Friday morning was way dark. It started off slower than slow so I went to my favorite grassy rise and put out some salmon skins, four eggshells, a ribeye bone, and a pork chop bone. I set up the 600 on the tripod with the a9 II in hopes of some vulture flight. Impatient as I am, I had brought down my laptop. So I got back in my car and went to work on the SONY guide. I worked for one hour fifteen minutes. Not a single vulture came.
By 9:45am, it was getting brighter (but not sunny) and I was tired of waiting for vultures. I almost headed home but decided to check out each of the three big fields once more. As I made a left turn onto the North Peninsula I saw an Osprey disappear behind a large bush in the marsh on my right. I moved forward and saw that it had landed in the lake and was bathing. I set up the smaller, lighter Induro 20l with the FlexShooter Mini in my SUV and mounted the 600 GM with the 2X and the a7r iv. I repositioned the vehicle and went to work. What a show. I had as many as six Ospreys flying around and landing in the lake. I had as many as four in the water bathing at once. I had never seen even one Osprey bathing in the lake before. I did not get home for breakfast until 11am.
After I ate, I went for gas at the station on SSR 60 five minutes from my home. I stopped on the way back to pick up a huge just-killed freshwater turtle, possibly a Florida Red-bellied Cooter. I keep some heavy-duty plastic bags in my vehicle. If the wind and sky conditions are good this morning — Saturday 18 APR 2020 — I will put the turtle out and hope that the vultures are hungrier today than they were yesterday.
Last night I watched another blockbuster on TIVO — Apollo 13. What a story, with amazing acting by Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, and others. Incredible film-making, sound, and music. And lots of tears of joy.
I was glad to learn yesterday that multiple IPT veteran Larry Master sold his Canon 200-400 f/4L IS USM lens with internal 1.4X Extender in excellent condition for $4,999.00 (was $5999.00) and that Blog regular Fred Innamorato sold his Sony A9 in excellent condition for a BAA record-low $2349.00.
I will be headed down to the lake at about 7:30am in spite of more clouds in the forecast along with SW winds …
Have fun and be safe.
Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the four different camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
This image was created on the morning of 16 APR 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. On foot, I used the Induro GIT 404L/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. ISO 2000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/500 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode was about +1 2/3 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 7:53:17am on a cloudy/very-dark morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger sharper version.
Image #1: Adult Great Blue Heron atop pine tree
The Situation
For the past several weeks there have been lots more Great Blue Herons around the lakefront at ILE than there have been in years. Last week I saw one — likely the same bird as pictured here today, displaying from the top of the very same pine tree. I was photographing not much at the vulture tree at the north end of the North Field when I saw the heron land well to my right. Since I was out of my vehicle with the big lens on the tripod, I decided to walk rather than drive. No worries, the nearest folks were two fishermen about a quarter-mile away. I’ve been using the larger 404L when I get out of the car since I rarely walk very far; I stow it in the back with the legs fully extended topped by a FlexShooter Pro while the 204 with a Mini on top stays in the front seat with me to be set up when I worked from the car.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) is simply amazing. Many of the captions that I wrote yesterday went a lot like this: Focus on the bird’s face, re-compose, and push the shutter button. The AF area stays on the bird’s face as you move the lens. Nothing could be simpler or more effective than using Tracking Flexible Spot to create pleasing compositions.
Image Design Question
In image #1, why did I place the bird on the right side of the frame looking out?
This image was also created on the morning of 16 APR 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. On foot, I used the Induro GIT 404L/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. ISO 2000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/500 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode was about +1 2/3 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 7:54:27am on a cloudy/very-dark morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger sharper version.
Image #2: Adult Great Blue Heron atop pine tree
The Stronger Image?
Today’s two featured images were created exactly one minute ten seconds apart. In that short time, I moved to my right and angled a bit closer to the bird thus creating a slightly different perspective. When the bird looked back to its left, Tracking Flexible Spot (M) continued to perform perfectly. Which of today’s two featured images is your favorite? Be sure to let us know why you made your choice.
Image Processing Question
One of today’s two featured images was optimized in Photoshop with great care. The other is pretty much right out of camera (after being converted in Capture One with identical settings). Be sure to enlarge each image and let us know if you see any differences and what they are. This exercise is for eagle-eyed readers only.
Depth-of-field Question
How might f/8 (or even f/11) have improved both of today’s featured images?
Thursday morning did turn out to be cloudy-dark. I created lots of perched vulture images along with some Old Gnarly family images, all at high ISO, to send to Arash Hazeghi for the new SONY Capture One e-Guide he is working on. He can use even lousy images to create various best conversion values especially with regards to the noise reduction settings.
I swam my usual 50 lengths on a cold — 59-degree afternoon — it had been ninety the previous day, with a cold rain pelting my back for the last forty.
The forecast for today — Friday 17 APR 2020 is much the same as yesterday’s — cloudy in the am, rain in the pm — except that the winds will be more from the east and less from the north. I will be headed down to the lake at about 7:15am.
Have a great day and be safe.
Some COVID-19 Political Comments …
I do not quite understand why most beaches and natural areas are closed to folks who would like to walk, exercise, and yes photograph, while practicing social distancing while everyone is free to go shopping at Walmarts or huge supermarkets. I do not understand why folks can purchase food but are prevented from buying garden supplies while its business-as-usual at liquor stores and lottery outlets. I do not understand why folks in some states are prevented from attending outdoor religious services while remaining in their vehicles. And I do not understand why folks surfing in California are hassled or even arrested.
Do you?
I will probably get into big trouble with some by suggesting that folks check out the situation in Sweden — where there are no lockdowns and the economy is doing just fine — in the YouTube video here. Comments are welcome on the message but not the messenger.
Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the four camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created on 15 APR at Indian Lake Estates. Working from my SUV, I used the Induro GIT 204/FlexShooter Mini-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter, and the 61-MP Monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO: 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with exposure compensation on the rear wheel: 1/640 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. In bright sun, the trick with Black Vultures is to some Zebras on the legs. AWB at 8:45am on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Black Vulture charging
Smoked Salmon Skin Feeder
Junior’s Fish Market in Lake Wales makes some of the world’s-best smoked salmon right there in his shop on SR 60. I usually buy as much as he has. (His hours right now are quite limited.) I save the fatty skins and keep them in the fridge along with left-over steak and pork chop bones. And I always have my eyes out for road-killed possums or raccoons. On mornings where the wind and sky conditions look decent for flight photography, I will put out the bait in one of two locations that offer decent (read distant) morning backgrounds.
Some days are diamonds, some days are stone. When the birds first arrive there can be lots of good flight photography. But most days I do not have the patience, so I drive around the lakefront in search of subjects and returned to find a pile of vultures already on the bait. That is what happened on Wednesday past. I always find it interesting to watch the interplay between the Black Vultures (BVs) and the larger Turkey Vultures (TVs). In general, the TVs are dominated by the smaller BVs. But at times, if more than a few TVs arrive early, they hold their own. The BVs do their share of squabbling. The bird in today’s featured image was charging a small group that was dining on a still-juicy bit of skin.
That the image is razor-sharp on the eye astounded me; I would not have expected Tracking Flexible Spot to keep up with a bird charging aggressively over the hill at 1200mm.
Click on the image to be able to read the fine print.
Capture One Screen Capture for Black Vulture charging
Capture One Screen Capture
First, note that I added 1/3 stop of light to the exposure (+0.32). And then see the next item.
Note the nasty dust spot to the right of the subject and the extra, o-o-f vulture in the lower- portion of the frame. As always, I used the Spot Healing Brush to eliminate dust spots while working at 100% and scrolling side to side and then up and down. I did a bit of grass clean-up using Content-Aware Fill. I used a large, rotated, warped, horizontally-flipped Quick Mask to cover the extra bird and then refined that with a Regular Layer Mask.
All 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. Scroll down for details on this great guide.
RawDigger Screen Capture for Black Vulture charging
RawDigger Screen Capture
Again, note that I increased the exposure by 1/3 stop. Then consider that the RawDigger data shows a 99.8% perfect exposure with 30,000 underexposed RED pixels and 1,000 underexposed BLUE pixels out of 61,000,000 pixels. Pretty darned close to perfect. I have been including the RawDigger over/under EXP data to show how amazingly accurate Patrick’s Sparkman’s system — Exposure determined by Zebras with exposure compensation on the rear wheel — combined with his brilliant Zebra’s setting, can be with just a bit of practice. This system is covered in detail in the almost-finished SONY e-Guide and the Camera Useer’s videos.
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.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
All the Photoshop 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.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
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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 :).
Thursday morning started out cloudy but by 8:15 the sun was out. I did a nice adult sandhill in the marsh, some GBH 1200mm head portraits from the car, and finally had some vultures come to my smoked salmon skin feeder. The afternoon had some promise for a nice sunset but that fizzled. I did photograph a single Osprey holding still in the wind (like a kite) at ISOs ranging from 4000 to 6400. With both cameras.
Today, Thursday 16 APR 2020 dawned cloudy-dark with rain in the forecast for this afternoon. I will be headed down to the lake at about 7:30am.
Thanks to the many who have ordered the almost-finished SONY e-Guide and Video(s). If you purchase, please be sure to include your e-mail address in a note as we do not always receive Paypal notification and please send a copy of your Paypal order that includes your e-mail address to me at the samandmayasgrandpa@att.net address.
Kudos to Dr. Greg Gulbransen
Kudos to fine photographer/friend Dr. Greg Gulbransen who was featured in a Reuters Health News feature here yesterday. The title of the piece is ‘Don’t go to the ER’: how a New York pediatrician is dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.
A Tough Chore
Please consider today’s six featured images and let us know your pick as the best. And please also let us know why you made your choice. Comments on any of the images are welcome as well.
Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the four camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The “If-the-World-Does-Not-End” BIRDS AS ART 2020/2021 IPT Schedule …
If we return to some semblance of normalcy and if photographing in groups, air travel, and staying in hotels or AirBNBs is safe, I am hoping to run the BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours listed below. If COVID-19 is still an issue that is of concern to you, your deposit will be refunded with no questions asked. Pre- and post-IPT days for all of the IPTs below (except for the Land-based Falklands trip) are available for those who wish to get the most out of their travel dollars.
If you have any questions on the IPTs, please leave a comment of get in touch via e-mail.
This image was created on September 27, 2019 while doing a private day with fraternity brother Harry Lerner at Fort DeSoto. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/5 in Manual mode was about +2 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 8:10am on a very overcast morning.
Upper Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. The point of sharpest focus was slightly more than halfway down the bill, right on the same plane as the bird’s eye. RAW Digger showed 0% Over-exposed and 0% Underexposed pixels.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Snowy Egret with greenback
Fort DeSoto Fall 2020 Sandbar Secrets IPT
OCT 2 thru the morning session October 5, 2020 (3 1/2 DAYS). Three full and one half day: $1399.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/ Openings: 7.
Center Flexible Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. RAW Digger showed 0% Over-exposed and 0% Underexposed pixels.
Click the image to enjoy a larger version.
Image #2: Snow Geese blastoff
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: 5.
