Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was made with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. Not bad for Canon 🙂 If you missed the Homer IPTs announcement (there are two separate trips), or if you are thinking of attending, be sure to see yesterday’s post here. Image #25: Bald Eagle top shot silhouette

More On Homer

For the first trip only, I am offering a $500/person discount for those who sign up with a friend or spouse.

IPT #1: FEB 25 through the full day on MAR 1, 2020. Six full days: $4799.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4.

Via e-mail from Multiple IPT veteran Greg Ferguson:

I attended this IPT in 2011 and can only say it was the most intensive bird photography I have ever experienced. My arms were tired and sore from shooting so many action photos. It is highly recommended! I called Jim today and signed up for a reprise. Greg

An Amazing Day

Yuppers, I never woke up on Thursday, January 9, 2020. Not once. I hit the sack at 7:30pm on Wednesday. I woke at 11:45pm still on Wednesday. Somewhat jet-lagged, I was never — though I tried mightily — able to get back to sleep. While Wednesday morning at the cliffs had been stellar, Thursday morning was just OK. … We had a great brunch at Vahik Cafe, met Dr. Cliff Oliver and Annie, schmoozed for a bit, ate, and reviewed some images. The forecast was for rain in the late afternoon so I was stalling for clouds. The clouds came and wanting to give everyone their money’s worth, we headed back to the cliffs. I knew just the place to be in the afternoon with a stiff wind from the west.

My plan was to nap in the car after we got a parking spot. But when I got out to scout and saw that things were pretty good, I got out the SONY 600 GM and the a9 II. The 1.4X TC was in my pocket. BTW, the FlexShooter Pro is ideal both on the cliffs and the sloping sidewalks. Put the tripod down with the legs spread, center the floating bubble in the scribed bubble, and you are good to go for flight photography on the level no matter where you point your long lens. Though the sun came out for about an hour I kept photographing the flying pelicans and never got a nap.

Light clouds rolled in by about 2pm and for three hours we enjoyed a rare flying circus with the wind behind us and the sky filled with banking and flying and descending pelicans. It rained hard for about five minutes at about 3:45pm. Terry and Stacy called it quits while Monte and I stayed on and enjoyed another hour of truly spectacular flight photography. To celebrate I picked up a small ribeye at Vons in La Jolla.

After dinner, having been up for 18 hours (with no nap!), I decided to do some editing. I was 2 1/2 days behind, about 5,000 images. Picking my keepers in Capture One the Thursday folder of 1832 images took me about an hour. But, tired, I screwed up and wound up deleting all the images from the hard drive. But I still had the two cards so I re-downloaded them and got to bed at 7:30pm on Thursday. My first pit stop was at 12:45pm on Friday so as things turned out, I never woke up on Thursday. But what a great day it ended up being.

I woke at 3:15am, re-edited the 1832 images. After the first edit, I wound up with 175 keepers from Thursday alone. Re-editing a folder from scratch after you have already done it once takes a lot less time as you know what is coming. Buoyed by my success, I worked on three other folders and am proud to say that I am all caught up!

I continue to be astounded by the AF tracking accuracy and high-ISO performance of the SONY a9 II. It has quickly become my all time favorite-ever camera body …

We head out in 23 minutes. Have a great day. With love, artie

Homer Bald Eagles …

I am returning to Homer for the Greatest-ever Bald Eagle Experience IPT at the end of February through the beginning of March 2020. My plan is to do a six-day (FEB 25 —26— 27 — 28 — 29 — MAR 1) trip followed by a day off and a five-day trip (MAR 3 — 4 — 5 -6-7). As in the past, folks may wish to do both trips back-to-back. I do expect both trips to fill very quickly. If you are seriously interested, please contact me via e-mail. Complete details very soon. Flight photography until your arms drop, most with a 70-200mm lens. We photograph from a chartered boat and make some landings as well.

See the Bald Eagle gallery here; most of the images are from Homer.

What’s Up?

Tuesday morning was a strange one at La Jolla. There were lots of pelicans before the sun came up over the hill. Just as the sun crested the ridge, every pelican took flight and flew west as if they all had heard a clearly rung dinner bell. Multiple IPT participant and good friend Monte Brown and I hung out for 30 minutes to no avail; not a single pelican returned … We did the nesting Brandt’s Cormorants for a while and had some point-blank chances with a gorgeous bird with long, white breeding plumes about its head. Next, we did some California Sea Lions and then did a bit of exploring and gull photography along the low cliffs and then a great brunch as usual at Cafe Vahik. Monte did a lot better with the sea lions than I did …

We meet the rest of the IPT group tonight at 7:00pm for an introductory Meet and Greet.

Nikon D850 Users e-Guide & Video< Purchase here.

Nikon D850 Users e-Guide & Video

$50 via download

This great new guide includes 15 pages of text, a 46-image gallery, and a comprehensive camera handling video.

The text covers all of the menu item settings that I used on my two D850 bodies and each gallery image has a legendary BIRDS AS ART educational caption. The emphasis is two-fold:

1- getting your camera set-up so that it is optimized for bird photography.

2- sharing everything that I know about the Nikon AF system so that you can create consistently sharp images of static subjects, and most especially, of birds in flight and in action.

Though this guide is designed for the D850 nearly all of it applies to the D5 and to the D500 as well.

You can purchase your copy in the BAA On-line Store here. Both files are large so you will need a good internet connection to download them.

IPT Updates

Coming soon: one or two Spoonbill Boat IPTs, a spring Fort DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT, and a Nickerson Beach IPT this summer.

Do check out the Galapgos Gallery here.

• The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience. August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00.

You can see complete IPT info and details here.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on January 4, 2020 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 218mm) with the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2,500: 1/2000 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode was oover-exposed by a mile. AWB at 8:53am on a sunny morning. Center Zone C (tracking) AF worked perfectly by getting sharp focus on the bird’s eye. This is a Capture One Screen ACapture

Keep or Delete: How Far to the Right is Too Far to the Right?

I am not sure how I screwed this one up so badly. I only know that I followed my own advice: “When unexpected action happens, acquire focus and push the shutter button. If you try to change the exposure or the AF point or mode, you will wind up with nothing.”

All the RED in the Capture One screen capture above is the over-exposure warning. My Highlight exposure warning value is 251.

You are editing your day folder and come across this image, a mile over-exposed with too, too many extraneous pelicans in the frame. Do you keep it or delete it? Be sure to let us know your reasons.

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

San Diego is fantastic. Repeat private-client Bill Schneider and I have been having a great time. I pick up good-friend and multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown at the airport after today’s (SUN 5 JAN) morning session. Afternoons at a somewhat atypical location have been great and Saturday afternoon was astoundingly good, probably the best-ever. I still have about 2500 images from Saturday to edit …

Your Favorite?

Consider taking a moment to leave a comment letting folks know which of today’s four featured images you like best and why. All comments on the images are welcome.

IPT Updates

Coming soon: one or two Spoonbill Boat IPTs, a spring Fort DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT, and a Nickerson Beach IPT this summer.

Do check out the Galapgos Gallery here.

• The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience. August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00.

You can see complete IPT info and details here.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the EOS-1DX, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. Most recently the price of used Canon 600mm f/L IS II lenses have been dropping like a rock with the introduction of the 600 III. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.

The Used Gear page has been very hot for the past month with the continuing price drops on both Canon and Nikon gear. And there have been some great buys on SONY stuff too. There are still lots of solid bargains right now on the Used Gear Page. In addition to the recent sales below, there are several pending sales.

