February 15th, 2024 What’s Up?
Though I just got home, I am beginning to pack my suitcases and one of my Thank Tank rolling bags for my upcoming trip to Homer, AK. I fly to Anchorage this coming Monday. I’ve been relaxing a bit, walking everyday and spending time in the pool, and working on identifying and reducing stress in my life.
Today is Thursday 15 February 2024. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, enjoy.
Please remember to use the B&H 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!
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.
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 and enter the BIRDSASART15 codeine the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.
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
B&H
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
|
|
|
This image was created on 20 April 2017 on a Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Mongoose M3.6 Action head-mounted Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens with the 2X III teleconverter and the EOS 5D Mark IV dSLR. The exposure was determined by creating a test image and then evaluating the histogram (and Highlight Alert Warnings (AKA blinkies). ISO 400. 1/1250 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger this morning, the raw file exposure was determined to be two full stops under-exposed! AWB at 9:13:50am on a completely sunny day.
Image #1: Royal Tern in breeding plumage
|
The Times They Have Changed
Seven years ago I was using the Mongoose M3.6 Action head. And I was still using Canon despite the fact that I had been let go (fired) as a Canon Explorer of Light after a great 19-year run. The 5D Mark IV had a frame rate of 7 fps and produced 30.4MP files (and still does). Compare that with 30 fps and the 51MP image files of the Sony a1 and you realized the tremendous changes that have occurred in the past 7 years.
I had never heard of RawDigger and thus, most of my images were one to two full stops too dark. Unless I got lucky. Zebras were only on safari and in zoos. Now, after studying my Sony images in RawDigger for several years I am routinely and consistently able to produce perfect and dead-solid perfect exposures.
In less than a year, I would learn of the original FLexShooter Pro and soon thereafter, of the huge advantages of the /Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro. I introduced both to North America and put them on the map. The latter is the world’s best tripod head for all lenses. By far.
Monte Brown — February 4, 2024 at 10:29pm
Artie, I have the Mongoose 3.6 head and really like it, if the camera falls over it is operator error. What is the difference between the Mongoose 3.6 and the Lever Clamped Flex Shooter Pro?
Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART — February 5, 2024 at 8:25pm
Monte. Thanks for your recent comments and questions. Both have been greatly appreciated. The Mongoose M3.6 Action head is a great head for super-telephoto lenses. I used one for more than a decade and we still sell a few each year. It is far lighter than the old standards, the Wimberley V1 and V2 heads.
With any system, folks should not be walking around with a big lens clamped on any tripod head. All of the manufacturers specifically deny liability should a clamp fail. In addition, it is much better for your shoulder health to carry the lens in one hand and the tripod in the other when walking any appreciable distance.
And now to get to your question -:). The Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro is a ballhead that acts like a gimbal. Once you level the black ball, you can point the lens in any direction and it stays square to the world. The silver ball features a counter-balanced spring mechanism that enables you to point the lens anywhere and have the lens sit like a dog. The levered-clamp enables you to mount the lens in two seconds without fiddling and removing it in one second if a good bird flies by overhead. Last is the bi-directional clamp that enables you to mount the camera with a short lens attached in addition to all telephoto lenses and telephoto zooms.
with love, artie
ps: click on the link and watch the video as I probably left a few good things out!
|
|
|
This image was created on 17 April 2019 on a Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the handheld Nikon 500mm PF lens and the D850 dSLR. The exposure was determined by creating a test image and then evaluating the histogram and the Highlight Alert Warnings (AKA blinkies). ISO 800. 1/800 sec. at f/6.3 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger this morning, the raw file exposure was determined to be one-half stop under-exposed. AWB at 7:21:35am on a mostly sunny morning.
Image #2: Laughing Gull in breeding plumage with tiny baitfish
|
DeSoto Spring Beauties
Both Royal Terns and Laughing Gulls are handsome birds in non-breeding (winter) plumage. As they are when in their juvenile and first-winter plumages. But in spring at the height of breeding (alternate) plumage, their beauty is dazzling. The former features gleaming, bright white underparts, snazzy jet-black crests, and bright orange bills. Laughing Gulls in spring sport wine-red bills and legs, jet-black hoods, white eye crescents, and red eye rings. Their beauty is greatly under appreciated and they are often neglected as photographic subjects. But never by me.