Center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Shutter Button AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). The selected AF point was below and in front of the penguin’s eye. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Imagee #3: Rockhopper Penguin sneezing
2020 Land-based Falklands Trip
December 10-26, 2020. $8999.00 per person. Deposit $4000.00. Limit four photographers/openings: 2. Please e-mail for a complete itinerary and complete details.
Fly on a red-eye to Santiago, Chile on WED 9 DEC 2020, arriving there on THURS 10 DEC. We will do an add-on condor trip ($450/per person including lunch) that morning assuming that everyone gets there by about 8am at the very latest. And another add-on morning to Del Mar for Inca Terns and Peruvian Pelicans ($450/per person including lunch) on FRI 11 DEC leaving the hotel very early. We fly to Mont Pleasant on SAT 12 DEC. In the Falklands we will visit Bleaker, the Rookery and the Neck on Saunders, and Pebble. Then two nights at the Malvina House on Stanely with a visit to an amazing rockhopper colony. Fly back to Santiago on SAT 26 DEC. Fly home either that night (red-eyes are hard to get) or the following day.
Upper Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed well. The point of sharpest focus was on the as of the bird’s bill just forward of the eye. RAW Digger showed 0% Over-exposed pixels and 0.3% Underexposed RED pixels.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Image #4: Pacific race Brown Pelican with bill distended
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.
This image was created at Kachemak Bay, AK on 25 FEB 2020. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (at 200mm) with the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 500. Exposure determined via Zebras on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/3.2. AWB at 9:20am on a cloudy-bright day.
Wide Continuous (C) AF performed beautifully. Click on the image to see a larger version. Uncropped.
Image #5: Bald Eagle braking to land
The Greatest-ever Bald Eagle Experience IPTs:
Deposit: $2000.00.
IPT #1: SAT 20 FEB 2021 through the full day on THURS 25 FEB MAR 1, 2021. Six full days: $5499.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4.
IPT #2: SAT 27 FEB 2021 through the full day on WED 3 MAR 2021. Five full days: $4599.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4
This image was created on 6 AUG 2019 at North Seymour Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. I used the hand Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped up Nikon D850. ISO 500. Matrix metering plus about 1 1/3rd stop: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6. NATURAL AUTO WB at 7:50am on a (typically and blessedly) cloudy afternoon.
Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +3. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here.
Upper Single Point/Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) AF was active at the moment of exposure.
Image #6: Blue-footed Booby dancing
The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience.
August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00. Limit: 12 photographers/Openings: 5. Deposit: $5000.00.
More of the same — two photo trips down to the lake yesterday and a nice swim. Keep reading to learn how I did on Tuesday morning. It was 90 degrees by yesterday afternoon. I forgot to mention that when I was at the post office on Monday, I learned of two COVID-19 cases here at ILE. That after hearing two ladies talk about the safety of living in a rural area … The forecast for today is for partly to mostly cloudy skies all day with southwest winds increasing from 5-10 in the morning to 15-20 by afternoon. I will be headed down to the lake early this morning, Wednesday 15 APR 2020. Have a great day and stay safe.
Thanks to the many who have ordered the almost-finished SONY e-Guide and Video(s). If you purchase, please be sure to include your e-mail address in a note as we do not always receive Paypal notification and please send a copy of your Paypal order that includes your e-mail address to me at the samandmayasgrandpa@att.net address.
Thanks to Kathy Hronopoulos of Western Australia for her SONY e-guide order. Kathy, if you see this, please contact me via e-mail as the emails I sent to the address in your Paypal bounced back to me.
The Second Tripod Question Answer
In the Now is the Time. The why a second tripod (?) question. And learning about Magnolia blossoms, or not … blog pose here, I asked why setting up the second tripod was the key to success. Many folks answered correctly by stating that the second tripod was put in place to keep the flower still in the wind. I had thought of using a Plamp to keep the blossom still, but the tripod was an even better solution. Not to mention that in general, you need to first fasten the Plamp to a tripod anyway. The Plamp is a great macro accessory. I keep one in my car all the time. Learn more or purchase one here.
Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the four camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Price Drop
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens
Price Reduced $250.00 on 10-23-2019 Price Reduced $250.00 on 4-14-2020
Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record-low-by-$1,500 price of $5,499.00 (was $5999.00). The sale includes the original box and everything that came in it including the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, the original tough front lens cover, and the lens strap along with a LensCoat and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828 412 1047 (eastern time).
This fast, super-sharp, relatively lightweight (8.49 pounds) super-telephoto lens is a versatile lens for wildlife photographers, especially for those who live in the west and do large mammals in low light. And it is a hugely popular lens with sports photographers. For bird photographers working at close range at feeder set-ups will really love the 3m (9.8 feet) close focus. And best of all, it creates super-sharp images with both the 1.4X III and the 2X III Extenders. It currently sells new at B&H for $7,999. You can save $2,250 significant bucks by grabbing Sandra’s super-fast lens right now. artie
Great Buy Reruns
Canon EOS 7D dSLR
Tim McCreary is offering a Canon EOS 7D dSLR in near-mint condition for an incredibly low $199.00. The sale includes the body cap, the strap, the original box, manual, a third-party battery grip, 2 batteries, the charger, a memory card, and insured ground shipping via UPS to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Tim McCreary via via e-mail or by phone at 702 328 6159 (Pacifc time zone).
This is a great body for anyone looking to get started with digital photography, nature or not. Paired with Tim’s 100-400 II, it would make a great starter kit. artie
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Lens for Canon EF
Tim McCreary is also offering a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Lens for Canon EF in near-mint condition for $229.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the original box, and insured ground shipping via UPS to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Tim via via e-mail or by phone at 702 328 6159 (Pacifc time zone).
The Canon EF-mount atx-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF from Tokina is a versatile ultra-wide zoom well-suited for landscape, architecture, and interior shooting. Characterized by its bright f/2.8 constant maximum aperture, consistent brightness is afforded throughout the zoom range and benefits working in available lighting conditions. The optical design incorporates a series of aspherical and low dispersion elements, which suppress a variety of aberrations for improved sharpness and clarity. Individual elements are also multi-coated to resist flare and ghosting for greater contrast and color accuracy when working in bright or backlit conditions. Complementing the optics, this lens features a One-Touch Focus Clutch Mechanism for changing between AF and MF settings, and an internal focusing design is used for responsive focusing performance. B&H
This versatile wide-angle zoom lens sells new for $449.00. artie
The Perfect SONY Starter Kit!
Sony A9 Digital Mirrorless Camera Body
BAA Record-Low Price!
Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Sony A9 in excellent condition for a BAA record-low $2349.00. The sale includes the original battery, the charger, the original product box, the body cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The a9, the original AF king, offers superb autofocus that absolutely kills for flight photography. Virtually every image is sharp on the eye. Many feel that the AF system on the a9 ii is no better. As the a9 ii sells new for $4498.00 you can save an incredible $2149.00! artie
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
Please note, the purchase of this item includes a $50.00 discount on the soon-to-be-finished SONY e-Guide.
IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens in very good condition for a very low $1650.00. The body of the lens is in excellent condition. The glass is perfect except for a tiny scratch on the front element that does not affect performance. The sale includes the lens hood, the original box, the soft case that came with the lens, the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The .98 meter minimum focusing distance of the SONY 100-400 is a huge plus. It comes in very handy when working with mega-tame birds and the lens can be effective as a quasi-macro lens for large bugs (including butterflies and dragonflies), frogs, all but very small flower blossoms, and lots more. In addition, it is a more than capable flight lens that is a lot lighter than the 200-600. The 100-400 was my workhorse lens on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. As it sells new for $2,498.00 you can save a very neat $848.00 by grabbing Patrick’s lens.
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly.
Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Sandhill Crane colt stretching near-wing
Not What I Was After, But …
The forecast for Tuesday morning was spot-on: overcast with a gentle wind from the south. It was the perfect morning to work on creating some ISO 1600 and 3200 7r iv images for Arash Hazeghi. I sent him 50 RAW files last night by Hightail. He will use them to create the Capture One noise reduction values for the C-1 guide that he is working on.
With the North Field spur-road sheltered by the tall woods across the canal, I knew that the flowers would be still. I was two minutes late getting in position and the crane colt family was getting ready to swim across the canal. I rushed to set up the 600 with the a7r iv on the tripod. Working as quickly and calmly as possible, I managed a few decent images. I have pretty much figured out their morning swim schedule and have made many pretty good (but not great) images …
Anyhoo, after the two adults with their two getting-larger-every-day colts crossed, I set up the 100-400/2X TC/a7r iv rig on the tripod and went to work on the flowers, creating a very few decent images.
As expected, the crane colt family was foraging in their usual haunts at the south end of the North Field. Orangey Colt stayed with one adult, Gray Colt with the other. I re-parked my SUV, mounted the a7r iv on the 200-600, and went for a walk with the cranes. I’ve been trying for years for a perfect hand-off shot with an adult crane feeding a nice fat mole cricket — the crane’s favorite food, to a chick or colt and with the soft light, the morning seemed perfect.
The hand-off image, however, is quite difficult. The two birds need to be perfectly juxtaposed with the chick either just this side of or facing the adult. And you need to have chosen the perfect perspective. I set up the exposure going for a few Zebras on the adult’s white cheek patch and the colt’s face. Working wide open at f/6.3, I set my fast-enough-to-make-a-sharp-image shutter speed at 1/500 sec., I increased the ISO to 2000 to get the Zebras I needed. I tried and failed several times for a good handoff shot.
Gray Colt was walking a few feet behind one of the adults when it stopped to stretch. I zoomed out a bit and made five images as the colt held the pose. And Tracking Flexible Spot (M) worked to perfection. When a bird stretches its near-wing it will almost always turn its head away. I was lucky on all counts for this one. Note that on this humid morning the colt was still soaking wet from its swim.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
I just took a peek out the back door and saw a hazy half-moon so there is lots of moisture in the air and it seems quite still. It might be a good morning for flower photography. I will head down to the lake early this morning, Tuesday 14 APR 2020. I enjoyed two photo sessions yesterday afternoon. The best were some swimming crane images in the morning and a nice series of palm tree silhouettes late in the day.
Thanks to the many who have ordered the almost-finished SONY e-Guide and Video(s). If you purchase, please be sure to include your e-mail address in a note as we do not always receive Paypal notification and please send a copy of your Paypal order that includes your e-mail address to me at the samandmayasgrandpa@att.net address.
Thanks to Kathy Hronopoulos of Western Australia for her SONY e-guide order. Kathy, if you see this, please contact me via e-mail as the emails I sent to the address in your Paypal bounced back to me.
Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the four camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
New Used Gear Listings
Please note: the purchase of the below will include a $50.00 discount on the almost-finished SONY e-Guide.
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens in very good condition for a very low $1650.00. The body of the lens is in excellent condition. The glass is perfect except for a tiny scratch on the front element that does not affect performance. The sale includes the lens hood, the original box, the soft case that came with the lens, the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The .98 meter minimum focusing distance of the SONY 100-400 is a huge plus. It comes in very handy when working with mega-tame birds and the lens can be effective as a quasi-macro lens for large bugs (including butterflies and dragonflies), frogs, all but very small flower blossoms, and lots more. In addition, it is a more than capable flight lens that is a lot lighter than the 200-600. The 100-400 was my workhorse lens on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. As it sells new for $2,498.00 you can save a very neat $848.00 by grabbing Patrick’s lens.