Recent Sales

In addition to the recent sales noted below, there are many pending sales as well.

Jim Lewis sold his Fujinon XF100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS lens in excellent condition for $899.00, his Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens in like-new condition for a very low $3077.00 (was $3,198.00), a Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and a Canon Extender EF 2X III, both in like-new condition for only $223.00, all in mid-December 2019.
IPT veteran Dane Johnson sold his Canon EOS-1D X in like-new condition (with a low shutter count of < 7,100) along with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens in mint condition for the crazy low price of only $2,095.00 (was $2,599.00) in mid-December 2019. BPN friend Ravi Hirekatur sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6L IS lens (the original 1-4) in excellent condition for the BAA record-low price of $499.00 in mid-December. Multiple IPT veteran Jim Miller sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for a BIRDS AS ART record-low $1149.00, his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM telephoto lens (the “old five”) in excellent condition for $2399.00, a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Lens in excellent condition (with some paint scrapes on the bottom of lens foot where it meets mounting plate) for a very low $5,699.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent condition (there are some tiny paint chips here and there) for only $849.00, his refurbished Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera body in excellent condition with a few small, faint rubs on the body for a ridiculously low $699.00, a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 lens in excellent condition for $129.00, and a Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (teleconverter) in very good condition for $199.00, all within days of their being listed in mid-December, 2019. Ken Siegel sold his Sony a7r III in mint condition for only $1949.00 (was $2049.00) in early December 2019. IPT veteran Joe Randle sold a Canon 500mm f4L IS USM Super Telephoto lens (the "old five") in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $2499.00 and his Canon EF 24-70 f2.8L II USM lens in near-mint condition for the very low price of $899.00 both in early December 2019.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on January 3, 2020. I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 3200. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB at 5:36pm in the shade of the tall buildings. WIDE Continuous/tracking (C) AF was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version. Image #1: Brown Pelican in flight: downstroke<

My Arrival Afternoon

My MCO to SAN flight landed on time on Friday afternoon and thought that I would get to my AirBNB, take the afternoon off, and unpack slowly. I called Patrick Sparkman expecting him to be at work but he was already at LaJolla. So I dumped my bags and got to LaJolla (through the expected traffic) ASAP. Seeing Patrick hand holding his SONY 600mm f/4 inspired me to try doing the same thing. In 36 years I have hand held one of my 600 f/4 lenses only a handful of times, and never for an extended flight photography session. I did much better than I expected hand holding the big SONY GM lens — the lightest 600mm f/4 lens on the planet BTW, in large part due to its superb balance with most of the weight to the rear. Buoyed by my success on Friday afternoon, I did the same thing on Saturday afternoon and glimpsing at my results, I did even better. What they say about practice is doubly true when it comes to any type of flight photography.

This image was created on January 3, 2020. Again I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 3200. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB at 5:38pm in the shade of the cliffs. WIDE Continuous/tracking (C) AF was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version. Image #2: Brown Pelican juvenile in flight: against cliff<

SONY a9 II AF Performance

Using WIDE or center ZONE AF with Animal Eye AF turned on is the most accurate AF system I have ever used for birds in flight. Of the about 3,000 or so flight images I have created on this trip so far, more than 99% have been razor-sharp on the eye. And once the system is locked it stays locked no matter if you are working against backgrounds-other-than-sky (BOTS). Those include the Pacific Ocean as in Images #1 & 3 and sandstone cliffs as in Image #2. Canon AF has huge problems with BOTS and while Nikon is much better, a9 II AF is science-fiction-like. Not to mention consistently accurate.

A Great SONY AF Tip

Trying to acquire focus on birds in flight at close range in low light/low contrast situations can be problematic with SONY. The solution is to focus on something relatively distant. In. most cases, the system will then acquire quickly even when working incoming birds in flight at close range in low light/low contrast situations.

This image was created on January 3, 2020. Again I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 3200. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB at 5:50pm in the shade of the cliffs. WIDE Continuous/tracking (C) AF was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version. Image #3: Brown Pelican in flight: downstroke<

Top-Shots

This great afternoon location offers lots of chances for creating top shots, images that show the dorsal surfaces of the bird’s wings. I just love creating them and each ocean background is unique. I forgot to mention that the actual 15 frames-per-second frame-rate of the a9 II gives you lots of frames to choose from. Lastly, with no mirror blackout– be sure you are using the Electronic Shutter — your panning skills will improve rapidly as you can see the bird in the viewfinder finder as you track it.

This image was created on January 3, 2020. Again I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 6400. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB at 6:00pm in the pink western sky. WIDE Continuous/tracking (C) AF was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version. Image #4: Brandt’s Cormorant at sunset

Yup!

Yes sir, the sky color in this image is quite accurate. To get there, after exposing well to the right, I used the Color Editor in Capture One during the RAW conversion.

WIDE AF

One of the great advantages of using WIDE AF for birds in flight is that you can position small-in-the-frame subjects anywhere you like.

The SONY Zebras Exposure Guide Short Video

If you own a high-end SONY camera body, there is absolutely no reason that you should not be getting a perfect exposure every time with every image even in the most difficult situations — white birds, dark backgrounds, dark birds against white skies, simply pick your shutter speed and aperture and then adjust the ISO on the Control Wheel until you see faint blinkies. It’s that simple. Learn how in the SONY Zebras Exposure Guide Short Video. To order your copy, please send a Paypal to us at birdsasart@verizon.net for $30. Please state in the Paypal that the payment is for the SONY Zebras Exposure Guide Short Video.

Alternatively, you can place a phone order for the SONY Zebras Exposure Guide by calling Jim at 863-692-0906 MON to THURS and most FRI mornings.

Folks who have purchased a SONY lens and/or a SONY body using either my B&H affiliate links or from Steve Elkins at Bedfords will enjoy a $20 discount. If you qualify, please shoot me an e-mail so that I can confirm your discount.

Folks who have purchased the SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens using my links will receive the file for free. If you qualify for a free copy, please shoot me an e-mail so that I can confirm your discount.

After I confirm your discount, you can either call Jim or send us a Paypal (as above).

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

Have a Great 2020!

Right-hand man Jim Litzenberg, daughter/BAA accountant Jennifer Morris, and I wish you and yours a happy, healthy and satisfying 2020 filled with lots of great opportunities and images.

Forewarned is Forearmed …

I will have a comprehensive SONY Camera Body User’s Guide ready by the end of January. It will priced oppressively. That means that it will be outrageously expensive. Folks who purchased their gear using my B&H affiliate links or through Steve Elkins at Bedford Camera will receive a very generous discount. The size of the discount will be dependent on what you bought. As regular readers know, I put a tremendous amount of work into the blog and using the BAA Online Store and/or my affiliate links is the very best way to thank me and is greatly appreciated. In addition, using the links often earns you free guides and videos or substantial discounts.

San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount

I am offering a $400 late registration discount on the San. Diego IPT. Please e-mail if you would like to join us.

IPT Updates

Do check out the San Diego Gallery here and the Galapgos Gallery here.

• The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
• The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience. August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00.

