Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Preview

Today’s post is for serious photographers only. If you want to learn some very fine points about exposure, keep reading. I can guarantee that the material covered below has never been published anywhere in any form.

I would be remiss not to mention that even though the original The Art of Bird Photography was entirely film based, 99% of nature photographers today would benefit tremendously from studying the section on Exposure Theory. See the last item below for details on ABP.

Today’s content was developed in response to multiple IPT veteran Eugen Dolan’s exposure questions regarding photographing brightly colored planes at an airshow. Even though Eugen uses Sony gear and has Zebras set up properly on his Sony a-1, all photographers can learn a ton about exposure by carefully digesting the material below. Thanks, Eugen for asking such excellent questions. We will be hearing more from Eugen soon with regard to pupils in humans and birds reacting to light. He is a retired neurosurgeon who was one of Anita North’s teachers!

What’s Up?

On Saturday afternoon, the Mets continued to amaze. Trailing 1-0 after seven innings with only two hits, the highly favored Philadelphia Phillies took out their starting pitcher. The announcers spent five minutes telling the world about how the Phillies two all-star relief pitchers would enter the game and stifle the Mets. The Mets, hitting only singles, scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning, added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, and held on to win 6-2. That without having to use their top closer, the overworked Edwin Diaz. The OMG Comeback Kids had done it again. Game two is this afternoon in Philadelphia.

BTW, Alissa and Idris drove into Queens and attended a watch party at Citi Field. They — of course — headed home thrilled. You can watch the watch party fans celebrating when the Mets took the lead here.

Recently, both the weather and the photography at Indian Lake Estates have been excellent most mornings. Saturday morning was clear and sunny with a fairly brisk east wind. The forecast for today, Sunday 6 October calls for light rain this morning. I will be headed down to the lake right after this post is published. Sunday will be filled with both NFL and more MLB games with a bit of work thrown in as well.

Wherever you are and whatever you opt to do, I hope that you are well and safe and choose to have fun.

Please remember to use the B&H 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!

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.

Supporting My Efforts Here

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, are all set for gear, or live overseas, consider leaving a BAA Blog Thank You Gift here.

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.

In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.

This image was created on 3 October 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported 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 ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600. 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be perfect. AWB at 8:32:38 am on a then sunny morning. Tracking: (upper) 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: Sandhill Crane adult calling

Reflectance Changes Constantly

Reflectance changes constantly as a bird changes its position even slightly. With the sun coming right over the top of my head and the bird’s head square to the light, there were Zebras on the adult crane’s white cheek. Just what I was aiming for at ISO 1600, 1/2500 sec at f/5.6. If the bird turned or rotated its head even slightly, the Zebra’s disappeared only to return an instant later. What to do? Work in Manual mode and avoid over-exposing the white highlights by using the settings noted above.

There will be more below on reflectance with regard to a wriggling silver fish in the talons of an Osprey as it emerges from the water on a sunny day.

Image #2: Square crop of Osprey face and fish from the optimized version

Impressive, But …

Everyone loved the tight square that came as a result of skillful processing and a relatively huge crop. Check out the reactions here on the new Bird Photographers.Net.
It is strange that I am participating a lot more on BPN since I sold the site to Group Builders than I had been for several years; you might call it the proud grandpa effect. They have skillfully injected new life into the forum since they took the reins about two weeks ago.

It is important to remember that the tight square crop above was created from the horizontal raw file below, Image #3.

Questions from Eugen Dolan Via Mail

ED: I love the image of the Osprey and the fish – but I have a question about using the histogram to guide the exposure. I had similar exposure issues at an air show recently – The Canadian Snowbirds, and the US F16 – with their mostly white paint schemes.

Obviously the histogram in cases like this are NO HELP at all! For me, it is a difficult exposure problem.

AM/BAA: Good question, Eugen. The short answer is that with Sony’s Zebra technology, there are no difficult exposures. Keep reading for the long answer.

ED: You frequently mention Sony’s Zebra technology — blinkies live in the viewfinder.