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C was active at the moment of exposure.
Image #1: Fresh Magnolia blossom portrait
Now is the Time
When you see something that interests you, photograph it. If you think, I’ll photograph that tomorrow, it ain’t gonna happen. This is doubly true with macro photography. Add in the fact that magnolia blossoms are quite fragile. They are often overrun by small bugs and the petals bruise easily. It had not been the greatest morning for bird photography — the only images that I kept were of vultures. The low blossom that I had seen when I pulled the car out of my garage had opened, so I checked it out despite the then-bright sun and the wind. Having just opened, it was in pristine condition. I almost gave up on the situation but realized that the flower might look really bad by the next day. So I pulled into the garage and went to work. As often happens, this was the first image in a long series. It was made when a cloud covered the sun briefly.
Setting up a second tripod in the manner seen in the image above was the key to success. Why?
Image #2: Magnolia blossom on i-Phone 5s.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2016 Jennifer Morris
The Prize-winner and Stamen Scars
The image above was created in my driveway by older daughter Jennifer. Though I like the image I created last Sunday, Jen’s image would surely win Best of Show in the Magnolia Blossoms in artie’s Driveway category. Read the whole story in the Can Photography Actually Be Simple? Or is it Genetic? blog post here. Curious as to the gorgeous pink in Jennifer’s image I did a few web searches. Here is what I came up with: the tiny curvy green parts are the carpels (or anthers or stigmas). The off-white cup-like structure below those are the (developing?) stamens. And the pink seen only in Jen’s slightly older flower are the stamen scars, presumably a result of some of the stamens falling off.
If you can add anything to the above or have any corrections, please leave a comment as my web search was anything but definitive.
Final note: By Monday morning the pink stamen scars on this year’s low blossom were evident but the flower was otherwise a mess.
The Art of Flower Photography by Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris
You can learn everything e about this e-book here, or order your copy here.
Video: The Art of Flower Photography
In this B&H Event Space video, two of the world’s premier photographers of flora and fauna — Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito — share the techniques they use to create dramatic, sharp, well-composed, properly exposed images of flowers and flower fields. Denise does great things with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 L IS lens, while artie often goes to longer focal lengths—he has been seen photographing tulips at Keukenhoff Gardens, Holland, with a 600mm lens and a teleconverter. In addition to standard techniques, the video ends with Ippolito and Morris showing a wide range of abstract floral images and describing a variety of creative artistic effects such as multiple exposures, sharp/soft blending, texture overlays, warping a flower, creating zoom/twirls, in-camera blurs, and many others.
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
Same old, same old. I did some nice flowers on Sunday morning. After my early morning photo session today, Monday 13 APR 2020, I need to go to town for a bit of shopping and a trip to the bank. Have fun and stay safe.
Thanks to all who commented on the Why did I move the car six inches? blog post here. Special thanks to Marr Miller who correctly identified the flower as Ceasarweed, a Class 1 Florida invasive. You can learn more here.
Today’s Entertainment
André Rieu and orchestra play Amazing Grace at Radio City Music Hall. May 31, 2011. Amazingly powerful.
Amazing Grace by Judy Collins with Boys’ Choir Of Harlem. 1993. Amazing voices.
Amazing Grace — the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. More amazing voices.
Great Gull Island and Amazing Grace
I’ve been on Great Gull Island (GGI) several times on July 4th. Older-daughter Jennifer worked there for five seasons. Every year on the national holiday, the amazing Helen Hayes led all the tern researchers in an a capella rendition of Amazing Grace. So sweet the sound. If you have a favorite version of Amazing Grace, please share the link.
Amazing Grace, written out of remorse by John Newton, a former slave trader. Learn more here. For those who wish to sing along as we did on GGI:
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. The sharpest plane of focus was on the chick’s right cheek — pretty much perfect.
Image #1: Days-old Sandhill Crane chick
Old Gnarly’s Surviving 2020 Chick
Though I never found even the vicinity of the nest, I pretty much knew that Old Gnarly and his mate had set up shop in the marsh at the north end of the North Field as I would see one of the pair — never both — feeding in the field adjacent to the marsh. The other bird was incubating. I first saw the pair with two tiny chicks — probably two to three days old, on March 31. I chatted with a lady who lives on the lakefront that she had seen the family the day before. I made this image as the chick fed in the relatively tall grass right along the edge of the marsh.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. This image was (fortunately) a bit front-focused.
Image #2: Days-old Sandhill Crane chick with tumor (?) on the base of the bill
The Deceased Chick
The JPEG above is a large crop.
I noticed the strange black growth at the base of the other chick’s bill when I photographed it that same morning. Later, it was quite evident in the images. The next morning I saw Old Gnarly and its mate with only one chick. I pretty much knew that it was likely that the other chick had perished and that indeed turned out to be the case as I never saw it again. I am not positive that the black thing is a tumor but it seems likely. And I have no idea if the black growth had anything to do with the chick’s demise. If you have any knowledge or a theory, please leave a comment.
Two weeks later the surviving chick is doing just fine. Unlike the crane colt family to the south, Old Gnarly’s family is super-protective of their remaining chick.
Groundhog Day. Every day. Up early. Down to the lake. Work on the SONY guide. Work on photos. Speak to both my daughters. Swim. And two meals. Recently I have been watching reruns of the Masters golf tournament. In a normal year, we would be watching the winner get his green jacket in the Butler Cabin late this afternoon, Sunday 12 APR 2020.
Happy Easter and Azizen Pesach (have a sweet Passover) to all.
Via e-Mail from old-friend and multiple IPT veteran Dr. Steve Bein
Why is this night different from all other nights?
On all other nights, we open the door to Elijah. On this night we keep the door firmly shut as we are social distancing.
On all other nights, we dip for the 10 plagues. On this night we do not need to remind ourselves of another 9. One is quite sufficient, thank you.
On all other nights, we hide the afikomen (matzoh). On this night we hide a roll of toilet paper. Blessed be he who finds this treasure.
On all other nights, we eat bitter herbs. On this night lemon, honey and ginger to ward off chest coughs and colds.
Next year in Jerusalem as we are definitely not going to China!
Happy and Healthy Pesach
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. Scroll down for AF point location information.
Cattle Egret, non-breeding plumage near pink marsh plant
The Situation
If I am doing non-breeding Cattle Egrets on cloudy days, you will know that the photographic opportunities were not great. That morning I kept only 22 images — some vultures, a young great blue, Old Gnarly, the crane colt family, and a few Osprey flight shots. There were a few Cattle Egrets feeding along the eastern edge of the North Peninsula that offered the chance of a gray water background. I slowly moved the SUV into position and shut off the engine while quickly removing the key to prevent the high-pitched whine that often scares away my intended subjects.
A bird flew in and landed. I knew instantly that I had to reposition the vehicle and risk scaring all the birds away. I started the Sequoia, put it in gear, moved the car forward six inches, and turned off the engine. The bird that I wanted had not moved. Hooray!
I keep Upper Center Zone as my default vertical AF Area Mode. As I framed the image I tapped the bottom of the joystick to set Center Zone. I acquired focus and created six images. Then the bird flew began to forage and the shot was gone. The first photo — today’s featured image — offered the best pose by far. Perfect bird/flower juxtapositions are rare; had I not acted quickly and decisively, I would not have succeeded.
Why?
Why did I move the car forward six inches?
The Flower?
If you know the name of the flower, please leave a comment. I do not think that it is native (but hope that I am wrong).
First, carefully compare the optimized image that opened this blog post with the RAW image in the Capture One Screen-Capture and you will note some image clean-up. I used Content-Aware to eliminate the gray area in the bottom right corner, Divide and Conquer to get rid of some bright or ill-placed grass stems, and — working large — cleaned some tiny feathers off the bill tip. Eagle-eyed folks might note the small crop from below and from the right.
Note also that I increased the Exposure 1/3 stop (+.32) to bring the RGB values for brightest WHITEs on the top of the bird’s head into the mid-240s and then set the BLACK point by pulling in the dark tones on the left side of Levels until the BLUE underexposure warnings showed and then backed off just a bit. You might be asking, “If using Zebras to get a perfect exposure is so great how did you wind up 1/3 stop underexposed?” For the answer to that question, see the RawDigger item next.
RawDigger Screen-Capture
RawDigger Screen-Capture
The Over-exposure/Under-exposure Stats above show 206 underexposed RED pixels and 39 underexposed BLUE pixels. But as those are out of 61,000,000 pixels, the over/under percentages show 0.0% across the board. Such is the brilliance of Patrick Sparkman’s Zebra value. Using our method for getting the right exposure with ISO set to the Control Wheel is so accurate that even when you screw up one-third stop you are still perfect! You can learn just what we are doing in the soon-to-be-finished SONY e-Guide and Camera Videos. Recently, we added a Zebras Coaching gallery to the e-Guide. And the videos include a live Zebras demo.
Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the four camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
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.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
All 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.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
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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 :).
Friday morning was cloudy dark so I did lots of high ISO stuff. I am sending lots of SONY RAW (ARW) files (especially those created with higher ISO values) to Arash Hazeghi who will be creating Capture One noise reduction (NR) values for the four main SONY bodies (I believe); he feels that the C-1 SONY camera NR defaults are resulting in the loss of fine detail. More info on that soon.
I will be heading down to the lake early this morning, Saturday 11 APR 2020. Please be safe and careful.
This image was created yesterday at Indian Lake Estates, FL — 5 APR 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at at 339mm) and the 61-mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 800: 1/100 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:09am on a cloudy-dark morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure.
Pickerelweed blossom — as originally posted
Re-visiting the Leaf Questions
In the The Leaf or Not the Leaf? My Big Mistake? Lots on Flower Photography blog post here, I posted the two items below.
The Leaf or Not the Leaf?
Would you have included the leaf in the image design? Should I have removed the leaf during the image optimization? Either way, be sure to let us know why. Comments on an alternate composition are welcome.
My Big Mistake
What was my biggest mistake in the creation of this image? (Hint: I was being lazy …)
My Answers
As to the Leaf …
Would you have included the leaf in the image design?
The answer to that is an obvious “Yes”. Why? Because I included it.
Should I have removed the leaf during the image optimization?
Here my answer is “No.” The leaf was there as I framed the image in the viewfinder. With the blossom on the right side of the frame, the leaf was needed to balance the composition. If I had centered the blossom, I would have clipped one side of the leaf. But for me, the leaf helped to tell the story: this is a Pickerelweed plant.
At least one person who left a comment suggesting eliminating the leaf by angling the blossom in the frame to create a more dynamic image design. The problem there is that Pickerelweed grows straight up and the blossoms are always oriented vertically …
My Big Error
My big error, which stemmed from laziness, was — as several folks pointed out — was not using a tripod. Working handheld at 339mm at 1/100 sec. is simply sloppy. And that goes double when you are using the very demanding a7r iv; the 61-mp files do not take kindly to camera/lens shake errors. In addition, I could have stopped down a bit for more d-o-f on the flower without worrying too much about bringing up the distant background.
