Please remember that the blog is designed to be interactive, to make you think, to help you become a better photographer, to inspire you, and to help you to develop both your eye for image design and your creativity. Toward that end, while considering the fact that this blog post took more than two hours to create, please consider taking a minute or two to comment on the images or to answer the image design question below.
Your Call?
Which of today’s three featured images is your favorite? Please leave a comment and let us know why you make your choice?
What’s Up?
Photography at Nickerson Beach continues to be both challenging and productive. On Monday morning, I took the 600 and a tripod into the field for the first time in about ten days. I’d been doing most of my work with the 300mm f/2.8, either TC, and either camera body (the a-1 or the a9 iii).
Today is Tuesday 13 August 2024. I will again be heading out early to deal with allegedly clear skies and a SW wind, a very challenging situation. I hope that you too opt to have a great day. The afternoon weather looks perfect for my afternoon session with repeat private session client Marc Wortsman.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Save 15%!
If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.
I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.
Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.
Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com
B&H
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.
Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often stave you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 7 August 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While crouching a bit on the beach below the berm, I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter (at 400mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Multi metering +1.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 3200: 1/60 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. AWB at 6:20:51am on a totally cloudy morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer with baitfish for chick
Sometimes, I am Just Plain Lazy …
The morning of August 7th dawned dark and dreary and I was feeling a bit lazy as I exited my SUV in the parking lot. So, not planning on having a great morning, I grabbed the a1, the 70-200 f/2.8 II, and both TCs. Hoping for some spectacular blastoffs, I set up in Shutter Priority mode. But the skimmers had other thoughts. So I looked to the north at the birds on the beach with the berm serving as sort of a hide for me and was able to get fairly close to this skimmer without bugging it.. I had only to crouch a bit to get eye level with the birds. I created about a dozen images before it flew off in search of its chick. Working at 400mm, I had chosen the borderline shutter speed of 1/60 second; only two were sharp.
This image was also created on 7 August 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. Seated on damp sand, I employed the knee-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter (at 308mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Multi metering +2.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 800: 1/13 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. AWB at 6:23:30am on a totally cloudy morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: American Oystercatcher in surf
A Quasi Jiggle Blur
When handholding at 500mm with a very slow shutter speed, like 1/13 second, it is virtually impossible to create sharp images (unless the lens is firmly supported as it would be by placing the lens hood on the ground with your left hand on the ground beneath the camera body — I made some neat images with blurred wave backgrounds recently using this technique at 1/15 second and will share one or two of them with you here soon.)
Back to the oystercatcher blur — as I could not keep the lens perfectly still for this image, I got the effect of a jiggle blur, usually created by a slight circular shaking of the lens. In any case, I like the result but for the double eye in the original. So, I did some neat Eye Doctor work with the Clone Stamp Tool and a series of small Quick Masks each resized and Warped and then refined by the addition of a Regular Layer Mask. That after easily removing a young oystercatcher that had been standing next to the adult. You can see the original in the new YouTube video that was featured here in the last blog post.
I love the streamlined swoosh-shape of the re-crafted eye as it seems to suggest speed and forward motion.
A Guide to Pleasing Blurs
Learn everything there is to know about creating pleasingly blurred images in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly. This 20,585 word, 271 page PDF is illustrated with 144 different, exciting, and artistic images. The guide covers the basics of creating pleasingly blurred images, the factors that influence the degree of blurring, the use of filters in creating pleasing blurs, and a great variety of both in-the-field and Photoshop techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images.
Artie and Denise teach you many different ways to move your lens during the exposure to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images of flowers and trees and water and landscapes. They will teach you to recognize situations where subject movement can be used to your advantage to create pan blurs, wind blurs, and moving water blurs. They will teach you to create zoom-blurs both in the field and during post-processing. Artie shares the techniques that he has used and developed for making blurred images of flocks of geese in flight at his beloved Bosque del Apache and Denise shares her flower blur magic as well as a variety of creative Photoshop techniques that she has developed.
With the advent of digital capture creating blurred images has become a great and inexpensive way to go out with your camera and have fun. And while many folks think that making successful blurred images is the result of being a sloppy photographer, nothing could be further from the truth. In “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” Artie and Denise will help you to unleash your creative self.
This image was also created on 7 August 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 200mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250: 1/80 sec. at f/5.6 (stopped down two stops) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:25:56am on a then cloudy morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Euphorbia polygonifolia
Captivated by a Low Growing Plant
I had been looking at this specific plant for more than a week before I created the successful image above. I loved the oval shape and the soft vibrant colors. I first photographed it with my iPhone 15; I optimized the raw file but the resulting image simply did not cut it. On my lazy 7 August morning, as I headed back to my car early, I made it a point to swing by the tiny (about 5 inches in width) sandmat plant. The soft light was perfect. With its fabulous close focus, the amazingly versatile 70-200mm lens at 200mm turned out to be the very best tool for the job. Note that I needed ISO 1250 to get to +2 stops of light on the analogue scale and that I stopped down two full stops from f/2.8 to f/5.6 to provide enough depth-of field to cover the leaves and the stems.
As you saw or can see in the above-mentioned video, the original for this image looked dull and washed out as it should have been. The relatively new Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool allowed me to easily juice up the colors to taste in a matter of moments.
An Image Design Question
Does the centered image design for this oval-shaped subject work for you or would you have preferred a more angular approach by rotating the plant or a different crop?
Euphorbia Polygonifolia
Euphorbia polygonifolia, known by the common names of seaside sandmat and seaside spurge, is a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is an annual herb, native to the east coast of the United States where it grows on coastal sand dunes of the Atlantic Ocean as well as along the shores of the Great Lakes. This plant is potentially threatened by development, coastal erosion, recreational activities, invasive species, and succession. Contact with the latex of seaside sandmat can cause poison ivy-like symptoms.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I am between extended IPTs without any clients. The Killing Shoreline is once again open for business on Saturday morning. Pretty much in the dark, I saw a Great Black-backed Gull approach, kill, and rip apart a surf-weakened Black Skimmer fledging — see the two ISO 12800 images at the end of the video. Later in the morning I saw two other young skimmers meet their demise.
I always root for the predators and I always let nature take its course (except when humanity is the immediate cause of a bird’s problems).
Saturday afternoon was fantastic with afternoon sun and a nice wind from the SW that had dozens of young skimmers flying right at me while practicing skimming. The only thing that they were catching was seaweed.
Sunday morning was strange. It began cloudy very dark with practically no wind at all and would up mixed sun and clouds with a northeast wind. I worked very hard without much payoff. Maybe I will find one great one …
Nope. Just finished editing and breakfast. Breakfast was the clear winner.
Seventeen Before and After Nickerson Beach Images
Check out 17 raw files, hear my plans for improving them in Photoshop, and then compare the originals with the optimized files. Some of the changes are minor, some fairly astounding. Learn a lot about how and what I see in the field and what I can do on my laptop.
If you like what you saw, you will want to check out the Digital Basics II PDF here and the The Digital Basics III Video Series here. Details below.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all 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. 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.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
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: most 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 three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.
Order the first five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
The forecast on Tuesday for Lido Beach was for rain all day on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Other than a light mist here and there, it did not rain at all on Wednesday or Thursday. I went out early on Wednesday morning, made some nice blurs, photographed a lovely beach plant, and had an encounter with the week-old skimmer chick that is featured in today’s post.
On Wednesday afternoon I wanted to treat Pat Fishburne to a nice thank you lunch at Wild Ginger in Rockville Center but she kindly insisted on treating me instead. Then I drove her to an airport hotel for her early Thursday morning JFK to Fort Myers flight. I will be sharing some of her amazing images with y’all here soon.
Today is Friday 9 August 2024. The forecast is again calling for rain all day. My plan is to head to the beach early unless it is pouring.
Whatever you are doing, I hope that you have fun too.
Note the versatility of the 70-200 lens in Images #1 and #2. I will be sharing other images made that morning in a future blog post.
70-200mm f/2.8 Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) Tip
In most systems, the 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses offer excellent MFDs.The MFDs vary as you zoom in and out; the longer the focal length the closer you can focus.
When you can get really, really close to your subject, you need to pay attention to make sure that you are not too close to focus. Working in Continuous AF, make sure that focus has been attained by watching the AF point or points in the viewfinder. If they stabilize where you want them to, the bird’s eye for example, you are good to go. If they continue to dance around, you are too close and need to move back at least a few inches.
On occasion, I have created long series of image only to find out on the laptop that none were sharp. Why? I had been too close and not paying attention to the details.
Your Call?
1- What happened with the skimmer chick that morning?
2- Do you think that the chick will survive?
This image was created on 7 August 2024 at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY. Seated on damp sand, I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Multi Metering + 2 1/3 stops in S (Shutter Priority) mode. AUTO ISO set ISO 2500. 1/125 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open). AWB at 6:48:31am on a totally overcast, threatening to rain morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer, weak, exhausted chick about one week old
This image was also created on 7 August 2024 at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY. Now lying on the damp sand, I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (this time zoomed out to 80mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Multi Metering + 2 stops in S (Shutter Priority) mode. AUTO ISO set ISO 1600. 1/125 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open). AWB at 6:48:59am on a totally overcast, threatening to rain morning. I activated the in-viewfinder level as I was in quite an awkward position.
Tracking: Expand Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Black Skimmer, weak, exhausted chick about one week old facing a big challenge
The raw file for this image, also created on 7 August 2024 at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY, was made with the iPhone 15.
Image #3: Black Skimmer, weak, exhausted chick about one week old in my hand
The raw file for this image, also created on 7 August 2024 at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY, was made with the iPhone 15.
Image #4: Left of the bottom of the sign post, note the weak, exhausted skimmer chick in a scrape inside the colony ropes
Typos
All questions and comments are welcome. With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s three featured images is the strongest? If you are so kind as to leave a comment, please let us know why you made your choice.
What’s Up?
The images that 86-year old, new-to-Sony Pat Fishburne has been making at Nickerson Beach with her 300mm f/2.8 GM/a9 iii rig have astounded me. And they have astounded her as well. Images and more soon. And I am pretty darned sure that they will astound you too.
Today is Wednesday 7 August 2024. The current forecast is for four straight days of nonstop rain. We shall see. I am betting that I will be making a few good images between now and Saturday.
Fresh caught Alaskan seafood caught sustainably. Save $20 on your first order by clicking here.
Wild Alaska Salmon and Seafood Company
Ever since my two daughters sent me a big box of salmon filets and sea scallops from Wild Alaska Salmon and Seafood Company for my birthday a few years ago, I have been ordering salmon and scallops from them. Now that Junior’s Fish Market in Lake Wales is closing, I will be depending on Wild Alaska every month. I always order Sockeye filets and the Sea Scallops. The stuff comes frozen solid, is easy to prepare, and tastes pretty much as good as the fresh stuff would.
You can save $20 on your first order by clicking here. Eating wild caught seafood is about as healthy as you can go. The scallops are a real treat. When you sear them, be sure to cook them in the liquid that comes in the bag and be sure also not to overcook them. I bake or broil the lightly seasoned salmon filets skin side down in olive or coconut oil. Crisp the skin and eat it as it contains the most nutrients.
Buy Direct from the Fisherman
Captain Tony has been fishing in Alaska since 1990. Wild Alaska is famous for their wild caught Sockeye and King Salmon! All of their other fish and seafood, including Ahi Tuna, Shrimp, Scallops, Cod, etc., are responsibly sourced, caught the right way and closely inspected by Capt. Tony to meet their high standards for quality and freshness. They catch and process all 5 species of wild pacific salmon, and source their other seafood products from high quality sustainable fisheries.
The stuff tastes great and is good for you. Internet orders to the continental United States are shipped from their fulfillment center in the Midwest allowing their seafood products to reach US customers in perfect condition. The flavor and texture of their salmon and other products remain fresher than fresh is because the stuff is frozen the same day it is caught.
Note
Nutritionally, if you are eating farm-raised salmon, you might as well be eating pop tarts. Sockeye salmon has the highest amount of Omega 3 of any fish with approximately 2.7 grams per 100-gram portion. Therefore, just one serving of Alaska salmon per week can help to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Scallops are widely considered one of the healthiest seafoods. Made up of 80% protein and sporting a low fat content, they can help you feel fuller longer and are rich in vitamins and minerals. They are also a great source of antioxidants. Dr. Morris 🙂
Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM Lens
BIRDS AS ART Record Low Price!
Mark Harrington is offering a Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM in excellent plus condition (the glass is pristine) for a BIRDS AS ART record low $647.00. The sale includes the lens with front and rear caps, original product box, manual and software, Lens case LZ1326 and Lens Hood and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.
Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Mark via e-mail at e-mail or by phone at 1-612-308-5776 MST.
The versatile 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses have long been big favorites of many nature photographers. They are great for landscapes especially with fall color peaking in many areas. I have used this lens with Canon and Nikon and SONY. I used my Canon version to photograph granddaughter Maya’s dance recitals and to create bird-scapes and pre-dawn blast-off blurs at Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico. They are fast and sharp and have 1000 uses. The 70-200 f/2.8 lenses are a specialty lens for bird photographers. Like the bad little child, when they are good, they are really, really good! I’ve used mine mostly for flight photography at point blank range where their performance is unmatched, especially in low light. I’ve killed with these lenses on the gannet boat in the UK, in Homer for eagles, for pre-dawn and blizzard blast-offs at Bosque, and at Merritt Island on feeding sprees right next to the road. Lenses in this class are easily hand holdable by just about everyone. artie
ps: To see what the 70-200 zoom lenses can do, see the blog post here.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
BIRDS AS ART Shock-the World Record Low Price!
