Your Call?

Which is your favorite image in the video? Why did you make your choice?

Old Like Me?

#HeadOverFoot #EveryStepStronger

If you are getting up there — like me, and your balance is not as good as it used to be — like me, you might want to check out David Weck’s Instagram page here. There is a ton of simple stuff there that can help you today. Heck, I am still exploring. In the short video here, Weck teaches his 81-year old Dad what Dr. Oliver calls “steering wheel walking.” I’ve been doing 1 1/2 miles of that most days for the past two weeks and my balance has already improved noticeably.

What’s Up?

I lucked out yesterday morning when I glanced out the window and spotted a Common Snipe in the grass not 15 feet from me. As it changed position and the sun came in and out briefly, it allowed me to circle around it in my SUV photographing it with the 600mm f/4 on the BLUBB with and without the 1.4X TC. Photos soon.

I was thrilled to learn recently that both Homer Bald Eagle IPTs are now sold out. I will be announcing the 2025 trips here soon. In addition, there are only two spots left on the Morro Bay IPT with another photographer interested.

Today is Friday 5 January 2024.I will be heading down to the lake soon. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Save 15%!

If you’d like to try out a new lens, or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.

I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.

Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 codeine the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.

Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com

This image was created on 8 December 2023. Seated in my SUV, I used the BLUBB-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1000: 1/800 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:56:16am on a partly cloudy morning. Tracking Expand Spot/AF-C performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, sharper, high-res version. Image #6: Cooper’s Hawk, worn juvenile on The Perch

Wrong Again!

When I posted the image above in the Striving for Different. And Blessed at Indian Lake Estates blog post here, the photo was labeled as a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Oops.

Ryan Sanderson: December 12, 2023 at 10:32pm

What made you decide the hawk was a Sharp-shinned as opposed to a Cooper’s Hawk? It looks like an immature Cooper’s Hawk to me, the biggest point for that to my eye is the rather bulbous head in contrast to what is usually a pretty petite head on a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Also, the outer tail feathers appear to be notably shorter than the more central tail feathers, and those are usually roughly the same length on Sharp-shinned Hawks.

Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART: December 13, 2023 at 9:32am

Thanks, Ryan. You may be correct. When I saw the long tail, I first assumed Cooper’s. In the other images that I kept, the bird does not show the typical Cooper’s square-headed look and appears quite slim (and relatively small on the distant perch). I will consult others more knowledgeable than me and let you know.

with love, artie

David Sibley via e-mail

David kindly answered my Sharpie or Cooper’s e-mail by stating emphatically that the bird was indeed a Cooper’s hawk. Unfortunately, Apple Mail ate his e-mail.

If you live in North America and own one field guide, it should be The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Edition. There is a copy of the first edition on my desk at all times.

From Jim Zipp via e-mail

Good to hear from you. I’d say Coop. Graduated tail feathers, small eyes especially when it’s facing you while sharpies usually look more bug-eyed. If you had one from the front it would be easy with breast markings fairly different between them but I’m pretty sure on Cooper’s.

From Julian Hough via e-mail

My first reaction was Cooper’s hawk. Could be wrong, but looks long-tailed and head shape looks OK for a coop.

Strange But True

In the recent blog post here, I shared 24 of my favorite images from 2023. I was shocked to note that none had been created with one of my favorite lenses, the Sony 200-600mm. The truth is that the 400mm f/2.8 and the 200-600 actually overlap to some degree with the 400mm f/2.8 landing smack dab in the middle of the zoom range of the 2-6. Of course, the 400 is far heavier (6.4 pounds versus 4.65 pounds, the latter much heavier than I thought when I did the video), far more expensive, $11,998.00 as compared to $1,998.00, and 2 1/3 stops faster than the 200-600 at the long end. The 200-600 is of course a lot easier to handle and a lot more versatile than the 400 f/2.8.

It is important to remember that last year the 400mm f/2.8 was a brand new toy so I went out of my way to play with it as much as possible.

Anyhoo, in the new video above I share 50 of my pretty darn good photos made last year with the 200-600. Plus two student images. Thanks to Mike Lavigne, new BAA friend from near Seattle, Washington for inspiring this video.

This image was created on Tuesday 10 January 2023, the fourth morning of the second San Diego IPT by IPT veteran Steve Murdock. He used the tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with The One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 400. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/9 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be 1/2 stop too dark. AWB at 8:47:55am on a partly sunny morning. Tracking: Zone with Bird Face/ye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Peregrine Falcon stretching Image courtesy of and copyright Steve Murdock 2023 Image Optimization by BIRDS AS ART

Student’s Work

In the video I shared two images created by IPT participants using the 200-600. The cormorant on the beach photo was created by Paul Marbourg (no “h”) and the Dunlin image by Andrew Schonbek. Apologies to Steve Murdock for failing to include his fine Peregrine image created with the 200-600/1.4X TC/a-1 rig on a tripod. Learn more in the Science Fiction-Like AF with the Sony a1/200-600/1.4X TC! blog post here.

The Digital Basics III Video Series

The Digital Basics III Video Series

I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.

As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here.

You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.

Retroactive Discount Savings

If you have previously purchased a single video and learned a lot, you can upgrade to the complete DB III Volume I series and save $26.00 by calling Jim at 863-692-0906 weekdays, Monday through Friday at noon.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Have a Great 2024

Do your best to take care of your health. Spend some time laughing, smiling, thinking, and crying every day. (Thanks to Jim Valvano.) Get out as much as possible to do some photography. It is my fervent wish that each of you attends a BAA Instructional Photo-Tour this coming year. I will be there 🙂

Your Call?

2023 was a great year for me. Below, I share 24 of my favorite images from last year. All are invited to leave a comment letting us know which are their three favorite image and why they made their choices.

An Invitation

All are invited to send me their two best images made in 2024 for a free, short critique. Please send sharpened 2000 pixel tall or wide JPEGs as e-mail attachments to me here. If you send three or more, I will delete your e-mail no matter how good the images.

Stats

The average focal length for all 24 images was 598mm, well within range of the Sony 200-600. Surprisingly, none of the images below were created with one of my favorite lenses, the relatively inexpensive, incredibly versatile Sony 2-6.

Five of the 24 images were created with my 70-200 GM II lens; long focal lengths are not a necessity. Only three of the photos were created at 1200mm. Eleven in all were made with my beloved 600mm f/4 (either bare or with a TC). And an additional eight (again, all either with the bare lens alone or with a TC) were created with my relatively new 400mm f/2.8. I surely am glad that I purchased it. Surprisingly, the images below represent photos made with only three lenses.

Image #1: Ring-necked Duck, San Diego, CA

Santee Lakes

Each San Diego IPT visits Santee Lakes at just the right time. We try for fire-in-the-mist, and then enjoy photographing the ducks at close range. My faves are the ring-necked, the Woodk Ducks, and the Cinnamon Teal.

Image #2: 2-year old Pacific-race Brown Pelican stretching wings, San Diego, CA

Sub-Adult Pelican Plumages

I always marvel at the widely variable plumages of all ages of the Pacific-race Brown Pelicans in San Diego.

