Which of today’s four featured images do you think is the best? Please leave a comment letting know why you made your choice. (Though I love all of them, I will share my clear favorite with you here fairly soon).
What’s Up?
After the stellar photo session at sunset on Saturday, I fully expected to be sharing some wading bird silhouettes with you here today, but Sunday morning was even more phenomenal. With clear skies and a fairly brisk wind from the east/northeast, conditions were perfect for setting out a road kill cafe. So I did. Be sure to click on each Black Vulture image to better note the sharpness and fine detail in each of the larger, high-res versions. And the flight poses are not bad either!
It was totally cloudy on Sunday afternoon and early evening. With no chance of sunset, I stayed home and watched football. Amazingly, I had enjoyed 15 consecutive decent sunsets going back to Christmas Eve. As usual, I have been quite blessed.
Today is Monday 10 January 2022. The forecast for this morning is for cloudy and still. You know where I will be early. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare including the time spent on the four image optimizations and makes 61 consecutive days 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 save 3% 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 9 January 2022 down by the lake at Indian Lake Estates. Standing at full height down by the edge of the canal put me just about eye level with the birds on the ground. I used the no-longer-available Induro GIT 304L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). IS 800. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:15:42am on a mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C performed very well. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a higher-res version.
Image #1: Black Vulture feet out-stretched for landing
The Road Kill Cafe
Saturday’s road kill cafe consisted of the fresh rabbit that I picked up on Park Drive last Thursday and the carcasses of six small Red Snappers that had been filleted by Mike at Junior’s Fish Store in Lake Wales. After shooting a spot that would yield pleasing backgrounds, First, I set up the tripod down by the canal and mounted my rig on it. As always, I made sure to seat the tripod firmly in the damp soil and then leveled the silver ball of the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro by centering the bubble in the scribed circle. Then I rotated the lens in the lens barrel to the horizontal click stop with the electronic level activated. That done, the lens could be pointed in any direction and produce square-to-the-world images.
Then I repositioned my SUV so that I could get some work down on the laptop and shoot from the driver’s seat with the 200-600 G lens/a1 rig (if necessary). I was in the process of plugging in my MacBook Pro so that I could start consolidating the 26 SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Notes e-mails into two user-friendly files. I glanced out the window and saw a Turkey Vulture voraciously chowing down on the rabbit. As I risked scaring the bird away, I opened the door very slowly and did the same as I moved down the slope to my tripod-mounted lens.
Then more vultures flew in. And more. And more. The rabbit was devoured in less than five minutes! But with a good supply of fish carcasses, the birds kept coming. At one point, I counted more than 100 vultures on the ground. Two of the locally-nesting birds got in on the action as a Bald Eagle and a Crested Caracara landed at the fray. The action lasted about 45 minutes. There were still a few birds flying in when I left at 8:45am just after it began to cloud up.
This image was created on 9 January 2022 down by the lake at Indian Lake Estates. Standing at full height down by the edge of the canal put me just about eye level with the birds on the ground. I used the no-longer-available Induro GIT 304L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). IS) 640. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:21:30am on a mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C performed very well. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a higher-res version.
Image #2: Black Vulture turning in flight while being chased
The Cast of Characters
First to dine was a single Turkey Vulture (TV). Most of the early arrivals were TVs. Then the Black Vultures (BVs) began to fly in to feast. Because the birds fly so differently, nearly all of my best images were of BVs. The TVs flap slowly and teeter-totter in flight often circling before landing. And when they do land, they tend to land behind the mass of birds and — being a bit shyer than the BVs, on the slope that leads down to the lake. Thus, their feet and lower bodies are often obscured. The BVs fly much more directly. The ones that approached from the east, from somewhere behind me, would come in and fast and hard and then turn to land into the wind. This gave me lots of chances to create images featuring some really neat wing positions and flight postures. At times, the action was beyond frantic with birds coming in three, four, five, and even six at a time. All in all, it was the best-ever Black Vulture flight photography session. With the results to prove it.
Had there been an east wind forecast for this morning, I would have defrosted the raccoon that has been resting in the freezer for several months …
Note
Image #2 was created from a horizontal original. I executed a 2X3 crop and in the process, added just a bit of blue sky canvas using the Content-Aware Crop Tool.
This image was created on 9 January 2022 down by the lake at Indian Lake Estates. Standing at full height down by the edge of the canal put me just about eye level with the birds on the ground. I used the no-longer-available Induro GIT 304L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). IS) 800. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:29:45am on a mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C performed very well. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a higher-res version.
