First off, we decided to forego our Rockport plans and stay at Anahuac until Saturday and hope for a big cold front this time with lots of raptors … At least that is the plan. We have been getting out to Anahuac NWR early each morning for the past three days well in time for the big Glossy Ibis blastoffs. In addition, there have been some big flocks of Boat-tailed Grackles and blackbirds in the air along with good numbers of both species of whistling ducks.
On Monday afternoon we drove down to the Bolivar Peninsula and out on the beach to Bolivar Flats. What a wild place. With a zillion Brown Pelicans. Most amazingly we saw and photographed hundreds of American Avocets feeding in the waves of a fairly rough surf! I had no clue that they ever did that. I wound up losing all of my images from the afternoon by trying to save five minutes, but I am sure that they will be easily recovered.
Today is Tuesday 27 OCT 2020. The forecast for tomorrow is for rain all day hopefully followed by a big cold front … Good luck to those east of us along the Gulf Coast in the potential path of Zeta …
Your Favorite?
Please leave a comment letting us know which of today’s eight featured images you like best, and why you made your choice. I have a clear favorite. Better yet, list your top three favorites in order.
Shutter Priority Mode for Blurs
As detailed in both the Guide to Pleasing Blurs and the SONY e-Guide, working in Shutter (Tv) Priority mode with exposure compensation is the way to go when creating pleasing blurs. It is fun and easy. I generally go with +3 off the sky in dingy light and drop down to +2 1/3 stops when the marsh takes up part of the frame. As stated here previously, it is much faster than working in Manual mode where you always have to make more changes to your shooting parameters.
Please Remember
With income from IPTs approaching zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.
Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM Lens
Art Leyenberger is offering a Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM lens in mint condition the very low price of $699.00. The sale includes the original box, the front and rear lens caps, the lens case and strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
When I shot Canon, I loved my 300 f/4L IS lens. With its 4.92′ (1.5 meter) minimum focusing distance and impressive 0.24X magnification, it was great for large flowers, dragonflies, butterflies, and frogs. With or without the 1.4X TC it makes a great starter lens for any bird photographer. It does very well on birds in flight and in action. I preferred it to my old toy lens, the 400mm f/5.6L lens as it offered Image Stabilization and greater reach at f/5.6 with the 1.4X TC. This lens is still in production and sells new for $1349.00. artie
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
117 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 25 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Multi-metering +3 stops: 1/13 sec. at f/5.6 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 160. ABW at 8:54am on a cloudy morning.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Glossy Ibis flock blur
The Early Morning Ibis Fly-outs
The early morning ibis fly-outs are quite impressive with thousands of birds departing en mass to feed at locations unbeknownst to me. With the prevailing east winds, it took me about five minutes to figure out exactly here to be by 7:00am each morning.
This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 25 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 216mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Multi-metering +2.33 stops: 1/18 sec. at f/5.6 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 320. ABW at 9:01am on a cloudy-dark morning.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #2: Marsh reeds/vertical pan-blur
I Couldn’t Resist …
When I spotted a mostly isolated stand of marsh grasses I could not resist the temptation and created a few vertical pan blurs. I smoothed out the look with a -.87 degree Motion Blur in Photoshop.
This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 26 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Multi-metering +3 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/5.6 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 250. ABW at 8:23am on a cloudy morning.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #3: Glossy Ibis blast-off
Getting Smarter
On our second blur morning, I figured out right where to be so that the birds blasted off right at us. I love the sort of “manta ray” look of the birds in this one. Blurs are so, so much fun as you can vary your techniques and your processing and come up with a zillion different looks to your images.
This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX by Anita North on the morning of 26 OCT 2020. She used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the and the 61 mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera. Multi-metering +2 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/6.3 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 100. ABW at 8:49am on a cloudy morning.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image courtesy of and Copyright 2020: Anita North
Image #4: Whistling Ducks “flying arrows” pan blur
Anita’s Flying Arrows Pan Blur
When creating the conventional pan-blurred look, it is recommended that you match your panning speed with the speed of the flock. If, however, you pan somewhat faster or slower than the flock in flight, you can come up with some really interesting looks as Anita did with this one.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #5: (Four) Whistling Ducks pan blur
Low Over the Marsh
On two of our three mornings, we found a spot where there were no tall reeds between us and a large green section of marsh. By being on the lookout for low-flying ducks, we were able to create some pan blurs of the marsh. Here again I enhanced the pan blur effect by going Blur > Motion Blur and painting out the effect on the birds with a Regular Layer Mask.
This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 27 OCT 2020 by Anita North. She used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (at 200mm) and the 61 mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera. Multi-metering +1.3 stops: 1/125 sec. at f2.8 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 125. ABW at 8:57am on a totally foggy morning.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image courtesy of and Copyright 2020: Anita North
Image #6: Fulvous Whistling Duck taking flight
For Whatever Reason …
For whatever reason, 20-30 Fulvous Whistling Ducks like to land on the tour loop road and sit there waiting to be disturbed by the next passing car. Anita cannot resist sneaking up on them. Here, as a car approached from behind her, she was able to get on a single bird with a very short, handheld lens as it broke away from the flock and turned left.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #7: Glossy Ibis blast-off in the fog with marsh grasses
In the Fog
It was mega-foggy on the morning of the 27th. At one point, we could not see my vehicle that was less than a hundred yards away. As far as the blast-offs have gone, the foggy morning was our least exciting, but we still had some good chances.
This image was created at Anahuac NWR, TX on the morning of 27 OCT 2020 by Anita North. She used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (at 70mm) and the 61 mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera. Multi-metering +2 stops: 1/25 sec. at f/4 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 100. ABW at 8:49am on a totally foggy morning.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image courtesy of and Copyright 2020: Anita North
Image #8: Ibises over marsh and channel
Going Wider Still
For this one, Anita removed the TC from here 70-200 and went wide enough to include the foreground channel, the marsh, and a departing group of ibises. She held the lens still to get the marsh grasses relatively sharp and let the birds blur themselves across the frame.
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.
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 :).
We woke way-too-early on Friday. — headed for Anahuac, TX that afternoon, but took a 3+ hour detour to head to Grande Isle State Park in southern Louisiana in hopes of finding some decent bird photography. We arrived at about 6:30am in scattered thunder showers. When the rain stopped, we got out of the car only to be assaulted by zillions of large voracious mosquitoes. I am usually blessed by being immune to mosquito bites, but within minutes I had dozens of bites including one on my butt! How does that happen?
I took a scouting walk and did not see any prospects for bird photography, so we never even got our gear out. As we drove off the peninsula headed for Texas, we saw beautiful salt marshes set against a distant background of refineries. We hit lots of traffic on I-10 and then encountered some nasty thunderstorms and more traffic. We made it to our lovely old-ranch AirBNB in Anahuac, TX. Late on Friday afternoon, — with help from blog regular James Saxon — I made a scouting run to nearby Anahuac NWR. The forecast cold front was right on track.
When I walked to the car in the dark on Saturday morning it was cold with a nice 20mph wind from the north. Conditions for a big hawk flight at Smith Point were perfect.
We met Alan Murphy and his friend Bill Carpenter at 6:45am — in the dark as usual, and got set up in the hawk blind in our ghillie suits and ghillie head masks awaiting the onslaught of southbound migrant raptors. By that afternoon, both Alan and Bill agreed that they had never seen so few raptors on a day with perfect conditions. We did have a very few decent chances with Cooper’s Hawk and Northern Harriers, albeit in low light as the forecast clear skies that typically follow a cold front never materialized.
Alan’s usual cleverness continued to amaze me, as did his ability to identify distant raptors that were just specks in the sky to Anita and me. It was most gracious of Alan and Bill to host us for an enjoyable day.
On Saturday night we decided to drive 15 minutes to the town of Anahuac to get take-out burgers from the highly touted Crawfish Place and Bar. There were about sixty folks in the bar enjoying themselves. Anita and I were the only folks wearing masks … It took us 15 minutes to round up a waitress and order our food. We waited outside in the parking lot. Despite our several pleas, it took exactly one hour to get our food. We returned to our AirBNB. The food was delicious. The service? Not so good.
Nikon 500mm PF VR Lenses in Stock at Bedford!
Steve Elkins at Bedfords texted today to let me know that he just received a shipment of Nikon 500mm PF VR lens. If you have been hunting for one, get in touch with Steve and enjoy a handsome 3% discount on this great lens by using the BIRDSASART code at checkout. Steve’s contact info is below.
Topaz on Sale!
Right now Topaz is offering price reductions on the Utility Bundle and the Creator Bundle. The former normally sells for $359.96. It is on sale for an amazingly low $199.95. Click here, scroll all the way down to the sale, and enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%! The Creator Bundle usually sells for #279.97 and is now on sale for $249.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $212.49!
Please Remember
With income from IPTs approaching zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
117 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created at Smith Point near Anahuac, TX on the morning of 24 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 474mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. This relatively high ISO image was intentionally under-exposed about 1 1/3 stops. ISO 2000. Multi-metering at about +1 1/3 stops: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. ABW at 9:26am on a cloudy-dark morning.
Center Zone Continuous AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Northern Harrier looking back in flight
Why Intentionally Underexpose?
This relatively high ISO image was intentionally under-exposed to test a premise that I am working on after speaking at length with RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. For a low-light, under-exposed, high ISO image I was pretty pleased with the optimized image.
Fond Memories of Cape May
Being set-up under camo brought back fond and distant memories of photographing at a decoy owl in South Cape May Meadows with friends Kevin Karlson (NJ), Brian K. Wheeler (CO), Ned Harris (southern CA), Richard Crossley (NJ — born in the UK), and Jim Zipp (CT). Funny that three of those mentioned — plus yours truly (Brooklyn, NY) — were all from the NY/NJ/CT region and went on to somewhat notable careers as avian photographers, authors, trip leaders, and/or entrepreneurs of some sort. The fourth, Brian K. Wheeler, was — in the days of film — the world’s very best hawk photographer and the best in the world at focusing manually on raptors in flight. Brian painted the plates for A Field Guide To Hawks: North America (Peterson Field Guide Series Vol 35 by Clark, William S. & Wheeler, Brian K.) and authored or co-authored many other raptor field guides. Dear friend Ned Harris was a retired rocket scientist and a skilled an oft-published raptor photographer. I miss them all and wish them well.
Click on the image to view a larger version.
Image #1A: Topaz Sharpen AI on the head of the harrier (selected) at 200%.
Here, I first ran DeNoise AI on the whole image. Next I selected the bird’s face and head and ran Topaz Sharpen AI on Auto. I reduced the Sharpness from 44 to 22 and reduced the Noise Suppression to 0.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line. The recent delay is the result of my recent conversations with Iliah Borg, the brains behind RawDigger. It is likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
Center Zone Continuous AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #2: Cooper’s Hawk — immature in flight
The Best Bird of the Day
I saw this bird coming right at us and the owl just a foot above the top of the morning blind. I called out, “bird, low right” and everyone got on it. Hooray.
Why Shutter Priority Mode?
With the variably cloudy to sunny skies, working in Manual was a bit tedious. To make my life simpler, I went to Shutter Priority mode with the shutter speed set to 1/2500 sec. I used the Custom Key to switch the rear dial from ISO to Exposure Compensation and made sure that the ISO was set to Auto. When the sun was covered by a cloud, I went with + 2 1/3 stops as with Image #2 today. When the sun broke through, I dropped that down to 1 2/3 or 1 1/3rd stops of plus EC depending on how bright the sun was. With the birds always in the sky, this solution worked perfectly well. RawDigger confirmed that the raw file for Image #2 was perfect.
Click on the screen capture to view the larger version.
Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise AI on the Cooper’s hawk image at 100%.
Topaz DeNoise AI on the Cooper’s Hawk Image at 100%
Here, as part of my now regular workflow, I ran Topaz DeNoise AI at Auto on the whole image to clean it up and sharpen it just a bit. As this was a pretty good image to begin with, the improvement was not dramatic.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
I began this blog post at 2:55am on Friday 23 October 2020, Day 2 of the Great Roadtrip Adventure. After speaking with old friend Charlie Bush of Houme, Louisiana yesterday, we decided to get to bed early, wake early, and head to Grande Isle State Park, below New Orleans, LA in search of a few birds to photograph.
We took our time yesterday getting from ILE to Gulfport, MS. With classic wind-againstsun conditions in the afternoon — bright sun and a 20 mph wind from the east, we decided to stay in and rest rather than to explore the beach between Waveland and Bay St. Louis about 30 minutes to the west. My streak began on 17 March 2020 and I had made at least one keeper every day since then. Most of the photography was done near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. In addition, I spent two afternoons at the Brandon Rookery and a few weeks in all at Fort DeSoto County Park in Pinellas County, FL. If my calendar-counting is correct, the streak that ended yesterday totaled 218 days-in-a-row with at least one nice image. As is usually the case, I have been blessed. And I felt good about the streak being over. We needed the rest.
