Been thinking of joining me on the San Diego IPT? It is getting late. Consider taking advantage of the largest-ever late-registration discount. Details below.
The Stronger Image?
Which of today’s two featured images appeals to you more? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
What’s Up?
It was so foggy on Thursday morning that you could barely see one short block. I went down to the lake anyway. For the first time since The Perch was erected more than six months ago, I had an Osprey on it. When it comes to using the perch, the birds have taken their sweet time. But I have had some decent action for the past two weeks or so. I made lots of images of the handsome raptor from my SUV using the BLUBB. I deleted more than 100 and kept 9. After processing the best image, I deleted seven more.
I was about four minutes late getting down to the lake for sunset. As I was walking out on the pier, about 50 Cattle Egrets flew by right through the color. Then, when I was adjusting the settings on my a1, another 100 birds did the same thing. I had a very few good chances after that. A surprise was one killer frame of a Mottled Duck leaving the scene through an incredible patch of deep yellow water.
Today is Friday 31 December. With a forecast for mostly cloudy in the morning, Jim and I are heading to Lakeland, probably to Circle B Bar Reserve. If you would like some In-the-Field instruction at either ILE or Lakeland in the next ten days or so, shoot me an e-mail or try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare including the time spent on the image optimizations. This post makes 51 consecutive days with a new one.
Please remember that you can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Your-Pick In-the-Field Sessions
The beauty of the Your Pick In-the-Field Sessions plans below is that I am free most days from now till mid-January and we can schedule sessions to coincide with the perfect weather forecast. They are ideal for central Florida locals or folks visiting the region for whatever reason. Interested? Get in touch via e-mail or better yet, try my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up. Inquire for couples and group rates.
Indian Lake Estates In-the-Field Sessions
Two hours of intensive instruction: $300.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00. Sunset shoot: $100.00. Guest room lodging available. Mix and match.
Sunny mornings with east winds are best. Likely subjects include ridiculously tame Sandhill Cranes along with Black and Turkey Vultures, Crested Caracara, Limpkin, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and more. Bald Eagle possible; crane chicks coming soon.
Lakeland or Circle B Bar Preserve
Two hours of intensive instruction: $325.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00. Mix and match.
Sunny mornings with east winds are best at Lakeland. Likely subjects include point-blank American White Pelican, Anhinga, Limpkin, Common Moorhen, White Ibis, a variety of wintering ducks including Ring-necked and Wood Ducks, and lots more.
Cloudy mornings or afternoons (shooting session only) are best at Circle B Bar Preserve. Likely subjects include Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Common Moorhen, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Alligator, Wild Boar, and more. If you wish to mix and match, loving at ILE is available.
Sony Alpha 1 Bodies in Stock at Bedfords/free card offer!
Steve Elkins of Bedfords let me know late yesterday that he had several Sony a1 bodies in stock. If one of them has your name on it, please click here and be sure to enter the BIRDSASART coupon code check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. Right now, in lieu of the 3% credit refunded to the card you used for your purchase, you will receive a Sony 160GB CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Card, a $399.99 value!
Brand New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager-to-please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 4 January 2020 at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 493mm) and Sony a9 ii (now replaced by The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) ISO 640. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:25:53am on a mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot (S) AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF was active at the moment OF exposure and worked just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the hi-res version.
Image #1: What is It?
Head Throw Strategies
Ever since I created a BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition-honored head throw image (with Fuji Velvia pushed one stop to ISO 100!) at La Jolla in the mid-1990s, I have been trying to do better. It ain’t easy. Creating good head throw images is a huge challenge. My best advice is to frame wider than you think is necessary. Much wider. If you are doing verticals (as I was for image #1), you will clip the bill as the first one second usually works best as a horizontal. If you start off working in horizontal format, you will surely clip the bill at the apex of the throw.
