What’s Up?

I spent an hour down by the lake on a foggy Sunday morning. And photographed only vultures.

Today is Sunday 27 November 2022. As I have five tons of work to do, I may not have time to head down to the lake. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred forty-five days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

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.

Photoshop Ethics and Morality Discussion & Answers

What should you do or not do in Photoshop? As far as I am concerned, you can do whatever you like to create an image that makes you happy. You are the artist and there are no rules or laws governing what you do with your images. Period.

That’s about it for the discussion segment. Now I will address several of the comments in the Eliminating the Orange Bill Blur. And More Eye Doctor Work blog post here.

Bob Eastman/November 25, 2022 at 2:07pm

BE: While it is a nice improvement in my mind, I ask myself how in the world does one get to be sharp on the eye and face and the beak area and with the the rest of the bird all blurred out as shown without some sort of Photoshop skills.

AM/BAA: On rare occasion, really skilled folks can get the head and eye sharp with shutter speeds as slow as 1/15 second. I’ve done it on occasion. To accomplish that, you need to match the speed of the bird in flight with your panning speed. That done, you need a bit of luck. In the Western Gull flight blur, the eye was relatively sharp but the bill and the hind neck were blurred significantly. As there are no laws on the books that prohibit repairing such blurs, I opted to eliminate the orange blur above the bill and re-shape the back of the head. Not to mention re-crafting the eye skin and then adding back the color. Why did I go that route? Because the final image was much stronger and made me happy. Several folks agreed strongly that the final REDO was a big improvement. As you know, I would never enter this image in most of the major contests where such image clean-up is prohibited.

In addition, you do need some Photoshop skills to process your images. And that is equally true for those who consider themselves purists.

BE: It’s like a composite or doctored photo.

AM/BAA: It surely is a doctored image. But it is not a composite. You create a composite by adding a part of one image to another. And again, there are no laws that prohibit either doctoring and image of creating a composite. By the way, I prefer to use the work “optimizing” rather than “doctoring.”

BE: One could say that about every photo shot in raw in a way as you need to move the sliders to create what you saw in your mind and to please you. (All sic).

Still love ya Artie, Always with love b

AM/BAA: Remember that when creating raw files you want to expose well to the right and thus, many of your raw files will appear washed out. Thus, even purists need to move the sliders in order to create a decent looking image. The major contests all permit adjustments to brightness, contrast, and color as long as they are done globally (to the whole image) rather than selectively (to part or parts of the image). Personally, I think that the “global only” restrictions are ridiculous. Folks who truly understand exposure theory as detailed in the Art of Bird Photography would agree. They understand that WHITEs require one stop less light than Middle-tones and that BLACKs and Dark tones need 2/3- to 1-stop more light than Middle-tones (to be properly exposed).

Thanks as always for leaving a comment. See you in Anchorage!

with love, a

Jeff Walters/November 25, 2022 at 2:35pm

JW: I like your corrected version much better and now enjoy this blur.

AM/BAA: Thanks, Jeff. I agree.

JW: I totally agree with Bob’s observations about the blur shot and his overall comments. The “where do you draw the line?” Should we capture nature/life unaltered? How much technical stuff is fair game? And, who sets those rules or guidelines? To each his own, I suppose.

AM/BAA: You hit the nail on the head when you wrote, To each his own, I suppose.. As noted above there are no laws and there are no rules except when you enter a contest.

Here is a good spot for my comments on purists. Purist nature photographers state that they never change anything in their photographs, that they are depicting exactly what they saw in nature. Purists shooting properly exposed raw files that look good right out of the camera are usually under-exposing their images by 1/3 to two or more full stops. Purists shooting JPEGs, however, can achieve their goal.

But here is the rub: once you remove even a speck of a cigarette butt from your grand landscape you are no longer a purist. The line there is very sharp, once you remove anything you are on the slippery slope and I do not want to hear a peep from you. It’s like being pregnant, either you are or you aren’t.

Furthermore, when considering the blurred Western Gull image, I would say that the raw file depicts a pleasingly blurred image of a Western Gull in flight, and that the optimized image epicts a pleasingly blurred image of a Western Gull in flight. The optimized image is just that much prettier.

JW: I know Art you usually point out your touch ups, but I’d guess not always, as your are loving (and we are too) your pursuit of art in your pictures and cleaning up an image or background, etc., makes an image more visually appealing to us all.

AM/BAA: Thanks, Jef. And you are correct. When image clean-up is minimal I will rarely mention it.

JW: If I had all the tools and your technical skills I’m positive I’d be doing the same and probably wondering just how far I could move the pyramids to make a striking shot.

AM/BAA: Understood Jeff. As far as moving the pyramids, I am guessing you are referring to a long ago National Geographic cover. I my memory is correct, the magazine got in trouble for actually moving the pyramids in a film image so that the image design would work as a cover. Many decades ago I had a film image of Canada Geese and the Twin Towers with pink sunset skies that was being considered as NG cover art to accompany an article on nature in NYC. It was rejected because it did not work as a cover vertical. 🙁

JW: Your standards are appreciated and well noted by almost all of your admirers.

AM/BAA: Many thanks and much love, Jeff.

JW: Artie — Happy Day after Thanksgiving. May His Blessings never cease to be poured out over you and all of the BAA community. Much love from the Walters family.