Mark Harrington is offering a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM in excellent plus condition (the glass is pristine) for a BIRDS AS ART shock-the-world record low $599.00. The sale includes the lens with front and rear caps, Lens Case LP1219 and Lens Hood EW-88C, Lens instructions, original box, 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 Mark via e-mail at e-mail or by phone at 1-612-308-5776 MST.
The 24-70II is the serious landscape photographer’s dream lens. There is a used copy on B&H that sells for $1,442.00! So, you can save a ton by grabbing Mark’s copy today. artie
Zone AF-C AF with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Black Skimmer — large chick running at full speed with wings raised
Superior Sony a9 iii AF
In action situations similar to Image #1, Sony a1 AF will fail to grab the eye perhaps 90% of the time and grab the wing. Sony a9 iii AF will nail the eye more than 90% of the time.
As compared to the a9 iii, colors with the a1 are richer (especially in the golden light of early morning and late afternoon), and sharp a1 raw files are of higher image quality with more fine feather detail. But what good are more pleasing color and superior image quality if the images are not razor sharp?
This image was created on 4 August 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY on the 2nd Nickerson Beach (extended) IPT. Seated on dry sand, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600. 1/3200 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:54:01am on a cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be perfect.
Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Black Skimmer — large chick, short practice flight
Orvilles
For fairly obvious reasons, avian researchers studying tern and skimmer chicks that are struggling to learn to fly call such young birds “Orvilles.” That in honor of the efforts of
American aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright brothers crashed many early versions of the Wright Flyer in the sandy hills south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. When the young birds are first learning to fly, their landings are often comical wrecks.
Pat Fishburne and I were seated on the sand in range of several young skimmers. The bird in the photo ran toward us twice flapping its wings. When it walked back to the rusty fence post again, we got ready. The third time was the charm and the a9 iii nailed the eye!
This image was created on 4 August at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY on the 2nd Nickerson (extended) IPT. Standing at full height on the berm, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500. 1/3200 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 6:39:22am on an overcast morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be perfect.
Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Black Skimmer — fledged, flying juvenile
From Egg to Expert Flyer
At about four weeks after hatching as virtually helpless (but precocial) chicks, most young skimmers are making their first flights. A week later, they are confident flyers capable of skimming and catching fish on their own. The transformation from tiny chicks to strong fliers in such a short time is remarkable.
Right now at Nickerson there are still newly hatching chicks along with dozens of fledged and flying young. Along with many hundreds of young skimmer of all sizes and ages in between. Though we have not seen a Great Black-backed Gull grab a young skimmer and rip it apart, it will not be long till that happens. We did see a large, fledged skimmer chick that was injured and flopping helplessly on the beach. The researchers picked it up on Tuesday morning. All young beach nesting birds do not make it.
Typos
All questions and comments are welcome. With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which version (of basically the same image) do you like best? Why?
What’s Up?
After seven days of photography and learning, Monte Brown left on Saturday morning for his 1 1/2 day drive back to Indiana. Heading north ahead to beat Tropical Storm Debby, 86-year old Pat Fishburne few in a day early on Saturday afternoon. I picked her up at a totally insane JFK. There was zero traffic on the way to the airport and then it took me 20 minutes to make my way through the huge line of cars trying to get to C4 at Terminal 4 (Delta pick-up). Pat was very glad to see me as she had walked about a mile from her gate to baggage claim! We enjoyed a quick visit to the beach after dinner as Pat re-acquainted herself with her Sony gear.
Today is Sunday 4 August and we will be headed to the beach early. The forecast — completely cloudy with a light breeze from the SW is not bad. I am hoping to get in a long session this morning as bad weather may be on the way. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the August Nickerson Beach (& JBWR Co) IPT offerings here or scroll down and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
Photo Mechanic screen capture for the Backlit Black Skimmer in flight image image
Photo Mechanic Screen Capture
With yet another wind against sun morning (SW at 6mph), we arrived at Nickerson by 5:00am to get in position to try for some backlit red light images. But a fairly substantial cloud to the east yielded orange/yellow/pink light instead. And because it was high tide — there was no flat beach available– I hate the tire tracks on the beach above the berm, we worked the south edge of the colony. With the sun rising just north of east, we enjoyed a bit of sky color. After some early incoming flight at 600mm, I went to the 2T TC for some backlit small skimmer chick images. All in all it was another great morning despite the challenging conditions.
Consider this question before scrolling down: If you saw the raw file above on your laptop, what would your image optimization plans be? What would you do with the color? How would you crop it?
Shooting Flight Off the Tilted Rear Monitor
Low level flight photography with a long lens when working off the tilted rear monitor of your mirrorless camera body is a huge challenge. It takes lot of practice. In addition, you are trying to anticipate the flight paths of birds flying towards you (the latter with the right wind direction, of course.) I went with a generic +1 Exposure Compensation as the tonality of the sky varied as you got closer to the muted sun. I instructed Monte and Anke Frohliach to look for birds flying below the sun and above the beach vegetation, the middle zone so to speak (with the most color).
This image was created on 2 August 2024 on the last morning of the first Nickerson Beach (extended) IPT. Seated on dry sand behind my flattened Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Multi metering + 1 stop — AUTO ISO set ISO 2500. 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect. AWB at 6:11:40am on a then barely sunny morning.
Image #1: Backlit Black Skimmer juiced up pano crop
Bold, Bright, and Graphic
Yes. This image was created from the raw file that opened this blog post. It is a somewhat radical, seriously jazzed up version and was my first effort with this photo. Getting the clean, bright, tight, high contrast, colorful, graphic look was the result of following my basics workflow and juicing up the color in several ways.
The way we choose the look of our images is determined by the artist within each us.
This is a more neutral version of the same image with the foreground included.
Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Backlit Black Skimmer in flight above the colony
As you see in today’s three featured images, optimizing early morning or late afternoon backlit photos is quite subjective. When it comes to sky color and contrast, there are many ways to go. There are lots of personal choice to be made, and those choices determine the look of your photo. Image #2 is fair representation of to what we were seeing in the field. I cropped from the bottom, moved the bird to the center of the frame, lightened the foreground, removed an adult bird in vegetation from the middle of the frame, and added canvas above. All that plus some beach clean-up.
This image was created by Anke Frohlich on 2 August 2024 on the last morning of the first Nickerson Beach (extended) IPT. Seated to my right on dry sand, she used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 243mm) with The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Multi metering + 1 stop — AUTO ISO set ISO 1600. 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:11:40am on a then barely sunny morning.
Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2024: Anke Frohlich Photography
Image #3: Backlit Black Skimmer in flight above the colony
The Anke Frohlich Version
As noted above, folks working on an image produced at nearly the exact same moment will always produce at least slightly different versions depending on their tastes and their personal vision. Having zoomed out quite a bit, Anke’s image represents a healthy crop but with the superb image quality the Sony a1, her image looks just fine. Her version is similar to my Image #2 with a corp similar to my Image #1. I love the extra bit of yellow above and to our right of the bird in her image (#3).
You can see more of Anke’s excellent bird photography on her Instagram page here or check her out further online here.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all 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. 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.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
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: most 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 three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.
You can order your copy of the Digital Basics III Video series here. The five videos with three images optimizations in each will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Despite the challenging conditions, photography has been great on the Nickerson Beach (extended) #1 IPT. Judy headed back to PA yesterday and Monte begins his drive back to Indiana tomorrow.
Momma Said, Life was Like a Box of Chocolates
My favorite line in the clip above is the woman saying, “My feet hurt.” How great is Tom Hanks?
A Story
A little old Jewish man goes to temple. He speaks to God, “You know my wife and I have been good Jews for many years. We keep Kosher and go to shul every Sabbath. Please, please, let us win the lottery.‘ Next week, the same thing. Week after week, month after month, the same thing. After almost a year he is in the temple. He speaks to God again, “You know my wife and I have been good Jews for many years. We keep Kosher and go to shul every Sabbath. Please, please, let us win the lottery.‘ There is a deafening clap of thunder and lightning strikes his place of worship. A gruff voice booms with a Yiddish accent, “So at least by a ticket …”
So, what does this have to do with digital photography? It does not cost one penny to press the shutter button. Be aggressive. See the possible shot, determine the shutter speed and the ISO, acquire focus, and press and hold the shutter button. It’s that “Life was like a box of chocolates‘ thing all over again: “You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Remember, you can’t win it if you ain’t in it. Take risks. Press the button!
Photo Mechanic screen capture for the American Oystercatcher — the un-banded family of four image
Photo Mechanic Screen Capture
On a warm, humid, somewhat foggy morning, the front element of my 600mm f/4 lens had fogged over (despite that fact that it had not been in an air conditioned location all night). I could not clear, it so I kept on shooting. Being sure to expose to the right as always, the images looked beyond washed out and boring.
If you saw this raw file on your laptop would you keep it or delete it?
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed amazingly well. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
American Oystercatcher — the un-banded family of four
A 10,000 to 1 Against Head Angle /Juxtapositional Miracle
Though the image looked completely washed out, the image design thrilled me. Getting two perfect head angles is difficult enough — four is too much to even dream of. And you could not paint the juxtaposition of the four birds any better. And since I knew that I could improve the color and contrast, this was a 100 percent keeper for me.
I thought that I would need to use more Dehaze than usual to bring this one to life, but simply setting the White Point and the Black Point as I always do as the first step in the raw conversion was all that was needed to improve the color and contrast. I cropped from below and from the right, added canvas in front of the birds, and worked hard to clean up the wet, ratty looking head of the closest bird, one of the two juveniles.
If you would be lost trying to optimize foggy looking images, check out the two offerings immediately below.
The un-banded family of four has given us many, many hours of enjoyment as they are absolutely tame and feed along the surf line in the same spot every morning. On Thursday, I was sitting in the water to photograph them and when I big wave came along, I needed to lift my rig with one hand to avoid having it get inundated by saltwater.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all 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. 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.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
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: most 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 three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.
You can order your copy of the Digital Basics III Video series here. The five videos with three images optimizations in each will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of Monte Brown’s four excellent flight images is the strongest? Why?
Catching Up
Check out the comments in the previous blog post to learn the answer to the Sun Ball Perspective Question.
Monte Brown in Action with his favorite flight rig
Monte Brown
Monte Brown was born in Muncie, Indiana in October 1953. As a kid he had severe asthma and almost died twice (and eventually outgrew that). He swam competitively at Muncie Central High School. He loved to fish and hike and took to bird watching because his mom loved the birds. He worked on a Masters degree in Communication and Information Sciences at Ball State University (but wound up three credits short). He handled investments at a local bank for 11 years and then transitioned into commercial real estate. He has worked for Coldwell Banker Commercial since 1998. His 2nd wife Nancy wants him to retire, but he likes being around people and solving problems and still enjoys property management so he keeps at it. Monte and Nancy quit tent camping almost 20 years ago and now enjoy RV-ing.
Monte’s daughter from his first marriage, Brenna, a physical therapist, lives in Blacklick, OH with her husband Gary and their son Ryvor. At age five, Ryvor declared that he would become a professional ice hockey goalie. At age 13, he is in goal for the Cincinnati Cyclones junior team.
Monte decided that he wanted to do some bird photography and an online search brought him to BIRDS AS ART. His first Instructional Photo-Tour was to St. Augustine Alligator Farm. He was so frustrated after that first trip that he did not touch his gear for six months. But he never gave up. Since then he’s been to San Diego (twice), on three bear boat trips, Bosque (twice), Homer, AK for Bald Eagles, Jacksonville, DeSoto (twice), and a SW Florida President’s Day IPT (not necessarily in that order). He shot Canon for 14 years. Since switching to Sony mirrorless three years ago, he has really blossomed as bird photographer. Early on, he sold a beloved Chevrolet Corvette and used the money to grab a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 lens. My kind of guy and a good friend for many years to boot.
What’s Up?
Monte, Judy Stepenaskie, and I have killed when conditions have been great and we have killed in challenging conditions by being in the right place at the right time. Period. The number of photographers with great gear who set themselves up in locations where — because of light angle and wind direction considerations, have absolutely zero chance to make good or great images, continues to astound me. Judy , a relative beginner who continues to make excellent images with her hand held Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens/Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless camera body rig, already has a firm grasp as to the importance of sky conditions, light angle and wind direction. She has been a quick study and a great student.
We all struggled to make a few good images on Monday evening with the 20mph plus south wind and partly sunny skies. As conditions were not favorable on Tuesday morning, Judy and I worked the four unbounded oystercatcher family and were blessed bye a Common Tern that landed right in front of us and got fed several times. Monte stayed in because of a bad back.
Today is Wednesday 31 July 2024. The forecast is for rain all day. I never believe such forecasts until I see deep puddles. As it rarely rains all day — exactly once on me in 35 years of doing photo trips, I am pretty sure that we will get in some decent photography here and there. I hope that you too have a great day and that you learn something.
Scroll down to the bottom if you are interested in earning a free guide for your new Sony 300mm f/2.8 lens and your new a9 iii. Just below that, consider joining me at Nickerson in August.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& JBWR) IPT offerings here or scroll down and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
Save 15%!
