Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

What’s Up?

I will have some great news from 4th Generation Designs about lens plates for the big SONY lenses for the FlexShooter Pro that will have ramifications for the big lenses from all manufacturers for most all tripod heads.

The long-delayed FlexShooter Pro Minis should be ready for shipping to us this week with their arrival expected next week.

Need System or Upgrade Advice?

These are certainly exciting and volatile times in bird and nature photography: Canon, Nikon, SONY? Upgrade or switch systems? Yikes! If you are thinking about switching or upgrading and have questions, feel free to call me on my cell at 863-221-2372 for a free ten-minute consultation. The only thing that I ask in return is that you make a firm commitment to use my B&H affiliate links or to buy from Bedford using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout if you decide to go forward. Remember that Steve Elkins at Bedford can save you a few additional bucks on lens/camera/accessories packages. See the blog for his contact details. Either way, it will not cost you one penny more.

Be sure to leave a message if I do not pick up and I will get back to you. And please follow that up with an e-mail or a text stating your name and a good time for me to call you back. I spend lots of time each day walking, swimming, and watching football and baseball 🙂 And napping.

IPT Updates

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 4. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

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 hot lately with the continuing price drops on Canon and Nikon gear. There are still lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.

Recent Sales

Peter Noyes sold his Sony Alpha A7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera body in like-new condition with a shutter count of less than 1,000 for $1998.00 the first day it was listed in early November.
Top Used Gear page seller Anthony Ardito sold his gripped Nikon D850 in like-new condition for only $2,399.00, his Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens in like-new condition for only $3,396.95, his Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition for $1,796.95, and his Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF lens in like-new condition for only $1,196.95, all during October 2019.
I sold my lightly used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens in Excellent condition for the BAA record-low price of $9796.95 in late October 2019.
John Nelson sold his Canon 500mm f/4 IS USM lens (the “old five”) in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $2749.00 in mid-October 2019.
Multiple IPT participant Larry Master sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $5,989.00 and his Canon EOS 5D Mark IV in like-new condition for $2099.00.
BAA friend and multiple IPT veteran Paul Reinstein sold a Canon Extender EF 2X III teleconverter in excellent condition for only $229.00 the first day it was listed in mid-October.
Top BAA Used Gear page seller Jim Keener sold his Canon mount Zeiss Distagon T 15mm f/2.8 ZE lens in like-new condition for the crazy low price of $799.00 (was $949.00) in early October 2019.
Allen Dale sold a Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $3399.00 in early October 2019.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Digital Camera Body with extras!

Jerry Barrack is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Digital Camera Body in near-mint condition for $ 1,999.00. The sale includes the Battery Grip BG-E20 (a $295 value), one extra Canon battery, a RRS B5D4 camera body plate, the strap, the front cap, the original product box with everything that came in it including the warranty card, and insured shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

The high-megapixel 5D Mark IV was my favorite Canon camera body. The AF system was superb and the files large, detailed and luscious. I used mine with all of my favorite Canon lenses including the 100-400 II, the 500 f/4L IS II, and the 600 f/4L IS II. With the two super-telephotos, I consistently made sharp images with both the 1.4X III and the 2X III TCs. A new 5D IV currently sells for $2,799.00; you can save a very nice $900.00 by grabbing this one. artie

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

BAA Record-low Price

Jerry Barrack is also offering a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for $5,799.00. A LensCoat (included) was on the lens from Day One. Also included are the front lens cover, an off-brand low-foot, the original foot, the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

The 500mm f/4 super-telephoto lenses have long been the world’s most popular for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. Canon’s Series II version is light, fast, super-sharp, and, in competent hands, produces amazing images with both the 1.4X and 2X III TCs. The 500 II is relatively small, easily hand-holdable for some folks, and is much easier to travel with, focuses closer than, and costs a lot less than the 600 II. The lighter 600 III costs an astounding $12,999.00. Lastly, and you might find this amazing, the magnification for the 500 II is the same as it is for the 600 II: .15X. How is that possible? Magnification is calculated at the minimum focusing distance of the lens — 12.14 feet (3.7 meters) for the 500 II and 14.77 feet (4.5 meters) for the 600 II. Simply put, the 500 II focuses more than two feet closer than the 600 II. Please do not tarry if you are seriously interested in Jerry’s lens as it should sell quite quickly. Or not 🙂 As the 500 II goes for $8999.00 new, you will be getting a practically new copy and saving a very nice $3,100.00. I loved my 500 II. artie

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Digital Camera Body

BAA Record-low Price

Jerry Barrack is also offering a Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera body in near-mint condition for a BAA record-low $648.00. The sale includes battery grip BG-E16 (a $295.00 value!), an extra off-brand battery, an off-brand camera body plate, the camera strap, front cap, the instruction manual, the original product box with everything that came in it, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

Both Patrick Sparkman and I used and loved the 7D Mark II before we both committed to using full-frame Canon bodies. We both made some truly great images with it. Two of my three 2016 Nature’s Best honored entries were created with the 7D II, one still, and one video. This is a great digital starter camera. One thing is for sure: the 7D Mark II is the greatest value ever in a digital camera body. B&H is offering a used one in 9-condition for $899.95. You can save a cool $251.90 by grabbing Jerry’s camera body now. artie

Canon EF 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 L IS USM (Zoom) Lens

BAA Record-low Price

Jerry Barrack is also offering a Canon zoom lens EF 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 L IS USM (the white version) in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $699.00. The sale includes the lens hood, the rear cap, the lens bag, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

This is a great, versatile travel and Bosque lens. It sells new for $1349.00. It would make a great starter kit for a beginning nature photographer when paired with the (1.6X) crop factor 7D Mark II above. It sell new at B&H for $1349.00. You can save a handsome $650.00 on this one. artie

Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens for Canon EF

Jerry Barrack is also offering a Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens for Canon EF in mint condition for $399.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the lens shade, the soft lens case, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

The definition of versatility, the Canon EF-mount 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM from Sigma is an Art-series zoom covering a useful wide-angle to short-telephoto range. Featuring a constant f/4 maximum aperture, this lens strikes an ideal balance between a portable form factor along with a bright enough design for working in available lighting conditions. Complementing this design, an Optical Stabilizer helps to minimize the effect of camera-shake throughout the zoom range for sharper handheld shooting. A Hyper Sonic Motor also contributes to intuitive handling and provides especially fast and quiet autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus override. B&H

Canon Extender EF 1.4X III

Jerry Barrack is also offering a Canon Extender EF 1.4X III teleconverter in near-mint condition for a very low $224.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the lens pouch, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

As regular readers know, I used both Canon telecoverters regularly and with great success. They were so important to my work with Canon super-telephoto lenses that I always traveled with two extra 1.4X-s and one extra 2X. artie

Canon Extender EF 2X III

Jerry Barrack is also offering a Canon Extender EF 2X III teleconverter in near-mint condition for a very low $224.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the lens pouch, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

As regular readers know, I used both Canon telecoverters regularly and with great success. They were so important to my work with Canon super-telephoto lenses that I always traveled with two extra 1.4X-s and one extra 2X. artie

Sigma APO Macro 180mm 1:3.5 HSM IF Lens (for Canon EF mount)

Jerry Barrack is also offering a Sigma APO Macro 180mm 1:3.5 HSM IF lens in near mint condition for $299.00. The sale includes front and rear lens caps, the lens hood, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

I loved my super-sharp Sigma 150 macro for Nikon and 180mm was always my favorite focal length for small subjects for the extra reach it affords. artie

Canon 400mm f/5.6L Lens

Jerry Barrack is also offering 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. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the tripod mount an off-brand lens plate, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

Canon Speedlite 550EX Flash

Jerry Barrack is also offering a Canon Speedlite 550EX Flash in excellent condition for only $99.00/ The sale includes 4 new lithium batteries and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

When I used Canon and II used flash, the 550EX was my favorite. artie

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (Zoom) Lens

Jerry Barrack is offering a Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (zoom) lens in near-mint condition for the you-might-as-well-give-it-away-free price of $99.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

Don’t laugh; I used this excellent lens for close to ten years when I shot Canon. The predecessor to both 24-105s, it is an excellent, do-everything, B-roll, don’t-leave-home-without-it lens. artie

Wimberley WH-101 Gimbal Head w/QR C-30 clamp and a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod

Jerry Barrack is offering a Wimberley WH-101Gimbal Head w/QR C-30 clamp and a heavy-duty Gitzo 410 tripod both in good condition and both for the silly low price of $399.00. The sale includes insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request.

Please contact Jerry via e-mail or by phone at 1-201-638-3510.

I loved the original Wimberley head especially when I needed to get taller. I kept mine and used it often in three-hatch vehicles where the extra height was a huge advantage. In addition, the longer swimg arm made it more stable than the newer V2.This rig is perfect for folks with big lenses who neeed mega stabilty while not moving around much in the field. And you will never-ever beat the price. artie

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 26, 2019 on the Fall DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/400 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode was about +1 1/3 on the analog scale. AWB at 6:54pm as the sun went behind some light clouds. Flexible Spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF. The selected AF point was placed on the bird’s eye. Click on the image to see a larger version. Willet standing on tiny sand spit

The Situation

It was late in the day and the shorebirds were cooperative. I was sitting behind my lowered tripod working (as usual) at 840mm. This winter plumage Willet was walking around the tiny sand pile while I took lots of photos in the soft light. For twenty minutes the little sand spit was a distracting element in the frame. I thought that it would be nice if the bird stood up on the little platfrom. And that is exactly what it did.

I created about twenty images of the Willet posing nicely. Today’s featured image with the bird staring right down the lens barrel was my favorite. Sometimes when you get what you wish for it can be very sweet …

Getting What You’ve Wished For in Bird Photography

If you remember a time when a bird or a flock of birds did exactly what you wanted them to do, please share by leaving a comment.

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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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?

Not much. Swimming every day and eating well. I was thrilled to learn yesterday that Doug Jackson is planning on joining the Bosque IPT. I was glad to learn yesterday that Steve Elkins of Bedford Camera is delivering yet another hard-to-get SONY 200-600mm lens to a happy BAA blog regular this week.

Exciting News!

