January 25th, 2022 Your Favorite?
Which of today’s four featured images is the strongest? Please leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice. I feel that two of the images are far stronger than the other two, and of those two, I have a very clear favorite. Comments on the two best are of course welcome.
What’s Up?
Well, nobody signed up for the Mini IPT. Yesterday, Monday, would have been Day 1. It turned out to be the best day of my trip so far. Where the lower shelf had been totally empty the day before, there were more than 100 pelicans packed onto just a small portion of the lower shelf. There were lots of chances for flight, and with so many birds so close together, lots of chances to isolate the subject, provided that you had the right rig in your hands.
New a1 Group member Kitty Kono sent me a quote that multiple IPT veteran and BAA-friend Larry Master posted to her hopping flicker image on her FB page here.
Larry wrote:
I bought an a1 and associated lenses a year ago. I love it, esp. with the 200-600 w/ 1.4, my standard set-up. I use all of Artie Morris’ settings, causing almost all images, esp. flight shots, to be razor sharp on the eye. And exposure is easily nailed using the control wheel to dial the ISO. I have never had such a great bird photography camera!
Though I have used the 1.4X TC with the 2-6, I had not really considered it for flight. So thanks, Larry, for your kind comment and for inspiring to try flight with the TC in place.
After early morning on the cliffs, I headed down the coast and look for pelicans skimming the waves. I was fairly successful, and was planning on doing ever better today (until I saw the weather forecast …)
I almost didn’t go out in the afternoon, but after checking the wind — strong from the south — I headed back to La Jolla and enjoyed some superb flight photography with the tripod-mounted 600mm f/4 lens with and without the 1.4X TC. Sunset looked promising at first, but fizzled (just as I ran out of space on my card). It was a fitting end to a great day.
Today is Tuesday 25 January 2022. The forecast is for today is for mostly to partly cloudy. That’s a bummer as I was getting used to the sun! 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 and makes 74 days in a row with a new one.
Please remember that 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.
SONY and artie
Switching to SONY, first with the a9 and the a9 II, and then to the remarkable a1, has enabled me (and others, like Mike De Rosa as seen a while ago in the blog post here), to create images of birds in flight and in action that I could never even dreamed of when using Canon for 33 years, and then Nikon for more than two. Most of the time I am using one of two AF methods that together, cover about 99% of the commonly-encountered bird photography situations. At present, I am experimenting beyond those … Learn more by joining the group! (I’ve recently switched to two other AF Methods!)
From long-time group member Craig Elson who has helped me often and immensely by answering some tough a1 questions, via e-mail
Artie, Thanks so much for consolidating and re-organizing all of the threads. I can only imagine how helpful this will be to someone opening the box on their new a1, not to mention your CAMSETA2.DAT file. And I think that was the first, and likely the last, time, that I will be referred to as “the estimable!”
From Long-ago IPT veteran Keith Kennedy via e-mail
Absolutely great information. I am calling Jim in a few minutes to order a couple of Delkin 128GB UHS-II cards. Your timely email has saved me a ton of money! Many thanks
In the same vein, via e-mail from John LeClair
Well, e-mail #21 alone was worth the price of admission!
From Pamela Viale, after receiving artie’s a1 settings along with detailed instructions on how to copy them to her SONY a1 via e-mail
This e-mail group has been an incredible boon to me! Thank you so much!
From Joe Barranco via e-Mail
Thanks for your great ideas on the A1 set up. I have been getting MANY more keepers doing things your way!
From Barbara White via e-Mail
Wow, I just gotta say – I learn so much from the SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info group! My camera is on my desk, and I’m always picking it up and changing something that I’ve read about in the e-mails.
Thanks, Barbara
From Janet Horton via e-Mail
Hi Artie, Mystery solved. Yes, I was able to replicate what you did. I forgot that you have to set self-timer using the upper dial. I am used to that being a MENU selection.
Thanks much, Janet
SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up 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. Last week, two folks in the group ordered a third a1! I am envious. The group is now up to an astounding 104 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 all who wish, can request 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. I finally finished the consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE and distributed it yesterday. New a1 folks will now receive three e-mails instead of the previous 28! It is a lot easier on me and is an incredible resource for folks new to the a1.
All who purchased their Alpha a1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link will receive a free subscription to the Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up and Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.) This same service may be purchased by anyone with an a1 body via a $150.00 PayPal sent to birdsasart@verizon.net indicating payment for Alpha a1 Info & Updates. Alternatively, folks can call Jim weekdays at 1-863-692-0906 to pay via credit card. New members will receive composite e-mails that summarize all previous discussions.
|
|
|
This image was created on 24 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 708mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 640. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was dead solid-perfect: 1/640 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:14:17am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to view the high-res version.
