Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

What’s Up?

Tuesday on the puffin boat was mega. We could not land on Wednesday morning because of a nasty swell and that afternoon was lousy with an east wind against bright sun. Thursday on the puffin boat was mega-mega. We have been eating well (and too much), learning a ton, and having fun. I went 100% SONY on lousy Wednesday and fabulous Thursday; I have lots to share on that, some of it quite surprising.

BPN is still down, with apologies. We suffered a phishing attack that is so bad that right now not even the service provider had been able to get into the back-end to do the clean-up. My understanding is that progress is being made.

Coming Soon

I will be announcing the Fort DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT soon. Both Bosque IPTs and the San Diego IPT are wide open. Click here to see the IPT listings.

Publication Delay 🙁

Publication of the The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide, co-written and co-illustrated by Joe Przybyla and yours truly has been delayed as yours truly screwed up the PDF. Once that new e-Guide is released, the publication of Focus on Frogs – An Illustrated Guide to Great Photography was written and illustrated by Andrew McLachlan and edited for readability by yours truly will follow. Each of these new e-Guides is lavishly illustrated with images that will educate and inspire. Both will sell for $50.00 via electronic download.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here. We are sold out on the newly-arrived FLN-60 BigFeet recently re-designed for the Nikon 600 VR. Click here to access the pretty much complete FL SH Pro story.

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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

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 July 2 on the first of our puffin boat trips on the 2019 UK Puffins and Gannets IPT. Again, I used the handheld Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped-up Nikon D850 AUTO ISO: 400. Matrix metering at about -2/3 stop as framed: 1/1250 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AUTO1 WB at 12:15pm on a cloudy-bright day. Center d-9 AF was active at the moment of exposure. The center point was squarely on the puffin’s eye. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +4. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Image #1: Atlantic Puffin with sand eels — flapping in place Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

Anticipation

On Tuesday morning we landed at an alternate site. There were lots of close puffins on the rocks with nice backgrounds, but the sun was shining just a bit too much in our faces. “Let’s pass on those for now and get them on the way back after it clouds up.” So we did. There is a single location on Staple Island where you can consistently enjoy jet-black backgrounds. But you need a west wind and cloudy skies. I got lucky when the isolated bird with sand eels in its bill flapped.

This image was created on July 2 on the first of our puffin boat trips on the 2019 UK Puffins and Gannets IPT. Anita North used the handheld Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and her souped-up Nikon D850 AUTO ISO: 1600. Matrix metering at about -1/3 stop as framed: 1/2500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AUTO1 WB at 12:15pm on a cloudy-bright day. One up from the center Group (grp) Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure. Image #2: Atlantic Puffin with sand eels — vertical portrait. Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Anita North Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

Math Quiz

Which settings let in more light, Image #1 or Image #2? No guessing — please share your math.

600VR

I have yet to use my Nikon 600 VR. And prospects for doing so are not looking good …

Comments?

Any and all questions and/or comments on today’s two images are of course welcome.

If In Doubt …

If 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 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 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?

Friday afternoon was not as good as Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning was not as good as Friday morning. That will almost always be the case after a truly sensational start. That said, we had lots of good chances on Friday afternoon and lots of good chances on Saturday morning — bless the fog and the clouds! We did the Red Kites at Harewood on Saturday afternoon; pretty much everyone wound up with better images than I did.

Canon user and BPN-friend Mikey Poole used my 500 PF on Friday afternoon and was totally blown away by the AF performance. After the session, he said, “You just cost me a lot of money …” On Sunday morning, we were facing the bright sun in our faces winds from behind us conditions that plagued our mornings at Bempton Cliffs in late June 2018. The Brits loved those summer days but for morning bird photography you are up against is with those conditions. Make soup from a stone, I came up with two pretty good situations despite the extremely difficult conditions. I will be sharing my two best images from that morning with you here. On that morning, Mikey played around handholding Anita North’s 600 VR and said, “Wow, it is much better balanced and lighter than my old Canon 500mm f/4L IS.” I replied, “Way expensive.” His answer, “In for a dime, in for a dollar.I’ll be divorced soon. ” I love that live-life-now attitude.

Coming Soon

I will be announcing the Fort DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT soon. Both Bosque IPTs and the San Diego IPT are wide open. Click here to see the IPT listings.

Publication Delay 🙁

Publication of the The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide, co-written and co-illustrated by Joe Przybyla and yours truly has been delayed as yours truly screwed up the PDF. Once that is released, the publication of Focus on Frogs – An Illustrated Guide to Great Photography was written and illustrated by Andrew McLachlan and edited for readability by yours truly will follow. Each of these new e-Guides is lavishly illustrated with images that will educate and inspire. Both will sell for $50.00 via electronic download.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here. We are sold out on the newly-arrived FLN-60 BigFeet recently re-designed for the Nikon 600 VR. Click here to access the pretty much complete FL SH Pro story.

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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

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.

Full frame vertical Photo Mechanic screen capture

The Little-Know Schmutz (Lint) Removal Filter in Photoshop

When I first saw this image during the editing (picking my keepers) session in Photo Mechanic, I loved the bird, the soft light, and the spectacular bill color; the schmutz on the bill pouch? Not so much. There is — of course — no Schmutz (Lint) Removal Filter in Photoshop. The bill clean-up took about four minutes; I used the Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, and lots of Content-Aware Fill. To save time, I used the Lasso Tool, set to Add to selection, to eliminate most of the schmutz in one fell swoop. Do that by circling many or most of the small bits of lint (or whatever the white specks might have been), and then hitting Shift + Delete to execute the Content-Aware Fill operation. That takes a few moments to render but you save lots of time in the long run as compared to dealing with each speck individually. You can see the results below in the optimized version.