Image #3: Pacific-race Brown Pelican resting, tight, San Diego, CA

Point Blank Range

On the rare cloudy, windy, sometimes stormy day with winds from the west or the southwest, there is a spot where you can consistently get very close to the pelicans. Join me on a San Diego IPT to learn where.

Image #4: Bald Eagle vertical banking flight, Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK

Vertical Banking Flight

Most (but not all) vertical bank shots of birds in flight are — as Image #4 was — cropped from horizontal originals. On the wind is just right on the Homer IPTs, I will teach the group to shoot vertical originals of banking Bald Eagles. There is one spot left on the first IPT; please e-mail for late-registration info.

Image #5: Bald Eagle braking to land in soft light, Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK

70-200 f/2.8 Lenses in Homer

Most of the 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are extremely valuable on a Homer IPT. The lone exception is the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens which was inexplicably designed not to accept either teleconverter. . I use my Sony version II most often with the 1≥4X TC.

Image #6: Bald Eagle raising wings for take-off, Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK

The Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM Lens

After railing against the use of any 400mm f/2.8 lens for bird photography for nearly four decades, On a Homer IPT in 2022, I briefly borrowed one from participant from Harry Lerner and fell in love instantly. Though I still love my 600mm f/4 GM lens, the 400mm f/2.8 is the perfect lens in many situations.

Image #7: Coyote on snow-covered hillside, Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK

With the 1.4X TC

The 400mm f/2.8 lens with the 1.4X TC and an a-1 has become my favorite walk-around lens at Fort DeSoto. It turned out to be perfect in Homer when this handsome Coyote made its way down a snow-covered hillside. The super wide aperture allowed me to work at reduced ISOs in low light situations.

Image #8: Bald Eagle adult — tight flight, sweet light, Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK

560mm Again!

On the 2023 Homer IPTs, I used the 400mm f2.8 extensively, even when the sun was out.

Image #9: Snowy Egret — flight, full downstroke, Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, FL

I often walk around with the 70-200mm/2X/a-1 rig at my favorite morning back-up location to take advantage of its extreme close focusing ability — yes, the birds are very tame there. This image was created on a Fort DeSoto IPT.

Image #10: Breeding Plumage Snowy Egret with crest blowing, Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, FL

Snowy Egret Max Colors

For a very few days each spring, Snowy Egrets that are actively involved in breeding sport bright pink to cherry red lores. These dramatic colors do not last long.

Image #11: Royal Terns copulating and more, Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, FL

The North Far Bar

Royal Tern courtship and breeding behaviors were spectacular last season at the New Far Bar on Outback Key. This one was created with the 400mm f/2.8 alone with the a-1.

Image #12: Royal Terns copulating, Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, FL

More 400mm f/2.8!

Same spot, same lens. I love how the background was incorporated in this image. Had I been using the 600mm f/4, the angle of view would have been much narrower and the image far less appealing. At least for me.

Image #13: American Oystercatcher chick eating pregnant mole crab, Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY

1200mm!

At times, slapping the 2X on the 600mm f/4 can pay huge dividends. Aside from the 24X magnification that comes in handy working with sensitives subjects, working at 1200mm gives you more leeway as far as sun angle is concerned. I will be announcing one or two 2024 Nickerson Beach IPTs — late July and early August.

Image #14: Common Tern chick killing wayward chick from another nest, Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, NY

Murder on the Beach

Sitting behind the colony ropes behind the tripod-mounted 600mm f/4 turned out to be a great decision when this adult Common Tern repeatedly attacked a tiny tern chick from a nearby nest.

Image #15: Red-throated Loons/courtship or fighting? Iceland.

Why Would an Experienced Professional Pay to go on a Trip?

Professional tour leaders like Greg Downing often visit outstanding locations year after year. And thus, they learn all the hotspots. As the next few images show, I was very happy that I spent the money to attend a trip run by a former student.

Image #16: Black-legged Kittiwake screaming flight, Grimsey Island, Iceland.

Grieving in Flight

This kittiwake kept flying in to feed its chick in a nest on a cliff. The chick was dead, and therefore, did not respond when the parent landed at the nest and offered food. The bird would fly out to sea a bit and returned several times screaming in an effort to wake the dead. With the handheld 70-200mm GM III/1.4X/a-1 combo at 280mm.

Image #17: Atlantic Puffin with fish for chicks in nest, Grimsey Island, Iceland.

This might be my favorite Iceland image. I created many thousand of images of puffins in flight with sandeels in their bills, but this one is special for many reasons. In part, I love the out-of-focus cliff background. With the tripod-mounted 600 alone.

Image #18: Black Guillemot in flight, Grimsey Island, Iceland.

Zebra the Sky!

To come up with a perfect exposure on a white sky day, I set the exposure to completely over-expose the sky and then turned Zebras off so that I could see the guillemots as they flew into the nesting rocks.

Image #19: Atlantic Puffin, partial body flight with fish for chicks in nest, Grimsey Island, Iceland.

400mm f/2.8 Handheld in the Wind

This image was created on a mega-windy afternoon as hundreds of puffins held still in the wind right in front of me. If you would like to explore the possibility of visiting Iceland with Greg this July, please get in touch with me via e-mail.

Image #20:Snowy Egret stretching, Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas, County, FL

Subject in Shade, Background in Sun

Though such situations are rare, they are always worth exploring. Join me on a DeSoto IPT in 2024 to learn a ton and become a much better bird photographer.

Image #21:Osprey beginning dive, Sebastian Inlet, FL

Sebastian Inlet

I visited Sebastian Inlet more in 2023 that I had in the previous years combined. I had one really good day with the Ospreys. This one with the 600mm f/4/1.4X TC/a-i on the tripod at full height.

Image #22: Mottled Duck flapping after bath, Indian Lake Estates, FL

Another Hard-to Approach Subject

There are lots of Mottled Ducks in the lake, usually just south of the pier. As they are difficult to impossible to approach, I stayed in my vehicle and worked with the 2X on the 600mm, supporting the lens on the BLUBB. Perfect images of ducks flapping after a bath are few and far behind. This in one of them.

Image #23: Sandhill Crane playing with dried grasses, Indian Lake Estates, FL

Unexpected Success

I was taking a walk with the 70-200mm f/2.8 II/2X TC/a-1 when I came across this crane playing in the sand box. When it grabbed some dried grasses, I fired off a very few frames not expecting anything even decent. I was surprised.

Image #24: Sandhill Crane in flight, full downstroke, Indian Lake Estates, FL

Not a Vulture

This crane flew in curious about the activity at my road kill cafe. When it took flight, I reduced the exposure by two clicks and again, somewhat unexpectedly, created a winner.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Who Said It?

A (relatively) famous photographer once said this:

Backgrounds to me are almost the most important part of a picture.

Who said it? (Hint: Not a nature photographer.) Sorry, a Google search will not get you there.

My Call

In the blog post that mysteriously disappeared, my favorite image was Image #1 as I loved the pure white sky motif and the primary tip repairs. Most folks went for the landing caracara image. I loved that one too but wish that I were skilled enough to do a perfect job on the tail.