AM/BAA: That is correct. With Zebras there is no need to take a test exposure. Not to mention that I hate having a live histogram in the viewfinder. I need to be able to see the whole frame. And the bird!

ED: Am I correct in thinking that Zebras are a major factor when deciding on a given exposure (modulated of course by 41 years of practical experience)?

AM/BAA: You are pretty much correct. In nearly all situations, I simply set my shutter speed and aperture as needed and then raise the ISO until I see some Zebras on the highlights. But with fishing and catching Ospreys, you need to go a step further. I will explain why in a moment.

ED: Did you go for Zebras on the Osprey’s head? Were they helpful in this situation?

AM/BAA: Yes, I raised the ISO until I saw some Zebras on the tops of the heads of the Ospreys flying by. Doing that got me to a good starting point. But there are several more things to consider here.

1- Birds in flight will not be sitting in one place. As they fly, their position in relative to the light is ever changing. By the time a bird gets 30° off sun angle, the perfect exposure would be 1/3-stop less than when it was right on sun angle.

2- Even relatively static birds move often. On Thursday morning, I was photographing an adult Sandhill Crane calling pretty much right down sun angle. — today’s featured image. When the bird was perfectly square to the light, there were some Zebras on the white cheek. When the bird turned its head slightly, the Zebras disappeared. I stayed with the original settings as we never want to over-expose the highlights, in this case, the bird’s white cheek.

3- This was the main point of the post: if it is sunny, and you are sure that you have a perfect exposure for the Osprey but are hoping that the bird will dive and catch a fish, it is better to shoot at least 1/3-stop darker as the silver sides of many of the fish are much brighter than the white feathers on the Osprey’s head. That is why we need to shoot the fish darker than the perfect exposure for the Osprey. In the same series as the image I shared in the previous post, there were other frames where the sides of the Yellowfin Menhaden were terribly over-exposed because of the way that the fish was wriggling at that instant. As the angle of any subject to the light changes, the reflectance of the highlights change as well.

4- Another fine point to share as to the degree of Zebras: when it is sunny and I have a choice between a few Zebras at one setting and lots of Zebras at the next highest ISO, I will go with the lower ISO. Why? I do not want to risk toasting the whites.

On a cloudy day, however, if I have a choice between a smattering of Zebras and lots of Zebras, I will always go with the more Zebras setting.

ED: What were the Zebras like on the Osprey’s head?

AM/BAA: As above, because it was sunny, I went for a smattering of Zebras on the top of the Osprey’s head.

ED: With some Zebras on the top of the bird’s head, I would have used that as my exposure.

AM/BAA: That would have been correct as a base exposure. But then you would have had to go 1/3-stop darker to avoid burning out the specular highlights on the fish, those depending on exactly how it was wriggling at a given instant. Our #1 exposure rule is to avoid over-exposing the highlights. Anything else, we can work with.

ED: And how many zebras on the brightest part, the area of the head and especially, the tail?

AM/BAA: I rarely if ever check for Zebras on the fish in the heat of the action. On occasion, however, I should note that when I frame a flight image and see too many Zebras, I will often reduce the exposure while tracking the bird and continuing to shoot. I have two options:

1- Use my thumb (on the rear dial) to lower the ISO.

2- Or, use my index finger to increase the shutter speed.

Though that seems difficult, with practice, pretty much anyone can do it.

Again, see the stuff above on the wriggling and the reflectance. And the same is true with the crane turning its head, you set your best exposure and go with it. If you consistently see too many Zebras on the highlights as you are shooting, you can go 1/3-stop darker.

This image was created on 27 October 2023 at Sebastian Inlet, north of Vero Beach, FL. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:29:59am on sunny morning. Image #3: The Osprey & Yellowtail Menhaden horizontal original. The JPEG above represents the raw file converted optimally.

ED: I am trying correlate how to decide the correct exposure from Zebras so that I could set a 1/3-stop darker exposure (when in the field and slightly off sun angle as you were).