You can see complete IPT details here.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was also created on December 28, 2019 at Fort DeSoto Park, Tierra Verde, FL. For this one I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/640 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode was about -2/3 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 8:03am on a cloudy morning. Upper Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure. I selected an AF point placed precisely on the bird’s eye. With large in the frame subjects like this, Animal Eye Tracking works very well even though it is not supposed to work on birds. But heck, an eye is an eye. Great Blue Heron in dark mangrove reflections

Dark, Still, and Green

As mentioned here previously, on my second morning with private client Harry Lerner, we enjoyed some great photography. We had one each of the following wading bird species feeding on shrimp and small baitfish: Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue, Heron, and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Not having a huge feeding spree going on made it easy to isolate single birds. The wind, about 10mph from the northeast, was strong enough to ruffle the water’s surface, but for the fact that we were in the lee of the mangroves. Thus, we were able to utilize the beautiful dark, still, green reflections as nearly perfect backgrounds. All in all, it was pretty close to being a perfect situation.

An In-the-Field Image Design Question …

I had already lengthened the GIT 304L legs to the max to allow for them sinking into the soft mud. Why did I pull the tripod legs in significantly and then re-plant the tripod right when planning the execution of this image?

Riding SONY Zebras to Exposure Success …

There are several steps to setting up your high-end SONY mirrorless camera body so that you can come up with a very-close-to-perfect exposure quickly and easily (with just a little practice). Patrick Sparkman developed this technique and kindly taught it to me. As far as we know, nobody except the few folks I have taught in the field, are using this technique. Among those are multiple IPT veteran Jim Miller and more recently, Harry Lerner.

First, you need to set ISO to the Control Wheel, next change an important setting for the Control Wheel/Right Button, and set turn Zebra Display to On. Last and most importantly you need to set the Zebra level correctly so that once you detect faint Zebras you will be confident that you have set the perfect exposure manually. All of the above assuming Multi metering.

After setting up Harry’s camera on Thursday evening past, here is what I told him in at DeSoto on Friday morning:

1-Choose and set your shutter speed and aperture. When hand holding the 200-600, Harry went with 1/500 second to ensure getting sharp images and with either f/6.7 or f/7.1. With the 600 f/4 on the tripod, Harry opted to stay with 1/500 second and go with an aperture of f/4 or f/4.5. As it got brighter he raised his shutter speed to 1/1000 second. In each case, I went with about half of those shutter speeds. At times, I was too slow to freeze the action when the birds struck …

2-Once you have chosen your shutter speed and aperture you simply raise the ISO by turning the Control Wheel clockwise until you see the Zebras (gently flashing black and white stripes) in the viewfinder. Then dial back the ISO until you see only faint Zebras on the brightest highlights. At times, faint Zebras will create RAW files with some blinkies that are almost always easily recovered during the RAW conversion. If you raise your lens, see Zebras everywhere, and cannot even see the subject simply lower the ISO until the Zebras disappear. At times, you may wish to raise the shutter speed instead.

As you learn and practice this system, you can decide if you want to go with faint Zebras or reduce the ISO one additional click (1/3 stop) and go with no Zebras. You may opt to treat sunny situations a bit differently than low light situations … With today’s GBH image, I raised the ISO until I saw faint Zebras on the white on the top of the bird’s head and went with that exposure. And we actually did the exact same thing with the Great Egrets as the top of their heads always has the brightest WHITEs. Note: there will be situations when you are photographing birds with dark tones against very light backgrounds (like the sky or water) on cloudy days where you will want significant Zebras (and thus blinkies) on the. background (but not on the subject).

The SONY Zebras Exposure Guide Short Video

This morning, I will create a short video showing exactly how to make the needed Menu changes as detailed in #1 and #2 above. The price of this short video will be $30 except as noted below. To order your copy, please send a Paypal to us at birdsasart@verizon.net for $30. Please state that the payment is for the SONY Zebras Exposure Guide Short Video.

Alternatively, you can place a phone order for the SONY Zebras Exposure Guide by calling Jim at 863-692-0906 MON to THURS and most FRI mornings.

Folks who have purchased a SONY lens and/or a SONY body using either my B&H affiliate links or from Steve Elkins at Bedfords will enjoy a $20 discount. If you qualify, please shoot me an e-mail so that I can confirm your discount.

Folks who have purchased the SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens using my links will receive the file for free. If you qualify. for a free copy, please shoot me an e-mail so that I can confirm your discount.

After I confirm your discount, you can either call Jim or send us a Paypal (as above).

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

Private client Harry Lerner and I enjoyed a second great morning session on Saturday past at DeSoto. In the same small bay that we had worked on Friday morning conditions were even better. We had a nice collection of handsome wading birds but this time they were feeding and catching shrimp in lovely, still, dark-green water in the lee of a stand of mangroves. It was a great situation for Harry to practice his newly learn SONY Zebra exposure skills. He was nailing everything.

Best of all Harry taught me something new. At his urging and with his instruction I tried Flexible Spot (L) with tracking and did quite well. Thanks also to. Josh Anon. for pointing me in that direction. I will have a lot more to say about Flexible Spot (L) with tracking in future posts. In addition, I have a lot more to learn about the other AF tracking modes …

I am already thinking about packing for my flight to San Diego on Friday.

Please take a moment to let us know which of today’s featured images is the stronger of the two and why you made your choice. Feel free also to comment on positives and the negatives of each image.

San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount

I am offering a $400 late registration discount on the San. Diego IPT. Please e-mail if you would like to join us.

IPT Updates

Do check out the San Diego Gallery here and the Galapgos Gallery here.

• The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
• The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience. August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00.

You can see complete IPT details here.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on December 27, 2019 at Fort DeSoto Park, Tierra Verde, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) with the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2,500. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:43am on a cloudy-bright morning. Center Zone C (tracking) AF worked perfectly by getting sharp focus on the bird’s eye. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Willet landing

Cloudy-bright Skies Plus SONY 200-600 Plus SONY a9 II Equals Great Flight Photography: The Good

The SONY 2-6/a9II combination makes a great walk-around lens for bird photography. No tripod, no hassles. Keep the 1.4X TC in your pocket for additional reach if needed. If you encounter some good flight photography situations, you are in the driver’s seat. If I had to choose between the Nikon 500 PF with either a gripped D-850 or a D5, I would choose the SONY rig. Why? More consistently accurate AF and the 100mm of additional reach is a huge advantage. Why on the latter? Because the size of the subject in the frame is proportionate to the square of the focal lengths. In this case, 5 squared is 25 and 6 squared is 36. So the size of the bird in the frame in images made at 600mm will be greater than the size of the bird in the frame made at 500mm (assuming the same distance, of course) by a factor of 36 to 25 (1.44 times larger). The bird will be 44% (11/25) larger in the frame than the 20% that many would think when going from 500 to 600. (100/500 = 20%).

An additional advantage that the 200-600 and all zoom lenses have over all fixed focal length lenses, is that you can zoom out for better framing when needed. This holds true for both static bird photography and flight (and action) photography but is actually more important for the latter applications as human zooming is easy when photographing a static bird but pretty much impossible when you need to make the photo now!

Why Cloudy Bright for Flight?

I have long been a huge fan of cloudy-bright skies for photographing birds in flight as all shadows are eliminated and you can create images that reveal superb underwing detail (as in Image #1). Both are extremely difficult to do in sunny conditions except in the rare instances where you can press the shutter button when the bird in flight is precisely on sun angle. And even then shadows are likely except when the wing position if full upstroke.