If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.
I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.
Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.
Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com
B&H
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.
Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often stave you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was also created by many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown on 28 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY on the (extended) IPT. Standing at full height he used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/4000 second at f/4.5 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:57:55am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect.
Zone AF/C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Common Tern in fresh juvenile plumage braking to land
Juvie Common Terns in Flight
Over the years I have not had much luck photographing fledged and flying young Common Terns. Monte has made several very excellent ones so far on the extended IPT,, Image #1 being the best by a slim margin. (I have made some good ones too.)
He says, The autofocus is fabulous and I love the light weight of the lens. When I tried the 200-600 last night I realized how heavy it is and how much faster the 300mm f/2.8 acquires focus. Yeah, the zoom lens gives us more versatility, but for flight at 420mm, you cannot go wrong with the 300mm f/2.8/1.4X TC/a9 iii rig for birds in flight.
I taught Monte a neat trick with the a9 iii that helps train you to avoid touching the manual focus ring when photographing with the 300mm f.2.8 lens. If you have both the 300 and the a9 iii guides, shoot me an e-mail and I will get you the info.
This image was also created by many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown. This one on 29 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY on the (extended) IPT. Standing at full height he used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 3200. 1/2500 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:57:55am on a dreary, cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect.
Zone AF/C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Common Tern adult in driving flight
Image courtesy of and copyright 2024: Monte Brown
Backgrounds Other Than Sky
As long as you can keep the bird in the center of the frame when using Zone AF with the a9 iii, the AF system will detect the bird’s eye even when the subject is flying against backgrounds other than sky (in this case beach vegetation) and track it accurately. When I as with Canon, I used to tell Rudy Winston that I dreamed that sometime in the future bird photographers would come to enjoy science-fiction-like autofocus. The a9 iii is as close as you can come to that. And the best Canon and Nikon mirrorless camera bodies are not very far behind.
I processed all four of Monte’s featured image during our Photoshop/Image review sessions. Both Monte and Judy were amazed when I transformed the (properly) washed out (exposed to the right), seemingly over-exposed raw file into an image that looks as if it were created in “good” light. All as detailed in the Digital Basics II PDF and the Digital Basics III Video Series.
This image was also created by many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown on 29 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY on the (extended) IPT. Standing at full height he used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/3200 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 9:49:35am on a dreary, cloudy morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect.
Zone AF/C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Common Tern adult screaming in white sky flight
White Sky Exposures
A convert from Canon, Monte quickly mastered exposure using Sony Zebra technology. Most folks will underexpose white sky flight images by one to two stops. With Image #3, Monte zebra-ed most of the sky in order to expose properly for the white bird. Simply masterful. In fact, he nailed the exposure with each of today’s featured images.
This image was also created by many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown on 29 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY on the (extended) IPT. Standing at full height he used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/3200 second at f/4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 10:06:27am on what had become a cloudy very bright morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect.
Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #4: Black Skimmer adult in flight with needlefish for chick(s)
Needlefish City
Right now, the needlefish are in. It seemed that every skimmer that flew by had one in its bill. If they land and cannot find their chick right off the bat, they will usually drop it in the sand briefly, pick it up, and circle around again and again in search for their progeny. After the first attempt, the silver fish is covered with sand. Monte did well to get this one with a nice clean fish.
We lucked out on Monday morning when the dreary skies brightened a bit and the wind swung to the southeast.
a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide
a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide
For those who think that my comments on the a9 iii are pure hype, know that I recently sold the second of my three a1 bodies.
If you plan on purchasing a Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera (or anything else for that matter), please remember to use or write for either my Bedfords discount code or my B&H affiliate link. Folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase the a9 III will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up), a Buttons and Dials Guide, and an a9 iii Info Sheet.
For those who did not use my link to purchase their Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, you can order your a copy here for $209.93.
Click on the image to enlarge and to be able to read the fine print.
The BAA Sony 300mm f/2.8 Lens Guide
Impressed by my (or Pat’s) Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) images? Use either my Bedfords or B&H affiliate link to purchase your Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and shoot me your receipt via e-mail and request a copy of the first-ever BAA Lens Guide. I thought that it would take only minutes to create this guide, but I was dead wrong. In the process of creating it, I learned a ton about the lens. And even better, I discovered a simple yet potentially fatal flaw that was resulting in sporadically unsharp flight images. The set-up fix is simple. Just be sure to use one of my affiliate links and get the guide for free.
If not, you can purchase a copy here for $209.93. Yes, it never hurts to use my links and it never costs you one penny more. And if you contact me via e-mail before you make a major purchase, I can often save you some money.
Join me to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, American Oystercatchers, and more!
The Summer 2024 Nickerson Beach 3 1/2 day Terns, Skimmers, & Oystercatchers IPTs
Nickerson Beach IPT #2: August 5-8 2024. 3 1/2 days: Afternoon session on MON 5 August through the full day on THURS 8 August, 2024: $2099.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Join me at Nickerson Beach Park this summer to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers. The trip is timed so that we should get to photograph tiny chicks as well as fledglings. There will be lots of flight photography including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs. Creating great images of the chicks being fed is a challenge but I will do my best to help you toward that end. We will get to photograph a variety of breeding behaviors including courtship, sitting on (incubating) eggs, chick feeding, and more. We may get to photograph pre-dawn and early evening blastoffs. There is generally great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles sunny days. And with luck, we might even see a few tiny chicks in addition to fledged and flying young. We will also get to photograph the life cycle of American Oystercatcher. This will likely include nests with eggs and small chicks, young being fed, and surely a few fledglings.
Nesting Piping Plover is also possibly. There will be lots of gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few lesser black-backeds of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and maybe even Red Knot.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Black Skimmer fledgling skimming; Black Skimmer with large needlefish; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer fledgling taking flight; Black Skimmer adult with killifish; Black Skimmer adult landing near nest; Black Skimmer in midair chase; and Black Skimmers at dawn in the red light district.
Activities
Morning sessions will run from pre-dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am, roughly 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023.
Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. And we will process a few images and distribute the screen capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. And all IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.
Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.
Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- More than you could ever imagine.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Common Tern landing at nest with small baitfish; large Common Tern chick on pristine beach; American Oystercatchers courtship flight; Common Tern with pipefish; Common Tern fledgling; American Oystercatcher on eggs in high wind; American Oystercatcher nest with three eggs; and Black Skimmer midair battle.
The Details
We will be on the beach very early to enjoy sunrise. The morning sessions will run about 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will begin at 5:30 and run till sunset. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till 11:30am or so and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy.
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.
Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Join me on the COMBO IPT this coming August to photograph adult and juvenile shorebirds at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY.
Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs; adult Semipalmated Plover; fresh juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Least Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Stilt Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher; worn, molting adult Semipalmated Sandpiper; worn, molting adult White-rumped Sandpiper; and juvenile (left) and worn, molting adult Greater Yellowlegs.
The Combo IPT — East Pond, JBWR/Nickerson Beach: August 17 – 20, 2024. SAT August 17 through the morning session on TUES 20 August 2024. 3 1/2 days: $2199.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Join me for four mornings at the famed East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY (conditions permitting) to photograph southbound migrant shorebirds and for three afternoons to photograph beach nesting birds. The window for photographing juvenile shorebirds in fresh plumage is very narrow and this trip will of course get you to the right spot at the exact right time. You will learn to identify and age the shorebirds and to photograph them (at ground level). I will gladly share everything that I have learned during the 46 years I have been visiting the pond. Heck, I started late. After too many years of mismanagement, the gate valve at the north end of the East Pond has finally been repaired properly; water levels should be perfect this summer. If it is not, we will spend our mornings at Nickerson.
Afternoons (and mornings as well) at Nickerson Beach Park are superb in mid-August for photographing Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young of all ages. There will be lots of fledged chicks by mid-August, lots of flight including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs, and excellent chances to photograph both chick feeding and predation by gulls. The Great Black-backed Gulls see the young skimmers as potato chips. We should get to photograph the evening skimmer blastoffs. On hot sunny days, there is still great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles.
There will be lots of terns (mostly Common Terns) and gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and maybe even Red Knot. And we might encounter large, swirling flocks of Sanderling in flight over the ocean.
Join me this August to photograph at the East Pond at JBWR in the mornings (conditions permitting) and at Nickerson Beach in the afternoons.
Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: Marbled Godwit (likely in juvenal plumage); Wilson’s Phalarope in first winter plumage; Black Skimmer adult in flight over the Atlantic; juvenile American Oystercatcher foraging surf; adult Lesser Black-backed Gull; Black Skimmer attacking tiny chick; Killdeer in fresh juvenal plumage; Least Sandpiper in fresh juvenal plumage ruffling; and juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and mixed shorebird flock.
Morning sessions at the East Pond will run from just before dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am. If the afternoon weather forecast is looking ominous, we may decide to photograph until after 11:00am and cancel the afternoon session. Afternoon sessions at Nick will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023).
Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. In addition, we will process some participant images and distribute the screen-capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. All IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.
Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.
Some of What You Will Learn on the COMBO IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before you make even a single image if you are using SONY gear).
2-How to get low and super low
3- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
4- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
5- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- To identify and age a variety of shorebird, tern, and gull species.
11- More than you could ever imagine.
The Details
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session during and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. This IPT will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.
Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
After just an afternoon and a morning session, Judy Stepenaskie amazed everyone with her surprisingly excellent hand held Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens/Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless camera body images. Monte Brown and I were blown away. She is pretty much a beginning bird photographer and showed up not knowing how to use her camera … Images and the full story soon.
We got lucky on Sunday morning as the wind was more from the north than the NW and the wind speeds were low. As is usual, there were about twenty photographers at the beach on a weekend. Except for perhaps one or two at most, nobody had a clue as to how to make a good image. After working a fabulously cooperative, tame, unbanded American Oystercatcher family of four for the second straight morning, we headed to the best spot. Nobody joined us or was curious as to what we were doing — photographing small Common Tern chicks and adults in flight bringing in fish, right down sun angle. My hand to God.
If you missed yesterday’s blog post, The Eclectic Photography & Life of Dr. Greg Gulbransen, you missed something moving and special. Catch up here.
Today is Monday 29 July. We will be headed out early again. The morning forecasts for the next few days — gentle breezes from the northeast with partly cloudy skies, are looking excellent. The afternoons? not so much: the same plus thunderstorms. Whatever the heck you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& JBWR) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
Save 15%!
If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.
I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.
Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.
Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com
B&H
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.
Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often stave you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 27 July 2024 on the first Nickerson Beach (extended) IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/1250 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:06:37pm on a hazy, sunny afternoon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Expand Spot S AF/C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Common Tern in hazy sun ball
Sun Ball Perspective Question
How would the image have been different if I had stood one inch taller and moved one inch to my right?
Join me to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, American Oystercatchers, and more!
The Summer 2024 Nickerson Beach 3 1/2 day Terns, Skimmers, & Oystercatchers IPTs
Nickerson Beach IPT #2: August 5-8 2024. 3 1/2 days: Afternoon session on MON 5 August through the full day on THURS 8 August, 2024: $2099.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Join me at Nickerson Beach Park this summer to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers. The trip is timed so that we should get to photograph tiny chicks as well as fledglings. There will be lots of flight photography including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs. Creating great images of the chicks being fed is a challenge but I will do my best to help you toward that end. We will get to photograph a variety of breeding behaviors including courtship, sitting on (incubating) eggs, chick feeding, and more. We may get to photograph pre-dawn and early evening blastoffs. There is generally great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles sunny days. And with luck, we might even see a few tiny chicks in addition to fledged and flying young. We will also get to photograph the life cycle of American Oystercatcher. This will likely include nests with eggs and small chicks, young being fed, and surely a few fledglings.
Nesting Piping Plover is also possibly. There will be lots of gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few lesser black-backeds of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and maybe even Red Knot.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Black Skimmer fledgling skimming; Black Skimmer with large needlefish; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer fledgling taking flight; Black Skimmer adult with killifish; Black Skimmer adult landing near nest; Black Skimmer in midair chase; and Black Skimmers at dawn in the red light district.
Activities
Morning sessions will run from pre-dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am, roughly 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023.
Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. And we will process a few images and distribute the screen capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. And all IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.
Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.
Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- More than you could ever imagine.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Common Tern landing at nest with small baitfish; large Common Tern chick on pristine beach; American Oystercatchers courtship flight; Common Tern with pipefish; Common Tern fledgling; American Oystercatcher on eggs in high wind; American Oystercatcher nest with three eggs; and Black Skimmer midair battle.
The Details
We will be on the beach very early to enjoy sunrise. The morning sessions will run about 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will begin at 5:30 and run till sunset. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till 11:30am or so and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy.
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.
Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Join me on the COMBO IPT this coming August to photograph adult and juvenile shorebirds at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY.
Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs; adult Semipalmated Plover; fresh juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Least Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Stilt Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher; worn, molting adult Semipalmated Sandpiper; worn, molting adult White-rumped Sandpiper; and juvenile (left) and worn, molting adult Greater Yellowlegs.