I hope to start a new streak today at Grand Isle. After our morning session, we head to Texas and then down the coast to our next AirBNB at Anahuac, TX.
Canon EOS R5 Bodies Still Available from Bedfords!
Three lucky BAA Blog readers ordered their Canon EOS R5 bodies yesterday from Steve Elkins at Bedfords and enjoyed a handsome 3% discount by using the BIRDSASART code at checkout. Each saved $116.97! I believe that Steve still has an R5 or two available. If one of them has your name on it, get in touch with him today ASAP. His contact info is below.
Topaz on Sale!
Right now Topaz is offering price reductions on the Utility Bundle and the Creator Bundle. The former normally sells for $359.96. It is on sale for an amazingly low $199.95. Click here, scroll all the way down to the sale, and enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%! The Creator Bundle usually sells for #279.97 and is now on sale for $249.99. Using the the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $212.49!
Thanks to Sachin S for bringing the sale to my attention.
Please Remember
With income from IPTs approaching zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
117 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Manual focus using the combination of Manual Focus Toggle and Focus Magnifier tips from the SONY e-guide along with the 2-second timer. The flower was picked from a roadside that is mowed regularly and then Plamped.
Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
Sunflower or Aster? John Bradford — can you help? All of my flower guides are back at home.
The Streak is Over: the last keeper …
I thought that the streak would end on Tuesday October 20, but as we were pretty much finished packing the car by late morning, I decided to head down to the lake. But when I was 1 1/2 blocks from my home, I noticed a nice stand of flowers. I worked quickly as I had an appointment to have my teeth cleaned at one pm. I did not realize at the time that this image would be the last keeper.
Once I began creating long series of flower images each with a different exposures, it only made sense to work in Av mode instead of Manual so that I could note the Exposure Compensation (EC) after the fact. When editing a series of flower images in Capture One (C-1) I first pick the best exposures using RawDigger and then check for sharpness and image design back in C-1. Then, when I review the keepers in Photo Mechanic, I can note the ECs and see which one wound up being best. I note the lighting conditions (sun or shade), the tonality and size in the frame of the subject, and the tonality of the background. The more of that you do, the more proficient you will become at nailing the right exposure when you only have one chance at it.
Click on the image to view a larger version.
Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto at 200%
Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto
With this flower image, click on the image to see the larger version and note that the background noise was completely eliminated with the Topaz DeNoise AI Auto setting of 4. And note also that the Enhance Sharpening setting of 53 did not cause any problems. Sometimes the AI Auto settings are simply best.
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 :).
It is just before 1pm on Thursday 22 October. After leaving ILE at 4am, we just entered Alabama. We have just 90 miles to go to get to Gulfport, MS, but will be doing some shopping, sight-seeing, and scouting along the way.
Huge thanks to Dave Miner of New Orleans who e-mailed with some solid info about bird photography locations near Gulfport. We followed that up with a nice chat. And to Donna Dewhurst as well.
Canon EOS R5 Bodies Available from Bedfords!
Steve Elkins called to LMK that Bedfords will be getting several Canon R5 in a day or two. Scroll down to contact Steve and to save a handsome 3% on your order.
Please Remember
With income from IPTs approaching zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
116 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 19 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 594mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Exposure was determined via Zebra evaluation with ISO on the rear dial as detailed in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide and One Camera Set-up Video. ISO 1000: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. The raw file brightness was confirmed as dead-solid perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:53 am on a clear morning with just a hint of moisture in the air.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Royal Tern in butter light
Knee-Pod While Seated Perspective
To create Image #1, I was seated on the wet sand with my left knee bent. My left hand was on the zoom ring well out on the lens barrel and facing the sky. My left forearm was resting firmly on my left knee. That is the knee pod-technique that I use quite often. The lens was about 18 inches above the bird shooting down at it just a bit from a distance of twenty feet or so. I would guess that the angle of declination was less than five degrees.
The bird in Image #1 was just about to ruffle its feathers. In retrospect, I wish that I had placed the bird just a bit higher in the frame to give it a bit more space from the feet to the bottom frame-edge. When using Center Zone for images like this, make sure that the AF points are dancing on the bird’s face as you fire the shutter.
Click on the screen capture to view a larger version.
Image #1A: Topaz DeNoise AI screen capture for Royal Tern in butter light at 300%
Topaz DeNoise AI Auto Tip
First off, view the image in DeNoise AI at 300 or 400% to see the incredible job that the plug-in does with the noise reduction on the background. At these high magnifications, you may see a bit of edge pixilation as a result of a bit too much sharpening. To eliminate that problem, try reducing the Enhance Sharpening setting by about 1/3 or 1/4. For this image, the Auto setting had Enhance Sharpening at 36; I reduced it to 24. Do note that in addition to the noise reduction DeNoise has sharpened the eye nicely and cleaned up the WHITEs as well.
This image was also created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 19 OCT 2020. Again, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (this one at 600mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Exposure was determined via Zebra evaluation with ISO on the rear dial as detailed in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide and One Camera Set-up Video. ISO 1600: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. The raw file brightness was confirmed as dead-solid perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:49 am on a clear morning with just a hint of moisture in the air.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #2: Royal Tern preening in butter light with bathing Black Skimmer in background
Lens Hood on the Beach!
Though I began doing it at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, NY about thirty years ago, lying flat down on wet sand, mud, or muck is never a whole lot of fun. Unless you get great images. And those super-low perspectives are very special. At DeSoto last week, I practiced using the articulating rear Monitor to get super-low perspective images on the beach. Here is what I did:
1- With the camera to my eye, determined the correct exposure through the viewfinder as I normally would with SONY by getting a fair amount of Zebras on the tern’s neck.
2- Enabled the level on the rear Monitor and set Center Zone AF-C.
3- Pulled the articulating rear monitor screen out and up to about 75 degrees.
4- Placed the front of the 200-600 lens hood on the beach.
5- Held the bottom left side of the camera body about an inch above the sand.
6- Gripped the camera normally with my right hand with my index finger on the shutter button. I do not use a vertical grip with my SONY bodies. I noticed just the other day that when holding the cameras that I bend the pinky finger of my right hand and place it under the lower right corner of the camera body. This gives me a bit of extra support and came in especially handy when shooting with the lens hood on the beach as detailed above; it made it easier to level the camera and hold it steady.
7- Found the subject, framed and leveled the image, and acquired focus. With a bit of practice, this became easier than I thought it would.
8- Pushed the shutter button to make some images.
Note that it may be difficult for some folks with less than perfect near vision (like me) to see the head angle and to level the image perfectly using the level in the Monitor. To help with these concerns try the following:
1- Zoom out to frame the image a bit looser than you usually would. This gives you some extra canvas in case you need to level the image a few degrees.
2- Fire the shutter button more liberally than you usually would. When you cannot see exactly what is going on, it is better to make more images so that you do not miss anything really good …
Image #2
When I saw the skimmer land and begin to bathe, I immediately zoomed out and realized that the juxtaposition was pretty much perfect. I fired off about a dozen frames before the skimmer jumped up and flapped. In all of the frames but this one, the terns bill was buried in the feathers or its back. To come up with both the perfect preening head angle and a raised crest was quite lucky, especially when you consider that I was not even looking through the viewfinder!
When working low on the beach, you’d best have a paint brush on your person so that you can clean the sand off your gear as needed.
Note: it is much, much easier to frame the image, note the head angle, and follow that action when you are flat on your belly looking through the viewfinder. But it is a lot messier …
High Level Shutter Speed Question
Why did I opt to go with a shutter speed of 1/2000 second (along with a relatively high ISO) for each of today’s featured images when I could easily have dropped down to at least 1/1000 second (and cut the ISO by half or more)? The clue is in Image #2.
Click on the screen capture to view a larger version.
Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise AI screen capture for Royal Tern preening in butter light with bathing Black Skimmer in background at 100%.
Topaz DeNoise AI Auto Tip
Even with the view at “only” 100%, it is easy to see the incredible job that the plug-in does with the noise reduction on the background. When I zoomed in to 400% here, I noted some edge artifacting as a result of a bit too much sharpening. After starting with Auto, I reduced the Enhance Sharpening setting from 40 to 30. Again, note that in addition to the noise reduction DeNoise has sharpened the eye nicely and cleaned up the WHITEs as well.
Which Perspective?
Which perspective do you prefer, seated or lens hood on the beach?
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 :).
At 4:02am on Thursday 22 October, Anita North and I pulled out of my driveway at Indian Lake Estates and headed for our AirBNB in Gulfport, MS. Google Maps shows a distance of 628 miles. We began packing on Tuesday and had four bags in the Thule Rooftop Cargo carrier before noon on Wednesday. Early to bed as usual for me, I woke early and packed the cooler, our day bags, and our Think Tank Urban Disguise laptop bags. The photo gear is always in the car 🙂
Stay tuned for a formal blog post later today.
I was glad to learn that good friend Greg Gulbransen sold his Nikon 600mm f/4 VR lens for $8796.95 the day we dropped the price $500.00. And I was thrilled to arrange the sale of Walter Barkley’s Canon 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens to Shalin Modi for $6,299.00 before the lens was even listed.
Urgent Help Needed for Gulfport, MS Photo Spot for the afternoon of 22 OCT 2020
We will be checking in to our AirBNB at about 3pm today. If you know of any good afternoon photo spots in or around Gulfport, MS, please leave a comment or get in touch via e-mail. I imagine that there must be a location or two around with some gulls, terns, and shorebirds. If you live in the area and are COVID-conscious (masks and social distancing), perhaps we could meet this afternoon for a photo session. On Friday we head down to Galveston, TX for three days. Amazingly, I found an AirBNB in the tiny historic city of Anahuac, TX (population about 2200).
On a related note, thanks to the many who e-mailed with Galveston and Rockport bird photography info.
After kissing the IPT folks goodbye and yet another great morning at DeSoto, Anita and I headed back to ILE on Monday to begin packing in earnest for the big road trip. We are planning on leaving early on Thursday morning, 22 October 2020. We have an AirBNB in Gulfport, MS for one night followed (amazingly) by three nights at an AirBNB in Anhuac, TX. Then we will be off for Rockport and six nights at two different Rio Grande Valley ranches.
I was glad to learn (and somewhat amazed) that Patty McCullough sold both Grab Bags; each was actually a great bargain. Only her Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Canon currently remains from what was effectively an estate sale of her late-husband’s photo gear. KW McCullough was a regular both on the blog and on the Used Gear page.
With income from IPTs approaching zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter.
IPT Updates
The Bosque IPT is cancelled because of the recently enacted 14-day quarantine in New Mexico. The businesses in the eco-tourist friendly town of Socorro, NM will take a huge hit; each has my condolences.
I have decided to cancel the Homer Bald Eagle IPTs as well. A negative COVID test within 72 hours of entering Alaska is required. Not so terrible. But there is no outdoor dining in Alaska in winter. And the cabin on the boat will have six or seven folks crowded into a very small area for an hour or two each day. As they say, this move was dictated by an abundance of caution.
At present, the San Diego COVID-conscious IPT is the only scheduled IPT. It will be limited to 4 participants. I hope that you can join us. See below for details.
Please Remember
With income from IPTs approaching zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a WalMart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.
BAA friend and skilled photographer Dr. Greg Gulbransen is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition (with extras) for a very handsome $8796.95 (as $9296.95). As the lens was only used six times and Greg take great care of his gear, the front element is immaculate as is the entire lens. This one is a gem. The sale includes the original product box, the lens trunk, the strap, the front cover, the rear lens cap, the original lens foot, a RRS LCF-18 Replacement Foot for NIKON AF-S 500mm & 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lenses (a $120.00 value — installed), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Greg via e-mail. Photos are available upon request.
In all systems, the 600 f/4 lenses are the weapons of mass destruction when it comes to birds and wildlife. I loved my Nikon 600 both alone and with the 1.4X teleconverter. If you use Nikon gear and have been dreaming of moving up to the big leagues, do get in touch with Greg ASAP to save #3,000.00; this lens sells new for $12,296.95. artie
Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Canon
Price Reduced $100.00 on 15 AUG 2020
Patty McCulloch is offering a Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Canon in excellent plus condition for a very low $324.00 (was $424.00). The sale includes the original box, the lens pouch the front and rear lens caps, and insured ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
This fast Wide-Angle 24mm lens works well with both APS-C & full-frame camera bodies. It yields an 84° view when used with a full-frame 35mm camera, or 57.6° when used with an APS-C camera. It is excellent for landscapes, cramped interiors, street photography and general photography of all kinds. Four low-dispersion (ED) glass elements and two aspheric elements produce sharply defined images with a minimum of flare and ghosting. The lens focuses as close as 9.84″ from the lens allowing for great creativity in the righthand. All focus and exposure functions are manual; there is no AF or auto exposure. artie & B&H
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
116 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created on the second afternoon of the Fort DeSoto COVID-conscious IPT — 16 OCT 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm), and the blazingly fast AF king, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera. Exposure determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation the rear wheel. Multi-metering +2 1/3 stops: 1/13 sec. at f/13 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO > 50. AWB at 6:31pm on hazy afternoon.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.