Note: I will be re-publishing the missing post ASAP.

What’s Up?

Today is Friday 29 December 2023. The sun was out for a bit early so I headed down to the lake only to find a strong west wind (bad). Then it was back to work. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day.

Register soon for a DeSoto Spring IPT and consider sharing an AirBnB with me to save on meal and lodging expenses and maximizing your learn opportunities!

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

B&H Simplified

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.

Bedfords Simplified

Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

B&H

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

Unsolicited via e-mail from Pete Myers

I just spent 4 days in the field in a graduate course in bird photography taught by Artie Morris at Fort DeSoto. After almost 50 years of experience pointing cameras at birds from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, New Zealand and beyond, I thought I was good enough. But what I learned from Artie in just four days has taken me to a whole new level. As he aptly puts it, “birds as art,” not simply bird photography. One of those 4 days was the most satisfying I’d ever experienced, anywhere. The IPT left me euphoric about what I’d learned, and frighteningly committed to recreating my portfolio with the techniques and insights he taught me.

Unsolicited via e-mail from IPT veteran Eugen Dolan

Arthur, Thank you very much for your overwhelming infectious enthusiasm that helped get me up on some mornings. Also, your ability to express yourself- and explain in great detail why you like or may not like an image – was very helpful in allowing me to better analyze my images. Eugen

Via e-mail from Jim Miller

I can’t stop thinking about how much fun the DeSoto IPT was, and how much I learned. There were so many things that suddenly made perfect sense after I had been confused for so long. Thank you very much for the wonderful trip, and for being a great teacher. As I worked through the raw files last week, I realized what a fantastic lens the 600 IS is. Thanks for the rental! Maybe someday I will be able to afford one. Some images for critique are attached. Thank you again, Artie. It was really wonderful to be with you and learn from you.

Via e-mail from Lee Sommie

I want to thank you for making the Fort DeSoto IPT; it was a fun and educational experience for me. I truly did not want the adventure to end. I now look through the viewfinder with an artist’s mindset. And the real bonus was making new friends with fellow students. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for wildlife photography. I had a great time with you and look forward to more adventures on future IPTs.

Via e-mail from Muhammad Arif

I had a great time at Fort De Soto. Thank you for all the instruction, for your help and pointers; my photography has already improved tremendously, and I’ve never made such good bird photos before. I wish I could’ve joined you on Monday and Tuesday morning as well, but work got in the way. It was also nice meeting the folks on the IPT. Thanks again for everything and I hope to join you at a future IPT sometime again.

Be sure to click on the composite to view a larger, high-res version. All images from 2023 Fort DeSoto Spring IPTs. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Snowy Egret in breeding plumage with crest blowing; Osprey striking; Brown Pelican sunrise silhouette; Royal Terns copulating; Marbled Godwit striding; Royal Tern courtship feeding; Snowy Egret hunting; Laughing Gull in breeding plumage along flight; Reddish Egret in flight with killifish.

Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull landing on head of Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull in flight, Reddish Egret sunrise silhouette, Great Blue Heron with needlefish, Yellow-crowned Night Heron with ghost crab, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling in breeding plumage, and white morph Reddish Egret in glorious breeding plumage.

The 2024 Spring Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)

Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #1: THURS 14 March through the morning session on SUN 17 March, 2024. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers.

Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #2: Wednesday 8 May through the morning session on SAT 11 May 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers.

Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for terns and gulls, wading birds, and shorebirds in springtime. Though DeSoto can be great any day of the year, spring is my very favorite time to be there as many of the birds will be in full breeding plumage. Simply put, DeSoto is the new Ding Darling. Migrant shorebirds are in abundance, and many are exceedingly tame. We should have great chances on Royal and Sandwich Terns and both white- and dark-morph Reddish Egrets. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two along with some American Oystercatchers. We will enjoy lots of great flight photography, especially with the Brown Pelicans.

Again, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull in flight, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Sandwich Terns copulating, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret with reflection, breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, white morph Reddish Egret, and Snowy Egret in marsh.

In Addition!

We should also get to photograph a variety of other shorebirds including Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, Snowy, and Piping Plovers, Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, and most especially, Red Knot. On the May trip, many of the shorebirds will be in their handsome breeding plumages. In spring the T-shaped peninsula and the newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, are literally packed with avian treasures.

With just a bit of luck, we may get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable species: Roseate Spoonbill. And we will surely get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. With luck, they will have Laughing Gulls landing on their heads. And though not guaranteed, Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two. I almost forgot to mention — Laughing Gulls in breeding plumage are to die for!

You do NOT need a fast super-telephoto lens to do this trip!

Yes, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: breeding plumage Dunlin, dark morph Reddish Egret displaying, Laughing Gull vertical front-end portrait, Laughing Gull with prey item, landing on head of Brown Pelican, breeding plumage Royal Tern displaying, Royal Terns — pre-copulatory stance, Laughing Gulls copulating, Laughing Gull head portrait, breeding plumage Sandwich Tern with fish, and a rare treat, a breeding plumage White-rumped Sandpiper.

What You Will Learn on a DeSoto IPT

• 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
• 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
• 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
• 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds including various sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and possibly yellowlegs.
• 6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
• 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
• 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
• 10- More than you could ever imagine.

You got it by now! Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Roseate Spoonbill, immature Brown Pelican in flight, the heron/egret hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, immature Royal Tern on railing, Great Egret morning silhouette, Black Skimmer in surf, and underside head portrait of Great Blue Heron.

The Details

Morning sessions will run two and one-half to three hours; afternoon sessions about two. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till noon and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy. We may opt to visit a great North Tampa rookery if conditions warrant that.

There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session during and after brunch (included) each of the three full days. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away). For folks who register soon, the is an excellent chance that we can share an AirBnb to reduce lodging and meal costs and maximize your learning opportunities.

Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field as early as possible and stay out late to take advantage of sunset colors. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:30am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We will be getting wet.

Your non-refundable $599 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check three months before the trip begins. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice two months before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.

IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information. If you have any questions, or are good to go for one of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372 for more info.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Not Bad for an Old Lady!

Enjoy Brenda Lee’s screen notes while watching this video with your family and friends this holiday season. It is quite well done and quite touching.

The 78-year-old pop and country music star recorded the iconic holiday nugget at the age of 13. It was always a staple of the seasonal pop, but blew up from its use in 1990’s ‘Home Alone,’ and this month it took over the top position of the Billboard charts for the first time ever. This is the first music video that Lee has ever made, and she invited her Nashville friends, neighbors, and hit-makers Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood to be part of the shoot. “We wanted to make sure the video was timeless, and had a special Christmas feeling of being home with your family,” says Lee. Watch our Footnotes interview to see how she was coaxed into doing that dazzling dance spin in “the new old fashioned way.”

What’s Up?

No snow here in Florida. I have been having a ton of fun with the vultures along with the occasional Bald Eagle or caracara at the Road Kill Cafe. Yesterday I had a fly-by Greater Yellowlegs and the Forster’s Tern flock on the railing of the pier is up to at least 40. It looks as if the female eagle is sitting on eggs at a new nest several hundred yards past the nest that was active for the past two years. That’s a bummer as the old nest was great for photography and the new nest is not as it is far too cluttered.

