September 15th, 2020 What’s Up?
In the past 24 hours, many things did not go well. Despite them all, I am feeling great and happy. See the Loving What Is feature below.
On Sunday and Monday morning I photographed at Sebastian Inlet with friend Anita North. The Osprey action was so-so, but we had lots of good chances with the fishing terns. On Sunday we photographed in cloudy very dark conditions interspersed by several downpours. We used our a9 ii bodies with the 1.4X TC and ISOs of 10,000 and higher. That morning and the next we tried the a7r iv alone on the 600 GM and crop plan (to save a full stop of ISO). Anita used Wide AF and did fairly well. I used Zone and did not do so well. a7r iv AF accuracy definitely suffers when compared to the a9 ii. I’ve noticed that once the sun comes out, a7 r iv AF does pretty well with the 600 GM, but has lots of problems making crisp images in low light.
Monday morning was totally wild at the Inlet. See the tarpon feature below. Tuesday was less wild and a lot drier and they were catching snook rather than tarpon. I forgot to mention that on Monday morning I made one of the most incredible photos in my 37 years of bird and nature photography. It was not a bird photograph. I will share the image and the story here in the next blog post.
It is now midday on Tuesday and I just finished picking my keepers from our Monday session. Once things brightened up a bit and I got to 1/2500 sec. at f/4 at ISO 1000, a7r AF performance improved drastically (as compared to AF performance in the images made at ISO 4000 and 5000 in very low light, low contrast situations.
EOS R5/24-105 Kit and several RF 100-500mm lenses available from Bedfords
I spoke with Steve Elkins on Monday and he let me know that he is getting an EOS R5/24-105 Kit at the end of this week. It has been close to impossible to get an R5. In addition, he has several RF 100-500 lenses in stock right now. See Steve’s contact info immediately below. But do not tarry. In addition, he may have several EOS R6 bodies in stock now or soon … Remember to use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to save $50 on your order.
Money Saving Reminder
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Stuck in the mud with X-Drive (full time 4WD)
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Hilarious Tale
I’ve been mentioning the heavy rains and my fear of getting stuck down by the lake for many weeks if not months …
On Monday, Matt, a BMW Genius, drove from Lakeland to teach me about my new X5. He was cordial and bright and extremely helpful. After an hour of lessons while sitting in my driveway, we opted to head down to the lake. We saw an adult Bald Eagle right off the bat. We made a u-turn in the driveway at the end of Banyan Drive adjacent to the South Field. As we headed back north I mentioned that though I had driven on the fields in some wet sloppy conditions, I did not completely trust the X-Drive. So, I pulled onto the grass for a road test. After a while the car began to slip. In short order, we were stuck in the mud. That was at about 2:20pm. I almost got out a few times but eventually we simply could not get any traction in the mud that was the consistency of oatmeal.
We locked the car. My friend Ralph responded to my phone call but was unable to help. Then Jim came down and drove us all back to my home. Almost six hours later, the car was safely towed out of the mud by Seasall LLC. The best news? The tow was provided free by BMW roadside assistance. It was not the fastest service, but everything worked out just fine. The car will be getting a serious bath this morning.
Releasing Tarpon
On Sunday morning it was windy and wild at Sebastian Inlet. Tarpon ranging from 40 to 60 pounds were jumping clear out of the water. Fisherman hooked about a dozen of these strong, spectacular fighters. With their steel-like scales, nearly all shook the hook after short fights. One guy — with a lot of help from his friend — managed to secure the fish, remove his lure, and then release the fish. Any guesses on the weight of the fish in the image above?
Every thing that could have gone wrong …
In less than a day the following things went wrong:
1- I got stuck in the mud and could not get out.
2- The towing service took more than five hours to arrive.
3- On Tuesday morning I woke at 4:50am, late for me. My plan was to do this blog post before we went out to photograph. At first I could not get online with either our WiFi or via my cell phone.
4- When I did get online I could not access the blog because of a Trojan horse program called Cloudfare. Don’t ask. If you have experience removing this monster from a Mac computer please get in touch via e-mail.
5- Next my new MacBook Pro decided to update even though it was not plugged in. That took about 40 minutes.
6- Once I was online and ready to get to work, I discovered that the blog was down: “Cannot Access Server.”
7- I got onto the office computer to try to log in to our provider, HomePage Universe. I was unable to do so.
8- I noticed an e-mail from HomePage Universe stating that our automatic payment credit card payment had failed. The card had expired.
Anita and I left for a morning photo session at about 7:30am. I asked Jim to try to chat with the provider. He was 100% successful and by the time we got home at 9:30am, the blog was back up. Great work by Jim.
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Click on the image for a larger version to make reading the fine print easier.
Learn to know peace with The Work of Byron Katie
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Loving What Is
Years ago, I would have cursed my own stupidity for getting the X5 stuck in the mud, and the difficulties with the blog and Cloudfare and the expired credit card would have had me pulling my hair out. Now, thanks to The Work of Byron Katie, my stress levels for were past 24 hours were close to zero. I laughed out loud at getting stuck in the mud. And the stuff with the blog was a non-issue. I’ve gone from “these are the worst things that could have happened” to “no big deal, everything will be fixed in short order. To simplify, I have simply learned to love what is. I can hear Katie saying, “If you want to bang your head against the wall of reality, just grab your ears and have at it.”