Brown Pelican flight blur
Lucky 13 Again!
While every morning on the recently-concluded DeSoto IPT was great, the afternoons were challenging because of the wind-against-sun conditions. Fifteen to twenty mph northeast winds with higher gusts and sunny skies made most traditional bird photography difficult at best. Remember, however, that wind-against-sun conditions are perfect for silhouette photography. So, for the most part, we headed out late to try for some sunset silhouettes and tern/skimmer/gull flock blurs.
Noting that there was already some color in the sky and that there were some pelicans flying by below the sun and above the horizon, I set up for pleasing blurs in Shutter Priority mode with EC on the rear wheel. I decided to go with the super-slow-for-birds-in-flight (but often lucky) shutter speed of 1/13 second. It paid off once again. Normally, with single birds in flight you will want to go with shutter speeds higher than those used for flock blast-off blurs — 1/30 to even 1/125 sec.
The slower the shutter speed, the fewer keepers you will come up with, but the more chance you will have of creating something very different and very special. The frame before this one and the frame after this one were insta-deletes … But as we saw in a recent blog post, it never hurts to try.
RawDigger partial screen capture for Brown Pelican flight blur
RawDigger Partial Screen Capture
One of the many things that I have learned from using RawDigger in my workflow is that everyone underexposes sunrise and sunset silhouettes. The rosy red in the sky (with the OvExp warning activated) indicates a huge over-exposure. But for creating a silhouette, I wanted the sky blown. The exposure here was so perfect for the situation — I did not need any detail in the sky — that Topaz DeNoise AI was not needed as there was zero noise in the sky and I brought the bird down to detail-less black. A rare image indeed.
Do understand that there is a whole lot more to RawDigger than the OvExp/UnExp check-boxes. I spoke to Patrick Sparkman for almost an hour on Sunday and will work hard to finish the RawDigger guide on the way to Texas …
Note that the wing of the bird below and behind the subject was removed in Photoshop.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
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.
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.
San Diego 2021 COVID-conscious Brown Pelican IPT
January 12 thru the morning session on January 16, 2021. Four full and one-half day: $2299.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 7.
Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; MON JAN 11, 2021.
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 may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
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 takeaways on every IPT.
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.
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.
Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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-brunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well.
A $599 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, is due immediately after you sign up. 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. If you cancel due to COVID 19 concerns, all of your payments will be refunded.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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 landscape and seascape opportunities.
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 :).
We had a second great morning on Saturday, Day 2 of the Fort DeSoto COVID-conscious IPT. We headed straight to a spot on Outback Key where the Brown Pelicans gather to roost and then feed in the rip at the point on early morning low tides. After a few so-so blast-offs Donna Bourdon decided to stay with the pelicans and continue doing blurs. Anita opted to get in the water with the pelicans …
Mukesh Patel and I headed back south to do diving pelicans and eventually some shorebirds and terns while we were sitting or lying on the beach. Later on when I hooked back up with Donna she said, “Anita got blasted by a rogue wave!”
Today is Sunday 18 October 2020; we will be headed back to North Beach the morning for the start of Day 3.
I was glad to learn yesterday of the sale of Art Leyenberger’s Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM lens in excellent condition and both series I teleconverters for the very low price of $650.00. His Canon 100mm macro lens with the Kenko Extension Tube Set is a great buy an is still available. See that listing and lots more on the Used Gear Page.
Wanted to Buy
I have someone interested in a used Canon 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens. If you have one that you would like to part with, please contact me via e-mail.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
Lower Right Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2020: Donna Bourdon
Image #1: Anita kneeling in the water to photograph pelicans …
Kneeling in the Water on an Incoming Tide …
As noted above, Anita ventured into the Gulf near the point in an effort to get close to the diving and feeding pelicans. She kneeled to get as low as possible so that she could create images with a very intimate perspective. Donna created this image of Anita kneeling in the surf while she was working at creating impressionistic images of the diving pelicans.
Donna, an award-winning photographer in her Chattanooga, TN photo club, is a long time Canon shooter. She joined this IPT to learn more about her a9ii/200-600 SONY rig and is doing just that.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2020: Anita North
Image #2: A developing Brown Pelican feeding spree
Water Level Photography
Obviously, being almost at water level can create some really powerful and intimate images. Anita described being thrilled as the pelicans approached her while feeding on schools of baitfish being herded by the Brown Pelicans. At one point, she was surrounded by pelicans.
Click on the image to view a larger version and note the superb noise reduction on this ISO 6400 image.
Image #2a: Topaz DeNoise AI on the developing Brown Pelican feeding spree image at 400%.
Topaz DeNoise AI
Be sure to click on the screen capture above to view the larger version and note the superb noise reduction on this ISO 6400 image. Notice in addition that DeNoise on Auto provides just the right amount of sharpening to most images. Anita converted the RAW file for this image last night and Air Dropped it to me. Therefore, I did the color correction to eliminate the BLUE cast after running DeNoise AI on Auto.
Lower Right Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2020: Anita North
Image #3: Brown Pelican fishing/Victory at Sea?
Victory at Sea!
Anita was ecstatic as the big birds — all juveniles — got closer and closer to her. As soon as I saw this one, I named it “Victory at Sea.” It reminded me of a head-on shot of a WW II naval flotilla! It is unusual for Brown Pelicans to dip feed on the surface as the much larger White Pelicans always do. The whites never dive for fish, opting instead — often in very large groups — to herd the fish while scooping them up.
Congrats to Anita for being nuts enough to create this quite powerful image.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and worked well.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2020: Donna Bourdon
Image #4: Anita in the water to photograph pelicans …
Oops!
Just moments after Anita created Image #3, she got slammed by a rogue wave. Donna created this image of Anita with water pouring off of her as she attempted to save her gear. Both her a9 ii and her 200-600 got soaked by saltwater; both survived with flying colors (knock on wood …) On rare occasion, saltwater damage to a camera does not surface (pardon the pun) until sometime after the bath. The good news is that Anita’s a9 ii was doused but never submerged. As noted here previously, the a9 ii and the a7r iv are well sealed; both of my SONY bodies were slammed by waves while photographing at Sebastian Inlet this fall.
Was It Worth It?
Please leave a comment in answer to the question above. I think that the punctuation mark here: Victory at Sea!, clearly answers that question for me.
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 :).
The folks enjoyed another spectacular day on Friday, Day 2 of the COVID-conscious Fort DeSoto IPT. We did lots of spoonbill photography as they finally returned to Hidden Lagoon. I am up early as usual today, Saturday 17 October 2020. We will be on the long line at the Pay Booth by 6:45 to enter at 7:00 when they open. With the recently installed COVID-gate, the spectacular pre-dawn sunrise-color photography at East Beach is a thing of the past. And when they move the clock back on 1 November, things will be even worse; you will not be able to get to the beach until 30 minutes after sunrise. We can hope that they will open earlier after the time change and go back to allowing Beach Parking Pass holders to enter the park at 6:00am, but it is extremely likely that that will not happen. I’d love to be wrong on this one …
The trend over the past two decades is that nature photographers keep getting the short end of the stick. Unfortunately, this is often due often to mis-/over-management…
Today’s blog post again emphasizes the incredible versatility of the SONY 200-600 GM with the a9 ii. Yes, it is on the slow side at f/6.3 wide open, but the focal length range, the fact that it does well with the 1.4X TC (see Image #2 below), and SONY’s incredible AF system (See both Image #1 and Image #2), make it both an extremely useful tool and a bargain for bird and nature photographers who cannot afford $13K for the 600 GM.
At one point I was going to do a comparison of the 2-6 with the Nikon 500 PF but the advantages of the SONY 200-600 are so huge and obvious that I have never gotten around to it … And likely never will.
Bosque Down the Tubes
Thanks to Chris Loffredo for letting me know that New Mexico now has a 14-day mandatory self-quarantine policy in place in lieu of the previously-required “negative COVID test within 72 hours of entering the state”. Visiting New Mexico for any purpose including eco-tourism is now out of the question. Anita and I will need to re-do our travel plans.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past year at the bottom of the page.
Re-Listings
FlexShooter Pro
Multiple IPT veteran and BAA good friend William Schneider is offering a barely used FlexShooter Pro for a very low $549.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Payment by Zelle is now available or PayPal +4%.
I fell in love with the FlexShooter Pro moments after I first mounted it on my Induro tripod. It is a ballhead that acts like a gimbal. Not convinced? See the video here.
Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G Lens & Filter Holder Kit with Landscape Circular Polarizer
Mansoor Assadi is offering a Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G lens in near-mint condition and the NiSi S5 150mm Filter Holder Kit with Landscape Circular Polarizer for Sony 12-24mm lens in new condition for the very low price of $1,163.15.The sale includes the original box, the rear lens cap, the front lens cap, the lens hood, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Ultra-wide and versatile, the FE 12-24mm f/4 G Lens from Sony is a flexible zoom lens for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, characterized by its constant f/4 maximum aperture. Benefitting the wide field of view is a sophisticated optical design that incorporates aspherical and low dispersion glass elements to control both spherical and chromatic aberrations for improved sharpness and clarity. A Nano AR Coating has also been applied to individual elements to reduce surface reflections, flare, and ghosting for greater contrast and color fidelity when working in bright, backlit situations.
In addition to the optical attributes, this lens is also distinguished by a Direct Drive SSM autofocus system, which benefits both stills and video application with its quick, quiet, and precise performance. The lens also sports a dust- and moisture-sealed design to support shooting in inclement conditions and a dedicated focus hold button and AF/MF switch. B&H
I loved my Canon ultra-wide-angle 11-24mm lens especially for big skies. This combo sells new at B&H for $2,163.15. Save a very handsome $1,000.00 on the pair. artie
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Great Egret landing/butter light
Butter Light Landing
Butter light is the sweet yellow light encountered for about 45 minutes after sunrise and then again before sunset on clear days. It is enhanced when there is a bit of moisture in the air.
SONY AF
I continue to love Center Zone for flight photography while SONY e-Guide co-author — the junior author — Patrick Sparkman continues to love and use WIDE for birds in flight and in action. BTW, Patrick owns both the 200-600 OSS lens and the 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens. As do I.
Image #1a: Topaz DeNoise on the Great Egret landing/butter light image at 400%
Topaz DeNoise AI Auto Tip
First note that mid-tones will be technically one-stop under when you are exposing for bright whites and that dark tones will be about 1 2/3 stops under in those situations. That means that even with perfectly exposed images, there will be some visible noise in the mid-and dark tones. Click on the screen capture above and check out the totally effective noise reduction on the background. I began with Auto but felt that the Enhance Sharpness slider value was too high, so I reduced it from 40 to 30. Notice the slight pixilation (only) along the edge of the upper mandible. Perhaps I should have moved the Enhance Sharpness slider down to 20. The lesson here is that while Auto is a great place to begin, there are times when you will want to fine-tune the suggested values.
I now use DeNoise AI on every image that I process.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C (Continuous) was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #2: Red Knot striding
SONY 200-600 with the a9 ii and the 1.4X TC
The SONY 200-600 with the a9 ii and the 1.4X TC is a viable combination even on less than sunny days. Though at times it even does well with birds in flight (see the blog post here), I try to avoid this combo in a pure flight situation.
Red Knots visit DeSoto in the fall and many remain through May. At all seasons, you need to stay low and crawl or advance on your butt when hoping to get close enough to isolate single birds. Here the former approach worked well. With so much practice I have become more skilled at creating the compositions that I want when using Tracking Flexible Spot (M). But it does take practice. (Practice? Did you say practice? To basketball fans, that is a familiar quote from NBA Hall-of-Famer Alan Iverson).
For the past two mornings I have headed afield with only the 200-600 (with the 1.4X TC in my fanny pack) while leaving the 600 GM and the tripod in the car. Note that when working handheld with the TC in place that I will strive to sit down so that I can use the knee-pod technique; I rest my left forearm on my left knee to maximize stability (and thus, sharpness). As stated here often being able to work with a relatively light (hand-holdable for most) lens without a tripod is an absolute pleasure and in addition, allows you to be far more mobile than when you are dragging around a big lens on a tripod … On Thursday afternoon I went with the 600 GM on the tripod and used it with great success with both TCs. On Friday afternoon, I dragged out the big glass and in retrospect wished that I had taken only the 2-6 …
Image #2a: Topaz DeNoise on the Red Knot striding image at 100%
Topaz DeNoise AI Makes Everything That Much Crisper
While there was pretty much zero noise in this well exposed image, note the additional crispness (check out the eyelashes!) provided by DeNoise AI on Auto. The Preview image on our right simply looks a bit sharper and much cleaner than the Before image on our left.