Note: By 2019, was trying Nikon. Though the AF was better than Canon dSLR AF, I would soon learn that Sony AF was far better. That superiority, combined with the Zebra technology that enables folks to determine the correct exposure in the viewfinder before making a single image, and incredibly high quality image files makes Sony (specifically with the a1), the best system presently available for bird photography.
|
|
|
Be sure to click on the composite to view a larger, high-res version. All images from 2023 Fort DeSoto Spring IPTs.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Snowy Egret in breeding plumage with crest blowing; Osprey striking; Brown Pelican sunrise silhouette; Royal Terns copulating; Marbled Godwit striding; Royal Tern courtship feeding; Snowy Egret hunting; Laughing Gull in breeding plumage along flight; Reddish Egret in flight with killifish.
|
Unsolicited via e-mail from Pete Myers
I just spent 4 days in the field in a graduate course in bird photography taught by Artie Morris at Fort DeSoto. After almost 50 years of experience pointing cameras at birds from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, New Zealand and beyond, I thought I was good enough. But what I learned from Artie in just four days has taken me to a whole new level. As he aptly puts it, “birds as art,” not simply bird photography. One of those 4 days was the most satisfying I’d ever experienced, anywhere. The IPT left me euphoric about what I’d learned, and frighteningly committed to recreating my portfolio with the techniques and insights he taught me.
Unsolicited via e-mail from IPT veteran Eugen Dolan
Arthur, Thank you very much for your overwhelming infectious enthusiasm that helped get me up on some mornings. Also, your ability to express yourself- and explain in great detail why you like or may not like an image – was very helpful in allowing me to better analyze my images. Eugen
Via e-mail from Jim Miller
I can’t stop thinking about how much fun the DeSoto IPT was, and how much I learned. There were so many things that suddenly made perfect sense after I had been confused for so long. Thank you very much for the wonderful trip, and for being a great teacher. As I worked through the raw files last week, I realized what a fantastic lens the 600 IS is. Thanks for the rental! Maybe someday I will be able to afford one. Some images for critique are attached. Thank you again, Artie. It was really wonderful to be with you and learn from you.
Via e-mail from Lee Sommie
I want to thank you for making the Fort DeSoto IPT; it was a fun and educational experience for me. I truly did not want the adventure to end. I now look through the viewfinder with an artist’s mindset. And the real bonus was making new friends with fellow students. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for wildlife photography. I had a great time with you and look forward to more adventures on future IPTs.
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 meeting the folks on the IPT. Thanks again for everything and I hope to join you at a future IPT sometime again.
|
|
|
Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull landing on head of Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull in flight, Reddish Egret sunrise silhouette, Great Blue Heron with needlefish, Yellow-crowned Night Heron with ghost crab, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling in breeding plumage, and white morph Reddish Egret in glorious breeding plumage.
|
The 2024 Spring Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo Tour (IPT)
The Spring Fort DeSoto IPT: Wednesday 8 May through the morning session on SAT 11 May 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers. Openings: 5.
Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for terns and gulls, wading birds, and shorebirds in springtime. Though DeSoto can be great any day of the year, spring is my very favorite time to be there as many of the birds will be in full breeding plumage. Simply put, DeSoto is the new Ding Darling. Migrant shorebirds are in abundance, and many are exceedingly tame. We should have great chances on Royal and Sandwich Terns and both white- and dark-morph Reddish Egrets. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two along with some American Oystercatchers. We will enjoy lots of great flight photography, especially with the Brown Pelicans.
Act fast to explore the possibility of sharing an AirBnB with Jim Miller and me. Doing so would greatly reduce the cost of lodging for this great trip.
|
|
|
Again, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull in flight, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Sandwich Terns copulating, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret with reflection, breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, white morph Reddish Egret, and Snowy Egret in marsh.
|
In Addition!