Yesterday, I removed the foot from my SONY 600 f/4 GM lens and sent it UPS overnight to Walter Zeiss at 4th Generation Design. Once he has the exact measurements, he will be creating two CRX-style mounts (a low and an ultra-low version) for SONY along with a new longest-ever CRX-style plate. One of these will be ideal for all tripod heads (especially the FlexShooter Pro) and all the big SONY lenses including the 600 GM, the 400 GM, and the 200-600 G. More soon.

Great News

The long-delayed FlexShooter Pro Minis should be ready for shipping this week with arrival expected next week.

Need System or Upgrade Advice?

These are certainly exciting and volatile times in bird and nature photography: Canon, Nikon, SONY? Upgrade or switch systems? Yikes! If you are thinking about switching or upgrading and have questions, feel free to call me on my cell at 863-221-2372 for a free ten-minute consultation. The only thing that I ask in return is that you make a firm commitment to use my B&H affiliate links or to buy from Bedford using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout if you decide to go forward. Remember that Steve Elkins at Bedford can save you a few additional bucks on lens/camera/accessories packages. See the blog for his contact details. Either way, it will not cost you one penny more.

Be sure to leave a message if I do not pick up and I will get back to you. And please follow that up with an e-mail or a text stating your name and a good time for me to call you back. I spend lots of time each day walking, swimming, and watching football and baseball 🙂 And napping.

IPT Updates

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 4. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

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 hot lately with the continuing price drops on Canon and Nikon gear. There are still lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.

Recent Sales

Top Used Gear page seller Anthony Ardito sold his gripped Nikon D850 in like-new condition for only $2,399.00, his Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens in like-new condition for only $3,396.95, his Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition for $1,796.95, and his Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF lens in like-new condition for only $1,196.95, all during October 2019.
I sold my lightly used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens in Excellent condition for the BAA record-low price of $9796.95 in late October 2019.
John Nelson sold his Canon 500mm f/4 IS USM lens (the “old five”) in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $2749.00 in mid-October 2019.
Multiple IPT participant Larry Master sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $5,989.00 and his Canon EOS 5D Mark IV in like-new condition for $2099.00.
BAA friend and multiple IPT veteran Paul Reinstein sold a Canon Extender EF 2X III teleconverter in excellent condition for only $229.00 the first day it was listed in mid-October.
Top BAA Used Gear page seller Jim Keener sold his Canon mount Zeiss Distagon T 15mm f/2.8 ZE lens in like-new condition for the crazy low price of $799.00 (was $949.00) in early October 2019.
Allen Dale sold a Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $3399.00 in early October 2019.

Sony Alpha A7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body

Peter Noyes is offering a Sony Alpha A7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera body in like-new condition with a shutter count of less than 1,000 for $1998.00. The sale includes the original box and everything that came in it along with insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Peter Noyes via e-mail or by phone at 1-(567) 356-0878 Eastern Standard Time.

The a7r III was my main camera body on the last Galapagos trip. You’ve seen the images… I made tons of great photos — including flight shots — with the 7r III and the SONY 100-400. With relatively static subjects, I often used the 1.4X TC with success. Simply put, the a7r iii is a great camera body. It is selling new right now at B&H for $2498.00 and the new a7r IV is going for $3,498.00! You can save a very cool $500.00 by grabbing Peter’s a7r iii right now. artie

200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR Zoom Lens

Price Reduced $100.00 on 11-4-2019

Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering 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). The sale includes the original product box with all of the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. This lens was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera one year ago with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.

This inexpensive Nikon-starter super-telephoto zoom lens is sharp and versatile. It was my first big Nikon lens. I fell in love with it instantly and used it until the 500 PF was released. At that time, I went to the Nikon 80-400 VR for its versatility. artie

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 November 2, 2019 with the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode was about +1 on the analog scale. AWB at 8:13am on a partly cloudy morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF. Click on the image to see a larger version. Wood Stork preening neck/upper breast

Making Soup from a Stone

As I mentioned in the last blog post, Sebastian Inlet was not very good last Friday and Saturday. Even though the conditions for fishing Osprey were worse on Saturday, I persevered and found some cooperative Wood Storks in the shade of the bridge. I kept nine images in all. That beat Friday all to pieces.

Preening Image Basics

If I’ve said (and written) it once, I’ve said it 1,000 times: When photographing a preening bird strive to have the bird’s face and bill perfectly parallel to the back of the camera and have the eye visible. I’ve also long-encouraged folks to take lots of images when everything is lined up as it should be.

Following my own advice, I made about 15 images of the preening stork in a very few seconds. As fate would have it, in the one with the absolutely dead-solid-perfect head angle, a second Wood Stork was just walking into the frame lower left. See the original capture immediately below.

What is your favorite part of today’s featured image? I will share mine here with you in a few days.

Using the 600mm f/4 Lenses

Now that I am absolutely confident in my ability to create sharp images at 840 and 1200mm with my SONY gear, I would say that I use the bare lens alone about 10% of the time, the lens with the 1.4X TC about 70% of the time, and the lens with the 2x probably about 20% of the time, on average. As I get more familiar with my SONY gear I am becoming just as not if more confident in it at 1200mm than I was with my Canon gear. And that is saying a lot.

Capture One screen capture of full-frame RAW file

Losing the Unwanted Guest …

As noted above, in the image with the perfect head angle, a second Wood Stork walked into the frame. What to do? With the superb image quality of the a7r IV’s 61-megapixel files, I knew that a proportionate crop from the bottom left would eliminate most of the intruder while leaving me with a large, high-quality file. After converting the ARW file in Capture One, I brought it into Photoshop and eliminated the second bird with the Clone Stamp Tool set to 30% hardness. Then I selected the bird with the Magic Wand Tool, applied a layer of my NIK 30-30 Detail Extractor/Tonal Contrast recipe, and finished that off with a Contrast Mask: Unsharp Mask at 12/60/0. I was left with a highly detailed, superbly sharp (flattened/8-bit) 138.1 megabyte TIF file.

Capture One 100% screen capture of the unsharpened RAW file

a7r IV Fine Detail

As you have seen here before, and as you will surely see here again, the fine details of a sharp (but unsharpened) a7r IV RAW file are breathtaking.

Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.

2019 Bosque del Apache IPT

Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT #1. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Introductory Meet and greet at 7pm on MON 25 NOV.

Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three In-the-Field Days as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.

I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. My understanding is that things have improved dramatically in recent years. Photography-wise, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.

We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blast-offs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

Lunch is included.

To Register

To register, send your non-refundable $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.

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.

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 am headed to Sebastian early on Friday morning despite the deteriorating weather forecast …

Need System or Upgrade Advice?

These are certainly exciting and volatile times in bird and nature photography: Canon, Nikon, SONY? Upgrade or switch systems? Yikes! If you are thinking about switching or upgrading and have questions, feel free to call me on my cell at 863-221-2372 for a free ten-minute consultation. The only thing that I ask in return is that you make a firm commitment to use my B&H affiliate links or to buy from Bedford using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout if you decide to go forward. Remember that Steve Elkins at Bedford can save you a few additional bucks on lens/camera/accessories packages. See the blog for his contact details. Either way, it will not cost you one penny more.

Be sure to leave a message if I do not pick up and I will get back to you. And please follow that up with an e-mail or a text stating your name and a good time for me to call you back. I spend lots of time each day walking, swimming, and watching football and baseball 🙂 And napping.

IPT Updates

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and 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 hot lately with the continuing price drops on Canon and Nikon gear. There are still lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.

Recent Sales

John Nelson sold his Canon 500mm f/4 IS USM lens (the “old five”) in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $2749.00 in mid-October 2019.
Multiple IPT participant Larry Master sold his Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $5,989.00 and his Canon EOS 5D Mark IV in like-new condition for $2099.00.
BAA friend and multiple IPT veteran Paul Reinstein sold a Canon Extender EF 2X III teleconverter in excellent condition for only $229.00 the first day it was listed in mid-October.
Top BAA Used Gear page seller Jim Keener sold his Canon mount Zeiss Distagon T 15mm f/2.8 ZE lens in like-new condition for the crazy low price of $799.00 (was $949.00) in early October 2019.
Allen Dale sold a Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $3399.00 in early October,2019.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens

BAA Record-low Price!

Regular Used Gear page sellers John Bowden is offering a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lnes in excellent-plus condition for a BIRDS AS ART record-low $598.00. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the front lens cap, the lens pouch, the lens shade (hood), the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US-addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact John Bowden via e-mail e-mail or by phone at 1-919-358-5717 EST.

The 24-105mm focal length is my all-time favorite for B-roll stuff: bird-scapes, quasi-macros, photographers and people, scenics, and just about everything else on the planet. Whenever I would decide to leave it in the car I would not get far before I was wishing that I had taken it along for the ride. artie

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 29, 2019, the second morning of the recent DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1600 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:30am on a sunny morning with a hint of a cloud in front of the sun. Flexible spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF. The selected AF point was on the bird’s face. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Red Knot, juvenile plumage

Red Knot

First, you want to learn to identify this species by its stocky, chunky look, medium size, fairly stout medium-length bill, and its mid-length yellowish or greenish legs. The juveniles like the bird in Image #1 have a beautiful somewhat scaly pattern. If you look closely, you can see that the feathers of the upperparts each have a dark subterminal band and a white fringe. I was surprised to see so many fairly fresh juveniles in late September that had not even started to molt into first-winter plumage.

Perspective Question

Both of today’s images were made while I was seated behind my lower tripod. Once I seated the tripod firmly in the sand I leveled the FlexShooter Pro and was good to go while not have to worry about getting off-kilter when I panned to follow feeding or running birds. When you are seated at 840mm, the images look as if you were nice and low. In what way would this image have been improved had I gotten a foot lower or better yet, gotten prone right down on the ground?

