July 23rd, 2018 Stuff
When I was about ten years old, my late mother often said, “This child does not know the meaning of moderation.” With the great success of my walking exercise program I decided to jog one hundred steps on Friday. Not smart. My left knee did not like that at all …
PHOTOEXPO 2018
If you missed the PHOTOEXPO 2018 announcement and live anywhere within driving or flying distance of Memphis, TN, click here for the info. I have rides to Beale Street for both nights. If you are attending, please stop by the BAA table for a handshake and a hug.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D and 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. You can always see the current listings by clicking on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
Recent Sales
NANPA President Don Carter sold his Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent condition for the BAA record-low-by-far price of $525 the first day it was listed. Yours truly sold his like-new Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens for $699 in late June.
Ray Maynard sold his Canon 300mm f/2.8 L IS lens (the original version) in near-mint condition for the BIRDS AS ART record-low price of $2349.000 and a Canon 2X III teleconverter in near-mint condition for $285.00 both in mid-July.
Bill Ketterer sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent condition for the lowest ever BAA price of $3399.00 in early June.
Jim Keener sold his Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in near-mint condition for $3,999.00 the first day it was listed.
Ray Maynard sold his Canon 1.4X III teleconverter in near-mint condition for the low price of $299.00 in late June, 2018.
Randall Ennis sold his Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in excellent condition for $849.00 in late June.
Joel Williams sold his Sony Vario-Tessar T FE 16-35 f/4 ZA OSS lens in like-new condition for $629 (was $749) in late June, 2018.
Joel Williams also sold his Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens in like-new condition for $749 (was $949) in April 2018.
Pierre Williot sold his Canon EOS 7D Mark II in like-new condition for a very fair $848.00 in late June, 2018.
Top BAA used gear seller Jim Keener sold his Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens in like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $1349.00 the first day it was listed in late June.
Jim Keener sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark III body in excellent condition for the BAA record-low price of $999.00 (was $1149.00) in mid-June.
Jim Keener sold a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $1099.00 in early June.
Re-run
Canon EF Canon 100-400 L IS II USM Lens
I am offering a used Canon 100-400 L IS II in very good plus (almost excellent) condition and in perfect working order — I had to send it to Canon twice to restore smooth zooming — for $1399.00. The sale includes the original product box, the front and rear lens caps, the carrying case and strap, the manual, and insured ground shipping via UPS to US addresses. Your new lens will not ship until your check clears.
Please get in touch with artie via e-mail or on his cell phone at 863-221-2372 (Eastern time). Please leave a message if no answer.
Y’all know how much I loved and now miss this amazingly versatile lens. I expect it to sell very quickly. artie
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Patrick Sparkman saved $350 on a recent purchase!
Via e-mail from Gary Meyer
Thanks for posting instructions on where to get the Nikon D850 quickly. Bedford shipped mine the same day. Wow, you sure got good connections!
Booking.Com
Several folks on the UK IPT used the Booking.Com link below for there Edinburgh hotels, got great rates, and saved a handsome $25.00 in the process. If you too would like to give Booking.Com a shot, click here and to earn a $25 reward on your first booking. Thanks to the many who have already tried and used this great service.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Long Island Small Group Instruction
I will be returning to my old haunts on Long Island from 15-27 August, prime time for bird photography. The schedules below may be expanded based on demand.
Skimmer Sessions
Join me at Nickerson Beach to photograph Black Skimmers and lots more. Gull predation of young skimmers is likely. With full frame bodies, a minimum of a 500mm lens with TCs is recommended. 400mm OK with crop factor bodies.
Skimmer Mornings: AUG 16 & 17, 2018. 5:30 – 9:00am plus a working brunch: $375/session. Limit 4.
Skimmer Afternoons (usually best for flight): AUG 16 & 17, 2018. 5:00pm till sunset: $250/session. Limit 4.
Please inquire e-mail for multiple session discounts.
Shorebird Sessions
Join me at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay WR on the ideal tides to photograph southbound migrant juvenile shorebirds. With full frame bodies, a minimum of a 500mm lens with TCs is recommended. 400mm OK with crop factor bodies.
Important note: The Shorebird Mornings are dependent on suitable water levels at the East Pond. If the pond is flooded, the sessions will be conducted at Nickerson Beach.
Shorebird Mornings: AUG 24 & 25, 2018. 6:00 – 9:30am plus a working brunch: $375/session. Limit 4.
Please inquire via e-mail for multiple session discounts.
