In mid-August of this year, I discovered that I could not remove the drop-in filter on my Sony 600mm f/4. It should be cleaned every few weeks. So, with some trepidation, I sent the lens to Sony repair in LA in late August. Other than the stuck filter, the lens had been working perfectly. I was pleased to note that Sony picked up the round-trip, overnight Fed Ex shipping charges as part of my Sony Pro Support membership ($100.00/year).
In early September they told me that the filter was stuck because “of sand getting into the unit.” Understandable. Perhaps. They stated that they had cleaned the entire lens as it was “full of sand.” That was surely understandable. Two weeks later I received another e-mail: they had discovered a problem with the AF system and needed a part that was out of stock. Several weeks after that, they told me that the part had come in, but when they began the repair, they discovered that they needed another part that was of course out of stock. At that point I decided to grab a loaner from LensRentals.com. While I love the 400mm f/2.8, there are times when I need and depend on the 600, especially at Sebastian Inlet.
On October 23, I got an e-mail stating that the lens would be returned to me in perfect working condition. I returned the loaner before checking the lens. The first time that I attached an a-1 to the 600, it was obvious that the lens was inoperable. The camera could not read the lens; all I saw in the EVF was “f-” instead of the aperture.
So, I contacted Sony, returned the lens to them, and grabbed another loaner from LensRentals.com. I immediately got an e-mail asking if I had taken the lens to the beach as it was again “full of sand.” I wrote back stating that I had not taken the lens into the field and that sand they had found must have been left over from the first “cleaning.”
The next e-mail said that the unit needed a new motherboard that was, of course, out of stock. On November 22, just about three months to the day that I sent it in, I got my lens back. As shown here, it worked perfectly.
The great news out of all this was that each of the 600mm f/4 GM lens that I got from LensRentals.com were in like-new condition and performed perfectly. After the total repair screw up, the second loaner was at my home the next day! I was very impressed.
Save 15%!
If you’d like to try out a new lens, or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.
I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.
Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout.
Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com
LensRentals.com
LensRentals.com is the largest online rental provider for photography, videography, and lighting equipment, and accessories in the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, with a satellite office in Nashville, Lensrentals ships gear to customers in all 50 states and also provides in-person pickups and returns to local customers.
Founded in 2006 by Roger Cicala as a way to expand his own gear collection and share his photographic knowledge, Lensrentals.com has grown from a one-man operation in a spare bedroom to a company with nearly 100 employees, dozens of experienced photo and video technicians, an in-house repair department, and the best customer service representatives in the industry. Roger continues to provide guidance and expertise to photographers of all experience levels and is considered an industry authority on lens quality and testing, as shown by his work evaluating NASA satellite lenses.
LensRentals.com serves hundreds of thousands of photographers and videographers annually, while always maintaining the values of their founder – share the best available equipment at its optimum quality, and educate and provide support to their customers to ensure they can achieve their goals regardless of experience level. They carry camera bodies and lenses in every format from every major manufacturer, and all the audio, lighting and support accessories needed to cover any kind of shoot, from a family holiday card to a commercial advertising job. All equipment purchased is sold within two years so customers are assured that their stock is always in like-new condition.
What makes LensRentals.com different from other rental houses is their staff of trained photo and video professionals with a commitment to excellence, quality, and customer support! Every piece of gear is cleaned and inspected optically and physically to guarantee that orders arrive on-time with compatible, working equipment.
Your Call?
As for today’s featured Victory at Sea image, do you like it or hate it? Why?
Catching Up on My Calls
In the Striving for Different. And Blessed at Indian Lake Estates blog post here, the spectacular dorsal flight shot of the Boat-tailed Grackle, Image #4, would have been my favorite had the bird’s head been turned slightly toward us rather than slightly away. (The other image with a less-than-ideal head angle was Image #2, the Black Vulture on ground with it wings raised.) My first two picks were the Sandhill Crane photos, Image #4 –Sandhill Crane with dried grasses in bill, Image #7 (for its simplicity), and the Sandhill Crane gaining altitude just after taking flight (for the perfect wings fully down flight pose and the image design).