Best Comment
The award for the best (of many) comments goes to the very first comment left by multiple IPT veteran Richard Curtin who wrote:
Would vote FOR the leaf. It seems to balance the flower in the frame. Just guessing but you should have used a tripod. Might have allowed a smaller aperture/ more depth of field.
This image was created yesterday at Indian Lake Estates, FL — 5 APR 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at at 339mm) and the 61-mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 800: 1/100 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:09am on a cloudy-dark morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure.
Pickerelweed blossom — added canvas right and top
Image Optimization is a Process
Most of the time I will share images destined for the blog with a close friend or two. Oftentimes I will make changes to the image based on their comments. And the same is true of the images that I post on Bird Photographers.Net. Like writing, image optimization is a process.
Thanks a stack to blog regular James Saxon who wrote:
The leaf balances the negative space in the image. I would have used a tripod and zoomed out a bit more to give a little more space around the edges of the frame.
Based on James’s suggestion, I expanded canvas on the right and above using the Crop Tool and Content-Aware Fill.
Here is a tip on how to do that quickly and easily. This tip should have been in Digital Basics II but I opted to leave it out because I could not get it to work consistently. It does now. Not sure why. Anyhoo:
1-Work in the un-framed view (my shortcut B).
2-Hit C for the Crop Tool. Make sure that the Delete Cropped Pixels box is un-checked and that Content-Aware box is checked.
3-Left-click once on the image to engage the Crop Tool.
4-Now pull the love-handles out as needed to expand the canvas.
5-Then double-click on the image (or click on the large Check Mark at the top) to execute the crop and fill in the new canvas. Depending on the extent of the fill, this may take some time.
In most cases, this technique replaces John Haedo Content-Aware Fill.
Click on the image to read the fine print.
Capture One RAW Conversion Screen Capture
Capture One RAW Conversion Screen Capture
This is the rare SONY image that was very close to being over-exposed. I went with some Zebras on the flower without taking into account that the purple of the flowers would be over-saturated (and thus become very close to being over-exposed). Take a look at the Exposure and the Highlights sliders and you will see that it took some fancy-stepping during the usually simple Capture One RAW conversion.
The Leaf Clean-up
I did not care for the black crud on the tip of my precious leaf. Working large, I went to my usual cadre of clean-up tools: the Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, and the Clone Stamp. To do the edge of the leaf I created two small Quick Masks that were re-shaped and warped using the Transform Command and then refined with a Regular Layer Mask.
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.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
All 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.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
Me, early again. I was down at the lake both morning (cloudy) and afternoon (sunny). It was not the greatest of days, but I had fun and made some good images including a very few good ones. With the pool at a steady 82 degrees, swimming has been a pleasure.
I spent too many hours working on completing the SONY e-Guide. I have just a bit more to do and hope to have the final version published no later than next Tuesday. Writing is a process and I have gotten some great help from several folks including of course my co-author, Patrick Sparkman. Others include Ellen Anon, son Josh, blog regular Craig Elson, and the eagle-eyed Dane Johnson.
I was glad to learn that Patrick sold his a7r iii yesterday. He replaced it with a 7r iv.
On Today’s Images
There are three questions today:
1- Which background do you prefer?
2- Which image has the better head angle?
3- Which of today’s two featured images is the strongest by far? Be sure to let us know why you made your choice.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. Please understand that e-Bay prices are bogus. And the same is true of the prices of used gear including my dear friends at B&H and the other mega-outfits. They offer you pennies and then try to sell the stuff to ignorant folks for ridiculously high prices. With their huge international exposure, they occasionally find someone …
The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the 5Ds and 5Ds R, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, the Canon 200-400 with internal extender, and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. Most recently the price of used Canon 600mm f/L IS II lenses have been dropping like a rock with the introduction of the 600 III. The prices garnered for used Canon gear has tanked completely as demand has dropped tremendously. It is ironic that for decades Canon gear had very strong resale value …
Note: all BAA Used Gear sales include insured ground shipping via UPS to lower 48 US addresses only. Others who live elsewhere are invited to e-mail the seller for shipping surcharge info. Sellers should charge you only the difference between shipping to the farthest US location from their home and the charge to a non-lower-48 address.
Price Drop
Canon EOS-1D X Professional Digital Camera Body with Extras!
Price dropped $100 on 6 FEB 2020! Price dropped $200 on 9 APR 2020! BAA Record-low Price!
Jim Lewis is offering a Canon EOS-1D X in near-mint condition with extras for a BAA record-low $1,595.00 (was $1,895.00). The sale includes the original box, the CD’s, the strap, the cables, the manual, the front body cap, the charger w/LPE4N battery and an extra Canon LPE4N battery, 2 Lexar 1066X CF cards (one 32GB & one 64GB), a Canon RS-80 N3 remote switch, 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.
Several rugged 1D X bodies served as my workhorse cameras for about four years. I made many hundreds of family jewels images in all types of weather all around the world. artie
Re-run
Please note: the purchase of the item below includes a $50.00 discount on the to-be-finished SONY e-Guide.
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens in very good condition for a very low $1650.00. The body of the lens is in excellent condition. The glass is perfect except for a tiny scratch on the front element that does not affect performance. The sale includes the lens hood, the original box, the soft case that came with the lens, the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The .98 meter minimum focusing distance of the SONY 100-400 is a huge plus. It comes in very handy when working with mega-tame birds and the lens can be effective as a quasi-macro lens for large bugs (including butterflies and dragonflies), frogs, all but very small flower blossoms, and lots more. In addition, it is a more than capable flight lens that is a lot lighter than the 200-600. The 100-400 was my workhorse lens on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. As it sells new for $2,498.00 you can save a very neat $848.00 by grabbing Patrick’s lens.
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Tracking Flexible Spot M, AF-C. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Image #1: Limpkin calling, two-toned background
Working Off a Tripod From Your Vehicle
As mentioned here often, I have been setting up a tripod in my vehicle for more than two decades. Adding the FlexShooter Pro (only one in stock right now) transformed a good technique into an incredibly efficient and effective one. I stayed with the Limpkin for more than an hour, moving my vehicle only once when the bird moved a few steps to my left. When I first positioned my Sequoia, I approached very slowly with the lens already on the tripod. I made a few head portraits at 1200mm and then took a moment to center the bubble on the silver ball in the scribed circle. That done, with the lens rotated to one of the two click-stops, I was able to shoot horizontals and verticals with impunity for the next 45 minutes knowing that every image would be perfectly square to the world. The first time that the bird called (heck, screamed is a better word), it turned its head away so I never pressed the shutter button. But I was ready for it the next few times!
Tracking Flexible Spot M, AF-C. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Image #2: Limpkin calling, green background
Tracking Flexible Spot M
Folks might ask, “Why did you stay with one bird for so long?” First off, tame Limpkins at ILE are few and far between. Second, and most importantly, I was able to practice using Tracking Flexible Spot M at 1200mm. This amazing AF area separates SONY from all Canon and Nikon AF systems: you usually start with the AF point in the center and acquire focus on the bird’s face. Then you can point the lens wherever you want to get the perfect image design; the AF point always stays on the bird’s face. It does, however, require some practice to develop complete confidence when using it. When the bird called, I trusted Tracking Flexible Spot M. My confidence was rewarded by two sharp images.
There is extensive coverage of all of the AF Area Modes (including and especially the Tracking Modes) in the soon-to-be-finished SONY e-Guide. Keep reading for details on that.
From Fred Innamorato via e-mail
Hi Artie,
I want to thank you for making the Sony e-Guide and videos available and for the work you put into the blog as well as for your books that teach us how to photograph birds and also for your camera User’s Guides. There is just no possible way I would have been able to get my Sony a9 ii camera settings so technically correct for doing birds in flight on my own without this guide. in my opinion, Sony should pay you for taking on the task of educating their customers. Sony has created an amazing camera but they fail to explain to their customers how to take full advantage of it. I appreciate that you know and have access to some very competent people with the technical backgrounds to assist you in your field experimentation to come up with the best and most practical and useful Menu Settings for bird photography. We all will benefit from your unique ability to pull this together. I am especially happy with your instructions on how to use the Zebra Settings for getting proper exposures. I really can’t thank you enough Artie for making my bird photography hobby so much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. My photography brings me great satisfaction. Sharing quality photographs with my family and friends has generated lots of interest in my hobby and why I do it. Life is good!
I highly recommend the purchase of your Sony e-Guide and Video(s). This information is just not available anywhere else. Even from Sony …
Fred Innamorato
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
I recently sent aa link to the March 19 Version of the SONY e-Guide to the 31 folks who have purchased it. It will siureely be the next-to-last pre-publication version.
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
Me early. Listening to alternative-view COVID-19 videos. I’ve been swimming every day without a miss. I’ll be heading down to the lake early today, Thursday 9 APR 2020 despite another less than ideal forecast; partly cloudy with west winds. Yesterday’s lousy forecast yielded a great session …
What They Are Buying
The BAA Online Store has been very busy for the past week with most folks purchasing educational materials — moslty e-Guides and Videos — to help pass their COVID-19 generated free time. Here is what folks have been buying:
Blog regular Fred Innamorato is offering a Sony A9 in excellent condition for a BAA record-low $2349.00. The sale includes the original battery, the charger, the original product box, the body cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The a9, the original AF king, offers superb autofocus that absolutely kills for flight photography. Virtually every image is sharp on the eye. Many feel that the AF system on the a9 ii is no better. As the a9 ii sells new for $4498.00 you can save an incredible $2149.00! artie
Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED Slide/Film Scanner with necessary extras
Wayne Lea is offering a Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED Slide/Film Scanner, a Nikon SF-210 Auto Slide Feeder (up to 50 slide batches), a Nikon SA-21 35mm Strip FilmAdapter (2-6 frame strips), and a Rocky Nook Scanning Negatives and Slides book ($45), all in near-mint condition for an amazingly low $1199.00. The sale includes everything as noted above and thee manuals. The scanner is supported by VueScan and Silverfast scanning software (separate purchase required) for use with current operating systems (but not by the original Nikon software). The scanner has many special features including Digital ICE and a special Kodachrome setting and is surely the best slide scanner ever made.
Your scanner and accessories will be shipped by 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 Wayne via e-mail or by phone at 1-817-360-1480 (Central time zone).
I owned this scanner years ago when I was scanning the best of my tens of thousands of slides. It did a fine job. Can you think of a better way to spend your shelter-in-place time? artie
This image was created on Wednesday 8 APR 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:14am on a clear morning.
Right Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. I do not remember going from Center Zone to Right Zone, but I surely wound up with the correct AF Area.
Sandhill Crane colt running toward its sibling (and away froom the photographer)
Wait For Me Bro!