The Combo IPT — East Pond, JBWR/Nickerson Beach: August 17 – 20, 2024. SAT August 17 through the morning session on TUES 20 August 2024. 3 1/2 days: $2199.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Join me for four mornings at the famed East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY (conditions permitting) to photograph southbound migrant shorebirds and for three afternoons to photograph beach nesting birds. The window for photographing juvenile shorebirds in fresh plumage is very narrow and this trip will of course get you to the right spot at the exact right time. You will learn to identify and age the shorebirds and to photograph them (at ground level). I will gladly share everything that I have learned during the 46 years I have been visiting the pond. Heck, I started late. After too many years of mismanagement, the gate valve at the north end of the East Pond has finally been repaired properly; water levels should be perfect this summer. If it is not, we will spend our mornings at Nickerson.
Afternoons (and mornings as well) at Nickerson Beach Park are superb in mid-August for photographing Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young of all ages. There will be lots of fledged chicks by mid-August, lots of flight including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs, and excellent chances to photograph both chick feeding and predation by gulls. The Great Black-backed Gulls see the young skimmers as potato chips. We should get to photograph the evening skimmer blastoffs. On hot sunny days, there is still great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles.
There will be lots of terns (mostly Common Terns) and gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and maybe even Red Knot. And we might encounter large, swirling flocks of Sanderling in flight over the ocean.
Join me this August to photograph at the East Pond at JBWR in the mornings (conditions permitting) and at Nickerson Beach in the afternoons.
Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: Marbled Godwit (likely in juvenal plumage); Wilson’s Phalarope in first winter plumage; Black Skimmer adult in flight over the Atlantic; juvenile American Oystercatcher foraging surf; adult Lesser Black-backed Gull; Black Skimmer attacking tiny chick; Killdeer in fresh juvenal plumage; Least Sandpiper in fresh juvenal plumage ruffling; and juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and mixed shorebird flock.
Morning sessions at the East Pond will run from just before dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am. If the afternoon weather forecast is looking ominous, we may decide to photograph until after 11:00am and cancel the afternoon session. Afternoon sessions at Nick will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023).
Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. In addition, we will process some participant images and distribute the screen-capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. All IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.
Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.
Some of What You Will Learn on the COMBO IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before you make even a single image if you are using SONY gear).
2-How to get low and super low
3- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
4- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
5- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- To identify and age a variety of shorebird, tern, and gull species.
11- More than you could ever imagine.
The Details
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session during and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. This IPT will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.
Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Nickerson Beach has been excellent; I have been loving the cloudy conditions but the sun is coming. I saw Billy Joel’s last and fiftieth performance at Madison Square Garden last. It was an amazing experience. At 75, his voice is still great and his strength and stamina amazing; he was on stage for 2 hours, forty five minutes non-stop. Needing a new fanny pack, I drove into the city to shop at B&H before the show so I did not get back to my AirBnB until well after 1:00am. With clear skies and a NW wind I slept in on Friday. I did find the perfect fanny pack and will share the details here soon.
Multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown who is sharing my AirBnB in Lido Beach for the (extended) first Nickerson Beach IPT, arrived at 11:00am.
Today is Saturday 27 July 2024. We will head to Nickerson early for a morning session. First timer Judy Stepenaskie will be joining us for 4 1/2 days this afternoon. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Today’s post documents the amazing and eclectic life of my good friend, Dr. Greg Gulbransen. I urge you to read everything below and watch the two videos, especially the second one that details the work he did on his new book, Say Less. The Leica video below is a must watch. Say Less is a photo book. The images are beautiful, dramatic, and disturbing at once. In short, Greg is an amazing friend, doctor, person, and photographer. I look forward to seeing him at Nickerson again in early August.
If you care to add any that I missed after watching the two videos, please do so by leaving a comment.
Dr. Greg Gulbransen
Greg started out shooting fashion but transitioned to documenting the lives of unique individuals with interesting stories. Greg loves meeting new people and tries to preserve their legacy with photography. Greg also enjoys the solace of cold weather wildlife. His images have been published in the New York Times, Daily Mail, ELLE, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Northwell Health, The Weather Channel, Spirit and Flesh, Grazia and Pandora to name a few. Some of Greg’s documentary work has been featured on the A & E Network’s History Channel.
I’ve known Greg seemingly forever. His life and his work have been documented here on the BAA Blog several times. His photography can only be described as eclectic. Early on, he began photographing birds and soon began to excel as a fashion and architectural photographer. More recently he has worked on self-assigned projects in West Virginia and in the South Bronx, NY, NY.
To get a better idea of who Greg is, check out his Instagram page here. Virtually every one of his posts will put a smile on your face.
The Tragedy
The story above has been shared here before. Greg took a huge tragedy and made sure that something good came of it. All while maintaining a healthy outlook and life, being happy, and accomplishing great things.
Say Less
Building Trust in Photography
Over the course of three years, in the South Bronx, Dr. Greg Gulbransen photographed Malik, a leader of the violent street gang, the Crips. Malik was shot and paralyzed in 2018 by the bullet from a rival gang, and as a result his world now centers around his small Bronx apartment in New York, where he is cared for by his family and fellow gang members.
Gulbransen, a practicing pediatrician, had been photographing in the Bronx during his spare time and had got to know some of the local kids. He began to notice a lot of young men in wheelchairs with spinal injuries and was professionally curious. He was told they had all been shot. He wanted to speak to someone in a wheelchair and was introduced to Malik through a fellow Crip.
‘As a physician, it was a way to explore one facet of the epidemic of gun violence in this country. There are shootings every day in the five boroughs of New York City and the Bronx is the worst. But across the country, gun violence and the availability of guns is a public health emergency. The effects are devastating. The physician in me wants to show people who don’t live in areas with high rates of gun violence how terrible it can be in these places, how complicated the problem is, how far-reaching the effects of the gun-violence epidemic are. The photographer in me is trying to show what it’s like to be a victim of gun violence while also being a part of the problem.’
Image #1: Malik’s bedroom in the Mitchel Houses, Bronx, NY
Image courtesy of and copyright 2024: Greg Gulbransen Photography
Shot and Paralyzed
One summer night in 2018, Malik left his apartment to pick up a sandwich for dinner. He was shot in front of a 99-cent store by a rival gang. The bullets severed Malik’s thoracic spine and instantly paralyzed him from his chest down. Malik was one of the key leaders of the local set, and so, even after the shooting, gang members continued to come to his apartment at all hours of the day and night, to talk, plan and to take care of their leader.
Malik lives with his mother and grandfather in a housing project. There are no nurses or aides to help with Malik’s care so during the day his mother, Eyanna, manages his many medical issues such as changing his diaper and catheter, and his father is on call at night. The photographs in the book show Malik’s day-to-day life, the cramped apartment, the difficulties of inhabiting and navigating the small space in a wheelchair, the visiting gang members, hushed conversations, the closeness and love of his family, and the proximity to violence and loss.
‘It’s a very emotional space. There’s tension there, darkness, fear. It’s a place of turmoil. Yet at the same time there was always so much love and caring. The apartment was filled with contradictions.’
Image #1: Greg Gulbransen’s friend Malik
Image courtesy of and copyright 2024: Greg Gulbransen Photography
Trapped
To this day, Malik can’t enter certain neighborhoods or travel down certain streets or there’s a good chance a rival gang member will try to finish him off. His world is his bedroom. He is trapped.
‘I’m trying to complicate things for readers (hopefully) by showing that passing judgment on people like Malik might not, morally speaking, be as easy as it might seem. There are a lot of victims here and, yes, some of them are perpetrators, too. I’m definitely not saying these guys are saints —- they’ve all made choices and they should absolutely be held accountable for those choices, but they’re victims, too.’
In this short YouTube video(12:05), I share the 64 keepers that I cherry picked from the 6206 images that I created in less than four hours at Nickerson Beach Park on Long Island on the morning of July 24, 2024. Watch to the end to learn the fine points of selecting your keepers and my optimization plans for many of the images. Note: editing the day folder took less than 20 minutes; I tagged only the very best and deleted several thousand sharp, perfectly exposed (but boring) flight shots of Common Terns.
I had taken the Auto Train to Lorton, VA late on Monday 22 July and made it to my AirBnB near Nickerson Beach the next day before 4pm. I headed to the beach early the next morning despite the threat of rain and the heavily overcast skies. Feeling a bit lazy, I grabbed only my Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, an FE 1.4X TC, and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 iii — 120 frames per second. I left the 600mm f/4, a 2X TC, and my tripod in my SUV.
As I was not expecting to do too well in the gloom on what turned out to be a 3 mile scouting walk, I opted not to take an extra battery or an additional Delkin 160GB. So much for planning. At 10:30am my card was full and the battery exhausted. So was I after having driven six hours on Tuesday.
Learn about joining me at Nickerson Beach this summer, or at Homer, AK for eagles in February 2025 by clicking here. There is just one spot left on the first Homer IPT.
This image was created on 24 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY. Seated on damp sand, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500. 1/1600 second at f4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:42:41am on a solid overcast morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be perfect.
Zone AF-C AF with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: American Oystercatcher juvenile stretching wings overhead (canvas added left and above)
Exposing to the Right
As I’ve said here hundreds of times, properly exposed images made on dreary days should looked washed out bordering on over-exposed. So, be sure to expose to the right as I did with both of today’s featured images. You saw the raw files for each in the video above so you know what I am talking about. Learn to bring them back to life in the Digital Basics II PDF and in the Digital Basics III Video Series.
Left My 200-600 in Florida
Many folks are astonished to learn that I actually left the very versatile Sony 200-600 f/6.3 GM lens in Florida. On purpose? Why? Because of my faith in the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) (with or without either teleconverter). Though a bit less versatile because the 300 f/2.8 is not a zoom lens, I love the light weight and the hand hold-ability of the 300mm. In addition, when you work at f/4 with the 1.4X TC in place, you save 1 1/3 stops of light, super important on overcast days. Also, it acquires focus much faster than the 2-6, in part, because of its super-wide aperture.
It is easy to see why the 300mm f/2.8, 1.4X TC, a9 iii has quickly become my favorite hand held flight and action combo.
For those who did not use my link to purchase their Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, you can order your a copy here for $209.93.
Click on the image to enlarge and to be able to read the fine print.
The BAA Sony 300mm f/2.8 Lens Guide
Impressed by my (or Pat’s) Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) images? Use either my Bedfords or B&H affiliate link to purchase your Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and shoot me your receipt via e-mail and request a copy of the first-ever BAA Lens Guide. I thought that it would take only minutes to create this guide, but I was dead wrong. In the process of creating it, I learned a ton about the lens. And even better, I discovered a simple yet potentially fatal flaw that was resulting in sporadically unsharp flight images. The set-up fix is simple. Just be sure to use one of my affiliate links and get the guide for free.
If not, you can purchase a copy here for $209.93. Yes, it never hurts to use my links and it never costs you one penny more. And if you contact me via e-mail before you make a major purchase, I can often save you some money.
This image was created on 24 July 2024 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY. Seated on damp sand, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500. 1/1600 second at f4 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:42:41am on a solid overcast morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be perfect.
Zone AF-C AF with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Common Terns — two adults landing, one with fish
Astounding a9 iii Autofocus
Yes, the Sony a-1 images have slightly more than twice the megapixels (50MP as compared to 24MP) than the a9 iii. But when shooting action and flight, what good are more megapixels if the image is not razor sharp on the eye? No good at all. In addition, the a9 iii gives me more confidence when shooting fast-moving birds so inevitably, I get better results.
A7INFO screen capture for Image #2: Common Terns — two adults landing, one with fish
What Can I Say?
Not much, as in this case a screen capture is worth 1000 words. Though the Sony a1 had the greatest AF system that I ever used, it is simply not as consistently good at Bird Face-Eye tracking as the a9 iii.
Note also the washed out look of the raw file.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
On Monday evening, I am headed north on the Auto Train as I type. At dinner, I had a surprisingly excellent flatiron steak and had the absolute pleasure of meeting a young lady (champion) gymnast from The University of Florida named Trinity Thomas. She competed against and is friends with many of the young women going to Paris as members of the USA Olympic Team. As a 3x NCAA National Champion and a 5x US National Team Member, she is the real deal. Doubt me? Check her out on Instagram by searching for her gymtrin account. She even has her own Wikipedia page here! Trinity finished her collegiate career with a record-tying 28 perfect-10 scores and a record-breaking five Gym Slams (scores of perfect 10 on every apparatus)!
At the same dinner table, I met two young brothers from Virgina. The younger one, Luke De Gance (17 going on 18), is a talented hight school placekicker who aspires to kick for the Gators at Trinity’s alma mater, The University of Florida (where she recently earned her Masters Degree). She is looking forward to a career in nursing. The De Gance brothers were returning home after volunteering at a church summer camp in Florida. Luke’s older brother John-Paul is studying Sports management at Northern Virginia Community College. If you have lost faith in the youth of America, your spirits would have been uplifted had you been at dinner last night with the four of us.
Today is Tuesday 23 July. Once the Auto Train pulls into the Lorton, VA station, I will get into my vehicle for the 5-7 hour drive to my AirBnB in Lido Beach, less than ten minutes from Nickerson Beach. Whatever you do, I hope that you too have a great day.
There are usually not lots of opportunities to use wide angle zoom lenses for bird photography, but I had three good chances on the recently concluded Jax IPTs. If you have a favorite among today’s three featured images, please leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice. Which brings us to a great buy for Canon shooters.
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens
Multiple IPT veteran Geri Georg is offering a rarely used Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM lens in Excellent Plus to Near-mint condition for a ridiculously low $1099.00.
The sale includes the original box, the front and back lens caps, the lens pouch, the lens hood, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Geri via e-mail or by phone at (970) 219-4493 (MTD).