A Neat Photo Mechanic Feature

When editing a session folder, I simply hit the space bar to view the images large and use the right arrow key to advance to the next frame. I hit T (tagged) to mark my keepers. When I am finished, I go to Untagged, hit Command A (select all), and then hit Command-delete to move the rejects to the trash. There is nothing faster than Photo Mechanic for viewing your images. When and if you want to share a vertical image on the laptop, you can really impress folks by hitting one of the two rotation arrows (upper right, in blue above) and then turning your laptop on end. I only do this during an editing session when I need to see the whole image as large as possible. I use the fabulous Zoom feature to check for critical sharpness with most images.

Click here to learn more about viewing, editing, and ingesting images with Photo Mechanic.

This image was created on January 20, 2019 on the first afternoon of the 2019 San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped-up Nikon D850. AUTO ISO: 6400. Matrix metering at about zero as framed: 1/1000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AUTO1 WB at 5:47pm on a cloudy afternoon. One up from the center Group (grp) Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) was active at the moment of exposure. The array was centered on the base of the pelican’s bill on the same plane as the razor-sharp eye. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +4. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Big, Bad Pacific race Brown Pelican — tight vertical head and bill portrait

Image Color Quiz

What single change during the RAW conversion resulted in the totally different look of the color in the optimized image as compared to the original image?

ISO 6400

This image was created on the same afternoon as my favorite pelican blur. Right before I created today’s featured image I had been shooting flight at 1/1000 second at ISO 6400. When the bird in today’s photo distended it bill pouch I fired without attempting to change any settings. A shutter speed of 1/500 sec. at ISO 3200 (half the shutter speed equals half the ISO) would likely have done just fine. Noise reduction with Neat Image worked superbly. Many folks feel that high ISO performance with the D5 is far better than high ISO performance with the D850; in my opinion, this is a myth.

The Optimized Image for Big Bad Pelican

The NEF file for today’s image was converted in Capture One. I was and am quite satisfied with the image color, the bill clean-up, and the optimized image as a whole.

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.

Though I have become more proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw, 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. 🙂 The RAW conversions for all three of today’s featured images was straightforward once I entered my camera/ISO specific recipes (as detailed in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide).

More recently, I have begun converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One. Learn more about Capture One Pro 12 and Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Note: C-1 Pro 12 Works great with SONY ARW (RAW) files too!

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.

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: 6)

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 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 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 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 should surely be in the UK by the time that you read this. Photographing gannets at Bempton Cliffs.

Two brand new BAA publications will be released soon. The first will be The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide, co-written and co-illustrated by Joe Przybyla and yours truly. Focus on Frogs – An Illustrated Guide to Great Photography was written and illustrated by Andrew McLachlan and edited for readability by yours truly. Each of these new e-Guides is lavishly illustrated with images that will educate and inspire. Both will sell for $50.00 via electronic download.

Coming Soon

I will be announcing the Fort DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT soon. Both Bosque IPTs and the San Diego IPT are wide open. Click here to see the IPT listings.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here. We are sold out on the newly-arrived FLN-60 BigFeet recently re-designed for the Nikon 600 VR. Click here to access the pretty much complete FL SH Pro story.

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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

Gear Questions and Advice

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

The Photo Mechanic Screen Capture for Image #1 (below) Click on the image to see a larger version and read the fine print.

The Photo Mechanic Screen Capture for Image #1 (below)

Thoughts on Cloudy Day Underexposures …

So here we have another well-underexposed image. Why does this happen so often to all of us?

• 1- We forget that in low light conditions (cloudy, late-in-the-day, etc.), the great majority of photographers fail to add enough light. This is usually done by either by raising the ISO or lowering the shutter speed.
• 2- To avoid working at a higher ISO with close calls, we subconsciously opt to go with an ISO that is too low.
• 3- A cloud (momentarily and often temporarily) covers the sun.
• 4: We accidentally bump the shutter speed wheel.
• 5: We followed this oft-given advice, When unexpected action occurs, press the shutter button; do not attempt to change any settings …
• 6- We simply screw up, often by being in too much of a hurry.

The reality is that all of us will — at least on occasion — have to deal with underexposed RAW files. The image above was quickly and easily converted with Capture One Pro-12. You can see exactly what I did in the Two Eagles Capture One & More MP4 Video. See more on that below.

This image was created on June 16, 2019, at Basket Lake Camp near Dryden, Ontario. I used the handheld Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped-up Nikon D850. AUTO ISO: 1000. Matrix metering plus one off the grey sky: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode was about 2/3 stop under. AUTO1 WB at 7:20pm on a cloudy-dark afternoon. Center Group (grp) Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) was active at the moment of exposure. The array was centered on the eagle’s breast, pretty much on the same plane as its eye. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +4. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Imge #1: Bald Eagle lifting off with Walleye in talons Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

Image Optimization for the Cloudy Day Eagle

The Exposure slider at 1.23, the Highlight slider to 19, and the Shadow slider to an almost-insignificant 7 (be careful not to overdo your Shadow adjustments), the White Balance was reduced from 5778 K to 5085 K using click White Balance. This resulted in RGB values of R = 233, G = 234, B = 233, perfect for cloudy day WHITEs. After those adjustments to the RAW file, I did not even need to play with the end-lines in Levels. Not only does C-1 Pro 12 provide higher image quality for your Nikon and SONY images, but the process is also fast and easy to learn. Again, see the item on the Two Eagles Capture One & More MP4 Video below.

This image was created on June 11, 2019, at Basket Lake Camp near Dryden, Ontario. I used the handheld Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped-up Nikon D850. AUTO ISO: 800. Matrix metering plus 2/3 stop off the low blue sky: 1/5000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode was a perfect exposure. AWB 7:20pm on a cloudy-dark afternoon. Center Group (grp) Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) was active at the moment of exposure. The array was centered on the base of the near-wing. With the eagle angling somewhat towards us, the array was pretty much on the same plane as the bird’s eye. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +4. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Imge #2: Bald Eagle lifting in flight with Walleye in talons Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

The Sunny Day Eagle

With a pretty much perfect exposure right out of the box, setting up to optimize the RAW file in C-1 Pro 12 took less than one minute. And crunching the TIFF file took well less than that. Notice that in some sunny day flight situations I have started working at ISO 800 and maximizing the shutter speed, as with image #2.