I first became aware of The Work when struggling to heal from the loss of my beloved second wife, Elaine Belsky Morris in 1994. Doing the work on Elaine’s death helped me to heal. Finally, in 2017 I attended the Nine-Day School for the Work in Ojai, CA (along with more than 200 other folks), met Katie, and enhanced my practice of The Work. Today, The Work does not take much work as learning to hold my thoughts and beliefs up to inquiry, has become second nature. I have been told that The Work is Buddhist-like, and have been told by respected psychologists that the work is simply mumbo jumbo and could not be helping me. But it has helped me tremendously to fine peace in my life.
If you would like to see what it’s all about, click on this link. You might wind up realizing the peace and happiness are choices. You might wish to begin by reviewing some of the free YouTube videos. Then you can print a free worksheet and get to work!
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 :).
September 13th, 2020 What’s Up?
Saturday morning was spent with the Mother’s Day crane family. I left home at 5:30am headed for Sebastian Inlet despite the forecast of thunderstorms all morning. Not scattered thunderstorms, just thunderstorms …
I was glad to learn yesterday that the sale of IPT veteran Morris Herstein’s Sony a9 and the sale of IPT veteran Larry Master’s Canon 1DX Mark II are pending.
The August sales below just might keep me from having to become a greeter at Walmart:
Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in near-mint condition for the $2750.00 (was $2797.00) locally in early September and kindly sent me a check for 4% of the original asking price.
Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon Extension Tube Set, the EF 12 II and EF 25 II, in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $122.90 in late August. And he sold his Canon EOS 70D in like-new condition to a friend for $400 (was $499.00).
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body in excellent plus condition (was $1399.00) and his Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens in near mint condition (was $549.00) to a single buyer for $1900.00 in early September.
Multiple IPT veteran and good friend William Schneider sold his Sony FE 2.8/16‑35 GM wide angle zoom lens in like-new condition for the very low price of $1400.00 (was $1498.00) in early September.
BAA friend Kay Kaylor sold her Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens in near-mint condition for a very low $524.00 (was $649.00) in early SEPT 2020.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for a very low $549.00 in early September 2020.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $1349.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for $799.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for $549.00 and a Canon EF 400mm f/4L DO IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for a BAA record low $3049.00 all within the first two days of being listed in early SEPT 2020.
Dennis Bartsch sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L USM Telephoto lens in near-mint condition for $2399.00 in mid-August 2020.
Jim Babbitt sold his Canon 500 mm f/4L IS II lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $5125.00 (was listed for $5248.00) the first day it was listed in late August 2020.
Ben Clemens sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM in near-mint condition for $1449.00 the first day it was listing in mid-August 2020.
BAA friend Kay Kaylor sold her Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (zoom) lens in near-mint condition for the you-might-as-well-give-it-away-free price of $88.00 (was $98.00) and a Canon EF Extender 1.4X II teleconverter in near-mint condition for the BAA silly record-low price of $119.00 (was $139.00) in late August.
Dennis Westover sold his Nikon D5 dSLR (XQD version) in excellent-plus condition for a BAA record-low $3396.95 (was $3696.95) in late-AUGUST 2020.
Anita North sold her Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens in excellent condition for a BAA record-low $8265.95 (was $9265.95), a Nikon Battery Grip & Charger Kit w/two extra batteries for a ridiculously low $798.00 (was $1148.00), and a Sony a7 r iii Mirrorless Digital Camera body in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low-by-far price of $998.00 (was 1198.00). The a7r ii had a nick on the rear monitor, no battery, and no eye-cup. All three of these items sold on 22 AUGUST 2020.
I sold my Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4 VR lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $426.95 (was $546.95) on 22 AUGUST 2020.
BAA friend Kay Kaylor sold her Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $2147.00 (was $2347.00), a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Zoom lens (the original 100-400) in near-mint condition for a BIRDS AS ART record low $387.00 (was $447.00) and a Canon EOS-1D Mark II in near-mint condition for a silly low $149.00 (was $174.00).
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.
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.
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.
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114 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
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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.
Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.
Money Saving Reminder
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.
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This image was created at Indian Lake Estates, FL on Thursday 10 September. On foot on a very wet North Field I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 400mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 800: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:37am on a clear morning.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection; I pushed the shutter button when the AF points danced on the colt’s face.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane preening wing of adult
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Rain, Rain, and More Rain
I cannot remember a spring and summer with so much rain. For months we have had torrential afternoon thunderstorms almost every day. For the past week it has rained most evenings. And yesterday took the cake — it began pouring at 9am and rained hard off and on all day. I have been leery about driving on the fields in fear of getting stuck in the puddles on the grass. That despite full time 4 wheel drive (X Drive). So for the past few mornings I have been parking by the pier and walking the fields with my surf booties. On Thursday, I walked with the hand held 200-600 and did quite well as noted and seen in the Red and Pink Crane Caps Explained blog post here. BTW, my favorite of the three photos was Image #3. On Saturday I walked around with the 600mm f/4 GM lens on the Induro GIT 404L and a Levered-clamp FlexShooter — the levered clamp is much faster and easier to use than the version with a knob.