This lens is a scenic photographer’s dream come true. It sells new at B&H for $2199.00. Grabb Geri’s pretty much new lens and a handsome $1100.00 artie
Characterized by a revamped optical design, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM from Canon is a workhorse wide-angle zoom and member of the well-regarded L-series of lenses. Featuring a series of specialized elements, this lens utilizes a trio of aspherical elements and two ultra-low dispersion glass elements to control a variety of aberrations for high sharpness and clarity. Both SWC and ASC coatings have also been applied to the elements in order to reduce lens flare and ghosting for increased contrast and color accuracy.
Complementing its optical prowess, a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor offers fast, smooth, and near-silent autofocus performance, which is further benefitted by full-time manual focus operation and an internal focusing design. The lens is both water and dust-resistant, and fluorine coatings have also been applied to the front and rear elements to protect against fingerprints and smudges from affecting image quality. B&H and Canon
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV dSLR Camera Body
Multiple IPT veteran Geri Georg is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body in very good condition for an incredibly low $599.00. The sale includes the front body cap, the original and one extra Canon battery, the battery charger, a black LensCoat body bag, a near-mint Delkin Sensor Scope with the top and bottom caps and the case, 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 Geri via e-mail or by phone at (970) 219-4493 (MTD).
What can I say? The 5D IV was my favorite-ever Canon digital dSLR. I owned and used three of them while my 1DX II and a 1DX III sat on the shelf in my garage. A new 5D Mark IV, with its 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor, is still in productions and sells new for $$2,299 at B&H. If you have been dreaming of a 5D IV, grab this one save $1,250.00. artie
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/East Pond) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
Car Rental Warnings
All are advised to avoid renting a vehicle from either Fox or SIXT. I rented a car from Fox in San Diego (through Expedia) and when I went to pick up the car they would not allow me to rent the car without paying for their (always previously optional) over-priced insurance. They said it was state law. I have been renting a car in San Diego for more than fifty years and never once had been forced to purchase insurance. When I said that I would cancel my reservation and rent from National they said, “Fine, but you lose all your money. We do not allow cancellations.” All of the major NA rental outfits allow you to cancel anytime before pick-up without penalty. When I returned the vehicle two days early, they said, “We do not give refunds.” Another first.
In Denver, I rented from SIXT, big in Europe. The agent was kind and sweet and told me “No charge to upgrade to a BMW X-3 and no charge for a second driver.” I returned the SUV two days early expecting a refund as the guy in the lot had said. Instead, they ran my AMEX card for an additional $671.00 (for a variety of invented charges)! That after my discount for two days early return.
Forewarned is forearmed.
This image was created on 16 July 2024 at Huguenot Memorial Park on the second morning of the extended JAX IPT. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens (at 24 mm) and The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera.. ISO 1600. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/125 second at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was dead solid perfect. AWB at 6:14:58am, 15 minutes before sunrise.
Lower center Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Gulls, terns, and pelicans on the beach at low tide
Wide Angle Convenience
One of the beautiful things about Huguenot Memorial Park this season was that we rarely had to venture more than 100 yards from my parked SUV. Clouds in the east often scream out for a wide angle lens before sunrise. I would park the car in the perfect spot, shoot the sunrise, and then move the car up 100 yards or so to the protective ropes and park for the morning. This was much better than having to lug the 12-24 on the beach for a long photo session; it is a heavy lens. Geri’s used Canon 16-35mm III is a lot lighter! Grab it before it sells.
Pano Crops
Wide angle photos of groups of birds often do well after being cropped to panos. This puts more emphasis on the small-in-the-frame birds.
Bracketing Wide Angle Bird-scapes
When creating bird scapes with a wide angle lens, I always take the time to set 1/3-stop bracketing. I do this to ensure creating one dead-solid perfect exposure, not for the purpose of creating an HDR. (Note: to create a series of high dynamic range images it is always best to be on a tripod.)
This image was created on 17 July 2024 at Huguenot Memorial Park on the third afternoon of the extended JAX IPT. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens (at 24 mm) and The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera.. ISO 400. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/800 second at f/4.5 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 6:11:51pm.
Lower center Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Mostly Laughing Gulls on the beach at high tide
Blast-off Aftermath
On Wednesday afternoon past, we were on the beach at high tide when more than 20,000 gulls and terns blasted off at once and circled around for five minutes. It would have been great to have been right below them with a wide angle lens, but alas we were all shooting flight with medium telephotos at the time and the car was too far away. IAC, most of the gulls landed high up on the beach, so I grabbed the 12-24, zoomed in to 24mm, and went to work. I love the birds, the soft light, the sky color, and the clouds. WDYT?
This image was created on 18 July 2024 at Huguenot Memorial Park on the fourth afternoon of the extended JAX IPT. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens (at 12 mm) and The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera.. ISO 500. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/800 second at f/8 (stopped down three stops) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 4:35:35pm.
Lower center Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #3: Gulls, terns, and pelicans on the beach at low tide
The Black Cloud
If you look just above the horizon on the left side of the frame, you will see the indigo blue/black cloud that served as the background for the previously published image below. This image was made 20 minutes after the tern shot that; by that time, the black cloud had shrunk as the white storm cloud grew in size. The 12mm focal length turned out to be perfect for the shot I envisioned.
This image was created on 18 July 2024 at Huguenot Memorial Park on the fourth afternoon of the extended JAX IPT. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500. 1/4000 second at f/5.6 (stopped down 1 full stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 4:13:50pm on a bright sunny afternoon (just before a huge storm hit). RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect.
Zone AF-C AF with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #4: Royal Tern in flight with fish for chick
Wind Against Bright Sun and Indigo Blue/Black Skies
With an ominously dark sky to the north and the wind from the southeast, things looked grim at best. But following the basic tenet, keep the wind at your back, I came up with a winning approach: shoot the birds flying south 3/4 backlit against the indigo blue/black skies. Again, Sony Zebras to the rescue; we set our exposures to show just a few Zebras on the whitest parts of the backlit birds — the top of their heads and the edges of the wings.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s two featured images is the strongest? Why?
Canon Lays Off Beloved Camera Guru, Rudy Winston
From the PetaPixel article here. Thanks to blog regular David Policansky for sharing the link with me.
Last week, Canon USA initiated layoffs that affected multiple departments. While the exact number affected was not provided, it is not insignificant and included Rudy Winston, perhaps the most prominent face of Canon’s US-based brand, PetaPixel has learned.
(Rudy) Winston worked at Canon for nearly 30 years as part of its professional products team and during that time was responsible for training Canon’s staff on new products, creating presentations for customers and dealers, leading numerous writing projects, and providing technical assistance to professional and amateur photographers.
As frequent a face as he was for dealers and media — he was a constant presence at product demonstrations and press events — he is more known as one of the faces of Canon’s photography brand online thanks to his regular presence on Canon USA’s YouTube channel which includes an entire section titled “Tech Tips with Rudy Winston.”
“During his career at Canon, he’s had hands-on experience with nearly every Canon EOS camera and lens, and has outstanding working knowledge of everyday use of the EOS system,” Canon says of Winston in a bio on the company’s website. “Rudy has worked in the photography field virtually his entire adult life. Before coming to Canon, he had an extensive career as a freelance photographer, including years of experience shooting professional sports, as well as experience in retail camera sales.”
Everyone who commented was aghast at the news. I wrote,
Hey Rudy, Sorry to hear this disheartening news. Know that you are loved and respected by the thousands and thousands of folks you have helped over the decades, including and especially me. As we both know, after 19 years as a Canon Explorer or Light, I was fired by our good friend Steve Inglima who was in turn fired soon after. Corporate stupidity is sometimes impossible to understand. Maybe they will give you a watch :-(.
I am hoping that this event turns out to be a blessing in disguise for you.
Over the decades, I called and e-mailed Rudy many dozens of times, more recently after the death of the late Chuck Westfall, another Canon tech-rep giant. Even after I switched to Nikon and then to Sony, Rudy was Johnny on the spot when it came to answering my requests for Canon help from folks who had e-mailed me. Rudy was able to answer my camera body questions in detail 100% of the time <em>without ever having to look at a manual. He truly was a friend and a saint and will never be replaced. This is a huge loss for Canon folks. Much love, artie
While doing some web-surfing research for this item, I remembered that Rudy was on site with me at Bosque Del Apache as we created a series of bird photography videos for Canon. I did a Google search for arthur morris bosque del apache Canon videos and wound up here. I found the four videos immediately. Following many of the links below the video brought back a flood of great memories of my time with Canon. And a few tears as well.
Here is an e-mail from Rudy dated 1/31/2018:
Hi Artie,
Certainly we’re saddened to see a master of the craft of bird photography move on to a different brand after such a long relationship, but we respect you and your decision, and we’re certainly here if and when we can assist you in the future. Personally, it’s always been my pleasure to work with you, and offer whatever assistance I could. You’re a gentleman, and I’m honored to be able to tell my colleagues and friends that you and I are on a first-name basis. I’m sure you’ll continue to get great pictures with your new gear, and I wish you total success with it. At the same time, I certainly hope our paths cross again in the future. Many thanks for the kind words in the blog post where you announced your decision. I appreciate all I’ve learned from you, and will always remember our interactions fondly. All the best, moving forward, and please stay in touch.
Best Regards,
Rudy Winston
Canon USA
If you enjoy a really good backstory (on my years with Canon), you can check out the post that Rudy mentioned here.
Two days ago I tried Rudy on his cell phone but it had been disconnected. It must have been supplied by Canon 🙁
What’s Up?
As I have not unpacked after returning from Jacksonville — I did do a small load of laundry — I am pretty much ready to get on the Auto Train late on Monday afternoon and am looking forward to the three IPTs at Nickerson Beach and my original soul place, the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife, Queens, NY. If you would like to join me, see the details here.
I was glad to learn that first-timer Judy Stepenaskie will be joining IPT veteran Monte Brown on the 1st Nickerson Beach IPT. And I was also glad to learn that Morro Bay IPT veteran Dane Johnson sold his Canon EOS 5D Mark III (converted to infrared) in near-mint conditions with the BG-E11 battery grip (in like-new condition) and a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens (also in near-mint condition) for a ridiculously low $799.00 (was $999.00) in mid-July 2024. Kudos to Dane for lowering the price on a difficult-to-sell item.
If you opt to purchase and of the Sony gear mentioned in this blog post, please use one of my affiliate links to earn a free guide or free entry into my Camera User’s Guide E-mail Groups.
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/East Pond) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
Price Drops
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (with Battery Grip)
Price reduced $100.00 on 12 June 2024 Price reduced $50.00 on 20 July 2024
Homer IPT veteran Mark Harrington is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (57,314 shutter actuations) in excellent plus condition for $899.00 (was $1049.00). The sale includes the front cap, the original product box, the manual and software, the Canon BG-E20 battery grip (a $299.00 value), one battery, the battery charger, the cable, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Mark via e-mail at e-mail or by phone at 1-612-308-5776 MST.
What can I say? The 5D IV was my favorite-ever Canon digital dSLR. I owned and used three of them while my 1DX II and a 1DX III sat on the shelf in my garage. A new 5D Mark IV, with its 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor, is still in productions and sells new for $$2,299 at B&H. If you have been dreaming of a 5D IV, grab this one save $1,250.00. artie
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Price reduced $100.00 on 12 June 2024 Price reduced $50.00 on 20 July 2024
Homer IPT veteran Mark Harrington is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (30269 shutter actuations ) in excellent plus condition for $849.00 (was $999.00). The sale includes the front cap, the strap, one battery, the battery charger, the cable, the manual, the original box and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Mark via e-mail at e-mail or by phone at 1-612-308-5776 MST.
What can I say? The 5D IV was my favorite-ever Canon digital dSLR. I owned and used three of them while my 1DX II and a 1DX III sat on the shelf in my garage. A new 5D Mark IV, with its 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor, is still in productions and sells new for $$2,299 at B&H. If you have been dreaming of a 5D IV, grab this one save $1,250.00. artie
This image was created on 18 July 2024 at Huguenot Memorial Park on the fourth afternoon of the extended JAX IPT. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/4000 second at f/5.0 (stopped down 2/3-stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:02:44am on a brightening morning. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be perfect.
Zone AF-C AF with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Sandwich Tern — adult beginning left turn
Soft-Light Banking Perfection?
On Thursday morning past, we had some decent sunrise color and then enjoyed mostly cloudy-bright conditions for the rest of the morning. Again, I went with my favorite new flight rig, the hand held 300mm f/2.8/1.4X TC/a9 iii combo. I chose 124 very good flight keepers from about 6,000 images. With the science-fiction like AF that I dreamed of for years now a reality, the standards for what makes a great image of a flying bird keep getting higher every day. The soft light perfectly illuminated the underwing detail of the tern’s fully spread wings and tail justan instant before the bird in Image #1 began to turn left and away from me. The a9 iii’s 120 fps is a huge plus when photographing flight and action.
Image #1 was cropped from a horizontal original with a bit of canvas added above and below.
Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Royal Tern with Cutlassfish — flight pano crop
Flight Pano Crop
With a south wind and clear blue skies, our last morning offered the best sunny flight photography of the entire extended IPT. As I had been using the tripod-mounted 840mm/a1 combo at sunrise, I stuck with it as the flight photography developed. Sandra Calderbank did well working off the tripod with her 600mm/a1 rig. Steve Shore hand held the same outfit for a while and then went to the tripod topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro. As he recently got back into bird photography, he was having trouble shooting flight on the tripod. He ran back to the car and grabbed the 300mm f/2.8/1.4X TC, slapped his a1 on it, and went to work. Shooting flight off a tripod is a skill that must be learned and practiced.
