Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Catch-22

Catch-22 is a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule.

What’s Up?

The above exactly describes my efforts to get post notifications for the blog working again. They had been working perfectly for 15 years. The harder I try, the worse things get. On the rare occasion when I hear back from someone, things have been made worse. It is a tangled web that is being woven. And do not even think of getting technical help from a human by phone. No solution is in sight.

In the Meantime

As there is no end it sight, be sure to favorite the blog and visit every other day or so. There is no reason to miss out on the learning.

a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide

a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide

For those who think that my comments on the a9 iii are pure hype, know that I sold the second of my three a1 bodies this morning. Lots more on the switch coming soon.

If you plan on purchasing a Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera (or anything else for that matter), please remember to use or write for either my Bedfords discount code or my B&H affiliate link. Folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase the a9 III will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up) along with a Buttons and Dials Guide.

Supporting My Efforts 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.

Learn to be a Much Better Bird Photographer

Join a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour. Better yet, sign up for both Homer trips.

This image was created on Thursday 9 May 2024 on the May 2024 Fort DeSoto IPT. Seated on damp sand I used the foot-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 420mm) and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 4000: 1/1000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect. AWB at 7:38:41am on a partly cloudy, variably sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Breeding plumage Red Knot foraging on sand flat at low tide

What to Do on a Lousy, Lazy Afternoon?

As we headed for the beach on our 2nd IPT afternoon, it was dark and windy and the tide was low. In other words, things were not looking good. We walked all the way to the north. Aside from one dancing Reddish Egret at a good distance, we found an adult Laughing Gull picking at a long-dead, stiff, sand-encrusted Mullet. So, we headed back to the parking lot and found a small group of shorebirds foraging on a sand flat.

As I had rented my 600mm f/4 to Steve Shore (he loved it and the a9 iii), and was too tired to bring the 400mm f/2.8 and a tripod, I had only the 300mm f/2.8 (and a 1.4X TC) with me. We spread out and sat on the sandy/mud. Every once in a while a Sanderling or a Dunlin would wander into photographic range. I recommended that the folks use a fairly fast shutter speed and raise the ISO until they had some Zebras on the water or mud, and ignore the high ISO settings. I am proud that they all got that right as most everyone underexposes at the beach in low light conditions.

Keep or Delete?

My eyes were fixed on two Red Knots foraging at a distance. Working very low at 420mm so as to include the marsh and add some green, the only option was a bird-scape. a9 iii AF continues to amaze me. The image above was the best of the lot. Would you have kept this one or deleted it? (Note: the prettier the breeding plumage knots, the more difficult they are to get close to, especially when they are roosting in large groups as they had been that morning.)

Why the 300mm f/2.8?

As we age, pretty much all bird photographers are looking to go lighter. And working without a tripod is an incredible pleasure that makes you much more mobile and makes it easier to get into the best shooting position. Having rented my 600mm f/4 GM to Steve Shore for the IPT, I’ve been switching using either the 400mm f/2.8 GM lens (with TCs) or the 200-600 (often with the 1.4X TC. As the 300mm f/2.8 8s the lightest of the three and I was feeling a bit tired on Friday morning, I went as light as possible and handheld the 300. I started with the 2X TC but as the birds were so close, I quickly switched to the 1.4X. I was surprised at how well I did.

For those who did not use my link to purchase their Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, you can order your a copy here for $209.93. Click on the image to enlarge and to be able to read the fine print.

The BAA Sony 300mm f/2.8 Lens Guide

Impressed by my Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) images from the last three posts? Use either my Bedfords or B&H affiliate link to purchase your Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and shoot me your receipt via e-mail and request a copy of the first-ever BAA Lens Guide. I thought that it would take only minutes to create this guide, but I was dead wrong. In the process of creating it, I learned a ton about the lens. And even better, I discovered a simple yet potentially fatal flaw that was resulting in sporadically unsharp flight images. The set-up fix is simple. Just be sure to use one of my affiliate links and get the guide for free.

If not, you can purchase a copy here for $209.93. Yes, it never hurts to use my links and it never costs you one penny more. And if you contact me via e-mail before you make a major purchase, I can often save you some money.

Typos

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

a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide

a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide

For those who think that my comments on the a9 iii are pure hype, know that I sold the second of my three a1 bodies this morning. Lots more on the switch coming soon.

If you plan on purchasing a Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera (or anything else for that matter), please remember to use or write for either my Bedfords discount code or my B&H affiliate link. Folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase the a9 III will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up) along with a Buttons and Dials Guide.

Supporting My Efforts 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.

Learn to be a Much Better Bird Photographer

Join a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour. Better yet, sign up for both Homer trips.

What’s Up?

Blog Post notifications stopped sending on 4 May. I have been working hard to restore the e-mail notifications with no success. I can log in to WordPress but when I use the same user name and password to log into the WordPress Help Forums I get the dreaded “wrong user name or password” notice. I did manage to get into Jetpack support yesterday but have not received an answer to my question. I opened another ticket with the server company, HomePage Universe, but my last two requests for help have fallen on deaf ears. I shall keep trying.