This image was also created on September 29, 2019, the second morning of the recent DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT. Again, I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:41am on a sunny morning with a hint of a cloud in front of the sun. Flexible spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF. The selected AF point was on the bird’s face. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Red Knot, adult basic (winter) plumage

Bird Photography Basics …

Note that in each of today’s two featured images that the subjects are placed well back in the frame with three to four more times room from the bill tip to the right frame-edge than from the tail tip to the left frame-edge. That is always a good guideline when working in horizontal format. Next, note that in each image I am pretty darned close to working right down sun angle. Next time that you head into the field, concentrate on these two important principles and your images will improve. Master the basics and then start worrying about producing contest-winning photographs …

Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers

The info above and tons more on age-ing and identifying all of North America’s regularly-occurring shorebirds is in this great book (he said modestly). In addition, the text tells you everything you’ve always wanted to know about our sandpipers, godwits, yellowlegs, phalaropes, plovers, avocets, stilts, and oystercatchers. Other topics covered include shorebird behavior, their incredible migrations, feeding and diet, mating and breeding strategies, eggs, nests, and young, conservation efforts, and shorebirding tips. There are approximately 50 species-accounts covering all of the shorebirds that you will find regularly in North America.

You can purchase a copy here while they last.

Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.

2019 Bosque del Apache IPT

Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT #1. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Introductory Meet and greet at 7pm on MON 25 NOV.

Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three In-the-Field Days as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.

I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. My understanding is that things have improved dramatically in recent years. Photography-wise, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.

We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blast-offs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

Lunch is included.

To Register

To register, send your non-refundable $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.

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.

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?

With the image optimizations, This blog post took well more than four hours to prepare. When you purchase some new gear, please remember to use the BAA B&H affiliate links or get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford. It is the best way (aside from joining an IPT) to thank me for my educational efforts here. Using either of the BAA affiliates will not cost you one penny. Steve has been delivering lots of SONY 200-600s to happy folks in recent weeks.

I enjoyed a great 1200mm Black Vulture head-shot session on Sunday morning and will be headed back down to the lake hopefully for some more vulture flight photography.

Please take a moment to let us know which is yoru favorite Osprey image and why you made your pick.

Sebastian Inlet In-the-Field Sessions

If you would like to set up a Sebastian Inlet In-the-Field Session, please contact me via e-mail. Morning sessions will run from 7:30 till 9:30am. Afternoon sessions from 4:30 till 6:30pm. Cheap: $200 per session. Add $75 to any morning session for lunch in Vero Beach and an image review session. I will likely be there this weekend but my schedule for the next two weeks is quite open so it is likely that I can fit my schedule to your needs. Lastly, if you live not-to-far away scheduling can be weather dependent.

Need System or Upgrade Advice?

These are certainly exciting and volatile times in bird and nature photography: Canon, Nikon, SONY? Upgrade or switch systems? Yikes! If you are thinking about switching or upgrading and have questions, feel free to call me on my cell at 863-221-2372 for a free ten-minute consultation. The only thing that I ask in return is that you make a firm commitment to use my B&H affiliate links or to buy from Bedford using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout if you decide to go forward. Remember that Steve Elkins at Bedford can save you a few additional bucks on lens/camera/accessories packages. See the blog for his contact details. Either way, it will not cost you one penny more.

Be sure to leave a message if I do not pick up and I will get back to you. And please follow that up with an e-mail or a text stating your name and a good time for me to call you back. I spend lots of time each day walking, swimming, and watching football and baseball 🙂 And napping.

IPT Updates

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

BIRDS AS ART

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

FlexShooter Pro News

All FlexShooter Pro BigFeet are now in stock in the BAA Online Store. You can click on the chart above or here for more information.

Coming Soon

The FlexShooter Mini

Csaba has found an excellent operation and the anodizing of the black balls for the Minis is underway. We should have our first batch to ship in about two weeks. Thanks to the many who have pre-ordered by phone for their patience.

Several months ago I had a FlexShooter Mini to test on both the UK Puffins and Gannets IPT and the Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. It is a smaller, lighter (one pound!) version of the amazing FlexShooter Pro. I used it often with both the Nikon 500 PF and the SONY 100-400 GM with great success and in a pinch, I was able to make sharper images with the Nikon 600 and the TC-E14. All with the Mini mounted on the lighter Induro GIT 204. I suggested to developer/manufacturer Csaba Karai that the Mini needed a bit more spring tension. As there was a problem getting the balls for the new Minis anodized properly, delivery will be delayed several weeks. 🙁 When we do receive our first shipment, the Minis will have my suggested changes.

The FlexShooter Mini with the lighter Induro GIT 204 is dead-solid-perfect for those whose intermediate telephoto or telephoto zoom is their workhorse lens for bird and nature photography. It will sell for $579 plus shipping. Folks who wish to be assured of getting one from our first shipment can order theirs by phone by calling Jim at 863-692-0906 asap. Your card will not be charged until your Mini is shipped. We already have five orders to ship from our first shipment.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have only one FlexShooter Pro head in stock here. All BigFeet are in stock in the BAA Online Store here. Click here to access the pretty-much-complete FlexShooter Pro story with videos.

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 October 26, 2019 at Sebastian Inlet. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 1600. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:16am on a variably cloudy morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #1: Osprey hunting low

Thanks, Michael!

Thanks to the brilliant Michael Tapes for inviting me to Sebastian Inlet to enjoy the Osprey Flying Circus! Michael, of Michael Tapes Design, is the creator of LensAlign/FocusTune. I drove over early on Saturday, October 26 from my home at Indian Lake Estates. With no traffic early on a weekend morning, the trip took 90 minutes. I had visited this site many, many years ago; it was so long ago that I would not even hazard a guess. I do remember that there were lots of folks fishing on the jetty; more than a few were catching some really large snook. I do remember taking a very few images on a cloudy day (or two?) but don’t ask me what I photographed …

This image was also created on October 26, 2019 at Sebastian Inlet. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 1600. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:17am on a variably cloudy morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #2: Osprey with menhaden

My SONY Gear Takes a Saltwater Bath …

When I first arrived, I headed out with the a9 on the 200-600. I quickly realized that I needed more reach so I went back to the car and set up the 600 GM with the 1.4X TC and the aforementioned a9. I had done quite well with the fishing Sandwich Terns at DeSoto on the Sandbar Secrets IPT using the 600 GM, the 1.4X, and the a7r IV. You can learn more and see those images in the SONY a7r IV 840mm tripod-mounted Flight Success. With some failure … blog post here.

I decided to give the a9 a chance with the same rig. Remember, I only got the 600 a month ago right and immediately fell in love with the 61MP files of the a7R IV.

So anyhoo, with the wind strong from the southeast and the sun peeking in and out, I made my way to the end of the jetty despite the fact that there were some big waves crashing over the walkway … The two simple rain covers that I had packed were in my SUV>. I figured that with the wind behind me I could shield the gear with my head and shoulders. How’d that work out? Not well. The lens pretty much got drenched and the a9 took several direct heavy splashes. The good news is that everything kept working that day (as the tide dropped and conditions became more benign). And both the lens and the camera body worked perfectly on Sunday morning. I realize that I am not fully out of the woods yet as saltwater damage sometimes does not surface for days or even weeks. Time will tell …

IAC, the weather sealing on the a9 seemed to do just fine on Saturday …

This image was also created on October 26, 2019 at Sebastian Inlet. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 1600. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:17am on a variably cloudy morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #3: White Sky Osprey with menhaden

The Osprey Flying Circus

At any given moment, there were twenty-five or more Ospreys looking for the menhaden schools in the inlet. Many were diving well past the end of the jetty we were on, miles off of sun angle. The Ospreys were joined by Royal Terns looking for smaller baitfish, and Brown Pelicans. There was tons of flight action.

BTW, menhaden are also known as mossbunker or bunker. I think that the bunkers now running in the inlet are yellowfin menhaden. Learn lots more about menhaden in the Wikipedia article here. As bunkers are prized as chum and bait, they have been severely over-fished in recent times. The story of their attempted conservation is an interesting one.

Stunned!

While the experience of seeing so many Ospreys diving and catching was great, I was stunned later that day while checking out the images on my Macbook Pro. Pretty much every single image was tack sharp. And the a9’s effective 15 fps frame-rate gave me lots of poses to choose from. I had several eight- to 10-frame sequences of Ospreys taking flight with a big menhaden in its talons with every one of them sharp-on-the-eyes. While the a7r IV did well with the 600 GM/1.4X TC combo, the a9 was very close to perfect when it came to AF tracking accuracy. I can’t wait to get to Bosque so that I can continue testing my still relatively new SONY gear for flight photography.

This image was also created on October 26, 2019 at Sebastian Inlet. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:20am on a variably cloudy morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #4:Osprey turning in flight with menhaden

The FlexShooter Pro

Shooting flight off the FlexShooter Pro continues to be an absolute pleasure. It pans smoothly and easily. Knowing that I would be working off the relatively flat (and level) walkway, I leveled the silver ball in the parking lot after making sure that the tripod legs were extended to the same length. So when I got to the jetty I simply put the tripod down, made sure that the legs were fully spread, and was able to get right to work knowing that no matter where I pointed my 840mm rig, the images would be square to the world.

Speaking of Set It and Forget It

Speaking of set it and forget it, note that when I began working I set the shutter speed to 1/2500 sec. and the aperture to f6.3 (stopped down one-third stop or one click from the wide-open aperture of f/5.6). And never changed those settings. I simply set the correct exposure by using the rear thumb-wheel to raise the ISO when it was cloudy or lower it when the sun came out, always aiming for just a very few faint Zebras on the image in the viewfinder. Checking the ISO setting for each image will give you a good idea as to whether it was totally cloudy at the moment of exposure or if the sun was peeking out a bit or more.

High-Level Exposure Question …

If you looked at most of my images from this great session, the Ospreys would look too-dark on a properly calibrated monitor. Why did I opt to keep the Ospreys slightly underexposed?

This image was also created on October 26, 2019 at Sebastian Inlet. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 1250. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:25am on a variably cloudy morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #5:Osprey ruffling in flight

The Ruffle

When the Ospreys emerge from a dive, successful or not, they will almost always ruffle their feathers in flight to shed water thus enabling them to fly more efficiently. I did get several ruffling in flight with a bunker in their talons, but the nictitating membrane was always covering their eyes.

Give Me Five Good Minutes

I got started with the 600 GM at 7:58am and finished up at 9:41am. From more than 900 images I wound up with 135 keepers after the first edit. That is now down to 111. Note, however, that all six of today’s featured images were created in a single ten-minute span of time, from 9:16 to 9:26. Why? The schools of bunker moved into the inlet and the birds diving after them were right down sun angle. I say it often, “Give me five good minutes.” That was amended on Saturday past to “Give me ten good minutes.”