Your Thoughts?

Which is the stronger image? Why? In what ways is Image #1 better than Image #2? Is Image #2 better in any way than Image #1?

Leaving a comment here is always greatly appreciated by yours truly.

The Two Eagles Capture One & More MP4 Video Cheap: $5.00. Click here to order.

The Two Eagles Capture One & More MP4 Video

I thought that it would be interesting and educational to do an MP4 video showing the Capture One conversions and the Photoshop optimizations of a cloudy day under-exposed Bald Eagle as compared to a properly exposed sunny day Bald Eagle. In the Two Eagles Capture One & More MP4 Video I have done just that. The topics covered include using Click White Balance to determine a pleasing Color Temperature, adjusting the Highlights and Shadows sliders, setting the Black and White points using the end-lines in Levels, Capture One Noise Reduction, adjusting the other important sliders, converting the image to a TIFF, and bringing the TIFF into Photoshop. Once there we crop the image, level and fill in canvas if needed (as was necessary with the cloudy eagle), do some background and bill cleanup using the Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, the Clone Stamp Tool, Content-Aware Fill, and a small Quick Mask modified by a Regular Layer Mask, sharpen selectively with a Contrast Mask, do some Eye Doctor work with Tim Grey Dodge and Burn, flatten and save the master file, and create and sharpen a JPEG. All of that plus lots more in an easy to follow format — you can pause the tape or rewind as needed.

The best news is that this video costs only $5.00, in other words, cheap. You can have a link for this 29-minute video sent to you via e-mail by clicking here. If you enjoy this inexpensive video and would like to learn more about Capture One, check out the Capture One Pro-12 Simplified MP4 Video immediately below. 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?

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

The Capture One Pro-12 Simplified Video

$15.00 via electronic download

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 comprehenisve 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.

Don’t Forget

Do not forget that the Nikon 500 PF and a souped-up Nikon D850 are absolutely deadly for photographing birds in flight. And please do not forget to either use my B&H affiliate links for your purchase or to get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford’s as noted near the beginning of this blog post. Do understand that these lenses are still very difficult to come by; the sooner you place your pre-order the sooner you will have this great lens in your hands.

Two Eagles Capture One & More MP4 Video

What’s Up?

As soon as this blog post is published on the early morning of Tuesday, June, 25, I will begin packing in earnest for my trip to the UK. It has been hotter than heck here every day and I have been swimming a half-mile plus each afternoon. Thanks for all the kind comments on my new cue-ball haircut.

Two brand new BAA publications will be released soon. The first will be The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide, co-written and co-illustrated by Joe Przybyla and yours truly. Frog Pond Adventures/A Guide to Photographing Frogs and Toads was written and illustrated by Andrew McLachlan and edited for readability by yours truly. Each of these new e-Guides is lavishly illustrated with images that will educate and inspire. Both will sell for $50 via electronic download.

Please take a good look at the turtle image below and see if you can come up with the answer I am looking for in the Image Design Quiz.

Coming Soon

I will be announcing the Fort DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT and one or two Bosque IPTs soon.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here. We are sold out on the newly-arrived FLN-60 BigFeet recently re-designed to perfection for the Nikon 600 VR.

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 both below and on the Used Gear Page.

New Listings

Canon EOS 7D

Doug Rogers is offering a Canon EOS 7D in excellent condition for the bargain price of $299.00. The sale includes the front body cap, the strap, the battery charger, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only.

Please contact Doug via e-mail or by phone at 1-434-409-8156 (Eastern time).

This is a great body for anyone wishing to get started with digital photography, nature or not. artie

Canon EOS 7D Mark II (with grip)

Doug Rogers is also offering a Canon EOS 7D Mark II in like-new condition for only $849.00. The sale includes the BG-16 battery grip in like-new condition, the front body cap, the strap, the battery charger, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only.

Please contact Doug via e-mail or by phone at 1-434-409-8156 (Eastern time).

I loved my 7D II and to this day I am often amazed by many of the images that I created with it. It is the first choice camera body of highly skilled bird photographer and BPN Avian Moderator Dan Cadieux (whose work has been featured here often — do a search in the little white box at the top right of each blog post for “Cadieux”), and more recently Ravi Harekatur (see the recent blog post here if you missed his great macro shots). artie

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Doug Rogers is also offering a Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens in near-mint condition for a ridiculously low $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only.

Please contact Doug via e-mail or by phone at 1-434-409-8156 (Eastern time)

This ideal, all-around and travel EF-S-Mount lens is designed for APS-C Format (crop factor) Canon bodies like the 7D Mark II. It yields a 28.8-320mm equivalent zoom range that makes this image stabilized lens extremely versatile; it covers focal lengths from wide-angle to short telephoto. It sells new for $699.00. artie

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

Doug Rogers is also offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $1197.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the tough fabric carrying case, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only.

Please contact Doug via e-mail or by phone at 1-434-409-8156 (Eastern time)

The Canon 100-400 II was one of my favorite-ever Canon lenses. I loved, loved, loved its versatility and its .98 meter (3.2 feet) close focusing distance. I rarely went into the field without my 1-4 and I used it often with the 1.4X III teleconverter. I used it for general bird photography, bird scapes, and as a quasi-macro lens. It is selling new right now for $1799.00. artie

Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (1.4X teleconverter)

Doug Rogers is also offering a Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (1.4X teleconverter) in like-new condition for the BAA record-low price of $263.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the carrying pouch, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only.

Please contact Doug via e-mail or by phone at 1-434-409-8156 (Eastern time)

Canon Extender EF 2X II (2X teleconverter)

Doug Rogers is also offering a Canon Extender EF 2X II (2X teleconverter) in like-new condition for only $179.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the carrying pouch, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only.