Again, I now use DeNoise AI on every image that I process.
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 :).
DeSoto was fabulous on Thursday, the first day of the first-ever COVID-conscious IPT. In the morning, we enjoyed a mostly Great Egret fishing spree — white birds in butter light set against still blue water — followed by lots of incoming tern flight photography. We ordered lunch in and ate a socially distanced lunch on our spacious patio. The afternoon began well as we worked a flock of 300 recently-arrived White Pelicans and finished the day off with lots of bathing terns and a nice sunset.
We meet at the park just after 7:00am, today — Friday 20 October 2020.
We have a great AirBNB in Socorro, NM for the Bosque IPT. We will eat all of our lunches there. The same is true for San Diego. Click here for more details or scroll down for info on the Bosque IPT.
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
Photo Mechanic four image comparison screen capture — square
For Comparative Purposes …
After clicking on each screen capture, please leave a comment and let me know if you prefer the horizontal presentation above or the square approach below when comparing four images.
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
Photo Mechanic four image comparison screen capture — horizontal
Upper Center Zone AF-C kills for tall birds when you are working vertically.
Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT
Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.
Bosque del Apache NWR 2020 IPT
NOV 18 (afternoon session) thru the morning session on November 23, 2020. 5 DAYS. Four full and two half days. $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 6.
Extra Day Options: Please e-mail to learn about the before or after In-the-Field Day options.
The very best news is that the 2020 Festival of the Cranes has been canceled so we will be able to visit on what are usually the perfect dates!
I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. In 2018, things had improved dramatically and in 2019 the photography was great. Simply put, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.
We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blast-offs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.
Lunch is included.
To Register
To register, send your non-refundable $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel due to COVID-19 concerns, all of your payments will be refunded.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
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 :).
On Tuesday and Wednesday Anita North and I enjoyed two great early morning sessions with the Mother’s Day crane family. Then we drove over to our AirBNB place in Gulfport. We head out with the group early this morning.
Those who missed the Mother’s Day Miracle Crane Chick V-log video can scroll all the way down and click on the Play Arrow to view it.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past year at the bottom of the page.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera Body with Extras!
Stuart Hahn is offering a Canon 5D Mark II in excellent plus condition for $585.00. The LCDs have been protected with screen protectors since day one. The sale includes everything that came with the camera originally, a RRS L bracket, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Stu via e-mail or by phone at 1-916-485-1630 (Pacific time zone).
Stu Hahn was the first-ever seller on the Used Gear Page many years ago when he parted with his Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens, the “old five.” This 5D II body would be ideal for a budding landscape or Urbex photographer, as well as for some looking for a great body to convert to IR. My 5D II was expertly converted by Kolari Vision. It is also a good body for bird and nature photography; I used mine as a back-up for my old 1D Mark IV bodies. It served me very well in that capacity in the Southern Ocean a while back when I foolishly used my two 1D IVs in a driving rainstorm for two hours with the expected result. That 5D II saved the trip for me. Stu’s body is priced to sell. artie
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save 3% on all orders. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
116 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C (Continuous) was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane chick with adult
The Mother’s Day Miracle
This is one of the two Sandhill Crane chicks that hatched this past May, one on the 9th, one on the 10th. One of them has survived to this day, the other perished as a small colt. For the whole story, scroll down to view the Mother’s Day Miracle Crane Chick V-log video.
This image was also created on 14 OCT 2020 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless digital camera body.. ISO 1600. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. RawDigger showed this as a perfect exposure. AWB at 8:01am on an almost completely sunny morning.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly.
Image #2: Sandhill Crane colt jumping
The Fledged Colt Jumping
This is the surviving Mother’s Day chick as a large colt jumping. Both the adult and young cranes often jump into the air seemingly just to have fun. At times, the adults will display to each other with a series of jumps and bows. This bird, five months and a very few days old, is finally developing a halfway decent pink crown. The transformation from tiny chick to a fledged, flying bird is truly some sort of miracle. It has been a real privilege for me getting to know this family intimately this summer and early fall.
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s two images do you think is the strongest? Please let us know why you made your choice. I have a clear favorite …
SONY 200-600 Versatility
Zooming out to 200mm here allowed me to (almost) get the whole bird in the frame. Though it is slower than the 600 GM (f/6.3 to f/4), it focuses a lot closer — Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) is 7.87′ (2.4 m) which translates to .2X maximum magnification for the 2-6 as compared to an MFD of 14.8′ (4.51 meters) and 0.14X magnification with the 600 GM. Not to mention that you can purchase the 200-600 for $11,000 less than the 600 f/4.
Note that for birds in fight the a7r iv struggles as compared to the a9 ii. That said, it did just fine with the jumping colt image.
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
DeNoise 100% view Screen Capture for today’s featured image
DeNoise AI: Now Part of my Workflow
With my RawDigger learning now firmly in place, I am able to create very good to perfect exposures on a consistent basis even with birds. With flowers, I will shoot six to as many as ten exposures and then pick the best one in RawDigger. Since that is obviously not feasible with birds and wildlife, the RawDigger e-Guide is designed to teach you to correlate the blinkies, histograms, or Zebras on your camera body with what you are seeing in RawDigger. Anyhoo, with a perfect exposure on the bird there was pretty much zero noise on the subject. Click on the screen capture above to see how DeNoise AI completely eliminated the noise in the grass on this ISO 1600 image.
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
Photo Mechanic Screen Capture for Image #2
The Image Optimization
By comparing the original image capture above with the optimized image, you can see that I spent a good fifteen minutes with the original in Photoshop. After converting the Raw file in Capture One, I ran DeNoise AI on Auto. Then I expanded canvas left, right, and below. Then I leveled the image and repaired the barely clipped wing tips using techniques from APTATS I & II. Last was to clean up the strip of grass at the bottom and the far shoreline. I used a series of Quick Masks, each refined by a regular Layer Mask. Then, working large, I scrolled from side to side eliminating any obvious repeating patterns with Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, and very rarely, with the Clone Stamp Tool.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more (with the exception of Capture One RAW Conversions) — along with all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my MacBook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: all of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About two years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One Pro 12 and continue to do so today.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair. Folks can learn sophisticated sharpening and (NeatImage) Noise Reduction techniques in The Professional Post Processing Guide by Arash Hazeghi and edited by yours truly. Please use this link to purchase NeatImage.
Mother’s Day Miracle Crane Chick V-log
For Those Who Missed It
Click on the play triangle above to spend a good part of Sunday, May 10 with me as I photographed a one-day old Sandhill Crane chick and observed its tiny, helpless, just-hatched nest-mate. I need to emphasize that the cloudy weather that day was the biggest blessing of all. Had it been a clear sunny day, photography would have been nearly impossible. Watch the video to learn how I was able to deal with all the clutter thanks to the giant soft-box of a sky. Along the way, you will pick up dozens of great bird and nature photography tips.
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 :).
With the fields down by the lake flooded and a SW wind, Monday morning was pretty much a dud. I did make a very few images of the surviving Mother’s Day colt that included one keeper. My streak is still alive. I will provide details when the streak ends.
I’ve gotten back to swimming every day, but have dropped down from 72 lengths to 44 lengths (a half mile). As a result, I am enjoying my swims a lot more and my right shoulder is feeling a lot better.
We head over to Gulfport tomorrow for the Fort DeSoto COVID-Conscious Small Group IPT with three participants that begins on Thursday morning.
Thanks to the many who have sent Texas Coast info along via e-mail.
Today is Tuesday 13 OCT; we will be headed down to the lake as it starts to get light at about 7:30am.
I was glad to learn that Howard Mortman sold his Canon 1DX III and his 100-400 II within two days of their being listed on the Used Gear page. He actually sold the camera body elsewhere after listening to my pricing advice. He is kindly sending a check for the two sales as per the Items for Sale agreement.
Wanted to Buy
I have a potential buyer in search of a Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO II lens. If you have one that you would like to get rid of, please contact me immediately via e-mail.
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past year at the bottom of the page.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save 3% on all orders. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
114 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
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.
This image was also created on the morning of 6 OCT 2020 at Sebastian Inlet. I used the Induro GIT 404L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. Exposure determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the rear dial at +2.7 stops; once I knew I was in the ballpark I turned off Zebras so that I could see the subject: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO > 2000. RawDigger showed 2,010,000 overexposed pixels lit by the rosy-red OvExp warning.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Backlit Brown Pelican just after a stormy sunrise
It is Usually Better to Try Something Than it is to Give Up
To say that the situation was difficult on the Tuesday morning would be a vast understatement. There were many pelicans feeding just after dawn on the right (in other words, wrong) side of the jetty. We were shooting into the somewhat muted sun and most of the birds were flying away from us into the southeast wind. Getting a somewhat properly exposure was a nightmare as the birds flew around. They backgrounds went from water that appeared dark into a swath of brighter water lit by the sun and then back into the dark again. Working in Manual mode would have proved futile, so I tried Shutter Priority at +2 1/3 stops to try to get some light on the subjects. Once I had that figured out, I had to be on the lookout for birds that were not flying away from us. Those were few and far between. With the nice backlit primaries, this, the first image that I chose to process, was the best of the lot.
After converting the image in Capture One, it took some time and effort in Photoshop to create a halfway decent image (at least to my eye). Anita North helped with some very good suggestions on getting the color and tones right. The key was reducing the color temperature to reduce the too-orange look. I should have done that during the Raw conversion, but as I did not realize it until after the fact, I made the change in Photoshop on a Layer via Filter > Camera Raw Filter (aka Adobe Camera Raw). The last step to success was darkening the image a bit via Curves on a Layer and then using a Regular Layer Mask and erasing the backlit primaries to bring back the brightness there.
All of the above (but for the Capture One RAW conversion) plus tons more great Photoshop tips are detailed in Digital Basics II.
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
DeNoise 200% view Screen Capture for today’s featured image
DeNoise AI Tip
As is often the case, the best place to note noise reduction is in a bird’s eye or eyes. After clicking on the image to see the larger version, take a good look at the pelican’s eye to see the total elimination of noise in this properly captured image.
When DeNoise opens, these generic settings are in place:
Reduce Noise — 15
Enhance Sharpness — 15
With properly exposed images applying Reduce Noise at 15 will be total overkill — all details will be destroyed resulting in an image that will look like featureless enamel … In other words, not good. While it is fine to learn about DeNoise AI by playing with the sliders under DeNoise AI, All Clear, and Low Light, hitting Auto so that the yellow lightning bolt lights up has proven to so effective that you will likely find that hitting Auto is your time-saving go-to strategy.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more (with the exception of Capture One RAW Conversions) — along with all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my MacBook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: all of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About two years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One Pro 12 and continue to do so today.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair. Folks can learn sophisticated sharpening and (NeatImage) Noise Reduction techniques in The Professional Post Processing Guide by Arash Hazeghi and edited by yours truly. Please use this link to purchase NeatImage.
To introduce folks to our MP.4 videos and the basics involved in applying more NeatImage noise reduction to the background and less on the subject, I’d be glad to send you a free copy of the Free Noise Reduction Basics MP.4 Video. Simply click to shoot me an e-mail to get your free copy.
Sebastian was not very good on Saturday morning. There were lots of Ospreys fishing on the wrong side of the jetty and the wrong side of the light and flying away from us into the wind. On Sunday morning we photographed the largest Green Lynx Spider I have ever seen a few blocks from my home.
I forgot to mention that on Friday past, Anita and I mounted the Thule Cargo Carrier on top of my X5. It was easier than I thought it would be. Our trip is becoming more and more of a reality. We head to DeSoto on Wednesday for the first-ever COVID-Conscious Small Group IPT with three participants.
We get back to ILE a week from today and hope to set sail for San Diego (via the slow southern route) on the early morning of Thursday 22 OCT.
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR Camera with CFexpress Card and Reader Bundle
BAA Record-low Price!
Howard Mortman is offering a Canon EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR Camera with CFexpress Card and Reader Bundle in like-new condition for the BAA record-low price of $5,199.00. The camera has less than 4,000 actuations. The sale includes the original boxes and everything that came in them (including the strap and the front lens cap) and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Howard via e-mail or by phone or text at 1-914-475-0840 (Eastern time zone).
