In the bad news department, one of the two Mother’s Day colts apparently perished on Monday evening, possibly a result of the huge rainstorm. I saw the two adults with the two healthy colts on Sunday. I saw them with only one colt on Tuesday and Wednesday … All in all, it has been a very bad year for the breeding cranes at ILE.
This morning — Wednesday 24 JUNE 2020 — I photographed the two adults and the remaining colt in the sweet early morning light. After it clouded over I went scouting in the North Marsh with no intention of photographing. Then I saw some nice White Morning Glory flowers right on the ground — they are normally a climbing vine. As it was quite still and the light was soft, I got out my Sigma 150 macro rig with the Vello adapter on the 7r iv and went to work. I had photographed this flower about two weeks ago and underexposed everything that I created at the smaller apertures. I did not make that same mistake today.
I was glad to learn this morning that Homer Bald Eagle IPT veteran — my Land’s End roommate — Mukesh Patel, will be joining me on the Fort DeSoto Fall IPT. See the complete IPT schedule here. It is time to start thinking seriously about Bosque and San Diego …
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.
97 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 over $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.
Vultures on the Pier Tips V-Log
I am blessed most mornings to have lots of Turkey and Black Vultures to photograph here at Indian Lake Estates. Evenings? Not so much. The best news is that they are often very tame. If and only if you move very slowly. Whether or not you ever get to ILE to photograph you can learn a lot by watching this 7-minute 52-second educational video. Here are some of the things you can learn about getting close to free and wild birds, getting the right exposure, working at 1200mm, and framing your images perfectly with SONY Tracking Flexible Spot AF.
Questions and comments are of course welcome.
Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization (OSS)
When working with my SONY telephoto lenses, I keep OSS set to Mode 3 even when working on a tripod. As you will see in the video, the sharpness and fine-feather (and eyelash!) detail at 1200mm with the a7r iv are amazing. I employed the same strategy with my Canon 600 II. And with my Nikon 600 VR, I similarly set VR to the Sport Setting and left it there all the time. Theoretically, you are supposed to turn the image stabilizer systems off when working on a tripod. In addition, you are supposed to use Mode 1 (“Normal” mode with Nikon) when handholding for static subjects and mode 2 or 3 when panning. I am buying none of that … Set it and forget it: I go with Mode 3 (“Sport mode with Nikon) all the time.
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.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
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.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
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 :).
I did more birds on Monday morning: a perched Turkey Vulture and more of my favorite-ever crane family; the colts are almost six weeks old now. To raise my personal RawDigger learning curve, I used Auto Bracketing for the first time ever with digital with an avian subject. The RawDigger Flower (and static subject) e-Guide and Video is almost ready to be published. Both guides will be only for serious photographers who wish to learn to reduce noise to the max by exposing to the right to the nth degree …
It is 8:15pm on Monday evening and another huge thunderstorm continues as I type. We had a few days with just some rains but tonight’s storm is a big one; it has already been pouring for more than an hour. It knocked out Direct TV. During the days it has been in the 90s. More amazingly, there has been a massive heat-wave in Ontario, Canada with temps in the mid-30s C! In other words, hotter than Florida.
Mixed clouds and sun are forecast for this morning, Tuesday 22 JUNE 2020 so I will be heading out for about the hundredth straight morning; life is tough … With all of this rain, flowers will be the likely targets as the fields down by the lake will be too flooded to drive on.
I was glad to learn on Monday of the sale of my Nikon 70-200mm f/4 VR lens.
Arash Hazeghi SONY/Nikon News and Opinions
My friend, skilled avian flight photographer and top-notch BPN Avian Forum moderator, Arash Hazeghi, sold his two Nikon 600 VR lenses recently. And he sold his previously vaunted Nikon D5. He is now handholding the SONY 600mm f/4 GM and an a9 ii (with both TCs even for flight photography!). You can see his 1200mm skimmer flight shot here on BPN. In that thread I wrote, Most gear in Arash’s hands is great for flight photography because of his superior skills and his superior strength, hand-eye coordination, stamina, and determination.
Arash continues to own and use the Nikon 500 PF. See more on that below.
I find it funny that last January — in an e-mail to me — Arash said, (and I quote): Ha Ha! Sony is garbage.. More recently, in various BPN threads, he has acknowledged the total supremacy of SONY a9 ii autofocus.
This from his skimmer post, again from the man who clearly stated that SONY is garbage:
And I do believe the Sony 200-600 is pretty much a pile of junk next to the Nikon 500 PF… heavy, pretty bad bokeh, mediocre sharpness, significant focus breathing, slow to focus, etc., etc.
Elsewhere he continues to proclaim that the Nikon 500 PF is clearly better than the SONY 200-600. The issue there is better for whom? And better in what situations? I will be addressing those issues in detail soon both here on the blog and on BPN.