This image was also created on December 27, 2019 at Fort DeSoto Park, Tierra Verde, FL. Again, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) with the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2,500. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:44am on a cloudy-bright morning. Center Bottom Zone C (tracking) AF worked perfectly by getting sharp focus on the bird’s eye. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Osprey — eye-level fly-by

The Bad …

After the five-plus-hour morning session with Harry on Friday past, my left shoulder hurt a bit. Remember that that is the shoulder that I damaged when I fell in my home about 2 1/2 years ago. It has healed quite well but at about 6 1/2 pounds with the hood on and lens foot removed, handholding the rig for extended periods of time might cause some joint-stress for some folks (like me). Others might not be able to hand hold this rig for flight even for short sessions.

Working off a tripod will eliminate 100% of stress on the left shoulder and will help you to create sharper images. It is, however, almost always a lot easier to shoot flight with lenses that can comfortably be hand held than with tripod-mounted lenses. And hand holding is a lot more fun than having to drag a tripod around.

If I had had the rig on the tripod while photographing static subjects it is likely that I would not have been prepared for the two great flight photography opportunities that arose quickly less than two minutes apart …

The last negative is that at f/6.3 the 2-6 is a bit slower than we would like. But too make it a constant f/5.6 would have made the lens a bit heavier …

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up

Thanks to all who left holiday wishes at yesterday’s short blog post.

I’ve been swimming every day with the pool at a very comfortable 76 or so degrees. I went down to the lake this morning and did some underexposed testing. As I figgered, the images made at the right exposure looked great at ISO 1000: 1/800 sec. at f9. When I reduced the ISO to 50 and lightened the image in post, the image was very noisy and excessively contrasty.

I head to DeSoto tomorrow for two days with a new private client.

Enjoy today’s Keeping Warm video (below) by clicking on the Play arrow. There will be lots more videos coming soon. You should be able to use your Amazon Prime account after clicking on any of the Amazon links below.

San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount

I am offering a $400 late registration discount on the San. Diego IPT. Please e-mail if you would like to join us.

IPT Updates

Do check out the San Diego Gallery here.

• The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
• The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience. August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00.

Click here for complete IPT info and details.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

The Keeping Warm Video

There is nothing worse than being confronted with great birds right in front of you with your hands so cold that you cannot feel or press the shutter button. Learn how I have finally figured out how to beat cold hands and cold feet after only 36 years by pressing the Play button above. Enjoy, and stay warm.

Your questions and comments are of course welcome.

The World’s Greatest Heated Gloves

Several years ago, against my better judgment, I purchased a pair of heated gloves for my last trip to Japan. They were 100% bogus; my hands froze. The batteries lasted ten minutes. But a friend from Canada who routinely vacations in places with temps in the -20 to -30F range recommended these highly. In short, the MotionHeat 12V Heated Gloves – Full Set performed amazingly well. As shown in the video, I fine-tuned the set-up for photography. You can order a pair by clicking here and then choosing Shop USA. or Shop Canada. Or, you can call John Victor at (+1) 905-492-8886. Follow his sizing advice. If you call, please let them know that you learned about his gloves via BIRDS AS ART. If you order online, please do the same or shoot John an e-mail. Be sure to watch the whole video before ordering.

Neos Navigators

Neos Navigators will keep your feet warm and dry in snowy, slushy conditions. Wear them on top of your hiking boots or even your Sunday-go-to-meeting footwear. You will, however, need two pairs in different sizes to do that. Or wear them on top of a pair of MEC Get Down Booties to keep your feet warm anywhere anytime. Like I did for three days on the sea ice with the Emperor Penguins …

TrailHeads Men’s Running Gloves – Black Touchscreen Gloves – Power Stretch Lightweight Gloves make great glove liners underneath the MotionHeat Heated Gloves. I keep an extra pair in my Think Tank bag for cold mornings in Florida and warm mornings at cold places. These lightweight touchscreen gloves have conductive fabric on tips of the thumbs and forefingers so that you can use your touchscreen devices without having to remove your gloves.

A pair of Columbia Arctic Trip Insulated Waterproof Snow Ski Pants in nasty, cold, wet, snowy, and or windy conditions will keep you warm and dry.

Wear a pair of Carhartt Men’s Relaxed Fit Straight Leg Flannel Lined Jeans –I own and travel to cold places with two pairs — under your Columbia Snow Pants and you will not need long underwears until the temps drop below -10 F.

I will have one or two Carhartt Men’s Acrylic A18 Watch Hats on my head to stay warm on cold or very cold mornings. These are the same hats that I use for packing my camera gear safely into Think Tank Rolling Bags for air travel.

On really, really, cold and windy days I will go with a Carhartt Men’s Fleece 2 In 1 Hat for maximum warmth.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount

I am offering a $400 late registration discount on the San. Diego IPT. Please e-mail if you would like to join us.

The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)

Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; WED JAN 7, 2020.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-lunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own.

A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due upon registration. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

The sun finally came out briefly yesterday and it was sunny with blue skies at ILE at 8:30 on Tuesday, December 24 but by 8:45 the clouds had returned in force. As the pool temps were up from a low of 70 to 78 degrees, my swim on Monday afternoon was absolutely balmy. Yesterday I created a free video with tips on photographing in cold weather. It will include info on the fabulous Motion Heat gloves that I used at Bosque this year. It will run in the next blog post.

I will head down to the lake as soon as I publish this blog post.

San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount

Please e-mail for San Diego IPT late registration discount information.

IPT Updates

Do check out the San Diego Gallery here.

• The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
• The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience. August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00.

Click here for complete IPT info and details.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the EOS-1DX, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. Most recently the price of used Canon 600mm f/L IS II lenses have been dropping like a rock with the introduction of the 600 III. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.

The Used Gear page has been very hot for the past two weeks with the continuing price drops on both Canon and Nikon gear. And there have been some great buys on SONY stuff too. There are still lots of solid bargains right now on the Used Gear Page. In addition to the recent sales below, there are several pending sales.

4th Generation Design Mongoose M3.5 Action Head

IPT veteran Dane Johnson is offering a. Mongoose M3.5 Action Head in like-new condition for the crazy low price of only $249.00. The head was used only twice. The sale includes the tool kit, the original user document and insured ground shipping via major courier to US lower 48 addresses only. Your item will not ship until payment clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Dane via e-mail or by phone at 1-559-593-0989.

I used various versions of the Mongoose with great success for well more than a decade with all of my telephoto and intermediate telephoto lenses ranging from the 70-200mm f/2.8 to the 800mm f/5.6. and including the 600mm f/4 with the 2X TC! (All Canon.) As the current version sells for $680 plus shipping, you can save a neat $431.00 by being the first to get in touch with Dane. artie

SONY Price Drops

Sony Alpha a7R Mirrorless Digital Camera

Sale Pending first day of listing

Top pro-Jim Zuckerman is offering a Sony Alpha a7R Mirrorless Digital camera in excellent condition for an incredibly low $749.00 (was $1399). The sale includes two batteries, the original box, the charger, a ProTama Lens Mount Adapter (for Canon EF/EF-S Lenses to Sony E-mount camera), and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Jim via e-mail or by phone at 1-615-414-7644 (Central time).

The Alpha a7R Mirrorless Digital Camera from Sony incorporates a full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor into an E-mount body thus providing the light gathering capability and detail-rich imaging of a full-frame sensor with a compact, lightweight and versatile mirrorless interchangeable lens camera system. Differing from the full-frame Sony Alpha a7, the Alpha a7R omits the low-pass filter from its 36.4MP sensor, thus optimizing its high resolution, detail-rich imaging capability. In addition, the sensor features a new gapless lens design to increase corner-to-corner light collecting efficiency. The standard ISO sensitivity range of 100-25600 provides rich saturation in bright light and clear, low-noise images in low-light situations. This camera sells new for $1898. B&H

This, the first of the a7R series, would be an inexpensive way to get introduced to the SONY system. It is a great body for both travel and general nature photography. And you will save thousands as compared to a new a7R III or a7R IV. artie

Sony Alpha a7r IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body

Price Reduced $200.00 on 21 DEC
BAA Record-low Price!

Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master is offering a Sony a7r IV Mirrorless Digital camera body in absolutely like-new condition for only $2898.00 (was $3098.00). In pristine condition, the body has only 3817 shutter actuations. The sale includes all accessories and insured UPS ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses. Your item will not ship until payment clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Larry via e-mail or by phone at 1-518-645-1545 (Eastern time zone).

You’ve seen the incredible detail in my a7r IV images made with a variety of SONY lenses and both teleconverters. I’ve been using my 7r IV for 80% of my bird photography and my a9 II in pure flight situations. As the 7r IV sells new right now for $3498.00 you can save a cool $600.00 by being the first to grab Larry’s pretty much new SONY mirrorless body. artie

FE Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

BIRDS AS ART Record Low Price
Price reduced $400 on 22 DEC 2019

William Schneider is offering a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens in mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $10,297.00 (was 10,697.00). This immaculate lens has seen little use. The sale includes the lens hood, the lens trunk, the front lens cover, the rear lens cap, the lens strap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Bill via e-mail e-mail or by phone at 1-(262) 269-8628 (Eastern time zone).

This super-fast lens is amazingly light at 6.4 lbs, the same weight as the Nikon 300mm f/2.8. Patrick made lots of great images at St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands last July with the lens alone and with either the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. He really enjoyed the 8.86 ft close-focusing capability and the beautiful bokeh that the lens produces. As this lens sells new right now for $12,998.00, you can save a cool $2,701.00 by grabbing this virtually new lens asap. artie

ps: at the time of publication this lens is very hard to get; it is not in stock at B&H or at Bedfords.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO assigned to the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. Shade WB at 8:09am on a typically overcast morning. The RAW file viewed in Photo Mechanic

The Photo Mechanic Screen Capture

To expose to the right, I was likely +2 stops off the sand alone or about +1 1/3 as framed. With most camera systems, exposing to the right (as seen by the histogram on the PM screen capture above is the way to go as it results in larger file size and excellent control of noise. Blog regular Adam Rubinstein has sent me several e-mails suggesting a different approach with SONY bodies: shoot everything 2-3 stops underexposed and open the image up during post-processing. He suggests that ISO 320 is ideal for SONY. I will try shooting some comparisons with tame, static subjects. In addition to comparing the noise levels, it would be interesting to compare the file sizes of the test images …

Note the beach crud in the original … Shade WB was an error; I meant to set Cloudy. During the RAW conversion in Capture One I cooled the image down by reducing the WB via the slider.

Camera RAW (ACR) HSL Adjustments

Camera RAW (ACR) HSL Adjustments

Many folks do not realize that you can take a TIF file from a Capture One or a DPP 4 or other RAW conversion engine and make adjustments in Photoshop via Filter > Camera RAW Filter (ACR). As always, it is best to work on a layer so that you can fine-tune your results by changing the Opacity of the layer or you can refine them by adding a Regular Layer Mask.

For today’s featured image I went Filter > Camera RAW Filter and then worked on the HSL tab. To bring up the rich CYAN color of the water I reduced the Luminance of the GREENs, AQUAs, and BLUEs after first increasing the Saturation of each of those colors just a bit. I find it a bit easier to make changes to specific colors with the HSL tab in ACR than using the Color Editor in Capture One …

For the beach clean-up, I used my usual cadre of Photoshop tools: the Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, and Content-Aware Fill. I used the Add to Selection Lasso Tool to select all of the crud on the beach and then hit Shift/Delete to execute Content-Aware Fill. With not a lot of detail in the sand this worked to perfection and saved a ton of time as compared to removing the distractions one crud at a time …

This image was created on July 31 on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime IPT at Gardner. Bay. I used the handheld Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at 303mm) with the high mega-pixel Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/500 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. Shade WB at 8:09am on a typically overcast morning. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure. Today’s Featured Image: Galapagos Sealions playing l

The Optimized Version

As is typically more of a problem with higher megapixel camera bodies like the SONY a7R III & IV, the Nikon D850, and the Canon 5DS R, motion blur on the head of the seal on top was a bit of a problem. As the image was so cute, I attempted to fix that with a Contrast Mask (Unsharp Mask at 15/65/0). For web display, the results were just fine.

Gardner Bay for Galapagos Sealions

On any Galapagos trip, you will run into the sealions on most landings. Gardner Bay, with its lovely white sand beaches and lots of sealions of all ages, is my very favorite place to photograph them. In addition to these playful pinnipeds, we get to photograph Hood Mockingbird, Galapagos Dove, and several species of Darwin’s finches.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a Paypal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

Everything mentioned above (except for Capture One RAW conversions) and tons more — including all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — is covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my Macbook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: all of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About two years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One Pro 12 and continue to do so today.

To purchase Capture One, please use this link. Then 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.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair. Folks can learn sophisticated sharpening and (NeatImage) Noise Reduction techniques in The Professional Post Processing Guide by Arash Hazeghi and edited by yours truly. Please use this link to purchase NeatImage.

To introduce folks to our MP.4 videos and the basics involved in applying more NeatImage noise reduction to the background and less on the subject, I’d be glad to send you a free copy of the Free Noise Reduction Basics MP.4 Video. Simply click to shoot me an e-mail to get your free copy.

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

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Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

I’ve been walking every morning and swimming every afternoon. The pool was up to 73 degrees on Friday and a rather balmy 75 degrees on Saturday. On Friday, a cold northwest wind whipped through the pine trees as I swam. Saturday was as grey a day as I have seen — if it had not been about 70 degrees, I would have expected it to snow. I did get down to the lake on Saturday morning with the 200-600 and the a9 II and made some nice flight images of the vultures.

It is Sunday morning, December 22, 2019 and it is dark and raining here in central Florida. I will almost surely get in a swim this afternoon. It looks as if I will be getting over to DeSoto with a private client next week. Hope so.

San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount

Please e-mail for San Diego IPT late registration discount information.

IPT Updates

Do check out the San Diego Gallery here.

• The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)

Click here for complete IPT info and details.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the EOS-1DX, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. Most recently the price of used Canon 600mm f/L IS II lenses have been dropping like a rock with the introduction of the 600 III. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.

The Used Gear page has been very hot for the past two weeks with the continuing price drops on both Canon and Nikon gear. And there have been some great buys on SONY stuff too. There are still lots of solid bargains right now on the Used Gear Page. In addition to the recent sales below, there are several pending sales.

