With the doom and gloom reports of no birds at DeSoto, John Johnson and I had an absolutely killer morning with gorgeous light, spectacularly beautiful Laughing Gulls in full breeding plumage, and a silly-tame flock of Red Knots. Curious as to how I would edit the morning’s 2433 image folder, I did that with John sitting next to me while recording the session with Camtasia. There is a ton to learn not only about editing so many images quickly, but about natural history and Photoshop, all the while seeing what makes one image better than 10 similars. Or not! The video should be available for sale in a day or three. We worked on several images in Photoshop including John’s two featured Stick Marsh images below.
At about 5:00pm, we headed back to the park to be greeted by a sky full of big black clouds and a big thunderstorm that dropped the temperature about 20 degrees in two minutes. We headed back home early in one long line of traffic.
Today is Sunday 11 April 2021. The forecast is for Armageddon: rain and thunderstorms all day. Time will tell. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.
This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes 109 consecutive days with a new one. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links or to save money at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.
Please Remember
With income from IPTs now at zero, 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.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day 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 a9 ii, 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.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created by multiple IPT veteran John Johnson on 9 April 2021 at Stick Marsh during an In-the-Field Session. He used the hand held Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens (at 324mm) and the highly touted 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 800. Exposure determined via test image and blinkies evaluation: 1/2000 sec. at f/7.1 (wide open) in Manual (M) mode. AWB at 7:53am on a sunny morning.
Zone AI Servo AF (as detailed in the R5 e-Guide) was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2021: John Johnson
Image #1: Roseate Spoonbill braking to land
BTHS Grad with R5/RF 100-500 Kicks Ass at Stick Marsh
Like me, John Johnson, graduated Brooklyn Technical High School, he, several years ahead of me. John has been to Finland and the Galapagos with me, and on several North American IPTs as well. When he saw what was going on at Stick Marsh, he asked if we could do a morning there before the first DeSoto IPT. That worked out well and we enjoyed a morning of splendid weather with lots of incoming spoonies. The first thing that we did when he got to my home the evening before was to check that his R5 AF settings were correct (as per the R5 guide).
John, whose career was as a recruiter/head hunter in Cleveland, OH, has been married to his second-wife Jinny, for thirty-two years. They winter in Naples, FL. John has been photographing seriously for about two decades. His favorite genres are wildlife, travel, and his granddaughters’ sports teams.
Cover Image courtesy of and Copyright 2021 Brian Sump (Sump scores!)
The BIRDS AS ART Canon EOS R5 Camera User’s e-Guide: $75.00
The guide is 82 pages long: 21,458 words. More than 50 DPP 4 Autofocus-depicting screen captures. And a 31 minute 44 second educational video. This guide took three and a half months of hard work and a ton of help from at least seventeen very helpful and generous folks.
The guide covers — in great detail — all Menu Items that are relevant to bird, nature, and wildlife photography. It does not cover video. The section on AF methods and the AF Gallery has been expanded from the R5/R6 AF e-guide. It remains the one of the great strengths of this guide. I share my thoughts on what I am sure is the single best AF Method for photographing birds in flight. As most of you know, the guide includes a simple and easy way to change AF Methods that was introduced to me by Geoff Newhouse. In the AF Gallery you will see exactly how Face Detection plus Tracking AF works. In the Educational R5 Gallery video, I share my favorite R5 images along with dozens of bird photography tips and techniques.
In addition, I teach you how to get the best exposures with your R5. Detailed instructions on using the great In-camera HDR and Multiple Exposure features will be appreciated by creative folks who like to have fun. The three shutter modes are explained in detail as well. Bruce Dudek solved the can’t-get-to-Auto ISO problem that had stumped everyone at Canon. This information is of course shared in the guide. You will learn how to set up your EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) and Screen toggle options. Not to mention that the mysterious performance of the Q Button is revealed and simplified. Brian Sump’s images reveal how well you can do when using the R5 with EF lenses using one of the three Canon EF-EOS R Mount Adapters (as Donna did with Image #1 below). You will learn how I use Customize Dials to put either ISO or EC on the Thumb Dial and how to set up and save Custom Shooting Modes (C1-C3) that can remember both your Customize Dial and Customize Button settings! That is something that none of the SONY bodies do. 🙁 Near the end of the guide I share my all-important MY MENU items with you.