Lastly, on the subject of 200-600 sharpness, he started the thread here just for me. Be sure to read my response to his comparative sharpness testing.
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.
94 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 over $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.
Tracking Flexible Spot (S) AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and held focus perfectly on the male’s head.
Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Contentment?: Royal Terns right after copulating
Contentment?
In the Rapture Optimized blog post here, I posted another frame from earlier in a long sequence. Today’s featured image also put a big smile on my face. The male looks so at peace.
SONY at 1200mm
One thing that I can agree with Arash on is that the Nikon TC-E20 III is garbage when paired with the 600mm f/4VR lens. I use the SONY 600 GM with impunity with both the a9 ii and the a7r iv with static subjects, and have no problem at all creating razor-sharp images. The Canon 2X III TC does fine with most camera bodies on static subjects with the 600 II or the 600 III; birds in flight? Not so much. It is quite clear that shooting flight at 1200mm is solely SONY.
Via e-mail from Muhammad Arif
I had a great time at Fort De Soto. Thank you for all the instruction, for your help and pointers; my photography has already improved tremendously and I’ve never made such good bird photos before. I wish I could’ve joined you on Monday and Tuesday morning as well but work got in the way. It was also nice to meet everyone on the IPT; sorry that I missed you, Ray. Thanks again for everything and I hope to join you at a future IPT sometime again.
Folks attending the IPT will be in the field early and stay out late to take advantage of the best light. The good news is that the days are relatively short in early fall. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Fort DeSoto Fall 2020 IPT
OCT 2 thru the morning session October 5, 2020 (3 1/2 DAYS). Three full and one-half day: $1399.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/ Openings: 7.
Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for migrant shorebirds in fall. There they join dozens of egrets, herons, night-herons, gulls, and terns who winter on the T-shaped peninsula that serves as their wintering grounds. With any luck, we should get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable shorebird species: Marbled Godwit. Black-bellied Plover and Willet are easy, American Oystercatcher likely. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Tricolored Heron are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two. We should get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. And Royal, Sandwich, Forster’s, and Caspian Terns will likely provide us with some good flight opportunities as well. Though not guaranteed, Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork would not be unexpected.
Fort DeSoto in fall is rife with tame birds. All of the images in this card were created at Fort DeSoto in either late September or early October. I hope that you can join me there this fall one way or another. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
On this and all other IPTs you will learn basics and fine points of digital exposure and to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them, to understand and predict bird behavior, to identify and age many species of shorebirds, to spot the good situations, to choose the best perspective, to see and understand the light, and to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system. And you will learn how and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
At brunch (included) we will review m images–folks learn a ton watching me pick my keepers — why keep this one and delete that one? If you opt to bring your laptop, we can take a look at a few of your images from the morning session. We will process a few of my images in Photoshop after converting them in Capture One. That followed by Instructor Nap Time.
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.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
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.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
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 :).
I did not get out of bed until 7am this morning — Sunday 21 JUNE 2020 — because I wanted to finish John Sandford’s Neon Prey but I relented once Lucas Davenport had the bad guy in custody. When I had peeked out the window at 6am it had been foggy, but when I finally got down to the lake at 7:15am it was completely sunny. I did not expect to do well, but I did. Very. I started with some images of both vulture species in the vulture tree at the south end of the South Field. Next was an Osprey on the ground in the North Field followed by a few images of the crane family. Then I found a young Great Egret standing on the dock near the boat launch. I carefully positioned my Sequoia so as not to flush the bird. It was totally comfortable with my presence in the vehicle. I spent a good 40 minutes photographing the very handsome bird preening. Everything above was at 1200mm, one of the huge advantages that SONY has over Nikon. I did remove the TC at one point to do a very tame Marsh Rabbit right outside the car.
At 8:15am I scouted around for wildflowers without finding much and wound up at home by 8:40.
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.
94 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 over $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.
Wide AF-C. The system selected an AF point just below the grackle’s eye. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Boat-tailed Grackle in the ball of the setting sun
Racing the Sun: On Precision Vehicle Positioning …
First off, do realize that in order to try for images like this you need the sun to be well muted. Attempting to pull them off against a clear sunset (or sunrise) may result in eye damage.
In any case, the sun is quickly heading down and to your right as it dives toward the western horizon. It is easy to figure out that positioning the vehicle so that the bird is completely within the ball of the sun is a big challenge. Every time that you move your vehicle you have a very few seconds to make the shot. That if you actually stop your car in the perfect spot … Adding to the challenge is that I was working from a long slope that leads down to the shore of the lake. So when you reposition you not only have to line the bird up with the sun but you need to be at the right elevation as well. At times, things can get a bit frantic …
When it all comes together, it is quite rewarding.
Image Question
On your monitor does today’s featured image look just right overall or a bit too dark?
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
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.
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.
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.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
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.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
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 :).