Recent Sales

Multiple IPT veteran Jim Miller sold his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for a BIRDS AS ART record-low $1149.00, his Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM telephoto lens (the “old five”) in excellent condition for $2399.00, a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Lens in excellent condition (with some paint scrapes on the bottom of lens foot where it meets mounting plate) for a very low $5,699.00, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent condition (there are some tiny paint chips here and there) for only $849.00, his refurbished Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera body in excellent condition with a few small, faint rubs on the body for a ridiculously low $699.00, a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 lens in excellent condition for $129.00, and a Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (teleconverter) in very good condition for $199.00, all within days of their being listed in mid-December, 2019.
Ken Siegel sold his Sony a7r III in mint condition for only $1949.00 (was $2049.00) in early December 2019.
IPT veteran Joe Randle sold a Canon 500mm f4L IS USM Super Telephoto lens (the “old five”) in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $2499.00 and his Canon EF 24-70 f2.8L II USM lens in near-mint condition for the very low price of $899.00 both in early December 2019.
Jerry Barrack sold a Canon 400mm f/5.6L lens (my old “toy lens”) in very good plus condition with some scuff marks here and there for the BAA crazy record-low price of $549.00 in late November.
Multiple IPT veteran Jake Levin sold his Canon EOS 7D Mark II in excellent plus condition for $648.00 in early December 2019.
BAA friend and multiple IPT veteran Paul Reinstein sold his Canon 600mm f/4L IS III lens in near-mint condition (with extras) for an amazingly low $11,499.00 within an hour of it being listed in early December.
Multiple IPT veteran George Golumbeski sold his Canon 600mm f/4L IS III lens in near-mint condition (with extras) for an amazingly low $11,299.00 within hours of it being listed in early September. (I forgot to note the sale here …)
Blog-regular Anthony Ardito sold a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR Zoom lens in like-new condition for the very low price of $799.95 (was $899.95) in early December 2019.
Ken Siegel sold a Sony A9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body in mint condition for $2598.00 (was $2698.00) ten days after it was listed.
Josh Anon (son of noted photographer Photoshop expert Ellen Anon) sold a SONY a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body in like-new condition for only $2998.00.

New Listings

Canon EF 400mm f/4 IS DO II USM Lens

BAA Record-low Price!

IPT veteran Dane Johnson is offering a Canon EF 400mm f/4 IS DO II USM Lens in pristine, like-new condition with extras for the BAA record-low price of $4,099.00. The sale includes the original product box with the user documents, the lens strap, the rear cap, the ET-120 (WII) lens hood, the front lens cover, the lens trunk with keys, a RRS LCF-52 Replacement Foot (a $95 value), a RealTree Snow LensCoat, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US lower 48 addresses only. Your item will not ship until payment clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Dane via e-mail or by phone at 1-559-593-0989.

I owned and used the 400 DO II when I shot with Canon and found a way to take it on most trips. I took it to Scotland and Nickerson Beach and San Diego. It served me well as my (lighter!) “big gun” on several Galapagos and Southern Ocean (the Falklands and South Georgia) trips. It is a killer for flight photography with or without the 1.4X III TC. It is. razor-sharp with the 2X on static subjects and skilled folks have had amazing success hand holding it with the 2X III TC for flight and for action. As this lens sells new right now for $6899.00, you can save an incredible $2,800.00 by grabbing Dane’s lens right now. artie

SONY Price Drops

Sony Alpha a7r IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body

Price Reduced $200.00 on 21 DEC
BAA Record-low Price!

Multiple IPT veteran Larry Master is offering a Sony a7r IV Mirrorless Digital camera body in absolutely like-new condition for only $2898.00 (was $3098.00). In pristine condition, the body has only 3817 shutter actuations. The sale includes all accessories and insured UPS ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses. Your item will not ship until payment clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Larry via e-mail or by phone at 1-518-645-1545 (Eastern time zone).

You’ve seen the incredible detail in my a7r IV images made with a variety of SONY lenses and both teleconverters. I’ve been using my 7r IV for 80% of my bird photography and my a9 II in pure flight situations. As the 7r IV sells new right now for $3498.00 you can save a cool $400.00 by being the first to grab Larry’s pretty much new SONY mirrorless body. artie

FE Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

BIRDS AS ART Record Low Price
Price reduced $400 on 22 DEC 2019

William Schneider is offering a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens in mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $10,297.00 (was 10,697.00). This immaculate lens has seen little use. The sale includes the lens hood, the lens trunk, the front lens cover, the rear lens cap, the lens strap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Bill via e-mail e-mail or by phone at 1-(262) 269-8628 (Eastern time zone).

This super-fast lens is amazingly light at 6.4 lbs, the same weight as the Nikon 300mm f/2.8. Patrick made lots of great images at St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands last July with the lens alone and with either the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. He really enjoyed the 8.86 ft close-focusing capability and the beautiful bokeh that the lens produces. As this lens sells new right now for $12,998.00, you can save a cool $2,701.00 by grabbing this virtually new lens asap. artie

ps: at the time of publication this lens is very hard to get; it is not in stock at B&H or at Bedfords.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

ISO 2500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/250 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 2:27pm in deep shade. A Capture One screen capture of the original RAW file

The Original RAW File

Click on the image to see a larger version so that you can see the red over-exposure warnings on the lightest blues and the smattering of dark blue under-exposure warnings in the shadows. I was comfortable working subjects at close range from the gently rocking zodiac at 1/250 sec. Then, as usual, I set the aperture at f/6.3, a single click (1/3 stop) narrower than the wide-open f/6.3. Next, I kept increasing the ISO until I noted faint zebras on the light blues on the front of the carapace and then reduced the ISO one click (1/3 stop). The result was a pretty darned good exposure in a very difficult situation: a few very light tones set against wet, black lava rock.

Note: the analog exposure scale would surely show about one full stop of under-exposure with the meter influenced by the large expanse of dark tones.

ISO 2500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/250 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 2:27pm in deep shade. Over/Under Exposure Data from RawDigger

The RawDigger Analysis

The RawDigger analysis actually showed no over-exposure and considerable under-exposure especially in the RED and the BLUE channels. This image, however, is a perfect example of why at times a technically under-exposed RAW file is ideal. Continue reading to learn why.

A Capture One screen capture of the RAW file after exposure adjustments

The RAW File After Exposure Adjustments

Click on the image to view a larger version that makes it easier to view the fine print.

You will note that to save the detail in the light blue highlights, I actually needed to decrease the exposure almost one full stop (-0.91) and move the Highlight slider all the way to the right to 100. Lastly, opening up the shadows by moving the Shadow slider to 59 eliminated the (dark blue) under-exposure warnings (and effectively reduced the contrast). If I had exposed even more to the right it would have likely been impossible to recover the highlight detail …

My Capture One Exposure Settings in Preferences

My Capture One Exposure Settings in Preferences

Above are my Capture One exposure settings in Preferences. Any suggestions for changing or improving any of the setting values would be greatly appreciated.

I do realize that some folks might take issue with my line of thought above by noting that I am depending too much on the Capture One over and under-exposure warning levels … Again, comments and suggestions are more than welcome.

This image was created on July 27,2019 on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime IPT. From the panga (zodiac), I used the handheld Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at 364mm) with the high mega-pixel Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/250 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 2:27pm in deep shade. Flexible Spot (S) Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure. The AF point was placed on the yellow strip right between the crab’s eyes. Click on the image to enjoy a larger, inexplicably sharper version. Today’s Featured Image: sub-adult Sally Lightfoot Crab on cliff wall

The Optimized Version

After converting the RAW file in Capture One, I brought the image into Photoshop.

First, note the crop. As I loved the reddish-brown stuff in the foreground I opted to place the crab relatively high in the frame. The relatively tight (but proportionate) crop eliminated lots of distracting elements at the top and bottom of the frame. Next, I cleaned up many specular highlights on the rocks and in the little pool of water as well as a few on the crab itself.