The a1/a9 iii Dilemma
Assuming that your camera body is set up properly and in the hands of someone with a modicum of skill, the a1 produces raw files with superb image quality (at a not shabby 30 fps). And the AF system ain’t bad either. The a9 iii files are about half the size, a9 iii AF is surer than a1 AF, and its 120 fps capture rate is unmatched and provides four times as many flight poses and wing positions as the a1. Which is best for photographing birds in flight? Whichever one you have in your hands.
Flight Photography Tip
If you are lucky enough to photograph at a tern colony and you see a bird coming in with a nice prey item, understand that they may have trouble finding their chick or chicks on the first pass. They will often fly a wide circle and return to try again. When the bird in Image #2 flew in, I called it out. When it did not recognize its chick, it flew out over the ocean. By following it in flight, I was able to shout out its return several times before it finally landed and unloaded a nice shiny breakfast.
Processing Tip
The Remove Tool did a wonderful job with the specular highlights on the fish. Learn how to use this great, relatively new Photoshop tool (and tons more) in the Digital Basics III Video Series. Volume II coming this September.
Image #1: Unsharpened 100% crop of the Royal Tern with Cutlassfish — flight pano crop image
a1 Image Quality and Crop-ability
Simply put, a1 image quality and the ability of sharp a-1 image files to stand up to huge crops cannot be matched by the a9 iii.
Join me to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, American Oystercatchers, and more!
The Summer 2024 Nickerson Beach 3 1/2 day Terns, Skimmers, & Oystercatchers IPTs
Nickerson Beach IPT #1: July 29 – August 1, 2024. 3 1/2 days: Afternoon session on MON 29 July through the full day on THURS 1 August, 2024: $2099.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5
Nickerson Beach IPT #2: August 5-8 2024. 3 1/2 days: Afternoon session on MON 5 August through the full day on THURS 8 August, 2024: $2099.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Join me at Nickerson Beach Park this summer to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers. The trip is timed so that we should get to photograph tiny chicks as well as fledglings. There will be lots of flight photography including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs. Creating great images of the chicks being fed is a challenge but I will do my best to help you toward that end. We will get to photograph a variety of breeding behaviors including courtship, sitting on (incubating) eggs, chick feeding, and more. We may get to photograph pre-dawn and early evening blastoffs. There is generally great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles sunny days. And with luck, we might even see a few tiny chicks in addition to fledged and flying young. We will also get to photograph the life cycle of American Oystercatcher. This will likely include nests with eggs and small chicks, young being fed, and surely a few fledglings.
Nesting Piping Plover is also possibly. There will be lots of gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few lesser black-backeds of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and maybe even Red Knot.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Black Skimmer fledgling skimming; Black Skimmer with large needlefish; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer fledgling taking flight; Black Skimmer adult with killifish; Black Skimmer adult landing near nest; Black Skimmer in midair chase; and Black Skimmers at dawn in the red light district.
Activities
Morning sessions will run from pre-dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am, roughly 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023.
Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. And we will process a few images and distribute the screen capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. And all IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.
Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.
Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- More than you could ever imagine.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Common Tern landing at nest with small baitfish; large Common Tern chick on pristine beach; American Oystercatchers courtship flight; Common Tern with pipefish; Common Tern fledgling; American Oystercatcher on eggs in high wind; American Oystercatcher nest with three eggs; and Black Skimmer midair battle.
The Details
We will be on the beach very early to enjoy sunrise. The morning sessions will run about 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will begin at 5:30 and run till sunset. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till 11:30am or so and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy.
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.
Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Join me on the COMBO IPT this coming August to photograph adult and juvenile shorebirds at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY.
Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs; adult Semipalmated Plover; fresh juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Least Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Stilt Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher; worn, molting adult Semipalmated Sandpiper; worn, molting adult White-rumped Sandpiper; and juvenile (left) and worn, molting adult Greater Yellowlegs.
The Combo IPT — East Pond, JBWR/Nickerson Beach: August 17 – 20, 2024. SAT August 17 through the morning session on TUES 20 August 2024. 3 1/2 days: $2199.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Join me for four mornings at the famed East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY (conditions permitting) to photograph southbound migrant shorebirds and for three afternoons to photograph beach nesting birds. The window for photographing juvenile shorebirds in fresh plumage is very narrow and this trip will of course get you to the right spot at the exact right time. You will learn to identify and age the shorebirds and to photograph them (at ground level). I will gladly share everything that I have learned during the 46 years I have been visiting the pond. Heck, I started late. After too many years of mismanagement, the gate valve at the north end of the East Pond has finally been repaired properly; water levels should be perfect this summer. If it is not, we will spend our mornings at Nickerson.
Afternoons (and mornings as well) at Nickerson Beach Park are superb in mid-August for photographing Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young of all ages. There will be lots of fledged chicks by mid-August, lots of flight including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs, and excellent chances to photograph both chick feeding and predation by gulls. The Great Black-backed Gulls see the young skimmers as potato chips. We should get to photograph the evening skimmer blastoffs. On hot sunny days, there is still great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles.
There will be lots of terns (mostly Common Terns) and gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and maybe even Red Knot. And we might encounter large, swirling flocks of Sanderling in flight over the ocean.
Join me this August to photograph at the East Pond at JBWR in the mornings (conditions permitting) and at Nickerson Beach in the afternoons.
Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: Marbled Godwit (likely in juvenal plumage); Wilson’s Phalarope in first winter plumage; Black Skimmer adult in flight over the Atlantic; juvenile American Oystercatcher foraging surf; adult Lesser Black-backed Gull; Black Skimmer attacking tiny chick; Killdeer in fresh juvenal plumage; Least Sandpiper in fresh juvenal plumage ruffling; and juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and mixed shorebird flock.
Morning sessions at the East Pond will run from just before dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am. If the afternoon weather forecast is looking ominous, we may decide to photograph until after 11:00am and cancel the afternoon session. Afternoon sessions at Nick will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023).
Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. In addition, we will process some participant images and distribute the screen-capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. All IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.
Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.
Some of What You Will Learn on the COMBO IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before you make even a single image if you are using SONY gear).
2-How to get low and super low
3- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
4- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
5- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- To identify and age a variety of shorebird, tern, and gull species.
11- More than you could ever imagine.
The Details
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session during and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. This IPT will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.
Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
It is 4:25am on Friday 19 July as I type. Today is get-away day. We will photograph till about 8:30am, head back to the AirBnB, clean up and pack up, and then get all of my stuff and Steve’s bags and cases into in my SUV. Then I drop Steve at JAX for his flights home to DFW.
Though we’ve had a breeze from the west every morning (the worst when combined with sun and clear skies) and a wind from the SE (bad) on clear afternoons — we only had two of those), the trip has been amazingly productive. Unbeknown to most avian shooters, Huguenot Memorial Park ranks right up there as a world class North American bird photography hotspot. My plan is to have a Site Guide available before next season.
Some clouds on three of the five mornings and pretty much all the afternoons have helped tremendously. On Wednesday afternoon, we had a nice breeze from the S/SW and cloudy skies, the best flight photography conditions of the trip; I created more than 14,000 images (including Image #1, below). Shooting flight for the last two days with the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera,, I’ve been creating between 5,000 and 8,000 images per session, always getting at least a few great ones.
The combo mentioned above has quickly become my all time favorite, go-to flight photography outfit. It is so light that most folks can hand hold it for hours. And when I wanted to work low, I got down on the beach and got within range of one or more of the incredibly beautiful Royal Tern chicks. 420mm is quite a handy focal length for bird photography. And as I have not once been tempted to slap on the 2X TC, working at f/4 allows for the use of lower ISOs in all situations. Not too mention that I recently made some a9 iii AF menu changes that have significantly improved a9 iii focusing accuracy. I will be sharing those new settings with the a9 iii group soon.
Working at 120 fps with .3 second Pre-capture gives me dozens of wing positions and flight poses to choose from with each fly-by. And as Steve and Sandra have seen, the great ones jump right off the monitor even when you are viewing the a9 iii images like a movie in Photo Mechanic.
My ride back to ILE from the airport will take me about four hours. I hope that you also have a great day.
Your Call?
Which of today’s two featured images is the strongest? Why?
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/East Pond) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
This image was created on 17 July 2024 at Huguenot Memorial Park on the third afternoon of the extended JAX IPT. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600. 1/4000 second at f/4 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 5:29:04pm on a cloudy afternoon. RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be perfect.
Zone AF-C AF with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick
White Sky Flight Photography
With white sky conditions (cloudy), you usually need to add two or more stops of light to the metered exposure to come up with a properly exposed raw file. Thus, those should look over-exposed and washed out at best. It takes two minutes in Photoshop to blue up the dingy skies a bit — warning, do NOT try to over do that, increase the contrast, and juice up the colors. It is almost hard to believe that the raw file for Image #1, above, was totally flat and boring.
Do know that Sony’s Zebra technology makes white sky photography child’s play — just dial up your ISO until you have some Zebras on either the white sky or the subject and you are good to go.
If you are not quite sure how to bring your cloudy day images to life, check out the two offerings immediately below.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The technique mentioned above (eyeball replacement) and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all 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. 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.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
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: most 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 three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed fairly significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here.
You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
This image was created on 18 July 2024 at Huguenot Memorial Park on the fourth afternoon of the extended JAX IPT. Standing at full height, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500. 1/4000 second at f/5.6 (stopped down 1 full stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 4:13:50pm on a bright sunny afternoon (just before a huge storm hit). RawDigger showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect.
Zone AF-C AF with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Royal Tern in flight with fish for chick
Wind Against Bright Sun and Indigo Blue/Black Skies
With an ominously dark sky to the north and the wind from the southeast, things looked grim at best. But following the basic tenet, keep the wind at your back, I came up with a winning approach: shoot the birds flying south 3/4 backlit against the indigo blue/black skies. Again, Sony Zebras to the rescue; we set our exposures to show just a few Zebras on the whitest parts of the backlit birds — the top of their heads and the edges of the wings.
a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide
a9 iii E-mail Set-up and Info Guide
For those who think that my comments on the a9 iii are pure hype, know that I recently sold the second of my three a1 bodies.
If you plan on purchasing a Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera (or anything else for that matter), please remember to use or write for either my Bedfords discount code or my B&H affiliate link. Folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase the a9 III will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up), a Buttons and Dials Guide, and an a9 iii Info Sheet.
For those who did not use my link to purchase their Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, you can order your a copy here for $209.93.
Click on the image to enlarge and to be able to read the fine print.
The BAA Sony 300mm f/2.8 Lens Guide
Impressed by my (or Pat’s) Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) images? Use either my Bedfords or B&H affiliate link to purchase your Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and shoot me your receipt via e-mail and request a copy of the first-ever BAA Lens Guide. I thought that it would take only minutes to create this guide, but I was dead wrong. In the process of creating it, I learned a ton about the lens. And even better, I discovered a simple yet potentially fatal flaw that was resulting in sporadically unsharp flight images. The set-up fix is simple. Just be sure to use one of my affiliate links and get the guide for free.
If not, you can purchase a copy here for $209.93. Yes, it never hurts to use my links and it never costs you one penny more. And if you contact me via e-mail before you make a major purchase, I can often save you some money.
Join me to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, American Oystercatchers, and more!
The Summer 2024 Nickerson Beach 3 1/2 day Terns, Skimmers, & Oystercatchers IPTs
Nickerson Beach IPT #1: July 29 – August 1, 2024. 3 1/2 days: Afternoon session on MON 29 July through the full day on THURS 1 August, 2024: $2099.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5
Nickerson Beach IPT #2: August 5-8 2024. 3 1/2 days: Afternoon session on MON 5 August through the full day on THURS 8 August, 2024: $2099.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Join me at Nickerson Beach Park this summer to photograph Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers. The trip is timed so that we should get to photograph tiny chicks as well as fledglings. There will be lots of flight photography including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs. Creating great images of the chicks being fed is a challenge but I will do my best to help you toward that end. We will get to photograph a variety of breeding behaviors including courtship, sitting on (incubating) eggs, chick feeding, and more. We may get to photograph pre-dawn and early evening blastoffs. There is generally great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles sunny days. And with luck, we might even see a few tiny chicks in addition to fledged and flying young. We will also get to photograph the life cycle of American Oystercatcher. This will likely include nests with eggs and small chicks, young being fed, and surely a few fledglings.
Nesting Piping Plover is also possibly. There will be lots of gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few lesser black-backeds of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and maybe even Red Knot.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Black Skimmer fledgling skimming; Black Skimmer with large needlefish; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer fledgling taking flight; Black Skimmer adult with killifish; Black Skimmer adult landing near nest; Black Skimmer in midair chase; and Black Skimmers at dawn in the red light district.
Activities
Morning sessions will run from pre-dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am, roughly 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023.
Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. And we will process a few images and distribute the screen capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. And all IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.
Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.
Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- More than you could ever imagine.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Black Skimmer pair with chick; Common Tern landing at nest with small baitfish; large Common Tern chick on pristine beach; American Oystercatchers courtship flight; Common Tern with pipefish; Common Tern fledgling; American Oystercatcher on eggs in high wind; American Oystercatcher nest with three eggs; and Black Skimmer midair battle.