Today is Monday 25 December 2023. Happy holidays to all. It is way dark here so I will be heading down to the lake at about 8:30am and hopes things bright up. I have only a very few salmon carcasses left, courtesy of Mike at Junior’s Fish Market in Lake Wales. Pass the Haddock and tuna please. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

This image was created on 22 February 2020 on a BAA Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) at Homer, AK. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 120mm) and the Sony a9 II (now replaced by The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.). The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000: 1/2000 sec. at f/3.2 stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 11:04:23 on a glorious morning after 8 inches of fresh snow. Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Bald Eagle walking in deep snow

I’m Dreaming of a White February (in Homer!)

Fresh snow in Homer is to die for. The more the better. It opens up a great variety of wondrous situations. Best of all it acts like a giant reflector that lights up the bird’s underwings. As in Image #2 immediately below. It’s your lucky day: there is one spot open on the first IPT that offers a greater chance for a big snowfall.

This image was created on 25 February 2020 on a BAA Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) at Homer, AK. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 200mm) and the Sony a9 II (now replaced by The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.). The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500: 1/3200 sec. at f/3.2 stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 10:57:51 with lots of snow still on the ground. Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Bald Eagle braking to land

Snow on the Ground — the Gift That Keeps on Giving

Once you get a good snowfall, you are in for a good week of great photography. You get to photograph the birds with pure white backgrounds and when we land on a spit, the snow, as mentioned above, acts as a huge reflector — your world will be a giant soft box.

This image was created on 1 March 2022 on a BAA Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) at Homer, AK. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 280mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 3:10:22am during a snow squall. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Bald Eagle in flight in snow squall

A Really Neat Trick

The snow squall came on suddenly and was over almost as fast. At the peak of intensity, it was impossible for the AF system to see through the wall of fat snowflakes. I thought, “How can I get through the snowflakes?” Aha! I set the zoom to the max, 280mm, and laced my left hand on the focus ring (not the zoom ring where it usually resides). Since the version II of the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 lens offers Direct Manual Focus (the original version did not), I was able to focus manually so that the lens could see the subject. With that bit of help, it acquired focus and tracked the eagle’s eye or face without a problem. Join any IPT to learn to solve new problems on the spot with practical solutions.

This image was created on 7 March 2020 on a BAA Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) at Homer, AK. I used the handheld Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens (at 433mm) and Sony a9 II (now replaced by The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera). ISO 1000. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 2:59:14pm on a cloudy afternoon. Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Human Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Photographers in the snow with Bald Eagles )

This Could Be You!

Anita North and Greg Ferguson in the snow with friends. It looks as if both are using the now obsolete (for bird photographers) Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens along with an a9 II. As below, there is one spot left on the first Homer IPT.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

2024 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: WED 21 FEB 2024 through the full day on SUN 25 FEB 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 1.

IPT #2: MON 26 FEB 2024 through the full day on FRI 1 MAR 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Limit 5 photographers/Sold Out

Register for both trips to maximize your travel dollars and enjoy a $1000 discount while you are at it.

This trip features non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits and head shots of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.

In addition, we should see (and possibly get to photograph) Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require some luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when pleasing creating bird-scapes. In most years we have chances for Short-eared and Great Grey Owl, Grey-crowned Rosy Finch, and Moose in and around Homer.

You will enjoy working with the best and most creative boat captain in Homer on his sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck watercraft.

There will be only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader on these trips.

Almost endless small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.

If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If the conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will be in the right spot at the right time. And ad we will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country, landscape and scenic opportunities abound.

Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader and instructor. He is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer.

Homer 2022 Bald Eagle Highlights and Handholding Compositional Tips by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Enjoy and be inspired by just a few Homer Bald Eagle highlight images. Hand holding intermediate telephoto lens will always yield slightly different compositions. Learn more about that topic in this short (3:14) video.

All images from Kachemak Bay in 2022!

What You Will Learn

You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer. But only if that is what you want.

You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes. You will learn to make pleasing blurs and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode when the situation is right. Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight images from tens of thousands of images.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner.

What’s Not Included

Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and a tip for the boat captain.

Please Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour. The leader will pay for the bait.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer. In 2023 those included Moose, Great Grey, and Short-eared Owls.

Deposit Information

A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (the latter made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 60 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check (as above).

In Closing

I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of these two trips is to sign up for both of them. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, or two of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

What’s Up?

I will be heading up to Long Island on the Auto Train on 22 July and heading back to Florida on 21 August. I will be announcing two Nickerson Beach IPTs and one Jamaica Bay shorebird IPT soon. It has been sunny, cold, and windy in the mornings here so I have not gotten down to the lake recently.

There is an only one spot left on the first Homer IPT. Please e-mail for late-registration discount e-mail. Homer #2 is sold out.

Today is Wednesday 20 December 2023. Jim will be distributing Digital Basics III/Volume I/#3 this afternoon. Details on Volume I/#3 in the next blog post. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

B&H Simplified

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.

Bedfords Simplified

Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

B&H

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

This image was created on 12 December 2022 on a San Diego Instructional Photo-Tour at La Jolla, CA. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 70mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600: 1/125 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:42:14am long before the sun came over the hill. Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Brown Pelicans and gulls on cliff in pre-dawn light —

The Sony 70-200mm GM II Lens Alone in La Jolla

Somewhat surprisingly, the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens alone (without a teleconverter) is deadly and versatile in San Diego in winter. On the San Diego IPTs, we arrive very early to take advantage of the pink/purple/blue pre-dawn light. In any system, the 70-200mm lenses are hugely popular among nature photographers for creating scenics and bird-scapes. This one was created at the wide end, 70mm.

Image #1A: This is an un-sharpened 100% crop of the Brown Pelicans and gulls on cliff in pre-dawn light image

Sharpness and Depth of Field

Both sharpness and depth of field are incredible in the un-sharpened 100% screen capture above. The sharpness must be credited to the high quality of the lens and good handhlding technique.

Your Call #1

Note that every bird in the frame has been rendered in sharp focus. What two factors resulted in the remarkably deep depth of field at f/2.8?

This image was created on 11 January 2023 on a San Diego Instructional Photo-Tour at La Jolla, CA. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 180mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:08:09am in the shade on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Brown Pelican — in flight — cliff background

70-200mm for Flight?

Imagine having to zoom out from 200mm when photographing a Brown Pelican in flight. Many would ask, How did you happen to have a 70-200mm lens in your hand at just the right time? I did not just happen. When photographing birds, you need to keep your eyes open and moving. Bird behavior is often repetitive. When I saw pelicans flying into the narrow cove and landing, I ran up to my rental car, switched the 400mm f/2.8 for the 70-200mm f/2.8, got into position, and went to work. It was simply a matter of using the right tool for the job. Join me on an IPT to learn to see the shot, to evaluate a great variety of bird photography situations.