Like all BAA educational materials, the R5 guide is written in my informal, easy-to-follow style. I am quite proud of this guide and look forward to hearing your thoughts on our hard work.
You can purchase your copy of the BIRDS AS ART Canon EOS R5 Camera User’s e-Guide for $75.00 here in the BAA Online Store or by calling Jim in the office weekday afternoons at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand.
This image was also created by multiple IPT veteran John Johnson on 9 April 2021 at Stick Marsh during an In-the-Field Session. He used the hand held Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens (at 186mm) and the highly touted 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2500. Exposure determined via test image and blinkies evaluation: 1/2000 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual (M) mode. AWB at 7:34am on a sunny morning.
Zone AI Servo AF (as detailed in the R5 e-Guide) was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2021: John Johnson
Image #2: Roseate Spoonbills: Fourth Hand for Bridge?
Magically Wide Enough!
When I saw John’s original version of this image, I was astounded. Three birds, each holding onto the same long stick, with three perfect head angles, and all three positioned perfectly in the frame. Without cutting off the legs of the trio! Are you kidding me? As both of John’s images were processed on the bright side for my taste, I re-processed each of them on Saturday evening.
Note: the shadow in the center of frame was that of a carelessly standing photographer. In a perfect world, folks would notice where their shadows are falling and if need be, move or get lower …
Image courtesy of and copyright 2021: John Johnson
Image #2: The original for the Roseate Spoonbills: Fourth Hand for Bridge? image
High-Stepping in Photoshop
As with many unique behavioral images, this one required a bit of work in Photoshop to maximize the impact. After converting the image in Capture One:
1- Level by eye: 1 degree clockwise.
2- Crop and Topaz DeNoise AI on a layer.
3- Extensive background clean-up including debris, spoonbill reflections, and telephone pole reflection.
4- Rock wall removal.
5- Foreground grass clean-up.
I am especially proud of the work that I did in the lower left corner leaving the tiny plant that had intersected the reflection of the telephone pole. That with a Quick Mask refined by a Regular Layer Mask.
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 clean-up techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques (with the exception of Capture One RAW Conversions) — along with all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my MacBook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: all of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About two years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One Pro 12 and continue to do so today.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair. Folks can learn sophisticated sharpening and (NeatImage) Noise Reduction techniques in The Professional Post Processing Guide by Arash Hazeghi and edited by yours truly. Please use this link to purchase NeatImage.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Please take a moment to let us know which of today’s three featured items — two photos and a video — that you like best. And why you made your choice. Comments on either or both of the images are of course welcome.
What’s Up?
John Johnson and I enjoyed yet another great morning at Stick Marsh with incoming spoonbills galore. We were headed back to ILE by 9:30. For me it was pack and swim and drive asap. We left just before two and arrived at out our AirBnB in Gulfport just after four. After getting our stuff in the house, we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at Grace Restaurant on St. Pete Beach. (Our unique menu featuring special weekly additions represents the best of what our local area has to offer. Our passion for sourcing the freshest ingredients from local farmers and suppliers, combined with traditional flavor and rewriting familiar recipes into exceptional cuisine is our mission and greatest joy. We strive to present the highest level of flavorful satisfaction for the most discriminating taste.) Marlin Kaplan, the chef-owner, originally an advertising executive from New York, is John’s good friend; they met in John’s hometown of Cleveland, OH where Marlin had several restaurants. IAC, I loved my dinner: crispy cauliflower with a trio of sauces, seared sea scallops, and key lime pie for dessert.
I am still far behind on e-mails. Thanks for your patience. I should be doing some catching up today. I have five new folks for the a1 group to process today.
Speaking of today, it is Saturday 10 April 2021. John and I are headed to Fort DeSoto for Day 1 of the IPT. The forecast is perfect: clear with a 12mph wind from the southeast. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.
This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes 109 consecutive days with a new one. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links or to save money at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.
Please Remember
With income from IPTs now at zero, 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.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day 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 a9 ii, 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.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created on 15 March 2021 on the Merritt Island IPT (Titusville, FL). I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 300mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. Auto ISO set 640. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial: 1/2000 at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:30am on a still, clear morning.
Lower Right Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly.
Image #1: Willet eating horseshoe crab — the wide view
The Situation
After our second straight lovely ground-fog sunrise at Sign 8, we got into our vehicles to search for subjects. We barely drove 100 yards before I spotted a Willet picking at the carcass of a Horseshoe Crab. So I grabbed the 2-6, sat on the limestone road, and created a few wide shots with lots of blue water. Note the placement of the subject in the lower right corner of the frame.