Image #3: Black Vulture incoming flight/dorsal view
Sony a1 AF System Learning
Careful regular readers may note that on Sunday, I began experimenting with a different AF Method for flight photography. I was thrilled by what I learned. I will be sharing the how, the what, the why, and the when with the folks in the SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Notes group this week via e-mail.
This image was created on 9 January 2022 down by the lake at Indian Lake Estates. Standing at full height down by the edge of the canal put me just about eye level with the birds on the ground. I used the no-longer-available Induro GIT 304L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). IS) 800. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:31:51am on a mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C performed very well. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a higher-res version.
Image #4: Black Vulture braking to land
Learning About Flight Photography
As you view each flight image, consider the wing position and the flight pose. Note the even lighting. Note the position and the visibility of the vulture’s heads. And note that the feet play an important role in the success of three of today’s four images.
With Image #4, I love the inclusion of the marsh and a bit of the lake in the frame.
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. This week, two folks in the group ordered their third a1! I am envious. The group is now up to an astounding 102 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! (Note: I am now offering updated .DAT files).
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.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Though together today’s images tell a great story, and though each is well executed, none of them is a contest winner …
Try your hand at image analyses with these:
Image #1 would have been better if the bird on our left _____________________________.
Image #2 would have been better if both birds had ___________________________________.
Images #3 & #4 would have been better had the wind been more from the _______________.
What’s Up?
My morning photo session began with lots of Cattle Egret blurs and got better once I began thinking outside of my own box. The full story on that is below. Sunset was excellent with a light haze on the western horizon. I was two minutes late getting set up. I watched a Sandhill Crane fly through the bright yellow sky below the somewhat muted sun at about 5:15pm. At about 5:20, with the sky even more richly colored, a Great Egret circled too and fro in the color and was chased momentarily by another. It flew off and then returned for a second pass through the orange sky. I had several other really exciting chances and cannot wait to edit the folder.
Today is Sunday 9 January 2022. The forecast for this morning is for mostly sunny with a breeze from the east. Sounds good to me. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare including the time spent on the four image optimizations and makes 60 consecutive days 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 save 3% 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 8 January 2021 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Sitting, I used the hand held 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.. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that this was a dead-solid perfect exposure. AWB at 8:32:14am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed very well in a difficult situation. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane chasing another
Striving for New and Different and Getting Lucky I
I’d considered trying to photograph Ospreys flying in to their nest on the northwest corner of the canal between the South Peninsula and the South Field for about twenty years. On Saturday morning, I tried it for the first time with the tripod mounted 600 f/4, the 1.4X TC, and the a1. I was surprised at how large in the frame the birds were; I even clipped a few wingtips. But with the wind from the north with very little east, most of my images had the bird’s head turned slightly away from me. Across the canal, on the South Field, I watched with interest as several Sandhill Cranes were cavorting. But with the sun headed toward the southeastern sky, the birds were well off sun angle, were blocked by grasses, and had the pier in the background.
They were headed south toward an open area so I quit on the Ospreys, grabbed the tripod, and began walking south to get in front of the birds and slightly in front of light angle. When I saw that I would have the white houses on the far shoreline in the photos, I realized that I needed to get lower. And the only way to do that was to move lower on the slope that led down to the canal, sit on the wet grass, and hand hold. So that’s what I did. I kept walking south and so did the birds. I finally wound up on the small dock near the boat ramp. I was right on sun angle and the perspective was perfect. And so were the backgrounds.
I remember whispering to the relatively distant birds as I prayed for a wing stretch, a copulation, a courtship dance, or a fight. I got a fight. It was all over in less than one second, but the a1 was up to the test.
This image was created on 8 January 2021 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Sitting, I used the hand held 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.. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that this was a dead-solid perfect exposure. AWB at 8:32:14am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed very well in a difficult situation. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Sandhill Cranes — the chasee stands its ground
Striving for New and Different and Getting Lucky II
With the eyes of both birds relatively in the dark, the AF system grabbed the right wing of the bird on our right. The faces of both birds were rendered sharp. Why?
This image was created on 8 January 2021 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Sitting, I used the hand held 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.. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that this was a dead-solid perfect exposure. AWB at 8:32:14am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed very well in a difficult situation. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #3: Sandhill Cranes — the chasee turns the tables on the chaser
Striving for New and Different and Getting Lucky III
Turnabout is fair play.