The 1DX III is Canon’s top-of-the-line professional digital camera body. It feature’s Canon’s best-ever dSLR AF system. It is fast and rugged. BAA friend and many multiple IPT veteran Clemens Van der Werf absolutely loves his and killed with it in Homer even during blizzards! The camera sells new right now at B&H for $6,499.00; grab Howard’s camera today and save a very handsome $1300.00 on the as-good-as-new body! artie
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
Howard Mortman is offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $1350.00. The sale includes a B+W haze filter, the front and rear lens cap, the original lens foot and a low-profile Kirk lens foot, the zippered lens case, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Howard via e-mail or by phone or text at 1-914-475-0840 (Eastern time zone).
This incredibly versatile zoom lens — with its amazing .98 meter close focus — was my favorite Canon telephoto zoom lens ever. By far. artie
TX Coast Help Needed
If you live along the Texas Coast or visit regularly to photograph birds, I would love to hear from you via e-mail.
I am hoping to learn about some of the best spots between Galveston and Corpus Christi. We will be there for about a week probably arriving on 24 or 25 OCT. We are interested in photographing both land and water birds, while realizing that the latter are much easier and more dependable.
If you can share some knowledge on any of the items below, we would most appreciative. And perhaps we could get together for a photo session as a thank you.
1- Any good locations in Galveston Bay or on Galveston Island.
2- Bolivar Flats — best times and tides.
3- Is Aransas NWR good in late October? I was there once in the spring and never took one image …
4- Any productive locations in and around Rockport.
5- Any good locations in and around Corpus Christi or Corpus Christi Bay or Mustang Island.
6- Can Padre Island be good for migrant landlords in fall? If yes, where?
If you know of any dependable spots as above, we would love to hear from you. E-mail is best.
thanks with love, artie and Anita
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 :).
We are up early again headed for Sebastian Inlet. The state park is roughly 1 1/2 hours from my home at ILE. There was lots of action with diving Brown Pelicans along with a very few fly-over Ospreys when we visited on Tuesday 6 OCT. Two days later, diving activity at the inlet was zero. Facing a totally abysmal morning photo session, we ventured south to look for some Wood Storks. We ended up having a fine morning. Today’s blog is the result. Read on to learn how I have integrated Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI into my regular workflow.
We have made the long trip to Sebastian four times and have only rarely seen any Ospreys diving for fish. To learn what keeps us heading back to the inlet, see the images in the Stunned Again. The Osprey Flying Circus. Give Me Ten Good Minutes! And My SONY Gear Takes a Saltwater Bath … blog post here. Wish us luck 🙂
I was glad to learn that the sale of Karen McCormick’s Nikon 24-120 became pending the first day it was listed.
This blog post took about five hours to assemble. The best way to thank me is by using my B&H affiliate links or using Bedfords and enjoying a 4% discount on your new photo gear.
If you have a moment, please leave a comment and let us know which of today’s four featured images you like best along with your reasons. Thanks!
The BAA Used Gear Page
The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past year at the bottom of the page.
New Listings
FlexShooter Pro
Multiple IPT veteran and BAA good friend William Schneider is offering a barely used FlexShooter Pro for a very low $549.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Payment by Zelle is now available or PayPal +4%.
I fell in love with the FlexShooter Pro moments after I first mounted it on my Induro tripod. It is a ballhead that acts like a gimbal. Not convinced? See the video here.
Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G Lens & Filter Holder Kit with Landscape Circular Polarizer
Mansoor Assadi is offering a Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G lens in near-mint condition and the NiSi S5 150mm Filter Holder Kit with Landscape Circular Polarizer for Sony 12-24mm lens in new condition for the very low price of $1,163.15.The sale includes the original box, the rear lens cap, the front lens cap, the lens hood, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Ultra-wide and versatile, the FE 12-24mm f/4 G Lens from Sony is a flexible zoom lens for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, characterized by its constant f/4 maximum aperture. Benefitting the wide field of view is a sophisticated optical design that incorporates aspherical and low dispersion glass elements to control both spherical and chromatic aberrations for improved sharpness and clarity. A Nano AR Coating has also been applied to individual elements to reduce surface reflections, flare, and ghosting for greater contrast and color fidelity when working in bright, backlit situations.
In addition to the optical attributes, this lens is also distinguished by a Direct Drive SSM autofocus system, which benefits both stills and video application with its quick, quiet, and precise performance. The lens also sports a dust- and moisture-sealed design to support shooting in inclement conditions and a dedicated focus hold button and AF/MF switch. B&H
I loved my Canon ultra-wide-angle 11-24mm lens especially for big skies. This combo sells new at B&H for $2,163.15. Save a very handsome $1,000.00 on the pair. artie
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Upper Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and nailed focus on the eye.
Image #1: Wood Stork head and neck portrait
Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
The Situation
The Wood Storks at Sebastian Inlet State Park will walk right to fisherman throwing cast nets. But if you approach them with a long lens in your hand, or even worse with a tripod on your shoulder, the will usually next stage left. Or right. So when we spotted several iron heads feeding in a large rain pool we went to the 600s with a 1.4X TC and approached slowly and carefully. We did OK. After a while, the birds sensed our presence and headed toward the shore. Again we approached slowly. I was hoping for some head portraits, so I headed back to the car and switched out the 1.4X TC for the 2X TC. Anita stayed at 840mm. We tried several ways of herding the birds and those techniques paid off nicely. I wound up with 34 decent keepers. Three more of those are below.
Image #1A: Topaz DeNoise AI screen capture
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
DeNoise with Perfect Images
DeNoise does remarkable things to images that appear on the surface to be perfect. I run DeNoise on Auto to every image no matter how perfect the exposure and regardless of the ISO. Note above that Auto set the Reduce Noise slider to 2 out of 100 indicating that this image showed virtually no noise even with the extensive BLACKs and other dark tones. Since using RawDigger I have learn to mega-expose to the right to decrease noise in the shadows and dark tones and to use the entire dynamic range of my SONY sensors.
Two weeks ago I thought that I was thisclose to having the SONY e-Guide finished. I received an e-mail from IPT veteran Bart Deamer who asked some very good questions. Not knowing the answers, I have been e-mailing back and forth with Iliah Borg. I believe that Iliah is the brains behind RawDigger and FastRaw Viewer, and the man in charge of LibRaw, LLC. He has been exceedingly generous with his time and knowledge. A lot of what he has said has shaken my (admittedly limited) photographic knowledge to the core. Sometime last night, my brain came up with a way of incorporating what I have learned into the guide. I hope to be working on that this week.
So the bottom line is that DeNoise will make your very best images even better with reduced noise, an amazing crispness, and increased fine detail. Click here to order any Topaz plug-in and remember to use the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save 15%. Then e-mail me your receipt to request a copy of the short but very helpful Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and nailed focus on the eye.
Image #2: Wood Stork with baby lobster (I think …)
Click on the image to see a larger version.
The Baby Lobster
Though this bird took more than five minutes to swallow its prey, the bird simply would not turn its head toward us. Anita was to my left and a bit off sun angle but with the bird keeping its head turned away from us she was in a better position than I was. In addition, she was much wider at 840mm than I was at 1200mm. I took lots of images and deleted all but the one above either because of head angle or because I clipped the creature’s antennae. The head angle in the image above is barely acceptable to me …
Image #2A: Topaz Sharpen AI screen capture
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
Sharpen AI Stabilize to the Rescue for Motion Blur
When I examined this image at 200%, it was quite obvious that it suffered from motion blur because I struggled with the framing. In the Before image in the screen capture above, note that some of the specular highlights on the eyeskin show as small streaks, especially the one at one o’clock. Even the highlight in the eye shows as somewhat oblong, angling from our upper right to our lower left. All of these are clear indications that I was panning the lens down and left at the moment of exposure and that the relatively fast shutter speed of 1/1000 second was not fast enough to freeze that movement.
Sharpen AI on Auto did a great job of salvaging this image. Note that Auto chose Stabilize for the repairs. In addition to the improved sharpness of the eye, note the incredible improvement in the detail on the top of the stork’s head. Since motion blur is a common problem with action shots of birds, Sharpen AI — in many cases — will greatly improve your images.
Do note that neither Sharpen nor Stabilize will repair completely out-of-focus or totally motion-blurred images. The plug-in can, however, perform miracles on images that show as slightly soft when viewed at high magnifications. Sharpen AI completely replaces the use of the Contrast Mask, and unless you over-ride the Auto slider settings, never produces any crunchiness.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and nailed focus on the eye.
Image #3: Wood Stork in flat flight
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Unexpected Flight
When two fishermen walked right up to our birds, all three of the storks took flight. One circled left and headed right toward sun angle. Though I knew I was only at 1/800 second, too slow for flight photography according to most, I followed my own advice and fired off four flight shots at 1200mm — when unexpected action occurs, press the shutter button. If you try to change your settings you will miss the action. Once again, I jerked the lens a bit in an effort to get the bird in the center of the frame; as expected, there was a bit of motion blur as you can see in the Before portion of the screen capture below.
Image #3A: Topaz Sharpen AI screen capture
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
Sharpen AI Stabilize to the Rescue Again for Motion Blur
Enlarge the image to compare the Before and Preview images at 200% to note the incredible improvement in sharpness. I experimented with Sharpen and Focus but Stabilize as suggested by Auto did miraculously better. This image went from a delete to a keeper in .001 seconds. Note again that the it takes a minute or two to render the image once you hit Apply. Both Topaz plug-ins discussed today have opened a whole new world of sharper images for me.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and nailed focus on the eye.
Image #4: Wood Stork in flight/wings down
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Smoother Panning!
For this one, the fourth frame in the sequence, I must have smoothed out my panning; the face and eye were much sharper than in Image #3.
Image #4A: Topaz DeNoise AI screen capture
Click on the screen capture to see a larger version.
DeNoise with all Images
Here we have another pretty darned good image that was improved a bit by DeNoise on Auto with the Reduce Noise Slider set to 1 via Auto, we see another perfect Exposure thanks to what I have learned in RawDigger. After clicking on the image to enlarge it, note the crispness of the bird’s face and eye in the Preview version on our right. When I clicked the eyeball for the DeNoise layer on and off in Photoshop at 400%, the reduced noise in the background became quite apparent.
As far as Topaz is concerned, I have said it here often before and I will probably say again, “Better late than never.”
Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT
Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.
Bosque del Apache NWR 2020 IPT
NOV 18 (afternoon session) thru the morning session on November 23, 2020. 5 DAYS. Four full and two half days. $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 6.
Extra Day Options: Please e-mail to learn about the before or after In-the-Field Day options.
The very best news is that the 2020 Festival of the Cranes has been canceled so we will be able to visit on what are usually the perfect dates!
I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. In 2018, things had improved dramatically and in 2019 the photography was great. Simply put, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.
We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blast-offs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.
Lunch is included.
To Register
To register, send your fully-refundable $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your fully-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel due to COVID 19 concerns, all of your payments will be refunded.
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 :).
We got the Thule Roof Bars installed on the top of my new SUV as we are beginning to get ready for the Big Road Trip. Our plan right now is to head west on the early morning of 22 OCT. Yikes!
Wednesday morning was flowers. This morning Thursday 8 OCT 2020 — we are headed back to Sebastian Inlet with hopes of lots of diving Ospreys catching jacks. On Tuesday past, we had lots of action with diving pelicans but only a very few chances with the Ospreys.
Food for Thought
Thanks to Alpha Epsilon Pi/Phi Theta Brother Don Dunning for sharing this with me.
“Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
~ Lao-tzu, 6th century BCE Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past year at the bottom of the page.
Karen McCormick sold her Nikon D5 in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $3200.00, a Nikon D500 in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $750.00, and a Nikon D800 in very good condition for a very low $450.00, all within two days of being listed.
Amazingly, I arranged for the sale of Patty McCulloch’s Canon 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $5497.00, the sale of her Canon EF Extender 1.4X III in near-mint condition for a very low $229.00, the sale of her Canon EF Extender 2X III in excellent condition for only $228.00, and the sale of her Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro lens in excellent plus condition for a very low $499.00,all before they were to be listed in late September 2020.
Sean Werle offered his Canon EOS-1D X body in excellent condition for $1499.00 but it never sold. He made a gift of the camera to a friend in South America — he said that the camera had been “re-homed” — and kindly offered to pay 4% of the original asking price.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon 11-24mm f/4L USM lens in near mint condition for $1530.00 (was $1599.00) in mid-September 2020.
Multiple IPT veteran Morris Herstein sold his Sony a9 in mint condition (with about 900 actuations) for the bargain price of $2498.00 just a few days after listing it in early September.
Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in near-mint condition for the $2750.00 (was $2797.00) locally in early September and kindly sent me a check for 4% of the original asking price.
Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon Extension Tube Set, the EF 12 II and EF 25 II, in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $122.90 in late August. And he sold his Canon EOS 70D in like-new condition to a friend for $400 (was $499.00).