Sony Alpha a1 AF Magic …
The AF system of the a1 — set up as detailed in e-mails to the Sony Alpha a1 Info & Updates group, continues to amaze me. Early on there was lots of discussion within the group with many preferring multiple back button approaches. For me a simple shutter button approach with the right AF settings that yield 99% sharp-on-the-eye images is best. By far. Super-simple and mega-effective. Note: info on the program that I use to ascertain SONY AF point information is detailed in one of the SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group e-mails. I plan on making that information available here soon for all SONY camera users.
SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group is going great guns as folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based advice. We are now up to an astounding 30 folks. Early on, we discussed many of the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. More recently, we have been in contact with folks at SONY sharing our thoughts, experiences, and frustrations with the EVF blackout problem.
All who purchased their Alpha a1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link will receive a free subscription to the Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up and Info Updates after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. This same service may be purchased by anyone with an a1 body via a $150.00 PayPal sent to birdsasart@verizon.net indicating payment for Alpha a1 Info Updates. Alternatively, they can call Jim weekday afternoons at 1-863-692-0906 to pay via credit card. New members will receive composite e-mails that summarize all previous discussions.
Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to absolute perfection by tracking the bird’s eye.
Image #2: Willet eating horseshoe crab — the tight view
Interrupted
We were all working the Willet when a gorgeous Tricolored Heron wandered by. We quickly abandoned the Willet and followed the tricolored for about two hundred yards as it foraged to our left. We all got a few nice frames. We were somewhat surprised when we returned to the cars to find the Willet still pounding away at the Horseshoe Crab. We got out the long glass, added a teleconverter, and went back to work on the ravenous shorebird. Note that doubling the focal length (from 600 to 1200), increase the size of the bird in the frame, the area covered by the subject, by approximately four times. Why approximately? It is likely that I did not set up in the exact same spot for Images of #1 and #2.
Sony Alpha a1 Notes
Subject, Face, and Eye detection with the a1 works in a completely different manner from the Canon R5 Face Detection plus Tracking. Both are amazing. With today’s featured images, the a1 detected and tracked the bird’s eye within Zone and Wide. Learn how to set up your a1 AF system by joining the SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group (as noted above).
Still Pounding!
As the Willet kept pounding away, I decided to try my first a1 video. I had no clue as to the correct settings. I do remember using a low ISO, setting the shutter speed at 1/200 second, and being sure not to overexpose. I tried to find the settings, and failed. If any one knows a program that might reveal the EXIF for the video, please leave a comment.
All of the images were created at Fort DeSoto in April or early May. Click on the card to enjoy a larger version.
Fort DeSoto IPT card A
Fort DeSoto Spring IPT #2
Fort DeSoto Spring IPT #2. 3 1/2 DAYS. MON 26 APR thru the morning session on THURS 29 APR 2021. $1499 includes three lunches. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Not only am I conversant in all three major camera systems used in the US — Nikon, Canon, and SONY (sorry Andy Rouse …), I have used all three within the past four years. Those include both SONY and Canon mirrorless. On both of these IPTs you will learn how to get the best exposure, how to get the most out of your AF system, and how to get close to free and wild birds. And tons more.
All of the images were created at Fort DeSoto in April or early May. Click on the card to enjoy a larger version.
Fort DeSoto IPT card B
A $499 deposit is required to hold your spot 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, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due immediately after you sign up. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail. If you cancel due to COVID 19 concerns, all of your payments will be refunded.
All of the images were created at Fort DeSoto in April or early May. Click on the card to enjoy a larger version.
Fort DeSoto IPT card C
Fort DeSoto Spring IPTs Expected Species
With any luck, we should get to photograph the following species: Laughing, Ring-billed, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gull; Royal, Sandwich, and Forster’s Tern: Great, Snowy, and white and dark morph Reddish Egret and Great Blue, Little Blue, and Tricolored Heron; Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, and Brown Pelican. We will see and photograph lots of shorebirds including American Oystercatcher, Black-bellied, Wilson’s, Semipalmated, Snowy, and Piping Plover, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Dunlin, Red Knot, Sanderling, and Western and possibly White-rumped Sandpiper.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Please take a moment to let us know which of today’s two featured images you feel is the stronger, and why you made your choice. Comments on either or both images are of course welcome.