Image #1: Brown Pelicans tandem bathing
|
A Twenty-year Wait Ends: Right Time, Right Place, Right Rig!
The pelicans sometimes bathe in the ocean below the main cliffs. They are usually too far away. Or they are way off sun angle. Or I do not have a long enough lens. On Monday, after a 20-year wait, I had a good chance with a single bathing pelican at 8:12am. The dam had burst. More than an hour later, two pelicans landed very close to the cliffs and very close to being right on sun angle. Having the 1.4X TC on the 200-600 turned out to be perfect. Note here that I actually needed to zoom out a bit. Out of hundreds of images, I kept 24. This was my favorite of the bathing birds.
|
|
|
This image was created on 24 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 766mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 500. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was dead perfect: 1/1250 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:30:54am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Center Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to view the high-res version.
Image #2: Brown Pelican head throw — viewed from below
|
Reach, Great AF, and Versatility
Sitting on my favorite perch above the pelicans, the 280-840mm combo gives me great reach, superb AF, the ability to isolate the subject, and the ability to zoom out from 840mm as needed (as with Images #1 and #2). Had I been at 600mm it would have been impossible to isolate the subject in Images #2 and #4. In short the 200-600/1.4X TC/a1 combo is beyond deadly on sunny days. Not to mention that it is hand holdable for most folks in reasonably good condition.
|
|
|
This image was created on 24 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 500. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: RawDigger showed that the exposure was about 1/3 stop under: 1/1250 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:34:42am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to view the high-res version.
Image #3: Brown Pelican adult in flight at 840mm
|
Hand Held Flight at 840mm?
A regular readers know, I cannot hand hold the 600mm f/4 GM lens for more than a few moments. Though it is the lightest and best balanced 600mm f/4 lens on the market, it is pretty much too heavy for me to hand hold it for more than a minute or two. Thanks again to Larry Master for inspiring me to try it for pelican flight. I was quite surprised that this image was critically sharp at “only” 1/1250 sec. I strive to do all of my flight photography with shutter speeds of at least 1/2500 sec. When this bird flew by, I followed my oft-given advice: shoot now and ask questions later. Had I tried to raise the shutter speed to 1/2000 sec. and increase the ISO to 800, I would have missed the shot.
In the same vein, Jordan Cait who has been doing a great job of proof-reading the blog recently, and teaching me some grammar as well, ends every-mail with this quote:
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky, hockey legend.
|
|
|
This image was created on 24 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1000. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect: 1/1600 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:42:57am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to view the high-res version.
Image #4: Brown Pelican in mega-breeding plumage/preening head portrait
|
The Sweetest Backgrounds
When the distance from the subject to the background is constant, the longer the focal length, the sweeter the background. With image #4, I was working the closest pelican at 840mm; the bird was teed up on a rock about 15 feet from me. I was seated, so when I had the viewfinder to my eye, there were other pelicans in the background. Holding my rig just above the ground while working off the tilted rear monitor effectively moved the background farther from the bird, and eliminated the distracting elements at the bottom of the frame. The result? As clean, as soft, and as sweet a Pacific-blue background as you could ever dream of.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
January 24th, 2022 What’s Up?
I had a perfect plan in place for Sunday morning at La Jolla with perfect conditions. But the wind died and more than 200 pelicans sat on the opposite cliff until they flew off to the southwest to go fishing. You gotta love it.
The rest of the day was football. The LA Rams were killing the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a good portion of the game. After four lost fumbles by the Rams who were trying their best to give the game away, the score was tied with less than a minute to go. With no time-outs, Rams QB Matthew Stafford moved the team right down the field by connecting on two passes with all-star receiver Cooper Kupp. Matt Gay kicked the winning field goal that sealed Brady’s and Tampa Bay’s fate. Three games, three game-winning field goals by the underdogs with no time on the clock! What could be more exciting?
In the nightcap, the Kansas City Chiefs, lost a shootout to the Buffalo Bills. The lead changed hands three times with three touchdowns in the last two plus minutes. Both quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen were superb, but it was Allen who had the last laugh after a Mahomes to Tyreek Hill catch and TD-run slant pass put the Chiefs ahead with just 62 seconds left in the game. You can’t win em’ all.