We should also get to photograph a variety of other shorebirds including Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, Snowy, and Piping Plovers, Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, and most especially, Red Knot. On the May trip, many of the shorebirds will be in their handsome breeding plumages. In spring the T-shaped peninsula and the newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, are literally packed with avian treasures.
With just a bit of luck, we may get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable species: Roseate Spoonbill. And we will surely get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. With luck, they will have Laughing Gulls landing on their heads. And though not guaranteed, Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two. I almost forgot to mention — Laughing Gulls in breeding plumage are to die for!
You do NOT need a fast super-telephoto lens to do this trip!
|
|
|
Yes, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: breeding plumage Dunlin, dark morph Reddish Egret displaying, Laughing Gull vertical front-end portrait, Laughing Gull with prey item, landing on head of Brown Pelican, breeding plumage Royal Tern displaying, Royal Terns — pre-copulatory stance, Laughing Gulls copulating, Laughing Gull head portrait, breeding plumage Sandwich Tern with fish, and a rare treat, a breeding plumage White-rumped Sandpiper.
|
What You Will Learn on a DeSoto IPT
- 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
- 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
- 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
- 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
- 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds including various sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and possibly yellowlegs.
- 6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
- 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
- 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
- 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
- 10- More than you could ever imagine.
|
|
|
You got it by now! Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Roseate Spoonbill, immature Brown Pelican in flight, the heron/egret hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, immature Royal Tern on railing, Great Egret morning silhouette, Black Skimmer in surf, and underside head portrait of Great Blue Heron.
|
The Details
Morning sessions will run about two and one-half hours; afternoon sessions about two. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till 11:30 or so and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy. We may opt to visit a great North Tampa rookery if conditions warrant that.
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session during and after brunch (included) each of the three full days. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. This IPT will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away). For folks who register soon, the is an excellent chance that we can share an AirBnb to reduce lodging and meal costs and maximize your learning opportunities.
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field as early as possible and stay out late to take advantage of sunset colors. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:30am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We will be getting wet.
Your non-refundable $599 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check three months before the trip begins. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice two months before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information. If you have any questions, or are good to go for one of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372 for more info.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
February 12th, 2024 My Call
In the last blog post, my favorite was Image #1 by a slim margin over Image #3 because of the super-low perspective. The weakest of the lot was Image #4. Though the square crop was the best available, I did not like it because the bird seems stuffed into the frame with nowhere to go.
Your Call?
Which of today’s three featured Morro Bay sunset images is the strongest? Which is the weakest? Why for both?
What’s Up?
After two blessedly uneventful flights — SBO (San Luis Obispo) > DFW > MCO — I arrived home from California early on Sunday night, two hours after midnight. Congrats to the Kansas City Chiefs, who — after a poor-for-them regular season, outlasted the 49ers in a gritty overtime battle to win their second straight NFL Super Bowl. Good luck to QB Patrick Mahomes, coach Andy Reid, and the rest of the team in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat. Note: the Chiefs were the underdogs in all three of their 2024 Playoff wins,
Today is Monday 12 February, 2024. I fly to Anchorage, AK in a week for the two Homer Bald Eagle IPTs. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, enjoy.
Please remember to use the B&H 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!
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.
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 and enter the BIRDSASART15 codeine the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.
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
B&H
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
|
|
|
This image was created on 8 February 2024 on the Morro Bay IPT. 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 (at 342mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1600: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 5:36:49pm on a mostly sunny late afternoon.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C (with Bird-Eye/Face Detection) performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Bird Sh_t Rock silhouette, Morro Bay, CA
|
Bird Sh_t Rock
It rained all afternoon on the first day of the Morro Bay IPT. On Day 2, we did a three hour session after brunch at Frankie and Lola’s Front Street Cafe. The food was great, and the owner, Kirk, was gracious. I helped three of the four participants get Photo Mechanic Ingest set up and reviewed the procedures for picking keepers by Tagging them (T) and then deleting the Untagged. Warren Hatch already has a good handle on things from a previous Homer IPT. Then we spent some time reviewing images; that gave me a good idea of the type of help that each would need in the field. It clouded over in the afternoon so sunset was a no-go.