Please contact Doug via e-mail or by phone at 1-434-409-8156 (Eastern time)

I used the 2X II TC for about eight years and made a zillion sharp images with my Canon 500mm and 600mmm f/4l IS lenses. 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, 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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

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.

Nikon Capture NX-D screen cature for Brown Pelican pan blur Click on the image to see a larger version and read the fine print.

The Nikon Capture NX-D Screen Capture

The only reason I have downloaded Nikon Capture NX-D is that I use it to access the focus point and AF Fine-tune information. Seeing the AF point with Canon is easy in DPP 4. It is not possible to see the AF point after the fact with either the SONY a9 or the a7R iii. With today’s featured image, you can see the large over-exposure. I converted this image in ACR before I began using Capture One Pro-12. The conversion values were quite interesting to say the least: Exposure: +2; Highlights: -100; Shadows: +68; Whites: +5; Blacks: -28; Clarity:+7; and Vibrance: +66. The (color) temperature was raised from 6940K to 8900. Whatever works. The above values prove the often-made point: there is considerable artistry and personal taste involved in doing RAW conversions. And the same is true about the image optimization process that follows. During both of these processes, you need to think creatively while using the tools that you have mastered previously.

So how did Mr. Professional Photographer wind up so under-exposed? At times, the birds were flying against dark areas of the cliff on the other side of the cove so I went with zero to protect the bright YELLOWs and WHITEs on the pelican’s heads. While those images were a bit underexposed when the birds flew past the buff-colored parts of the cliffs, the underexposure was a lot more severe when the light yellowish tones caused the meter to select an ISO that was much too low. In retrospect, I would have been much better off working in Manual mode.

Exposure Quiz

Using the data supplied above and assuming the same shutter speed and aperture, what should the ISO have been if I had been working in Manual mode?

This image was created on January 20 on the first afternoon of the 2019 San Diego IPT. I used the handheld Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped-up Nikon D850. AUTO ISO: 640. Matrix metering at zero: 1/15 sec. at f/6.3 in Shutter Priority (S) mode (Tv in Canon) was at least a stop underexposed in a no-light situation with the light buff cliff in the background. AUTO1 WB at 6:14pm on a cloudy dark afternoon. Center Group (grp) Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) was active at the moment of exposure. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +3. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Brown Pelican pan blur Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

My Very Favorite San Diego 2019 IPT Image. Having Pre-visualized the Image Makes it Even Sweeter!

Patrick Sparkman had joined us for the afternoon and we wound up at a somewhat unusual afternoon location late on a dark afternoon. This location proved to be quite excellent for the remaining two weeks of my San Diego visit. With birds flying in and out of the cove, trying to create some nice pleasing blurs made a lot more sense than trying to create sharp images at ISOs of 6,400, 12,800, or higher.

I said to the group, The winning image here will be made when a bird is flapping in front of the buff-colored portion of the cliff. Intentional blurs of gliding birds are almost always less successful than images of birds that are actively flapping their wings. Despite the big underexposure, I was thrilled with the optimized image. Learning to pre-visualize what you want on your final canvas will help you to grow as a photographer by leaps an bounds. Do consider joining me on the San Diego IPT to do just that and more. Details immediately below.

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 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 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 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

Two brand new BAA publications will be released soon. The first will be The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide, co-written and co-illustrated by Joe Przybyla and yours truly. Frog Pond Adventures/A Guide to Photographing Frogs and Toads was written and illustrated by Andrew McLachlan and edited for readability by yours truly. Each of these new e-Guides is lavishly illustrated with images that will educate and inspire. Both will sell for $50 via electronic download.

Please take a good look at the turtle image below and see if you can come up with the answer I am looking for in the Image Design Quiz.

Coming Soon

I will be announcing the Fort DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT and one or two Bosque IPTs soon.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here. We are sold out on the newly-arrived FLN-60 BigFeet recently re-designed to perfection for the Nikon 600 VR.

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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

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 June 15, 2019, at Basket Lake, near Dryden, Ontario Canada. Lying on the road I used the handheld Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at 400mm) and the high mega-pixel Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000: 1/125 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial … AWB at 6:47pm on a clear afternoon. Flexible Spot (S) C (tracking) AF was active at the moment of exposure. The selected AF point was placed on the subject’s eye. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Painted Turtle sunning

Tame Stuff …

When I sent this image to my friend Andrew McLachlan to confirm the ID, he replied: They are usually rather skittish …. Anita North and I were exploring some back roads around Basket Lake driving a very noisy four-wheeled gas-powered cart. When we passed this turtle sunning itself on the side of the road, I called out, “Stop.” We got our lenses and approached with great caution assuming that most turtles would be very shy. This one was not. We started at about 15 feet and once we realized that it was quite content and unafraid, I was easily able to approach within four feet (at which point today’s featured image was created). Anita was using her 500 PF and needed to stay well back as the minimum focusing distance (MFD) is 3.0 meters, about nine feet, ten inches. That as compared to an incredible .98 meters for the SONY (and the Canon) 100-400 lenses. Note: .98 meters is about 3 feet, two and one-half inches.

More than a decade ago I came across a Texas Horned Toad on a dirt road. It was silly-tame. I picked up and posed it on various branches on the weathered branches of a dead tree. I used my Canon 180mm macro lens and — over the course of an hour — made a zillion images varying my perspective and framing every few minutes. And re-positioning the creature. When I showed the images to some friends in Texas and told them the story, they were astounded: “Those buggers always run and hide whenever you even look at them.” Over the years I have run into more than my share of incredibly tame creatures that are supposed to be very shy … Scroll down to see two of the horned toad images and an excerpt from ABP II.

The toad that I mentioned in yesterday’s short blog post was another in what has been a long series of wonderfully lucky encounters.