AM/BAA: Thanks, Jeff, and back at you. a

This image was created on 8 January 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +1.7 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dad-solid perfect. AWB at 5:28:11pm with a clear sunset. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: the Camera Raw screen capture at the default setting for the Great Egret silhouette flaring in flight image

The Original

Image #1 accurately represents the unprocessed raw file. Sony Tracking Zone AF is quite remarkable even at 1200mm — it allowed me to create the composition that I wanted with the bird perfectly placed in the right side of the frame headed to our left. And the bird is as sharp as the proverbial tack.

The few sharp reeds in the lower right were distracting to me because distinctly sharp elements drag the viewer’s eye from the subject. The reeds were accidentally sharp as they were right on the same plane as the subject and the fast shutter speed prevented them from being blurred. In addition, I did not like the too-bright areas in the lake in the center of the image above the lower frame edge.

This image was created on 8 January 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +1.7 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dad-solid perfect. AWB at 5:28:11pm with a clear sunset. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1A: Great Egret silhouette flaring in flight

The Optimized Image

The colors and tones in the optimized image are pretty much identical to the colors and tones of the original. I used both the Patch Tool and Content-Aware Fill to eliminate the sharp reeds and and all of the blurred reeds that I felt were distracting. I used Tim Grey Dodge and Burn to darken the bright areas of water in the middle of the frame.

As most if not all prestigious photography contests prohibit removing anything from the original frame, I would never even think of entering the the optimized image in one of those. Not to mention that I gave up entering such contests many years ago.

Summing up what I wrote above, the raw file depicts a Great Egret flaring in flight at sunset, and the optimized image depicts a Great Egret flaring in flight at sunset. In almost all cases, I strive to maintain the natural history of an image no matter how much clean-up was done. And when I don’t, I make sure to let everyone know.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

This all-new card includes images created on my JAN 2022 visit to San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs

San Diego IPT #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 21 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 24 DEC 2022. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 5.

San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 7 JAN thru the morning session on WED 11 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Sold Out.

San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 19 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.

Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT and In-the-Field Sessions.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well, often with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Deposit Info

A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2022/23 San Diego IPTs. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

What’s Up?

I got back down to the lake on a foggy Thursday morning, but for birds, it was not as good as Wednesday had been. I found and photographed two different species of wildflowers. Once in a flower mood, I photographed a perfectly gorgeous orchid blossom. The plant had been wired to a magnolia branch by the nice lady who lives in the in the “vulture house.” The vulture house is the last one on Banyan Drive, right before the canal. I had fun and made some very nice images.

The Giants put up a good fight in the first half but wound up as the Dallas Cowboys/ Thanksgiving Turkeys. Bummer, but the Cowboys are simply a much better team.

Today is Friday 25 November 2022. It is foggy again and I will be headed down to the lake at about 7:30am. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred forty-three days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

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.

This image was created on 18 January 2018 on a San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the EOS-1DX Mark II. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/15 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops). AWB at 7:03:15am on a cloudy morning well before the sun came of the hill. AF Method unknown. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1 — the first optimized version of the Western Gull in-flight blur image

I Almost Deleted This One

In the Almost Deleted This One. And the Mother of Invention blog post here, I wrote:

What Bugged Me?

From the start, one thing bugged me about today’s image. It could have been eliminated during the post processing. If you think that you know what it is, please leave a comment.

The first to nail the answer:

Joel Eade/November 23, 2022 at 9:14 am

I think perhaps the thing that bugs you a bit is the yellow patch on top of the bird’s head created by the blurring of it’s bill.

Jim Amato and David Pugsley mentioned the dark area on the (secondary coverts) of the near wing, just in front of the gull’s feet.

The second and third folks to come up smelling roses:

Anthony Ardito/November 23, 2022 at 5:37pm

The bill blur above the bill bugged you. I think the image is beautiful!

Elinor Osborn/November 23, 2022 at 2:17 pm

I agree with Joel. Anyway that blur from the beak does bug me. Otherwise it’s a very beautiful image.

This image was created on 18 January 2018 on a San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the EOS-1DX Mark II. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/15 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops). AWB at 7:03:15am on a cloudy morning well before the sun came of the hill. AF Method unknown. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Western Gull in-flight blur REDO

The REDO

I had barely noticed the the dark area on the near wing; it was eliminated in two seconds using the Patch Tool. The orange blur above the bill was fixed with a large Quick Mask refined by a Regular Layer Mask. The edges were touched with the Clone Stamp Tool at 60% Opacity. That done, the white blur above the hind neck looked unnatural; that was eliminated in the same manner. Next came additional Eye Doctor — sharpening the eye selectively with Topaz Sharpen AI at reduced Opacity and restoring the red color of the eye skin. Working large, the eye skin was selected with the Quick Selection Tool and the color was restored with the Paint Bucket Tool. Last was some work on the dark streaks in front of the bird done with the Patch Tool, Content-Aware Fill, and smoothed a bit with a Gaussian Blur.

What do you think?

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

This all-new card includes images created on my JAN 2022 visit to San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs

San Diego IPT #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 21 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 24 DEC 2022. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 5.

San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 7 JAN thru the morning session on WED 11 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Sold Out.

San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 19 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.

Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT and In-the-Field Sessions.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well, often with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Deposit Info

A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2022/23 San Diego IPTs. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

What’s Up?

Despite spending several hours work on the alleged NANPA/ASMP merger, I finished the slide program for yesterday’s B&H Event Space program with plenty of time to spare. The program went off smoothly and I received several complimentary e-mails.

