January 29th, 2022 What’s Up?
I slept long and well on Thursday night. I guess I was knackered from the great San Diego trip. When I left for California, the pool was 86°. When I got into the pool on Friday afternoon it was 81°. That’s the good news. I dressed warmly and enjoyed my 1/2 swim. The forecast for tomorrow morning is for a balmy 29° with a strong wind from the northwest. If that pans out, it will be my coldest ILE morning since I moved here in 1999. I will definitely not be heading out early for photography.
I did not make it down to the lake until after my swim. As I pulled up, bins in hand, both adult eagles flew from the nest in hot pursuit of a Turkey Vulture that must have gotten a bit too close. It seemed as if one of the eagles would surely take the intruder down. But it escaped, unscathed. I was wishing that I had a lens in my hand with the camera turned on.
I thought that I saw a grey head in the nest and just before I pulled away, I saw a single large grey wing flap above the edge of the nest. The single eagle chick has survived and is doing well. It seems that this pair has only one young. The tiny chick sure grew a lot in the two weeks I was gone!
Today is Saturday 29 January. 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 78 days in a row with a new one.
This Just In
At 6:00am the overnight low was 42°, 13° warmer than originally forecast. It is supposed to get down to 31° on Sunday morning …
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.
From Blog Regular Elinor Osborne via e-mail
Thanks so much for doing handling my used gear sales. You are very helpful. The process is easy. And the Used Gear Page is the place to find the best customers.
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.
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This image was created by Greg Gulbransen on 21 January 2022. He used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens and the Nikon D850 dSLR. ISO 640: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 3:52:44pm on a cloudy afternoon.
Group AF/C performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Photo courtesy of and copyright 2022: Greg Gulbransen
Image #1: Snowy Owl striking
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Images #1 and #2 were made with the very same lens that is for sale here:
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens(with Extras)
BAA friend Greg Gulbransen is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens in near-mint condition (with extras) for a very low $8496.95 (Payment by teller’s check or Long Island, NY — cash pick-up only). The sale includes the rear lens cap, the front lens cover, a RRS low foot (a $110.00 value), the original lens foot, the LensCoat (a roughly $100.00 value) that has protected the lens since Day 1, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until the money is in the bank.
Please contact Greg via e-mail.
The 400mm f/2.8 lenses are the fastest big lenses in production. This, the newest Nikon version available, is super-sharp. It is a very versatile lens for wildlife photographers, especially those doing Africa, big game, and birds in low light situation. It creates incredibly sharp images with the TC-E14. It is currently back-ordered at B&H where it sells new for $11,196.95. You can save a very handsome $2700.00 by grabbing Greg’s pretty much new lens right now. artie
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This image was created by Greg Gulbransen on 21 January 2022. He used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens and the Nikon D850 dSLR. ISO 640: 1/2500 sec. at f/4.5 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops) in Manual mode. AWB at 3:43:26 on a cloudy afternoon.
Group AF/C performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Photo courtesy of and copyright 2022: Greg Gulbransen
Image #2: Snowy Owl, angled flight pose
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Your Calls
After clicking on each image to view the spectacular high-res versions, try your hand at the following:
- Which is the stronger image? Why?
- What do you like best about Image #1?
- Would you have cropped Image #1 any differently? How and Why?
- What do you like best about Image #2?
- Would you have removed the tiny bit of grass from the lower right corner of Image #2?
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Nikon D850 Users e-Guide & Video
Purchase here.
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Nikon D850 Users e-Guide & Video
$50 via download
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.
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The Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide
Please click here to purchase.
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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.
Do understand that much of the set-up information included in the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide is by necessity a duplication of information included in The LensAlign/FocusTune Micro-Adjusting Tutorial e-Guide.
Please click here to purchase.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
January 28th, 2022 Your Fave?
Which of today’s two featured images do you like best? Why? which background do you prefer?
What’s Up?
I was out of bed at about 2:30am San Diego time on Thursday to shower, finish packing, and pack the car before heading to the airport for my 6:45am flight to Austin, TX on Southwest. After a bit more than a two hour layover, I enjoyed my second uneventful flight to Orlando. Jim picked me up and we were home before 7:15pm. The only big excitement occurred as I went through security in San Diego. Even though I have TSA-Pre, they pulled out my laptop bag for a closer inspection. The culprit in a small Tupperware container: my tuna and egg salad with blueberries. After consulting with a supervisor, I was allowed through …
Today is Friday 28 January 2022. The forecast for this morning is for mostly cloudy with a northwest wind. I will probably take a ride down to the lake to see what’s going on with the eagle nest. 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 77 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.