After another long brunch session, we rested and then met at 4:45pm for a short session, hoping for a sunset. Though things were looking decent, we discussed the fact that you do not want to get into the business of predicting sunset color. We were blessed. And any time that there is some decent sunset color, Bird Sh_t Rock offers many opportunities. We talked about maximizing color by choosing different perspectives as sun made its way toward the horizon. And we talked about designing the image. With only 400mm in hand, I was trying to isolate Bird Sh_t Rock. But my favorite image came when I zoomed out to include a sliver of Morro Rock on the left side of the frame.
To me, it looked as if a guy on the left was staring at the knight-shaped, cormorant-topped rock on the right. I recently came up with a new way of intensifying sunset colors by duplicating the top layer, changing the Blending Mode to Overlay, and then reducing the Opacity of that layer to taste.
|
|
|
This image was created on 9 February 2024 on the Morro Bay IPT. 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 (at 360mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the Thumb Dial. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 2500: 1/2000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 5:31:17pm about five minutes before sunset.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C (with Bird-Eye/Face Detection) performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Long-billed Curlew slinging mud silhouette, Morro Bay, CA
|
Flying Mudballs!
Be sure to enlarge Image #2 to see the tiny, flying mudballs. Most days, on most tidal stages, sunset silhouettes of Long-billed Curlews at Morro Bay are there for the taking. The trick to making effective images is to see the color in the wash, keep moving until the bird is centered in the brightest color and parallel to the imaging sensor, and then fire off a series of images while hoping that the bird does something interesting.
|
|
|
This image was created on 9 February 2024 on the Morro Bay IPT. 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 (at 382mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the Thumb Dial. Shutter Priority +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 160: 1/15 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 5:58:20pm about 20 minutes after sunset.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C (with Bird-Eye/Face Detection) performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Sunset reflections pan-blur, Morro Bay, CA
|
The Pan-Blur Option
Stick around until well after the sun is down. If the birds have headed for their evening roost, set a slow shutter speed, and, centering on the brightest colors, create some pan-blurs. As they are free with digital, make lots of them and look for a winner or two.
A Guide to Pleasing Blurs
Learn everything there is to know about creating pleasingly blurred images in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly. This 20,585 word, 271 page PDF is illustrated with 144 different, exciting, and artistic images. The guide covers the basics of creating pleasingly blurred images, the factors that influence the degree of blurring, the use of filters in creating pleasing blurs, and a great variety of both in-the-field and Photoshop techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images.
Artie and Denise teach you many different ways to move your lens during the exposure to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images of flowers and trees and water and landscapes. They will teach you to recognize situations where subject movement can be used to your advantage to create pan blurs, wind blurs, and moving water blurs. They will teach you to create zoom-blurs both in the field and during post-processing. Artie shares the techniques that he has used and developed for making blurred images of flocks of geese in flight at his beloved Bosque del Apache and Denise shares her flower blur magic as well as a variety of creative Photoshop techniques that she has developed.
With the advent of digital capture creating blurred images has become a great and inexpensive way to go out with your camera and have fun. And while many folks think that making successful blurred images is the result of being a sloppy photographer, nothing could be further from the truth. In “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” Artie and Denise will help you to unleash your creative self.
|
|
|
Be sure to click on the composite to view a larger, high-res version. All images from 2023 Fort DeSoto Spring IPTs.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Snowy Egret in breeding plumage with crest blowing; Osprey striking; Brown Pelican sunrise silhouette; Royal Terns copulating; Marbled Godwit striding; Royal Tern courtship feeding; Snowy Egret hunting; Laughing Gull in breeding plumage along flight; Reddish Egret in flight with killifish.
|
Unsolicited via e-mail from Pete Myers
I just spent 4 days in the field in a graduate course in bird photography taught by Artie Morris at Fort DeSoto. After almost 50 years of experience pointing cameras at birds from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, New Zealand and beyond, I thought I was good enough. But what I learned from Artie in just four days has taken me to a whole new level. As he aptly puts it, “birds as art,” not simply bird photography. One of those 4 days was the most satisfying I’d ever experienced, anywhere. The IPT left me euphoric about what I’d learned, and frighteningly committed to recreating my portfolio with the techniques and insights he taught me.