Today is Wednesday 23 November 2022. The forecast for ILE this morning is calling for cloudy with a north wind. It’s been that way for six days, but has been getting warmer. I had the heat on last weekend for the first time this season; last night I needed the AC. I will be heading down to the lake for a quick look. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred forty-one days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

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.

Almost Deleted This One

This image was created on 18 January 2018 on a San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the EOS-1DX Mark II. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/15 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops). AWB at 7:03:15am on a cloudy morning well before the sun came of the hill. AF Method unknown. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. a magnified look at the face of the bird in the Western Gull in-flight blur image

Looking for Good Ones

While reviewing San Diego image folders from previous years for the Event Space program, I found many wonderful images that had not been optimized. During that process, however, I deleted many sub-par images to create space on my laptop. When I viewed today’s featured image in Photo Mechanic, it looked rather blah and the bird was too centered. I liked the blurred background and the beautifully blurred wings. But the face and the eye looked too blurred. I was ready to hit the delete key when I decided to zoom in on the eye.

This image was created on 18 January 2018 on a San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the EOS-1DX Mark II. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/15 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops). AWB at 7:03:15am on a cloudy morning well before the sun came of the hill. AF Method unknown. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Photoshop screen capture of a magnified look at the face of the bird in the Western Gull in-flight blur image

Why I Kept It

When I zoomed in on the eye, I was surprised to see that it was fairly sharp with very little motion- or pan-blurring. I thought that it might make a nice image with the colors juiced up, a small crop from the top and bottom left (to move the bird slightly forward in the frame), and a little Eye Doctor work.

So, I decided to keep and optimize the image. Note that you can see the slider settings that I used to convert the raw file with Adobe Camera Raw.

This image was created on 18 January 2018 on a San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 241mm) and the EOS-1DX Mark II. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 400: 1/15 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops). AWB at 7:03:15am on a cloudy morning well before the sun came of the hill. AF Method unknown. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Western Gull in-flight blur

The Optimized Image

I am glad that I did not delete this one. Had I pushed the shutter button a fraction of a second earlier, I would have enjoyed more of the aqua/blue/green streaks behind the bird. But I might not have loved the flight pose and the degree of blurring on the wings.

The Mother of Invention

As I mentioned in last night’s program, when the light levels get really low, necessity often becomes the mother of invention. If you want to create sharp images in ultra-low light, you will need to compromise on shutter speeds while still working with ridiculously high ISOs, perhaps 128,000 or 256,000. By opting to try to create some pleasing blurs, you are still in the game. Note 400 ISO for today’s image. The only other option is to not photograph. In the mornings, it would mean standing there doing nothing, and in the evenings, it would entail quitting and getting home early.

What Bugged Me?

From the start, one thing bugged me about today’s image. It could have been eliminated during the post processing. If you think that you know what it is, please leave a comment.

Your Call

Would you have kept this image or deleted it? Why or why not?

A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

Learn everything there is to know about creating pleasingly blurred images in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly. This 20,585-word, 271-page PDF is illustrated with 144 different, exciting, and artistic images. The guide covers the basics of creating pleasingly blurred images, the factors that influence the degree of blurring, the use of filters in creating pleasing blurs, and a great variety of both in-the-field and Photoshop techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images.

Artie and Denise teach you many different ways to move your lens during the exposure to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images of flowers and trees and water and landscapes. They will teach you to recognize situations where subject movement can be used to your advantage to create pan blurs, wind blurs, and moving water blurs. They will teach you to create zoom-blurs both in the field and during post-processing. Artie shares the techniques that he has used and developed for making blurred images of flocks of geese in flight at his (formerly) beloved Bosque del Apache and Denise shares her flower blur magic as well as a variety of creative Photoshop techniques that she has developed.

With the advent of digital capture creating blurred images has become a great and inexpensive way to go out with your camera and have fun, especially when there is not much light. And while many folks think that making successful blurred images is the result of being a sloppy photographer, nothing could be further from the truth. In “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” Artie and Denise will help you to unleash your creative self.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

NANPA Tidbit of the Day

Jaime Konarski Davidson clicked on this link in the Important Announcement from NANPA e-mail that NANPA sent to the membership yesterday and left this short comment that succinctly explains why so many NANPA members are very upset:

Obviously, I am vehemently opposed to this merger. Even more, I am beyond disappointed in how it all came to be IN SECRET. Announcing this merger to the membership without notice and rushing it all through just shows me how little respect you all have for the mission of NANPA and all of its members. The members (“governing members”) should be given ALL THE FACTS and background, pros and cons to this “joining of forces”. The membership should have a VOTE in this matter. Shame on all of you.

Fancy footwork in the announcement doesn’t change the dishonest manner in which this supposed merger is to happen. Lack of transparency abounds. Seems that there have been longstanding issues with management that have continued long since I was on the NANPA Board. I could say more, but I will restrain. I am aware of how the dissenting voices and squeaky wheels are treated on the NANPA board. I experienced this firsthand. It is a most interesting story, watching “hissy fits” and threats to quit when one does not get their way (mostly related to money for one individual).

You ALL should be ashamed at how you have handled this matter.

Just remember, things done in the dark eventually come to the light.

I am 100% against this merger and am ashamed, once again, for the manner in which this has been handled.

What Can You Do?

NANPA members, prospective NANPA members — I have heard from many such folks, and anyone who simply cares about what’s right and wrong in the world can comment by clicking on this link. Again, you do not need to be a NANPA member to comment. Please help.