This image was created on 5 January 2023 on a San Diego Instructional Photo-Tour at La Jolla, CA. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250: 1/640 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:22:31am in the shade on a cloudy dark morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Brown Pelican — Pacific race resting on shelf

Different Perspectives, Different Backgrounds

By moving around and checking things out, you can offer find new and different perspectives. Find the spot where you are looking down at the rocky beach and you can enjoy creating a great variety of images. When I made Image #3, I was standing at exact same spot as when I made Image #2. It pays to prospect! Join me on a San Diego IPT to learn all of my secret spots.

Your Call?

Which version do you like, the Before or the After? Why?

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 2024 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs

San Diego IPT #1: 4 1/2 DAYS: TUES 23 JAN thru the morning session on SAT 27 JAN 2024: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6/Openings 4.

San Diego IPT #2: 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 31 JAN thru the morning session on SAT 3 FEB 2024: $2149.00. Limit: 6 photographers

Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT morning sessions.

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) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler 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 and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). 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.

I discovered some really neat new spots on my 2022/23 visit. As a result, the first and second IPTs may include an afternoon or two of landscape photography.

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

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.

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 exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … 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, at times with 70-200mm lenses! 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 those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego. Each IPT will include one or two duck sessions.

The San Diego Details

These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon shoot. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.

Deposit Info

A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2024 San Diego IPT. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

What’s Up?

On Thursday, I took a day off from swimming. I came across a tame adult Osprey that let me approach in my vehicle to within 15 feet. Image and story below after the music. (Tip: if you click on the Watch On > YouTube button the video will play in a new window and you can listen in the background while reading the blog.) On Friday, I took a day off from photography. In this post, I share some really good music with you. If Southbound Train or the wonderfully inspiring article by Julie Gold below does not garner a few tears, you might want to see about getting a heart transplant.

Today is Saturday 16 December 2023. The forecasts is for cloudy skies with the very strong northeast winds continuing. I will likely be heading down to the lake each weekend morning, probably with the 400mm f/2.8. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day.

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Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

Southbound Train

Years ago my younger daughter Alissa gave me a Nanci Griffith CD for my birthday. I listened to Flyer often and fell in love with several of the tracks. My very favorite is Southbound Train. Griffith’s voice has been described as “gorgeously graceful and distinctive, simply spellbinding.” To that I would add, “hauntingly beautiful.”

For many years after my wife Elaine’s death (of breast cancer in 1994), I felt a lot like the lady on the Southbound Train (even though our losses might have been different). The lyrics are pure poetry. And of course, heartrending.

Nanci Griffith died in the summer of 2021 of undisclosed causes. There is a wonderful article about her here on The Irish Times website. It is entitled “Nanci Griffith’s Irish hit, cancer history and ‘really dysfunctional’ family” and was written by Adam Sweeting.

Written by Julie Gold

I’m sitting on a southbound train
Staring at the sky
I’m thinking of my childhood
And I’m trying not to cry
While a stranger sleeps against me
And it feels like I’m his wife
The towns and cities flutter past
Like the pages of my life

Some things I know
Some things I guess
Some things I wish I could learn
To express
Like the way that I feel
As I stare at the sky
And I remember your voice
And the sound of goodbye

Nanci Griffith and Julie Gold

While YouTube surfing on Thursday evening, I came across the video above. Much as I did when I found John Prine, I asked, “Who is Julie Gold?” Julie Gold is an American singer-songwriter best known for her musical composition “From a Distance,” which became a huge hit for Bette Midler and won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1991. Additional searching brought me to the moving article here (and below) on the Performing Songwriter website.

The story behind the Grammy-award winning “From A Distance” and the miracles a song can bring, as told by the writer, Julie Gold.

In 1978, at the age of 22, I came to New York in pursuit of my dream of being a songwriter. And while dreams are essential, they don’t pay the rent. For years, I worked various temp jobs while gigging at night and sending songs out whenever possible. I demonstrated vacuum cleaners, Mr. Coffees, and toaster ovens. I worked the flea markets, as a proofreader, for a dentist, and at a venetian blinds factory.

It was a struggle. No health benefits. No money for recreational purposes. Desperation. Self doubt. Fear. We all know what that’s like. But, all the while, I clung to my dream like a life preserver. I knew why I was born, and no one could discourage me from reaching my mountaintop. I was willing to die trying. Honest, I was. I finally gave in to taking a full-time job as a secretary at HBO in 1984. It was a smart move. Ah, the magic of a steady paycheck. In my spare time and evening hours, I was of course still gigging, writing songs and dreaming my big dream. Now, however, I didn’t have that horrible daily struggle of keeping my head above water financially.

In 1985, just before my 30th birthday, my parents sent me the piano I grew up playing. I had just served as a juror on an emotionally trying case, my brother had just married, and I was questioning my life to date, wondering what my future could possibly hold. I took the day off work to be home when my piano arrived, and I remember how it glistened in the sun as the movers lowered it off the truck. My piano. My truest love and friend. My confidante. Back together again after all these years.

It came into my little, one room apartment and fit just where I hoped it would. The movers told me that it had been on the truck for 24 hours, so I had to give it a chance to settle. They said I couldn’t play it for a full day. So there we were in the same room, unable to make music. I remember hugging it and polishing it. Then I went to bed. My bed was a high loft bed, and I looked down on my piano all night to make sure it was really there. The next day I sat down and “From a Distance” just poured out of me. On one hand, it took me two hours to write. On the other hand, it took me 30 years. Pick whichever hand makes you happy. I love them both.

I sent “From a Distance” around to all my contacts. As usual, most did not even reply. Those who did found fault with my song. My friend and fellow songwriter Christine Lavin loved it and requested copies to send around to her friends and contacts. Within two weeks, my scratchy demo was getting radio play thanks to Christine. Then I came home one day to a flashing message on my answering machine. There was a gentle, unknown voice identifying herself as Nanci Griffith. Christine had sent her the song, she loved it, and was asking to record it. Nanci recorded “From a Distance” on her first album for MCA. I remember sitting at The Bottom Line the first time I saw her perform it live and observing her audience sing along. That’s when I realized that my life would never be the same.

Nanci sang that song all over the world, and I was still very much a secretary. She would call me at work from Belfast and tell me how the song was affecting people around the world. She took me out on the road with her several times, just so I could play the piano as she sang that one song. What incredible moments we shared. Me, away from my day job and in the spotlight with a beloved world-class talent. Me, getting love and honor from total strangers all because of one little song. Me, basking in the light of my life-long dream.

On June 16, 1988, I played Carnegie Hall with Nanci. All my relatives came up from Philadelphia to share the miracle. Most of them, including my mother, are immigrants. In many ways, I am their American Dream. What an amazing dream it is. As I write this, I can’t even believe it’s true. But it is. It really is.

Even with all this glory, however, I was still a secretary. I still lived in one little dark room. I still barely made enough money to survive. Believe it or not, I was depressed and despondent. I remember crying on the phone to both my parents (who, incidentally, were never anything short of supportive, encouraging and fully loving with regard to my dream). On this occasion, I remember my desperation and how they tried to console me with a stereo pep talk. It didn’t work. Finally, they asked what they do to help me feel better. For the first and only time in my life, I asked them to please pay my rent for six months. They agreed, and July 7, 1989 was my last day of work at HBO. I walked down Sixth Avenue, crying all the way. Free at last.

