I state often that one of the best ways to improve your nature photography is to look at as many really good photographs as possible. I do that often on Bird Photographer’s.Net (though not as often as I should). And I am continually looking at the websites of the world’s best avian photographers in an effort to be inspired and to improve my skills. I have found some great new ones recently. Over the next month or so I will be sharing some of my top finds with you.
Walter Baliero has been a friend for about a decade. I learned of him through a mutual friend. My travels to the Falklands and to the Southern Oceans often require a one or a two day stop in Santiago, Chile. On those visits, I always try to work in a trip or two with Walter as my guide. On the first day of a two-day layover, we ride up into the mountains in search of some good condor photography. The second day, we travel west and a bit south to Viña del Mar on the coast to photograph Inca Tern, Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Gannet, and a host of other coastal species.
To read the entire article (excerpted below) and see a few additional images, click here. If you will be stopping over in Santiago, Chile and would like to explore the possibility of a day or two with Walter, get in touch with me by e-mail and I will put you in touch with Walter.
I mentioned that there have been as many as 15 spoonbills feeding in the rain pools — some as deep as eight inches! — adjacent to the North Beach parking lots. When they are actively feeding, it is very difficult to make a decent image. On Friday afternoon, we combined some good luck with excellent technique and got some stunning photos at 1200mm. Images and the complete story here soon.
I was glad to learn recently of the following:
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon 11-24mm f/4L USM lens in near mint condition for $1530.00 (was $1599.00) in mid-September 2020.
Multiple IPT veteran Morris Herstein sold his Sony a9 in mint condition (with about 900 actuations) for the bargain price of $2498.00 just a few days after listing it in early September.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list at the bottom of the page.
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 (without the shipping). 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 need 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 overnight 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 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. 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.
This image was created in the Andes Mountains of Chile with the Nikon 200-400 at 400mm and the Nikon D7000.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Walter Baliero
Please click on the image to see a larger and inexplicably sharper version.
The Andean Condor is emblematic of the Andes. Thinking of a condors evokes images of towering mountains punctuated by snow-capped peaks and a large dark bird crossing the skies at great height. In this photographic journey Walter Baliero tells us about his experiences photographing the Andean Condor.
This image was created in the Andes Mountains of Chile with the Nikon 200-400 at 280mm and the Nikon D7000.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Walter Baliero
Please click on the image to see a larger and inexplicably sharper version.
Image #2: Andean Condor perched female
Photographing the Andean Condor In the Andes of Chile
by Walter Baliero
The magnificent Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a lure to photographers, but getting photos of them has its challenges. Getting a shot of this adult male and female took some preparation. I had to carry the appropriate bait and my photographic equipment over Chilean Andean mountains at an elevation of 3,000 m (9842.52 ft) to access a cliff known to have Condors riding the thermals. At this location, the world’s largest flying bird is seen regularly.
Although its distribution extends throughout most of the high Andes of South America, it is from Peru to southern Chile, where the Andean Condor occurs in higher numbers. I have been lucky to have had up to 35 birds in front of me (at one time). The Andean Condor is a rather curious and confident bird that is not afraid of humans, at least in flight. When perched or standing near a carcass, they are more skittish. On several occasions adults and juvenile condors have flown within about 15 meters above my head; I was able to hear the sound of their wing feathers cutting through the oxygen-thin Andean air.
This image was created in the Andes Mountains of Chile with a Nikon 500mm f/4 VR lens, the TC-E14, and the the Nikon D810.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Walter Baliero
Please click on the image to see a larger and inexplicably sharper version.
Image #3: Immature Andean Condor in flight
Condors around Santiago, Chile
The spot where I photograph the condors is just 40 km away from the capital city, Santiago de Chile. The proximity of this location allows me to arrive in the morning and return home at night, without having to spend the night in the area. It gets cold up there. The spot where I shot these pictures is located near Farellones – a small mountain town at 2,600 m of altitude – the road s paved; therefore, getting there does not require a four-wheel-drive vehicle. In just under an hour from the city, I’m with the condors nearly every day. One can see condors near the town but, I prefer to walk a kilometer up to a spot where I can isolate myself from interference from curious people and the background noise of cars on the nearby road.