What’s Up

After I hit Publish on yesterday’s blog post, I headed down to the lake with my photography gear for the first time in more than two weeks. It was cloudy and dark with a north by slightly west wind and there was not much going on. I photographed some pine tree bark with the 600mm f/4 and some vultures in flight with the handheld 70-200 f/2.8 GM II. I tried, but the results were lacking. When I saw ten cranes socializing on the South Peninsula, I drove over to chat with them. I tried but failed to make an interesting group shot. Knowing that the wind was from the north, I stayed ahead of them as they walked toward the marsh. When most of them took off, I had several decent flight chances. Today’s featured image was the best of the lot.

It began raining just before I got home at about nine It turned out to be one of the darkest, dreariest, ugliest, windiest days I’ve ever seen. Anywhere. Fortunately, I saw the weather through my office window as I sat snug and warm watching the NFL for most of the day. I got lots accomplished on the NANPA situation and on Tuesday’s Event Space Program.

Today is Monday 21 November 2022.This blog post took less than an hour to prepare and makes two hundred thirty-nine days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

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. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. 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 November 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 175mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 5000: 1/1250 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:08:15am on a cloudy dark morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead-solid perfect. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Sandhill Crane calling in flight

ISO 5000 Is No Big Deal Anymore

By exposing to the right (in this case by a mile, probably +3 stops on the sky alone), and running Topaz DeNoise as the first step once you bring a converted .TIF file into Photoshop, ISOs ranging from 5000 to 12800 (and even higher) can yield very useable results. The latest greatest mirrorless camera bodies from the top manufacturers lead the league in high ISO performance.

As the cranes are relatively slow in flight, I went with only 1/1250 sec. If I’d opted for 1/2000 second, I would have needed ISO 8000. At 1/3200 second, the aforementioned ISO 12800 would have given me the right exposure.

I chuckle when I think back to the film days when we were thrilled to learn that we could push process Fuji Velvia 50 one stop to ISO 100. With that, we could use 1/500 sec. for flight on sunny days! The times they have changed.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Photographing Pelicans in Southern California with Arthur Morris

A B&H Event Space Program

Photographing Pelicans in Southern California with Arthur Morris

On Tuesday Nov 22, 2022, I will be presenting another B&H Event Space program from 5:00pm – 6:00pm ET.

Arthur Morris, one of the world’s premier photographic educators, has been photographing the spectacular Brown Pelicans in San Diego, CA for more than three decades. The Pacific-race pelicans in La Jolla are much more colorful than their eastern relatives; they sport fire-engine red, olive-green bill pouches in winter. In addition to his favorite pelican images, Artie will share images of many of the other species that frequent Southern California each winter.

During this live-streamed presentation. Artie will share his thoughts on the best gear, on designing pleasing images, on capturing all types of pelican behaviors, on seeing and using the light, and on getting the right exposure in varying lighting conditions. He will share photos ranging from tight head portraits to small-in-the-frame bird-scapes. There will be lots of great flight photography tips as well.

Using Canon, Nikon, and Sony gear, photographing birds has been Artie’s passion for the past forty years.

Register for this free, online-only presentation here.

What’s Up?

I’ve been feeling a bit better each day. Half of the final bit of work on the NANPA issue was completed yesterday. The initial job should be finished by the time you read this today. Please leave a comment and let us know which of todays’ two featured images is your favorite, and why you made your choice.

Speaking of which, today is Saturday 19 November 2022. Most of the day will be spent working on the San Diego B&H Event Space program. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred thirty-seven days in a row with a new one. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

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.

Oldie But Goodie #1

This image was created on 29 May 2005 at Fort DeSoto Park. I used the Wimberley V2 Head supported Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens with the 1.4X TC and the EOS-1D Mark II. ISO 400. 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 7:14:24am on a sunny morning. Image #1: Adult dark morph Reddish Egret displaying image

Reddish Egret Action Photography Tip

If you are photographing a single Reddish Egret and another one flies in, get ready for action. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, there will be an altercation. Zooming out or moving back and switching to a Zone or wide screen AF pattern may save the day. With Image #1, I was able to go to vertical and photograph one of the two combatants.

Oldie But Goodie #2

This image was created on 9 January 2006 at San Diego, CA. I used the Wimberley V2 Head supported Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens with the 1.4X TC and the EOS-1Ds Mark II. ISO 250. 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 7:56:49am on a sunny morning. Image #2: Brown Pelican — Pacific race in mega breeding plumage image

Those Distant Pacific-Blue Backgrounds

Ever since I found the best place in San Diego to photograph the Pacific-race Brown Pelicans I have been in love with the distant, Pacific Blue backgrounds. Utilizing them there is child’s play. The lower you get, the farther away and more defocused the ocean becomes. And the best news is that it is sunny most mornings in La Jolla. Recently I learned that you can sweeten, lighten, and soften the blues by moving the Luminosity slider under the Color Mixer tab in Photoshop to the right. Lightroom and Capture One have similar controls. Consider joining me on a San Diego IPT or for an In-the-Field session in La Jolla this winter. I will be there for five weeks arriving on 19 December 2022.

birds as art: The Avian Photography of Arthur Morris/The Top 100 The companion e-book to the solo exhibit at TheNat, San Diego, California The new e-book on CD is available here.

birds as art: The Avian Photography of Arthur Morris/The Top 100

This e-book was created on a wing and a prayer in less than two weeks–see the “Harebrained Scheme” blog post here–includes the 67 spectacular images that hung in the Ordover Gallery at the San Diego Natural History Museum in a career-retrospective solo exhibition in 2017. In addition, there are an additional 33 images in the spectacular e-book that barely missed making the show.