To register, please call Jim or Jen with your credit card in hand: 863-692-0906. I hope that you can join me.
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This image was created on August 15, 2012 at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY. I used the tripod/Wimberley-mounted Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/15 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode in soft light on a cloudy early morning.
Image #1: Black Skimmer flock blur
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Long Island in Summer
There are two stellar locations for bird photography on Long Island in summer: Nickerson Beach Park in Lido Beach, and the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, NY. Yes, Brooklyn and Queens, two of the five boroughs of New York City, are actually on the island that is Long Island; most folks, however, think of Nassau and Suffolk counties as “the Island.” Nickerson Beach can be great for nesting American Oystercatcher and Piping Plover even before summer begins officially. By June Common (and sometimes Least) Terns will be nesting in most years. Most reliable for the past two decades have been the Black Skimmer colonies. For many years there were two fairly large colonies but more recently only the eastern colony has been successful. I love getting to Nickerson before dawn as there are often unique opportunities.
The East Pond at JBWR can — depending on the water levels (that are either managed or mis-managed by refuge personnel) — be good for southbound adult shorebirds beginning in early July, but my very favorite time there are the last two weeks in August when the young shorebirds visit the pond at high tide on their first southbound migration. They are far more handsome than the ratty looking adults and can be endearingly tame.
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.
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This image was created in 2016 at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY. I used the tripod/Mongoose-mounted Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens, the 2X III TC, and the EOS 5DS R. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/11 in Manual mode. AWB in soft early morning light on a clear day .
Image #2: Black Skimmer chick
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Chicks!
Photograph tern and skimmer chicks at Nickerson is great fun.Those who live in the New York metropolitan area and visit regularly can photograph courting and copulations, nest building and eggs, small chicks, medium-sized chicks, large chicks, family groupings, feedings, and then fledged and flying young in the same season. Join me for a morning or an afternoon at Nickerson this August and I would be glad to teach you the basics.
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This image was created on July 24, 2014 at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY. I used the tripod/Mongoose-mounted Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens and the EOS-1DX. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/800 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB very late on a cloudy-bright afternoon.
Image #3: Black Skimmer aerial battle
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Aerial Battles
On hot sunny summer afternoons midair skimmer squabbles and fights are a common occurrence. With southwest winds being prevalent, there can be lots of action.
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This image was created on August 23, 2007 at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY. I used the hand held Canon 400mm f/4L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. AWB very early on a clear morning.
Image #4: Black Skimmer vertical banking flight shot
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Vertical Banking Flight
How do you know when it’s time to turn your camera on end and try for vertical originals of birds banking in flight? When you are working horizontally and you start to consistently clip wings as the birds turn in flight then going vertical is your best bet. Choose an AF area mode in the center and use your cameras vertical grip if it is so equipped. One thing is for sure, it will take lots of practice to come up with a winner.
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This image was created on August 29, 2007 at the East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY. I use the tripod/Wimberley-mounted Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens, the 1.4 XII teleconverter, and the EOS 1D Mark III. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode in soft, early morning light.
Image #5: Semipalmated Sandpiper, fresh juvenal plumage
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Soul Place …
The East Pond at JBWR is one of my very few remaining soul places, #1 by far. I discovered shorebirds there, honed my skills there in the mud when I had no clue, and visited on occasion with my late wife Elaine. Since I moved to Florida 24 years ago, I have tried to get back every year in the latter half of August and usually do. Last year I was not able to get there until early October but still did well with juvenile white-rumps, pectorals, and Dunlin. In the morning there is only one spot where you can get the green reflections; I will share that with everyone who signs up for a shorebird morning. And tons more.
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This image was created on August 23, 2014 at the East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY. I used the tripod/Mongoose-mounted Canon 600mm f/4L IS II lens, the 2X III teleconverter, and the EOS 1D Mark III. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode on a cloudy (very) bright morning.
Image #6: Least Sandpiper, fresh juvenal plumage
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Juvies
Notice that all juvenile shorebirds are evenly and crisply patterned. This makes is easy to separate them from the worn molting adults of the same species. Least Sandpiper is identified by its yellow legs, its relatively short, fine-tipped bill, and except in winter, its browner upperparts.
Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers
If you are interested in learning to identify and age all of the common North American shorebirds and learn about their amazing migrations, their breeding biologies, their feeding habits, and everything else you might have wanted to learn on the way to the nearest mudflat or beach, get yourself a copy of my softcover book, Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers.