In the Alan Goodwin — Super-telephoto Lens/a-1 Beginner blog post here, most folks went for the Image #4, the White Ibis in the breaking wave, and for Image #5, the dancing Reddish Egret. So did I — the ibis for the breaking wave, and the dancing reddish for the whimsical flight pose and the soft light. That said, all of the other images were quite excellent, especially the Reddish Egret flight shot, Image #6.
This image was created on 17 December 2023 on the pier at Indian Lake Estates. While standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter (zoomed out to 144mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the Thumb Dial. Multi-metering -1.7 stops in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO set ISO 100: 1/1000 sec. at f/25 (stopped down 4 1/3 stops) AWB at 9:36:13am on a then bright sunny morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection enabled performed just fine. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: The Bering Sea in Winter? Not!
Lake Walk-in-Water
Lake Weohyakapka, commonly known as Lake Walk-in-Water, is a 7,528-acre lake located in Polk County, FL, south of State Route 60, about 10 miles east of Lake Wales. The name is derived from the Creek language. I have spent many a serene, tranquil mornings down by the lake — the still blue water is to die for. I took a walk on the pier on Sunday morning as the sun poked in and out. The wind was whistling at about 25 mph from the Southwest. Rarely seen whitecaps were on the lake.
I was walking with the peashooter rig (70-200 II/2X TC/a-1), but there were no birds to photograph. As I headed back to shore, I saw a shot of the strongly backlit breaking waves. Working in Shutter Priority mode, I set the shutter speed to 1/1000 second. I over-exposed the first series because the glare of the sun on the brilliantly lit water made it difficult to judge the level of Zebras. So, I decreased the EC to -1.7 stops. After the fact, RawDigger showed that the raw file exposure was dead-solid perfect.
How-to Photograph Blinding Highlights
Shooting into the super-bright reflections of the sun off the water will always require some degree of underexposure. You can work either in Manual or Shutter Priority mode. These situations are so bright that you will always want to use a fast shutter speed and a low ISO.
Aperture Question
Why did I wind up at f/25? (Hint: check out the ISO.)
Your Call?
Like it or hate it? Why?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
On Thursday, I took a day off from swimming. I came across a tame adult Osprey that let me approach in my vehicle to within 15 feet. Image and story below after the music. (Tip: if you click on the Watch On > YouTube button the video will play in a new window and you can listen in the background while reading the blog.) On Friday, I took a day off from photography. In this post, I share some really good music with you. If Southbound Train or the wonderfully inspiring article by Julie Gold below does not garner a few tears, you might want to see about getting a heart transplant.
Today is Saturday 16 December 2023. The forecasts is for cloudy skies with the very strong northeast winds continuing. I will likely be heading down to the lake each weekend morning, probably with the 400mm f/2.8. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.
Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
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. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Southbound Train
Years ago my younger daughter Alissa gave me a Nanci Griffith CD for my birthday. I listened to Flyer often and fell in love with several of the tracks. My very favorite is Southbound Train. Griffith’s voice has been described as “gorgeously graceful and distinctive, simply spellbinding.” To that I would add, “hauntingly beautiful.”
For many years after my wife Elaine’s death (of breast cancer in 1994), I felt a lot like the lady on the Southbound Train (even though our losses might have been different). The lyrics are pure poetry. And of course, heartrending.
Nanci Griffith died in the summer of 2021 of undisclosed causes. There is a wonderful article about her here on The Irish Times website. It is entitled “Nanci Griffith’s Irish hit, cancer history and ‘really dysfunctional’ family” and was written by Adam Sweeting.