This exhibition companion e-book makes it possible for everyone to “visit” TheNAT gallery retrospectively and retroactively, and, in addition, to enjoy seeing my then-top one hundred bird photographs under one roof. Each image includes a title, the species name, the location, relevant EXIF data, and an anecdotal caption.

birds as art: The Avian Photography of Arthur Morris/The Top 100: $23 for the professionally produced CD (includes shipping to US addresses only)

Please click here to purchase the CD. As above, your purchase price includes shipping to all US addresses. If you would like your CD signed on the inside cover with a black Sharpie, you will need to place your order by phone and request a signed copy: 863-692-0906. For our Canadian friends we are offering the CD for $28 with shipping to Canada via phone orders only: 863-692-0906. Those who purchase the CD are advised to copy the file to their computers and then archive the CD.

To purchase via convenient download for $20, click here.

Oldie But Goodie #3

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM Lens (with extras)

Multiple IPT veteran Doug West is offering a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM L lens in Good condition for a very low $1999.00. The front element is perfect. The lens is is mechanically perfect and thus still produces sharp images in competent hands. It is, however, obvious that the lens has been well-used. There are numerous scratches, paint chips, and blemishes on the lens and specially on the lens foot. Descriptive photos of the lens are available upon request. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the original front lens cover, a ReaTree LensCoat (a $75.00 value but without the strip that covers the tripod ring), a LensCoat Hoodie (a $24.95 value), a Wimberley P-50 lens plate (a $55.00 value), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses.

Please contact Doug via e-mail.

The 600mm f/4 lenses have been the state of the art super-telephotos for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. Whenever it is feasible for me to get a 600mm f4 to a location, it is almost always my go-to weapon. They are fast and sharp and deadly bare or with either TC. With the latest 600mm f/4 lenses going for anywhere from $13,000 to $15,500, grabbing Doug’s oldie but goodie lens can get you into the big glass game cheaply! As it is priced to go out the door quickly so do not tarry if you are fit and eager to go long. Both of today’s featured images were created with the very same model lens that Doug is offering. artie

This all-new card includes images created on my JAN 2022 visit to San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs

San Diego IPT #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 21 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 24 DEC 2022. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 5.

San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 7 JAN thru the morning session on WED 11 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Sold Out.

San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 19 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.

Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT sessions.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well, often with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Deposit Info

A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2022/23 San Diego IPTs. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Photographing Pelicans in Southern California with Arthur Morris

A B&H Event Space Program

Photographing Pelicans in Southern California with Arthur Morris

On Tuesday Nov 22, 2022, I will be presenting another B&H Event Space program from 5:00pm – 6:00pm ET.

Arthur Morris, one of the world’s premier photographic educators, has been photographing the spectacular Brown Pelicans in San Diego, CA for more than three decades. The Pacific-race pelicans in La Jolla are much more colorful than their eastern relatives; they sport fire-engine red, olive-green bill pouches in winter. In addition to his favorite pelican images, Artie will share images of many of the other species that frequent Southern California each winter.

During this live-streamed presentation. Artie will share his thoughts on the best gear, on designing pleasing images, on capturing all types of pelican behaviors, on seeing and using the light, and on getting the right exposure in varying lighting conditions. He will share photos ranging from tight head portraits to small-in-the-frame bird-scapes. There will be lots of great flight photography tips as well.

Using Canon, Nikon, and Sony gear, photographing birds has been Artie’s passion for the past forty years.

Register for this free, online-only presentation here.

What’s Up?

Too much work, too little play. I swam 48 lengths in the early afternoon and walked and putted 3.1 miles on the golf course just before dusk. The rest of the day was work, work, and more work.

Today is Thursday 17 November 2022. I may try to get down to the lake for a bit in the morning. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred thirty-five days in a row with a new one. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

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.

This image was created on the 24 January 2022 on a San Diego IPT. Seated on a rock on the upper shelf at La Jolla and working off the tilted rear monitor, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera ISO 640. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: 1/1000 sec. at f/10 (stopped down 1/3 stop). RawDigger showed that the exposure was dad-solid perfect. AWB at 9:56:58am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Brown Pelican — Pacific race, head portrait

The Skinny on the Down Low

I was sitting on the edge of the upper shelf hoping to photograph some of the pelicans on the lower level without having to climb down. Unexpectedly, a gorgeous pelican molting into breeding plumage landed right in front of me on a rock just above the lower shelf. When I raised the lens to my eye, I had pelicans in the background. When I rested the lens on my bent left knee and — with my reading glasses on — worked off the tilted rear monitor, I still had pelicans in the background. I leaned forward as far as I could without falling off the rock and — with my reading glasses on — worked off the tilted rear monitor. Both feet were hanging down, my heels against the rock I was sitting on, and I braced both elbows on my knees. In addition to eliminating the distracting pelicans from the lower background, it effectively moved the ocean farther away from the subject thus yielding the gorgeous, out-of–focus Pacific-blue backgrounds that I love working with at La Jolla. While this is certainly not the most stable set-up ever, 1/1000 second was fast enough to yield sharp images.

This handsome bird is just about finished molting into full breeding plumage. In another week, the entire hind-neck with be a rich dark-brown color often with a bit of a reddish tint.