Yesterday’s weather forecast was poor for bird photography: clear skies with the wing from the west, AKA wind against sun. That pretty much ruled out flight photography. I visited old gnarly, its mate, and their still very small chick. They were back to their very shy ways, so I let them be. I could have tried for Black Vulture head portraits on the pier but I have a zillion fairly new but unpublished ones. So I drove out to the end of the North Peninsula and lo and behold, the crane colt family walked out of the marsh. I made a few images at 840mm from my SUV but quickly got out of my vehicle with the 200-600 with the a9 ii so that I could more easily keep up with the birds and get the perspectives that I wanted.
I got low — as I often do — by walking down the edge of the field toward the canal. Then, I could simply change the background by taking a short step up or backing up a bit. The gray-blue strip above the grass is the lake and the distant horizon. I am not sure how I wound up in the perfect spot at the exact right time when Orangey Colt decided to run toward its nest-mate. IAC, I followed my own advice: When unexpected action occurs, (acquire focus) and push and hold the shutter button. All of the seven images in the sequence were sharp. Today’s featured image had the most pleasing juxtaposition with no merges. I love the raised right foot and the way that the running colt’s left wing fits nicely over the back of Gray Colt.
Opting to work with the crane family with the wind-against-sun conditions was a smart move as large birds that are foraging are not affected at all by the wind. Once I got low I was able to stay right on sun angle by moving right or left. Another consideration was avoiding having any white buildings on the far shore in the background. In any case, I was thrilled with this one and in addition, created several other very fine images.
Tuesday was mixed clouds and sun all day long. I went down to the lake early, had a few fair chances on Cattle Egret and Old Gnarly with its still-tiny chick, and did some feather close-ups on an adult crane. With a nice northeast wind and the sun out, I set up for flight photography at the always-dependable Vulture Tree. Not a single vulture flew in. I headed down twice in the afternoon and never raised my lens. I’ll be heading down to the lake this morning, Wednesday 8 APR 2020. The forecast is for west winds and clear skies so chances are that it will be a tough wind-against-sun session for bird photography.
Thanks to the many who commented on the Osprey silhouettes in yesterday’s blog post here.
And thanks to the many who have been ordering a ton of educational guides from the BAA Online Store here and here. And instructional videos here.
In Jim’s absence, I have pretty much mastered the UPS and Stamps.Com shipping stuff so the BAA Online Store is open for business.
Unexplained Upper Leg Pain
When I woke on Sunday past, I could barely sit down due to some pretty decent muscle pain in both thighs, especially the hamstrings and the adductors on the insides of the legs. For only a moment, I thought, “Is this the muscle pain of COVID-19?” But I realized that what I was feeling was sore, over-used muscle pain. I asked myself, “What had I done yesterday that strenuously involved my upper leg muscles?” For the answer, see the Bored? Trash Pickup Solution feature below.
SONY 7r iv or a9 ii?
Thanks to Bill Webb for his comment at yesterday’s blog post. At 10:46am on April 7, 2020, he wrote:
Image 3 for me. Approach angle, wing position, and talon display all work.
Another issue/question: Are you finding that you prefer the α7R iv over the α9 ii for most of your work? I have the α9 ii and the α7R iii (using 200-600G) and while the α9 is fantastic for in-flight captures, I find that I am more satisfied with the α7’s overall performance and the extra available pixels for cropping are always good. Many of my subjects are small birds (wrens, phoebes, bluebirds, kinglets) in brush so the α7 definitely works best in those situations. For the larger subjects (hawks, owls, herons, egrets, etc.) either camera works well. And actually, my α7R iii tracks pretty darn well – not as well as the α9 ii, though.
Just curious because I find myself wondering if I should have bought the α7R iv instead of the α9 ii. (Sigh)
At 6:41pm I replied:
Hey Bill, Thanks for your comment and your question. When it comes to birds in flight, the a9 and the a9 ii are far better than the a7r series bodies. (That said in spite of the sharpness of Images #2 and #3 above.) And that goes double for folks with the 200-600. My a7r III was my workhorse camera body on my last Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime; it served me well. If you keep your shutter speeds up and the bird holds still for a moment, the 7r iv is great. I enjoy working with the a9 ii much more than with the 7r iv as it is so fast and everything is sharp. On the other hand, the 7r iv files are amazing and you can crop with impunity.
If I could only own one body for bird photography, I would go with the a9 ii in an instant. And Patrick Sparkman would do the same.
Best advice? Own both! Please be sure to use Bedfords or my B&H affiliate links if you purchase any new SONY gear. Doing so will earn you a nice discount on the almost-finished SONY e-Guide and Videos.
with love, artie
From Fred Innamorato via e-mail
Hi Artie,
I want to thank you for making the Sony e-Guide and videos available and for the work you put into the blog as well as for your books that teach us how to photograph birds and also for your camera User’s Guides. There is just no possible way I would have been able to get my Sony a9 ii camera settings so technically correct for doing birds in flight on my own without this guide. in my opinion, Sony should pay you for taking on the task of educating their customers. Sony has created an amazing camera but they fail to explain to their customers how to take full advantage of it. I appreciate that you know and have access to some very competent people with the technical backgrounds to assist you in your field experimentation to come up with the best and most practical and useful Menu Settings for bird photography. We all will benefit from your unique ability to pull this together. I am especially happy with your instructions on how to use the Zebra Settings for getting proper exposures. I really can’t thank you enough Artie for making my bird photography hobby so much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. My photography brings me great satisfaction. Sharing quality photographs with my family and friends has generated lots of interest in my hobby and why I do it. Life is good!
I highly recommend the purchase of your Sony e-Guide and Video(s). This information is just not available anywhere else. Even from Sony …
Fred Innamorato
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
I recently sent aa link to the March 19 Version of the SONY e-Guide to the 31 folks who have purchased it. It will siureely be the next-to-last pre-publication version.
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
On Saturday morning I was waiting at the point on the North Field for the cranes to swim across. To keep my self busy I set up the 600 with the 1.4X and the a9 ii for Black Vultures in flight. Many were landing on opposite shore on the North Peninsula. I lined up a few nice group shots but never pressed the shutter button as there was so much litter on the grass and along the shoreline. So when the light got too harsh, I drove around to the opposite point and began cleaning about a 40-square yard patch. I picked up plastic bottles, cups, caps, and container lids, soda cans and straws, dozens of cigarette butts, lots of paper, a rubber worm, cardboard containers, and even two washcloths. Sad to say, the fishermen at ILE are quite careless.
I bent and squatted so many times that I was quite sore the next day or two as detailed above. After a day of rest, I trash-picked half of the road by the North Field point. I still need to do the other half.
If you are fortunate enough to be able to get out in a natural area for an exercise walk, consider bringing along a plastic bag and picking up the litter. You can be ultra-safe (as I was) by wearing a glove on one hand, holding the plastic bag in the other, and then washing up with lots of soap as soon as you get home. Heck, I’ve been keeping a spray bottle of HoCl in my car and using it often.
It seems like a win/win to me.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.
I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back and forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:
Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.
Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.
You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
While the crane colt family is complete and healthy, they have foiled my efforts to make a great image or two of them swimming. The first two times that I saw them crossing I was late and out of position. On Sunday morning pst, they did not swim across the canal until 9:15am and the light was harsh. The next day was cloudy with dog walkers and fishermen; they stayed on the North Peninsula side. Since Monday was cloudy, I headed down to the point at 8:15. The two adults with Orangey Colt and Grey Colt had already swum across. I got out the SONY 100-400 with the a7r iv and stayed with them for an hour as they foraged. I tried to make some family-group and bird-scape images but did not do very well.
I will be heading down to the lake early on this dead-clear morning, Tuesday 7 APR 2020. I need to get to the post office today. Have a great day and be safe.
Thanks to the many folks who left comments on yesterday’s The Leaf or Not the Leaf? My Big Mistake? Lots on Flower Photography. And New SONY Used Gear Listings … blog post here. Lots of folks were right on the button and most liked the leaf in the frame. I will share my thoughts on the leaf here tomorrow. I was glad to learn that Patrick Sparkman sold two of his four SONY listed items on the first day. That is good news in a somewhat depressed COVID-19 market …
All are invited to share their thoughts on which of today’s three featured images is the strongest. Please let us know why you made your choice. Comments on the strengths and weaknesses of each photo are welcome.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created on the magical evening of 3 APR 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. Working from my SUV, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel. ISO 320: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 7:16Pm on a partly cloudy late afternoon.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly.
Image #1: Osprey pair oon natural nest atop palm
The Trick to Creating Low-Nest Osprey Silhouettes at ILE
I’ve done lots of sunset silhouette photography at ILE, most featuring birds on The Perch. And while the new nest on the dead palm stump is the lowest I have found along the lakeshore, it is still much too tall if the sunset color is in the low western sky. Last Friday afternoon after making lots of tight head portraits of a tame Limpkin, there was not much around and I had just about given up and headed home. But then I noticed a large cloud in the western sky. It had a decent-sized hole in the middle, well above the horizon. Putting two and two together I hung around and voila, I had the high sunset color that I needed. With the two love-birds on the nest, I moved my car well aaway and went to the 200-600 to create the establishing shot above.
Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #2: Osprey landing at natural nest atop palm (3X2)
Bringing Out the Big Gun
When the birds both flew, I repositioned the car and — because they might be returning any second — went to the 600 GM/1.4X TC/a7r iv rig that was already assembled. I set the exposure and the bird obligingly landed and then took off again. Bingo.
Images #2 & #3 are razor-sharp by any standard. At 100%, the bill and the talons are scary sharp. Had I gone to WIDE AF Area (as Patrick Sparkman prefers for most of his SONY flight photography) rather than Center Zone, I might have been able to create an image or two with the bird well to the left of the nest. Image #2 is a crop with a bit of canvas added on the right, and Image #2 is an obviously boxy crop. With the 61-MP 7r iv files cropping sharp images is never a problem at all.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
It’s cloudy here again today, Monday 6 APR 2020. I took yesterday afternoon off from photography as it was drizzling. I spent about 2 1/2hours alternating between crying and sobbing watching Forrest Gump on TIVO. I had not watched it in at least a dozen years. I had totally forgotten what an amazing movie it is. For many years, I felt that The Shawshank Redemption — I have watched that one at least 25 times over the years — should have won Best Picture in the 1994 Academy Awards. After last night, I realize that I was wrong. Way wrong. The screenplay (by Eric Roth based on the novel by Winston Groom) was captivating and moving, the acting (Tom Hanks — winner: Best Actor, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise — nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Mykelti Williamson, & Sally Field) was too good, and the cinematography was outstanding as well. I could not believe how many great scenes I had forgotten and how many historically-important occurrences had been written into the story. Watching it again was time well-spent.
I will be heading down to the lake again this morning. I have upped my daily swim from 44 to 50 lengths (with 88 to a mile).
Coming tomorrow: two great Osprey landing sunset silhouettes.
COVID-19 Protocol Updates
Some might be interested in learning more from Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt about the virus and various and effective treatment protocols. You can view it here on the Sophia Education website.
This image was created yesterday at Indian Lake Estates, FL — 5 APR 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at at 339mm) and the 61-mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 800: 1/100 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:09am on a cloudy-dark morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure.