This image was also created on October 26, 2019 at Sebastian Inlet. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:26am on a variably cloudy morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image 6: Osprey with menhaden

Image Optimization Strategies and Comments

All of today’s images were converted with Capture One. For many of the images, I began by adjusting the White Balance. As noted above, all of the Ospreys were purposely underexposed. Working with the Exposure, Brightness, Highlight, and Shadow sliders after setting (and sometimes) re-setting the White and Black Points, I was able to come up with a good exposure for each Osprey while avoiding toasting the brightest highlights. Once the TIFs were brought into Photoshop, I began with some Eye Doctor work. With their deep-set eyes, I needed to lighten the iris and darken the pupil on the visible eye (or eyes) of Pandeon hileatus. Lastly, I re-worked the sky color of each image using Selective Color on a separate layer. I added Black to the Whites to make the sky bluer, and subtracted Black from the Whites to make the sky whiter. At times, I needed to add a Regular Layer Mask and erase those effects from the bird itself. IAC, I enjoyed giving a different look to images made in the same light at the same settings.

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. Do note that you will find the RGB Curves Adjustment Color Balancing tutorial only in the new e-guide. 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.

The two most recent and many of the older MP4 Photoshop Tutorial videos releases go hand and hand with the information in DB II): Note: all of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

• The Wingtip Repairs MP4 Video here.
• The MP4 Crow Cleanup Video here.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here.

I continue to optimize my old Canon images in DPP 4. You can learn how and why I converted (and still convert) nearly all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. And, yes, I still have many Canon images to work on. 🙂 More recently, though I had become proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw, I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One Pro 12. Learn more about Capture One Pro 12 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 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.

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?

When I walked on Wednesday morning I wore a shirt and a woolen watch cap … I was guessing that summer was over but in an hour it was sunny and 85 degrees.

Recently I had a Roseate Spoonbill down by the lake; it was just the second time that I have seen that species at ILE. I saw my first of the season Palm Warbler about ten days ago; now they are all over the place. I have been walking early with the 200-600/a9 combo trying to create some pleasing blurs, most with the vultures. And at sunset, I have been experimenting with the 200-600 with the a9 and both the 1.4X and the 2X TC. I have been astounded by the results. Images here soon …

Your Fave?

Which of today’s featured images do you like best? Leave a comment and let us know why you made yoru choice.

Need System or Upgrade Advice?

These are certainly exciting and volatile times in bird and nature photography: Canon, Nikon, SONY? Upgrade or switch systems? Yikes! If you are thinking about switching or upgrading and have questions, feel free to call me on my cell at 863-221-2372 for a free ten-minute consultation. The only thing that I ask in return is that you make a firm commitment to use my B&H affiliate links or to buy from Bedford using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout if you decide to go forward. Remember that Steve Elkins at Bedford can save you a few additional bucks on lens/camera/accessories packages. See the blog for his contact details. Either way, it will not cost you one penny more.

Be sure to leave a message if I do not pick up and I will get back to you. And please follow that up with an e-mail or a text stating your name and a good time for me to call you back. I spend lots of time each day walking, swimming, and watching football and baseball 🙂 And napping.

IPT Updates

You can see all IPT details here.

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

Galapagos 2020?

If you are interested in learning about a possible Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, September 29-October 13 on the boat (travel dates: 27 SEPT to Guayaquil and fly home on 14 OCT) please get in touch via e-mail. I will need at least eight deposits by December 1, 2019. Details will be announced here soon.

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.

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens

Price Reduced $250.00 on 10-23-2019

Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record-low-by-$1,250 price of $5,749.00 (was $5999.00). The sale includes the original box and everything that came in it including the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, the original tough front lens cover, and the lens strap along with a LensCoat and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828 412 1047 (Eastern time).

This fast, super-sharp, relatively lightweight (8.49 pounds) super-telephoto lens is a versatile lens for wildlife photographers, especially for those who live in the west and do large mammals in low light. And it is a hugely popular lens with sports photographers. Bird photographers working at close range at feeder set-ups will really love the 3m (9.8 feet) close focus. And best of all, it creates super-sharp images with both the 1.4X III and the 2X III Extenders. This lens sells new right now for $7,999 and the newer version, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM, sells for $11,999! Either way, you can save some significant bucks by grabbing Sandra’s super-fast lens. artie

This image was created on September 30, 2019, the third morning of the recent Fort DeSoto Sandbard Secrets IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was about +1/3 on the analog scale. AWB at 9:10am on a clear, sunny morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Sandwich Terns in tandem flight, one with fish

Two for the Price of One

Pleasingly juxtaposed images of two birds in flight are rarer than hen’s teeth. While getting on this good is partially luck, you need to train yourself to acquire focus and then keep the shutter button down while the bird is in the zone and keep firing if and when a second bird enters the frame … I would not have minded another inch of clearance between the two birds. But the twin downstroke poses and the fish and the sharpness more than make up for that.

SONY’s Center Zone AF gives you a good margin of side-to-side compositional freedom.

This image was also created on September 30, 2019, the third morning of the recent Fort DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT. Again I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was about +1/3 on the analog scale. AWB at 9:11am on a clear, sunny morning. I was working fast. 🙂 Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Sandwich Tern in flight with two fish!

Only Two!

There were flocks of terns fishing on this great sandbar morning. As the schools of bait moved, the bird followed. And dived. I’d guess that they were successful about 25% of the time when diving. The bait must have been thick for this bird to come up with two greenbacks on a single plunge. At first, I’d spot a feeding flock of terns and rush down the beach after them. With the tripod-mounted 600 GM. Though this lens is incredibly light, I tired badly after about an hour probably having traversed a mile in all. By that time I realized as most of the group had that if you stayed put, the bait and the birds would be right back in front of you in a matter of minutes … Lesson learned. But all those birds diving in a frenzy are very tempting. We had two mornings with north/northwest winds, close to perfect for diving tern photography.

Image #2A: An unsharpened 100% crop of the (already cropped) master file for Sandwich Tern in flight with two fish!

Strange

I find it strange that one fish is impaled and the other is being held at the base of the bird’s bill. How the heck does that happen?

This image was also created on September 30, 2019, the third morning of the recent Fort DeSoto Sandbard Secrets IPT. Again I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was about +1/3 on the analog scale. AWB at 9:11am on a clear, sunny morning. I was working fast. 🙂 Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #3: Sandwich Tern swallowing fish in flight

840mm Tripod-mounted Flight Sharpness

I was somewhat surprised that I did so well shooting flight off the tripod with the a7r IV. The rig acquired focus very quickly, held focus well, and tracked the subject accurately in most cases. AF tracking accuracy was excellent with birds flying right at or angling towards me; the bird’s eyes, bills, and the feathers on the tops of their heads were laser-razor sharp. But with terns flying right to left or left to right, Center Zone often picked up the near-wing leaving the eye and face soft. So the next time that we had the terns feeding with a decent wind direction, I went to Flexible Spot Large and found that the system did not acquire focus either quickly or well. There are several possible solutions to this problem but I might not get a chance to try them until Bosque …

I expect that AF performance will be improved with the 600 GM and the 1.4X TC when I go to the a9.

Image #3A: Capture One screen capture for Sandwich Tern swallowing fish in flight

A7r IV Flight Sharpness

With the Capture One large Loupe at 100% magnification. Check out the incredible sharpness. The 61MP files of the a7r IV are velvety smooth yet finely detailed and offer color that fits the color-space in my mind. And they are eminently crop-able. I have a new technique for picking my keepers with Capture One tht works exceedingly well. I may do another video …

The Capture One Pro-12 Simplified Video Click here to order.

The Capture One Pro-12 Simplified Video

$15.00 via electronic download

As below, Capture One did a great job of converting the RAW (NEF) files for today’s featured images.

When I first heard about doing RAW conversions in Capture One Pro 12 I purchased the somewhat pricey program and tried to figure it out on my own. I was totally lost. So I did some reading online and was still very confused. Then I consulted Arash Hazeghi’s comprehensive The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide and while Arash does a great job of covering the fine points, I still had some difficulty getting started. I thought Who needs Sessions and who wants to have to Import images? So I consulted Patrick Sparkman, the BAA technical advisor. Patrick had been using C-1 Pro 12 for a while. We spent a good deal of time on FaceTime simplifying things. That video is a direct result of those conversations.

You can purchase your copy in the BAA Online Store here.

If you are new to Capture One Pro-12, please click here to order. Understand that C-1 Pro 12 is expensive for good reason … Are your photos worth it?

Here are some of the things you will learn in this 33+ minute video as we convert nine different RAW files (eight Nikon and one SONY) from soup to nuts, from Photo Mechanic through the RAW conversion in Capture One to Photoshop:

• 1-How to quickly and easily find your images while working in a simple file folder format.
• 2-How to customize your Exposure and Details tabs to streamline your workflow.
• 3-How to set the White and Black points using Levels.
• 4-How to adjust set the values for the relevant sliders including Exposure, White Balance, High Dynamic Range (the Highlight and Shadow sliders), and Clarity and Structure.
• 5-How to work at 100 or 200% and fine-tune your settings for Noise Reduction and Sharpness.
• 6-How to work with the Color Editor

If you are trying to get a handle on how to use this great RAW conversion engine for your Nikon and SONY images, this video is just what you have been looking for. It is meant to serve as an adjunct to Arash’s comprehensive The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide. For Canon shooters, Arash and I both recommend using DPP 4.

Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.

2019 Bosque del Apache IPT

Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT #1. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Introductory Meet and greet at 7pm on MON 25 NOV.

Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three In-the-Field Days as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.

I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. My understanding is that things have improved dramatically in recent years. Photography-wise, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.

We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blast-offs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

Lunch is included.

To Register

To register, send your non-refundable $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.

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.

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 :).

This image was created at Morro Bay, CA with the the hand held Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2 1/3 stops: 1/500 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AI Servo/Rear Focus/Zone AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). The AF system activated three AF points that fell on the bird’s neck and the base of the bill and nailed a sharp eye. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Long-billed Curlew on wet sand

This image was created at Morro Bay, CA with the the hand held Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III, and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/2000sec. at f/9 is the equivalent of my sunny bright white ISO 400 exposure in full sun: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. One point to the right and one row up from the center AF point/AI Servo Expand Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). The selected AF point fell right on the bird’s eye. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #4: Western Gull head portrait of bird in breeding plumage

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

Price reduced $210.00/BAA Record-low!