AM/BAA: You already know how to get a perfect exposure for an Osprey in a given lighting situation. In this case, we are talking about full sun at 8:30am a clear morning.

The mechanics are fairly simple once you grasp the concepts above.

1: Select a shutter speed and an aperture to meet your needs. For flight I started with 1/3200 second at f/5.6 (wide open with the 1.4X TC on the 600mm f/4).

2: Following a few Ospreys as they flew by somewhere near sun angle, I framed the image and adjusted the ISO with the Thumb Wheel (exactly as I teach and recommend for all systems). At ISO 1000, I was consistently getting some Zebras on the top of the bird’s head. That was my base exposure for an Osprey in flight.

3- However, I wanted to be prepared for an Osprey catching a big silvery fish. So, I reduced the exposure 1/3 stop by going from ISO 1000 to ISO 800. That was my best exposure for the fish. Remember that not every frame will be perfect as we can never know the wriggling reflectance. The idea is to expose to the right while not toasting the specular highlights on the fish (should you and the Osprey be so lucky).

ED: I hope that I have asked the questions right. And would much appreciate if you could help me out here.

AM/BAA: I did re-craft some of your questions to the best of my ability.

Thanks for sending the JPEGs of the plane images. The biggest exposure problem would have been with the Canadian CT-114 Tutor that was painted dark red with a white stripe on each wing. With you pointing the lens up on a blue sky day, the plane was set against a dark blue background. In the old days, with film, this would have been a classic -1/3 stop Exposure Compensation in an effort to save the white feathers of a Snowy Egret flying by on a sunny day against a blue sky background.

But we are far advanced from those days with Zebra technology. As you got the red and white plane in the viewfinder, all you needed to do was raise the ISO until there was a smattering of zebras on the wing or lower the ISO if there whole white stripe had Zebras. That would have yielded either a perfect or a dead solid perfect exposure. With only a small bit of white on the wing, the histogram would have shown a big underexposure as there was not enough white on the wings to be detected.

Here is a final fine point — when you are using the correct Zebra settings, the in-camera thumbnails should always show at least come blinkies. Why? The jpegs that are created at the moment of exposure do not have the tonal range of the raw files so the JPEGs will always show blinkies (over-exposure warnings) with properly exposed raw files.

With the red plane image, you should have seen some blinkies on the wing stripes when you reviewed the JPEG in camera. With the Osprey image, I knew the exposure was perfect when I saw some blinkies on the fish during image review.

The Art of Bird Photography

The Art of Bird Photography

The classic book on bird photography – soft cover

For those who do not know much about the original The Art of Bird Photography, it was first published in hard cover in 1998 and quickly became the classic how-to book on the subject. That printing was followed by two soft cover printings. With 30,000 copies sold in less than a decade it was a big surprise when Amphoto dropped the title. Soon afterwards, used copies were selling on Amazon for more the $600! I re-mastered the cover and had 10,000 additional copies printed.

The very great strength of the book is the chapter on Exposure which offers complete coverage of exposure theory and its practical application. I have received countless e-mails and letters over the years reading something like this: “I have been photographing for more than a decade, have attended many seminars, and read every book out there, but not until I read and studied the chapter on exposure in ABP did I really understand both the basics and the complexities. Now I can not only come up with the right exposure in almost every situation but I understand what I am doing and why. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” In addition, all of the basics are covered in detail in ABP: composition and image design, how to choose lenses, how to see and utilize natural light, how to make sharp images, how to get close to free and wild birds, how to use flash as both main light and as fill, and how to edit and market your work.

There is no digital content in the original “The Art of Bird Photography.”

Typos

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

Today’s Featured Image

You can learn an absolute ton by carefully perusing my comments on the creation and processing of today’s featured image. Join us on the Sebastian Osprey Adventure for lots more of the same and a ton of great photography. Details at the bottom of this post.

What’s Up?