Pickerelweed blossom
The Leaf or Not the Leaf?
Would you have included the leaf in the image design? Should I have removed the leaf during the image optimization? Either way, be sure to let us know why. Comments on an alternate composition are welcome.
My Big Mistake
What was my biggest mistake in the creation of this image? (Hint: I was being lazy …)
SONY 100-400
As noted here many times previously, the .98 meter minimum focusing distance of the SONY 100-400 (the same as the Canon 100-400 II), is a huge plus. It comes in very handy when working with mega-tame birds and can be effective as a quasi-macro lens for large bugs (including butterflies and dragonflies), frogs, all but very small flower blossoms, and lots more. In addition, it is a more than capable flight lens that is a lot lighter than the 200-600. The 100-400 was my workhorse lens on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime.
New Used Gear Listings
Please note: the purchase of any item below will include a $50.00 discount on the almost-finished SONY e-Guide.
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens in very good condition for a very low $1650.00. The body of the lens is in excellent condition. The glass is perfect except for a tiny scratch on the front element that does not affect performance. The sale includes the lens hood, the original box, the soft case that came with the lens, the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The .98 meter minimum focusing distance of the SONY 100-400 is a huge plus. It comes in very handy when working with mega-tame birds and the lens can be effective as a quasi-macro lens for large bugs (including butterflies and dragonflies), frogs, all but very small flower blossoms, and lots more. In addition, it is a more than capable flight lens that is a lot lighter than the 200-600. The 100-400 was my workhorse lens on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. As it sells new for $2,498.00 you can save a very neat $848.00 by grabbing Patrick’s lens.
Sony A7R III Digital Mirrorless Camera Body
IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony A7R III Mirrorless Camera Body in excellent plus condition for a very low $1690.00. The sale includes the original battery, the charger, the product box, the body cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The 7r iii performed superbly as my workhorse camera body on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. The image files are superb and it was not bad for flight photography. As this body sells new for $2,798.00 you can save a handsome $1108.00 by grabbing Patrick’s 7r iii.
Sony A9 Digital Mirrorless Camera Body
Sold first day of listing!
IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony A9 in excellent plus condition for $2390.00. The sale includes the original battery, the charger, the original product box, the body cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The a9, the original AF king, offers superb autofocus that absolutely kills for flight photography. Virtually every image is sharp on the eye. Many feel that the AF system on the a9 ii is no better. As the a9 sells new for $4498.00 you can save an incredible $2108.00! artie
Sony VG-C3EM Vertical Grip for α9, α7R III, & α7 III
Sold first day of listing!
IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a used Sony VG-C3EM Vertical Grip for α9, α7R III, & α7 III in like-new condition for $220.00. The sale includes insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
The Art of Flower Photography by Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris
You can learn everything e about this e-book here, or order your copy here.
Video: The Art of Flower Photography
In this B&H Event Space video, two of the world’s premier photographers of flora and fauna — Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito — share the techniques they use to create dramatic, sharp, well-composed, properly exposed images of flowers and flower fields. Denise does great things with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 L IS lens, while artie often goes to longer focal lengths—he has been seen photographing tulips at Keukenhoff Gardens, Holland, with a 600mm lens and a teleconverter. In addition to standard techniques, the video ends with Ippolito and Morris showing a wide range of abstract floral images and describing a variety of creative artistic effects such as multiple exposures, sharp/soft blending, texture overlays, warping a flower, creating zoom/twirls, in-camera blurs, and many others.
After being red-hot for days, photography at ILE has slowed down just a bit. I did get the cranes swimming on Saturday morning but that afternoon yielded only some Black Vulture images; several were on a lawn picking away at a fish that had been dropped by an Osprey that had been perched on a telephone pole. It is cloudy-dark here this morning, Sunday 5 APR 2020. I will head down to the lake at about 8:15am.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
This image was created on 2 APR at Indian Lake Estates. Working from my SUV, I used the Induro GIT 204/FlexShooter Mini-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the 61-MP Monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO: 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with exposure compensation on the rear wheel; in the relatively soft light, I went with some Zebras on the whitest brighest parts of the bird’s neck. 1/1000 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. AWB at 6:33pm on partly sunny afternoon.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C on the bird’s face did the job perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Crested Caracara head and shoulders portrait
The Situation
As recently as Thursday past, I had been seeing two Crested Caracaras foraging for bugs in the grass on the North Field (and on the lawns of some adjacent homes). I created some decent images of the birds on the scraggly grass but was not thrilled with any of them. So when I saw this bird — the more handsome of the two — I maneuvered my Sequoia closer and closer to the bird who would simply walk a few steps to my right each time I approached. I started with verticals at 1200mm and my last efforts produced two horizontal images that turned out to be the winners.
Click on the image to enlarge and read the fine print.
Crested Caracara — pre- and post-Capture One RAW Conversion Adjustments
Pre- and Post-Capture One RAW Conversion Adjustments Screen Capture
The lower of the two images above, _7R42198, is the first of the two horizontal captures. Properly exposed to the right in the soft light, this image looks flat and washed out. The image on the top is _7R42198. With Capture One, the adjustments to the RAW are saved with the file after they are made. The sliders on the left of the image show the adjustments that I made. You can see them easily by clicking on the image to enlarge it. Study those changes to learn why the image on the top looks so much better than the image on the bottom.
Once I had the TIF in Photoshop, I did some bill clean-up using all of my usual cadre of tools: the Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, the Clone Stamp Tool and several small, warped, transformed Quick Masks fine-tuned with a Regular Layer Mask. In addition, take a close look at the distracting out-of-focus grass stems in the background; compare the background in the top image in the Capture One Screen Capture with the optimized image that opens this blog post and see how much better the background looks in the optimized version.
Background Smoothing
Many folks attempt to do background smoothing by first selecting the subject. That pretty much never works well. I developed a technique where I first use either an 80% Clone Stamp or Content-Aware Fill to do the grunt work and then apply a Gaussian Blur that is refined by a Hide-All (Inverse) Layer Mask. The latter is described in detail on pages 41-43 of the a href=”http://birdsasart-shop.com/digital-basics-ii/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail.
SONY 1200mm Sharpness
It is an absolute pleasure to be able to work with the SONY 600 GM and the 2X TC with either the a9 ii or the 7r iv and consistently produce sharp images of both static birds. I always try to go with higher shutter speeds with the 7r iv than I do with the a9 ii. In addition, though the a9 ii is clearly best for flight photography, the a7r iv can perform well for flight in certain (bright or very bright) situations with the 600 GM and the 1.4X TC (and even with the 2X on rare occasion).
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.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
All 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.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
Friday morning was not too good for photography. I had hoped to photograph the crane colt family crossing the canal. But instead of the cranes appearing, a car with two fishermen appeared and parked right at the point, right where I had seen them cross twice. So I messed around with some vultures, found the surviving tiny crane chick (that continued to be mega-shy), and searched in vain for the caracaras. Then I drove back to the South Peninsula to check on the crane colt family. The two adults were there with Orangey Colt. Gray Colt was not with them. I hoped that it was out in the marsh by itself but feared the worst …
I headed down on Friday afternoon to check on the crane family but did not find them on either side of the canal. With the east wind, prospects were not good but when I made a u-turn I came upon a tame Limpkin. I stayed with the bird for thirty minutes of blue-water background head-shots and eventually got a few images of the bird calling — there call is like a screaming person being tortured. With prospects dim, I almost headed home. But the sky looked promising for a sunset, so I drove around a bit. Again, the caracaras had disappeared. I went back to the South Peninsula to check on the missing colt. As I approached their favorite area, I saw the two adults walking toward me with one colt. Bummer. But then the second colt appeared from behind one of the adults. I was glad for the birds. And for me.
While an east wind on a sunny afternoon is terrible for traditional front-lit bird photography, it is great for flight silhouettes. I drove the two minutes to the new, low Osprey neat and enjoyed two red-sky landing sequences. So what began as a somewhat dismal day turned out to be a great day with a spectacular finish …
This image was also created on 29 MAR 2020. For this one I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 220mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode; I went for lots of Zebras on the white sky. AWB at 8:18am on a suddenly cloudy morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly.
Image #2: Sandhill Crane colt and pine tree bird-scape
My Favorite Crane Colt Image and Why …
In the Switching Back to Nikon! Clean, Tight, and Graphic. And Thinking Wide for a Bird-scape … blog post here, I shared two images of the same Sandhill Crane colt and asked which was the best image.
Many folks commented on the April Fool’s aspect of the post, but very few commented on the two images. Those who did all liked the wide version above better than the head portrait. As much as I like tight head-shots, I absolutely fell in love with the wide shot above. I only created two frames after raising the 2-6 and zooming out. When I saw the images on the laptop I was thrilled. Thanks to Tracking Flexible Spot M both were sharp on the colt. And after setting up to get some Zebras on the light sky on a cloudy morning, the exposure was perfect as well.
Why do I like it so much? The composition is perfect. The colt’s raised foot adds. And the mood of the image is somewhat cartoon-like and light-hearted, almost whimsical. Most importantly, it shows that varying your game (clean, tight, and graphic) and thinking creatively (in this case, wider), can result in something new and different.
I did, however, struggle with leveling this image correctly. I eventually decided that the tree had to be growing straight up and down … That despite the fact that the ground (rather than the tree) wound up looking tilted … What are your thoughts on that? I will try to remember to check out the tree this morning, Saturday 4 APR 2020. I am heading down to the lake very soon on yet another clear, cool morning.
I’ve been spending lots of time with the crane colt family, two adult Sandhill Cranes with Orangey Colt and Gray Colt. I have been learning a ton about their behavior and may just be on the verge of creating some really special stuff of the whole family swimming … Yes, swimming. With luck, I may have a chance this morning after totally blowing it yesterday … Today is Friday 3 APR 2020.
Blessed
Please do not think for one second that I do not realize how blessed I am to be able to go down to the lake here at ILE every morning and afternoon and find some interesting birds to photograph. Though there is almost always something to photograph here, late winter and early spring are prime time. Heck, last night I got some head portraits of one of the two new ILE visitors: Crested Caracara.
Do I Even Have to Ask?
Which of today’s featured images is your favorite? Be sure to let us know why you made your choice.
From Fred Innamorato via e-mail
Hi Artie,
I want to thank you for making the Sony e-Guide and videos available and for the work you put into the blog as well as for your books that teach us how to photograph birds and also for your camera User’s Guides. There is just no possible way I would have been able to get my Sony a9 ii camera settings so technically correct for doing birds in flight on my own without this guide. in my opinion, Sony should pay you for taking on the task of educating their customers. Sony has created an amazing camera but they fail to explain to their customers how to take full advantage of it. I appreciate that you know and have access to some very competent people with the technical backgrounds to assist you in your field experimentation to come up with the best and most practical and useful Menu Settings for bird photography. We all will benefit from your unique ability to pull this together. I am especially happy with your instructions on how to use the Zebra Settings for getting proper exposures. I really can’t thank you enough Artie for making my bird photography hobby so much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. My photography brings me great satisfaction. Sharing quality photographs with my family and friends has generated lots of interest in my hobby and why I do it. Life is good!