SONY a7R iii for Close Work

As seen here often on the blog, the a7R iii/100-400 GM is superb for close work be it avian, flowers, reptiles and amphibians, or any other medium-sized or tightly framed subjects. On the UK Puffins and Gannets and Red Kites IPT it will always be on my shoulder via the Black Rapid Curve Breathe Strap. I will have the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Nikon 600 VR along for most of our sessions. The SONY rig will again be on my shoulder as above but my “big” lens will be the Induro GIT 204L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Nikon 500 PF. With the lighter lens, I may go to the FlexShooter Mini; more on that here soon.

Image Design Quiz

In what way would this image have been improved if I had pointed my lens 3/8 of an inch to my right (sorry — “left” was a confusing my-bad error). Please be very specific. There would be two benefits to re-framing this image slightly; I am looking for the really big reason.

ABP II excerpt Click on the image to see a sharper version if you wish to read the fine print.

ABP II Excerpt

The screen capture above is an excerpt from the Setups and Backyard Photography Gallery in The Art of Bird Photography II (ABP II: 916 pages, 900+ images on CD or by electronic download.) Every time I scroll through ABP II, I marvel at the quality and the amount of both information and images. I think to myself, “So many folks could learn so much from ABP II; it is the most under-utilized resource in the wonderful world of bird photography. Along with BPN … For those who read the fine print an online search seemed to indicate that Johnny Cozad’s ranch is no longer open to visiting photographers. If I am wrong, please let us know.

Note: overseas folks or those who wish to enjoy the convenience of an electronic download can do so by clicking here.

Bosque del Apache 2019 IPTs 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 IPTs

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

Return to Bosque IPT #2. NOV 29 (afternoon session thru DEC 4 (morning session) — 5 DAYS (4 full and two half): $2249.00. Limit: 10/Openings: 9. Introductory Meet and greet at 2:00pm on FRI 29 NOV.

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.

I go with one registrant. Lunch is included on all full days of each workshop.

Free Morning Session

Sign up for either IPT and enjoy a free morning session on Friday, 29 NOV.

$500 Multiple IPT Discount

Join me for both IPTs and we will be glad to apply a $500 multiple IPT discount.

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 three months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.

If In Doubt …

If 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 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 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?

More of the same. But no rain on Thursday. I have not gone down to the lake as the fields are so wet that I’d be scared of getting stuck (again).

I hope to be making a second FlexShooter Pro video this morning if I can grab Jim before he heads out on his walk. It will cover some newly discovered fine points, photographing tall nests, mounting the camera body with short lenses, balance (non-) issues with shorter telephoto lenses, and a great tip for macro photographers.

FlexShooter Pro Updates

We currently have FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here. We now have BigFeet in stock for all popular Nikon and Canon telephoto lenses. The FLN-60 plates, custom designed for the Nikon 600 VR, arrived yesterday via DHL. All Bigfeet are priced at $109.00 plus the shipping. We hope to have them in the store soon.

The 2018 B&H/BAA Bird Photography Holiday Contest Results

Thanks again to the great folks at B&H for their generosity. Thanks to all who voted here

Here are the results of the non-binding popular vote:

• Tied for first with 81 points each: Image #3: Wood Duck pair courting and Image #2: Snow Goose blast-off, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM.
• Third place with 61.5 points: Image #4: Painted Bunting displaying male.
• Fourth place with 45.5 points: Image #1: New Holland Honeyeater, Tasmania.

There was, however, only one judge for this contest. I am proud to announce the results as follows:

Tied for first: Image #4: Painted Bunting displaying male and Image #2: Snow Goose blast-off, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM. Chris Tricou and Krishna Prasad Kotti will each receive a $100 B&H gift certificate via e-mail.

Tied for third: Image #3: Wood Duck pair courting and Image #1: New Holland Honeyeater, Tasmania. Joe Sobelefsky and Paul Burdett will each receive a $50 B&H gift certificate via e-mail.

This image was created by Chris Tricou with the mono-pod mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR lens with the Nikon crop factor body, the D500 dSLR. ISO 320: 1/2000 sec. at f/5. Image #4: Painted Bunting displaying male Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Chris Tricou Click on the image to enjoy a larger version

Tied for First

Action poses of songbirds are rarer than hen’s teeth. Throw in one of North America’s most beautiful passerines and the fact that photographing small birds is a huge challenge and you have a winner. Not to mention the soft light and the sweet, out-of-focus background …

This image was created by IPT veteran and BPN member Krishna Prasad Kotti. He used the Induro ballhead-mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens with the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and the mega mega-pixel Nikon D850 dSLR.. ISO 100: 1/5 sec. at f/22. Image #2: Snow Goose blast-off, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Krishna Prasad Kotti Click on the image to enjoy a larger version

Tied for First

What can I say? I love blurs and I loved going to Bosque. Two of my Bosque images were honored in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. One was a blur.

In Krishna’s image I love the soft light, the two different degrees of blurring, and especially the clean lower edge. In A Guide to Pleasing Blurs (by Denise Ippolito and yours truly), I wrote something to this effect: When you get down to surreally low shutter speeds, below say 1/15 or 1/10sec., your keeper rate goes down dramatically but your chances of creating a contest-winner go up dramatically.

This image was created by IPT veteran (and former BPN member) Joe Sobelefsky. He used the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens with my favorite Canon body, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV dSLR.. ISO 2000: 1/1000 sec. at f/4.5. Processed in DPP4. Image #3: Wood Duck pair courting Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Joe Sobelefsky Click on the image to enjoy a larger version

Tied for Third

Joe’s wonderful image was more than well-received in the popular vote where it tied for first. I love the soft light, lovely background, the intimacy, and the excellent use of available depth-of-field. For me, it is a bit tight in the frame.