Success in bird photography is often a matter of inventing new techniques in the field, techniques that innovatively solve problems that pop up on an almost daily basis. See yesterday’s blog post for a recent example. Consider joining me on an Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) and get to see how that works in person.

This all-new card includes images created on my JAN 2022 visit to San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs

San Diego IPT #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 21 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 24 DEC 2022. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 5.

San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 7 JAN thru the morning session on WED 11 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Sold Out.

San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 19 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.

Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT sessions.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well, often with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Deposit Info

A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2022/23 San Diego IPTs. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

What’s Up?

Again, not much. I swam a mile — 44 lengths in the morning, and then 44 more in the afternoon.

Many wonder why I spend so much time watching every NFL game on TV (courtesy of Direct TV’s NFL Package). The ending of the Buffalo Bill/Minnesota Vikings game was far beyond remarkable. The Vikings had trailed 27-10 in the third quarter. With two minutes to go and the Vikings trailing by only four, Justin Jefferson made one of the all-time great catches, stealing the ball from a Bills’ cornerback with one hand while crashing to the ground and controlling the ball. You can see that catch at the beginning of the video here. On the ensuing Minnesota drive, Justin Jefferson apparently won the game with a catch that was ruled a touchdown. But they ruled him down just short of the goal line.

It looked as if the Vikings would score to win the game, but the Bills stuffed a quarterback sneak from the 1/2-yard line. The Bills win! Or not? Bill’s QB Josh Allen fumbled the snap on the next play and a Minnesota player fell on it for the game-winning touchdown. Or not? After the kickoff, Kelly moved the Bills down the field in less than forty seconds for a game-tying field goal (benefitted by a bad call on a bobbled catch). In overtime, the Vikings drove the length of the field on a six-minute 16-second drive that stalled on the 15-yard line. They kicked the go-ahead field goal with 3:44 left in overtime. The Bills answered with a drive of their own and were in position on the 20-yard line to win the game with a touchdown or settle for a game-tying field goal. Watch the video to the end to see the stunning conclusion to the NFL game of the year.

Yesterday’s Post

Of yesterday’s featured images, I’d have to agree with Jim Saxon:

James Saxon/November 14, 2022 at 3:37pm

I don’t think I can pick a favorite considering that from the beginning to end they all tell a story about survival. I like the sequence and feel you need all images to tell the story. #3 is my favorite because of the amount of snake still visible which provides a sense of scale with the heron’s prey. Thanks for sharing the entire sequence.

Today is Tuesday 15 November 2022. I got lots accomplished yesterday but still have tons more work to do on the urgent and ongoing problems at NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association). This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred thirty-three days in a row with a new one. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

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.

Some days are stones. Except when they are not!

Wednesday past was totally boring as compared to Tuesday past. I walked for almost three hours without much to show for my efforts. Then, at the four-trail intersection, I came across the great blue that fishes there regularly. And then the fun began.

This image was created on 9 November 2022 at Circle Bar B Preserve in Lakeland, FL. I used the Robus RCM-439 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod, 65/Wimberley MonoGimbal Head-supported Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/1000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 9:39:22am on a then partly sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Great Blue Heron subduing armored catfish

Why the Rig Change?

On the previous day, I had killed with the lighter albeit slower by four clicks Sony 200-600mm lens on a lightweight tripod. Yet the next day, I switched tracks and carried the heavier 400mm f/2.8 GM lens with the 1.4X TC and the monopod. Why the change? On Wednesday, the first morning, the skies were partly cloudy with hints of blue. So, I knew that I would have a decent amount of light to work with. On that excellent morning I had one GBH with the armored catfish carcass, and one with the snake. In between, I added the 1.4X TC to work two different backlit Anhingas. But on Thursday, 9 November, the skies were solidly cloudy when I arrived. Therefore, going with the 400 f/2.8 and the 1.4X TC, I would have four clicks more light: f/4 as compared to f/6.3. That yields four clicks less ISO. Again, my instincts turned out to be perfect.

Armored Catfish

There are three invasive species of Armored Catfish in Florida. They are almost impossible to exterminate. They displace native species, can cause severe bank erosion, and harass and cause problems for the manatees.

Living and Learning from Mistakes

On 8 November, I went with 1/500 sec as my minimum shutter speed when working the GBH subduing the snake. That was not fast enough to freeze the action when the bird shook the snake violently. So, the next day, with a faster rig, I upped that to 1/1000 second when photographing the great blue trying to kill and swallow the catfish. The change in strategy paid off with one very special image (out or more than 200).

The Background Clean-Up

During the raw conversion I upped the Luminosity of the GREENs and the YELLOWs on the Color Mixer tab. That had the effects of softening the background. But I found some of the stuff in background around the prey item to be distracting. To clean those up, I used my usual cadre of clean-up tools and techniques. Those included the Clone Stamp Tool (used in conjunction with Divide and Conquer), the Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, Content-Aware Fill, a series of small Quick Masks refined by the addition of a Regular Layer Mask, and Protect and Defend Cloning on a Layer. (The latter is found only in the original Digital Basics.)

Lastly, I applied a layer of Gaussian Blur to the whole image, added a Hide-All (Black, or Inverse layer mask), and painted in the effects at 33% increments as needed to smooth over my clean-up efforts.

While the optimized version maintains the natural history of the moment, it looks a heck of a lot better to me.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

What’s Up?

