What’s Up?
On Friday I took things very easy, coughed a lot, nebulized a lot, did lots of face dips, napped, and worked on some images from my last photo outing before COVID: St. Augustine Alligator Farm. My pulse OX was a constant 94-95 all day long. I am keeping a close eye on that as if it tanks, I will need to take some serious measures. Aside from the dry cough, I am feeling quite good. The Alligator Farm has the best Photo Pass around. I will be sharing Alligator Farm photo tips, SAAF Photo Pass details, and a suggestion for improving the pass system in the next blog post.
Today is Saturday 16 April 2022. I slept well and woke feeling much better. Pulse ox: 95. And best of all, the dry, hacking, tickily cough was gone. I will, however, continue to take it easy. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 40 minutes to prepare and makes thirty-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.
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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
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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.
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This image was created on 12 April 2022 at Okefenokee Swamp NWR during the BAA GNPA Post Expo IPT. 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 with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera body. ISO 400. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/200 sec. at f/16 (stopped down 2 2/3 stops) in Manual mode. AWB at 11:07:42am on a clear morning. Manual focus with focus peaking worked perfectly as it showed that the edges of all the petals were sharply focused at f/16. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: American White Waterlily. (Nymphaeaceae– waterlily family) |
True, False, or Ridiculous?
On my Wednesday morning visit to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, there were more than 50 photographers and several 600mm f/4 lenses. As is usually the case at the gator rookeries, I seriously doubt that anyone but me made a single decent image. If you were there and would like to send me a JPEG of your best image via e-mail, I would be glad to apologize publicly if you send me a decent photo. As at Gatorland, everyone was working in the bright sun and most folks were working well off sun angle with their lenses pointed at extremely cluttered nests. Lastly, nobody but me was using a teleconverter (much less the 2X). Photos and lessons tomorrow.
I spoke with a woman on the entry line. I had given her my card. She had no idea who I was. She told me that she was having problems over-exposing the bright white Great Egrets in full sun. She said emphatically, “It is impossible to avoid over-exposing the whites in that situation. I said, You are wrong. It is easy to do so. Try 1/2500 sec. at f/8 at ISO 400 and you should be very close to a perfect exposure. She said, “I am self-taught, and you are wrong. It is impossible. I said, Please trust me, you are self-confused. I’d be glad to help you when we get inside. That was the last of our conversation.
I retrospect, I had heard that argument before. Was I confused or was the lady way off base?
Photographing American White Waterlily in Bright Midday Sun
When we got off the boat on Tuesday morning, Erik Bowles guided us along the refuge drive in search of baby gators, turtles, and flowers. Most of the creek was lit by off-angled bright sun. Photographing the baby gators in the black, backlit water was an exercise in futility. I rested in the car for a bit, unaware that I was coming down with COVID. Anyhoo, I walked around a curve in the road and found a single water lily blossom in full sun not too far from the road. I started with the 2x but quickly dropped down to 840mm and moved a bit closer to the subject.
As a general rule, folks are advised not to photograph bright white subjects in full sun near midday. Should I have followed that advice with regards to Image #1? Why or why not?
Finally, what does this image have to do with my conversation with the woman on the Alligator Farm entry line?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