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body in excellent plus condition (was $1399.00) and his Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens in near mint condition (was $549.00) to a single buyer for $1900.00 in early September.
Multiple IPT veteran and good friend William Schneider sold his Sony FE 2.8/16‑35 GM wide angle zoom lens in like-new condition for the very low price of $1400.00 (was $1498.00) in early September.
BAA friend Kay Kaylor sold her Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM lens in near-mint condition for a very low $524.00 (was $649.00) in early SEPT 2020.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for a very low $549.00 in early September 2020.
IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $1349.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for $799.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens in excellent plus condition for $549.00 and a Canon EF 400mm f/4L DO IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for a BAA record low $3049.00 all within the first two days of being listed in early SEPT 2020.
Price Correction
Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens (with a great extra!)
Art Leyenberger is offering a Canon EF 100mm Macro USM lens in near-mint condition with a great extra for the silly low price of $349.00. The sale includes the original box, the front and rear lens caps, a near-mint Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG (36mm, 20mm, 12mm) for Canon EOS lenses (a $129.90 value), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
This, the original non-IS version of this hugely popular very sharp macro lens, was Denise Ippolito’s favorite for many years. It is great for flowers and bugs large and small. The tripod collar for this lens requires a separate purchase. This lens, still in production, sells new at B&H for $599.00 (though it is currently on back-order). The IS L version II sells for $1299.00, artie
New Listings
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR Lens
Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR lens in excellent plus condition for the very low price of $650.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The relatively lightweight and inexpensive 16-35mm wide angle zooms are great for serious landscape shooters on a budget. The heavier faster Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED lens sells for a shopping $1951.95. Who needs the speed when you are on a tripod? The 16-35 f/4 Nikkor sells new for $1096.95 so you can save a pretty penny by grabbing Karen’s lens. artie
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens
Sale Pending First Day of Listing
Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens in excellent condition for the very low price of $500.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
I loved my versatile, all purpose, don’t-leave-home-without-it, mid-range 24-120 zoom lens when I used Nikon. I felt it was much sharper than all versions of the Canon 24-105 lenses. And the VR allowed me to create sharp images handheld at silly-low shutter speeds like 1/8 second. This one sells new for $1,096.95 so you can save a very cool $596.95 by purchasing Karen’s copy. artie
Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens in excellent plus condition for the very low price of $850.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The I loved my versatile, all purpose, don’t-leave-home-without-it, mid-range 24-120 zoom lens when I used Nikon. I felt it was much shaper than all versions of the Canon 24-105 lenses. And the VR allowed me to create sharp images handheld at silly-low shutter speeds like 1/8 second. This one sells new for $1,096.95 so you can save a very cool $596.95 by purchasing Karen’s copy. artie
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens and TC-1401 1.4x Teleconverter Kit for Nikon F
Karen McCormick is offering a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens and TC-1401 1.4x Teleconverter Kit for Nikon F in excellent plus condition for a remarkably low $500.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Offering an impressively versatile range with a portable form factor, the Nikon F-mount 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM from Sigma is a Contemporary-series telephoto zoom characterized by its sophisticated optics and flexible handling. One FLD element and three SLD elements are used to reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range and a Super Multi-Coating also helps to suppress flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color accuracy when working in strong lighting conditions.
Balancing the optical design, this lens also features a Hyper Sonic Motor, which provides especially fast and quiet autofocus performance as well as full-time manual focus override. An Optical Stabilizer also works to minimize the appearance of camera shake for sharper handheld shooting. Additionally, a removable, rotating tripod collar is included to suit working on a tripod or monopod. B&H
I have seen many excellent sharp images created by folks on IPTs and on BPN. As this kit sells new for $1,289.00 Karen’s offering is a great bargain for a beginning bird photographer using Nikon gear. artie
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro back in stock!
We received a dozen Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pros via DHL. We ordered twenty … Anita North has been using one and said, “With my weak fingers, the Levered-Clamp is a Godsend.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Mixed terns/skimmer/gull flock blur
Lucky Thirteen
When doing pleasing blurs, the classic blur shutter speed for flocks in flight and running animals has long been 1/15 sec. But it always pays to experiment. Working in Shutter Priority it is easy to roll a wheel or a dial (depending on which system you are using) and change the shutter speed even in the middle of a blast-off. For some reason, 1/13 second often proves to be a winner, as it was — at least for me — with Image #1 above. In this one I love the pan-blurred effect on the water and the waves and the beach.
Learn more in The advantages of using the Shutter Priority/Exposure Compensation/AUTO ISO method in low light blog post here. Despite the huge-for-most-folks Exposure Compensation (EC) of +2.7 stops, Raw Digger showed that this image was a bit less than 1/2 stop too dark. But with the low ISO and without any dark tones, noise was a non-issue. When was the last time you worked at almost +3 stops?
This image was also created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 3 OCT 2020. Again, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 257mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. A Singh-Ray George Lepp 3-stop Solid Neutral Density Filter was screwed on to the front of the 200-600 G. (More on that below.) Exposure was determined via Zebra evaluation with ISO on the rear dial as detailed in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide and One Camera Set-up Video. Multi-metering + 2.7 stops: 1/15 sec. at f/6.3 in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO set 100. ABW at 9:09am on a now cloudy-bright morning.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #2: Mostly terns blast-off blur
Why a 3-stop Solid Neutral Density Filter?
In image #1, the light levels were so low early on the dark cloudy morning that achieving a slow shutter speed while keeping the ISO low was no problem at all. By 8:30am it has gotten much, much brighter so I affixed the 95mm 3-stop ND filter to the front of the lens so that I could work at a slow shutter speed without having the system choose a tiny aperture like f/22. At very small apertures, dozens of microscopic dust spots will require time and effort to remove.
I have a variety of 77mm ND filters for my SONY 100-400 lens along with a Singh-Ray 77mm Circular Polarizer. They are all left over from my Canon 100-400 II days. But the front element of the SONY 200-600 G requires a 95mm thread. You get to choose from the 3-, 4-, and 5-stop filters. The five-stop will likely be best on bright sunny days, but the 3-stop is better on cloudy bright days as you will always be able to maintain a low ISO. I was undecided as to whether to get the 3-stop or the 4-stop but wound up purchasing the 3-stop.
If you own the 200-600 and enjoy doing pleasing blurs, a good ND filter is a valuable tool. Can you say Bosque del Apache?
Order a Singh-Ray 3-stop ND filter for your SONY 200-600
To Order a Singh-Ray 3-stop ND filter for your SONY 200-600
To order a Singh-Ray 3-stop ND filter for your SONY 200-600, click here and then make your selections as shown in the screen capture above. Be sure to enter the ARTIE10 discount code at check-out to save 10% on your Singh-Ray order.
To order any Singh Ray filter, click here and then click on the Camera Filters tab and see the options on the dropdown menu. Again, be sure to enter the ARTIE10 discount code at check-out to save 10% on your Singh-Ray order.
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.
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 :).
Today is Tuesday 5 OCT 2020. We hit the road at 5:35am for another crack at Sebastian Inlet despite the “scattered thunderstorms” forecast … Continuing with my plan to share some really good photos with you here on the blog, you get to enjoy two spectacular focus-stacked flower images by my long-time friend and colleague George Lepp.
They’re Playing Our Song
Even if you never saw They’re Playing Our Song on Broadway (I did twice!), you will enjoy this amazingly clever YouTube video of Lucie Arnaz and Robert Klein reprising their starring role from 1979 in 2010. The synching of the two performances is superb and Robert Klein is too, too funny.
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list at the bottom of the page.
Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens (with a great extra!)
Art Leyenberger is offering a Canon EF 100mm Macro USM lens in near-mint condition with a great extra for the silly low price of $349.00. The sale includes the original box, the front and rear lens caps, a near-mint Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG (36mm, 20mm, 12mm) for Canon EOS lenses (a $129.90 value), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
This, the original non-IS version of this hugely popular very sharp macro lens, was Denise Ippolito’s favorite for many years. It is great for flowers and bugs large and small. The tripod collar for this lens requires a separate purchase. This lens, still in production, sells new at B&H for $599.00 (though it is currently on back-order). The IS L version II sells for $1299.00, artie
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L Ultrasonic Lens (with TCs!)
Art Leyenberger is offering a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L ultrasonic lens in excellent condition and both series I teleconverters for the very low price of $650.00. The sale includes the original box, the lens hood, the lens pouch, the front and rear lens caps, a Canon EF 1.4X teleconverter with both caps and the lens pouch, a Canon EF 2X teleconverter with both caps and the lens pouch,, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
This sharp, super-fast, mid-range telephoto zoom is incredibly versatile and is the favorite zoom lens of many nature, wildlife, and landscape photography pros. It kills in point-blank flight situations; I used mine on flying gannets in Scotland, for Bald Eagles at Homer, and with the pelicans at La Jolla, CA. And often for granddaughter Maya’s dance recitals. This lens is still in production and sells new at B&H for $1299.00. artie
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro back in stock!
We received a dozen Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pros via DHL. We ordered twenty … Anita North has been using one and said, “With my weak fingers, the Levered-Clamp is a Godsend.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2020 George D Lepp
Image #1: Gladiola blossom
George Lepp
I often said that George Lepp knows more about the technical side of photography in one fingernail clipping than I do in my whole brain. George has been a friend since the early 1990s. He inspired me early on in many ways. I learned a ton about gear, photography, and presenting by attending several of his one-day programs. At a show he did in Tampa, FL sometime in the 1990s, I first learned about Canon AF and about the only telephoto lens I could afford then — the 400mm f/5.6L, which went on to become my beloved toy lens.
In addition, he has always been glad to lend a helping hand whenever I asked. We were both founding members of NANPA and both were invited by Michael Newler and the late Dave Metz to become part of the original group of Canon Explorers of Light. When I was let go as an EoL about seven years ago, George was as puzzled as I was.
George is one of North America’s best-known contemporary outdoor and nature photographers. His passions for natural beauty, technical precision, cutting-edge technology, and environmental responsibility are revealed in his beautiful and compelling photographic images. He is also widely recognized for his unique dedication to sharing his photographic and biological knowledge with other photographers through his seminars and writing. In both realms, George Lepp is a leader in the rapidly advancing field of digital imaging.
Focus Stacking
When you are working at high magnification, it is pretty much impossible to have enough depth-of-field to render the entire subject in sharp focus. In order to do that you create multiple images focused as various points and then combine those to create an image with the entire subject in sharp focus. George has mastered that technique to the extreme.
George on Image #1
The lighting for Image #1 came from several small (inexpensive) LED light panels and a couple of LED Lume Cube photo lights. The focus bracketing (stacking) feature on the EOS R5 can only be used with continuous lighting. I enjoy this technique in part because I can see the effects of various lighting approaches as I stage the subjects. The focus-bracketed captures are compiled in ZereneStacker software and optimized in Photoshop. It’s good to remember that you can take too few focus- bracketed images, but seldom too many. At such high magnification and f/8, each capture covers only a fraction of an inch of depth of field, so it takes many more images to cover a complete flower than most people realize.
Focus-stacking via Cognisys StackShot: from 274 images.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2020 George D Lepp
Aster blossom at 4X
George on Image #2
In the studio, I can take close-ups to another level. I saw this blooming aster plant at a nursery and noticed the intricate forms in the centers of the flowers. So naturally, I bought it. Each individual blossom is only about the size of a quarter. At 4x (above) you can begin to capture the detail with the Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro lens with the MR-14EX macro flash. The flower was lit by the Canon MT-24EX macro twin flash. At 4x, the focus-stacking was achieved with Cognisys StackShot and the results were compiled using Zerene Stacker software. The beauty of this series of images is that they show you the flower in ways you could never have seen with the naked eye.
Learn More …
You can learn more about George Lepp (and about photography!), view his image galleries, and sign up for his LEPPPHOTOSPAM EMAILS buy visiting his website here.
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 :).
On Saturday morning Anita and I explored Outback Key to the very end on a super-low tide. With the dreary conditions, we concentrated on creating pleasing blurs of the tern, shorebird, and gull flocks blasting off. We had plenty of those. Late on what was a cloudy morning I sat on the beach and butt-wiggled close enough to isolate single Red Knots with the 200-600/1.4X TC, and the a9 ii. The versatility of the 2-6 continues to amaze me.
On Saturday evening we had a wonderful dinner in our Gulfport AirBNB apartment with our super-hosts, Warren and Dawn. Anita did a great job with the grilled jumbo shrimp and portobello mushrooms with a brown sugar/soy sauce/balsamic vinegar glaze. Warren and Dawn brought a box of chocolate-coated macadamia nuts for dessert. There were twelve of them. Anita had two, Dawn had one, and Warren did not eat any. Someone emptied the box but I am not saying who ..