This image was created by BPN member Paul Burdett. He used the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (at 400mm) with theC Canon crop factor body, the EOS 7D Mark II dSLR. ISO 640: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6. Image #1: New Holland Honeyeater, Tasmania Image courtesy of and copyright 2019: Paul Burdett Click on the image to enjoy a larger version

Tied for Third

I fell in love with this bird and this image the moment I saw it on BPN. It reminded me of some sort of breeding plumaged Yellow-rumped Warbler hybrid on steroids! The sharpness and the bird’s attitude add greatly to the success of this image.

One of the things that I love about BPN is seeing new birds and meeting photographers from around the world. Especially in the Avian Forum.

What’s Up?

After a delayed flight out of Thunder Bay on Monday, I was very lucky to just make my flight to Orlando. Traffic was horrific as Jim picked me up that evening so we stopped for a nice dinner at Carrabba’s to let the traffic ease a bit. We did not make it back to ILE until just before 10:00pm. I slept well that night. I got back in the pool on Tuesday afternoon. The trip to Basket Lake turned out to be a fabulous one with lots of great fishing and lots of eagle photography. In addition, we got to photograph a Spotted Sandpiper near its nest, some Ruffed Grouse — Anita got good photos of the tiny chicks, an uncharacteristically tame Painted Turtle, Common Mergansers, Mallards with ducklings, a few glorious sunrises, and some nice wildflowers including Pink Lady Slipper. Thanks a stack Anita!

I will be announcing the Fort DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT soon.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here.

BIRDS AS ART

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

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase, 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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

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.

Bosque del Apache 2019 IPTs 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 IPTs

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

Return to Bosque IPT #2. NOV 29 (afternoon session thru DEC 4 (morning session) — 5 DAYS (4 full and two half): $2249.00. Limit: 10/Openings: 9. Introductory Meet and greet at 2:00pm on FRI 29 NOV.

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.

I go with one registrant. Lunch is included on all full days of each workshop.

Free Morning Session

Sign up for either IPT and enjoy a free morning session on Friday, 29 NOV.

$500 Multiple IPT Discount

Join me for both IPTs and we will be glad to apply a $500 multiple IPT discount.

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 three months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.

If In Doubt …

If 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 New 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 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 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

Yesterday, Friday, June 14, was my 73rd birthday. We caught lots of Walleye and had a great dinner of ribs and coleslaw. Wind against sun both morning and afternoon pretty much put the kibosh on eagle photography. Today, Saturday, June 15 was simply fantastic for the eagles with a perfect east breeze. I kept 27. I deleted dozens of sharp, perfectly exposed eagle shots only because I had ones that were marginally better. As noted below, the Nikon D850/500 PF combo is simply deadly on birds in flight.

I am thinking about packing as I fly back to Orlando on Monday, only to be heading for Scotland and the UK just nine days after I get back home. I love photographing birds and nature.

Coming Soon

I will be announcing the Fort DeSoto Fall Sandbar Secrets IPT and one or two Bosque IPTs soon.

FlexShooter Pro Update

We currently have FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here.

BIRDS AS ART

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

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

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

New Listings

Canon EF 400mm f/4 IS DO II Lens

John Armitage is offering a Canon EF 400mm f/4 IS DO II lens in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $4299.00. The sale includes the rear cap, the lens strap, the lens trunk, the original shipping 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 via e-mail or by phone at 1-970-250-6080 (Mountain time).

I owned and used the 400 DO II when I shot with Canon and found a way to take it on most trips. I took it to Scotland and Nickerson Beach and San Diego. It served me well as my (lighter!) big gun several Galapagos and Southern Ocean (the Falklands and South Georgia) trips. It is a killer for flight with or without the 1.4X III TC. It is. razor sharp with the 2X on static subjects and skilled folks have had amazing success hand holding it with the 2X III TC for flight and for action. artie

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

John Armitage is also offering a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II in near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $3699.00. The shutter count is <36,000. The sale includes the front cap, the battery charger, three batteries, a 64GB SanDisk CFast 2.0 Card along with the card reader, the strap, the original product box, the interface cable (the cable protector is missing), 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 via e-mail or by phone at 1-970-250-6080 (Mountain time).

The 1DX Mark II is Canon’s rugged, blazingly fast professional digital camera body. It features an amazing AF system and high-quality image files with great dynamic range. It was long the choice of Arash Hazeghi, and of many other of the world’s premier birds in flight photographers. artie

Canon EF 400mm f/4 IS DO II Lens

Eric Karl is offering a Canon EF 400mm f/4 IS DO II lens in near-mint condition for a very low $4399.00. The sale includes the tough front lens cover, the rear cap, the lens strap, the lens trunk, 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 Eric via e-mail.

I owned and used the 400 DO II when I shot with Canon and found a way to take it on most trips. I took it to Scotland and Nickerson Beach and San Diego. It served me well as my (lighter!) big gun several Galapagos and Southern Ocean (the Falklands and South Georgia) trips. It is a killer for flight with or without the 1.4X III TC. It is. razor sharp with the 2X on static subjects and skilled folks have had amazing success hand holding it with the 2X III TC for flight and for action. artie

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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

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 May 6, 2019 on the 2019 DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at 259mm) and the high mega-pixel Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000: 1/250 sec. at f/16 in Manual mode. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial … AWB at 8:47am on a cloudy morning. Image #1: Snowy Egret feet on railing

Working Tight

One of the huge advantages shared by the SONY 100-400 and the Canon 100-400 II is the .98 meter (3 foot, 2.7 inch) close focus. When working very tight it is very important to remember stop down in most situations. Note that for the toe-fetish image I went all the way down to f/16.

Mirrorless or Not?

When you look through the viewfinder of a Canon or Nikon dSLR at an avian subject, you are actually seeing the bird in life. Yes, its image is reflected off a mirror (I think), but you are actually seeing the bird. In life. When you look through the viewfinder of a mirrorless camera body, you are seeing pixels, just as when you are looking at a modern TV. It simply ain’t the same. If your exposure it too bright, you will not see much at all. That is always disconcerting to me (until I get down to the correct ISO).