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This image was created on August 22, 2010 at the East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY. I used the tripod/Mongoose-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lensnd the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode on a cloudy (very) bright morning.
Image #7: Lesser Yellowlegs, fresh juvenal plumage
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The Timing of Migration
Aside from structural and plumage differences, differences in the timing of migration can often be helpful when identifying shorebirds. Lesser Yellowlegs were always the earliest arriving juveniles at the East Pond, some showing up as during the first week of August. Though the lessers are well smaller than Greater Yellowlegs identifying solitary birds on size along is problematic. The key is the bill. With lessers, the bill is shorter and dead straight. With greaters, the bill is proportionately longer and a bit up-turned. And juvenile greaters often show
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This image was created on August 22, 2010 at the East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY. I used the tripod/Mongoose-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/60 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode on a very cloudy morning.
Image #8: Short-billed Dowitcher, fresh juvenal plumage
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A Real Beauty!
Short-billed Dowitcher in fresh juvenal plumage is one of my vary favorite young shorebirds. As seen above, the orange tones predominate. The bill lengths of this species and Long-billed Dowitcher overlap with the bills of female short-bills pretty much matching the length of male long-bills. On average,the bills of male shorebirds are shorter than the bills of the females. The young short-bills show up at JBWR every year during the second week of September while the juvie long-bills do not arrive until five to six weeks later on average.
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s eight featured images do you think is the strongest? Please let us know why you made your choice.
Help Support the Blog
Please help support my efforts here on the blog by remembering to click on the logo link above each time that you shop Amazon. That would be greatly appreciated. There is no problem using your Prime account; just click on the link and log into your Prime account. With love, artie
If In Doubt …
If in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the New BAA Online Store 🙂
To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would of course appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
July 21st, 2018 Stuff
Walked eleven plus miles on Thursday, 8+ on Friday. And a bit of easy swimming. I have been getting some work done and continue playing a bit of golf and getting some work done.
PHOTOEXPO 2018
If you missed the PHOTOEXPO 2018 announcement and live anywhere within driving or flying distance of Memphis, TN, click here for the info. I have rides to Beale Street for both nights. If you are attending, please stop by the BAA table for a handshake and a hug.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D and 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. You can always see the current listings by clicking on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
Recent Sales
Bill Ketterer sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent condition for the lowest ever BAA price of $3399.00 in early June.
Jim Keener sold his Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in near-mint condition for $3,999.00 the first day it was listed.
Ray Maynard sold his Canon 1.4X III teleconverter in near-mint condition for the low price of $299.00 in late June, 2018.
Randall Ennis sold his Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in excellent condition for $849.00 in late June.
Joel Williams sold his Sony Vario-Tessar T FE 16-35 f/4 ZA OSS lens in like-new condition for $629 (was $749) in late June, 2018.
Joel Williams also sold his Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens in like-new condition for $749 (was $949) in April 2018.
Pierre Williot sold his Canon EOS 7D Mark II in like-new condition for a very fair $848.00 in late June, 2018.
Top BAA used gear seller Jim Keener sold his Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens in like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $1349.00 the first day it was listed in late June.
Jim Keener sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark III body in excellent condition for the BAA record-low price of $999.00 (was $1149.00) in mid-June.
Jim Keener sold a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $1099.00 in Early June.
Steve Traudt sold an Xtrahand Vest, the Khumbu model, size XL, in very good condition for the BAA record-low price of $179.
New Listing
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens + circular polarizer
NANPA President Don Carter is offering a Canon Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent condition for the BAA record-low-by-far price of $525. The sale includes the original box, the lens carrying case, the front lens cap, a B&W 67mm circular polarizer, and insured ground shipping to US addresses via major courier. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Don via e-mail or by phone at (630) 390-0909 (Mountain time).
I owned and used this lens hand held for birds in flight at close range and for Urbex photography. You do not need the f/2.8 version when you are on a tripod! (Note: the tripod collar for this lens requires a separate purchase.) I used mine on the last Palouse IPT with great success. And I loved it so much on the gannet boat (where everything else is too heavy because the action is non-stop!) that I purchased the Nikon version, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR just for the UK Puffins and Gannets IPT. If you shoot Canon and are planning on signing up for the 2019 Puffins and Gannets and Red Kites IPT you will want to grab this lens right now. . artie
Re-run
Canon EF Canon 100-400 L IS II USM Lens
I am offering a used Canon 100-400 L IS II in very good plus (almost excellent) condition and in perfect working order — I had to send it to Canon twice to restore smooth zooming — for $1399.00. The sale includes the original product box, the front and rear lens caps, the carrying case and strap, the manual, and insured ground shipping via UPS to US addresses. Your new lens will not ship until your check clears.