I highly recommend the purchase of your Sony e-Guide and Video(s). This information is just not available anywhere else. Even from Sony …
Fred Innamorato
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
I recently sent aa link to the March 19 Version of the SONY e-Guide to the 31 folks who have purchased it. It will siureely be the next-to-last pre-publication version.
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Image #1: Cattle Egret flock hunkered down against the cold
The Situation: Cold and Blustery
It was unseasonably cold — in the high fifties — at ILE on Wednesday morning past. NW winds and clear skies are generally the death knell for good bird photography. But rather than give up after seeing the flag down by the pier, I took a ride around and spotted a group of about forty Cattle Egrets hunkered down against the cold and the wind. If you’ve been watching birds for a while (about 42 years for me), you would know that on really windy days they are reluctant to fly …
Center Zone AF-C. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Image #2: Cattle Egret in non-breeding plumage
Getting Started
I usually photograph this species from the vehicle while they are foraging for bugs in the grass with a 600mm lens and a 1.4X TC. They can be a bit on the shy side and will fly if you approach them too closely (or if they feel like it). Knowing that I might be able to get close enough for a few head portraits, I started off with the 2X on the 600 but did not press things; I stayed well back at first. I saw that the nice bird in Image #2 was somewhat isolated and wanted to make an image that showed the chilly conditions. I loved the background grasses in the early morning light and the bird’s splayed fathers so and went to vertical. With vertical subjects, Zone is often the way to go with SONY. With not-so-large-in-the frame birds, I will go with Center Zone. When the bird fills 2/3 of the vertical frame, go to Upper Center Zone.
Though the sun is shining, this image still says “chilly” to me.
This image was also created on 1 APR at Indian Lake Estates. Again, working from my SUV, I used the Induro GIT 204/FlexShooter Mini-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the 61-MP Monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO: 500. Exposure determined by Zebras with exposure compensation on the rear wheel: 1/1600 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. As always in bright sun, I went for just a smattering of Zebras. AWB at 8:57am on a clear sunny morning.
Center Zone AF-C. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.
Image #3: Cattle Egret in breeding plumage
Moving in for the Kill
One advantage of not trying to get too close too soon is that you give the birds a chance to get used to your vehicle (or you if you are on foot)> In this case, they became acclimated both to my Sequoia and to my movements inside the vehicle. I spotted a bird that was starting to get into breeding plumage and made some 3/4-frame verticals. Then I spied the beauty featured in Image #3, pretty much in full breeding plumage. The soft parts colors of wading birds that are actively seeking mates are intensified by hormones. I back the car up, turned to the left, and pulled up to sun angle. Then I did that again. The birds stayed put. The problem was that there was a bird right behind the handsomest one. As hard as I tried, I could not isolate the bird that I wanted for a head shot. So I stayed put and said a few prayers. They worked as the problematic bird took a few steps forward leaving me free to create the image that I wanted when the whole thing began almost 45 minutes before.
New In-Vehicle Tripod Strategies
I keep my Induro GIT 304L with the legs fully extended topped by the FlexShooter Pro in the back of my SUV to be used when I get out of my vehicle to photography. I keep the smaller, lighter GIT 204 (topped by the FlexShooter Mini) in the front with me along with the 600 GM and the 200-600 G. If it looks as if I will be using thee 600 and TCs from the vehicle, I take the time to set up the 204 inside the vehicle. Learn how to do that in the Setting up a Tripod in your Vehicle Video (only $10.00) here. This new approach saves me lots of time as I do not have to lengthen the tripod legs when I get out of the vehicle and then shorten them when I get back in.
The huge advantage of using the FlexShooter heads on the tripod in the vehicle is that once you have positioned your vehicle you level the silver ball once by loosening the black lever and centering the bubble in the scribed circle and then firmly tightening the black lever. Then loosen the silver knob to pan knowing that every image will be square to the world no matter where you point the big lens. It is impossible to do this from the vehicle with any other ballhead, with a Wimberley VII Head, or with a Mongoose M3.6.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.
I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back and forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:
Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.
Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.
You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
I had not realized when I awoke yesterday that it had rained overnight (for the first time in many weeks). A front had gone through, there was a brisk northwest wind, and the temps were in the high 50s, a far cry from the near-90-degree afternoons we had been experiencing recently. I discovered that one of Old Gnarly’s two chicks had perished. The two larger colts were foraging with their parents. But I was attracted by a fair-sized flock of about 40 Cattle Egrets hunkered down at the edge of a canal. I concentrated on them and wound up doing quite well.
It is cold and dead-clear here this morning, Thursday 2 APR 2020. I will be heading down to the lake at about 7:30am.
Tripod Handling
Many folks do not know the correct and easy way to extend their tripod legs or to shorten them. I’ve seen folks on IPTs and folks in the field struggle terribly with these most basic of tasks. This short video will show you exactly how to perform these simple but very important procedures. There are also some tips on setting up your brand-new tripod.
LB. ST.
Lengthen from the bottom, shorten from the top. Be sure to always leave two to three inches of the bottom leg extended. Always. And be sure to purchase your Induro tripod here. For tripod advice, please contact me via e-mail.
If you have a tripod-related question, please leave a comment below.
Yesterday, I decided to sell all of my SONY gear and return to Nikon because I miss the 500 PF too much! SONY fire sale coming soon.
What’s Up?
I went back down to the lake on Tuesday afternoon. With a stiff west wind, there were whitecaps on the lake. I had some good chances with Crested Caracara; two have been hanging around for the past few days. I will be heading down to the lake again this morning, WED 1 APR 2020.
COVID-19
Below is a comment by award-winning photographer Paul Mckenzie at the blog post here.
There needs to be a complete mind-shift in the US/EU. Here in Hong Kong where I live, more than 99% of the population has been wearing masks since January. We have had relatively few cases and single-digit numbers of deaths. The vast majority of positive cases are from persons that have recently been in the US and EU. Masks work big time especially if everyone uses them. However, I do appreciate that there are shortages of masks in many geographies. I cringe when I see un-masked US politicians speaking into microphones …
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane colt, head portrait
Clean, Tight, and Graphic
Clean, tight, and graphic has been the hallmark of my BIRDS AS ART style for well more than three decades. I do my best to follow my own oft-given advice: When the light is bright, think tight.. Since I’ve always been a head-hunter, Image #1 put a big smile on my face.
This image was also created om 29 MAR 2020. For this one I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 220mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode; I went for lots of Zebras on the white sky. AWB at 8:18am on a suddenly cloudy morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly.
Image #2: Sandhill Crane colt and pine tree bird-scape
Thinking Wide …
The colt in Image #2 was about 30 feet from me. When it was a bit closer to me, I made some very lovely 3/4-frame vertical portraits of the whole bird at 353mms. I am not sure how I conceived this image, but I zoomed out, decided where to cut the pine tree, used Tracking Flexible Spot M to place the bird in the lower-left corner of the frame, and made only two images, almost as an afterthought … Bird-scapes rarely excite me. I kept only this one with the bird’s bill slightly open.
Which is the Best Image?
Which of today’s two featured images is the best? Be sure to let us know why you made your choice.
840mm and 200-600 Versatility
When I first got the SONY 600 GM, I assumed that there would be a lot of focal length overlap with the 200-600. But once I realized that I almost always used the 600 with a teleconverter — usually the 1.4X, it became obvious that having the 200-600 on my shoulder via an Black Rapdi Curve Breathe strap with the 600/1.4X TC rig on the tripod was a deadly, effective, and hugely versatile combination … To bad I am ging back to Nikon. Or is today April Fool’s Day?
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
I was down at the lake by 8:00am on Monday 30 MAR 2020. For the first time in a week, I could not locate the crane family — two adults with two colts — in the marsh at the south end of the South Peninsula. With a nice breeze from the west, flying Ospreys were out as well. I did a few foraging Cattle Egrets and headed back home early. I needed to get to the post office for the first time in two weeks, needed gas, needed to pick up two pairs of new reading glasses, and needed to do aa bit of shopping.
I’ve been swimming and doing my bursts every day.
Stunned
With a mask over my nose and mouth, my left hand in my pocket with my credit card and car keys, and a glove on my right to do the cart-pushing and shopping, I completed all of my tasks in short order. Though the number of cases in Polk County, FL is relatively low at 34, that number is double what it was two days ago. Anyhoo, I was stunned while shopping to note only two other shoppers wearing protection on their hands, and perhaps four others wearing masks. That left more than one hundred folks in Publix and WalMart touching public surfaces with impunity.
I repeat from an earlier blog post, the easiest way to become infected with COVID-19 (if you are not a health care provider), is to touch a public surface and then touch your mouth, noses, or eyes.. When are folks gonna get it?
Actually from the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website
There have been lots of bogus lists being circulated online. Below is a direct cut and paste from the Johns Hopkins Medicine website here.
Reviewed By: Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.
To help lessen the spread of the new coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease it causes, here are important steps that can help protect you, your family and others. Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Medicine, shares these guidelines:
Avoid close contact with others.
It’s important to understand that the new coronavirus spreads mainly from person to person. If an infected person coughs or sneezes, their droplets can infect people nearby. That’s why it’s important to avoid close contact with others. Understand that people (including children) may be infected with the new coronavirus and have only mild symptoms.
Some measures you can take to avoid close contact with others include:
Stay home as much as possible and reduce visitors.
Practice social distancing:
Stay at least six feet away from others in public places.
Call friends and family or visit by video.
Ask your employer if it’s possible to work from home.
Avoid people who appear sick.
Go grocery shopping and run errands during off-peak times.
Healthy people do not need to wear a mask unless they are caring for someone diagnosed with, or being monitored for, COVID-19, or respiratory illness.
Practice good hygiene wherever you are.
The new coronavirus can survive for hours or even days on some surfaces. Touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face is one of the ways to become infected.
The virus is no longer detectable on plastic after 72 hours, and on stainless steel or cardboard after about 48 hours. With that in mind:
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, especially:
After being in public places and touching door handles, shopping carts, elevator buttons, etc.
After using the bathroom
Before preparing food
If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
If you cough or sneeze, do so in the bend of your elbow. If you use a tissue, throw it away immediately.
Almost all good advice (as I see it), but again I am stunned as there is no mention at all of avoiding touching public surfaces with unprotected hands …
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
i-Phone 11 Video
I created this short video on Saturday morning past. The day began as a gloriously sunny one but clouds moved in very quickly. Yes, this crane family is inordinately accepting. I went to video after trying to do some head-shots showing the adult handing off a fat mole cricket or another tasty morsel. My best (not very good) effort is below. Sometimes we just need to sit back and enjoy the show.
Best not to enlarge when viewing as I use a low quality setting to reduce upload times …
This image was created om 29 MAR 2020. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 324mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:41am on a suddenly very cloudy morning.
Center Zone AF-C had some problems as the adult was jabbing violently into thee soil. But it worked for this frame.