Unsolicited via e-mail from IPT veteran Eugen Dolan
Arthur, Thank you very much for your overwhelming infectious enthusiasm that helped get me up on some mornings. Also, your ability to express yourself- and explain in great detail why you like or may not like an image – was very helpful in allowing me to better analyze my images. Eugen
Via e-mail from Jim Miller
I can’t stop thinking about how much fun the DeSoto IPT was, and how much I learned. There were so many things that suddenly made perfect sense after I had been confused for so long. Thank you very much for the wonderful trip, and for being a great teacher. As I worked through the raw files last week, I realized what a fantastic lens the 600 IS is. Thanks for the rental! Maybe someday I will be able to afford one. Some images for critique are attached. Thank you again, Artie. It was really wonderful to be with you and learn from you.
Via e-mail from Lee Sommie
I want to thank you for making the Fort DeSoto IPT; it was a fun and educational experience for me. I truly did not want the adventure to end. I now look through the viewfinder with an artist’s mindset. And the real bonus was making new friends with fellow students. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for wildlife photography. I had a great time with you and look forward to more adventures on future IPTs.
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 meeting the folks on the IPT. Thanks again for everything and I hope to join you at a future IPT sometime again.
|
|
|
Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull landing on head of Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull in flight, Reddish Egret sunrise silhouette, Great Blue Heron with needlefish, Yellow-crowned Night Heron with ghost crab, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling in breeding plumage, and white morph Reddish Egret in glorious breeding plumage.
|
The 2024 Spring Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #1: THURS 14 March through the morning session on SUN 17 March, 2024. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers.
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #2: Wednesday 8 May through the morning session on SAT 11 May 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers.
Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for terns and gulls, wading birds, and shorebirds in springtime. Though DeSoto can be great any day of the year, spring is my very favorite time to be there as many of the birds will be in full breeding plumage. Simply put, DeSoto is the new Ding Darling. Migrant shorebirds are in abundance, and many are exceedingly tame. We should have great chances on Royal and Sandwich Terns and both white- and dark-morph Reddish Egrets. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two along with some American Oystercatchers. We will enjoy lots of great flight photography, especially with the Brown Pelicans.
|
|
|
Again, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull in flight, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Sandwich Terns copulating, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret with reflection, breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, white morph Reddish Egret, and Snowy Egret in marsh.
|
In Addition!
We should also get to photograph a variety of other shorebirds including Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, Snowy, and Piping Plovers, Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, and most especially, Red Knot. On the May trip, many of the shorebirds will be in their handsome breeding plumages. In spring the T-shaped peninsula and the newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, are literally packed with avian treasures.
With just a bit of luck, we may get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable species: Roseate Spoonbill. And we will surely get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. With luck, they will have Laughing Gulls landing on their heads. And though not guaranteed, Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two. I almost forgot to mention — Laughing Gulls in breeding plumage are to die for!
You do NOT need a fast super-telephoto lens to do this trip!
|
|
|
Yes, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: breeding plumage Dunlin, dark morph Reddish Egret displaying, Laughing Gull vertical front-end portrait, Laughing Gull with prey item, landing on head of Brown Pelican, breeding plumage Royal Tern displaying, Royal Terns — pre-copulatory stance, Laughing Gulls copulating, Laughing Gull head portrait, breeding plumage Sandwich Tern with fish, and a rare treat, a breeding plumage White-rumped Sandpiper.
|
What You Will Learn on a DeSoto IPT
- 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
- 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
- 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
- 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
- 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds including various sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and possibly yellowlegs.
