1/2500 second. At Kachemak Bay, the tree-covered hillsides reflected in still, deep waters offer green backgrounds that are perfect for blurred eagles. I created almost 300 blurs during a 15-minute session and kept 16.
This image is another that was created on 27 February 2022 on the second Homer IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 186mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel. ISO 100: 1/30 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:55:49am on a cloudy dark morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Bald Eagle adult — striking blur II
Striking Splash Blur
Several images that I kept were created just as the bird struck. This resulted in some neat patterns with the spray caused by the splash. Compare the two images. Which is the stronger image? Why? Does anything bug you about Image #1? Does anything bug you about Image #2? Which image has the nicest background color?
Tracking: Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Counted and numbered Bald Eagles roosting on hillside
How Many Eagles?
In the blog post here, I asked, with regards to the image above, How many eagles?
The adults are numbered, the young birds were given a number with a J at the end, like 5J and 6J near the top of the tall tree. I counted 40. Did I miss any? Note: there is a Common Raven perched above eagles 29 and 30.
Both Muhammad Arif and Chris Davidson counted 40. Ted Willcox came up with 42, and Joel Eade with 39. Time will tell. One thing is for sure, that is a lot of eagles!
Homer 2022 Bald Eagle Highlights and Handholding Compositional Tips by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Enjoy and be inspired by just a few Homer Bald Eagle highlight images. Hand holding intermediate telephoto lens will always yield slightly different compositions. Learn more about that topic in this short (3:14) video.
All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK
2023 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs
IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers
IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4.
IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Openings: 4.
Save $1,000.00 by doing back-to-back trips. Save $1500.00 by doing all three.
These trips feature non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.
In addition, we should see Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require a ton of good luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when pleasing creating bird-scapes.
If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will be in the right spot.
We will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country; landscape and scenic opportunities abound.
Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader, who is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer.
You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes.
You will learn to make pleasing blurs working in manual mode and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode.
Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight images from tens of thousands of images.
You will enjoy working with the two best and most creative boat captains on their sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck crafts.
The second and third IPTs are the only Bald Eagle workshops that feature an incredibly helpful first mate.
Only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader.
Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.
All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK
What’s Included
One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants.
What’s Not Included
Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.
Please Note
On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips, or 24 hours for the second trip, the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour.
Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer.
Deposit Information
A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 90 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check as above.
In Closing
I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of the three trips is to sign up for all of them. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, two, or all three trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