As dust-spotting is a serious problem with mirrorless bodies you need to be sure the wind is behind you and that you work quickly when changing lenses or adding or subtracting TCs. Ergonomically, all of the mirrorless bodies that I have tried including the SONY, are quite small and have never been quite comfortable with any of them. I have long appreciated the size and heft of a dSLR. Heck, over the past almost 36 years I have gotten quite used to that feel. While folks have long been preaching the light weight of mirrorless rigs as a huge advantage, I just have not seen it; several ounces with the bodies and the same with most of the lenses, even the 100-400s. And the new SONY 600mm f/4 is less than an ounce lighter than the Canon 600 III … I will admit that the SONY AF system is fantastic, but there is a steep AF learning curve with SONY and it does take time to figure it out and become comfortable and proficient using it.

If I had gone all in from the start with SONY, I am sure that I would be a lot more proficient using it and would be a lot happier with the results. That said, I like my a7R iii images better than I liked my a9 images. The problem for me is that I love both the image quality and the color of my Nikon D850 images.

This image was created on June 10 at Basket Lake Camp in northern Ontario. I used the hand held Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at 100mm) and the high mega-pixel Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 640: 1/250 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial … AWB at 5:12am on a cloudy morning. Image #2: Foggy sunrise over Basket Lake

Capture One for SONY

Using the Color Editor while converting each of today’s featured SONY images allowed me to create the look that I wanted, enhancing the CYAN tones of the Gulf of Mexico in image #1 and fine-tuning the REDs and YELLOWs in Image #2.

SONY and Me

Right now the bottom line for me is that I will be holding onto my SONY 100-400 and my a7R iii. I am currently up in the air on my a9; I would not mind trying it on those speeding bullets in the UK — Atlantic Puffins in flight. As regular readers know I love the SONY stuff for close work (see Image #1) especially in low light where it shines because of the ease of determining the best exposure using the Zebra feature. And at times, the 100-400 at 100mm or so can help me with scenics (as in Image #2) and bird-scapes.

This image was created on June 13, 2019 from a small boat on Basket Lake. I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped-up Nikon D850. ISO 800. Matrix metering plus 1/3 stop off the low blue sky: 1/4000 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. AUTO1 WB at 7:10pm on a clear afternoon. One left of center Group (grp) Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) was active at the moment of exposure. The array was centered on the bird’s flank right on the same plane as the bird’s eye. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +4. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Image #3: Bald Eagle striking fish Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

Nikon and Me

At present, the main reason that I am not going all-in on SONY is the Nikon D850/500mm PF combination. It is much lighter (at about 1 1/2 pounds) than the new SONY 200-600. It is absolutely deadly for flight photography. And I do quite well on static subjects with the TC-E14. I often find myself going with the 500 PF over the tripod-mounted 600 VR because it is so much lighter, because I can hand hold it easily, and because I am much more mobile in the field. In the past week I have created more than a thousand images of Bald Eagles diving and in flight with the D850/500mm PF combo. I can count the number of unsharp images on the fingers of one hand. So the bottom line for me at this time is, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

This image was created at LaJolla, CA by good friend Patrick Sparkman. He used the hand held Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and the high mega-pixel Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/200 sec. at f/2.8. Expand Flexible spot on the front of the bird’s neck was active at the moment of exposure. Image #4: Western Gull in pre-dawn light

SONY and Patrick Sparkman

Patrick fell in love with SONY instantly. He sold all of his Nikon gear immediately and went all-in on SONY. His kit includes the a9, the a7R iii, the 100-400 GM, the 400mm f/2.8 GM, and the 90mm macro. He is #1 on the list for the new SONY 600mm f/4 and will be getting the first one that Bedford’s receives on August 2, 2019. That thanks to Steve Elkins. Patrick quickly embraced the SONY mirrorless process and with lots of study and experimentation and by putting his quick, technically-oriented mind to work, has developed dozens of great SONY tips and menu settings that make the cameras much more functional than when it comes out of the box. He is working on a SONY video tutorial for the a9 and the a7 Riii.

As regular readers know Patrick is a skilled photographer and the BIRDS AS ART technical advisor.

SONY and You

There are thousands of nature photographers including many hundreds if not thousands of bird photographers. SONY may very well be the best system for you. Consider what you learn here on the blog. Talk to other photographers in the field. Search out the folks on BPN using SONY and ask them questions. Peruse the SONY images that you see online.

Your Favorite?

Please leave a comment and let us know which of today’s four images is your favorite. Be sure to let us know why you made your choice. (It’s fine if you pick Patrick’s image. 🙂

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

The Capture One Pro-12 Simplified Video

$15.00 via electronic download

As with all of my images for the past three months or so, both of today’s images were optimized beautifully and quickly in Capture One Pro 12. When I first heard about doing RAW conversions in C-1 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 comprehenisve 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.

If In Doubt …

If 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 New 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 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 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

We had the perfect morning on Wednesday. It began with a dead battery in the boat. While Anita went back to get the charger, I cast from the dock and hooked a nice pike on a lure — my favorite way to fish for them, and lost it at the boat. In the meantime, it was about 3 degrees C (37.5 degrees F) with a brisk NW wind! I was freezing. As Anita had to attend a Moose conservation meeting in Dryden, we only fished until 8:30am. We did not catch a Walleye and we did not catch a Northern Pike. On the way home, Anita was backing the boat away from the shore when she suddenly said, “We are sinking; we will never get home.” As it turned out, the bilge pump handled the momentary flooding in less than a minute. As I said, a perfect morning. Seriously, you gotta love days like those once in a while.

We did kill on Bald Eagle flight and diving photography on Tuesday afternoon and Anita and right-hand man Lorne caught their limits of Walleye. I caught one small one.

An Abundance of Riches

Multiple IPT veteran David Hollander and his wife Krista will be joining us in the UK as will newbie Carsten, a Nikon-shooter from Denmark.