My plan is to publish a new post every other day. By bookmarking www.BIRDSASART-Blog.com you can continue to enjoy the new posts even though you are no longer receiving the e-mail notifications simply by clicking on the previous link.

Today is Monday 13 May 2024. I have a ton of work to do before I leave on Thursday for Little Rock. I have so much to do, that other than for my walks, I have not been down to the lake since I returned from DeSoto.

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.

Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

Used Gear Page veteran Robert Hollyer is offering a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens in Like-New condition for a BAA record Low $9,998.00. The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, the lens hood, the lens strap, that hard case & strap, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Bob via e-mail or by phone at 1-206-359-0018 PST.

I purchased my Sony 400mm f/2.8 two years ago to complement my 600mm f/4. Robert is selling his because he rarely uses it, opting instead for the 600mm f/4! It is far easier for me to handhold the 4 ounces lighter, much smaller, and better balanced 400 f/2.8 than it is to handhold the 600mm f/4. The 400 is superb in extreme low light and for flight with or without the 1.4X teleconverter. This lens sells new right now for $11,998.00 at B&H and there are used copies going for $10998.00 as well. Act quickly to save a handsome $2,000.00 by grabbing Robert’s might-as-well-be-new 400mm GM lens. And you can’t beat the f/2.8 bokeh! artie

This image was created on 9 May 2024 on the second morning of the Spring DeSoto IPT. While seated on dry sand, I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/1000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be perfect. AWB at 7:51:31am on a variably cloudy morning. Manual Focus. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, sharper high-res version. Image #1: American Oystercatcher taking over incubating duties.

Your Call

Do you like this image? Why or Why Not?

DeSoto AMOY Nest

Thanks to multiple IPT veteran and good friend David Pugsley who alerted me to the presence of a roped off American Oystercatcher nest that was photographable only in the morning. Thursday last began mostly cloudy with a 20 mph wind from the S/SW. I had heard that there had been some spoonbills in Hidden Lagoon. Considering that possibility, the AMOY nest, and the low light, I went with the 400mm f/2.8 and an a-1, the latter as I was not expecting to do any flight or action.

As we arrived at the ropes and sat, we talked about choosing the best perspective. 560mm yielded the same in the frame look that I was after and allowed me to include the beach vegetation in the background along with a peek at the Gulf of Mexico. With everyone using Sony, I advised getting significant Zebras on the sky. With the wind hard from my left, I removed the lens hood and stored it on the sand. With all of the big, fast super-telephoto lenses, it is always best to remove the hoods when working in a cross wind; that keeps the hood from acting like a giant wind sail and destroying images sharpness.

Early on, one adult was on the nest and was sitting atop a small rise but well down on the nest. The grasses around the sitting bird’s head made it virtually impossible to use autofocus, even for those using one of the Spot S AF methods. I quickly went to Manual Focus with a (red) focus peaking and taught the two folks using the a1 how to use the focus magnification technique to ensure accurate manual focusing.

The other parent had been hanging around the nest so I told everyone that the best images might come if a nest change occurred. When that happened, the first bird walked away to the south and the second adult walked quickly to the nest. At this point I decided to trust my previously set manual focus distance. I got lucky as the second bird was on the same exact plane as the first bird had been.

I wanted to make an image before the bill of the new bird became obstructed by the grasses. I came close to doing that, but the tip of the bill wound up behind some grass. In addition, the end of the bird’s bill was badly stained with salt. Worst of all, I saw that the new bird had three bands, two orange/red EA bands on both lower leg bones and one metal, USFWS band (with the first two digits “11”) on the right tarsometatarsus. At first glance, I thought that the image clean-up would be too difficult. See the Animated GIF below.

Diagram #2: Comparison of human leg bones and bird leg bones Diagram by Rebecca Hawkins here on Twitter (X).

Rebecca Hawkins” Comments

Ever wonder why birds have backwards knees? That’s because those aren’t knees, they’re the equivalent of our ankles! Bird knees are further up their legs and often hidden by feathers.

@RebeccasBones’ diagram above and her explanation of the reality of a bird’s leg bones are the clearest and most understandable I have ever come across.

Band Removal and Bill Clean-Up and Reconstruction

With the IPT group huddled around the kitchen counter, I did not think that I could do it, but using my cadre of clean-up and repair tools, I was eventually successful. Everyone in the group, especially Geri, offered helpful comments and suggestions. In no particular order, I used the Remove Tool, the Patch Tool, the Clone Stamp Tool, and several Quick Masks that were refined by the addition of a regular layer mask. All as detailed in Digital Basis II and in the Digital Basics III Video Series.

The shared AirBnB experience on the DeSoto IPT worked out amazingly well. Unless I was sleeping, I was there to answer everyone’s questions. We saved a ton of money on meals — we shared the cost of the food — and we all got along great.

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 about 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.

Typos

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