They were the best six months of my life. Finally a musician full-time. I made my hours. I wrote my songs. I called. I mailed. I pitched. I played. I prayed. I sent songs to every singer in the world. I walked tall. I felt good. I received my first royalty check from Nanci’s foreign performances of “From a Distance,” and that bought me another six months of freedom.

During this time, I received a call from Marc Shaiman, who identified himself as Bette Midler’s musical director. She was making a new record, and, in their search for songs, they called Stephen Holden at the New York Times for suggestions. Stephen told Marc about “From a Distance,” Marc called me, I sent the scratchy demo, and Bette recorded it.

People seemed to love it, and I won a Grammy for Song of the Year in 1991. Here I was still living in one dark room, no money, uncertain of my future, and yet my song was on the radio and I had won a Grammy. If that isn’t a dream come true, what is?

I am now 55. I live in a beautiful condo with air, light and a view of my beloved New York, the city of dreams. I earn my living as a songwriter. I have hugged Burt Bacharach. I have dined with Lamont Dozier. I have met Paul McCartney. I have chatted with Carole Bayer Sager. I have laughed with Cyndi Lauper. I have heard “From a Distance” in many languages. I have felt it in Braille. I have heard it on music boxes and in elevators. I have read it on greeting cards and in children’s books. And it has been played for astronauts in space. It is nothing short of a miracle, and I am never anything but amazed and grateful that the miracle happened to me.

My Comments

Roger Tory Peterson first field guide, A Field Guide to the Birds, was rejected by more thirty publishers before he convinced Houghton Mifflin to go with it. They had modest hopes for the new title, publishing 2,000 copies in its first print run. It famously sold out in one week. Since then, various editions have sold more than 7 million copies, one of the bestselling nature books of all time. I have a copy of the fourth edition of Eastern Birds, signed by Roger with a red Flair pen as was his style. It was a gift from my good friend and great photographer Anita North.

Many of Gold’s comments should strike a chord with anyone struggling to reach a goal, especially nature photographers. Paraphrasing a bit:

“In 1994, at the age of 47, I retired from teaching elementary school in New York City in pursuit of my dream of being a full time professional nature photographer. And while dreams are essential, they don’t pay the rent.”

I am often asked, ‘How long did it take to make that photo?’ I always reply, “Either 1/1000 of a second or 47 years, depending on how you look at it.”

“I sent my images around to all my contacts. As usual, most did not even reply. Those who did, found fault with the photos.”

None-the-less, I stayed the course, even after losing my beloved Elaine in 1994. The result? I have had a wonderfully blessed life doing what I love and teaching others to do the same.

This image was created on 14 December 2023 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600. 1/400 sec. at f/10 (stopped down 2/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:59:52am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly (even at 1200mm). Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Osprey — head portrait of adult on grass

Very Strange Behavior

Turning left, I spotted what I thought might have been a large bird on the ground some distance down Banyan Drive. As I got closer, I saw that it was an adult Osprey. As it is much more efficient to shoot out of the driver’s side than the passenger’s side, I drove past the bird at about five miles per hour without slowing down in hopes of not scaring it off. I went a good ways down the block, made a u-turn, put the BLUBB on the window frame, made sure that the Direct Manual Focus switched was set to off, and placed and balanced the 1200mm rig on the BLUBB.

I drove into position very slowly and was surprised that the bird did not fly away as they almost always do even when I approach only to a far greater distance. I was even able to change my position at will for slightly better perspectives and to get even closer.

Over a span of about 12 minutes, I created more than 400 head shots and realized that though the bird appeared healthy, there must be something wrong with it. As the bird turned a bit, the riddle of the too-tame Osprey was solved; a treble hook from a yellow, 5″ fishing lure, a diving swimmer, was embedded in what looked like the back of its left foot. Poor guy.

I know that it has been notoriously difficult to get help for injured wild birds in Central Florida so I came up with a plan. I grabbed a heavy blanket from the back seat. If the bird did not fly, I would throw the blanket over it, pick it up safely, and bring it home to grab a pair of pliers and remove the hook.

The bird, however, had other plans. As soon as I opened the car door, it flew without a problem to the top of a nearby telephone pole. If I see it again, I will get in touch with the bird rescue folks at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland.

The Image Optimization

Huge thanks to Steve Kaluski of Bird Photographer’s.Net who first turned me on to the new Remove Tool in Photoshop. It made cleaning the bill in today’s featured image incredibly easy. I used the new Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool (L-TAT) along with Tim Grey Dodge and Burn to lighten the Osprey’s yellow iris. The difference is huge and brought the image to life. You can learn all about may current digital workflow in the Digital Basics III Video Series.

The Digital Basics III Video Series

The Digital Basics III Video Series

I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.

As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here and Volume I/#2 here.

You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI. I will be working on Volume I/#3 this weekend.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Please Remember

Please remember that the BIRDS AS ART blog is designed to be interactive. The more answers and comments that a post garners, the more you and I will learn. When there are few or no responses, I often ask myself, Why am I doing this?

Your Calls?

Which two of today’s eight featured images are your favorites? Why?

Which is the weakest image? Why?

Which two otherwise fabulous images feature less than ideal head angles?

I will share my thoughts on the above here soon.

Blessed at Indian Lake Estates

Unless it is sunny and cold with a northwest wind, I drive to the lake most mornings when I am home. Then I head back to Granada Drive for brunch at about 9:00am. Sometime near mid-morning, I get back to the lakeshore for my Vitamin D (no shirt) 1 1/2 mile walk. I get in a half-mile swim pretty much every day that I am home (15 days in a row, right now), and do my bursts most days as well. I have dinner no later than 4pm and then head down to the lake if the wind is right and there looks to be some chance of sunset color in the western sky. Understanding the wind and the sky conditions not only allows me to determine in advance the likelihood of success, but influences my choice of gear.

Today’s eight featured images were created at Indian Lake Estates during the last two weeks. As you view the images, consider the variety of subjects, the various lighting conditions, and the gear that I used to create the images. Thanks to Sony’s Zebra technology, all of the raw file exposures were either perfect or dead solid perfect. Ho hum.

Of course, if you are lucky enough to live in (or close to) a spot where the bird photography is pretty good, the following is always true:

1- The more time you spend in the field (even when conditions are poor or worse), the more you will learn.

2- The more time you spend in the field (even when conditions are poor or worse), the more great chances you will have.

3- When working with basically the same subjects most days, you will, by necessity, look for ways to create new and different images, to become more creative. A good part of that comes from exploring different perspectives.

4- When working with basically the same subjects most days, you will learn to use all of the lenses and teleconverters at your disposal.