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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

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 May 19, 2019 on the DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT. I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped-up Nikon D850. ISO 800. Matrix metering as framed at about +1 1/3 stops: 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AUTO1 WB at 6:16pm on a then very hazy afternoon. I focused on the closest bird with center Group (grp) Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) AF and then locked focus by pressing and hodling the AF-On button, recomposed, and made the image. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +4. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Image #1: Red Knot — small flock feeding in the surf Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

Why Did I Have to Lock Focus?

Why did I have to lock focus? When you are pohtographing a group of birds, it is almost always best to focus on the closest bird. With this image, that is the bird in the front right. So what was the problem? I wanted that bird in the lower right corner of the frame, but none of the AF points could be placed on on that particular bird — the AF coverage was not wide enough. So I set up my D850 to lock focus with the AF-On button so that I can succeed in situations where I need to tuck the main subject into a corner of the frame. Then as noted above, you focus, press and hold the AF-On button to lock focus, recompose, and press the shutter button.

I just love the rather musical arrangement of the birds in this one. I did eliminate three knots that either merged with another bird or otherwise broke up the pattern and the rhythm.

This image was also created on May 19, 2019 on the DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT. For this one I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens with the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III, and and my souped-up Nikon D850. ISO 1250. Matrix metering as framed at about +1 1/3 stops: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. AUTO1 WB at 6:38pm as a faint sun brokie through the haze. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +1. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Center Group (grp) AF/Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) was active at the moment of exposure. The array was centered just behind the right-hand bird’s neck (as originally framed). Image #2: Red Knots foraging Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

Red Knot Plumages

The knot on our right has pretty much finished molting into its handsome alternate (breeding) plumage. As the feather edgings wear a bit, the pattern on the upperparts will become even more dramatic. After breeding above the arctic circle in June, these same feathers will be worn and ratty and the bird begins to molt into basic (non-breeding or winter) plumage. By fall, they will sport a coat of feathers that features on plain grey upperpart. They will wear those until the next spring when they begin the molt to alternate plumage. The bird on our left is a bird-of-the-year — note the retained median coverts that still have remnants of the whitish fringing characteristic of juvenile plumage. It is just beginning to grow some adult breeding plumage feathers. Most first-year birds will not complete this molt until at least their second year.

This image was created on the 2019 DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT on the morning of May 8. Standing at full height behind my tripod in a foot of water, I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens and the mega mega-pixel Nikon D850 DSLR. ISO 500. Matrix metering at about +1 2/3 stops: 1/50 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode was perfect with the histogram pushed all the way to the right. AUTO1 WB at 7:15am on a cloudy morning. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +3. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. One below center Group (grp) Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) AF was active at the moment of exposure as originally framed. Image #3: Red Knot flock/flight blur Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

Pleasing Knot Flock Blur

I am not sure how I wound up at 1/50 second as I would usually make images like these at 1/15 or 1/30 second. After converting the image in Capture One Pro 12 and bringing it into Photoshop, I was wishing that the foreground seaweed splotches were more blurred. So I selected only the foreground, went Filter > Blur > Motion Blur, played around with the slider, and was very happy with the result.

Your Favorite?

Please leave a comment and let us know which of today’s three images is your favorite. Be sure to let us know why you made your choice.

If In Doubt …

If 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 New 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 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 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

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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?

We have been getting up at about 4am and out on the lake for sunrise at about 5am. The weather has been extremely variable: on Saturday it was 88 degrees and sunny and still. The black flies were killing our ankles. On Sunday morning we fished through rain and high winds and being underdressed, we froze. We’ve had some nice sunrises and lots of good Bald Eagle flight photography. Northern Pike has a reputation as having too many bones but when cleaned correctly, its firm flesh is far tastier than that of the more popular Walleye. I have been chowing down on pike fillets every day — fried gently in butter with salt and pepper.

We spent a good two hours on Monday afternoon photographing the nicest Pink Lady Slipper that we could find.

An Abundance of Riches

Multiple IPT veteran David Hollander will be joining us in the UK. In addition, a gentleman from Denmark may also be signing up as well.

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 taking pre-orders for the new Nikon 500 P and the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera body.

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 June 10, 2019, from a small fishing boat on Basket Lake near Dryden in northern Ontario, CA. I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped-up Nikon D850. Auto ISO: 400: 1/6400 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual Mode was an inadvertent 2/3 stop underexposure — I accidentally rolled the shutter speed wheel two clicks … AUTO1 WB at 7:36am on a clear morning. Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +4. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here. Center Group (grp) Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) AF was active at the moment of exposure. As origially framed, the array was centered well above and well behind the head yet the eye is dead razor sharp. Bald Eagle wings up flight Click on the image to enjoy a large version.

Underexposed RAW File Conversion Workflow Tip

With properly exposed images, I always work first on the WHITEs. With underexposed images, like today’s featured image, I always begin with the Exposure slider. Capture One Pro 12 did a great job with this underexposed D850 image — the conversion was so clean that the image did not need any noise reduction other than the D850 defaults. Once I brightened the image I used my standard trick of comparing the As Shot White Balance with the Click White Balance and winding up somewhere in between. As Shot was 6052 and Click White Balance was 4064. I opted for K 5268; this made the sky a delightful BLUE.

Why So Pleasing?

When we looked at this image on my laptop, both Anita North and I went “Oooh!”

For me it shines because of the great wing position — both wings are fully raised and the near-underwing perfectly lit. That due to the fact that the bird was dead-on sun angle when the image was created. This one is a small crop from the rear and from below.

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

The Capture One Pro-12 Simplified Video

$15.00 via electronic download

As with all of my images for the past three months or so, both of today’s images were optimized beautifully and quickly in Capture One Pro 12. When I first heard about doing RAW conversions in C-1 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 comprehenisve 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.

If In Doubt …

If 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 New 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 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 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 :).