#1: Of the four featured images, which is your favorite. All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
#2: Which basic compositional rule did I break when I created the second and the fourth images?
What’s Up?
Today is Friday 12 November 2021. I was out of bed well before 6am. It was pouring when I got up. Just for fun, I checked the Weather.com for ILE: cloudy with no chance of rain. You would at least think that they could look out the window … It is supposed to be cloudy this afternoon so I will be heading back to my new favorite trail at Circle B Bar Preserve. See more on this exciting location below. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took more than four hours to prepare.
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.
I created this image on 4 November at Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland, FL. While standing, I used the Levered-clamp Flexshooter Pro/Induro GIT 304L tripod-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 800. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/40 sec. at f/16 (stopped down 2 2/3 stops) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the brightness of the raw file was perfect. AWB at 2:55pm on a cloudy afternoon.
Tracking: Spot (S) AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF was active at the moment exposure and worked perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the hi-res version.
Image #1: Bark detail: Pond (or Bald) Cypress
Circle B Bar Preserve Revelation
As previously noted here, I spent last Thursday afternoon walking a previously un-visted-before-by-me trail at the Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland, FL. It was a beautiful walk through what seemed like a pristine marsh and an ancient cypress swamp. Best of all, there were lots of Anhingas, Common Gallinules, Ospreys, Great Blue Herons, along with a variety of other wading birds. If you own a copy of the BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide that I did with Joe Przybyla and would like information on this newly discovered trail, shoot me proof of purchase via e-mail with the word’s “Latest Info on Circle B Bar” in the Subject line.
Why Put the Sony 200-600 G Lens on a Tripod?
I take great delight in heading out to the beach with just the hand held Sony 200-600 G lens and an a1. Hand holding allows a tremendous amount of freedom and allows you to get into position and set up a shot much more easily than when working with the tripod-mounted 600mm f/4 GM lens. The 2-6 focuses much closer than the 600 f/4. On sunny days, the f/6.3 maximum aperture (at the longer focal lengths) is not a bother at all. And with good sharpness techniques, you can work with the 1.4X teleconverter as well.
But when working in low light conditions on cloudy days or in the woods, putting the 2-6 on a tripod is pretty much a necessity. The bark detail image above was created at 600mm with a shutter speed of 1/40 second. Most folks would be up the creek without the proverbial paddle with those settings. For me, a tripod was a necessity for Image #1 and for the three Anhinga images below as well.
Figure 1: Wimberley P-35 Plate properly positioned and mounted on the Sony 200-600 G lens
My Choice for the 200-600: the Wimberley P-35 Lens Plate
Because I hand hold this lens most of the time, I want to be able to remove the lens foot with the plate attached to save weight when I am working without a tripod. If there is a chance that I will be using the Panning Ground Pod, I will stick the foot/plate combo into a pocket, my vest, or my fanny pack so that I can grab it when needed.
Mounting the foot/plate combo onto the lens via the quick release mechanism is a snap. Many folks complain that this arrangement is unsafe, unstable, and insecure. I disagree, but only 100%. If you finger-tighten the double-ended lever properly, you are good to go and will never have a problem.
The P-35 lens plate is a 5.0” long, double dovetail, Arca-Swiss style quick- release plate. It is used to connect a camera lens, fitted with both a rotation collar and tripod mounting foot, to a compatible quick-release clamp. Wimberley plates are compatible with most Arca-Swiss style quick-release clamps, such as those made by Wimberley, Really Right Stuff, Kirk Enterprises, Markins, Arca-Swiss, Foba, Graf and others.
When the plate is mounted fully forward as shown in the diagram above, this two-screw lens plate matches up perfectly with the Sony 200-600. The needed bushing is included. The plate remains fully within the jaws of the clamp of the Levered-clamp Flexshooter Pro even when your rig is at maximum back-heaviedness (to coin a phrase). You are at maximum back-heaviedness when you are using an a1 body with the battery grip and the 2X TC. With all other combinations, you will need to move the plate back in the clamp to properly balance your rig. And there is plenty of room on the plate at the front even when you are using only the bare a1 on the 200-600.
Figure 2: Wimberley AP-620 Replacement Low Foot for Sony
Right for Some: the Wimberley AP-620 Replacement Low Foot for Sony
For folks who use their 200-600s on a tripod all or most of the time, the Wimberley AP-620 Replacement Low Foot for Sony is clearly the best choice. This low foot is very light at only 4.5 ounces and like all the Wimberley stuff, is elegantly designed. It is secured to the lens via a single 1/4-20 screw and thus, is no longer quick-release removable.