So what’s the answer? Frame wider than you could ever imagine and then crop as needed. Sometimes to a square, as with Image #1 above. If you zoom in in an effort to create tighter images, you will always clip something … Though you might miss some of the action with that approach, you might wind up with a contest-winner as the bill pouches of the Pacific race birds in California feature incredible colors — fire-engine red and olive-green for starters, along with incredible detail. On the San Diego IPT I will do my best to teach you the behavioral signals that usually signal that a head throw is coming.
BTW, head throws are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication.
The Lesson
When attempting to photograph Brown Pelican head throws, framing wider rather than higher will lead to lots more keepers.
This image was created on 4 January 2020 at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available GIT304L Grand Series 5 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and Sony a7R IV (now replaced by The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). ISO 400. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:26:47am on a on a mostly sunny morning.
Expand Flexible Spot S AF-C performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a higher-res version.
Image #2: Brown Pelican Pacific race in breeding plumage with bill pouch distended
The Classic Head and Shoulders Portrait
For me, images like this are one of the main reasons to visit San Diego. The distant Pacific-blue backgrounds complement the colors of the breeding plumaged bird perfectly. And the sweet early morning light is a given on most days.
Lesson
The greater the distance from the subject to the background, the softer the background will be rendered.
Shorter Focal Lengths Yield Greater Depth of Field
The bird in Image #1 is the same individual as in Image #2. I made both images while standing pretty much in the same spot. Note that the ocean background in image #1 has some detail in the waves (especially toward the bottom of the frame). In Image #2, however, the ocean background is super-smooth, completely defocused. That despite the slightly smaller aperture, f/7.1 as compared to f/6.3.
Lesson
When the photographer-to-subject distance is constant, the shorter the focal length, the greater the depth-of-field (at a given aperture).
San Diego, California: A Bird Photographer’s Paradise!
I’ve been visiting San Diego, California for more than 50 years, and photographing there for almost four decades. It truly is one of my favorite bird photography locations on the planet. The Pacific race Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches, are indeed the stars of the show, but there are lots of other great birds there that are relatively easy to photograph. Check out this five minute video to see the potential.
Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking here.
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.
The 2022 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPT. Monday 17 January thru the morning session on Friday 21 January 2022. Four full and one-half day: $2999.00. Deposit: $899.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 6
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 with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; 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 (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions. 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 click here for more info and registration details.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Early on Wednesday, I tried some pre-sunrise Cattle Egrets-leaving-the-roost blurs from the pier with some interesting results. But nothing spectacular. A quick drive-around did not turn up much in the way of birds, so I headed for the always-dependable vulture trees. Conditions were perfect for flight, but the vultures were not in much of a flying mood. I did some perched vultures and came up with a few interesting frames, including and especially today’s featured image. The color at sunset was gorgeous as the sun peeked in and out from behind some clouds on the western horizon. But very few birds flew by the pier until after the sun was down and the color had faded. None-the-less, it was a peaceful way to spend a half hour.
Today is Thursday 30 December 2021.The forecast for the morning is for foggy then partly cloudy turning sunny with a gentle breeze from the south. I will surely head down to the lake for a least a bit. The female eagle continues to sit low on her nest, incubating her clutch. If you would like some In-the-Field instruction at either ILE or Lakeland on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday — the weather looks good for all three mornings, shoot me an e-mail or try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about two hours minutes to prepare, including the time spent on the image optimization. This post makes 50 consecutive days with a new one.
Please remember that you can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Your-Pick In-the-Field Sessions
The beauty of the Your Pick In-the-Field Sessions plans below is that I am free most days from now till mid-January and we can schedule sessions to coincide with the perfect weather forecast. They are ideal for central Florida locals or folks visiting the region for whatever reason. Interested? Get in touch via e-mail or better yet, try my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up. Inquire for couples and group rates.
Indian Lake Estates In-the-Field Sessions
Two hours of intensive instruction: $300.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00. Sunset shoot: $100.00. Guest room lodging available. Mix and match.
Sunny mornings with east winds are best. Likely subjects include ridiculously tame Sandhill Cranes along with Black and Turkey Vultures, Crested Caracara, Limpkin, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and more. Bald Eagle possible; crane chicks coming soon.