This image was created on 8 January 2021 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Sitting, I used the hand held 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.. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that this was a dead-solid perfect exposure. AWB at 8:32:14am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed very well in a difficult situation. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #4: Sandhill Cranes — the chaser gets bit in the rear end
Striving for New and Different and Getting Lucky IV
Victory for the defended was sealed with a bite in the butt.
The Lesson
When you think that something is very difficult or impossible, try it anyway. I will be doing lots more shooting across the canal, a distance of about 50 yards from edge to edge.
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. This week, two folks in the group ordered their third a1! I am envious. The group is now up to an astounding 102 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! (Note: I am now offering updated .DAT files).
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.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.
I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back and forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:
Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.
Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.
You can purchase a copy 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.
Friday morning was all blurs, 386 of them. I kept only 14 and most of those were not-too-good. With perfect conditions, I had chances at sunset and made 519 images with most of those not being very good. Perhaps the cattails are a lot taller than they were last year. So, is there a benefit of creating 905 not very good images? Considering that everything I created yesterday was with the big lens on a tripod with a TC, yes! The big advantage is that the more you shoot flight, the more your panning skills will improve. Being able to keep the bird in the center of the frame by panning smoothly at the same rate as the bird is flying will improve you flight photography by leaps and bounds. If I keep practicing, I might be able to jump over tall buildings someday …
Wanting to learn more about Christopher Reeve’s equestrian accident, paralysis, and eventual death, I did some internet surfing. I had forgotten that the name of the original actor how played Superman, the guy seen in the YouTube video above, was named George Reeves. Now that is a good Jeopardy question. Speaking of Jeopardy, congrats to the amazing Amy Schneider whose 28-game total winnings passed $1,000,000 in last’s night’s runaway victor. When she does not immediately know an answer, it seems that you can hear the hard drive in her head spinning … The woman is truly amazing.
Here’s a tough one for her: What was the name of the editor-in-chief of the Metropolis newspaper, The Daily Planet? Do you remember? (I remembered the first name but not the last.)
Today is Saturday 8 January 2022. Conditions for this morning are looking very good with clear skies and a northeast wind. And tomorrow morning in Central Florida is looking even better with east/southeast winds. If I do not get a client for Lakeland for Sunday morning, I may put out the fresh road-killed rabbit that I scooped up on Friday morning. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes 59 consecutive days 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 save 3% 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.
Your-Pick In-the-Field Sessions
From Now Through Wednesday 12 January
The beauty of the Your Pick In-the-Field Sessions plans below is that I am free most days from now until I leave for San Diego on 14 January. The best news is that we can schedule sessions to coincide with the perfect weather forecast. These sessions are ideal for central Florida locals or folks visiting the region for whatever reason. Interested? Get in touch via e-mail or better yet, try my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up. Inquire for couples and group rates.
Indian Lake Estates In-the-Field Sessions
Two hours of intensive instruction: $300.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00. Sunset shoot: $100.00. Guest room lodging available. Mix and match.
Sunny mornings with east winds are best. Likely subjects include ridiculously tame Sandhill Cranes along with Black and Turkey Vultures, Crested Caracara, Limpkin, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and more. Bald Eagle possible; crane chicks coming soon.
Lakeland or Circle B Bar Preserve
Two hours of intensive instruction: $325.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00. Mix and match.
Sunny mornings with winds that have an easterly component are best at Lakeland. Likely subjects include point-blank American White Pelican, Anhinga, Limpkin, Common Moorhen, White Ibis, a variety of wintering ducks including Ring-necked and Wood Duck, and lots more.
Cloudy mornings or afternoons (shooting sessions only in the afternoon) are best at Circle B Bar Preserve. Likely subjects include Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Common Moorhen, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Alligator, Wild Boar, and more. If you wish to mix and match, lodging at ILE is available.
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 20 January 2019 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens (at 370mm) and the mega mega-pixel Nikon D850 DSLR.. ISO 800: 1/1250 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:45am on a partly sunny morning.
Upper Center Group/Shutter Button AF. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
I began playing with the Nikon gear in San Diego in January 2018 and was still on the Dark Side there in 2019. In ’18, I was using both the D5, the pro body, and the D850. After that first January, the D5 sat on the shelf while I was all-in with two D850 bodies. At the time, Nikon AF was better than Canon AF for birds in flight. Many skilled photographer friends followed me by ditching Canon and going to Nikon. And pretty much all of those folks followed me on the next switch, from Nikon to Sony. That switch began in January 2019, also in San Diego.