It is not uncommon to see the Andean Condor flying over urban areas. Condors are cathartids; they belongs to the vulture family. The Andean Condor is a scavenger. Personally, and for many years photographing this species, I have never seen a condor attack even a small live lizard; it always feeds on decomposing carcasses. After detecting a carcass, condors tend to watch it staying in the air in the vicinity until it is rotten enough for them to begin feeding. The guts and other parts of the carcass’s insides are accessed through the animal’s orifices. The Condor’s claws are weak, and its hind toe is small without the ability to grasp. They use their strong hooked beak to tear pieces of flesh from the carcass.
This image was created in the Andes Mountains of Chile with a Nikon 500mm f/4 VR lens, the TC-E14, and the the Nikon D810.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Walter Baliero
Please click on the image to see a larger and inexplicably sharper version.
Image #4: Male Andean Condor in flight
Condors, the Masters of Flight
Condors are masters of flight, gliding their way through the Andean mountain tops. They roost and breed on the ledges and small caves of vertical cliffs known as condoreras. But such places with the right conditions for condors to use as roosting and breeding sites are few and far between. Many condoreras are likely to have been used by condors for thousands of years.
The Andean Condor can glide for hours without flapping its wings. Yes, they flap when they take off from the ground after feeding. Other than that, they can cover long distances without flapping their wings once. The cold morning air trapped in deep ravines where condors roost begins to warm up with the rising sun. When the conditions are right, condors jump off their perches and effortlessly begin to soar in circles as they gain altitude. Some stay on the ledges incubating eggs or taking care of the young.
This image was created by me on a trip with Walter to the Andes Mountains with Canon 500mm f/4L IS, the 1.4X TC, and the EOS 5D Mark III.
Image copyright 2012: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Please click on the image to see a larger and inexplicably sharper version.
Image #5: Male Andean Condor in flight
Condors on the Decline …
Unfortunately, the Andean Condor is often an unintended victim of the fight between ranchers and pumas (mountain lions) (Puma concolor) that often kill their livestock. When a puma starts killing sheep, it often becomes used to such easy prey and keeps returning for more. Ranchers bait pumas with poisoned carcasses. However, these carcasses are also found by condors looking for food. They consume the poisoned bait and die. This unintended killing of condors is a severe problem and a substantial source of condor mortality.
Walter Baliero is a professional photographer specializing in bird photography; he is based in Chile. For many years he has been conducting photo safaris, guiding photographers of different nationalities, especially those interested in the Andean Condor. He also gives workshops on this species.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
The Greatest-ever Bald Eagle Experience IPTs
IPT #1: SAT 20 FEB 2021 through the full day on THURS 25 FEB, 2021. Six full days: $5499.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4.
IPT #2: SAT 27 FEB 2021 through the full day on WED 3 MAR 2021. Five full days: $4599.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4
Please note the slightly revised dates for IPT #2 above.
From Homer, Alaska
We will do two 2-hour or one 4-hour boat trip to Kachemak Bay each day (weather permitting). Our schedule will be flexible and driven by the wind and sky conditions. We will have numerous and varied mind-boggling opportunities to photograph Bald Eagle, a hugely popular species. We will be feeding the eagles to attract them into photographic range. The trip is costly because chartering the boat is expensive, the fish are very expensive at $1.25/pound (all on me), the cost of breakfasts and one sit-down meal/day are included, hotel to dock transfers are included, as is lodging (double-occupancy). The cost of a single supplement is $90.00/night
We will do lots of flight photography from the boat and on land until you can no longer lift your lens. We will get off the boat on various islands to photograph the birds both perched and in flight. This species takes five years to reach maturity; we will get to photograph birds of all age-classes from juvenile plumage to full adults with their gleaming white heads (and everything in between). There will be numerous informal Image Editing, Photoshop, and Image Review sessions throughout each trip. As I am conversant in Canon, Nikon, and SONY I can help you better understand your gear no matter what you are shooting.
Going up earlier than all other tours this year proved to be fantastic with tons of snow on the ground to light up the eagle’s underwings. You will usually not enjoy those conditions on the March tours (unless you are very lucky). In addition, the eagles are more ravenous early in the season. In FEB 2020 we often had 30-40 or more eagles in the air around the boat with as many as 75 perched in trees or resting on the black sand beaches. Folks who want to do some photography locally during downtime may wish to rent a vehicle.