Written by Julie Gold
I’m sitting on a southbound train
Staring at the sky
I’m thinking of my childhood
And I’m trying not to cry
While a stranger sleeps against me
And it feels like I’m his wife
The towns and cities flutter past
Like the pages of my life
My heart is on the baggage rack
It’s heavy as can be
I wish that I could find someone
Who would carry it for me
Just to pay it some attention
And to handle it with care
Because it has been dropped and
Is in need of some repair
Some things I know
Some things I guess
Some things I wish I could learn
To express
Like the way that I feel
As I stare at the sky
And I remember your voice
And the sound of goodbye
Nanci Griffith and Julie Gold
While YouTube surfing on Thursday evening, I came across the video above. Much as I did when I found John Prine, I asked, “Who is Julie Gold?” Julie Gold is an American singer-songwriter best known for her musical composition “From a Distance,” which became a huge hit for Bette Midler and won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1991. Additional searching brought me to the moving article here (and below) on the Performing Songwriter website.
The story behind the Grammy-award winning “From A Distance” and the miracles a song can bring, as told by the writer, Julie Gold.
In 1978, at the age of 22, I came to New York in pursuit of my dream of being a songwriter. And while dreams are essential, they don’t pay the rent. For years, I worked various temp jobs while gigging at night and sending songs out whenever possible. I demonstrated vacuum cleaners, Mr. Coffees, and toaster ovens. I worked the flea markets, as a proofreader, for a dentist, and at a venetian blinds factory.
It was a struggle. No health benefits. No money for recreational purposes. Desperation. Self doubt. Fear. We all know what that’s like. But, all the while, I clung to my dream like a life preserver. I knew why I was born, and no one could discourage me from reaching my mountaintop. I was willing to die trying. Honest, I was. I finally gave in to taking a full-time job as a secretary at HBO in 1984. It was a smart move. Ah, the magic of a steady paycheck. In my spare time and evening hours, I was of course still gigging, writing songs and dreaming my big dream. Now, however, I didn’t have that horrible daily struggle of keeping my head above water financially.
In 1985, just before my 30th birthday, my parents sent me the piano I grew up playing. I had just served as a juror on an emotionally trying case, my brother had just married, and I was questioning my life to date, wondering what my future could possibly hold. I took the day off work to be home when my piano arrived, and I remember how it glistened in the sun as the movers lowered it off the truck. My piano. My truest love and friend. My confidante. Back together again after all these years.
It came into my little, one room apartment and fit just where I hoped it would. The movers told me that it had been on the truck for 24 hours, so I had to give it a chance to settle. They said I couldn’t play it for a full day. So there we were in the same room, unable to make music. I remember hugging it and polishing it. Then I went to bed. My bed was a high loft bed, and I looked down on my piano all night to make sure it was really there. The next day I sat down and “From a Distance” just poured out of me. On one hand, it took me two hours to write. On the other hand, it took me 30 years. Pick whichever hand makes you happy. I love them both.
I sent “From a Distance” around to all my contacts. As usual, most did not even reply. Those who did found fault with my song. My friend and fellow songwriter Christine Lavin loved it and requested copies to send around to her friends and contacts. Within two weeks, my scratchy demo was getting radio play thanks to Christine. Then I came home one day to a flashing message on my answering machine. There was a gentle, unknown voice identifying herself as Nanci Griffith. Christine had sent her the song, she loved it, and was asking to record it. Nanci recorded “From a Distance” on her first album for MCA. I remember sitting at The Bottom Line the first time I saw her perform it live and observing her audience sing along. That’s when I realized that my life would never be the same.
Nanci sang that song all over the world, and I was still very much a secretary. She would call me at work from Belfast and tell me how the song was affecting people around the world. She took me out on the road with her several times, just so I could play the piano as she sang that one song. What incredible moments we shared. Me, away from my day job and in the spotlight with a beloved world-class talent. Me, getting love and honor from total strangers all because of one little song. Me, basking in the light of my life-long dream.
On June 16, 1988, I played Carnegie Hall with Nanci. All my relatives came up from Philadelphia to share the miracle. Most of them, including my mother, are immigrants. In many ways, I am their American Dream. What an amazing dream it is. As I write this, I can’t even believe it’s true. But it is. It really is.