I wrote the paragraph above in good faith, firmly believing that the Chiefs had lost when the Bills scored to go ahead with just 13 seconds left in the game. The Chiefs got the ball and after two complete passes — Mahomes to Hill and Mahomes to Kelce, Harrison Butker kicked the tying field goal. The game went to overtime. The Chiefs won the coin toss and marched down the field to win the game.
As much as I love the Chiefs, the NFL overtime rule needs to be changed, at least for the playoffs. If the team that gets the ball first kicks a field goal, the other team gets a chance to tie with a field goal or win the game with a touchdown. If the team that gets the ball scores a touchdown, however, the game is over. That simply is not fair. Josh Allen at least deserved a chance.
The Bills coach, however, pretty much lost the game. He had his kicker kick the ball into the end zone after the Bills went ahead with just 13 seconds left. Had he ordered a squib kick, a sort of ground ball, the clock would have run and Mahomes almost surely would not have had time to engineer the drive for the tying field goal …. Final in overtime: KC 42, Bills 36. Did I mention that Tyreek Hill is fast?
Today is Monday 24 January 2022. The forecast again is for cool, clear, and sunny with a gentle breeze from the northeast. I will be heading back to La Jolla. 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 73 days in a row with a new one.
Please remember that 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.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission on items priced at $1,000 or more. With items less than $1000, there is a $50 flat-fee. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. If you are interested, please click here, read everything carefully, and do what it says. To avoid any misunderstandings, please read the whole thing very carefully. If you agree to the terms, please state so clearly via e-mail and include the template or templates, one for each item you wish to sell. Then we can work together to get your stuff priced and listed.
Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice only to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past years, we have sold many hundreds of items. Do know that prices for used gear only go in one direction. Down. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
Sony a9 II Mirrorless Camera Body
Dennis Westover is offering a Sony a9 II mirrorless camera body in excellent condition for a BAA record-low $2349.00. The sale includes the original box and everything that came in it including the manuals, one battery, the charger, the front body cap, the strap, the USB cable and cable protector, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US-addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Dennis via e-mail or by phone at 1-206-605-0404 (Pacific time zone).
As things worked out, the a9, and then the a9 ii, turned out to be life-changers for me. From the moment I tracked that first incoming Brandt’s Cormorant at LaJolla, I knew that at that time, the SONY a9 series bodies featured the world’s best AF. I upgraded to the a9 ii as soon as it was released for the slightly larger body size. At one point I owned two a9 ii bodies. A new a9 ii sells for $4,498.00 so you can save a very nice $2149.00 by grabbing Dennis’s a9 ii ASAP. Not to mention that the new Sony A1 sells for $6498.00 … artie
|
|
|
This image was created on 22 January 2022 at Santee Lakes Preserve in Santee, CA. Seated while working off the (no-longer-available) Induro GIT 304L tripod topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro, I used the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 400. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/1000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:32:02am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed quite well. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Northern Shoveler resting/Sidelit!
|
A Rare Sidelit Image!
When it is sunny, I rarely photograph more than 10 degrees or so on either side of sun angle. Most of the time, I want my shadow pointed directly at the subject. Except of course, when creating silhouettes. There I generally want the sun right behind the subject to maximize the silhouette effect and the color. It is extremely rare that I even try to create side-lit images. And it is far rarer still that I like a side-let image.
I am not sure exactly why I chose to work about 80 degrees off sun angle for today’s featured image, but the following surely influenced me to try:
- 1- I was able to be a lot closer to the bird by shooting way off sun angle.
- 2- If I had been right on sun angle, there would have been a stand of ugly reeds as the upper background.
- 3- The duck was, well, it was a sitting (actually floating) duck. It floated at rest in the same exact spot for several minutes. And it looked very peaceful.
4- By working off light angle, I was able to enjoy the dark and very dramatic background.
5- I knew that Sony’s Zebra technology would make it easy to create a very good exposure in an extremely difficult situation. Heck, with Zebras, there are no extremely difficult exposure situations. They are all relatively easy.
6- As the duck spun very slowly in a circle, I was able to press the shutter button only when the eye was relatively well lit.
In any case, I love the side-lit result. What do you think? What do you like What don’t you like? What is your favorite part of the image?
|
|
Image #1A: RawDigger screen capture for the Northern Shoveler resting/Sidelit! image.
|
Almost Perfect!
Images where the G channel gets 2/3rds of the way from the 8000 to the 16000 line are perfect exposures. Images where the G channel gets right up to the line are dead-solid perfect. With just 3 OvExp pixels out of 51,000,000 and the G channel just a hair short of the 8000 2/3rds line, this is a near-perfect exposure in a very difficult situation.