All images copyright 2020: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Click on the card to enjoy a larger version
Homer 2020 IPT Images
It is best to register right now to save your spot. Register for both trips and apply a $300 discount.
A $2000 credit card deposit is required to hold your spot. Call Jim ASAP at the office weekdays at 863-692-0906 to leave your deposit. Your balance will be payable only by check no later than November 31, 2020. If you fail to pay your balance, your spot will be forfeited to someone on the waiting list and you will lose your deposit. If you plan on joining me, please e-mail immediately or try me on my cell at 863-221-2372 with any questions or to let me know of your plans. First come, first served.
Not included: your round-trip airfare from home to Homer, AK through Anchorage and back. Your second sit-down meal each day. Alcoholic beverages at our sit-down meal.
All images copyright 2020: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART except for Sea Otter with pup which is courtesy of and copyright 2020: Anita North
Click on the card to enjoy a larger version
Homer 2020 IPT Images
On the Homer IPTs you will learn:
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
11- More than you could ever imagine.
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 :).
At 6:50am on Thursday, there was a long line of cars waiting for the gate to open at DeSoto. I believe that the entry time has been pushed back from 6:30am to 7:00am. As the road is now gated in both directions, it is no longer possible for folks with Annual Beach Parking Permits to enter early.
The weather, to say the least, was unsettled. More on that below.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. 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 will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.
Nikon Camera Body Bargains!
Nikon D5 dSLR Professional Digital Camera Body (XQD Version)
BAA Record-low Price!
Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon D5 in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $3200.00. The sale includes a SONY 64GB XQD card and reader, the front body cap, the strap, the battery & the charger, 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.
The D5 is Nikon’s vaunted professssional digital camera body. It is fast and features Nikon’s best AF system. I used mine with success with all of my Nikon lenses including and especially the 80-400, thee 200-500, the 500 PF, and the 600 f/4 VR (the latter often with the TC-E14. The D5 sells for $5,496.95 new right now so you can save an amazing $2296.95 by grabbing Karen’s D5 now! artie
Nikon D500 dSLR Digital Camera Body
BAA Record-low Price!
Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon D500 in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $750.00. The sale includes a SONY 64GB XQD card, the front body cap, the strap, the battery & charger, 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.
The D500 is Nikon’s top-of-the-line crop factor body. It multiplies your focal length by 1.5X. Joe Przybyla and Dan Kearl, both excellent photographers on Bird Photographer’s.Net, use the D500 as their workhorse camera bodies. Joe, the co-author of The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide, was after this old dog for a long time to try a D500. The D500 sells new right now for $1,496.95; save a cool $746.95 by grabbing Karen’s camera body now. artie
Nikon D800 dSLR Digital Camera Body
BAA Record-low Price!
Karen is offering a Nikon D800 in very good condition for a very low $450.00. The sale includes the: front body cap, the strap, the battery & charger, 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.
The Nikon D800 is a 36.3-megapixel professional-grade full-frame dSLR. It was succeeded by the more expensive D810 and then but the still more expensive D850. The D800 was best known for its superb image files. artie
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
114 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase of more than $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: birders at North Beach in the rain
Thursday Morning Downpours
As we were getting our gear ready, Anita said, “Look, there are patches of blue here and there.” Those among huge, dark, ominous clouds that stretched from horizon to horizon. Two minutes later I looked to the east and saw a wall of water coming at us. I called out and we quickly got back into the SUV. The strange thing is that it was almost as if we were in a liquid atmosphere rather than in a rainstorm. Five minutes later we both grabbed our 200-600/a9 ii rigs and headed for the sandbar.
No More Sandbar Secrets
Outback Key has been forming for more than a few years. Two years ago, getting onto the ever-shifting bar was tricky. Now, you can park in pretty much any but the most northwestern-most North Beach lot, walk to the Gulf, and cross to the bar on pretty much any tide. Do cross carefully and take small steps as there are some tree roots in small stumps in the channel.