What’s Up?
I enjoyed a great morning session on my own at Stick Marsh on Thursday. I tried some new and different stuff (one of which is below). On the way home I met a nice cop who kindly issued me a $281.00 speeding ticket. I deserved it. I had not had one in probably eight years …
Today is Friday 9 April 2021. DeSoto #1 IPT participant, good friend, fellow Brooklyn Technical High School graduate, and many multiple IPT veteran John Johnson came by last night for a pool deck rib eye and Brussels sprouts dinner. He kindly brought two fine bottles of wine. We are headed to Stick Marsh and the weather looks dead-solid perfect: clear skies with a southeast breeze. The spoonies should be landing right at us. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.
This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes 108 consecutive days with a new one. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links or to save money at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day 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 a9 ii, 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.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Breeding plumage Roseate Spoonbill in flight
Going Wide for Something Different
With the wind from the southwest, I abandoned the traditional spot at D (on the annotated Stick Marsh Site Guide map) and headed to spot H with the tripod-mounted 600 GM and the a1 (with the 1.4X teleconverter in my pocket) to try something different. I wanted to get some wider stuff with the spoonies smaller in the frame and lots of blue water and perhaps a bit of marsh in the backgrounds. I was further rewarded when some spoonbills landed right in front of me to gather nesting material on the rocks.
Sony Alpha a1 AF Magic …
The AF system of the a1 — set up as detailed in e-mails to the Sony Alpha a1 Info & Updates group, continues to amaze me. Early on there was lots of discussion within the group with many preferring multiple back button approaches. For me a simple shutter button approach with the right AF settings that yield 99% sharp-on-the-eye images is best. By far. Super-simple and mega-effective. Note: info on the program that I use to ascertain SONY AF point information is detailed in one of the SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group e-mails. I plan on making that information available here soon for all SONY camera users.
SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group is going great guns as folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based advice. We are now up to an astounding 30 folks. Early on, we discussed many of the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. More recently, we have been in contact with folks at SONY sharing our thoughts, experiences, and frustrations with the EVF blackout problem.
All who purchased their Alpha a1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link will receive a free subscription to the Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up and Info Updates after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. This same service may be purchased by anyone with an a1 body via a $150.00 PayPal sent to birdsasart@verizon.net indicating payment for Alpha a1 Info Updates. Alternatively, they can call Jim weekday afternoons at 1-863-692-0906 to pay via credit card. New members will receive composite e-mails that summarize all previous discussions.
This image was created on 8 April 2021 at Stick Marsh, Fellsmere, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 300mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. Auto ISO set 640. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial: 1/3200 at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:06am on a still, clear morning.
Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly.
Image #2: Roseate Spoonbill landing
Parting Shot
After a very successful hour creating lots of new and different types of images, I headed back to D. I worked for a bit with the hand held 600GM/1.4X TC/a1 rig doing head shots of Limpkin and the roseates. I even made a few decent head shots of incoming spoonbills in flight! After 9am — relatively late in terms of light, I went to the hand held 200-600. A small group of bird photographers were voicing their opinions on various aspects of bird photography. Tuning out the mindless chatter ,I kept my mouth shut. I nailed this bird and turned around out of curiosity only to see that not a single one of the chatters had even raised their lens…
I Cannot Decide Which is More Amazing …
At this point, I cannot decide which is more amazing, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera or the photographic opportunities at Stick Marsh … It just might be a tie.
The Stick Marsh Site Guide Subscription Service
The Site Guide Subscription Service is a new concept. I e-mailed the first issue last week: Stick Marsh Site Guide e-Mail #1: The Basics. The Basics e-mail includes specific directions to the site, and a map of the rookery area with specific instructions and wind, weather, and where-to-be advice. I e-mailed the second installment recently. In it, I shared several new shooting locations and strategies. I will be sending e-mail #3 on Monday with lots more to come.
To sign up for the Stick Marsh Site Guide Subscription Service, call Jim in the office weekday afternoons at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand or send a PayPal for the $100.00 to us at birdsasart@verizon.net. Please be sure to include the words Stick Marsh with your PayPal. At some point, we will get this item in the BAA Online Store.
I fully understand that you can go to Google Maps, find the Stick Marsh, visit, and likely make some good or great images. You might think, I can do fine just without artie’s advice. But you will do a whole lot better with it. The annotated map alone is worth the price of admission.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