Since Helene passed, the mornings have been mostly cloudy with a wind from the south or southwest. Not great. I have been down to the lake every morning and most days, have come up with a decent image or two. Most recently, I’ve had two young Great Egrets threatening each other by sky pointing on the South Peninsula. I’ve seen the eagles at both nest trees. It is looking as if they will re-use last year’s nest as I’ve twice seen them adding sticks to that nest. The good news is that that nest is much more photogenic than it was last year as lots of branches came down in various wind storms. I am really hoping that I am around when the large chick or chicks begin flapping — (they fledged two last year) in the nest to strengthen their wings. Perhaps in late January (after San Diego) or early February (before Homer).

Several folks have signed up for the Sebastian Inlet Osprey Adventures, three for the as yet not formally announced San Diego IPT, and two for the as yet not formally announced Stick Marsh Roseate Spoonbill experience. If you would like to get in on the fun, learning, and amazing photography, shoot me an e-mail.

In the “It’s a Bummer” category, I learned yesterday that the home of Chip, my friend and accountant in Clearwater, was totally flooded by the storm surge in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Clean-up and repairs have already begun.

Today is Wednesday 2 October 2024. Can you believe how time flies by? The forecast is for partly cloudy with a slight breeze from the north/northeast — better than most. Whatever the heck you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H 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!

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.

Supporting My Efforts Here

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, are all set for gear, or live overseas, consider leaving a BAA Blog Thank You Gift here.

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.

In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.

Need a New Laptop?

Need a new laptop for photography? Consider the Apple 16″ MacBook Pro (M3 Max, Space Black).

Key Features

Apple M3 Max 16-Core Chip
128GB Unified RAM | 8TB SSD
16″ 3456 x 2234 Liquid Retina XDR Screen
40-Core GPU | 16-Core Neural Engine
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Bluetooth 5.3
Thunderbolt 4 | HDMI | MagSafe 3
SDXC Slot | FaceTime HD 1080p Camera
Backlit Magic Keyboard
Force Touch Trackpad | Touch ID Sensor
macOS

In other words, the bomb. Looking to spend a bit less? Click here and search for Apple MacBook Pro M3. Feel free to e-mail or call (863-221-23720 for laptop advice.

Why Not Buy Your MacBook Pro From Apple?

If you purchase a laptop from Apple and have a problem right off the bat they will fix it for you in a few days or a week after you send it to them. They will not replace it. If you purchase a laptop from B&H and have a problem right out of the box, they will send you a new one no questions asked.

Save 15%!

If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.

I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.

Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.

Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com

B&H

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Simplified

Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

Bedfords Amazing 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, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

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 is the Photo Mechanic screen Capture for today’s featured image. Image #1: Osprey with fresh caught Yellowfin Menhaden

The Lying Histogram

If you believed the histogram here, with all of the data left of center, you would think that this images is severely under-exposed. On the other hand, RawDigger showed more than a thousand severely over-exposed pixels in the specular highlights of the fish’s yellow tail. Had I believed the lying histogram and added light in the field, the image would have been far beyond saving.

Note that on sunny days you try your best to get right on sun angle but that you never know exactly where or when an Osprey will emerge with a fish. With today’s featured image, the sun was from over my left shoulder rather than right over the top of my head. As a result of being a bit off sun angle, the left side of the bird’s head was in shade. Check out Image #1C (below) to see how I dealt with that problem.

In-the-Field Tip: when photographing Ospreys diving for fish on a sunny day, set your exposure at least 1/3-stop darker than you normally would so that you do not toast the flashing silver on the fish as the Osprey pulls it out of the water. Doing just that with today’s feather image saved the day.

a-1 Crop-Ability

With a sharp Sony Alpha 1 raw file and the nice reflection of the fish below the bird, the decision to go with a vertical crop here was an easy one. I was not, however, thrilled with the overall color. Keep reading to see how I handled that.

Image #1A: Tight crop of the fish from the unprocessed raw file (as presented in Photo Mechanic)

Pretty Big Problems

In this tight crop, you can see that there are serious over-exposure problems at the base of the tail of the fish and with the specular highlights there and about the head of the fish as well. First, I reduced the luminance of the YELLOWs using a new trick that I developed myself using Point Color in Adobe Camera Raw; I will be sharing that tip in the first video of Volume II of the Digital Basics III Video Series (coming later this month). Next I used the amazing Remove Tool, my new J shortcut, to eliminate the glaring, over exposed highlights. I did that on a new layer and then reduced the opacity of that layer reveal just a hint of the original highlights. Again, check out Image #1C below to see the great (if not amazing) results.