RawDigger — not for the faint of heart …
Nothing has ever helped me learn to create perfect exposures to the degree that RawDigger has. I think that many folks are reluctant to learn that most of their images are underexposed by one or more full stops and that highlight warnings in Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, and your in-camera histogram are completely bogus as they are based on the embedded JPEGs. Only your raw files tell the truth all the time. Heck, I resisted RawDigger for several years … Once you get over that feeling, RawDigger can become your very best exposure friend no matter what system you are using. On the recent IPTs and In-the-Field sessions, we have demonstrated that fact. Convincingly.
The RawDigger (pink) Adapted Histogram
In the RawDigger e-Guide, you will learn exactly how to set up the Adapted “pink” RawDigger Histogram and how to use it to quickly and easily evaluate the exposure or raw file brightness of images from all digital cameras currently in use. RawDigger was especially helpful to me when I struggled with R5 exposures and when learned my new camera body, the Sony Alpha a1.
|
|
RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos
|
The RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos
by Arthur Morris with Patrick Sparkman
The RawDigger e-Guide was created only for serious photographers who wish to get the absolute most out of their raw files.
Patrick and I began work on the guide in July 2020. At first we struggled. We asked questions. We learned about Max-G values. We could not figure out why the Max G values varied by camera system. IPT veteran Bart Deamer asked lots of questions that we could not answer. We got help from RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. We learned. In December, Patrick came up with an Adapted Histogram that allows us to evaluate the exposures and raw file brightness for all images created with all digital camera bodies from the last two decades. What we learned each time prompted three complete beginning to end re-writes.
The point of the guide is to teach you to truly expose to the mega-Expose-to-the-Right so that you will minimize noise, maximize image quality, best utilize your camera’s dynamic range, and attain the highest possible level of shadow detail in your RAW files in every situation. In addition, your properly exposed RAW files will contain more tonal information and feature the smoothest possible transitions between tones. And your optimized images will feature rich, accurate color.
We teach you why the GREEN channel is almost always the first to over-expose. We save you money by advising you which version of RawDigger you need. We teach you how to interpret the Max G values for your Canon, Nikon, and SONY camera bodies. It is very likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you. And lastly — thanks to the technical and practical brilliance of Patrick Sparkman — we teach you a simple way to quickly and easily evaluate your exposures and raw file brightness using an Adapted RawDigger histogram.
The flower video takes you through a session where artie edits a folder of images in Capture One while checking the exposures and Max-G values in RawDigger. The Adapted Histogram video examines a series of recent images with the pink histograms and covers lots of fine points including and especially how to deal with specular highlights. The directions for setting up the Adapted Histogram are in the text.
If we priced this guide based on how much effort we put into it, it would sell it for $999.00. But as this guide will be purchased only by a limited number of serious photographers, we have priced it at $51.00. You can order yours 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.
January 23rd, 2022 Your Fave?
Which of today’s two featured flight images do you like best? Why? Which background do you like best?
What’s Up?
I headed back to Santee on Saturday morning. Right outside of the park fence, adjacent to my new favorite morning spot, there was a large tree removal operation replete with three very loud wood chippers. The ducks stayed away in droves. I moved a bit to the north and had an OK morning. On Saturday afternoon I tidied up my AirBnB and watched the two NFL playoff games.
Last weekend all five of the teams I was rooting for won. When the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the favored Tennessee Titans with a last second field goal, I was six for six. I was rooting for the San Francisco 49ers to topple the Green Bay Packers who were favored by 5 1/2 points. After the first half, the 49ers chances looked to be somewhere between slim and none as their offense was non-existent. With the help of a blocked field goal, a blocked punt returned for a Niner’s touchdown, and a field goal by Robbie “Good as” Gould with zero time left on the clock, San Fran pulled off a miracle win. Now I am seven for seven thanks to the two underdogs winning.
I am torn between rooting for the Rams or for Tampa Bay in the first game. I will surely be pulling for the KC Chiefs to defeat the Buffalo Bills in the second game. I really like both teams a lot, but have been a huge Patrick Mahomes fan for forever.
I was glad to learn yesterday that John Flynn’s Canon 600mm f/4L IS II lens in excellent condition sold for a BAA record-low $4899.00 within hours of being listed.
Today is Sunday 23 January 2022. The forecast is for cool, clear, and sunny with a gentle breeze from the northeast. I will be heading to the cliffs for more pelicans and more. I have a special Sunday plan in mind. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about ninety minutes to prepare and makes 72 days in a row with a new one.