The Teen-aged Crab

The upper surface of the carapaces of fully adult Sally Lightfoot Crabs are orange. The baby crabs of this species are very dark and unmarked, close to black. As they grow (by shedding their shells), the upper surface of the carapaces become spotted with light blue or whitish markings. I have never seen a crab similar to the one in today’s featured image; the deep red claws and the sky-blue on the front of the carapace are characteristic of an adult crab, but the dark, spotted surface of the carapace indicate a juvenile crab. Thus, I am pretty sure that this would be classed as a sub-adult.

John Steinbeck on Sally Lightfoot Crabs

From the Wikipedia entry here.

In the first comprehensive study of the fauna of the Gulf of California, carried out by Ed Ricketts, together with John Steinbeck and others, Steinbeck wrote,

Many people have spoken at length of the Sally Lightfoots. In fact, everyone who has seen them has been delighted with them. The very name they are called by reflects the delight of the name. These little crabs, with brilliant cloisonné carapaces, walk on their tiptoes, They have remarkable eyes and an extremely fast reaction time. In spite of the fact that they swarm on the rocks at the Cape [San Lucas], and to a less degree inside the Gulf [of California], they are exceedingly hard to catch. They seem to be able to run in any of four directions; but more than this, perhaps because of their rapid reaction time, they appear to read the mind of their hunter. They escape the long-handled net, anticipating from what direction it is coming. If you walk slowly, they move slowly ahead of you in droves. If you hurry, they hurry. When you plunge at them, they seem to disappear in a puff of blue smoke—at any rate, they disappear. It is impossible to creep up on them. They are very beautiful, with clear brilliant colors, red and blues and warm browns.

Man reacts peculiarly but consistently in his relationship with Sally Lightfoot. His tendency eventually is to scream curses, to hurl himself at them, and to come up foaming with rage and bruised all over his chest. Thus, Tiny, leaping forward, slipped and fell and hurt his arm. He never forgot nor forgave his enemy. From then on he attacked Lightfoots by every foul means he could contrive and his training in Monterey street fighting had equipped him well for this kind of battle. He hurled rocks at them; he smashed at them with boards; and he even considered poisoning them. Eventually, we did catch a few Sallys, but we think they were the halt and the blind, the simpletons of their species. With reasonably well-balanced and non-neurotic Lightfoots we stood no chance.

Apparently, the Sally Lightfoots of the Galapagos Archipelago have become at least somewhat accustomed to the human presence as it is possible to get fairly close to them using a low, slow approach., Alternatively, if you sit quietly along the shoreline lava rocks, they will often approach you.

The Image Clean-up

For the extensive image clean-up, I used my usual cadre of Photoshop tools: the Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, and rarely, the Clone Stamp Tool. I stayed away from Content-Aware Fill as it often smudges fine detail. Along the edges of the cropped frame, I used several small Quick Masks, again, to avoid any smudging. For me, the cleaned-up version is far more pleasing visually than the original.

I love the color palette of this image with the various shades of greens, reddish browns, and purples in the wet lava rocks and in the shallow pool of water. And the crab colors are not shabby either.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a Paypal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

Everything mentioned above (except for Capture One RAW conversions) and tons more — including all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — is covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my Macbook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: all of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About two years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One Pro 12 and continue to do so today.

To purchase Capture One, please use this link. Then 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.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair. Folks can learn sophisticated sharpening and (NeatImage) Noise Reduction techniques in The Professional Post Processing Guide by Arash Hazeghi and edited by yours truly. Please use this link to purchase NeatImage.

To introduce folks to our MP.4 videos and the basics involved in applying more NeatImage noise reduction to the background and less on the subject, I’d be glad to send you a free copy of the Free Noise Reduction Basics MP.4 Video. Simply click to shoot me an e-mail to get your free copy.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount

Please e-mail for San Diego IPT late registration discount information.

The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)

Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; WED JAN 7, 2020.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-lunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own.

A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due upon registration. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

I changed my flight from late on Thursday to very early on Thursday (tomorrow, 18 DEC). Jim will be picking me up at Orlando just a bit after 9am.

I was glad to learn of the sale of Jim Miller’s Canon 600 II and his 1.4X III TC within hours of being listed yesterday.

I am heading to Nickerson Beach this afternoon in search of a reported Snowy Owl and perhaps some large flocks of wintering Sanderling and a few gulls.

My Images from a trip to Longyearbeyn with Patrick and Robin Sparkman in 2011 — could it be that long ago? Images copyright Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Svalbard Arctic Nesting Bird IPT

If you are interested in joining me for a week of bird photography in Arctic Norway (Longyearbyen, Svalbard) in mid-June of this year, please shoot me an e-mail immediately. Common and King Eider, Red-throated Loon, Red Phalarope, Ivory Gull, jaegers, Dovekie, and lots more. This trip fits perfectly with the Cheeseman’s Svalbard Islands June 23 to July 6, 2020 Polar Bear trip. I will be on that.

Please …

Please consider leaving a comment and letting us know which of today’s eight featured images is your favorite, and why.

IPT Updates

Do check out the San Diego Gallery here.

• The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)

Click here for complete IPT info and details.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created by Patrick Sparkman on Saturday December 14, 2019 at La Jolla, CA. Patrick used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 3200. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1250 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB. WIDE AF. Image #1: Pacifc Race Brown Pelican braking to land. Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Patrick Sparkman. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version.

An e-mail from Patrick

I finally got out to La Jolla with the 600 yesterday. It was a mostly cloudy morning, with a really large swell and a 6-foot high tide — ideal conditions. The point was covered with birds! The road is open, and there are even more parking spots down the left side than there were before. The Bridge Club and bathrooms are fenced off for some reason, but there are porta-potties to use. So overall, things are really good!

The Brandt’s Cormorants are starting to nest, and there are a lot more 1st-year Heerman’s Gulls this year; that makes me happy. But the real show-stoppers are the pelicans. They are really beautiful this year. There are lots of both white-necks and black-necks, with a few odd juvies and second-year birds.

This was the first time that I have been out with the 600 GM and the A9 with the Animal Eye AF firmware update. The 600 is absolutely unbelievable!! It is light and easy to handhold with the most amazing sharpness of any lens that I have ever used, especially with the 2X. With Canon, I could always tell the images that I shot at 1200mm just by looking at them in the editing software. They had lower contrast and sharpness, still usable, but definitely noticeable. With the Sony combo, however, I have to look at the file data because the 1200mm images look so good. As for the A9, it continues to be the most-fun-to-use camera body ever for me. The fact that it occasionally locks onto the bird’s eye is icing on the cake for me; it is really neat when that happens. But the real killer plus is the ease of flight shots with the 600 alone, with the 1.4X, and even the 2X. With the 600 bare, it is almost like shooting stills — just point and shoot. I know that the A7R boodies have better image quality, but the A9 is just more fun to use and much better for flight. I am thinking about just selling my A7r III, getting an a9II, and using my A9 as a backup. I have always been frustrated using a slower, higher resolution body along with a faster, lower resolution camera; I always seem to have the wrong camera on the wrong lens. I find that I enjoy the a9 more and make more good images with it, especially with the viewfinder not blacking out.

Included are a few images from Saturday morning.

This image was created by Patrick Sparkman on Saturday December 14, 2019 at La Jolla, CA. Patrick used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB. WIDE AF. Image #2: Pacifc Race Brown Pelican tight incoming flight Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Patrick Sparkman. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version.

SONY WIDE AF

Note that with 5 of today’s featured images, Patrick opted to go with WIDE AF. And got great results. Notice the stellar performance with getting the eye sharp in Image #2, possible only because of the incredible 93% AF coverage.