The AP-620 Replacement Foot fits the Sony 200-600 f/5.6 lens and serves three main purposes:
1. It is somewhat stiffer than the factory tripod mounting foot connected to a lens plate, thus reducing flex and vibration (or not …)
2. Functions as the Arca-Swiss style lens plate.
3. Creates the ideal geometry for using your lens on the Levered-clamp Flexshooter Pro and, as above, allows you to balance your rig optimally.
Note: Wimberley lens plates are compatible with Arca-Swiss style quick-release clamps such as those made by Wimberley, Kirk Enterprises, Really Right Stuff, Arca-Swiss, Markins, and others. I use the Wimberley P-20 Plate on my Sony 100-400, the Sony 70-200, and my Canon 180mm macro lens and recommend it for most intermediate and zoom telephoto lenses.
I created this image on 4 November at Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland, FL. While standing, I used the Levered-clamp Flexshooter Pro/Induro GIT 304L tripod-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 467mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1000. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the brightness of the raw file was perfect. AWB at 3:39pm on a cloudy afternoon.
Tracking: upper center Zone AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF was active at the moment exposure and worked perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the hi-res version.
Image #2: Anhinga, female in Pond (or Bald) Cypress
Anhingas and the Cypress Trees
On my new favorite Circle B Bar Reserve Trail, it seemed that there were Anhingas perched everywhere, often in the Bald or Pond Cypresses. Thanks to my friend John Bradford for this:
I am guessing that it is Pond Cypress, but don’t bet the bank on it. Many botanists consider Pond and Bald Cypress to only be varieties of the same species, Taxodium distichum, so it can be hard to tell one from the other.
Image #2 was made from one of two short boardwalks that protrude into the lake that lies just southeast of the trail.
I created this image on 4 November at Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland, FL. While standing, I used the Levered-clamp Flexshooter Pro/Induro GIT 304L tripod-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1000. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the brightness of the raw file was perfect. AWB at 3:40pm on a cloudy afternoon.
Tracking: upper center Zone AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF was active at the moment exposure and worked perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the hi-res version.
Image #3: Anhinga, female in Pond (or Bald) Cypress
Cypress Tree Bird-scape
Without moving the tripod, I simply zoomed out to create a lovely bird-scape. Tracking Zone AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF performed remarkably with all three Anhinga image by finding and tracking the bird’s eye no matter how I varied the composition.
I created this image on 4 November at Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland, FL. While standing, I used the Levered-clamp Flexshooter Pro/Induro GIT 304L tripod-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 800. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/250 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the brightness of the raw file was perfect. AWB at 3:47pm on a cloudy afternoon.
Tracking: upper center Zone AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF was active at the moment exposure and worked perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the hi-res version.
Image #4: Anhinga, female in Pond (or Bald) Cypress
The 200-600 on the Tripod!
Again, I need to stress the point that for most of us mortals, the Sony 200-600 needs to be on a tripod when you are photographing birds in low light. There are a few young, hero hand holders who can routinely make sharp images at relatively slow shutter speeds when standing and working at focal lengths in the 200-600 range, but I am not one of them.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.
I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back and forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:
Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.
Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.
You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store.
Typos
In all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Exactly two years ago today, I published a tribute to my late-Dad PFC Robert Edward Morris in the blog post here. Included is a rare photo of Bob Morris with his right arm.
Peter Noyes left this beautiful comment:
Artie, Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful story about a soldier’s soldier, your Dad. It is because of your Dad and many other brave soles like him that we speak English today and enjoy the many freedoms that we are blessed with. Sadly, there are many who take those freedoms for granted and fail to realize the high price our country paid to preserve them. Our country owes those veterans a debt that we will never be able to pay.
They went without food, drank water stored in gasoline drums, lacked warm clothing, went for long periods without being able to bathe or change clothing, and endured other hardships beyond our imagination. Our soldiers toiled long and arduous hours persevering in the face of obstacles encountered overcoming hardships to be victorious in the end.
The world was a very different place following WWII than it is today. Television wasn’t perfected, computers were unheard of, many families didn’t have a car, many didn’t have indoor plumbing, and there were some without electricity. Many of those who returned from WWII were effected in ways that we are just beginning to understand. Soldiers like your dad who paid a horrendous price in fighting for our freedoms were changed forever as a result of the war. There are many in our country who don’t understand this.