Please remember that 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.
Sony Alpha 1 Bodies in Stock at Bedfords/free card offer!
Steve Elkins of Bedfords let me know recently that he had several Sony a1 bodies in stock. If one of them has your name on it, please click here and be sure to enter the BIRDSASART coupon code check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. Right now, in lieu of the 3% credit refunded to the card you used for your purchase, you will receive a Sony 160GB CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Card, a $399.99 value!
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 17 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. While seated, I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 2000: 1/2000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:55:26am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird/Face-Eye Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Brown Pelican — low light flight
|
Sony 70-200 II for Flight Photography
With large birds like pelicans at relatively close range, I love the new 70-200 for flight photography — usually with either the 1.4X TC or the 2X TC. Much smaller and much lighter than the 200-600, it is a dream to hand hold. And it is faster as well. One and one-third stops faster with the 1.4X TC, and one-third stop faster with the 2X in place.
|
|
Image #1A: AF Point for the Brown Pelican — low light flight image
|
a1/70-200 f/2.8 AF Performance
AF performance with the 70-200 f/2.8GM lens and the a1 is other-worldly, even with the 2X TC in place. Initial focusing acquisition is lightning fast and the Bird/Face-Eye Detection is nothing short of amazing.
|
|
Image #1B: Topaz DeNoise AI on the Brown Pelican — low light flight image
|
How Good is Topaz DeNoise AI?
Be sure to click on the screen capture to see the great job done by DeNoise AI. Viewing at 400%, it is easy to see the complete elimination of the ISO 2000 noise in the dark tones on the pelican’s belly. As regular readers know, I run DeNoise on virtually every image that I process immediately after executing the crop with the Delete Cropped Pixels box checked. For images made in sunny conditions, I used Standard. For images made in low light, I use Low Light. You can check all four methods by using the Comparison View, but I rarely do that anymore as I am confident as noted above.
Great Topaz News!
Be sure to check out the Sharpen AI item below.
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. If the stuff is on sale (as it usually is), you save 15% off of the sale price! To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Those who purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or any other Topaz plug-ins using my link and then entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. Please include a copy of your Topaz receipt that shows the discount. Aside from the basics, the guide explains how to install the plug-ins so that they appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu.
|
|
|
This image was created on 20 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 255mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) ISO 1000. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:34:04am on a barely sunny morning.
Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Brown Pelican adult in flight on sunny morning
|
When the Sun Shines
When the sun comes out, I will often go to the 200-600 for birds in flight despite that fact that it is larger and heavier, and thus more difficult to hand hold. Not to mention that it is at least 1/3 stop slower than the 70-200 with either TC. So what not just stay with the 70-200?
Reach. Since the size of the bird in the frame is a factor of the square of the focal length, the 200-600 at the long end is the clear winner. And on sunny days, working with the slightly slower lens is not a problem for folks who can hand hold it successfully. Here is the math comparing the maximum focal lengths of the two rigs: the 70-200 with the 2X TC (i.e., 400mm) and the 200-600 alone (at 600mm). Four squared is 16. Six squared is 36. 36 divided by 16 is 2.25. Thus, the size of the bird in the frame at 600mm will be two and one-quarter times larger than the size of the bird in the frame at 400mm!
Please note that Image #2 was created from a horizontal original. Canvas was added above and below.
The Choice With Other Systems
As all major camera systems offer a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, and longer hand holdable lenses, the same considerations discussed above will come into play. One thorn in the side for folks on the dark side is the fact that the Nikon TCE 20, their 2X TC, is a real clunker.
|
|
Image #2A: Topaz Sharpen AI on the head and breast of the Brown Pelican adult in flight on sunny morning image
|
Topaz Sharpen AI
The truth is that I rarely use Topaz Sharpen AI. And I am even not sure why I tried it with Image #2. But was sure am glad that I did as the improvement was monumental. Be sure to click on the screen capture to see that improvement while viewing the high-res version. Note that I increased the magnification to 200%.
Actually, the sharpened selection looked a bit too sharp, so I simply reduced the opacity of the layer to 70%.
Great Topaz News!
Be sure to check out the DeNoise AI item above.
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. If the stuff is on sale (as it usually is), you save 15% off of the sale price! To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Those who purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or any other Topaz plug-ins using my link and then entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. Please include a copy of your Topaz receipt that shows the discount. Aside from the basics, the guide explains how to install the plug-ins so that they appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
|
|