This image was created on 27 October 2023 at Sebastian Inlet, north of Vero Beach, FL. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 800. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:29:59am on sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1B: The Optimized version: Osprey with fresh caught Yellowfin Menhaden

The Optimized Version

I was thrilled with the master .TIF file. I cooled the image down by lowering the color temperature from 6100 to 5400 during the raw conversion (but was still not thrilled with the overall color). I eliminated the over-exposed highlights. I lightened the shaded side of the Osprey’s face using Tim Grey Dodge and Burn. I cleaned up some of the crud in the water. Last I used my Image> Auto Tone/Auto Contrast/Auto Color trick and was finally happy with the color of the image.

Image #1C: Square crop of Osprey face and fish from the optimized version (1B)

Damn, That’s Good!

Notice:

1- The incredible image quality of a sharp a-1 raw file.
2- The dark shadow on the left side of the Osprey’s face has been eliminated.
3- The 80% elimination of the harshest specular highlights, most especially on the tail of the fish.
4- The totally natural colors.

Pupil Question

Why is the pupil of the bird’s left eye (on our right) noticeably larger than the other pupil?

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.

Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.

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.

The Digital Basics III Video Series

The Digital Basics III Video Series

I realized more than a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.

As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.

You can save $26 by ordering the first five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.

Do not click on the composite image; simply scroll down for the best viewing. While Sebastian Inlet is justifiably famous around the world for the Ospreys diving for saltwater fish each fall, there are a variety of desirable avian subjects there as well in October and November. Keep reading if you would like to join me on what will surely be a memorable photographic and learning experience.

Pick Your Own Dates Short-notice Sebastian Inlet Ospreys and More BAA Personalized Instructional Workshops

Ridiculously Inexpensive!

Dates: October 29 (arrive on the afternoon of Monday the 28th) thru the morning session on Saturday 22 November

As BIRDS AS ART lost more than $100,000 in tax year 2023, I am moving forward looking more at sharing expenses than at making money. Simply put, for more reasons than I will list here, sharing an AirBnB or VRBO place maximizes learning while reducing your overall travel costs.

Consider joining me at Sebastian Inlet this fall for some great bird photography and a ton of learning. Life is short; what are you waiting for? While a 600mm f/4 lens is ideal, you could do the whole trip with a variety of other lenses including a 500mm f/4, a 400mm f/2.8, a 400mm DO, a 200-600, a 100-500, a 300mm f/2.8 with TCs, or one of the great new Nikon Z telephoto or telephoto zoom lenses.

Bob Eastman is driving from Wisconsin and doing all 26 days, from 28 OCT thru the morning session on 22 NOV, prime time for Ospreys diving and catching a variety of saltwater fish. There are four bedrooms in this great AirBnB property that is just 22 minutes from the south jetty at the State Park, 24 minutes from the northwest pool where the Ospreys spent a lot of time last year. Please note that NOV 21-22 are sold out.

Hopefully, those who come would stay for a week or ten days (or all 26 days!) to maximize the opportunities. Fewer days would work also. Fly to Melbourne (MEL) or Orlando (MCO) and rent a car. Local folks who would like to arrange a morning or two of In-the-Field Instruction during October should get in touch via e-mail.

Here, if you stay in the AirBnB with me, are the ridiculous low rates for the in-the-field sessions (that include the daily Image Review and Photoshop sessions.

$250 for a morning session

$150 for an afternoon session.

Brunch and dinners at the AirBnB will cost you $20/day.

If you are interested, let me know your preferred dates via e-mail and I will get back to you with the per/night price for the lodging.

There is no need to travel an hour by car to get to Sebastian Inlet from Vero Beach.

Typos

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