Larry Master, multiple IPT participant who will be joining me again on the upcoming Bosque IPT, is offering a Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for a now BAA record-low $5,989.00 (was $6,199.00). The sale includes the front lens cover, the rear lens cap, the lens strap, the lens truck with keys, the original product box, an Aquatech silicone lens cap, a Lenscoat, an off-brand low foot, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

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

The 500mm f/4 super-telephoto lenses have long been the world’s most popular for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. Canon’s Series II version is light, fast, super-sharp, and, in competent hands, produces amazing images with both the 1.4X and 2X III TCs. The 500 II is relatively small, easily hand-holdable for some folks, and is much easier to travel with, focuses closer than, and costs a lot less than the 600 II. The lighter 600 III costs an astounding $12,999.00. Lastly, and you might find this amazing, the magnification for the 500 II is the same as it is for the 600 II: .15X. How is that possible? Magnification is calculated at the minimum focusing distance of the lens — 12.14 feet (3.7 meters) for the 500 II and 14.77 feet (4.5 meters) for the 600 II. Simply put, the 500 II focuses more than two feet closer than the 600 II. The seller for the last one that sold here had five calls the first day; the first four folks quibbled on price. The fifth one jumped right on it … Please do not tarry if you are seriously interested in Larry’s lens as it too should sell quite quickly. Or not 🙂 As the 500 II goes for $8999.00 new, you will be getting a practically new copy and saving a very nice $2,800.00! I loved my 500 II. artie

What’s Up?

Very early on Thursday morning, someone dumped a load of stale bread, pretzels, and apples on the grass at the parking circle near the pier. When I arrived for my walk, there were lots of Boat-tailed Grackles. But when I finished there were several Turkey Vultures dining on bread and apples. Go figure. I set up my Induro GIT 304 in the car topped by the FlexShooter Pro and went to work at 1200mm with the a7r IV. Photos and more soon.

I was pleased to learn recently of the sale of Don Carter’s SONY a7r III, the sale of Larry Masters’ Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, the sale of Bill Hill’s Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, and the sale Mark Overgaard’s Canon EOS 7D Mark II. I sold my gripped D850 and my 500 PF. In addition, the following sales became pending yesterday: Larry Master’s Canon 5D Mark IV, Anthony Ardito’s gripped D-850, his Nikon 500 PF, his Nikon 24-70, and his Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 –all on the first day of listing! In addition, the sale of my Nikon 600 VR also became pending yesterday. There are still lots of great buys available on the Used Photo Gear page here.

I am thisclose to finishing the Nikon D850 User’s Guide and Video.

Galapagos 2020?

If you are interested in learning about a possible Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, September 29-October 13 on the boat (travel dates: 27 SEPT to Guayaquil and fly home on 14 OCT) please get in touch via e-mail. I will need at least eight deposits by December 1, 2019. Details will be announced here soon.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and 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.

As used gear sales have slowed a bit in recent months — especially with dSLR bodies, there are lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

Larry Master, multiple IPT participant who will be joining me again on the upcoming Bosque IPT, is offering a Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for $6,199.00. The sale includes the front lens cover, the rear lens cap, the lens strap, the lens truck with keys, the original product box, an Aquatech silicone lens cap, a Lenscoat, an off-brand low foot, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

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

The 500mm f/4 super-telephoto lenses have long been the world’s most popular for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. Canon’s Series II version is light, fast, super-sharp, and, in competent hands, produces amazing images with both the 1.4X and 2X III TCs. The 500 II is relatively small, easily hand-holdable for some folks, and is much easier to travel with, focuses closer than, and costs a lot less than the 600 II. The lighter 600 III costs an astounding $12,999.00. Lastly, and you might find this amazing, the magnification for the 500 II is the same as it is for the 600 II: .15X. How is that possible? Magnification is calculated at the minimum focusing distance of the lens — 12.14 feet (3.7 meters) for the 500 II and 14.77 feet (4.5 meters) for the 600 II. Simply put, the 500 II focuses more than two feet closer than the 600 II. The seller for the last one that sold here had five calls the first day; the first four folks quibbled on price. The fifth one jumped right on it … Please do not tarry if you are seriously interested in Larry’s lens as it too should sell quite quickly. Or not 🙂 As the 500 II goes for $8999.00 new, you will be getting a practically new copy and saving a very nice $2,800.00! I loved my 500 II. artie

IPT Updates

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

BIRDS AS ART

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

FlexShooter Pro News

All FlexShooter Pro BigFeet are now in stock in the BAA Online Store. You can click on the chart above or here for more information.

Coming Soon

The FlexShooter Mini

The Mini has experienced further unavoidable production delays.

Several months ago I had a FlexShooter Mini to test on both the UK Puffins and Gannets IPT and the Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. It is a smaller, lighter (one pound!) version of the amazing FlexShooter Pro. I used it often with both the Nikon 500 PF and the SONY 100-400 GM with great success and in a pinch, I was able to make sharper images with the Nikon 600 and the TC-E14. All with the Mini mounted on the lighter Induro GIT 204. I suggested to developer/manufacturer Csaba Karai that the Mini needed a bit more spring tension. As there was a problem getting the balls for the new Minis anodized properly, delivery will be delayed several weeks. 🙁 When we do receive our first shipment, the Minis will have my suggested changes.

The FlexShooter Mini with the lighter Induro GIT 204 is dead-solid-perfect for those whose intermediate telephoto or telephoto zoom is their workhorse lens for bird and nature photography. It will sell for $579 plus shipping. Folks who wish to be assured of getting one from our first shipment can order theirs by phone by calling Jim at 863-692-0906 asap. Your card will not be charged until your Mini is shipped. We already have five orders to ship from our first shipment.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have only two FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here. All BigFeet are in stock in the BAA Online Store here. Click here to access the pretty-much-complete FlexShooter Pro story with videos.

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 Sandbar Secrets IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/4000 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode was about +1 1/3 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 8:32am in sunny morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger version and see if you can spot the red jighead … Image #1: Immature Brown Pelican in wings up flight

Standing for Tripod-mounted Flight Photography

Today’s featured images were created at the same location as the striking Great Egret images in the blog post here. For that series, I was seated behind my lower tripod. I know some folks who can shoot flight off the tripod while seated, and even a few who can do the same thing while lying prone. But not me. When shooting flight off a tripod with a big super-telephoto lens my great preference is to stand at full height behind my tripod with the viewfinder just at or slightly below eye level. At the beach, try to pick a fairly level spot and make sure that the legs of your tripod are seated firmly in the sand.

FlexShooter Pro Beach Tip

When setting up your tripod in the parking lot, pull out the legs of your tripod one at a time. After the first leg is extended to the height that you want, place the tip of that leg on the ground and pull the other two legs out until they hit the ground so that the tips of the second and third legs extend to the exact same length as the first leg. Now spread the legs of your tripod and check the bubble level on the tripod platform; the bubble will be perfectly centered in the scribed circle. Next, after making sure that the three legs are fully spread and firmly seated, loosen the black lever on the FlexShooter Pro and level the large silver ball perfectly by centering the bubble in the scribed circle.

Now when you begin photographing on the beach, pick a relatively flat spot and note the location of the bubble with relation to the scribed circle on the tripod platform. With just a bit of practice, it becomes easy to center the bubble on the tripod platform in the scribed circle by pulling one or two tripod legs in and seating each firmly in the sand; when the bubble is centered, you are ready to start shooting without having to loosen the black lever and level the large silver ball of the FlexShooter Pro. You need to trust me here: after a bit of practice, leveling the tripod platform becomes easy with a bit of practice. You can even learn to do it quickly when standing in the water and working on a shifting-sands substrate.

Image #1A: Capture One unsharpened 300% screen capture

The Red Jighead & Bird Rescue

While converting the RAW file in Capture One, I noted a small red (baited?) jighead with the hook stuck in the pelican’s underwing secondary coverts. Almost anywhere that folks are fishing in Florida, pelicans are getting hooked. About 22 years ago at Blind Pass on Captiva, I was carrying a young pelican to my car. I was going to bring it to the local bird rescue operation as it had a single 8/0 O’Shaughnessy hook deep in its neck. The young bird died in my arms …

If you frequent such areas — they are often quite good for bird photography — it is a good plan to have a few numbers for local bird rescue folks on your cell phone. As I spend a lot of time at DeSoto, I have two numbers for the great folks at Birds in Helping Hands (wildlife rescue, rehab, & release) on my i-Phone8+. They even come for gulls!

SONY a7r IV Resolution

If you are not as impressed with the resolution of SONY a7r IV image files as I am, try blowing up some of your images to 300% and see how they stand up … Notice also the complete absence of noise at 300%.

This image was also created on September 28, 2019 on the Fort DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/5000 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode was about -1/3 stop on the analog scale. AWB at 8:34am in sunny morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version and the amazing sharpness and detail of this relatively large crop. Image #2: Sandwich Tern fishing in full downstroke flight

AF Modes for Flight

Patrick Sparkman swears by Wide for flight with SONY and loves the way he can move a bird in flight around in the frame. At this time, my preference is for Center Zone. For Nikon folks, we recommend only center Group (grp) for flight photography. For Canon, most will work with center Expand/Surround with eight AF points surrounding the selected (center) AF point.

With Image #2, the lower-left corner of Center Zone AF acquired and held accurate focus on this fishing Sandwich Tern.

Wing Positions

Today’s two featured images illustrate two very good wing positions. With the amazing AF technology in today’s digital camera bodies, making a sharp flight image is only step one. For every twenty razor-sharp on the eye images, I am happy to have one really good flight shot with a nice wing position. The pelican in Image #1 shows us the wings up position. In a perfect world, the near wing would have been raised a bit more thus eliminating the underwing shadow. With Image #2, I’d consider the wings fully down (and forward) wing position to be fantastic and very dynamic. Note the beautiful look at the dorsal surface of the near-wing.