Even with all this glory, however, I was still a secretary. I still lived in one little dark room. I still barely made enough money to survive. Believe it or not, I was depressed and despondent. I remember crying on the phone to both my parents (who, incidentally, were never anything short of supportive, encouraging and fully loving with regard to my dream). On this occasion, I remember my desperation and how they tried to console me with a stereo pep talk. It didn’t work. Finally, they asked what they do to help me feel better. For the first and only time in my life, I asked them to please pay my rent for six months. They agreed, and July 7, 1989 was my last day of work at HBO. I walked down Sixth Avenue, crying all the way. Free at last.
They were the best six months of my life. Finally a musician full-time. I made my hours. I wrote my songs. I called. I mailed. I pitched. I played. I prayed. I sent songs to every singer in the world. I walked tall. I felt good. I received my first royalty check from Nanci’s foreign performances of “From a Distance,” and that bought me another six months of freedom.
During this time, I received a call from Marc Shaiman, who identified himself as Bette Midler’s musical director. She was making a new record, and, in their search for songs, they called Stephen Holden at the New York Times for suggestions. Stephen told Marc about “From a Distance,” Marc called me, I sent the scratchy demo, and Bette recorded it.
People seemed to love it, and I won a Grammy for Song of the Year in 1991. Here I was still living in one dark room, no money, uncertain of my future, and yet my song was on the radio and I had won a Grammy. If that isn’t a dream come true, what is?
I am now 55. I live in a beautiful condo with air, light and a view of my beloved New York, the city of dreams. I earn my living as a songwriter. I have hugged Burt Bacharach. I have dined with Lamont Dozier. I have met Paul McCartney. I have chatted with Carole Bayer Sager. I have laughed with Cyndi Lauper. I have heard “From a Distance” in many languages. I have felt it in Braille. I have heard it on music boxes and in elevators. I have read it on greeting cards and in children’s books. And it has been played for astronauts in space. It is nothing short of a miracle, and I am never anything but amazed and grateful that the miracle happened to me.
My Comments
Roger Tory Peterson first field guide, A Field Guide to the Birds, was rejected by more thirty publishers before he convinced Houghton Mifflin to go with it. They had modest hopes for the new title, publishing 2,000 copies in its first print run. It famously sold out in one week. Since then, various editions have sold more than 7 million copies, one of the bestselling nature books of all time. I have a copy of the fourth edition of Eastern Birds, signed by Roger with a red Flair pen as was his style. It was a gift from my good friend and great photographer Anita North.
Many of Gold’s comments should strike a chord with anyone struggling to reach a goal, especially nature photographers. Paraphrasing a bit:
“In 1994, at the age of 47, I retired from teaching elementary school in New York City in pursuit of my dream of being a full time professional nature photographer. And while dreams are essential, they don’t pay the rent.”
I am often asked, ‘How long did it take to make that photo?’ I always reply, “Either 1/1000 of a second or 47 years, depending on how you look at it.”
“I sent my images around to all my contacts. As usual, most did not even reply. Those who did, found fault with the photos.”
None-the-less, I stayed the course, even after losing my beloved Elaine in 1994. The result? I have had a wonderfully blessed life doing what I love and teaching others to do the same.
This image was created on 14 December 2023 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600. 1/400 sec. at f/10 (stopped down 2/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:59:52am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly (even at 1200mm). Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Osprey — head portrait of adult on grass
Very Strange Behavior
Turning left, I spotted what I thought might have been a large bird on the ground some distance down Banyan Drive. As I got closer, I saw that it was an adult Osprey. As it is much more efficient to shoot out of the driver’s side than the passenger’s side, I drove past the bird at about five miles per hour without slowing down in hopes of not scaring it off. I went a good ways down the block, made a u-turn, put the BLUBB on the window frame, made sure that the Direct Manual Focus switched was set to off, and placed and balanced the 1200mm rig on the BLUBB.
I drove into position very slowly and was surprised that the bird did not fly away as they almost always do even when I approach only to a far greater distance. I was even able to change my position at will for slightly better perspectives and to get even closer.
Over a span of about 12 minutes, I created more than 400 head shots and realized that though the bird appeared healthy, there must be something wrong with it. As the bird turned a bit, the riddle of the too-tame Osprey was solved; a treble hook from a yellow, 5″ fishing lure, a diving swimmer, was embedded in what looked like the back of its left foot. Poor guy.