The Details
We will be on the beach very early to enjoy sunrise. The morning sessions will run about 3 1/2 hours. Afternoon sessions will begin at 5:30 and run till sunset. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till 11:30am or so and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy.
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.
Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Join me on the COMBO IPT this coming August to photograph adult and juvenile shorebirds at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY.
Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs; adult Semipalmated Plover; fresh juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Least Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Stilt Sandpiper; fresh juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher; worn, molting adult Semipalmated Sandpiper; worn, molting adult White-rumped Sandpiper; and juvenile (left) and worn, molting adult Greater Yellowlegs.
The Combo IPT — East Pond, JBWR/Nickerson Beach: August 17 – 20, 2024. SAT August 17 through the morning session on TUES 20 August 2024. 3 1/2 days: $2199.00. Limit: 6. Openings: 5.
Join me for four mornings at the famed East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY (conditions permitting) to photograph southbound migrant shorebirds and for three afternoons to photograph beach nesting birds. The window for photographing juvenile shorebirds in fresh plumage is very narrow and this trip will of course get you to the right spot at the exact right time. You will learn to identify and age the shorebirds and to photograph them (at ground level). I will gladly share everything that I have learned during the 46 years I have been visiting the pond. Heck, I started late. After too many years of mismanagement, the gate valve at the north end of the East Pond has finally been repaired properly; water levels should be perfect this summer. If it is not, we will spend our mornings at Nickerson.
Afternoons (and mornings as well) at Nickerson Beach Park are superb in mid-August for photographing Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young of all ages. There will be lots of fledged chicks by mid-August, lots of flight including adults flying with baitfish and mole crabs, and excellent chances to photograph both chick feeding and predation by gulls. The Great Black-backed Gulls see the young skimmers as potato chips. We should get to photograph the evening skimmer blastoffs. On hot sunny days, there is still great afternoon skimmer flight photography that includes frequent midair battles.
There will be lots of terns (mostly Common Terns) and gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and maybe even Red Knot. And we might encounter large, swirling flocks of Sanderling in flight over the ocean.
Join me this August to photograph at the East Pond at JBWR in the mornings (conditions permitting) and at Nickerson Beach in the afternoons.
Clockwise starting from the upper left back to center: Marbled Godwit (likely in juvenal plumage); Wilson’s Phalarope in first winter plumage; Black Skimmer adult in flight over the Atlantic; juvenile American Oystercatcher foraging surf; adult Lesser Black-backed Gull; Black Skimmer attacking tiny chick; Killdeer in fresh juvenal plumage; Least Sandpiper in fresh juvenal plumage ruffling; and juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and mixed shorebird flock.
Morning sessions at the East Pond will run from just before dawn till about 9:00 or 9:30am. If the afternoon weather forecast is looking ominous, we may decide to photograph until after 11:00am and cancel the afternoon session. Afternoon sessions at Nick will run from 5:30 till sunset (assuming that entry policies are as they were in 2023).
Many folks head home feeling that while our time in the field was fabulous and productive, that the working brunch sessions were even more valuable. During image review you will learn to select the best images from several thousand made with your 20- and 30 fps (or 120 fps!) camera bodies. In addition, we will process some participant images and distribute the screen-capture videos for you to learn from after the trip. All IPTs offer follow-up image critiques.
Change your life: sign up for this IPT today. Please shoot me an e-mail if you would like to explore the possibility of renting some Sony gear (including an a1) from me.
Clockwise from upper left around and back to center: Adult American Oystercatcher foraging at sunrise; Adult American Oystercatcher posing on clean sand; predawn skimmer flock blur; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer landing at nest on cloudy day; Black Skimmer large chick; Black Skimmer sunrise group blur; Black Skimmer adult with Atlantic Silversides; juvenile Semipalmated Plover, and photographer with oystercatcher family.
Some of What You Will Learn on the COMBO IPT
1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before you make even a single image if you are using SONY gear).
2-How to get low and super low
3- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
4- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
5- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
10- To identify and age a variety of shorebird, tern, and gull species.
11- More than you could ever imagine.
The Details
There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session during and after brunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. This IPT will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airports are JFK or Islip (if you have lots of Southwest points). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).
Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field ridiculously early and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:00am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We may be getting our feet wet on occasion, especially in the mornings, but those who wish to keep their feet 100% dry can do so.
Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check. Those who wish to pay for the trip in one fell swoop via check may do so by making the check out to BIRDS AS ART and then mailing it to BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice right after you register. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.
IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/East Pond) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
What’s Up?
I have not had this much fun on an IPT in ages. After screwing up the first morning sunrise things have been getting better and better. We had a very nice sunrise on Monday (but not as great on the one on Sunday had been). Like Sunday morning, things got hot fast but we enjoyed some excellent photography. Monday evening was the bomb with a cool north wind and an indigo black cloud to the north. We did lots of flight photography. Tuesday morning was blessed cloudy and we shot lots of large tern chicks on the clean sand. Tuesday night was fabulous as we photographed dozens of Royal Tern chicks in the wash on a cloudy bright afternoon. Until two very overweight rednecks drove at high speed right through large flocks of birds (including the terns that were right in front of us) on their e-bikes. They hit a young Laughing Gull and broke its wing and passed by us laughing. When they returned, they paused to give us some lip. We called the cops and they did come. Not sure if they found them.
The birds returned after a while and were amazingly tame. At 6:45pm the sheriff came to shoo us off the beach so I took Steve and Sandy out for dinner at the Palms Fish Camp Restaurant. The food was quite good and we had a great time.
I just finished downloading and learned that I have 5830 images to edit from our great day. And most of those were made with the (slower frame rate) a-1. As there was little wind in the afternoon, there was not much flight photography so I rarely used the a9 iii.
Today is Wednesday 17 July and we will be back out there early hoping for a killer sunrise to make up for the one we missed. I hope that you have fun too.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Save 15%!
If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.
I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.
Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.
Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com
B&H
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.
Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often stave you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Sandwich Terns with fish for tern chick
The Situation
We were sitting on the beach near a patch of pretty clean sand facing east on a cloudy morning. There were handsome tern chicks of varying sizes everywhere. The relatively small chick featured in both of today’s images, confused the heck out of us. With its orange bill, it sure looked like a Royal Tern chick. For more than an hour, several adult Sandwich Terns landed nearby attempting to feed it. Though it was begging constantly, it was never fed. At times, one or two more adult Sandwich Terns would join in the coffee klatch.
My advice to Steve was to trust Tracking; Zone AF, acquire focus, and blast away whenever there was some action. Why not be more selective with both framing and focus? If you tried to see a good pose you would not be fast enough to capture it before it was gone. So we both sprayed and prayed and each of us made several fine images.
Remember that Steve switched to Sony at my urging before the last spring Fort DeSoto IPT that he attended. His progress has been astounding. He cannot believe the sharpness he is getting at 1200mm.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Sandwich Terns with fish and a tern chick
My Best
I used the same approach that I had advised Steve to use and got really lucky on this one. I sprayed and prayed the field. I rarely look at images on the back of the camera in field and thus was totally amazed when this one popped up.
Color Balance
Though the two images were made within a minute or so of each other and we were both using. AWB, note that Steve’s image, #1, is bluer with a darker background than my somewhat warmer image. I did not realize thatI had optimized them so differently. Which color balance do you prefer?
Can a Sandwich Tern Chick Have an Orange Bill?
I am pretty sure that the chick was in fact a Royal Tern as Sandwich Tern chicks have slimmer bills that range from yellow to black with a bit of yellow … But I would not bet my life on it. If it was a Royal Tern chick, the only explanation is that the adult birds were somehow confused.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s two featured images is the strongest? Why?
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/East Pond) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
What’s Up
Yesterday, IPT veterans Sandy Calderbank and Steve Shore joined me on the first day of the extended (Sunday thru Friday morning) Jacksonville IPT. Steve survived nicely despite the fact that American Airlines opted to leave his single checked bag in Dallas. We were greeted by record numbers (at least 4000 plus) of Royal Tern chicks on the beach. Though there are still some small tern chicks around, the vast majority are either 3/4 grown or fledged and flying. The variety of plumages on the young birds is staggering. Some have golden tones, some are a very fluffy white, some are starkly patterned black and white, and others do not fit neatly into any category.
After being delayed by leader error, we caught just the tail end of a spectacular sunrise so we are hoping for a repeat this morning. With the wind in the morning from the west (bad), the clouds helped for a bit, but unfortunately, we had full sun by 7:45. We had a great brunch at the AirBnB that Steve and I are sharing and followed that up with two plus hours of image review and Photoshop. We made one Camtasia image processing video as I optimized one of Sandy’s photos.
We got back to the beach before 5pm. The wind had switched to the south/southeast (bad in the afternoon). The bright sun (bad) soon gave wave to clouds (good with the SE wind) and we enjoyed an excellent hour with the terns, some young Laughing Gulls, and some Brown Pelicans. When the wind swung briefly to the W/SW we enjoyed some good flight photography. Then the skies cleared and the wind freshened from the south limiting us to flight photography only with birds flying the “wrong” way. All of the handsome young terns sitting on the clean beach were angled away from us — classic wind against sun.
I was glad to learn yesterday that Homer IPT veteran Mark J Harrington recently sold his Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 LUSM lens in excellent plus condition for a BAA record low $423.00 (was $523.00), a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent plus condition for a BAA record low $949.00, and a
Canon Extender EF 1.4X III in excellent plus condition for a BAA record low $228.00.
Today is Monday 15 July and we will be headed out earlier than yesterday. The forecast (west wind in the mornings and SE in the afternoons) is the same for at least the next two days. We will do our best and there will continue to be a ton of leaning going on.
Upper Center Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Royal Tern, adult with fish for chick
Think Fast/Work Fast
I called out, “Adult with fish” as this bird landed on the ridge in front of me, pretty much right down sun angle. At 1200mm, I knew that I had way too much lens so I shouted, “Front end vertical” as I rotated the lens to vertical in the tripod collar. I set upper center Tracking: Zone AF/C on all of my bodies to save an instant or two in such situations. The AF system tracking the bird’s eye perfectly as the bird turned its head slightly toward me (good!). I fired off about ten frames before the bird took flight. Three, made before the bird turned its head away into the west wind, were quite excellent. The three of us looked very closely at the three images for more than a few minutes while discussing the merits of each. Finally, we all agreed on the second image, now optimized above.
The Goal: One Family Jewel per Session
Folks often ask me, “What are you trying for when you head out into the field. I usually reply by saying something like this: I am trying to make one family jewels type image, a photo that makes me happy. Most of those will be both artistically and technically excellent (if not perfect). Once I get one, I am always hoping and trying for more. After both the morning and afternoon sessions, I knew exactly which images I would be most proud of. Mission accomplished.
This image was also created on 14 July 2024 at Huguenot Memorial Park on the first day of the JAX IPT. Seated on damp sand, I used the heel-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (Sony E), the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera.
The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1250. 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 6:12:26pm on a then cloudy afternoon.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
This handsome young tern was sleeping on the clean, hard-packed sand. First there was a gull behind it, then a tern. I was hoping that it would stand up and not run or fly away. Seated, I pushed myself forward and right with my hands with the lens on my lap and butt-advanced to get into position. The gull flew away. Then the tern flew away. Then, the handsome young tern woke up and walked a few step to my right so I followed, again by butt-advancing. Finally I was in perfect position and the bird rewarded me, first with a ruffle and then with a double overhead wingstretch. Image #2 above was the last frame in the series as I quit shooting knowing that I would clip the wingtips.
The coolest thing about this image is that while I was optimizing it I thought that it was an a-1 file … a9 iii image quality is quite superb despite that fact that the raw files (24 MP) are slightly less than half the a-1 raws (51 MP).
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
We may (or may not) have a temporary blog post notification fix in place. Time will tell. I know that some or many or you received 19 “old” post notifications. Part of the problem is that there were 36 missed posts. So what happened to the other 17? Be assured that we are working hard on the problem.
In the meantime, enjoy the video below.
Today is Saturday 13 July. I will be driving up to Jacksonville for the IPT and will be picking up old friend and IPT vet Steve Shore at JAX today at about 4pm. Have a great day. Tomorrow: 15,000 plus pairs of terns and Laughing Gulls with chicks of all ages.
Huge Price Drop
Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens
Price reduced a shocking $600.00 on 13 July 2024
Used Gear Page veteran Robert Hollyer is offering a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens in Like-New condition for a BAA record low $9398.00 (was $9,998.00). The sale includes the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, the lens hood, the lens strap, that hard case & strap, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Bob via e-mail or by phone at 1-206-359-0018 PST.