On Sunday morning, the overnight rain continued. We packed up and were in the car by 7:00am heading back to ILE. In the rain.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly.
Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.
Great Blue Heron squawking in flight
More Good Stuff on the SONY 200-600 G Lens
The 2-6 does just fine with birds in flight with the 1.4X TC as long as long as you can deal with working at the relatively dark (i.e., slow) wide open aperture of f/9. That means on dreary days you will often be working with ISOs in the 5000 to 1000 range. Or higher. The good news is that with RawDigger you can learn to create practically noise free image files from the get-go and clean up that noise easily with Topaz DeNoise AI.
For hobbyists who cannot afford a SONY 600mm f/4 OSS GM lens (yours for only $12,999.98) the 2-6 might be the best value ever in a telephoto zoom lens. Be warned that for birds in flight you will want an a9 or an a9 ii while staying away especially from the a7r iv. The 61-MP monster just does not do well with birds in flight with the 200-600 but does much better with the 600 GM. I have no clue as to why.
Why the TC?
Many might ask why I had the TC on and then zoomed out to 353mm. It is proper to add a TC when you need more reach. I had done that in part just to see how the 2-6 would do with the TC in low light. I had done some bathing Sandwich Terns and incoming skimmers. When I saw the GBH hunting in the surf, I walked ahead of the bird to get the wind behind me. For most bird photography, keeping the wind at your back is a good plan, especially when light angle is not a concern. I had gotten close to the heron and done some tight head and neck pattern stuff and then headed west on the beach when I heard a loud squawk. I had already set the lens for tern flight so when I saw the heron flying left to right I simply spun the rear dial three clicks clockwise to increase the ISO from 2500 to 5000 as the heron is much darker than any tern. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) for Flight?
Recently I have begun experimenting with Tracking Flexible Spot (M) for flight rather than my preferred Center Zone. SONY e-Guide co-author Patrick Sparkman loves Wide for flight. For flight photography, both Zone and Wide require a bit less skill and hand-eye coordination than Tracking Flexible Spot (M). With the latter, you must keep the tracking spot on pr very close to the bird’s head or neck. When the heron squawked, I went with Tracking Flexible Spot (M) as that was what I had set: I did not have any time to change the AF mode.
Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.
Side by side 100% DeNoise comparison
The Side by Side 100% DeNoise Comparison
The important thing to note here is how little noise there is in the original image. — the one on the left. After clicking on the image to enlarge it, notice that in Auto “Remove Noise” was set to the very low value of 8. AI stands for Artificial intelligence (indeed!). So why did my ISO 5000 image show so little noise? Because I have improved my exposure skills by working with and studying RawDigger. Less noise is one of the many benefits of learning to m-ETTR, mega-expose to the right.
Do not expect a ton of fine feather detail in an ISO 5000 image created in low light. That said, the optimized image above looks quite lovely.
Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.
Side by side 400% DeNoise comparison
The Side-by-Side 400% DeNoise Comparison
Above is a 400% view of the trailing edge of the far wing (as shown in the Navigator window in the upper right corner of the DeNoise screen capture). As expected, there will always be some noise in an ISO 5000 image when viewed at 400%. As expected, DeNoise AI cleaned that up beautifully even with the very low setting.
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 :).
Anita North and I enjoyed a wonderful private instructional day with my good friend Bill Schneider. We enjoyed lots of sand blast-offs (see below) and lots of birds feasting on the tons of bait in the water. And I saw another tarpon jump clear out of the water; no pix this time. We ordered take out for dinner from Neptune Grill in Gulfport — their grilled fish tacos are still scrumptious-beyond-compare. Today is Friday 2 OCT 2020; we will be meeting Bill for Day 2 at 7am.
Thanks to the many who have used the BAA Topaz affiliate link and the discount code (ARTHUR15) and getting into the Topaz Plug-ins with help from the Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I gotta say that all feedback on the plug-ins and on the guide has been positive.
All are invited to leave a comment letting us know which of today’s four featured images is their favorite (and why).
Wanted to Buy
I have yet another reader looking to purchase a used Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM lens. If you have one that you would like to sell, please get in touch via e-mail.
Great Topaz News (Corrected)!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro back in stock!
We received a dozen Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pros via DHL. We ordered twenty … Anita North has been using one and said, “With my weak fingers, the Levered-Clamp is a Godsend.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list at the bottom of the page.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save 3% on all orders. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
114 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
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.
This image was created on 1 OCT 2020 on the sandbar at Fort DeSoto Park. I used the Induro GIT 404L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. Exposure determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the rear dial/+2.3 stops: 1/125 sec. at f/4 in Shutter Priority. AUTO ISO > 800. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. AWB at 7:42am on dark, cloudy morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection; the AF point was on the closest bird — the ruffling bird in the lower right corner.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Red Knot flock on the beach with terns in the background
The Advantage of Shutter Priority (S) mode with Exposure Compensation and AUTO ISO
When working in potential blast-off situations in low light where all of the backgrounds are light gray, I find that working in Shutter Priority with Exposure Compensation (EC) and AUTO ISO has many advantages. (Let’s call this method “S/EC/AUTO ISO.”
I had been at 1/30 sec. while waiting for a blastoff when I noticed that the birds in the knot flock presented some very nice looking arrangements. All that I needed to do was increase the shutter speed to something that I was sure would make a sharp image. In this case, that was 1/125 sec. I also had to reduce the EC from +2 2/3 stops to +2 1/3 stop to reduce the Zebras on the breasts of the terns in the background.)
So with basically a single change (choice of shutter speed) I was able to create the sharp image that I wanted. Had I been working in Manual (M) exposure mode as I do more than 95% of the time, I would have had to make many changes and those changes would have involved many clicks. Raising the ISO from 100 where I was doing the blurs to 800 that I needed to make a sharp image alone would have required nine clicks.
So when working with relatively consistent backgrounds in low light, S/EC/AUTO ISO is much faster than M.
Image #1
This image was a small crop from below and our left to tighten things up. I ran DeNoise AI on a layer using Auto. Because the exposure was mega-exposed to the right Auto set virtually no noise reduction. The sharpening that is part of DeNoise was a definite improvement.
My two favorite birds in this image are the ruffling knot in the lower right corner and the curious-looking bird right behind that one. Notice that the bird in the front just to our left of those two shows remnants of breeding plumage.
This image was created on 1 OCT 2020 on the sandbar at Fort DeSoto Park by Anita North. She used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless digital camera body.. ISO 100. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/40 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 7:45am on dark, cloudy morning.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure.
Image #2: Red Knot pano blur
Image courtesy of and copyright 2020: Anita North
Blurs in Manual Mode
For image #2, Anita was in Manual mode when she created the beautiful image above. She had set up the 200-600 G with the a7r iv for blurs only and did well with the exposure. She also had her 600 GM on a tripod with an a9 ii along. If she wanted to change to sharp with the 2-6, the necessary changes would have taken her about 20-30 seconds.
Do understand that in general, zoom lenses are better for creating pleasing blurs than fixed focal length lenses.
This image was also created on 1 OCT 2020 on the sandbar at Fort DeSoto Park. Again I used the Induro GIT 404L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. Exposure determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the rear dial/+2.3 stops: 1/30 sec. at f/4.5 in Shutter Priority. AUTO ISO > 100. In RawDigger I learned that the exposure was about 2/3-stop too dark. AWB at 7:48am on dark, cloudy morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed just fine; the AF point was just below center.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Image #3: Mixed flock blur
Changing Shutter Speeds Quickly
To switch from low-light sharp to the settings needed to create the pleasing blur above, all that I needed to do was reduce the shutter speed from 1/125 sec. to 1/30 sec — six quick clicks. I also has to increase the EC by 1/3 stop, i.e., one click. Those changes took no more than two seconds. The S/EC/AUTO ISO method eliminated the nine clicks that I would have needed to get to the right ISO …
When I am in S mode it is fast and easy to change your shutter speed; that’s why they call it Shutter Priority.
I have used this method with Canon, Nikon, and SONY.
With SONY, I need to make a few menu changes when switching from Manual to S/EC/AUTO ISO. Those changes are detailed on page 10 of the Sony e-Guide in the section entitled Using Zebras to Get the Right Exposure in Shutter (or Aperture) Priority. (Note: This works only with the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii. You cannot assign Exposure Compensation to the Control Wheel on the a7r iii) Item 6 in the list of directions catches most folks at one time or another. It snagged Bill yesterday. Scroll up for more info on the SONY e-Guide.
Image #3
While I love the degree of blurring in this image and I love that all the birds were turning right and pretty much on the same plane, I wish that I had been using the 200-600 so that I could have zoomed out, perhaps enough to get a clean upper edge. As this pleasing blur was created at ISO 100 there was no need to bring it into DeNoise AI.
The birds in this flock are Black Skimmers, a smattering of terns (likely Sandwich, Common, and Forster’s), and shorebirds (almost all Red Knots with perhaps some Sanderlings and a few peeps as well).
This image was also created on 1 OCT 2020 on the sandbar at Fort DeSoto Park, once again with the Induro GIT 404L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. Exposure determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the rear dial/+3 stops: 1/60 sec. at f/4 in Shutter Priority. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. AWB at 7:52am on dark, cloudy morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection; the AF point was just below center.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Image #4: Red Knot flock flight blur
1/60 second — Right on the Edge
With good technique, you can make sharp images of birds on the ground at 1/60 sec., and in addition, it is not a bad blur speed especially with single birds flying by at close range. On Saturday morning, I will go a lot slower with my blur shutter speeds; I am planning on playing with 1/8, 1/13, and 1/15 secs. When creating pleasing blurs at extremely slow shutter speeds like 1/4 and 1/8 sec., you will wind up with far fewer keepers but have more chance of creating a stunning contest winner. Heck, you just may wind up deleting all of them. But gambling can be fun.
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.
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 :).
Fall arrived at ILE on the morning of Wednesday 30 September as the months keep rolling by. We drove down to the lake and saw a few cranes and lots of vultures, but it was so windy and chilly that we never got out of the car. My streak was in jeopardy but on our way back to Fort DeSoto we stopped at a gorgeous marshy field packed with several hundred thousand beautiful pink blossoms interspersed with green marsh vegetation. Which brings us to the subject of today’s blog post. Read on to exercise your brain cells, be inspired, and improve your nature photography.
Amazingly, I was able to arrange for the sale of Patty McCulloch’s Canon 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $5497.00, the sale of her Canon EF Extender 1.4X III in near-mint condition for a very low $229.00, the sale of her Canon EF Extender 2X III in excellent condition for only $228.00, and the sale of her Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro lens in excellent plus condition for a very low $499.00, all before they were to be listed in this blog post!
If you are looking for a specific used item, shoot me an e-mail, and let me know what you are looking for.
Great Topaz News (Corrected)!
I did not realize that folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to use this link.
Wanted to Buy
I have someone looking to purchase a used Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM lens. If you have one that you would like to sell, please get in touch via e-mail.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro back in stock!
We received a dozen Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pros via DHL. We ordered twenty … Anita North has been using one and said, “With my weak fingers, the Levered-Clamp is a Godsend.
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list at the bottom of the page.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save 3% on all orders. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
New Listings/Great Bargains
Canon EOS-1DX Mark II with tons of great extras
BAA Record-low Price!
Patricia McCulloch is offering a Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $2279.00. The sale includes the original box, an L-plate, the strap, one battery, the LC-E19 Battery Charger, an extra Canon LP-E4N Battery Pack, a LensCoat BodyGuard, The Instruction Manual, the Interface Cable, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The 1DX Mark II is Canon’s rugged, blazingly fast professional digital camera body. It features an amazing AF system and high quality image files with great dynamic range. When he used Canon, it was the choice of Arash Hazeghi, one of the world’s premier birds in flight photographers. This body is still in production and currently sells new for $4,499.00. Save a very sweet $1800.00 by grabbing Patty’s today. artie
Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Canon
Patty McCulloch is offering a Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Canon in excellent plus condition for a very low $424.00. The sale includes the original box, the lens pouch the front and rear lens caps, and insured ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
This fast Wide-Angle 24mm lens works well with both APS-C & full-frame camera bodies. It yields an 84° view when used with a full-frame 35mm camera, or 57.6° when used with an APS-C camera. It is excellent for landscapes, cramped interiors, street photography and general photography of all kinds. Four low-dispersion (ED) glass elements and two aspheric elements produce sharply defined images with a minimum of flare and ghosting. The lens focuses as close as 9.84″ from the lens allowing for great creativity in the righthand. All focus and exposure functions are manual; there is no AF or auto exposure. artie & B&H
Grab Bag #1
Patty McCulloch is offering an eclectic grab bag of the items below for the incredibly low price of $299.00. The total value of this package new is just under $800.00.