I know that it has been notoriously difficult to get help for injured wild birds in Central Florida so I came up with a plan. I grabbed a heavy blanket from the back seat. If the bird did not fly, I would throw the blanket over it, pick it up safely, and bring it home to grab a pair of pliers and remove the hook.
The bird, however, had other plans. As soon as I opened the car door, it flew without a problem to the top of a nearby telephone pole. If I see it again, I will get in touch with the bird rescue folks at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland.
The Image Optimization
Huge thanks to Steve Kaluski of Bird Photographer’s.Net who first turned me on to the new Remove Tool in Photoshop. It made cleaning the bill in today’s featured image incredibly easy. I used the new Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool (L-TAT) along with Tim Grey Dodge and Burn to lighten the Osprey’s yellow iris. The difference is huge and brought the image to life. You can learn all about may current digital workflow in the Digital Basics III Video Series.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here and Volume I/#2 here.
You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI. I will be working on Volume I/#3 this weekend.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Alan Goodwin — Amazing Super-telephoto Lens/a-1 Beginner
If you would like to improve your bird photography, be sure to read both of our accounts and view the YouTube video in which I share Alan Goodwin’s remarkable images from the 4th DeSoto IPT. His story reinforces my long held belief that folks who excel in one area are very likely to succeed in other areas. The short story: join me on an Instructional Photo-Tour.
Your Call?
First off, thanks a stack for the many interesting comments at the last blog post. After clicking on each of Alan Goodwin’s six featured images, please leave a comment letting us know which you think is the strongest image and why you made your choice.
What’s Up?
I took a walk yesterday with the Peashooter Mini rig on a cloudy dark way. Story and photos soon. I was thrilled to learn that two more folks signed up for the Morro Bay IPT, many multiple IPT veteran Mike DeRosa and wife Norma, and newbie Sarah Lane and husband/sherpa Jerry. They will be joining many multiple IPT veteran Warren Robb and me at this wonderful location.
I have a like-new Canon 600mm f/4L IS III lens for a great low price in the pipeline; please contact me via e-mail for advance info if you are interested.
Today is Thursday 14 December 2023, another cloudy dark morning with a northeast wind. I will be heading down to the lake as soon as I post this. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day.
This blog post took more than six hours to create including the time spent on the six image optimizations.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Alan’s Story — The Road to Improvement
Hi Artie,
What follows is a synopsis of my experience — first hooking up with you by phone and e-mail and then attending a November 2023 BAA Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo-Tour.
First a little background: I had previously taken a small number of photos in the film era. Plus, I had a bit of an educated eye when it comes to art photography as early on I had regularly visited a few photography galleries. Thus, I was familiar with or had actually seen prints by some of the great photographers like Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Man Ray, etc.
Then when digital came along I shot with Canon DSLRs actively from 2003-2008. Subsequently though, my photography dwindled to almost nothing from 2008 until the fall of 2023.
During those initial five years exploring digital photography I had spent a lot of time on DPR.com and Luminous Landscape trying to learn all I could. It was during that time about 20 years ago that I first came across BIRDS AS ART. (Love the name by the way!) At that time, I was especially taken with your stunning photographs at Bosque del Apache in the early morning mist with the piercing dawn rays. In fact one particular photograph of yours has stayed in my memory vividly for the past 20 years. Certainly it is one of the most stunning photographs I’ve ever seen. And that unforgettable photo was what prompted me to go find your blog again this summer even after all of the ensuing years.
Like many people, I certainly didn’t wish to switch from Canon to another platform. But after some emails and a few conversations with you, I was convinced of two things. One, you are an expert in bird photography and that it would behoove me to follow your advice — and two that Sony currently has the superior platform for bird photography. So trusting your advice, and using your B&H links, I obtained a Sony a1 and a 600MM F/4 GM lens along with the 2 teleconverters.