A7r IV AF Tracking and Accuracy for Flight Photography

A7r IV AF initial focusing acquisition and tracking accuracy for flight photography with the 600GM are superb. As weak as my arms are, I am pretty sure that had I not injured my shoulder two years ago, I would have easily been able to handhold this super-light lens for flight …

Image #2A: Capture One screen capture

A7r IV Sharpness and Resolution

You can get an idea of the original framing for Image #2 by ignoring the Loupe in the screen capture above. Doing so, it will be obvious that this is a fairly large crop. A flattened 8-bit a7r IV file comes in at `72.3MB. The cropped master file is 101.9MB. Thus, 41% of the original pixels were cropped away and discarded. The sharpness and detail in the cropped image file are indeed remarkable.

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: 7)

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.

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 walked an easy 1 1/2 miles on Sunday morning and swam twice, once before brunch and once after dinner for a total of 88 lengths, exactly one mile. I photographed down by the lake with the 200-600 and the 600/2X, both with the a7r IV. It was not a great session. I did have a gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawk on the ground in beautiful light in a very nice setting. But I got too greedy and tried to get too close, that with the 1200mm rig set up on the FlexShooter Pro in my Sequoia … Next time.

It is nice to have practically guaranteed cranes and vultures every morning when you are looking to test new gear. This morning I ran into blog regular Tilo Samter and his wife photographing down by the pier at ILE. It was nice meeting them.

Your Favorite?

Which of today’s two featured crane images do you like best? Why?

IPT Updates

You can see all IPT details here.

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

Galapagos 2020?

If you are interested in learning about a possible Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, September 29-October 13 on the boat (travel dates: 27 SEPT to Guayaquil and fly home on 14 OCT) please get in touch via e-mail. I will need at least eight deposits by December 1, 2019. Details will be announced here soon.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and 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.

As used gear sales have slowed a bit in recent months — especially with dSLR bodies, there are lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.

New Nikon Listings

Nikon D850

Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is offering a gripped Nikon D850 in like-new condition for only $2,399.00. The sale includes the MB-D18 Multi Battery Power Pack, the Nikon Battery Chamber Cover BL-5, a Nikon EN-EL 18c Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (10.8V, 2500mAh)- “the Nikon D5 battery”, a dual D5 battery charger — the Wasabi Power Dual Battery Charger for Nikon MH-26, MH-26aAK, EN-EL18, EN-EL18a and Nikon D4, D4S, D5 with Adapter for Canon LP-E4, LP-E4N –as recommended by Steve Elkins at Bedford’s, the small Nikon D850 battery and charger, a Sony 64GB XQD card, a Sony XQD/SD card reader, the original product box and factory operating manuals/accessories, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. All products were originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera one year ago with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.

The Nikon D850 was my preferred Nikon body for 18 months. After trying it, I sold my D5 and purchased a second D850 as a backup. Both the AF system and image files are superb. artie

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens

Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens in like-new condition for only $3,396.95. The sale includes the original product box with all of the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. This lens was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera in May 2019 with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.

Of all of my Nikon lenses, I will miss the 500 PF the most. It is an amazing flight lens and does quite well on static subjects with the TC-E14. On many trips, it was the only lens that I carried into the field. Some days I handheld it, and on some days it was mounted on the Induro GIT 204/FlexShooter Mini artie

Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens

Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering a Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition for $1,796.95. The sale includes the original product box with all the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. It was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera one year ago with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.

The amazingly versatile 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are the world’s most popular mid-range telephoto, I made zillions of great images with my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 lenses. The Nikon version works well with both the TC-E14 and the TC-E17 teleconverters, even with a crop factor body. They are easily hand-holdable and are great for tame birds, landscapes, urbex, indoor stuff like concerts and recitals, and just about anything you want to photograph. As new one sells for $2,796.95 you can save one grand by grabbing Tony’s lens right now. artie

Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF Lens

Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering a Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF lens in like-new condition for only $1,196.95. The sale includes the original product box with all of the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. It was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera in March 2019 with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.

Super-fast and super-sharp, this one is the Nikon landscape photographer’s dream lens. artie

200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR Zoom Lens

Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR Zoom lens in like-new condition for the very low price of $899.95. The sale includes the original product box with all of the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. This lens was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera one year ago with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.

This inexpensive Nikon-starter super-telephoto zoom lens is sharp and versatile. It was my first big Nikon lens. I fell in love with it instantly and used it until the 500 PF was released. At that time, I went to the Nikon 80-400 VR for its versatility. artie

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 October 11, 2019, during my first session with my newest lens. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lensat ( 600mm) with the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800 (could have been ISO 400). Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was about zero on the analog scale. AWB at 8:10am on a clear, sunny morning. I am not sure if I used Upper Right Zone or Flexible Spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF. Either way, it was active at the moment of exposure. There is no program that I know of that you can use to access the AF info after the fact … And as far as I know, there is no menu option for seeing the selected AF point, the active AF point, or even the AF mode during Playback. If I am wrong, I would love to hear about it. This is a serious problem with the high-end SONY camera bodies. It would seem that it could be rectified with a firmware update. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Sandhill Crane preening back

First Impressions

I had realized last week that the 2-6 was a variable aperture lens: f/5.6 at the shot end, f/6.3 at the long end. For bird photographers, the pretty much means that it is an f/6.3 lens. Strike one. When I got the box on Thursday and opened it, the lens looked big and heavy and seemed clunky. Strike two. When I put it on the scale and compared it to the weight of my Nikon 500 PF/gripped D850 I was pleasantly surprised. With the lens foot removed, the 2-6/a7r IV combo weighed 6 lbs, 7.7 oz with a card in the camera. The Nikon 500 PF/gripped D850 rig, with the lens foot removed am a card in the camera, weighed 6 lbs., 3.3 oz. Because of the far lighter weight of the camera, the SONY rig weighed only 4.3 ounces, a bit more than 1/4 pound than my beloved Nikon rig. That was good news.

More good news: while handholding, the lens handled beautifully in the field. Unlike the 600mm f/4 GM that comes in two pounds heavier than the 2-6, I was able to handhold the 200-600 rather easily. (Note: I can handhold the SONY 600mm f/4 using the knee-pod technique and make sharp images at least at 840mm. But when a bird flew by, my formerly damaged left shoulder did not allow me to raise the lens and fire; that is why I was on the tripod for the striking Great Egret striking situation detailed in the blog post here). With the 2-6, the entire zoom range is covered with a quick twist of the wrist over about 75 degrees — you get from 600 to 200 (and back again) in an instant. The lens does not change length when you zoom in and out. That is a huge plus, especially when working on a FlexShooter head.

Best of all, the handheld images were sharp. Very sharp. Scary sharp. Because the new 2-6 is a G series lens rather than a GM series lens, I had been a bit concerned about image sharpness and about the quality of the build of the lens. I now have no concerns with the former and time will tell on the latter; the lens does, however, seem sturdy and well-constructed. I’ve had only a few halfway decent flight chances so it is too soon for me to make a definitive statement on photographing birds in flight with the 200-600/a7r IV combo. (Note: flight photography with the 600 f/4 GM/1.4X TC/a7r IV combo was quite excellent as you will see by the fishing Sandwich Tern images that will be featured here sometime this week.) The more that I’ve used the new rig the more I am liking the SONY 200-600.

A Caution

Folks moving from the Canon 100-400 II, the Canon 400mm f/4 DO II, any 80- or 100-400 lens, or the Nikon 500 PF need to understand that sharpness technique errors that lead to lens shake will be exacerbated by the square of the focal length! Yes, the square of the focal length. If you are going from a 400mm focal length to a 600mm focal length the math looks like this: Six squared is 36; four squared is 16; 36 divided by 16 is 2.25. Unsharpness due to lens shake at 600mm will affect the image 2 1/4 times more than unsharpness due to lens shake at 400mm. For the 500 PF, the math looks like this: Six squared is 36; five squared is 25; 36 divided by 25 is 1.44. Unsharpness due to lens shake at 600mm will affect the image nearly one and one half times more than unsharpness due to lens shake at 500mm.

I did learn yesterday that setting the OSS (Optical Steady Shot) to 1 rather than 2 or 3 better stabilizes the subject in the viewfinder. The trick is to remember and get in the habit of going to 3 for flight photography …

In short, handholding and getting sharp images at a focal length of 600mm is far more difficult than when handholding at 400mm (or at 500mm). What are the implications here? You need to go to faster shutter speeds (with correspondingly higher ISOs), improve your sharpness techniques, sit and use the knee-pod technique whenever possible, or put the rig on a tripod. The Induro GIT 204/FlexShooter Mini will be dead-solid perfect for the SONY 200-600 with any SONY body. We hope to finally have the Minis in stock within two weeks after a lengthy production delay.

Preening Bird Photo Tip

When photographing a preening bird, strive to have the eye visible and the bird’s face perfectly parallel to the imaging sensor. As was done with Image #1.

This image was also created on October 11 during my first session with my newest lens. Again I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens at ( 600mm) with the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400 (could have been ISO 400). Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/800 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was about zero on the analog scale. AWB at 8:16am on a clear, sunny morning. For this one, I used Flexible Spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF. Either way, it was active at the moment of exposure. There is no program that I know of that you can use to access the AF info after the fact … And as far as I know, there is no menu option for seeing the selected AF point, the active AF point, or even the AF mode during Playback. If I am wrong, I would love to hear about it. This is a serious problem with the high-end SONY camera bodies. It would seem that it could be rectified with a firmware update. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Sandhill Crane head portrait

Thoughts on the SONY 200-600

For me, I do not envision ever going into the field with the tripod-mounted 600mm f/4 GM lens and the 200-600. If I do carry an auxiliary lens on a Black Rapid Curve Breathe strap on my shoulder while carrying the big lens, it will be the 100-400 as it meshes much better with the 600 in terms of focal length coverage and because of its great close-focusing capabilities. On the other hand, if I want to head out handholding a single lens, the 200-600 will be my choice. Along with the 1.4X teleconverter in my fanny pack. (I have yet to test the 200-600 with the 1.4X TC.).

For folks who have never and will never own a 600mm f/4 lens — the latest versions from the major manufacturers average about $13,000 new, the SONY 200-600 represents a whole new world of possibilities: you sacrifice 1 1/3 stops of speed (f/6.3 vs f/4) in exchange for handholdable 600mm of reach (along with the versatility of a 200-600 zoom). Like the Nikon 500 PF ($3,596.95), the SONY 200-600 is — at $1998, relatively inexpensive (but very difficult to get at this time).