We can thank God for Bob Morris and those like him. It is because of them that we are here today and able to enjoy our life style.
I never knew your Dad but I’m proud of him. You have very good reason to be extremely proud of your Dad. Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful story.
What’s Up?
The Weatherman Blew It Again
The forecast for Sebastian Inlet for Thursday morning was for cloudy skies with south/southeast winds at 8mph. I arrived at 6:15am with the time of sunrise being 6:40pm. There was little wind and it was totally cloudy so that ruled out any sunrise color. I tried doing some blurs as there were lots of pelicans flying in and out of the inlet. But they were gliding rather than flapping. I did some diving pelicans with the handheld 600mm f/4/a1 combo but as things brightened up, it was evident that the gentle breeze was from the north/northwest. And then the sun broke through completely; that was the end of any hope for flight photography. I made a wiggle, did some Wood Stork head portraits, and headed home. Some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.
Today is Thursday 11 November 2021, Veterans’ Day. This morning, at Sebastian Inlet, I was the statue. 🙂 Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about two hours to prepare.
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.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission on items priced at $1,000 or more. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price is $1000 (or less for a $50 flat-fee). If you are interested, please scroll down here to read the terms. Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice only to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past years, we have sold many hundreds of items. Do know that prices for used gear only go in one direction. Down. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
If you would like to learn about selling your used gear on the BAA Used Gear Page, click here.
New Bedfords BAA Discount Info
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy free Overnight Fed-Ex Air shipping for orders over $1,000.00 and free Second Day Fed-Ex Air shipping for orders under $1,000.00.
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 free Fed-Ex Air shipping as above, 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 use it qualify for the free Fed-Ex Air shipping. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists 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 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 save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — 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.
I created this image on 20 March 2021 at Stick Marsh. While standing, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 374mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 640. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that this image was about 1/3 stop under. AWB at 9:00am with a faint cloud passing by the sun.
Zone AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF was active at the moment exposure and worked just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the hi-res version.
We have a beautiful pink bird, sweet light, a sharp image, a dynamic flight pose, and a sweet blue background. Click on the image to see the hi-res version and leave a comment if you see anything that bugs you. Only one thing bugs me. What is it? See below for the answer.
I created this image on 20 March 2021 at Stick Marsh. While standing, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 374mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 640. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that this image was about 1/3 stop under. AWB at 9:00am with a faint cloud passing by the sun.
Zone AF-C Bird/Eye Detection AF was active at the moment exposure and worked just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the hi-res version.
Image #2: Roseate Spoonbill incoming flight
What Bugged Me?
The only thing that bugged me at all was the shadow of the bird’s head on its right leg. To eliminate it, I painted a Quick Mask of the corresponding section of the bird’s left leg (with a bit of extra all around). I placed the selection on its own layer, activated Free Transform (Command + T), and flopped the section horizontally. After hitting Enter, I moved the selection roughly into place with the Move Tool (V). Reducing the Opacity of the selection layer to 50% often makes it easier to properly position the selection. I hit Command + T again and used the double arrow cursor to rotate the selection so that it lined up perfectly with the leg.
The problem was that the texture of the scutes on the bird’s left leg did not match. I used three small Quick Masks grabbed from the upper part of the right leg to rest the texture. Each was refined with a Regular Layer Mask. I merged each of those layers with the leg layer and again added a Regular Layer Mask to refine that selection. That was most important near the spot where the leg thickened to join the foot.
Kudos to BAA-friend, a1 Group member, & IPT veteran David Pugsley who was the first to comment on the shadow on the leg:
I suspect you don’t care for the shadow of the neck.
He continued:
That or the wing being intersected with the vegetation line.
Others who commented mentioned the far wing intersecting with the shoreline. In truth, I feel that that merge added some needed tension to the image and that the vegetation line was nicely positioned. in addition, I love including strips of color to the tops both vertical and horizontal frames. I actually would prefer this image to one in which the spoonbill was completely set against blue water. Heck, I have zillions of those.
Others hinted at the dark triangle near the center of the far wing. A close look revealed that that was the shadow of a raised feather. It did not bug me. Jim Brown wrote:
IMO, not your best. I don’t much like the shadow on the leg, or the dark in-the-shadow tail.
I replied:
Thanks, Jim. I happen to love the image. with love, artie
One of my favorite comments was from Marc Wortsman who wrote:
Artie, whatever it is please don’t let it “bug” you too much. It’s a beautiful photograph.