Please get in touch with artie via e-mail or on his cell phone at 863-221-2372 (Eastern time). Please leave a message if no answer.
Y’all know how much I loved and now miss this amazingly versatile lens. I expect it to sell very quickly. artie
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Patrick Sparkman saved $350 on a recent purchase!
Via e-mail from Gary Meyer
Thanks for posting instructions on where to get the Nikon D850 quickly. Bedford shipped mine the same day. Wow, you sure got good connections!
Booking.Com
Several folks on the UK IPT used the Booking.Com link below for there Edinburgh hotels, got great rates, and saved a handsome $25.00 in the process. If you too would like to give Booking.Com a shot, click here and to earn a $25 reward on your first booking. Thanks to the many who have already tried and used this great service.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
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Image #1: The Pinnacles, Staple Island, Northumberland, UK
i-phone 8+ image
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A Not-so-Secret and Very Effective Wide Angle Weapon for Telephoto Photographers…
While I loved my Canon 24-105mm short zoom lens (now replaced by the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II) and used it often, it was a pain having to carry it in my vest (or elsewhere) and then change lenses, mounting it on the body that had been on my big lens. When I switched to Nikon it was the same story with the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR. It too is a sharp versatile lens that needs to be carried into the field separately from your telephoto or super-telephoto rig. And thus, can be challenging to use.
I owned an Android phone for forever but inspired by my good friend, Dr. Cliff Oliver of La Jolla, CA, I purchased an i-phone 8+ two years ago. But I tarried in getting started using my i-phone for photography. When I was in San Diego last January Cliff taught me the basics of i-phone photography while we were having dinner at the sit-down Promiscuous Fork in La Jolla. But the lessons did not stick. On the Norway trip I was again cell phone photography inspired by Amy Novotny. Both Amy and Anita North helped me to actually begin making images. By the time we got to the UK, I had the basics down. Thanks to Amy and Anita. Amy uses tons of cell phone images on her blog, Amy’s Impressions.
When I made the image above, we were on Glad Tidings IV on the sight-seeing portion of the trip. As there was no way to make a decent image of the Pinnacles I simply reached into my pocket, grabbed my i-phone 8+, and made a few images. The one above is my favorite of the series. The clear blue skies and bright sun were great for the tourists but not what the serious photographers had been hoping for; we had too, too many sunny days and the unprecedented warm, sunny weather in eastern Europe continues. See Day One of the British Open for another example …
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Image #2: The Nesting Ledge by the Shed, The Pinnacles, Staple Island, Northumberland, UK
i-phone 8+ image
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This is More Like It!
We had very few cloudy days on the 2018 UK Puffins and Gannets IPT. This was the best of them. I made Image #2 while actually on Staple Island, on the opposite side of the Pinnacles. The clouds of course make the image. With the wind from the west northwest we had great chances all morning long with landing Common Murres (Common Guillemots on that side of the pond) and with the puffins in flight. If the skies had been blue we would have been looking right into the sun … The big nesting ledge is topped by many hundreds of pairs of nesting murres while the cliff walls are home to hundreds of kittiwakes and dozens of Razorbill pairs.
The originals from my i-phone 8 are of a rather boxy format, as seen with Image #2. I often crop towards 3X2 as I did with Image #1. The i-phones do a remarkably good job with the exposures and the image quality is surprisingly good. And the ease of making images and the convenience are off the charts.
Coming Soon
Dr. Cliff Oliver owns the old Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens and was a more than respectable nature photographer with film. But a long time ago, he transitioned completely to cell phone photography. He attended a course in Hawaii (I think …) taught by Dewitt Jones. Over the past few years Cliff himself has taught i-phonography courses in a variety of prestigious settings. He is current finishing up work on an yet-to-be-titled e-Guide to cell phone photography that will be available only from BIRDS AS ART.
That brings up an interesting point: if you are a lousy photographer who is unable to design pleasing images getting and learning to use a cell phone for photography will not make you a better photographer. These is not magic. But if you have a good eye and are interested in learning then you just might find using your cell phone for photography to be both great fun and highly rewarding. My i-phone 8= serves me well as a wide angle scenic lens and creates images that are more than suitable for my two main purposes: sharing beauty and education. And I look forward to learning to be much more versatile with my i-phone once I get my hands on Cliff’s new guide.