Minimum Focusing Distance

While the Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) of the 2-6 pales somewhat in comparison to the .98 meter (3′ 2.22 inches)close focus of of the CANON 100-400 II and the SONY 100-400 GM. But those working around tame birds and wildlife will be justifiably impressed with the MFD of the 2-6 (2.4 meters or 7.87 feet), especially when compared to the MFDs of the SONY 600mm GM (4.5 meters or 14.67 feet), the Canon 600mm f/4L IS III (somewhat better at 4.2 meters or 13.78 feet), and the Nikon 600mm f/4 VR (4.39 meters or 14.4 feet).

My Prediction

My prediction is that the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens may become the life-changing super-telephoto weapon-of-choice for the ever-growing legions of bird photographers going to mirrorless camera body systems … That if — and this might be a very big if — the 2-6 proves to be more than adequate for flight photography with the a7r III and the a7r IV. I have no doubt, however, that the 2-6/SONY a9 (or a9 II) combo will be best for photographing birds in flight (albeit at “only” 24 MP). Time will tell on flight photography with the 200-6oo and either the a7R IV or the a7r III …

This is a Capture One screen capture of Image #3. Click to enlarge

Editing My SONY Images with Capture One

As mentioned here before, when I view SONY images in Photo Mechanic, the small embedded JPEGs do not allow me to enlarge the image enough to judge critical sharpness. To do that, I go to Capture One Pro 12 and use the (adjustable) Loupe (P) to enlarge as needed. I use Large for the Loupe size and 100% for the magnification. I may be doing a video detailing exactly how I set up and use Capture One so that I can do my editing (pick my keepers) quickly and efficiently.

The Capture One Screen Capture

As regular readers know, I do pretty much all of my SONY and Nikon RAW conversions in Capture One Pro 12. If you enlarge the screen capture, you can see all of the adjustments I made to the RAW file before converting it and bringing it into Photoshop as a TIF file.

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 swimming and walking and continuing with the intermittent fasting program and am feeling great. On Friday, I felt so good that I swam twice! And I have been working on the D850 video and e-guide.

I got my SONY 200-600 from Bedford’s on Thursday afternoon and took it down to the lake on Friday morning. I glanced at the images and all that I can say is that they are scary-sharp! In Monday’s blog post I will share my initial impressions of the 2-6. I will say that they are favorable.

There is so much exciting stuff going on and I have so many images and lessons to share that I feel I should be doing a blog post every day: Galapagos images; DeSoto images: the skinny on the SONY 600 f/4GM with the 1.4 and 2X TCs; taking-care-of-SONY basics; and so, so much more. But I promised myself to leave at least some time for myself … Anyhoo, there will be lots more great stuff here every other day.

Your Favorite?

Please leave a comment and let us know whether you like the image with the dark background or the high key image better. And why.

Galapagos 2020?

If you are interested in learning about a possible Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, September 29-October 13 on the boat (travel dates: 27 SEPT to Guayaquil and fly home on 14 OCT) please get in touch via e-mail. I will need at least eight deposits by December 1, 2019. Details will be announced here soon.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and 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.

As used gear sales have slowed a bit in recent months — especially with dSLR bodies, there are lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

Larry Master, multiple IPT participant who will be joining me again on the upcoming Bosque IPT, is offering a Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for $6,199.00. The sale includes the front lens cover, the rear lens cap, the lens strap, the lens truck with keys, the original product box, an Aquatech silicone lens cap, a Lenscoat, an off-brand low foot, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

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

The 500mm f/4 super-telephoto lenses have long been the world’s most popular for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. Canon’s Series II version is light, fast, super-sharp, and, in competent hands, produces amazing images with both the 1.4X and 2X III TCs. The 500 II is relatively small, easily hand-holdable for some folks, and is much easier to travel with, focuses closer than, and costs a lot less than the 600 II. The lighter 600 III costs an astounding $12,999.00. Lastly, and you might find this amazing, the magnification for the 500 II is the same as it is for the 600 II: .15X. How is that possible? Magnification is calculated at the minimum focusing distance of the lens — 12.14 feet (3.7 meters) for the 500 II and 14.77 feet (4.5 meters) for the 600 II. Simply put, the 500 II focuses more than two feet closer than the 600 II. The seller for the last one that sold here had five calls the first day; the first four folks quibbled on price. The fifth one jumped right on it … Please do not tarry if you are seriously interested in Larry’s lens as it too should sell quite quickly. Or not 🙂 As the 500 II goes for $8999.00 new, you will be getting a practically new copy and saving a very nice $2,800.00! I loved my 500 II. artie

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens

Sold!

Multiple IPT participant Larry Master, who will be joining me again on the upcoming Bosque IPT, is offering a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for the BAA record-low price of $899.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, the original product box, the lens case, a LensCoat, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US lower-48 addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

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

The 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens, the world’s most popular mid-range telephoto, is amazingly versatile. When I used Canon I made zillions of great images with it. It works well with both the 1.4X III and the 2X III TCs, even with the 7D II! It is easily hand-holdable. It is great for tame birds, landscapes, urbex, indoor stuff like concerts and recitals, and just about anything you want to photograph. A new 70-200 II currently sells for $1799.00 so you can save a cool $900.00 by grabbing Larry’s practically new copy asap. artie

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Sale pending

Multiple IPT participant Larry Master, who will be joining me again on the upcoming Bosque IPT, is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV in like-new condition with 3200 actuations for $2099.00. The sale includes the original box and everything that came in it including the front body cap, the strap, and also insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

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

The high megapixel 5D Mark IV was my favorite Canon camera body. The AF system was superb and the files large, detailed and luscious. I used mine with all of my favorite Canon lenses including the 100-400 II, the 500 f/4L IS II, and the 600 f/4L IS II. With the two super-telephotos, I consistently made sharp images with both the 1.4X III and the 2X III TCs. The camera, still in production, sells for $2799.00. artie

Canon EOS 70D

Multiple IPT participant Larry Master, who will be joining me again on the upcoming Bosque IPT, is offering a Canon EOS 70D in like-new condition for $499.00. The sale includes the original box and everything that came in it including the front body cap, the strap, and also insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

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

I know several folks on the blog who own and use the 70D for nature and bird photography and are quite happy with the results. And you cannot beat the price! artie

Four-lens Canon EF-S Bundle

Price Reduced $150.00 on July 13, 2019.

IPT veteran Mark Overgaard is also offering a four-lens EF-S bundle, all in near-mint to like-new condition for the crazy-low price of $799.00 (was $949.00). EF-S lenses work only with Canon crop sensor bodies such as the 7D, the 7D Mark II, the 70D, and the 80D.

Here are the lenses:

• Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
• Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
• Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
• Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM

The sale includes all front and rear lens caps and hoods and insured ground shipping by UPS or FedEx to the lower 48 states only. For all but the 18-135mm lens, the original Canon box is also included.

Please contact Mark via e-mail.

If you are sold on Canon crop factor bodies like the 7D Mark II (see the work of Dan Cadieux), and are looking for some supplementary lenses, this package represents an incredible deal. These four lenses sell new for $1796.00 so you can save $997 by grabbing this great collection now. artie

IPT Updates

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

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 26, my scouting just before the Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400 (should have been ISO 800). Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/160 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode was about -2/3 stop on the analog scale. AWB at 6:04pm in full shade late on a sunny afternooon. Upper Left Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure. Image #1: Tricolored Heron juvenile with green reflections background

The Situation

On my scouting afternoon before the last DeSoto IPT with multiple IPT participant Shonagh Adelman along for the ride, we were photographing at one of my favorite DeSoto afternoon locations. We noticed a huge feeding spree tight against a mangrove forest on a curving spit of land. There were about two hundred young pelicans herding bait with a few dozen wading birds including Great and Snowy Egrets and the single young Tricolored Heron pictured in today’s two featured images. I thought that if we hugged the shore we might be able to get somewhere near sun angle. But with my first step, my left foot sank deep into the muck so I quickly abandoned that approach. With the seemingly impenetrable mangrove forest on our left, it looked as if we were defeated. Refusing to give up so easily, I poked my head into the forest and was amazed to see a pretty decent trail. We walked the path for about 100 yards and then made our way to an opening along the edge. The pelicans had already moved off, but the wading birds hung around still feeding. The bottom was a lot firmer and the birds were typically DeSoto-tame.

Working With Mega High-Mega-pixel Cameras …

For Image #1 — in retrospect — I should have removed the teleconverter or — at the least — gone to ISO 800 for an additional stop of shutter speed. When working with super-high mega-pixel camera bodies like the SONY a7r IV and the Canon 5DsR, any sharpness-technique errors that result in lens-shake will be exacerbated and the effects of (subject) motion-blur will be more evident than they would be than when working with cameras that produce smaller RAW files. Why? Any movement at all will affect more of the tightly packed pixels … So with the 7r IV, there will be times when I need to go to higher shutter speeds (and thus, correspondingly higher ISO settings).

In short, lower mega-pixel cameras are more forgiving across the board with sharpness errors. And many folks believe that the lower mega-pixel files are better with noise as well. But the apparent gains with high-ISO performance when comparing larger image files with smaller image files are misleading. If you take an image from a high mega-pixel camera body and resize it in Photoshop down to the pixel dimensions of a lower mega-pixel file — Image > Image size w/Bicubic Sharper (Reduction) — the image originally from the higher mega-pixel camera will actually be less noisy and will often exhibit better dynamic range as well. (Thanks again to Patrick Sparkman for helping me to understand this important concept.)

Image #2: An unsharpened 100% crop of Tricolored Heron with green reflections background

An Unsharpened 100% Crop

Sharpness at 840mm even at relatively slow shutter speeds (1/160 sec) is astounding. Note that wet birds will always show less fine feather detail than dry birds, especially in soft light. And do remember that this 100% crop is unsharpened.

This image of the same bird was also created on September 26, my scouting day just before the Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/640 sec. at f/5 in Manual mode was about +2 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 6:18pm in open shade late on a sunny afternooon. Flexible Spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure. The selected AF point was placed on the bird’s eye. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper-looking version. Image #3: Tricolored Heron juvenile standing in white water

An Exposure Lesson

Image #1 was created at about -2/3 stop. Why? Because the dark water influenced the meter to open up thus endangering the white feathers on the belly and otherwise scattered throughout the bird’s plumage. I needed to under-expose from the meter reading suggested by the camera to prevent over-exposing the white feathers. With SONY, however, I do not use this line of thinking to come up with the right exposure; I simply adjust the exposure parameters (shutter speed, aperture, and ISO) until I see some faint Zebras on the whitest feathers.