Thursday and Friday morning found large flocks of Black Skimmers, Royal, Sandwich, and Forster’s Terns, lots of young and adult Laughing Gulls, a few Ring-billed Gulls, and two adult and one immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Among the wading birds were hundreds of White Ibises, Great and Snowy Egrets, Tricolored, Great Blue, and Little Blue Heron along with as many as fifteen immature Roseate Spoonbills. Few than usual Brown Pelicans were seen diving off shore. As usual, there was a host of shorebird species including American Oystercatcher, Marbled Godwit, Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitcher, Western and Least Sandpipers, and Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, Piping, and Snowy Plovers. In other words, par for the course for Fort DeSoto.
Sony Camera Body Weather Sealing
Back to Thursday morning, once we hit the beach we enjoyed three rain squalls with wind and pelting rain. Each lasted about five minutes. Our only gear protection was keeping our backs to the wind. In short, our a9 ii bodies got plenty wet. The functioned just fine at least through Friday morning. And remember, at Sebastian, both of my bodies got drenched and my a7r iv took two direct saltwater hits when big waves came over my right shoulder. Both bodies are doing just fine. I would have to assume that both the a9 ii and the 7r iv bodies are superbly sealed against moisture and rain. I’ve always pushed my gear to the absolute limits and have at times, paid a big price …
Upper Left Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image courtesy of an copyright 2020: Anita North
Image #2: artie smiling with his 200-600/a9 ii rig after the rain let up a bit for a while.
Having Fun Is Important
As of Friday midday, my SONY 600 GM had remained in my SUV for all three of our shooting sessions. And Anita’s 600 GM has done the same. Walking around on a wild beach with the 200-600 G lens with an a9 ii gives one a sense of total freedom. Dragging the 600 GM around the beach is a chore despite its astoundingly light weight. Working with the 2-6 on the other hand is a delight, especially when you are around relatively tame birds. It is extremely versatile, relatively light in weight, it is great for birds in flight and in action, and actually focuses a good deal closer than the 600 GM. Fun at the beach is a good thing.
Thanks to Anita for the excellent photo of yours truly; I rarely like images of me, but I love this one.
Thanks Alfred Forns.
Thanks to Alfred Forns for my beloved floppy photo hat. The drapes protect me from the sun. And the soft brim makes perfect for flight photography and for putting your eye to the viewfinder. He gave me the hat as a gift more than twenty years ago. I actually had a new top sewn on when it was in complete tatters. I was best man at his wedding at a Bosque Thanksgiving meal probably fifteen years ago. Some time after that we had a falling out. If you know him — he is quite a good photographer — send him my love.
Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT
Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.
Bosque del Apache NWR 2020 IPT
NOV 18 (afternoon session) thru the morning session on November 23, 2020. 5 DAYS. Four full and two half days. $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 6.
Extra Day Options: Please e-mail to learn about the before or after In-the-Field Day options.
The very best news is that the 2020 Festival of the Cranes has been canceled so we will be able to visit on what are usually the perfect dates!
I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. In 2018, things had improved dramatically and in 2019 the photography was great. Simply put, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.
We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blastoffs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.
Lunch is included.
To Register
To register, send your $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.
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.
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 :).
We spent so much time repairing the ruts in the South Field that I only took nine images on Wednesday morning. Three of them were keepers.
We drove over to Gulfport on Wednesday afternoon — 20 September 2020. We will be photographing at Fort DeSoto for the next four days. Though we will miss the cranes and the vultures, it will be great to see the different birds at the beach.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. 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 will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
114 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase of more than $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
I-Phone 11 photo by Anita North
Note the big Osprey nest in the pine tree. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Farmer Morris at work
Repairing the Ruts
A Conversation from the Comments Section on Tuesday’s Blog Post
Bob. September 16, 2020 at 10:04 am
Dear Artie,
We have all been in a spot like that and can only laugh at it once we look back. My question for you is, “are you responsible to fix the rut damage you left in the mud? I cannot wait to see your blog on the best photograph ever! I would guess 45 pounds on the tarpon.
With love from Wisconsin, Bob
Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. September 16, 2020 at 10:15 am
Hi Bob,
That is a fair question. Anita and I spent an hour on Wednesday morning repairing the ruts by flattening the sides with a rake and then smoothing things out. I was very happy with what we did, but she is a perfectionist so went back down for two additional hours after dropping me off at home to pack for DeSoto. In a few weeks, nobody will be aware of the ruts.