Lakeland or Circle B Bar Preserve
Two hours of intensive instruction: $325.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00. Mix and match.
Sunny mornings with east winds are best at Lakeland. Likely subjects include point-blank American White Pelican, Anhinga, Limpkin, Common Moorhen, White Ibis, a variety of wintering ducks including Ring-necked and Wood Ducks, and lots more.
Cloudy mornings or afternoons (shooting session only) are best at Circle B Bar Preserve. Likely subjects include Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Common Moorhen, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Alligator, Wild Boar, and more. If you wish to mix and match, loving at ILE is available.
Sony Alpha 1 Bodies in Stock at Bedfords/free card offer!
Steve Elkins of Bedfords let me know late yesterday that he had several Sony a1 bodies in stock. If one of them has your name on it, please click here and be sure to enter the BIRDSASART coupon code check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. Right now, in lieu of the 3% credit refunded to the card you used for your purchase, you will receive a Sony 160GB CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Card, a $399.99 value!
Brand New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager-to-please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 29 December 2021 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available GIT305XXL Grand Series 5 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). ISO 1600. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:41:39am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C Bird Face/Eye detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a higher-res version.
Image #1: The Photo Mechanic screen capture for the original Turkey Vulture preening primary feather image
Photo Mechanic Screen Capture
Note how much I have exposed to the right. Then compare the washed out original with the richly colored optimized image below, Image #1B. Note also the relatively large crop. If you compare the color in 1A with the color in 1B, you will see that I reduced the YELLOWs considerably while striving to leave the early morning light look. I did some of that reduction during the raw conversion via the Color Mixer tab, and some after the conversion by going Command J/Command U to bring up the Hue/Saturation dialogue box and then choosing YELLOWs from the drop-down menu. All (and tons more) as detailed in Digital Basics II.
Shutter Speed Question
Why do you think that I was at 1/3200 second when I could have easily dropped down to 1/1600 second at f/5.6 and double my depth of field? There are actually two reasons …
Why No Teleconverter?
The question has been around forever: are you better off adding a teleconverter (TC) to get more pixels on the subject or shooting your bare super-telephoto and then cropping? As regular readers know, I have long been a big fan of TCs. But with the incredible image quality of sharp Sony Alpha 1 files, I am now somewhat on the fence. And today’s featured image is one reason why. But there are more. Using the bare lens and then cropping will allow you to work at the wide open aperture. This gains you one full stop of either shutter speed or ISO as compared to losing one stop when you add the 1.4X TC, or losing two stops with the 2X TC. In addition, it is a lot easier getting the whole bird in the frame so as to avoid clipping wings, heads, and tails.
The huge advantage of working without a TC is that it is far easier to make sharp images than it is when adding a TC. Why? Gear shake errors are a factor of the square of the focal length. Add the 1.4X TC to your super-telephoto lens and sharpness problems will almost double. With the 2X TC, your gear shake errors are magnified by a factor of four.
With today’s featured image, I could have gotten a lot closer, but doing that would have increased my angle of inclination. Thus, I opted to stay well back, leave the 1.4X TC in my pocket, avoid shooting up at a steep angle, and then crop. See the result immediately below, Image #1A.
This image was created on 29 December 2021 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available GIT305XXL Grand Series 5 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). ISO 1600. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:41:39am on a clear,sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C Bird Face/Eye detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a higher-res version.
There has been a preening Turkey Vulture on the tippy-top perch of the dead tree for a week. I am not sure that it has been the same bird, but I would not be surprised if that were the case. Anyhoo, I have created hundreds of images of preening vultures on the same perch over the past few days. This one, with the tail spread so beautifully and a nice view of the bird’s head, was the best by far.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C Bird Face/Eye detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a higher-res version.