Image #3 on the other hand, was created at about +2 stops. Why? The white water will influence the meter to under-expose by a mile. The relatively dark young heron has little influence on the meter as it occupies perhaps five to ten percent of the frame. So I needed to open up about two stops to prevent under-exposing the heron. With SONY my approach for these high key images is to adjust the exposure parameters so that I see lots of Zebras on the white water. Again, this prevents under-exposing the heron.

As I say here often, in low light, when the scene averages to a very light tone, the meters on all of our high-end digital cameras are very dumb … (They do a lot better when the sun is out …)

AF Considerations (all systems)

Whether you are using Canon, Nikon, SON, or something else, the following is generally true: If you opt to focus with a small or large array, you will enjoy greater compositional freedom by being able to move the subject around a bit in the frame at the expense of some images not being as sharp as others … If you go to single-point AF and can get the selected AF point on the bird’s eye or face, you will enjoy greater AF accuracy. But if the bird is moving, it can be difficult to get the selected AF point on the bird’s eye or face and to then maintain focus …

With today’s two SONY images I went with Upper Left Zone for Image #1 so that I could quickly get the composition that I wanted. But several of the images in this series were not sharply focused. With Image #2 the young heron was standing still for a few moments and gave me time to go to single-point AF and to get the selected AF point on the bird’s face.

Life is about choices. There is no magic bullet when considering the AF options here. You practice and experiment and go with what you think will work best.

Image #4: Capture One screen capture Click to enlarge

Editing My SONY Images with Capture One

As mentioned here before, when I view SONY images in Photo Mechanic, the small embedded JPEGs do not allow me to enlarge the image enough to judge critical sharpness. To do that, I go to Capture One Pro 12 and use the (adjustable) Loupe (P) to enlarge as needed. I use Large for the Loupe size and 100% for the magnification. I will be doing a blog post here soon on exactly how I set up Capture One so that I can do my editing quickly and efficiently.

The Capture One Screen Capture

As regular readers know, I do pretty much all of my SONY and Nikon RAW conversions in Capture One Pro 12. If you enlarge the screen capture, you can see all of the adjustments I made to the RAW file before converting it and bringing it into Photoshop as a TIF file.

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?

This blog post took more than five hours to prepare from soup to nuts. Please remember to use my B&H affiliate links or get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford when purchasing new gear. And be sure to e-mail for advice before you spend money on the wrong stuff …

Congrats to the Tampa Bay Rays on their 2 victories over the highly favored Houston Astros. The deciding game five is on Thursday.

Huge thanks to San Diego and Galapagos IPT veteran Frank Shields for using my B&H link to purchase his very own SONY 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and to Bob Lester for grabbing my a7r III in excellent plus condition. Bob also grabbed one of the two SONY 200-600s from Bedfords and multiple IPT veteran Larry Master who will be joining me at Bosque soon got the other 2-6 as well as an a7r IV. It was a busy day as I also sold my Nikon 500PF and my gripped D850 yesterday. If you are interested in my excellent plus Nikon 600mm f/4 VR lens at a very fair price — save $2,500, please get in touch via e-mail.

A New Era

I guess that today represents a new era in the history of BIRDS AS ART as I am now fully committed to the SONY system. There will be lots more on the SONY 600 GM OSS/a7r IV combo in the coming blog posts that will include flight photography with the 1.4X teleconverter and photographing birds on the ground at 1200mm with the 2X TC. Exciting times indeed.

The SONY a7r IV

While deciding whether to stick with Nikon or go all-in with SONY, one of my biggest hurdles was getting used to the small size of the a9 and the a7r III. The moment I took the a7r IV out of the box, I was amazed. Although the IV weighs only a minuscule 2 grams more than the III and the physical dimensions are only fractionally greater (126.9 x 95.6 x 73.7mm as compared to 128.9 x 96.4 x 77.5mm), the a7R IV felt like a real camera in my hands. Perhaps it is the 3.8mm increase in the front-to-back depth of the camera that makes the difference. In any case, my thinking on SONY was re-routed as soon as I held the a7r IV. Then throw in a superb AF system and fabulous image quality and you have a clear winner …

Your Favorite?

Please leave a comment and let us know which of today’s featured images is your favorite and why you liked it the best.

Galapagos 2020?

If you are interested in learning about a possible Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, September 29-October 13 on the boat (travel dates: 27 SEPT to Guayaquil and fly home on 14 OCT) please get in touch via e-mail. I will need at least eight deposits by December 1, 2019. Details will be announced here soon.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and 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.

As used gear sales have slowed a bit in recent months — especially with dSLR bodies, there are lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.

Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens

BAA Record-low Price!

Allen Dale is offering a Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II USM lens for sale in excellent condition for $3399.00. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens hood, the lens trunk, the original tough front lens cover, a camo LensCoat, and insured ground shipping via major courier to US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Allen via e-mail.

I owned and used this fast, super-sharp, totally amazing lens often when I shot Canon. It is great for hand-holding and for flight, with or without either the 1.4X III or the 2X III TC. It remains super-sharp with the 2X TC. I used it often in the Galapagos and on Southern Ocean trips. Years ago Outdoor Photographer editor Rob Sheppard was stunned by the sharpness of my allo-preening Macaroni Penguins image that was created with the 300 II and the 2X III TC. artie

IPT Updates

• The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
• 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)

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, 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 currently has several D850s in stock along with a Nikon 600mm f/4 VR. He is getting folks the hot new SONY stuff: the 200-600, the 600 f/4 GM, and the 7R iv. And the wait-list is short for the Nikon 500 P.

Gear Questions and Advice

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

I created this image on September 27 on the recent Fort DeSoto IPT with my iPhone 8+ Image #1: A Perfect Situation

A Perfect Situation

Lots of Lessons!

The Great Egret in today’s images stood on a small shelf — part of Battery Bigelow — fishing and catching small baitfish for more than an hour. During a 41-minute span — 9:04 to 9:46 — I created more than 500 images of the same bird in action with my new SONY gear, the 600 GM and the a7r IV. I kept 66 images after the first edit. I chose to sit behind my lowered tripod to soften up the background. I chose a spot about a yard to the left of sun-angle to avoid having the portion of the derelict battery on our left in the frame … I firmed up the tripod legs in the loose and then leveled the silver ball of the FlexShooter Pro. After alerting all the folks in the group within hearing distance to the situation, I went to work.

The small yellow towel was for keeping my hands clean. I did stand up and get back down every ten minutes or so to prevent getting too stiff :). When I finally quit, the bird continued to fish for about 15 minutes.

The iPhone Photography e-Guide

Check out this great guide by my good friend Dr. Cliff Oliver in the BAA Online Store here.

This image was created September 27 on the recent Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/6400 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:18am on dead-clear sunny morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper-looking version. Image #2: Great Egret poised to strike

SONY a7r IV Center Zone AF

I was pleasingly surprised that a7r IV Center Zone AF worked so well in this situation. Using Zone allowed for freedom with the framing of each image; it allowed me to move the bird slightly left or right or up or down in the frame with zero effort. And even though I was working almost wide open at f/4.5, virtually every image was tack-sharp on the eye. I was also somewhat shocked by the frame-rate of the a7r IV; the quoted 10 fps seemed to hold up even though I was using tracking AF and the IV was noticeably faster than my gripped Nikon D850. This speed allowed me to create some neat sequences.

This image was of course also created September 27 on the recent Fort DeSoto IPT. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/6400 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:18am on dead-clear sunny morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper-looking version. Image #3: Great Egret striking

Timing the Strike

In image #2, you can see that the bird is poised to strike. It leans forward and pulls its head back. And just before it strikes, it retracts the feathers on its neck. When then happens, press the shutter button and hold it down. With Zone AF you can — if you concentrate — see the AF points moving around almost instantly to stay on the bird’s head and face. I learned later on during the IPT that Animal Eye Priority AF works well when the subject is close even though it is not supposed to work with birds. Animal Eye Priority AF did not come into play for the Great Egret fishing images because the subject was relatively far away and the eye too small in the frame.

Image Optimization Note

Surprisingly, the bird’s eye was fully open at the instant this image was created; the nictitating membrane was not covering the eye. There was, however, a drop of water covering the eye. So, using a small Quick Mask, I borrowed the eye from Image #2 and moved it into place on Image #3. Then I warped that layer for a perfect fit, added a Regular Layer Mask, erased the whole thing! and then working very large, hit X and painted back only the eyeball. All as detailed in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), a hugely popular instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Over the years, various iterations of Digital Basics have helped thousands of folks to improve their image optimization skills.

This image was of course also created September 27 on the recent Fort DeSoto IPT. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/6400 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:18am on dead-clear sunny morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper-looking version. Image #4: Great Egret shaking head after doubly-successful strike

Keep on Keeping On!

After the bird strikes, keep firing. After the strike, the egret would shake its head violently back and forth several times; perhaps this helped to subdue the small baitfish. The unusually high shutter speed here — 1/6400 sec. — froze the action nicely. Again, Center Zone allowed me to adjust the framing as needed.

This image was of course also created September 27 on the recent Fort DeSoto IPT. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/6400 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:18am on dead-clear sunny morning. Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger, inexplicably sharper-looking version. Image #5: Great Egret with its catch of the day

Catch of the Day

The baitfish were so densely packed that on several occasions, the bird caught them two at a time. Do check out the unsharpened 100% crop immediately below.

Image #6: An unsharpened 100% crop of Great Egret with its catch of the day

The Unsharpened 100% Crop

Notice the incredible sharpness of the eye (thanks to Center Zone AF) and the complete lack of background noise in this unsharpened 100% crop.

Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.

2019 Bosque del Apache IPT

Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT #1. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Introductory Meet and greet at 7pm on MON 25 NOV.

Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three In-the-Field Days as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.

I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. My understanding is that things have improved dramatically in recent years. Photography-wise, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.

We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blast-offs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

Lunch is included.

To Register

To register, send your non-refundable $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.

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.

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 :).