Sandhill Crane adult and hungry and attentive colt
My Best Effort
This was the lone keeper from more than 100 attempts. I did get some really good stuff when the sun was out earlier.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
Same old, same old. The lake was very good on Saturday morning. I will be heading down a bit earlier today, Sunday 29 MAR 2020. The SONY guide is this-close to being finished.
SONY Camera Body Help Needed
If you own a SONY body and have ever had the viewfinder black out when you raised your rig to your eye to shoot, please click here and let me know the exact camera model. Please also include a detailed description of the event, how long it lasted, the frequency of such occurrences, and anything that you did or do to rectify the situation.
Please note that I am not talking about the 2-3 seconds that it takes for a camera to turn back on after it has been asleep. Toward that end, here is a free excerpt from the new e-Guide:
Power Save Start Time
Power Save Start Time (under the gold Setup Menus) should be set to 30 Min. If you choose a shorter duration in hopes of saving battery power, you will not save very much, and the SONY batteries are excellent. But you will be dismayed when you raise your camera to your eye and it takes 2-3 seconds for the camera to awaken. If you accidentally leave your camera on, it will power down after 30 minutes and prevent your battery from becoming exhausted.
From Fred Innamorato via e-mail
Hi Artie,
I want to thank you for making the Sony e-Guide and videos available and for the work you put into the blog as well as for your books that teach us how to photograph birds and also for your camera User’s Guides. There is just no possible way I would have been able to get my Sony a9 ii camera settings so technically correct for doing birds in flight on my own without this guide. in my opinion, Sony should pay you for taking on the task of educating their customers. Sony has created an amazing camera but they fail to explain to their customers how to take full advantage of it. I appreciate that you know and have access to some very competent people with the technical backgrounds to assist you in your field experimentation to come up with the best and most practical and useful Menu Settings for bird photography. We all will benefit from your unique ability to pull this together. I am especially happy with your instructions on how to use the Zebra Settings for getting proper exposures. I really can’t thank you enough Artie for making my bird photography hobby so much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. My photography brings me great satisfaction. Sharing quality photographs with my family and friends has generated lots of interest in my hobby and why I do it. Life is good!
I highly recommend the purchase of your Sony e-Guide and Video(s). This information is just not available anywhere else. Even from Sony …
Fred Innamorato
The Sony Camera Videos and Pre-publication e-Guide Costs and Discount Info
I recently sent aa link to the March 19 Version of the SONY e-Guide to the 31 folks who have purchased it. It will surely be the next-to-last pre-publication version.
The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. The guide is now 98% done and you will — of course, receive the final version when it is completed. I sent out the third draft today to those who have purchased the Guide with or without the discount.
Folks who have used my B&H links or purchased their SONY gear from Bedfords will receive said discount based exactly on how much they spent. If you spent more than $10,000 you will receive one free video and the e-Guide. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each. If you spent $2400, you will receive a 24% discount, and so on and so forth. And again, additional camera videos will be $25.00 each.
I will need time to verify your B&H purchases so folks will need to send their receipts and then be a bit patient. It is much easier to verify Bedfords’ purchases but I need those receipts as well.
If you have not used BAA links, please do so in the future. If that is the case and you would like the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words “SONY Pre-publication Guide” in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos. Please add $25 for each additional camera video. Be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.
Folks who have used BAA links to purchase their SONY gear should send their receipts to me via e-mail asap and let me know which camera videos they need. I will verify their purchases as quickly as possible and send a quote to be paid via Paypal as above.
Thanks to all who have properly used my B&H links or gone through the fabulous Steve Elkins at Bedfords, and thanks to everyone for having faith in the information that I provide, knowing that it will be the best available anywhere.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Today’s Entertainment
Harry Chapin
From the YouTube Harry Chapin Topic
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter, humanitarian and producer best known for his folk-rock and pop-rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest-paid performers. Chapin is also one of the best charting musical artists in the United States. Chapin, a Grammy Award-winning artist and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, sold over 16 million records worldwide. He has been described as one of the most beloved performers in music history. Chapin recorded a total of 11 albums from 1972 until his death in 1981. All 14 singles that he released became hits on at least one national music chart.
As a dedicated humanitarian, Chapin fought to end world hunger. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. Chapin is credited with being the most politically and socially active American performer of the 1970s. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.
I’ve long since retired and my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, I’d like to see you if you don’t mind
He said, I’d love to, dad, if I could find the time
You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kids have the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me …
But his “story songs” are little known. Here are a few of my very favorites:
All My Life’s a Circle These lyrics made sense: No straight lines make up my life; And all my roads have bends; There’s no clear-cut beginnings; And so far no dead-ends until they became ironic when he died in a (somewhat mysterious) car crash on the way to a concert at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island. At the time, Harry and the band were donating half of their concert gates to World Hunger.
I wanna Learn a Love Song. The man was an incredible poet: I come fresh from the street, Fast on my feet, kinda lean and lazy. Not much meat on my bones, and a whole lot alone. And more than a little bit crazy. The old six string was all I had. To keep my belly still. And for each full-hour lesson I gave, I got a crisp ten-dollar bill.
She was married for seven years, To a concrete castle king. She said she wanted to learn to play the guitar, And to hear her children sing. So I’d show up about once a week, In my faded tight-legged jeans, With a backlog full of hobo stories, And dilapidated dreams.
…
Well, I guess you know what happened, God, I never been so clean. Yes, I feel like I’m working in a Hollywood movie, Or living out a good bad dream. And all them pinup girls in that tinsel world, Never touched me like she can. It took another man’s wife in the real world life, To make this boy a man.
Yikes, I almost forgot 30,000 Pounds of Bananas. Check out a live concert version here. While doing the research for this blog post, I learned that this song was based on a real accident. (Wikipedia here.)
I could easily list another twenty. For a total immersion experience, play the Greatest Stories album mix here.
If you have a favorite Harry Chapin song, please leave a comment. (Taxi and Sequel for starters!)
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. Please understand that e-Bay prices are bogus. And the same is true of the prices of used gear including my dear friends at B&H and the other mega-outfits. They offer you pennies and then try to sell the stuff to ignorant folks for ridiculously high prices. With their huge international exposure, they occasionally find someone …
The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the 5Ds and 5Ds R, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, the Canon 200-400 with internal extender, and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. Most recently the price of used Canon 600mm f/L IS II lenses have been dropping like a rock with the introduction of the 600 III. The prices garnered for used Canon gear has tanked completely as demand has dropped tremendously. It is ironic that for decades Canon gear had very strong resale value …
Note: all BAA Used Gear sales include insured ground shipping via UPS to lower 48 US addresses only. Others who live elsewhere are invited to e-mail the seller for shipping surcharge info. Sellers should charge you only the difference between shipping to the farthest US location from their home and the charge to a non-lower-48 address.
New Listings
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II Lens
Dennis Westover is offering a Nikon 300mm AF-S f/2.8 ED VRII telephoto lens in excellent plus condition for the BAA record-low price of $3649.95. The sale includes the original box, the Cordura travel case, the instruction manual, the lens strap, a Really Right Stuff replacement lens foot, the Nikon Cordura front lens cover, a custom hard front lens cap, the rear 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 Dennis via e-mail or by phone at 1-206 605-0404 (Pacific time zone).
This is a gem of a lens; super-sharp, hand-holdable for almost everyone, great for flight and action photography, and great as well with all three teleconverters for portraits and for flight. It has long been the favorite focal length of the world’s best hawk photographers. As it sells new for $5,496.95, Dennis’s latest-greatest version of this superb Nikon lens is priced to sell. Save a spiffy $1,847.00! artie
Nikon AF-S TC 14E III 1.4X Teleconverter
Dennis Westover is also offering a Nikon AF-S TC 14E III 1.4X teleconverter in excellent condition for a very low $276.95. The sale includes the original box, 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.
Please contact Dennis via e-mail or by phone at 1-206 605-0404 (Pacific time zone).
Whatever the system, I consider the 1.4X TC so important to what I do that I always travel with a spare. This one sells new for $496.95 so you can save a handsome $220.00. artie
Nikon AF-S TC 17E II 1.7X Teleconverter
Dennis Westover is also offering a Nikon AF-S TC 17E II 1.7X teleconverter in excellent condition for a very low $216.95. 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.
Please contact Dennis via e-mail or by phone at 1-206 605-0404 (Pacific time zone).
I did well with the 1.7X TC on my 500 PF VR and my 600 f/4 VR lenses. This one sells new for $396.95 so you can save a very nice $180.00 on this one. artie
Nikon AF-S TC 20E III 2X Teleconverter
Dennis Westover is also offering a Nikon AF-S TC 20E III 2X teleconverter in excellent condition for a very, very low $226.95. The sale includes the original box, 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.
Please contact Dennis via e-mail or by phone at 1-206 605-0404 (Pacific time zone).
I did make some sharp images with the Nikon 2X III and the 600mm f/4 VR lens. This one sells new for $496.95 so you can save an amazing $270.00. artie
RRS TVC14 MKI Carbon Fiber Tripod with RRS BH30 Ballhead
Dennis Westover is also offering a RRS TVC14 MKI Carbon Fiber Tripod with RRS BH30 head with the Full-Size Screw-Knob in excellent plus condition for only $699.00. The sale includes 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 Dennis via e-mail or by phone at 1-206 605-0404 (Pacific time zone).
This travel tripod and ballhead sell new for about $1,100.00. artie
Price Drop
Canon EOS-1D X Professional Digital Camera Body with Extras!
Price dropped $100 on 6 FEB 2020! Price dropped $200 on 28 MAR 2020!
Jim Lewis is offering a Canon EOS-1D X in near-mint condition with extras for a ridiculously low $1,595.00 (was $1,895.00). The sale includes the original box, the CD’s, the strap, the cables, the manual, the front body cap, the charger w/LPE4N battery and an extra Canon LPE4N battery, 2 Lexar 1066X CF cards (one 32GB & one 64GB), a Canon RS-80 N3 remote switch, 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.
Several rugged 1D X bodies served as my workhorse cameras for about four years. I made many hundreds of family jewels images in all types of weather all around the world. artie
This image was created om 27 MAR 2020. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 312mm) and the beyond remarkable Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera. ISO 500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:33am on a cloudy/almost-sunny morning.
Image 1: The muddy-necked adult
Muddy-Neck
On Thursday morning I saw the whole crane family in the marsh. The two adults were mud-soaked and disheveled. The chicks were foraging slowly in stands of blossoming pickerelweed. As I was wearing my only hiking boots, I decided to make an image of the chicks in the flowers the “next day.” As fate would have it, the weather was again perfect: foggy bright and still. I donned my surf booties and walked into the marsh but could not find the cranes. An hour later as the sun came out briefly, I created this image of one of the muddy-necked adults.
This image was also created on 27 MAR 2020. Again I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the beyond remarkable Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera. ISO 1250. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:40am on a now cloudy morning.
Image 2: Sandhill Crane, large chick
The Little One
I sat down at the top of the grassy slope adjacent to the marsh. When the clouds came, so did this lovely chick. I am guessing that the young ones are now about 12-14 inches in height. At what age do the chicks become colts? Note the great versatility of the handheld SONY 200-600.
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s two featured images do you like best? Be sure to let us know why you made your choice.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