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s featured images do you feel is the strongest? Why?
Help Support the Blog
Please help support my efforts here on the blog by remembering to click on the logo link above each time that you shop Amazon. That would be greatly appreciated. There is no problem using your Prime account; just click on the link and log into your Prime account. With love, artie
If In Doubt …
If in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the New BAA Online Store 🙂
To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would of course appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
July 19th, 2018 Stuff
I have been walking a ton — more than 11 miles yesterday. That included 22 holes of golf. Very badly played golf. On my 5.5-mile Wednesday morning walk I had four southbound migrant Least Sandpipers flying over the lake down by the pier. I have started work on my 2017 taxes will begin work on the programs for the Memphis Photo Expo today.
PHOTOEXPO 2018
If you missed the PHOTOEXPO 2018 announcement and live anywhere within driving or flying distance of Memphis, TN, click here for the info. I have rides to Beale Street for both nights. If you are attending, please stop by the BAA table for a handshake and a hug.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D and 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. You can always see the current listings by clicking on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
Recent Sales
Bill Ketterer sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent condition for the lowest ever BAA price of $3399.00 in early June.
Jim Keener sold his Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in near-mint condition for $3,999.00 the first day it was listed.
Ray Maynard sold his Canon 1.4X III teleconverter in near-mint condition for the low price of $299.00 in late June, 2018.
Randall Ennis sold his Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in excellent condition for $849.00 in late June.
Joel Williams sold his Sony Vario-Tessar T FE 16-35 f/4 ZA OSS lens in like-new condition for $629 (was $749) in late June, 2018.
Joel Williams also sold his Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens in like-new condition for $749 (was $949) in April 2018.
Pierre Williot sold his Canon EOS 7D Mark II in like-new condition for a very fair $848.00 in late June, 2018.
Top BAA used gear seller Jim Keener sold his Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens in like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $1349.00 the first day it was listed in late June.
Jim Keener sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark III body in excellent condition for the BAA record-low price of $999.00 (was $1149.00) in mid-June.
Jim Keener sold a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $1099.00 in Early June.
Steve Traudt sold an Xtrahand Vest, the Khumbu model, size XL, in very good condition for the BAA record-low price of $179.
New Listings
Wimberley V-2 Tripod Head
Bill Wingfield is offering a Wimberley V-2 WH-200 Gimbal Head in very good condition and perfect working order for $399.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping too US addresses. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Bill via e-mail or by phone at 1-843-729-6670 (Eastern time zone).
Gitzo GT3532LS Carbon Fiber tripod
Bill Wingfield is also offering a Gitzo GT3532LS Carbon Fiber tripod in good condition for $299.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping too US addresses. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Bill via e-mail or by phone at 1-843-729-6670 (Eastern time zone).
Recent Re-run
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens
Bill Wingfield is offering a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM lens in excellent to near-mint condition for $1049.00. The sale includes the zippered lens case, the front and rear lens caps, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Bill via e-mail or by phone at 1-843-729-6670 (Eastern time zone).
I owned and used this incredibly versatile lens for birds and wildlife and landscapes and Urbex for many years with both the 1.4X and the 2X teleconverters. It was great indoors for events like granddaughter Maya’s dance recitals. artie
Price Drop
Canon EOS 5DS R mega mega-pixel dSLR
Price Reduced $200 on July 19, 2018.
Pierre Williot is offering a Canon EOS 5DS R in like-new condition for a very fair $2199.00 (was $2399.00). A screen protector was applied to the rear LCD as it came out of the box. The sale includes the front cap, the camera strap, a Vello Battery Grip, the battery charger, USB cable,the Instruction Manual, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only is included. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Pierre via e-mail or by text message to 1-716-481-7158 (Eastern Time Zone).
Without an anti-aliasing filter, the 5DS R will–for those with good sharpness techniques–produce large high-quality image files that feature hard to believe detail. You have seen the amazing 100% crops showing fine-feather detail in many older blog posts. And it is not bad for flight photography either! artie
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Patrick Sparkman saved $350 on a recent purchase!
Via e-mail from Gary Meyer
Thanks for posting instructions on where to get the Nikon D850 quickly. Bedford shipped mine the same day. Wow, you sure got good connections!