Canon Angle Finder C. The Angle Finder C lets you adjust the viewing angle while also providing a 1.25x to 2.5x switchable magnification. Provided with built-in variable diopter correction, supplied with Finder Adapters Ec-C, Ed-C to fit any EOS camera. Sells new for $199.00.
Canon Extension Tube EF 25 II. Extension tubes allow you to focus closer than the lenses Minimum Focusing Distance. This updated version II is fully compatible with Canon Digital EF-S lenses, as well as standard photo EF and TS-E lenses. This sells new for $139.95.
MacroPlus Extcm Auto Focus Metal Macro Extension Set for Canon EOS EF EF-S SLR Cameras. Was $29.99.
Singh-Ray 77mm LB Warming Circular Polarizer Filter. Great for your 24-105mm and 100-400mm lenses, and great for rainbows and stormy skies. Sells new for $210.00.
Sekonic L-308S Flashmate Digital Incident, Reflected & Flash Light Meter. Exceptionally portable and versatile in its design, the L-308S Flashmate Light Meter from Sekonic is a versatile meter that blends both photo and video-oriented functions into a single unit. A newer version of this sells for $219.00.
Grab Bag #1 includes all of the items above and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your grab bag will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Please contact Patty via e-mail.
Grab Bag #2
Patty McCulloch is offering an eclectic grab bag of the items below for the incredibly low price of $499.00. The total value of this package new is roughly $1400.00!
Think Tank Airport Security V2.0 Roller Bag in excellent condition. This is my main rolling bag. My V2.0 has been around the world with me many times. The virtually identical V3.0 sells new for $419.75.
Vanguard Up-Rise II 48 Photo Backpack in excellent plus condition. Formerly sold for $199.00. Click here to see the item.
NatureScapes Skimmer GroundPod II in excellent condition. Gets your big lens right down where the low perspectives are. This sells new for $99.95 here.
Hoodman HoodLoupe Outdoor LCD Viewfinder for 3.2″ Screens. For outdoor viewing of your rear LCD even in bright conditions. This sells new for $89.99.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens. This item, the classic “standard” lens, sells new here for $125.00.
Benro TAD38CB3 Series 3 Adventure Carbon Fiber Tripod with B3 Ball Head in excellent condition. This item, no longer in production, is still available new for $440.00. Click here for info.
Grab Bag #2 includes all of the items above and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your grab bag will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Please contact Patty via e-mail.
Colleen Miniuk
Colleen Miniuk
I promised a few weeks ago to share the work of some really good new and different photographers with you here. In addition, I am constantly advising folks to look at as much good photography as they can. Toward that end, I urge you to check out some of Colleen Miniuk’s galleries on her website here. As a peek at her galleries will reveal, Colleen a generalist who is a really good landscape photographer. Be sure to check out her eight Natural World galleries; the images in Abstracts are superb. View, learn, and be inspired.
The Color Wheel is from Stay at Home Artist. Text and design by Colleen Miniuk.
No More Rules! Human Perception in Compositions
I received an e-mail last week with a link to a free webinar sponsored by Singh-Ray and conducted by a fine photographer named Colleen Miniuk. I watched it and enjoyed it and am pleased to share the link to the replay with you here. When I watched the webinar I thought that it did not very much apply to bird photography, but when I thought about it some more, I realized that it was very much about bird photography. I especially enjoyed her comments on color and of course, her comments on image design.
Colleen uses lots of Singh-Ray filters. If you are inspired to purchase a filter or two after watching the webinar, please remember to use the ARTIE10 code at checkout to save ten percent. My favorites are the 77mm circular polarizer and the 77 and 95mm ND filters. Visit the Singh-Ray webs here.
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 :).
We headed over early on Monday morning to Sebastian Inlet with hopes of photographing diving Ospreys and Royal Terns catching fish. There was zero action at the inlet, so I did some of the beach wildflowers: Dune Sunflower and Railroad Vine, a lovely purple morning glory. Then we packed up and drove north in the park to do Wood Storks and terns visiting the cast-netting fisherman. We succeeded. Then I found and photographed some perfect pink Seaside Jackbean blossoms near a small fishing pier.
We wound up staying so long that when we finally got to McDonald’s in Vero Beach, I was too late for Breakfast Burritos!
We will be headed down to the lake here at ILE at about 7:30am this morning, Tuesday 29 SEPT 2020. We head over to DeSoto on Wednesday and will be meeting multiple IPT veteran Bill Schneider for two days of private instruction. We head back home midday on Sunday.
Wanted to Buy
I have someone looking to purchase a used Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM lens. If you have one that you would like to sell, please get in touch via e-mail.
Great Topaz News (Corrected)!
I did not realize that folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to use this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I said on Sunday and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro back in stock!
We received a dozen Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pros via DHL. We ordered twenty … Anita North has been using one and said, “With my weak fingers, the Levered-Clamp is a Godsend.
Via e-mail From Derek Hallum
Thank you so very much Artie! You and Patrick did a spectacular job with the SONY e-Guide and Video. They helped me tremendously! Much love to you and your family. Sincerely, Derek Hallum
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list at the bottom of the page.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save 3% on all orders. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
114 sold to rave reviews.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)
Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.
Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.
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.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Sterna Tern diving
Jerking the Lens
This is another image from our mega-feeding spree day at DeSoto. The tern emerged from the water with a small baitfish. When it dropped the fish, the bird headed down after it. Rapidly! To keep the bird in the frame, I jerked the lens forcefully downward. SONY AF kept up, but jerking the lens down so violently caused motion blur (as expected). Note: a faster shutter speed would have helped somewhat; 1/8000 second would have been much better (at the cost of a much higher ISO).
Before Topaz Sharpen AI came into my life, this would have been an insta-delete. With Sharpen AI I was able to transform it into a respectable keeper. Is the master file a super-sharp family jewel? Absolutely not, but it is more than use-able for a great variety of purposes.
This image was a rather large crop. The master TIF file immediately above represents just a shade more than 40% of the original pixels. I am anxious to get Topaz Gigapixel AI downloaded (we have dreadfully slow internet here at ILE) and running and see how it does with the master TIF file for this image. I will let you know how that goes.
Be sure to click on the image and view the larger version.
With the Sandwich Tern image featured in the Late to the Topaz Party … Two Totally Amazing Before and After Screen Captures! blog post here, the Focus setting saved the day because the bird’s head was in front of the plane of focus. With today’s featured image, the Stabilize setting did the trick. The most amazing part of the whole thing is that Auto knew which setting would be best for each image.
I converted the image in Capture One. In Photoshop, I ran Sharpen AI on its own layer and then did some bill clean-up. I finished by selecting the bird’s head and applying a Contrast Mask for a bit of additional sharpening. All but the C-1 conversion (along with tons more) are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail and has helped literally thousands of folks to improve their Photoshop skills.
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.
San Diego 2021 Brown Pelican IPT
January 12 thru the morning session on January 16, 2021. Four full and one-half day: $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 7.
Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins: MON JAN 11, 2021.
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 may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
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 takeaways on every IPT.
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.
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.
Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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-brunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well.
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, is due immediately after you sign up. 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.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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 landscape and seascape opportunities.
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 :).
After nine great days at DeSoto, Anita North and I enjoyed a nice morning with the Mother’s Day crane family on Saturday. With Anita’s help, I spent the afternoon getting acquainted with Topaz Sharpen AI and with Topaz DeNoise AI. In short, I was astounded. As you read on, do understand that I am just scratching the surface with these two amazingly effective plug-ins. I need to learn about the options other than Auto.
Great Topaz News (Corrected)!
I did not realize that folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to use this link.
Topaz Stuff
As I have said often, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you think like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.
Those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). It will take me a few days to put this short guide together. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.
I learned some neat stuff about the two Topaz plug-ins in Alan Murphy’s recent Image Processing Webinar. Those interested in purchasing that or his previous excellent webinars, can view the options by clicking here.
I was glad to learn that IPT veteran Mark Overgaard sold his second Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body, this one in excellent plus condition with the Really Right Stuff B5D4-L L-plate, for $1379.00 (was $1479.00) the day we dropped the price two days ago. Yesterday, I sold Patty McCulloch’s Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro Lens before it was even listed! That is a neat trick :). I will be posting Patty’s complete listings (including a Canon 600 II) here soon.
Today is Sunday, 27 September 2020. Anita and I will be heading down to the lake early. L’Shana Tova to all of BAA’s Jewish friends as they bring in the new year. And L’Chaim to all.
Via e-mail From Derek Hallum
Thank you so very much Artie! You and Patrick did a spectacular job with the SONY e-Guide and Video. They helped me tremendously! Much love to you and your family. Sincerely, Derek Hallum
RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available
Save $10 Now
The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line.
You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.
Please Remember
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The BAA Used Gear Page
Right now, the Used Gear page is red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list at the bottom of the page.
New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!
You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.
Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free overnight shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
SONY e-Guide Discount Program
Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.
Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save 3% on all orders. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.
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.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Sandwich Tern diving
The Situation I
This image was created during the mega-feeding spree at DeSoto. The site that is often the location of such sprees is detailed in the Fort DeSoto Site Guide here. I was somewhat dismayed when I viewed the head of the tern under the Loupe in Capture One. I thought that it was soft because of motion blur. But Topaz Sharpen AI revealed that I was wrong. After first hearing about the amazing Topaz AI Plug-ins from multiple IPT veteran Larry Master and then from good friend Anita North, I finally decided that this was something I needed to get into … So I did. See Image #2 below to learn about the effectiveness of Topaz Sharpen AI.
So why was the head unsharp?
Folks might ask, “If SONY a9 ii AF is so great, why was the head of the Sandwich Tern unsharp?” Consider that the optimized image above was cropped a fair bit from above and from our left. That means that in the original (RAW) file, the bird was farther down in the frame. That indicates that I did not pan quite quickly enough. And because of that, Center Zone Continuous AF had grabbed focus on the bird’s wings and back. With the bird angling slightly toward me, the bird’s head was in front of the plane of focus. In short, as is often the case, operator error was the culprit. Keep reading to learn about Topaz Sharpen AI magic.
Click on the image to view to and be amazed by the larger version.
Anita North showed me that there are three sharpening options in Topaz Sharpen AI, Sharpen, Stabilize, and Focus. As I originally thought that the unsharpness of the head was due to motion blur, I first tried Stabilize but that did not do much. In his recent Image Processing Webinar, Alan Murphy stated that Auto is a great place to start with Sharpen AI, and Anita North seconded that. When I hit Auto, the system picked Focus. That was when I realized that the unsharp head was not caused by motion blur, but by the fact that focus was on the bird’s back and wings.
The result, as you can see in the screen capture above, was astounding. The unsharp head was rendered sharp with a single click. No crunchiness or pixilation appeared, and there were no halos. In short, Topaz Sharpen AI is a quite miraculous plug-in.
Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed beautifully. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #3: Great Egret grab shot in the dark
The Situation II
As always, we were at the beach early. It was cloudy and dark. I began trying to create a pleasing blur or two, but when a Caspian Tern began fishing right in front of me, I went to sharp: 1/2000 second at f/6.3 and ISO 10000. What the hay? When the Great Egret in Image #3 flew right to left toward Hidden Lagoon, I figured that the exposure for the large tern would work pretty well for the egret, so I acquired focus and fired off three quick frames, not expecting much. I was surprisingly pleased by the one decent keeper. But even with a close-to-perfect exposure — that thanks to my continuing work with RawDigger, there was more than enough noise to go around at ISO 10000, especially on the bush-background. Enter Topaz DeNoise AI.
If you click on the image to view the larger version, you will be — as I was — astounded.
Here, a screen capture is worth well more than a thousand words. With a single click, again on Auto, the background was rendered smooth-as-the-proverbial-baby’s-tush. And the subject was sharpened (without appearing to be overly smoothed). In short, amazing.
Those who would ask “Where is the fine-feather detail?” are missing two important points:
1- We often perceive noise as detail.
2- As I have pointed out about a zillion times in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net, white feathers in soft light almost never show any fine detail — it is simply the nature of the beast.
Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT
Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.
Bosque del Apache NWR 2020 IPT
NOV 18 (afternoon session) thru the morning session on November 23, 2020. 5 DAYS. Four full and two half days. $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 6.
Extra Day Options: Please e-mail to learn about the before or after In-the-Field Day options.
The very best news is that the 2020 Festival of the Cranes has been canceled so we will be able to visit on what are usually the perfect dates!
I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. In 2018, things had improved dramatically and in 2019 the photography was great. Simply put, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.
We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blastoffs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.
Lunch is included.
To Register
To register, send your $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel due to COVID 19 concerns, all of your payments will be refunded.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
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 :).