In addition, even though I was predisposed to using a Wimberly type head, I obtained through you a Lever Clamped Flexshooter Pro along with a tripod and lens foot. I already had a BH-55 ballhead but had never found it to be exactly my cup of tea. And because the Flexshooter Pro looks very similar to that ballhead I really wasn’t sure that I would like it. As soon as I used the Flexshooter Pro, I realized that it is significantly better than a regular ballhead. I’m so glad I trusted your advice with this as well.
However, as I own a high end audio / home cinema store, I was too busy this fall running my business to do more than take a few test photos with the a1/600 combo on automatic just to make sure that it worked out of the box. In fact I never even opened the owner’s manual so I really didn’t know how to use the a1.
Again following your advice, and in order to learn how to use the a1/600 combo, I signed up for the Ft De Soto IPT which was Tuesday-Friday morning. Fortunately, I extended that a bit on the front end by flying in late Sunday and spending Monday with you literally learning how to use the a1 from scratch. After you set up my a1 with your custom settings I used it for a day. After that, I asked you for a few small changes to the custom settings to make it easier for me to work with the a1.
After that, I learned more and more every day. From time of day to atmospheric conditions to sun angle and wind direction — your advice greatly helped speed up my learning process. Then added to that was your thinking about the color and placement of diffused backgrounds, choosing the right perspective (usually but not always by getting low), bird to sensor plane orientation, and many other nuances with regard to composing the shot and using the AF system of the a1 to best advantage. One thing that would never have occurred to me was your guidance about the angles of declination and inclination — especially with respect to the 600/2x combination.
Added to that of course there was your encyclopedic knowledge of every bird species including male/female, juvenile/adult and seasonal differences along with the typical behavior of each species. Certainly I will never know as much as you do about birds and bird photography. After all, you’ve spent decades focused on birds!
In summary, in the 4 1/2 days I learned more than I ever expected in my wildest dreams. Plus every day, from the first to the last, I actually got some good photographs with a brand-new-to-me camera system by implementing your tutelage!
Thanks so much for all of your guidance and advice — as well as your newfound friendship. It was truly an incredible learning experience, one that I’ll never forget!
Sincerely,
Alan Goodwin
Alan’s Business: Goodwin’s High End
Goodwin’s High End
Alan told me right off the bat that he was number one in his field, designing and building high end in-home audio systems. Learn more: Goodwin’s High End
Artie’s Story — Alan’s Road to Improvement
I think that my first contact with Alan Goodwin may have been by phone in early August of this year. He very much wanted to become a skilled bird photographer and had “heard” that Sony was best. He had his heart set on the Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens and an a-1. Who was I to argue with that? He kindly used one of my affiliate links and earned free entry into the SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group. He was able to update the a-1 firmware but never copied my settings to his new camera.
I urged him to join an IPT so that I could teach him to use his new gear. It took quite a bit of effort to convince him that simply buying the best gear would not make him a better photographer, especially since he had never used an a-1 and had never used a fast, super-telephoto lens on a tripod before. He signed up for the 4th Fort DeSoto IPT this past November. From mid-August one, our phone calls and e-mail continued. I kept saying to him, “You’ve got to trust me.”
He told me that he would put his new lens on a Wimberley VII Head that he already owned. I told him that it was too heavy and would be a big mistake. Finally, he purchased a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro Head from BIRDS AS ART. He wound up loving it. After some resistance, he finally purchased a new Induro GIT 304 tripod from a friend I had recommended. He wound up loving it. I told him that he needed to get with Photo Mechanic. He was beginning to trust me.
After many hours on the phone and dozens of e-mails, I was thinking that Alan just might be a pain.
He came to Gulfport a day early for the IPT. We shared an AirBnB. Soon after I met him I loaded my a-1 settings onto his camera. We sat on a couch and I taught him AF and exposure in 20 minutes. The next morning, we head to a new spot that I named “Kindergarten Beach” as there were lots of tame birds when the tide was low. Thus, it was an ideal place to teach beginners.