Image #1B: The RawDigger screen capture for the original Turkey Vulture preening primary feather image
Fine-tuning Your Exposures
When you work with the same subjects day after day, often in the same light, evaluating your raw files in RawDigger allows you to fine-tune your exposures to perfection. With the vultures, it is important to expose as far to the right as possible to open up the darkest feathers so that they reveal the fine feather detail. But you need to do that without burning (over-exposing) the very light-toned bill tip of the Turkey Vultures or toasting the legs of either species. RawDigger has enabled me to do that consistently.
In the screen capture above, note that there are a total of 822 OvExp pixels. Out of 51 million, that is close to zero. By enlarging the image, I was able to see that the Pink OvExp warnings were on the very bright shafts of three feathers. Those were eliminated easily during the raw conversion by moving the Highlight to the left. All in all, I would call this a perfect exposure.
RawDigger — not for the faint of heart …
Nothing has ever helped me learn to create perfect exposures to the degree that RawDigger has. I think that many folks are reluctant to learn that most of their images are underexposed by one or more full stops and that highlight warnings in Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, and your in-camera histogram are completely bogus as they are based on the embedded JPEGs. Only your raw files tell the truth all the time. Heck, I resisted RawDigger for several years … Once you get over that feeling, RawDigger can become your very best exposure friend no matter what system you are using. On the recent IPTs and In-the-Field sessions, we have demonstrated that fact. Convincingly.
The RawDigger (pink) Adapted Histogram
In the RawDigger e-Guide, you will learn exactly how to set up the Adapted “pink” RawDigger Histogram and how to use it to quickly and easily evaluate the exposure or raw file brightness of images from all digital cameras currently in use. RawDigger was especially helpful to me when I struggled with R5 exposures and when learned my new camera body, the Sony Alpha a1.
RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos
The RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos
by Arthur Morris with Patrick Sparkman
The RawDigger e-Guide was created only for serious photographers who wish to get the absolute most out of their raw files.
Patrick and I began work on the guide in July 2020. At first we struggled. We asked questions. We learned about Max-G values. We could not figure out why the Max G values varied by camera system. IPT veteran Bart Deamer asked lots of questions that we could not answer. We got help from RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. We learned. In December, Patrick came up with an Adapted Histogram that allows us to evaluate the exposures and raw file brightness for all images created with all digital camera bodies from the last two decades. What we learned each time prompted three complete beginning to end re-writes.
The point of the guide is to teach you to truly expose to the mega-Expose-to-the-Right so that you will minimize noise, maximize image quality, best utilize your camera’s dynamic range, and attain the highest possible level of shadow detail in your RAW files in every situation. In addition, your properly exposed RAW files will contain more tonal information and feature the smoothest possible transitions between tones. And your optimized images will feature rich, accurate color.
We teach you why the GREEN channel is almost always the first to over-expose. We save you money by advising you which version of RawDigger you need. We teach you how to interpret the Max G values for your Canon, Nikon, and SONY camera bodies. It is very likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you. And lastly — thanks to the technical and practical brilliance of Patrick Sparkman — we teach you a simple way to quickly and easily evaluate your exposures and raw file brightness using an Adapted RawDigger histogram.
The flower video takes you through a session where artie edits a folder of images in Capture One while checking the exposures and Max-G values in RawDigger. The Adapted Histogram video examines a series of recent images with the pink histograms and covers lots of fine points including and especially how to deal with specular highlights. The directions for setting up the Adapted Histogram are in the text.
If we priced this guide based on how much effort we put into it, it would sell it for $999.00. But as this guide will be purchased only by a limited number of serious photographers, we have priced it at $51.00. You can order yours here in the BAA Online Store.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
On Tuesday morning, Joe and Jenny Casey enjoyed a second wonderful session at Indian Lake Estates. Joe, inspired by the Blurs and Moons and Suns gallery here, fell head-over-heals in love with creating pleasing blurs. You can see his neat landscape blurs here. Anyhoo, we started off by doing some vertical cattail pan blurs. Early on in the sweetest light, we had a gorgeous Great Blue Heron on The Perch, but when I stopped the car, it flew off 🙁 Next we worked the crane family of four, and then visited the vulture trees. We visited The Perch again and photographed the Little Blue Heron that had replaced the GBH. The Caseys headed back to DeSoto and found and photographed a Great Horned Owl nest on the way! All in all, we had a great time. Joe learned a ton and Jenny was excited by seeing several new species.