- 6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
- 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
- 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
- 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
- 10- More than you could ever imagine.
|
|
|
You got it by now! Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Clockwise from upper left around to center: Roseate Spoonbill, immature Brown Pelican in flight, the heron/egret hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, immature Royal Tern on railing, Great Egret morning silhouette, Black Skimmer in surf, and underside head portrait of Great Blue Heron.
|
The Details
Morning sessions will run two and one-half to three hours; afternoon sessions about two. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till noon and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy. We may opt to visit a great North Tampa rookery if conditions warrant that.
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session during and after brunch (included) each of the three full days. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away). For folks who register soon, the is an excellent chance that we can share an AirBnb to reduce lodging and meal costs and maximize your learning opportunities.
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field as early as possible and stay out late to take advantage of sunset colors. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:30am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We will be getting wet.
Your non-refundable $599 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check three months before the trip begins. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice two months before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information. If you have any questions, or are good to go for one of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372 for more info.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
February 9th, 2024 Apologies
As I have had just one day off from teaching since I arrived in CA here weeks ago. I have fallen behind badly with regards to answering e-mails. As I fly home this coming Saturday, I should begin catching up early next week.
What’s Up?
As in San Diego, we have dodged lots of challenging weather on the Morro Bay IPT. But we have had many great chances and done well. Best of all, everyone is learning. As expected, the Long-billed Curlews have been the stars of the show. On Wednesday, there were several hundred Short-billed Gulls. On other days, just a few. This species was formerly named Mew Gull or Common Gull. It is best described as a miniature version of Ring-billed Gull with a tiny bill. The first winter birds are quite handsome.
And on Thursday evening we enjoyed a pretty sweet sunset.
Today is Friday 9 February 2024, the third full day of the IPT. We are again headed out early. 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 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!
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.
Go Chiefs.
My Call
In the last blog post, I loved both images but my favorite was the cormorant blur. The venerable Cliff Beittel agreed when he commented and summed up my thoughts precisely: The blur, perhaps because of the panning, is perfect. The vibrating x-ray-like sharpness in the primaries is amazing. Love the panned waves and color.
Your Call?
Which of today’s four featured Morro Bay images is the strongest? Which is the weakest? Why for both?
Swamped by a Rogue Wave
Sony a-1 Weather Sealing
Many complain about the weather sealing of the Sony a-1 against both moisture and grit. As I routinely abuse all three of my a-1 bodies, I never complain. I recently sent in my two oldest a-1 bodies for a clean and check. (Free including round-trip FedEx shipping for SONY ProSupport members — $100 annually.) Because of sand and corrosion, I was charged about $500 for each. Both bodies were restored to pretty much like new condition. I was happy.
Many know that I totaled and a-1 in San Diego two years ago by dropping an a-1 on the 200-600 into a foot deep tide pool while clambering around on the low cliffs at La Jolla (camera-end first). The lens was fine. The camera was insured.
On Wednesday morning, I was sitting on the beach at Morro Bay with my 2-6. I saw a rogue wave coming. I turned to my right and attempted to crawl away quickly on my knees and elbows. In a flash, I was swamped. I was aghast when I saw my rig disappear under the salt water for 2-3 seconds. I had a gallon of the ocean in my right hand parka pocket along with several ounces of sand. I was pretty sure that the body was toast, but was surprised that it did not go haywire. After a few minutes, the Thumb Dial quit responding followed soon thereafter by the Fn button. All else continued to work just fine. I had to turn off Display from My Menu and set the ISO off the menu item. That cost me a ton of time. But I still made some good images.
When we finished the morning session, I turned the camera off to close the shutter. When I got back to the AirBnB, I removed the battery, removed the front cover, opened the flash card door, and placed the camera and the lens in the far end of a pillow case. Then I positioned a hair dryer with the nozzle pointed into the pillow case, set it to low, and turned it on for an hour. Both the Thumb Dial and the Fn button worked perfectly.