In any case, working with the 200-600 allowed me to concentrate more on behavior and interactions. I have stayed away from getting lower on my walks for two reasons:
1- I do not want to get my butt soaking wet.
2- More importantly, I do not want the line of the marsh to intersect that bird’s heads or necks or bodies.
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This image was created at Indian Lake Estates, FL on Thursday 10 September. On foot on a very wet North Field I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 419mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 800: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:38am on a clear morning.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection; Again, I pushed the shutter button when the AF points danced on the colt’s face. Zone is quite versatile.
Image #2:Sandhill Crane colt begging
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Why the a9 ii?
I’ve been wondering why nobody has asked why I have recently abandoned the a7r iv. The short answer is that it is always easier to make sharp images with medium megapixel camera bodies than with high or mega-megapixel bodies. A9 ii files are 24.2MP while a7r iv files are 61MP. Higher shutter speeds and/or superior sharpness techniques are mandatory for success when working with the a7r iv.
Multiple Choice Question
Which of today’s featured image do you like best? As always, letting us know why you made your choice helps everyone to learn.
A: Image #1
B: Image #2
C: Both
D: Neither
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 :).
September 11th, 2020 What’s Up?
Wednesday morning was Turkey Vulture, Great Egret, and Great Blue Heron — nothing too great. On Thursday morning the North Field had water six inches deep in spots from the continuing heavy afternoon rains. Reluctant to drive on the grass and get stuck, I grabbed my 200-600 and walked through the large puddles with my surf booties on. I was amazed that the White Ibises pretty much ignored me and I was even able to walk up to a Great Egret or two and a juvenile Little Blue Heron. I finished off working the Mother’s Day crane family with their now-single large colt. (See Image #3 below.) All in all it was a very good morning.
In bed last night at 8pm, I’ve been up working since 3:30am. Today is Friday 11 SEPT 2020. It is 5:30 now and it has been drizzling for about an hour. The sun is not supposed to come out for about a week … Nonetheless, I will be headed out in a bit to do some photography.
I was glad to learn of the recently completed sales below and of the pending sale of Morris Herstein’s SONY a9. I even have someone interested in my Nikon 70-200mm f/4. Time will tell on that one.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body in excellent plus condition (was $1399.00) and his Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens in near mint condition (was $549.00) to a single buyer for $1900.00 in early September.
Multiple IPT veteran and good friend William Schneider sold his Sony FE 2.8/16‑35 GM wide angle zoom lens in like-new condition for the very low price of $1400.00 (was $1498.00) in early September.
BAA friend Kay Kaylor sold her Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens in near-mint condition for a very low $524.00 (was $649.00) in early SEPT 2020.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for a very low $549.00 in early September 2020.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $1349.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for $799.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for $549.00 and a Canon EF 400mm f/4L DO IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for a BAA record low $3049.00 all within the first two days of being listed in early SEPT 2020.
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s three featured images do you like best. If you leave a comment, please let us know why. I have a clear favorite and will share that with you here in three days.
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.
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.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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.
Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.
Money Saving Reminder
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.
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This image was created on Monday 7 September 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. Working from my SUV, I used the Levered Clamp FlexShooter Pro/Induro/GIT 204-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/400 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:41am on a mostly sunny morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Adult Sandhill Crane holding preened body feather
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My Mistake?
Click on the image to enlarge it and then take a close look at the exposure settings. What was my mistake?
It is much easier to photograph the cranes when they are preening than when they are foraging. The main reason is that they stand in one spot when they are grooming themselves. When they are foraging they have their heads down and they are constantly moving.
Typical Crane Colt with Pink Cap
I have been seeing this crane colt on the North Field for about a month. Only two young cranes from nests in the marsh survived this year and I am able to recognize each of them. So, this bird was hatched elsewhere and now flies to the lakefront to feed in the fields. Notice the pink cap and see how it compares to the caps of the birds in Image #1 (bright red) and in Image #3 (with the pink just barely coming in). As I know that the bird in Image #3 is four months old, I would surmise that this young bird is about five months old. Do understand that there is individual variation. A month from now, the cap on the Mother’s Day colt may not be as pink as it is on this bird.
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This image was created at Indian Lake Estates, FL on Thursday 10 September. On foot on a very wet North Field I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 800: 1/800 sec. at f/9. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:57am on a clear morning.
Upper Right Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #3: Head portrait of Sandhill Crane colt (hatched May 9 or 10)
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Happy Bird-Day
The crane colt in this image was hatched on May 9 or 10. One of the chicks perished as a small colt. This bird is just starting to grown in some pink feathers about the head. I think, however, that it is quite pale for its age. If it survives for another month (and I do as well), I will know for sure.
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The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
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The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.
Purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back and forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:
- Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
- Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
- The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
- Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
- Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
- Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
- West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
- Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.
Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.
You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store.
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To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
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