Booking.Com
Several folks on the UK IPT used the Booking.Com link below for there Edinburgh hotels, got great rates, and saved a handsome $25.00 in the process. If you too would like to give Booking.Com a shot, click here and to earn a $25 reward on your first booking. Thanks to the many who have already tried and used this great service.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Whimbrel
An excerpt adapted from my Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers
The wild, rolling call of the Whimbrel seems to be born of the ocean waves over which it flies. Its strongly de-curved bill and boldly striped crown help identify it. Whimbrels dine on a variety of invertebrate shorebird fare (and even berries on the breeding grounds!) Their favorite winter foods include sand crabs on the Pacific Coast and fiddler crabs in Florida.
Whimbrels are always dark brown above, light below. The neck and breast are streaked brown and the feathers or the upperparts are spotted, edge-notched, and fringed with whitish-buff. The juvenile upperparts feathers are more neatly spotted and edge-notched giving them a crisply patterned look. Whimbrels nest on grassy tundra hummocks. They migrate along both coasts and winter mainly from California to Chile and on south Atlantic, Gulf, Caribbean, and northern South American beaches. Non-breeding plumage is a lighter-toned version of breeding plumage.
The wing-stretching Whimbrel image on page 35 of Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers was created (on film) in La Jolla.
Not An Easy Bird …
When a bird photographer says that this or that species is “not an easy bird,” it means that this or that species is not an easy bird to photograph. Some might be rare. Some might be very shy and hard to approach. Soome, like Black-billed Magpie in the west, are common, will hang out at picnic areas, and come to food scraps but they rarely sit still for more than a second. Others like the Wood Pigeons in the UK, are abundant and fairly tame but — at least in my experience — rarely do anything but forage in the grass or sit on ugly fenceposts.
Whimbrel is not a common bird. They occur regularly on migration in northeastern US coastal areas but they are very shy; you rarely get within two hundred yards of an adult. Juveniles might let you get within a hundred yards before taking flight. Things are a bit better in Florida. You see them only rarely, but they can be somewhat approachable; you might get a few portraits with a long lens and a TC. I do not have a lot of experience with this species on the west coast, but I can say that they can be easy in San Diego. We visit one beach on the San Diego IPT where they can often be found and are usually quite friendly. We often find them in the vicinity of The Crevice in La Jolla; head shots there are not uncommon.
Image Questions
#1: Which image best shows the species? Why?
#2: Which image is more interesting? Why?
#3: Which image is your favorite? Why?
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San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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2019 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) SUN JAN 20, 2019 thru and including the morning session on THURS JAN 24: 4 1/2 days: $2099.
(Limit: 10/Openings: 8)
Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; SAT JAN 19, 2019.
Please see the Dancing Grebe Morning Add-On Info below
Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.
Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls will be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains and healthy breads.
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant.And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great take-aways on every IPT.
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Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.
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Did I mention that there are wealth of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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The San Diego Details
This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-lunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. An so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own.
A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 10/11//2018. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.
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Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the land/sea scape opportunities.
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This image was created in San Diego, CA with the Induro GIT 304L/Mongoose M3.6-mounted Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III, and the simply amazing, astounding, mega mega-pixel Canon EOS 5DS R. ISO 500. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Av mode. AWB.
61-Point (Automatic selection)/AI Servo/Shutter Button AF as originally framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when photographing moving subjects). Though the optimized image above was a healthy crop from the original the result was a high quality 148+ MB 16-bit file. Click on the image to see a larger version. The AF system selected two AF points, one above the other, between the two birds;the eye of the bird on our right is razor sharp.
Clarke’s X Western Grebe courtship rush
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The Dancing Grebe Add-On. FRI JAN 25, 2019: $399.
Those registering for the 2019 San Diego IPT might wish to join me for the Dancing Grebe Add-On Morning as above. Please read the details carefully. You will need to wade at least mid-thigh deep with your tripod over an uneven bottom. Lightweight chest waders are advised. Long lenses are needed; a 100-400 will not cut it at this spot, even with a TC. Chances at this location (easily accessible from the IPT hotel), vary from day to day so there will be no guarantees. But when those grebes dance, it can be an amazing rush. We may also enjoy chances to photograph both species, Western and Clarke’s Grebes, at fairly close range.
Help Support the Blog
Please help support my efforts here on the blog by remembering to click on the logo link above each time that you shop Amazon. That would be greatly appreciated. There is no problem using your Prime account; just click on the link and log into your Prime account. With love, artie
If In Doubt …
If in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the New BAA Online Store 🙂
To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would of course appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
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