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This image was created on 15 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 280mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 640: 1/320 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:11:54am before the sun came over the hill to the northeast.
Tracking: Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Brown Pelican sitting on dirt ridge on cliff
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Early Morning at La Jolla
I’ve been doing Brandt’s Cormorants incoming flight blurs with the 70-200 ii/1.4X TC/a1 rig well before the time of sunrise. Most of the birds are carrying nesting material. I probably have close to 300 keepers to whittle down. When I get to the cliffs, I keep the same rig in my hands as it is four clicks faster than the 200-600. For image #1, I went long working at 280mm. As it gets a bit brighter, the lightweight 70-200 ii/1.4X TC/a1 combo is ideal for flight photography with the incoming pelicans.
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This image was created on 15 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 115mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 640: 1/320 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:12:04am before the sun came over the hill to the northeast.
Tracking: Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Brown Pelican sitting on dirt ridge on cliff/bird-scape
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Eight Seconds Later
I zoomed out, changed my perspective slightly, and eight seconds lager, created a neat bird-scape with the wall across the small bay filled with roosting pelicans and roosting and nesting cormorants as the background. Both images were made using Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection (with the spot in the center!). You acquire the eye, zoom in or out, and recompose to your heart’s content as the system tracks the bird’s eye flawlessly. Combine that with knowing that you have either a perfect or dead-solid exposure exposure (thanks to Zebra technology), and bird photography seems almost too easy …
Depth of Field and Focal Length
Though I was standing in just about the same spot when I created both images, why are the birds in the background so much more sharply defined in Image #2 than in Image #1?
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!”
Larry Master via e-mail:
I bought an a1 and associated lenses a year ago. I love it, esp. with the 200-600 w/1.4X TC, as 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!
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.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
January 27th, 2022 A Very Tough Call
Which of today’s two superb images do you think is best (he asked modestly)? Please leave a comment let us know why you made your choice.
Though there were more than a dozen photographers on the cliff this morning, I would be quite surprised if any of them made a single image as good as either of today’s two featured photographs (he stated modestly). That surely out of many thousands of images.
What’s Up?
I enjoyed a final last morning with the pelicans on Wednesday. I headed back early to my AirBnB to pack for my flights tomorrow which is now today – Thursday 27 January 2022. The forecast for this morning does not matter. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took less than an hour to prepare and makes 76 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.
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This image was created on 26 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 547mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) ISO 1250. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:34:11am on a sunny morning.
Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Brown Pelican — prey-breeding adult preening
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Wave Placement
As I say here often, usually with regards to photographing along the shore with the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico, good photographers need to learn to observe all aspects of breaking waves and note how they impact their images. And the same is true when the waves are six to eight footers like those we’ve had in San Diego for the past three days.
As a general rule, a wave breaking through the middle of your subject is to be avoided at all costs. On the other hand, they can add tremendously to the artistic success of your images. Note the cresting wave in the upper left corner of the frame that serves to elegantly frame the elegant bird. Note also the lovely early morning light falling on both the bird and on the relatively distant Pacific Ocean background.
Photoshop Hanky-Panky?
If you see any evidence of any major Photoshop hanky-panky in Image #1, please leave a comment and state your evidence clearly.
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This image was created on 26 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 437mm), 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/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:45:51am on a sunny morning.
Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Brown Pelican adult in flight on sunny morning
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My Best Flight Image
Funny that I should make my very best flight image on the last morning of the trip. The bird is a gorgeous adult in full breeding plumage. The head angle is perfect for the pose. The bird is nicely angled in the frame. The light is sweet. The image is razor sharp. And there is not a shadow to be seen on the near-underwing, the belly, or the face.
Notice that when the sun is shining I go to the 200-600 for hand held flight photography. Zooming out 163mm here enabled me to fit the bird into the frame. This image was cropped proportionately from the right and from below.
The San Diego Site Guide
Whether you are visiting San Diego for photography for the first time, or live in the area and have done the pelicans many dozens of times, you will learn a ton by studying the San Diego Site Guide. Why spend days stumbling around when you can know exactly where and when to be depending on the wind direction and sky conditions? In addition to the pelican primer, there is great info on the best beaches for the gorgeous gulls, on Marbled Godwit, on the lower cliffs, Lesser Scaup, and Wood and Ring-necked Ducks as well.
This is one of our oldest guides, so the photos are not great. But the information is still solid and relevant. All of the great spots are detailed. I met a nice man shooting a Sony 600 GM with the a7r IV. He did not know where to be every morning. He will be there this morning! If you would like to see some great San Diego images, do a search in the little white box on the top right of each blog post for San Diego, La Jolla, Santee Lakes, Coronado, or Scripps.
In any case, you can learn more or purchase your copy here.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
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