I purchased my Sony 400mm f/2.8 two years ago to complement my 600mm f/4. Robert is selling his because he rarely uses it, opting instead for the 600mm f/4! It is far easier for me to handhold the 4 ounces lighter, much smaller, and better balanced 400 f/2.8 than it is to handhold the 600mm f/4. The 400 kills for flight with or without the 1.4X teleconverter. This lens sells new right now for $11,998.00 at B&H and there are used copies going for $10998.00 as well. Act quickly to save a handsome $2,000.00 by grabbing Robert’s might-as-well-be-new 400mm GM lens. And you can’t beat the f/2.8 Bokeh! artie
A Really Good Morning Down by the Lake with Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART (21 minutes)
With lots of packing to do for my trip to Jacksonville, I took a peek down by the lake in hopes of finding a bathing Osprey. Instead, I had a fine morning with a young Great Egret, some adult and young White Ibises, a perched adult Osprey, a pair of Sandhill Cranes, and a very cooperative pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Learn a ton about bird photography by sitting next to me as I do the first edit. You will see me delete hundreds of perfect images and relegate them to the Trash. I kept only 79 out of 1146 images, all but one of the keepers made at 1200mm working off the BLUBB (Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag — https://birdsasart-shop.com/blubb-big), and all but one in sharp focus. More soon. The more of this video you watch, the more you will learn.
If you would like to see a short video of the second edit, please leave a comment.
This image was created on 12 July left of the pier down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 800. 1/1000 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:57:10am on clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Black-bellied Whistling Duck with bill open
Eyeball Replacement
As you saw in the video, the bird had the nictitating membrane partially down in one of my favorite images. I replaced the eye with an open eye from another image in the series. Then I cropped to a vertical for impact.
Yikes
After completing the video I realized that with all my talking my two favorite images had NOT been tagged as keepers. As I hade already cleaned the cards, I went to Trash, selected all, and pasted them back into the July 12 folder. It took only a few seconds to tag the two I had missed and to delete the untagged.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The technique mentioned above (eyeball replacement) and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all 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. 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.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
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: most 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 three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed fairly significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here.
You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
It looks as if we are back to square one as far as post notifications 🙁
What’s Up?
Having finally gotten in touch with the brilliant IT guy who created the BAA blog 15 years ago — he is now living on a farm in South Africa, online with Starlink!, — post notifications have currently been restored (we hope). His temporary solution was to drop back from the latest versions of WordPress and PHP to older versions that are compatible with the Post Notifications plugin that had worked since the blog was first published on 12 March 2009. Going forward, we may update to a newer plugin called Newsletters. If that happens, the change should be seamless. I should know in a few hours if the post notifications for today’s post were sent … I am optimistic.
The Plan
My plan, at present, is to publish a blog post every day alternating between re-published posts (beginning with this one that was originally published 5 May 2024), and brand new posts. In a bit more than two months, we should be caught up. Tomorrow’s new post on the gun violence photography of Dr. Greg Gulbransen, will blow most folks away. Apologies to the few who are seeing this post for the second time. Some might be interested in reading the comments on the original post here.
Your Call?
After clicking on each to enlarge, which of today’s featured images do you like best? Why?
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars.
This image was created on 30 April 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 2000. 1/800 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:23:36am on sunny morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane post-preening pose
Looking for Different
I head down to the lake most every morning when I am not on the road, and most every morning, there are Sandhill Cranes to photograph. Sometimes I get bored with the cranes. The challenge therefore, is the quest for something new and different, or at least for something perfect. Image #1 fits into the latter category. Most of the cranes are tame. When the adults are foraging, they are difficult to photograph as they are moving constantly. When I see a pair standing in one spot, they are almost always preening; it is easy to drive into point blank range. I’ve made many thousands of images in such situations. Heck, possibly tens of thousands. Is there anything about Image #1 that bugs you?
This image was created on 3 May 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 800. 1/400 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be perfect. AWB at 7:11:46am as early clouds and fog blocked the sun.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Sandhill Crane adult and young bird-scape with tree and ground fog
Different for Sure
When I headed down to the lake on Friday morning, there were some low clouds to the east and some ground fog on the North Field. I drove past the adult and colt foraging to see if there was any possibility of fire in the mist conditions by shooting back into the soon-to-come sunrise. But the fog was not thick enough. So I made a U-turn to check out the bird-scape opportunities. I stayed far back so that I could put the birds in a corner of the frame and include the ground fog. That is when I noticed the tree. As the sun had not broken through the clouds, I was able to shoot south to north as sun angle would not be a problem. Image #2 was the best of the lot.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.
You can purchase Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop here. #5 was sent last week. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI and for those familiar with the techniques detailed in the earlier versions of Digital Basics.. Especially Digital Basics II.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Today is Wednesday 10 July. I am hoping to receive a phone call from Europe in a very few minutes that might solve the post notifications (and other) problems on the blog. Wish us luck.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Important Notice
After an update on 4 May, WordPress stopped sending post notifications. We have been aware of the issue and are working on rectifying it. A new post is published every other day. You can always check them out by visiting or bookmarking www.BIRDSASART-Blog.com.
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& JBWR) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
Save 15%!
If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.
I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.
Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.
Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com
B&H
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.
Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often stave you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 7 July 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 800. 1/2000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:48:13am on a sunny morning with a touch of haze in the air.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Osprey in the lake, the original
Plans for the Original
As you saw in the last YouTube video here, one of the problems I had photographing the whistling ducks and the Ospreys along the edge of the lake was minimizing or eliminating the (pretty-much-ugly) shoreline. As I pressed the shutter button when creating this series of images, I visualized a large crop to a vertical. The line of dirt through the bird’s reflection dictated the crop. See Image #2 immediately below.
Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: The optimized (vertical) version of the Osprey in the lake image
A 75% Crop!
Slightly more than 75% of the original pixels in today’s featured image were cropped away and discarded. The flattened 8-bit .TIF file comprises exactly 24.9% of the original pixels. Though I had planned for a vertical from the get go, a 75% crop is unusual for me. In any case, such large crops are possible because of the quality of sharp Sony a-1 51 MP raw files. Getting similar high quality results with the smaller (24MP) a9 iii files would be iffy at best.
Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: An unsharpened 100% crop of the Osprey in the lake image
The 100% Crop
The 100% crop of the optimized .TIF file shows the incredible detail you can render even at 1200mm. Sharpness is compromised to a very small degree with the addition of either teleconverter, more of course with the 2X than with the 1.4 TC.
Typos
With all blog posts including this one, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I had not been down to the lake since I got home from Colorado, assuming that there would not be much to photograph on the hot, sunny mornings. As it turned out, I was wrong; yesterday, Sunday morning, was fabulous. The juvie Osprey in the lake excited me most. As I go through my July 8th 2025 keepers, I share my thoughts with you in this nine minute video. There is a ton to learn.
Learn more about or purchase a BLUBB, the big lens ultimate beanbag, here.
Join me on a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour here.
And remember, when it is sunny, point your shadow at the bird!
Important Notice
After an update on 4 May, WordPress stopped sending post notifications. We have been aware of the issue and are working on rectifying it. You can always visit the blog by visiting or bookmarking www.BIRDSASART-Blog.com.
It is possible that a solution might be in the works …
Supporting My Efforts Here
If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here. Or, click here, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail.
In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear.
Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& JBWR) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
What’s Up?
Buoyed by my success yesterday, I headed back down to the lake today, Monday 8 July. Though I had three Ospreys in the lake at once, I did not make any images better than what I got yesterday. I am, however, pretty sure that my whistling duck horizontal portraits, made at 840mm and 600mm with the lens on the BLUBB on the ground, will be my best ever as the early light was sweeter than it was when I created Image #1 below.
This image was created on 7 July 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated on damp sand I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1000. 1/1250 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 9:00:39am on a mostly sunny morning with a touch of haze in the air.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Black-bellied Whistling Duck field guide portrait
Over the years, I have supported big lenses with a BLUBB that had been placed on the ground. On Sunday morning, this technique worked quite well on several occasions. With the whistling ducks, it is relatively easy to exit my vehicle on the driver’s side, place the BLUBB on the ground, get out holding the 600, and get to work. Doing the same thing with an Osprey in the water is a lot more difficult as raptors in general are a lot more wary than the ducks. There are some good tips in the video that work well with this technique.
This image was created on 7 July 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000. 1/4000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:44:40am on a mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face-eye AF enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Osprey — juvenile in lake with wings raised
Almost Bathing …
In the video, you can see that the Ospreys tend to stay close to the shoreline in about 2-4 inches of water. I keep hoping that they will venture a bit deeper and enjoy a full fledged bath. Not yet. Image #2 was created from the vehicle with the BLUBB on window frame with the window fully lowered. There are other images in the video made when I was out of my SUV with the BLUBB on the ground. It should be easy to see the difference as the lower perspective yields much more intimate photos.
I had switched from the a1 to the a9 iii in anticipation of some action. I made a few images when the bird in Image #2 touched down briefly but then took flight. This one should have been my favorite from the get go as more of the bird’s right wing is visible.
The dark streaks in the center of this bird’s breast show it to be a (young) female.
Image #3: The BLUBB on the ground supporting the Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens with the 1.4X TC and the a1
Not Cock-eyed
Though everything looks askew, the green/green level shows that the subject is perfectly square to the world. The trick to succeeding with the BLUBB on the ground is getting out of your vehicle without disturbing the birds. You cannot beat the low perspective when it comes to intimacy.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
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Summer On Long Island
Check out the July and August Nickerson Beach (& JBWR) IPT offerings here and consider joining us to learn a ton, make lots of great images, and improve your image processing skills.
What’s Up?
Not much. I have been busy getting ready to head up to Jacksonville next week to photograph the more than 20,000 pairs of Royal Terns and Laughing Gulls with chicks of varying ages (almost surely including some fledged and flying young of both species.) Due to a cancellation, there is a single opening. See below for details. Shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
Today is Saturday 6 July 4 2024. After getting a call from my tax account, Chip Jackson, I realized that I need to get back to doing some serious work on my 2023 taxes. I need to have my stuff in Chip’s hands no later than 7 September and I will not be taking the stuff with me to Long Island … Wherever you are a whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day :-).
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Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Northern Flicker in nest cavity
The Situation
This young flicker was just about ready to fledge when I photographed it two days before I headed home. Standing on a rocky hillside at eye level, I approached slowly to within 30 feet for this head portrait. I love the view of the single claw set against the bark of the pine.
The Tripod
As I knew that I would be working on more than a few uphill and downhill slopes in the mountains around Evergreen, Colorado, I left the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod and went with the taller Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod. It turned out to be a wise decision that enabled me to get the tripod platform parallel to the ground in a variety of difficult, even tenuous situations.
Don’t Be Scared I
Do not be scared to purchase and use your mirrorless camera system’s 2X teleconverter. With dSLRs, the Nikon 2X was so poor that virtually no-one used them. I tried. I would bet that the Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-2x is capable of producing razor sharp images with the any of the Nikkor Z 600mm lenses. It seems however, that — due to sever sharpness problems with the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III (and others before that version), the Nikon faithful are still leery of working at 1200mm and get more pixels on the subject.
Both the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter and the Canon Extender RF 2x are more than capable of producing razor sharp results when used by folks with decent sharpness techniques with their respective 600mm lenses.
Don’t Be Scared II
Do not be scared to work at 1200mm with relatively slow shutter speeds. I have been comfortable working with shutter speeds as slow as 1/60 second for several decades. For today’s featured image, I went with a very safe 1/200 second.
Don’t Be Scared III
Do not be scared to utilize ridiculously high ISOs of from 4000 to 12800 and beyond. The double-noise reduction techniques detailed in Digital Basics III Video Series will consistently yield clean-as-a-whistle image files.
Clockwise from upper left corner around to center: ink-stained Royal Tern with squid for chicks; fluffy white Royal Tern Chick about two weeks old; Royal Tern with shrimp for chicks; 3-4 week old Royal Tern chick; incoming adult Royal Tern with greenback; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi-mahi; large Brown Pelican chick preening; field guide portrait of fresh juvenile Laughing Gull; Royal Tern chick begging for fish from incoming adult.
Join me at Huguenot Memorial Park this July
Huguenot Memorial Park in Early Summer
Driving on the beach at Huguenot Memorial Park in early summer is a bird photographer’s delight. You park this side of the last rope on the beach and you are within 100 yards of the Royal Tern colony atop the dunes. There are also many thousand Laughing Gulls and a few Sandwich Terns breeding as well. In some years, there are some Brown Pelican nests on the ground! .
In early July, the tern chicks begin to make their way down to the flats to bathe and drink and get fed by the parents. On the way, they spend a lot of time on the face of the dune where they are easy to photograph at eye level. They may also gather in fairly large groups at the base of the dunes.
Flight photography both in the mornings and the afternoons can be quite excellent as the terns are carrying all manner of marine life to sustain the rapidly growing chicks: the adults are often seen flying around in search of their chicks with all sorts of small baitfish as well as immature fish, large shrimps, baby crabs, and even squid in their bills. The squid will squirt ink on the terns in protest. So if you see an adult Royal Tern flying around with a black necklace, you can understand why.
Clockwise from upper left corner around to center: Royal Tern chick feeding frenzy; Royal Tern nearly fledged chick; ink-stained Royal Tern with squid for chicks; Royal Tern chick begging; Brown Pelican immature tight flight; Royal Tern adult screaming — tight flight; Laughing Gulls mobbing Royal Tern to steal fish; Royal Tern with fish for chicks.
Huguenot Memorial Park in July
2024 Jacksonville IPT: 4 1/2 DAY option Monday 15 July 2024 through the morning session on FRI 19 JULY — $2299.00 (Limit 4 photographers/Openings: 1)
I first visited the beach nesting bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or one of the many nw Z lenses. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions at least 1 1/2. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon weather forecast is poor. Lunch is included on all but the last day of each IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After lunch, we will do image review and Photoshop sessions. My AirBnB is the closest lodging to the park.
The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