This image was created by Patrick Sparkman on Saturday December 14, 2019 at La Jolla, CA. Patrick used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 250. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/500 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB. Upper Right ZONE AF. Image #3: Pacifc Race Brown Pelican classic vertical head and neck portrait Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Patrick Sparkman.

(Dark) Chocolate Necks

Patrick calls birds in this plumage Black Necks. I call them Chocolate Necks because in soft light (as opposed to full sun) they appear a dark chocolate brown with just a hint of reddish tones. Note the classic pose and the classic framing along with the perfect head angle.

This image was created by Patrick Sparkman on Saturday December 14, 2019 at La Jolla, CA. Patrick used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1250. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/160 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode. AWB. Upper Left Zone AF w/Animal Eye locked on. Image #4:Pacific race Brown Pelican immature posing tight Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Patrick Sparkman.

Hatch-year Pelicans

Birds of the year or hatch-year birds were hatched during the last breeding season. During their first winter, they are somewhere in the vicinity of five to seven months old. The tiny, neat white fringing on many of the upperparts feathers are characteristic of many juvenile birds including gulls and terns and shorebirds and raptors. I might have processed Image #4 a bit warmer. Note the absolutely stunning pose; had the bill been on the other side of the bird’s neck this would have been an insta-delete. But Patrick was well aware of that before he pushed the shutter button.

This image was created by Patrick Sparkman on Saturday December 14, 2019 at La Jolla, CA. Patrick used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1250. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB. WIDE AF with Animal Eye locked on. Image #5: Pacific race Brown Pelican adult white-neck tight Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Patrick Sparkman.

Adding and Removing TCs in the Field

Note that Patrick worked with the 600 alone, at 840mm with the 1.4X TC, and with the 2X at 1200mm. Some photographers are reluctant to add or subtract TCs in the field in fear of sensor dust (especially with mirrorless camera bodies!). For Patrick and me, that is an insane approach. Practice adding or subtracting a TC in the comfort of your home until it becomes second nature. When you are in the field, simply keep your back to the wind and execute the switch quickly without dropping anything and you will not need to worry about sensor dust. I will be creating and posting a short mirrorless camera body sensor cleaning video soon.

This image was created by Patrick Sparkman on Saturday December 14, 2019 at La Jolla, CA. Patrick used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 3200. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1250 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB. WIDE AF. Image #6: Heerman’s Gull immature in Flight Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Patrick Sparkman. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version.

1200mm Flight Photography

As noted in the blog post here, flight photography at 1200mm with the SONY 600 GM is almost too easy … The fact that Patrick does it handheld astounds me.

This image was created by Patrick Sparkman on Saturday December 14, 2019 at La Jolla, CA. Patrick used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2500. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/320 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. AWB. WIDE AF. Image #7: Heerman’s Gull immature tight head portrait Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Patrick Sparkman. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version.

Vignetting or the Lack Thereof with SONY Gear

Patrick works wide open (at the widest aperture) even more than I do. We both have been astounded by the absence of vignetting (a darkening of the corners of an image) with SONY gear even when working wide open with teleconverters. Even with the 2X. With Image #7, Patrick stopped down a lot (for him!) from f/8 to f/9. Why? Because additional depth-of-field is needed when working at or close to the minuimum focusing distance of the lens.

This image was created by Patrick Sparkman on Saturday December 14, 2019 at La Jolla, CA. Patrick used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 640. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode. AWB. Center Left ZONE AF. Image #8: Pacific race Brown Pelican adult preening Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Patrick Sparkman.

Somebody Once Wrote …

Somebody once wrote, When photographing preening birds strive to create images with the bird’s eye both visible and wide open and with the plane of the bird’s head and face perfectly parallel to the back of the camera (to the imaging sensor). Patrick must have read that somewhere as he executed that strategy perfectly.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)

Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; WED JAN 7, 2020.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or relocated) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-lunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own.

A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due upon registration. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

The Book of Mormon was energy-filled and as superb and as wildly irreverent as advertised. I just love great musicals. Cody Jamison Strand in the role of Elder Cunningham totally stole the show. The Book of Arnold indeed … Sunday was the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the morning and Hamilton at 3pm.

Please …

Please consider leaving a comment and letting us know which of today’s four featured images is your favorites, and why.

IPT Updates

Do check out the San Diego Gallery here.

• The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)

Click here for complete IPT info and details.

BIRDS AS ART

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on September 28, 2019 on the Fort DeSoto Fall IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the 61 megapixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1600. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 7:17pm just before sunset on a partly cloudy afternoon. Image #1: Brown Pelican diving at sunset Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version.

My First Attempt at 1200mm Flight (with the a7R IV)

We were on the sandbar at DeSoto and I was working with the a7r IV and the 600 GM. There were some relatively distant pelicans diving in front of the sunset so I added the 2X TC. As I had set the exposure for a bird diving right next to the sun in the brightest part of the sky, this one was somewhat underexposed. A much higher ISO and a somewhat faster shutter speed would have resulted in better image quality. But I was pretty impressed.

This image was created on November 26, 2019. I used the Induro GIT 404/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 640. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/5000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 5:09 pm after sunset. Image #2: Sandhill Cranes parachuting down Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version.

Experimenting at 1200mm

On the evening of November 26th, I decided to experiment with the 2X TC on the 600 GM with the a9 II. I took lots of images of cranes floating down to earth against a clear but colorful sky. I was pretty much stunned by the consistent sharpness; in most of the images the nares were sharply defined and you could see light through them if the angle was right. So the next morning I used the same gear for more traditional flight photography and was again amazed …

This image was created on November 27, 2019. Again I used the Induro GIT 404/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 2000. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:43am on a cloudy morning. Image #3: Sandhill Crane angled flat flight Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version.

Loving Cloudy-bright for Flight

I just love cloudy-bright days to clear sunny days for flight photography. The former yields superb underwing detail and absolutely no shadows. And most current dSLRs and mirrorless bodies handle noise at ISOs from 800 to 5000 fairly well.

This image was also created on November 27, 2019 with the Induro GIT 404/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 640. Exposure determined by Zebras: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 11:32am on a cloudy morning. Image #4: Ross’s Goose in flat flight Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper version.

11:32 am?

Yes, on IPTs when the conditions are perfect we do not worry about scheduled meals. Heck, I never even have a schedule. We photograph when the photography is good and worry about the rest whenever.

Even Ounces Count

The SONY 600 GM is a single ounce lighter than the Canon 600 III (but is better balanced for those who handhold). The. big weight savings are with the camera bodies; the a7R III & IV and the a9 and the a9 II weigh significantly less than Canon and Nikon dSLRs. And there is no need at all for a vertical grip with extra batteries to get to actual 15 fps with the a9 II. And the SONY teleconverters are significantly lighter and significantly smaller than their dSLR equivalents (especially the 2X TC).

Speaking of Batteries

The word on the street has been that SONY camera batteries suck. For me, that has not been the case. In Florida, working in relatively warm temperatures, I have never once had to replace a SONY battery even during 1000-image plus sessions. While at Bosque, working in much colder temps, often in the mid-twenties, I had to change batteries exactly twice in thirteen days. And both of those occasions were at the very end of long shooting sessions.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)

Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; WED JAN 7, 2020.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or relocated) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-lunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own.

A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 10/11//2018. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

If In Doubt …

If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.

Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂

To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.

As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.

I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.

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Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).