At ILE, I know that Sandhill Crane, two species of vulture, and Cattle Egret can be easily photographed during most sessions. Boat-tailed Grackle, Savannah Sparrow, Killdeer, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Great Egret, Anhinga, Limpkin, and right now, Crested Caracara, are present most days. The challenge is to create something different; capturing images that show birds in flight or in action, or bird behavior (including and especially courtship, other breeding behaviors, nesting, and raising young), always get me excited. And even at 30 fps, pretty much every frame is different. (In that vein, I can’t wait to get my hands on a Sony a-9 III (with the option to shoot at 120 fps!)

There are many species that I see occasionally but have never photographed or had a good chance on. Those include Palm Warbler, American Kestrel, Mourning Dove, Common Ground Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Common Moorhen, and Purple Gallinule. At my feeders, there are White-winged Dove, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Bobwhite, and rarely Yellow-throated Warbler and Painted Bunting.

When a new species shows up to have its photo taken, I get really excited. Can you say Sharp-shinned Hawk? Over the years, I have tried and failed more than a few times to make a decent image of Northern Harrier. Also in that category is breeding plumage Glossy Ibis. I had one superb chance on that species several years ago in May. I had the shot in focus in the viewfinder. But I waited for something more perfect and wound up with nothing.

The highlights have been many — a Whooping Crane when I first moved to ILE, strutting tom Wild Turkeys, the banner Osprey spring of 2021 with two or three chicks fledging in each of eight nests, the Bald Eagle nest two seasons running, the low-water-level spring Black-necked Stilt nests, and the 2020 Mother’s Day crane nest with chicks!

So yes, I am extremely blessed to be able to get out most days with a reasonable chance of creating a Family Jewel or two.

What’s Up?

Today is Tuesday 12 December 2023. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Well, with a sunny morning with a NW wind predicted, my plan was to finish this blog post, have my brunch, and answer lots of e-mails. But when I walked out onto the pool deck to check the weather, there was a large cloud in the eastern sky so I drove down to the lake. Here is what I saw: more than 100 Turkey Vultures, 30 cormorants, more than 20 Killdeer, two small shorebirds, most likely Least Sandpipers, three Forster’s Terns, a Ring-billed Gull, at least two dozen Black Vultures, many dozens of Boat-tailed Grackles, six Cattle Egret, three White Ibis, several Mourning and Common Ground Doves, 100 Tree Swallows, three Osprey, one Pied-billed Grebe, about a dozen American Kestrel, and the caracara pair foraging in someone’s front yard.

I am pretty sure that I did not create anything really special but I learned a lot and brain-catalogued some info that might pay off in the future.

This image was created on 29 November 2023 down by the lake near my home. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Multi-metering +2 stops in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO set ISO 2000: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 5:24:24pm minutes before sunset. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Turkey Vulture in flight/sunset silhouette

Right Place, Right Time

The wading bird winter roost at the North Field is no longer. And I have not had a bird on The Perch at sunset in many months. My new spot is a short dirt road that leads out to the lake at the south end of the South Peninsula. With some sky color and a bit of luck, it can be productive as there is a big vulture roost right across the canal. The 200-600 allows you to move quickly into place as compared to working with the 600mm f/4 on a tripod (with either TC).

This image was also created on 2 December 2023 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height down by a canal, I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250: 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 9:12:32am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #2: Black Vulture on ground with wings raised

Road-kill Cafe

I have been putting out road kill for the vultures for several years often with great success. More recently I have been putting out rotten, smelly fish, the rottener and the smellier, the better. By setting up along the edge of a canal I am pretty much at eye level with the birds. I replaced the head on this bird with the sharp head from the next frame.

This image was also created on 2 December 2023 near the boat ramp at Indian Lake Estates. While standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter (at 388mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250: 1/2000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 12:20:43pm on a sunny afternoon. Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Spatterdock seed capsule

Spatterdock Seed Capsule

The base of knowledge of the combined BAA blog audience is astounding. Thanks to Larry Master for sending me a link that enabled me to properly identify the seed capsule of this common aquatic plant, Yellow Pond Lily, AKA Spatterdock. The actual flowers are round and yellow. Click here to learn more about Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar luteum).

The bare Sony 70-200 II is an amazingly versatile lens. Adding either teleconverter increases the usefulness of the lens exponentially. Imagine a small, lightweight rig, the 70-200/2X TC/a-1 combo, that is great for birds in flight, great for tight head shots of tame birds, great for photographing bird behavior, and can also be used for medium-sized and large flowers (or seed capsules). The Spatterdock seed capsule above is less than one inch in diameter.

This image was created on 2 December 2023 near the pier at Indian Lake Estates. While standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter (at 400mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 12:30:20pm on a then cloudy afternoon. Tracking: Zone/AF-C performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Sandhill Crane with dried grasses in bill

Loving the Peashooter Rig on Cloudy Day Walks

As noted here previously, I recently began taking my Vitamin D (no shirt) walks with the Sony 70-200 f/2.8 II/2X TC/a-1 rig in hand. It is light and amazingly versatile. The powers that be at ILE recently spent at least a few thousand bucks to construct a small beach just left of the pier. So far, no human has made use of the new “recreational area.” The birds — mostly cranes, vultures, and Killdeer, however, spend lots of time there. And the sand makes a nice background.

The cranes have been courting for about a month now. Grabbing a mouth full of dried grasses and then tossing the grass up in the air is part of their ritual.
When this happens, the pair will begin to dance, jumping into the air and flapping, all toward the end of cementing the pair bond.

This image was created on 3 December 2023 on the pier at Indian Lake Estates. While standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter (zoomed out to 294mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Multi-metering +2.3 stops in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO set ISO 12800: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 9:11:02am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #5: Boat-tailed Grackle — dorsal view of male in flight

High ISO, Dorsal View, Spread Tail Flight

It would be hard to imagine a more dynamic flight pose. Working in Shutter Priority with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the Thumb Dial and AUTO ISO, enables me to point and shoot, having only to adjust the EC. It does take some experience to get close on the exposures. The small size and light weight of the peashooter rig is a godsend when you are attempting to photograph small, fast songbirds in flight.

This image was created on 8 December 2023. Seated in my SUV, I used the BLUBB-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1000: 1/800 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:56:16am on a partly cloudy morning. Tracking Expand Spot/AF-C performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, sharper, high-res version. Image #6: Cooper’s Hawk on The Perch Thanks to Ryan Sanderson for suggesting that my original ID — Sharp-shinned Hawk, was incorrect.

First-Ever

As I mentioned last week, I had my first-ever Sharp-shinned Hawk on The Perch, the perch that I erected several years ago with the help of my ILE-neighbor, Ralph. Long story’s short, I realized after I began my approach that I had “only” the 1.4X TC on the lens and that the 2X TC was in the rear hatch. Nonetheless, I was happy with the result and loved the right-down-the-lens barrel stare showing both eyes. And the superb a-1 image quality allowed for about a 50% crop.

This image was also created on 9 December 2023 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height down by a canal, I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640: 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 8:54:24am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #7: Sandhill Crane gaining altitude just after taking flight

Accidental Crane

I was surprised when a pair of cranes walked up to the thirty or so Black Vultures feeding on a rotten Black Drum carcass. I missed several interactions as the cranes gave the vultures “what for.” Then I missed the first crane taking off, but was ready for the second one. Though the vanes of the vulture feathers and the legs have some bright highlights, the adult crane’s white cheek patch is brighter still; thus, I reduced the ISO by 1 click, 1/3-stop an round up with another perfect exposure.