Thanks to the many who commented on the what bugs me? question.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
Picking Your Keepers: A Third Resting Brown Pelican Image Edit
Before you scroll down, watch the less-than 3-minute video and see if you can choose what I thought was the best of the five images. Then keep reading.
What’s Up?
Again. Not much. On Tuesday I finished the second edit of my October 2021 image folder. I began with 1774 raw files and got that down to 503 after deleting 1271. And the truth be told, things would be better if I cut the 503 by at least another 200 …
Today is Wednesday 10 November. I will be heading to Sebastian Inlet early on Thursday. If you would like to join me there, please get in touch asap via e-mail: $400 for three plus hours of in-the-field instruction with tame Wood Storks along with some terns, gulls, shorebirds, herons and egrets as back-up subjects (if need be). There is an option for a working lunch with image review and/or a (weather dependent) afternoon session as well. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about three hours to prepare (including the time creating the new YouTube video above).
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.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission on items priced at $1,000 or more. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price is $1000 (or less for a $50 flat-fee). If you are interested, please scroll down here to read the terms. Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice only to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past years, we have sold many hundreds of items. Do know that prices for used gear only go in one direction. Down. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
If you would like to learn about selling your used gear on the BAA Used Gear Page, click here.
New Bedfords BAA Discount Info
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy free Overnight Fed-Ex Air shipping for orders over $1,000.00 and free Second Day Fed-Ex Air shipping for orders under $1,000.00.
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 free Fed-Ex Air shipping as above, 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 use it qualify for the free Fed-Ex Air shipping. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists 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 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 save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — 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.
This image was created at La Jolla, CA on 4 January 2020 while scouting for the 2020 San Diego IPT>. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 430mm) and the original AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body ISO 1250. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that this image was about 1/3 stop under; that info helps me to correctly adjust the Exposure slider during the raw conversion in ACR. AWB at 3:53pm on a sunny afternoon.
Flexible Spot: M/ AF-C 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: Brown Pelican resting on branch
And the Winner Was!
I thought that the fifth image was the strongest because the bird gave us a good look at its face in that one. I liked the one where we saw a bit of the red bill pouch, but we could not see either eye well. Which one did you choose?
Note that I executed a small crop from the left and from below and that I eliminated one of the nubs on the perch, the large one on the left just below the bird.
The Situation
I take pride in my ability to find a good image in seemingly impossible situations. At first glance, there seemed to be no chance to get a lens on this bird as there was a huge bush between where I stood on the sidewalk and the perched pelican. But with the lovely distant background — the dark water in the cove below, I was determined to find a way. By carefully examining the intervening greenery I was able to spot a small opening in the vegetation. With room for one person. By hand holding and getting as tall as possible, I was able to get a clear shot.
In situations like this on an IPT, I do my best to give everyone a chance to get the shot. When the bird is resting or sleeping, that is easy to do. By joining an IPT, you can learn to spot good, excellent, and great situations. And tons more ..
The ACR screen capture for the Brown Pelican resting on branch image
Big Improvements Begin During the Raw Conversion
Whether you do your raw conversions in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), in Capture One, in Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) 4, in Lightroom (again with ACR), or elsewhere, you can make dramatic improvements in your image during this process. No matter the program you use, the sliders are quite similar. It is best to make as many improvements as possible before the raw file is converted.
I was fine with the As Shot White Balance. Then, guided by the evaluation of the raw file in RawDigger, I began by moving the Exposure slider to the right to +0.35. Of note is that I had to move the Black slider to the right to open up the darker tones. With most images we need to move the Black slider to the left. Then I darkened the green water by (atypically) moving the Shadow slider to the left. But for increasing the Saturation to =5, the rest is pretty much by the book.
Remember that except for the Black and White sliders, most of the sliders are moved to your taste for each individual image and that you will be using different values for all except for images created in the same light in a given situation. For those you can hit Control + left click and select Apply Previous Settings from the dropdown menu.
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
If you missed the San Diego: A Bird Photographer’s Paradise video on YouTube, be sure to check it out video here.
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 note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or (relatively) healthy bread.
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 the exposure situation 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 and to 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 is 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 all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and 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
This IPT will include five three hour morning photo sessions, four one and one-half afternoon photo sessions, four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy day occasions, we may — at my 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.
An $899 deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due right after you sign up.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
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
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