The D850 image files were and remain superb. I like the ergonomics and the camera was — for the most part — relatively easy to use. In sort, the huge problem with the D850 is that when you are using a telephoto lens switching the AF Method requires three hands. My second gripe was that when you added a TC AF performance suffered as you moved the AF point away from the center.
This great guide includes 15 pages of text, a 46-image gallery, and a comprehensive camera handling video.
The text covers all of the menu item settings that I used on my two D850 bodies and each gallery image has a legendary BIRDS AS ART educational caption. The emphasis is two-fold:
1- getting your camera set-up so that it is optimized for bird photography.
2- sharing everything that I know about the Nikon AF system so that you can create consistently sharp images of static subjects, and most especially, of birds in flight and in action.
Though this guide is designed for the D850, nearly all of the info applies to the D5 and to the D500 as well. You can purchase your copy in the BAA On-line Store here. Both files are large so you will need a good internet connection to download them.
This image was created on 20 January 2019 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens (at 500mm) and the mega mega-pixel Nikon D850 DSLR.. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 10:05am on a rare cloudy morning.
Upper Center Group/Shutter Button AF. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
Image #2: Brown Pelican, Pacific race: sub-adult head and neck portrait
Brown Pelican Plumage Variations
I am absolutely obsessed by the great variety of plumages in Pacific-race Brown Pelicans. And that is true both with the adults in various states of breeding and non-breeding plumages and with the younger birds as well. Many individuals, like the bird featured in Image #2, seem to be one offs!
San Diego In-the-Field (I-T-F) Sessions
As I will be staying in San Diego longer than originally planned, I am offering In-the-Field Sessions as below.
San Diego I-T-F Offerings
Individual Morning Sessions on Monday 1/24, Tuesday 1/25, and Wednesday 1/26.
Three hours of intensive instruction: $399.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00.
Please inquire if you would like to explore the possibility of an afternoon session on Monday 1/24 or Tuesday 1/25.
These sessions are ideal for Southern California locals or for folks visiting the region for whatever reason. Interested? Get in touch via e-mail or better yet, try my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up. Inquire for couples and group rates.
The Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide: $30.00 (or free to some–see below for details on that).
by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART and Patrick Sparkman
There is lots of misinformation out there on the Nikon Automatic AF Fine-tune feature. Much of that involves vast over-simplifications. Patrick Sparkman and I developed a way of using the Automatic Fine-tune feature effectively with the D5, D500, the D7500, and the D850. Patrick, however, was on a roll and perfected a method for using the Focus Peaking feature available only on the D850 to quickly and accurately micro-adjust all lenses and TC-Es with your D-850. If you own a D850 you should be using D850 Focus Peaking AF Fine-tune rather than Nikon Automatic AF Fine-tune. It is faster and easier and more accurate. While there is some halfway decent info online with regards to Nikon Automatic Fine-tune feature, I have never seen a word about using the amazing D850 Focus Peaking capabilities to determine an accurate AF Fine-tune value. You can thank Patrick Sparkman for rectifying that situation.
With both Nikon Automatic AF Fine-tune and D850 Focus Peaking AF Fine-tune, the use of a LensAlign Mark II unit is recommended as best by far for accurate results, and thus, this guide is written reflecting that. Taping a sheet of newsprint on a wall or using the FoCal kit does not assure you of the True Parallel Alignment (TPA) that is guaranteed when you set up your LensAlign properly. Without TPA your results will be off anywhere from a little to a lot. You can purchase the LensAlign Mark II alone here. Or you can purchase the LensAlign/FocusTune combo here. If you do not own either of those we suggest that you decide which to purchase after reading this guide through once. That said, we recommend the LensAlign/FocusTune combo for reasons that will become obvious as you make your way through the guide.
Image #2A: RawDigger screen capture for the Brown Pelican, Pacific race: sub-adult head and neck portrait image
Absolutely Terrible!
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. Images where the G channel does not even reach the 8000 line are absolutely terrible as far as exposure is concerned. In fact, this image is more than 1 1/3 stops under-exposed. Working with RawDigger has helped me learn to expose to the right thus minimizing noise, maximizing image quality, best utilizing the dynamic range of my camera, and attaining the highest possible level of shadow detail in my RAW files in every situation. In addition, my properly exposed RAW files now contain more tonal information and feature the smoothest possible transitions between tones. And my optimized images feature rich, accurate color.
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 I 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 colors.
We teach you why the GREEN channel is almost always the first to over-expose. We save you money by advising you as to 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.