I swam on Saturday morning and drove over to Lakeland in the afternoon under clear skies with a nice breeze from the west. There were about a zillion Anhingas at Lake Parker, but very few parking spots so I headed over to Lake Morton. There, I learned that it is much better in the morning than in the afternoons.

Please be so kind as to leave a comment letting us know which of today’s two featured images you like best and why you made your choice.

Today is Sunday 13 November. I may head back to Circle Bar B in the morning and hope for some clouds. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred thirty-one days in a row with a new one. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have also have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

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. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. 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 11 November 2022 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. While seated on dry sand (with an already very wet butt), I used knee-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 353mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600. 1/500 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 5:03:23pm with the sun behind a big cloud on the western horizon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be less than 1/3-stop too dark. Tracking: Upper Center Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Wood Stork — adult head portrait in soft light

Loving the Soft Light on the Atlantic Ocean

The Wood Stork that had been at the base of the jetty walked ahead of me on the beach toward the path back to the pullout where I had parked. There were two guys fishing off the beach there. Some kids frolicked in the surf near them. The young Reddish Egret that had been at the jetty was standing among the humans, the bird without a care in the world. As I got closer, a second Wood Stork flew in. I sat on the beach and began photographing. The quality of the soft light as it came through the clouds was lovely, as were the varied ocean backgrounds. The success of today’s two images was due in part to exposing well to the right. Even the most sophisticated camera meter would under-expose both images here by close to two full stops.

This image was also created on 11 November 2022 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. While seated on dry sand (with an already very wet butt), I used knee-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 547mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/400 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 5:05:05pm with the sun behind a big cloud on the western horizon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be less than 1/3-stop too dark. Tracking: Upper Center Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Reddish Egret in heaven

The In-heaven Motif

To create images with the in-heaven look, you need something close to you in the bottom of the frame to create the soft, out-of-focus foreground as you focus on the subject beyond and above and under it sharply. We first figured this motif out in the mid-1908s while photographing shorebirds on a beach where small ridges of sand provided the de-focused foregrounds. I have made a few decent images using the body of a closer bird to provide a soft, o-o-f foreground. So, when the Wood Stork stepped between me and the young reddish, I saw the opportunity. At first the reddish did not cooperate as it looked away from me out to sea. When the stork took two steps to the right, I schooched right to re-establish the juxtaposition. This time, the egret posed for me with a perfect head angle.

Don’t Be Scared

Note that I was fine with a minimum shutter speed of 1/400 or 1/500 second while handholding the Sony 200-600mm G lens. With the incredible image quality of files from today’s mirrorless camera bodies, there is no reason to be scared of the higher ISO settings. When you do encounter high ISO noise, Topaz DeNoise will eliminate it easily even for some ridiculously high ISO settings.

Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action. Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. The group is now up to up to an astounding 131 lucky and blessed folks, and more than a few folks own two or more a1 bodies! Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive six e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will receive new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.

All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

What’s Up?

On Thursday, the storm fizzled with only a drizzle in the morning. I swam 48 lengths in the morning and walked 2.8 miles on the golf course in the afternoon. If you missed the B&H Event Space program — Photographing Bald Eagles at Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska, you can see it online here.

If you have a favorite image below, please leave a comment and let us know what you liked about it.

Today is Friday 11 November 2022. It is clear with a southwest breeze. I am planning to try Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys this afternoon. This blog post took three hours to prepare and makes two hundred twenty-nine days in a row with a new one.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

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. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. 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.

Some Days are Diamonds: Part I — Spanish Moss-scape

Tuesday at Circle Bar B was quite excellent. Wednesday? Not so much. Because it was dark and totally cloudy, I walked 3.5 miles with the 400mm f/2.8 on the monopod. Carrying the big lens as shown in the monopod video is actually easier than carrying the lighter 200-600 and the light tripod. In any case, there were very few birds on Wednesday. Some days are stone. I did, however, have one very good chance near the end of my 3.5-mile walk — a handsome adult Great Blue Heron posed with an armored catfish and eventually swallowed it.

This image was created on 8 November 2022 at Circle Bar B Preserve in Lakeland, FL. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 204 tripod/Levered-clamp FlexShooter supported-Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 430mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the Thumb Dial. Multi-metering -.07 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 1600: 1/200 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. AWB at 7:07:50am on a cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/6-stop short of perfect. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Great Blue Heron holding dried-out catfish carcass

The Start of the Story

I was about to walk by the Great Blue Heron on the bank across the creek when it began stabbing at something on the ground. Curious, I stopped. The bird picked up a dried-out, long-dead Armored Catfish that was a stiff as a board and was covered with twigs and bits of that looked like dried-out Spanish Moss. I thought, “Is this bird planning on eating this fish?”

Why Shutter Priority Mode?

Again, I had been hoping to create some pleasing blurs of birds in flight against the white skies. Thus, I found it easier to dial in some negative EC until there were faint Zebras on the white than to make the many changes needed to get back to Manual mode.

This image was created on 8 November 2022 at Circle Bar B Preserve in Lakeland, FL. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 204 tripod/Levered-clamp FlexShooter supported-Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 559mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250: 1/200 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:15:09am on a cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/6-stop short of perfect. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Great Blue Heron bringing the dried-out catfish carcass down to the creek

The Plan

After dropping and picking up and holding and shaking the dried-out catfish for a while, the bird held the catfish carcass in its bill, walked down to the creek, and dunked it in the shallow tea-colored water to soften it up. The whole process was repeated several times. Another photographer joined me and quickly said, “That bird will never swallow that dried-up fish!” I disagreed.