Yes, there is the chance that the camera will succumb to corrosion from the salt at any time. After using it all day on Thursday, I was impressed that it is worked perfectly.
Had I simply raised the camera and faced the wave head on, the rig would have stayed dry and out of harm’s way. My mistake was thinking that I might escape unscathed.
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 and enter the BIRDSASART15 codeine the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.
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
B&H
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
|
|
|
This image was created on 6 February while photographing with Mike Lavigne who drove down from Seattle for a day of private instruction before the Morro Bay IPT. We had a great morning. Seated on damp sand behind my flattened Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro, I worked off the rear monitor with the the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined by Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500: 1/1000 second at f/4. AWB at 7:49:40am on a then cloudy morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Long-billed Curlew posing for portrait
|
The Huge Advantage
Sitting behind your lowered tripod allows for much more intimate portraits than those created while standing at full height. Nothing, however, can match the intimacy of getting super-low by working off your flattened tripod (as I did with all of today’s images), by using the heel pod technique, or by placing the lens hood right on the ground. In general, the lower you go, the sweeter and more distant the background. Image #1 illustrates this perfectly. Working wide open eliminates any possible distracting lines in the background — the beach melts into the ocean and the ocean connects seamlessly with the sky.
|
|
|
This image was also created on 6 February while photographing with Mike Lavigne who drove down from Seattle for a day of private instruction before the Morro Bay IPT. We had a great morning. Seated on damp sand behind my flattened Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro, I worked off the rear monitor with the the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined by Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000: 1/3200 second at f/4. AWB at 8:26:30am on a then still cloudy morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Herman’s Gull adult breeding plumage
|
Heermann’s Gull
There are a zillion Heermann’s Gulls in Morro Bay. Though most are juveniles and 2nd winter birds, there are more than enough breeding plumages adults around to make any bird photographer happy. If you are in love with the intimate super-low look, be sure to bring your reading glasses if you need them as they make it much easier to see the location of the AF point or points and to carefully frame each image.
The Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro is beyond compare when working super low. Once you firm the tripod into the sand, take a moment to level the silver ball and then lock the black lever. Then rotate the lens in the tripod collar to the click stop. When you activate the level you will note that your rig is perfectly square to the world no matter where you point the lens. You can pan left or right without ever having to worry about crooked horizon lines.
|
|
|
This image was also created on 6 February while photographing with Mike Lavigne who drove down from Seattle for a day of private instruction before the Morro Bay IPT. We had a great morning. Seated on damp sand behind my flattened Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro, I worked off the rear monitor with the the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined by Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600: 1/2500 second at f/4. AWB at 8:27:42am on a then cloudy bright morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #3: Long-billed Curlew escaping with Mole Crab
|
Not Easy
Even with the smooth, level panning provided by the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro, tracking and framing moving subjects is difficult when working super low. In Image #3, however, I was able to fire off six image when a gull began chasing this curlew in hopes of grabbing its crab. I was able to pan quickly enough so that the first four images were well framed. Three of the four featured very pleasing wing positions. With the last two images, I was unable to pan quickly enough and the bird’s long bill was clipped.
|
|
|
This image was also created on 6 February while photographing with Mike Lavigne who drove down from Seattle for a day of private instruction before the Morro Bay IPT. We had a great morning. Seated on damp sand behind my flattened Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro, I worked off the rear monitor with the the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined by Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640: 1/3200 second at f/4. AWB at 9:03:02am on a then partly sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #4: Herman’s Gull second winter plumage running
|
Still Not Easy
As this second winter Heermann’s Gull began chasing a curlew, I did not pan quickly enough to keep the bird back in the frame. I tried several times to add canvas in front of the bird, but with the varying patterns in the water, I gave up and went to a square crop. Following moving subjects when working super-low is far more difficult than when working off your lowered tripod or when handholding (either seated or standing). What are you looking for, art or action? In Image #3 I was lucky enough to come up with both. Note that handholding is only an option if you are easily able to manage the weight of the lens you wish to use.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
|
|