That said, the big mowing machines often do far more damage than I did (both, of course, unfortunate). And the same is true of other private vehicles. We are the first to repair the results of poor thinking.
with love, a
ps: so there is no real responsibility involved other than to our own morals.
The iPhone Photography e-Guide
To order your copy of the iPhone Photography e-Guide, please click here.
The PDF is sent link by e-mail for downloading: the file is relatively huge at 216 MB.
Hard to Believe
Yes, Cliff has a great eye and wonderfully creative vision. Yet it is still hard for me to believe that he can make so many great images with “just“ an i-phone. Almost more amazingly Cliff captures with his iPhone and does all of his post-processing on the phone! In this great new e-Guide written for BIRDS AS ART you will learn to use set up you iPhone quickly and efficiently and how to use it. In addition, there are dozens and dozens of tips on Cliff’s favorite apps and his favorite gear. Scroll down to the bottom to see the Table of Contents.
The iPhone Photography e-Guide: $20.00.
To order your copy of the iPhone Photography e-Guide please click here.
Dr. Cliff Oliver
Dr. Cliff Oliver is an award-winning photographer, former photography instructor for the San Diego Natural History Museum, cutting-edge integrative health care professional, and international workshop leader. He created and taught the first 5-day immersion iPhone photography workshop at Hollyhock, Canada’s premier Leadership Learning Center. He teaches quarterly iPhone photography classes at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library School of the Arts (these include Art on the iPhone, iPhoneography, Portraits and Selfies, and Practicing in the Field). His images have been on the cover of WildBird magazine, on display at Scripps Oceanography Institute, and been honored with multiple first-place finishes in the International Exhibition of Photography Del Mar. The San Diego Natural History Museum’s, “Birds of the World” centennial exhibit featured several of his images. One of his iPhone images received an honorable mention in the Athenaeum 23rd annual juried exhibition. He has displayed images at Art Speaks: Expressions of Hope and Healing and has produced a series of books, called Zen I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII that feature original images that promote inner peace. The last 4 books feature only images taken on the iPhone. He teaches individuals and groups the skills of capturing iPhone/mobile photographs and then how to create personalized works of art.
To see some of Cliff’s iPhone images, click here. Learn more about Cliff and what he does on his Center for Balance website here. And don’t forget, if I had never met Cliff I would be pushing up daisies somewhere. To request my Health Basics File that contains the whole story, please shoot me an e-mail by clicking here..
Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection.
Image #2: Tarpon Jumping!
My Most Amazing Image Ever?
So we’re on the jetty trying for Ospreys and Royal and Sandwich Terns flying and diving. It had just finished pouring. There were Tarpon jumping clear out of the water up and down the inlet. I pointed the lens randomly at the water to pre-focus at about 100 feet when a Tarpon jumped out of the water right into my viewfinder. I fired off three frames. I just clipped the tail on the first two, but number three was both perfectly framed and perfectly sharp. Talk about amazing blind luck! My reflexes are light-years short of being able to react to a jumping fish. I had the exposure set for the terns and — as confirmed by RawDigger — it turned out to be perfect for the big sliver fish.
I’d guess that the fish in the photo weighs between thirty and forty pounds.
From where I sit, it is by far the single most amazing image I have ever created. And certainly my luckiest capture ever!
WDYT?
Any Photoshop Hanky-Panky?
If you see any evidence of Photoshop hanky-panky, please leave a comment and let us know what you think is phony. Or, is Image #2 a perfect representation of the RAW file as it came out of the camera. As always, your thoughts would be appreciated.
Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT
Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.
Bosque del Apache NWR 2020 IPT
NOV 18 (afternoon session) thru the morning session on November 23, 2020. 5 DAYS. Four full and two half days. $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 6.
Extra Day Options: Please e-mail to learn about the before or after In-the-Field Day options.
The very best news is that the 2020 Festival of the Cranes has been canceled so we will be able to visit on what are usually the perfect dates!
I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. In 2018, things had improved dramatically and in 2019 the photography was great. Simply put, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.
We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blastoffs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.
Lunch is included.
To Register
To register, send your $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.
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.
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 :).