This image was created on 8 November 2022 at Circle Bar B Preserve in Lakeland, FL. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 204 tripod/Levered-clamp FlexShooter supported-Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 559mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250: 1/200 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:15:25am on a cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/6-stop short of perfect. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Great Blue Heron holding the cleaned-up catfish carcass

Making Progress

More than ten minutes after it first began stabbing at the long dead catfish, the great blue had succeeded in cleaning and softening up the fish.

This image was created on 8 November 2022 at Circle Bar B Preserve in Lakeland, FL. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 204 tripod/Levered-clamp FlexShooter supported-Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 362mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600: 1/250 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:18:49am on a cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/6-stop short of perfect. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Great Blue Heron beginning to swallow the catfish carcass

Almost

After this first attempt at swallowing the reconditioned catfish, the bird dropped the fish to the ground. Two minutes later the GBH picked the fish up again and began swallowing it.

This image was created on 8 November 2022 at Circle Bar B Preserve in Lakeland, FL. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 204 tripod/Levered-clamp FlexShooter supported-Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 444mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600: 1/250 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:21:21am on a cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/6-stop short of perfect. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #5: Great Blue Heron beginning to swallow the catfish carcass

Finally, with a Squirrel!

More than 16 minutes after the Great Blue Heron began messing with the stiff, dead catfish, it managed to get it down the hatch. When I saw the squirrel walking through the frame, I made a dozen or so images.

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.

Purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.

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.

Your Call

Which version of today’s featured image do you like best, Image #1, the full frame original, or Image #2, the tall, skinny crop? Leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice.

Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action. Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. The group is now up to up to an astounding 131 lucky and blessed folks, and more than a few folks own two or more a1 bodies! Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive six e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will receive new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.

All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Photographing Bald Eagles (and more) at Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

A B&H Event Space Program

Photographing Bald Eagles (and more) at Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Today, Wednesday Nov 9, 2022, I will be presenting a B&H Event Space program from 5:00pm – 6:00pm ET.

I have been photographing bald eagles (and lots more) in Homer, Alaska for more than two decades with Canon, Nikon, and Sony gear. Photographing birds has been my passion for the past four decades. I will share my favorite images from more than 20 visits to Homer along with my thoughts on the best gear, on designing pleasing images, on seeing and using the light, and on getting the right exposure for these challenging black and white subjects. I will also share photos ranging from tight head portraits to small-in-the-frame bird-scapes, and, in addition, there will be lots of great flight photography tips.

Learn more or register for this free, online-only presentation here.

The Homer IPTs

If you are considering attending one of these great trips, please contact me via e-mail and I will do my very best to make it happen.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

2023 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 2.

IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 3.

IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Openings: 2.

Save $1,500.00 by doing back-to-back trips. Save $2500 by doing all three trips.

These trips feature non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.

In addition, we should see Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require a ton of good luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when creating bird-scapes.

If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will stay out and be in the right spot.

We will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country; landscape and scenic opportunities abound.

Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader, who is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony.

All images from Kachemak Bay in 2022!

What You Will Learn

You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer. But only if that is what you want.

You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes.

You will learn to make pleasing blurs working in manual mode and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode.

Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight images from tens of thousands of images.

You will enjoy working with the two best and most creative boat captains on their sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck crafts.

The second and third IPTs are the only Bald Eagle workshops that feature an incredibly helpful first mate.

Only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader.

Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

One four-hour or two two-hour(+/-) boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants. Airport pickup if possible)

What’s Not Included

Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.

Please Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips, or 24 hours for the second trip, the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer.

Deposit Information

A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 90 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check as above.

In Closing

I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of the three trips is to sign up for all three. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, two, or all three trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.

What’s Up?

I had a great morning at Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland on Tuesday. The party cloudy weather was perfect for the walk that I chose. I opted to go with the 200-600 and the small, lightweight (no longer available) Induro GIT 204L topped by a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Mini. It turned out to be the perfect combo with the sun peeking in and out. Images and the full story here soon,

My photo walk was three miles, I swam 66 lengths after brunch. And walked the back-nine before sunset for another 2.3 miles. Needless to say, it was a great blood sugar day. Today is Wednesday 9 November 2022. I had so much fun yesterday that I am heading back to Circle B Bar Preserve this morning. This blog post took 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred twenty-seven days in a row with a new one.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

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. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. 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 26 February 2022 on a Homer/Kachemak Bay IPT. Seated on gravel beach, I used handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600m) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/1000 second at f/8 (stopped down 2/3-stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 3:17:50pm on a cloudy afternoon. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be 1/3-stop to dark. That knowledge allows me to properly set the Exposure slider as the first step in the raw conversion. Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Bald Eagle — adult on beach with far wing raised.

Heard to Believes

Hard to Believe I

It is hard to believe that I had not optimized today’s very fine featured image until yesterday.

Hard to Believe II

It is hard to believe that several clients from the 2020 and the 2022 Homer Eagle IPTs have told me that they still have thousands of images to go through from their trips.

Hard to Believe III

It is hard to believe how versatile the Sony 200-600 gm is

Hard to Believe IV

It is hard to believe how effective Topaz DeNoise is on Sony A1 high ISO AWR files.

Of Note:

I went from f/6.3 to f/8 for a bit more depth of field at point-blank range.

My choice of 1/1000 second as a minimum handholding shutter speed for possible action was perfect as it created a sharp on the eye image as the eagle lunged forward.

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.

Purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.

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.