From the get-go, Alan was really into it. He made great images in the first ten minutes. His sharpness techniques were spot on, he loved getting low, and he followed all of my instructions on using Sony’s Zebra technology to come up with consistently excellent exposures. He turned out to be a perfect student. And we quickly became friends. Thanks to Alan, I now put organic seedless grapes in all of my salads. Watch the video below to see his best images from the first three days, learn a bit about picking your keepers as I evaluate his images, and then scroll down to see a few of his Family Jewels (optimized by BIRDS AS ART).
Novice Sony Super-telephoto Lens/a-1 User Alan Goodwin Rocks DeSoto with Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Alan Goodwin had done a bit of bird photography with the Canon 5D (circa 2005). His longest lens was a Canon lens 70-200mm f/2.8 … He had done some research as he was eager to learn to make good bird photos. He got in touch with me and asked if he would be better off with the Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens, a Sony a-1, and both teleconverters. I told him, “Yes, far better off, but only if he earned entry into my Sony a-1 Info and Setup Group and joined me on a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) ASAP. He did both, and his results from Day 1 were remarkable.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #1: American Oystercatcher adult – field guide pose
Image optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Image courtesy of and copyright 2023: Alan Goodwin
Content-Aware Crop
Check out the raw file in the video. As noted there, I expanded canvas below and right. Content-Aware crop used in small increments enabled me to re-design the image by getting the bird out of the lower right corner.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #2: Semipalmated Plover adult high-stepping — pano crop
Image optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Image courtesy of and copyright 2023: Alan Goodwin
Pano Crop
Again, see the raw file in the video. To my eye, it was an obvious pano crop. I opted to leave the o-o-f Sanderling in the upper right corner.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #3: Black-bellied Plover non-breeding in surf
Image optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Image courtesy of and copyright 2023: Alan Goodwin
The Image Optimizations
I did the optimizations for all six of today’s featured images following my current digital workflow that is detailed in the Digital Basics III Video Series. On each and every IPT we do tons of image review and Photoshop. Each time I optimize a student’s image a screen capture video is created and shared with the group via Hightail. Do you want to learn and improve?
This image was created on 14 November on Fall Fort DeSoto IPT #4 by participant Alan Goodwin. Standing at full height he used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 2000. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2000 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was dead solid perfect. AWB at 12:31:32pm on a cloudy early afternoon.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed just fine in a difficult situation. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2023: Alan Goodwin
Image optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Image #4: White Ibis non-breeding smacked by a wave while feeding in surf
My Oft Scoffed At Belief Justified
For the past few years, whenever the talk has turned to bird photography, I have stated often that in flight and action situations, total beginners using one of day’s amazing mirrorless camera bodies with their cameras set up correctly and a modicum of instruction, are capable of creating images equal to or better than images made by experienced professionals.
The reaction has consistently been “No way.” Or astonishment.
After I saw Alan photographing this bird, I joined him and created more than 200 images. I deleted every one of them. Alan Goodwin, with a grand total of 1 1/2 days of experience with the Sony a-1 and a super telephoto lens, created a family jewel while I came up empty. With 481 over-exposed pixels in the specular highlights of the breaking wave (out of 51 million pixels), he had created a sharp image with a dead-solid perfect exposure.
QED (quod erat demonstrandum); my overall argument has just been proven. Thanks, Alan!
Tracking: Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #5: Reddish Egret dancing
Image optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Image courtesy of and copyright 2023: Alan Goodwin
In Love With Reddish Egrets
Alan was enamored with the non-breeding Reddish Egrets. There were several that were quite active on the 4th DeSoto IPT. He followed them doggedly and got some great results.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #6: Reddish Egret in flight
Image optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Image courtesy of and copyright 2023: Alan Goodwin
Success
I rarely have a plan for a specific image when I head afield. On our next to last morning, Alan stated clearly as we left the parking lot that he wanted to make a good image of a Reddish Egret in flight. He did!
It was a real pleasure to work with a student who asked a ton of questions, listened intently, and followed my advice. Thanks Alan for your friendship and for allowing me to share your images with the group. I still want to see some of your best ones from the last 2 1/2 days.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