Today is Wednesday 29 December 2021. The forecast for the morning is for clear, sunny, and still with a slight breeze early on from the S/SE. I will try something new this morning in what looks to be very good conditions. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare, including the time spent on the image optimization. This post makes 49 consecutive days with a new one.
Please remember that you can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Your Pick In-the-Field Sessions
The beauty of the Your Pick In-the-Field Sessions plans below is that I am free most days from now till mid-January and we can schedule sessions to coincide with the perfect weather forecast. They are ideal for central Florida locals or folks visiting the region for whatever reason. Interested? Get in touch via e-mail or better yet, try my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up. Inquire for couples and group rates.
Indian Lake Estates In-the-Field Sessions
Two hours of intensive instruction: $300.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00. Sunset shoot: $100.00. Guest room lodging available. Mix and match.
Sunny mornings with east winds are best. Likely subjects include ridiculously tame Sandhill Cranes along with Black and Turkey Vultures, Crested Caracara, Limpkin, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and more. Bald Eagle possible; crane chicks coming soon.
Lakeland or Circle B Bar Preserve
Two hours of intensive instruction: $325.00. Add a working brunch with image review: $100.00. Mix and match.
Sunny mornings with east winds are best at Lakeland. Likely subjects include point-blank American White Pelican, Anhinga, Limpkin, Common Moorhen, White Ibis, a variety of wintering ducks including Ring-necked and Wood Ducks, and lots more.
Cloudy mornings or afternoons (shooting session only) are best at Circle B Bar Preserve. Likely subjects include Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Common Moorhen, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Alligator, Wild Boar, and more. If you wish to mix and match, loving at ILE is available.
Sony Alpha 1 Bodies in Stock at Bedfords/free card offer!
Steve Elkins of Bedfords let me know late yesterday that he had several Sony a1 bodies in stock. If one of them has your name on it, please click here and be sure to enter the BIRDSASART coupon code check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. Right now, in lieu of the 3% credit refunded to the card you used for your purchase, you will receive a Sony 160GB CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Card, a $399.99 value!
Brand New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager-to-please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
I created this image on 27 December 2021 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing near the edge of a canal at the bird’s eye level, I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (at 144mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 500. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:01:26am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF was active at the moment of exposure and kept switching between the left and center birds. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the hi-res version.
Image #1: Serendipitous Serenading Trio
Serendipitous Serenading Trio
We were working the crane family of four from down by the edge the canal so that we were right on the bird’s level. We talked a lot about crouching down a bit and a lot about perspective. When the family of three flew in the family of four began calling. When three of them lined up pretty much on the same plane, I fired off about twenty images. As I was in Tracking Zone, AF-C Bird/Eye Detection, the system switched from the eye of the bird in the middle to the eye of the bird on our left. (This turned out to be a Godsend.) The bird on our left was on the same plane as the bird on the right. As a base image, I chose the best frame with both outer birds sharp. Then, using a Quick Mask refined by a Regular Layer Mask, I borrowed the sharp head of the center bird from another similar frame and dragged it roughly into place on the base image. After a bit of fine-tuning, everything looked Kosher.
So yes, this is another photo illustration. Do understand two things: One, I have not entered a major international (or any other) photography contest in more than a few years; Two, when I used to enter such contests, I always made it a point to read and re-read the contest rules very carefully, and to abide by them.. Most — but not all, prohibited adding or removing anything from the original image capture. And all of the big contests required that folks submit the raw file for images that had made the final round of judging.
So when I improve the artistic or technical qualities of an image using Photoshop, I am doing it for me.
The Young Bird?
Today’s image depicts two adults and one young bird, less than a year old. After clicking on the image to view the high-res version, can you figure out which bird is the juvenile? How did you 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 technique mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with all of 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. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my MacBook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. 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: all 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.
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.