This image was created on 10 December 2023. Seated in my SUV, I used the handheld(!) Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1250: 1/2000 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:58:24am on a variably cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger, sharper, high-res version. Image #8: Crested Caracara taking flight

Handheld at 840mm

With the pair of caracaras on the ground, I was working with the 600 and the 1.4X TC off the BLUBB. When I saw several Black Vultures flying in to grab the fish skin that the caracaras were ripping up, I anticipated that they would take flight into the southeast wind. As I was fairly close to the birds and it is difficult for me to handhold the 600 for more than a few moments, I clipped wings in all but three images in the 15-frame sequence. One, however, is all it takes 🙂

The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.

The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide

126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.

Purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.

I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back-and-forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Below are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide. Please note that last season, Gatorland did not offer a Photographer’s Pass.

• Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
• Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
• The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
• Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
• Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
• Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
• West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here, if you are lucky, you will have a chance for two difficult birds: Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
• Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.

Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.

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

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Clockwise from the upper left: in pink/purple predawn reflections; squabbling over feeding territory; with wings raised; with sand flea; ruffling after bath; on the edge of the surf with one foot raised. Be sure to click on the composite image to view a larger, sharper high-res version. Morro Bay Long-billed Curlew Images

2024 Morro Bay 3 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): WED 7 FEB through the morning session on SAT 10 FEB 2024: $1999 (Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 5).

There will be a short Meet and Greet after dinner on your own at 7:00pm on TUES 6 FEB 2024.

Join me in one of the most beautiful and scenic places on the planet to photograph a large variety of birds of sea and shore. As above, the star of the show will be Long-billed Curlew. There will be lots of Marbled Godwits, Whimbrels, and Willets as well, and lots of the smaller shorebird species like Black and Ruddy Turnstone. Black Oystercatcher is likely and we should get to photograph large flocks of Western Sandpipers in flight over the bay. With any luck we should enjoy some colorful sunrises and sunsets. There are lots of gulls including Western, California, and Mew. There is one location where we may get to photograph Western, Clarke’s, Eared, and Pied-billed Grebe, Lesser Scaup, and Common Loon. We may run into some passerines including Anna’s Hummingbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, and White-crowned Sparrow. And we have a chance for several species of raptors. Yikes, I almost forgot California Poppy, California Ground Squirrel, and Sea Otter.

The Details

This IPT will include four 3-hour morning photo sessions and three 2-hour afternoons (all times are approximate and dependent on conditions, most especially the weather), three working (image review and Photoshop) brunches (included), and of course tons of great in-the-field instruction photographic instruction. Each working brunch will be followed by Instructor Nap Time (INT). On cloudy days with a poor afternoon forecast, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a single long session and skip the afternoon. To ensure very early starts and that you get some sleep, breakfasts and dinners will be your responsibility. This IPT will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone.

Your $699 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim during weekday business hours before noon Eastern time at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance and instructions for sending your check two months before the trip begins. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions and clothing and gear advice two months before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.

IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.

Clockwise from the upper left: Great Egret fishing at sunset; pair of Western Gulls; Bird-Sh_t Rock at sunset; pan blur of the beach north of the rock on a foggy morning; shorebird flock over bay at sunset; Wild Turkey tom strutting. Be sure to click on the composite image to view a larger, sharper high-res version. Morro Bay Miscellaneous

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field as early as possible and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors as is pretty much the case on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty sleep and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving. Or watching folk leave the beach just before the western sky lights up.

What You Will Learn

I short, you will learn more than you could ever have dreamed of. All will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button. Everyone will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them, to understand and predict bird behavior, to identify many species of shorebirds, to spot the good situations, to choose the best perspective, to see and understand the light, and to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system. Most importantly, you will surely learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. And you will learn how and why to work in Manual mode. The best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever and whenever you photograph.

This image was created on 15 January 2009 with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 400. Aperture Priority +1 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 3:34pm on a sunny afternoon. Be sure to click on the image to view a larger, sharper high-res version. Long-billed Curlew with tiny fish

Getting Back to Morro Bay

I am excited about getting back to Morro Bay, especially considering that I will have my Sony Gear with me. All of the images in today’s post were created about ten or more years ago. The AF systems on the Canon gear I was using then were crude at best as compared to the AF systems of today’s amazing mirrorless bodies. The Sony a-1, IMHO, is the best of the lot by far. If you would like to know why I am positive that the Sony a-1 is the best camera for bird photography, click here to shoot me an e-mail request.

The Stars of the Morro Bay Show!

The target species for nearly all avian photographers visiting bird-rich Morro Bay, CA at any season but summer is North America’s largest most spectacular shorebird, Long-billed Curlew. With their long decurved bills, these birds are adept at grabbing sand crabs on the edge of the surf and probing deeply into wet sand and mud to extract fiddler crabs from their burrows. The bills of the females, which often exceed nine inches in length, are longer than the bills of the males. At Morro Bay, this species is common in fall, winter, and early spring and are often easily approached. And best of all, there is tons of action — flight, feeding on sand crab, squabbles with other species, and bathing.

This image was created on 14 January 2015 with a handheld Canon 100-400mm lens and the EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 800. Aperture Priority +1/3-stop: 1/100 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at just before sunset on a partly cloudy afternoon. Be sure to click on the image to view a larger, sharper high-res version. Long-billed Curlew at sunset

Image Quality Then and Now

As I re-processed most of the images use here today, I quickly came to realize how inferior the raw files are as compared to the raw files that I create today with my Sony a-1. As mentioned above, the older AF systems were simply not capable of consistently creating sharp-on-the-face-and-eye images. Today, image sharpness is taken for granted by competent shooters most of the time. Exacerbating the soft focus problem is the fact that the image quality of the files rendered by the older cameras is dismal when compared to what is routine today. The larger files sizes — 51 MP with the Sony a-1, for example — and the huge improvement in sensor technology makes it painfully obvious that we are living in a dream world today. Don’t get me wrong, processed following my latest BIRDS AS ART digital workflow, many of the older images made with my Canon gear stand up just fine for web use and many would surely make fine prints. When taking a close look by zooming in in Photoshop, however, the differences in image quality are obvious and huge (even to someone like me who does not have a good eye for fine detail). Not to mention that the vast superiority of today’s best mirrorless camera bodies in all three major system includes their hard-to–believe high ISO renderings.

The Digital Basics III Video Series

The Digital Basics III Video Series

I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.

As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here and Volume I/#2 here.

You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

When Conditions are Tough, Don’t Quit: Be Creative and Strive to Hone Your Low Light Skills

Or you can stand around chatting with other photographers; bird photography, like life, is about choices.

Guido Bee: December 2, 2023 at 1:07pm

I’m with Joel. On-line d-o-f calculator shows 1200 mm at F/12.7 and 35 feet (just a guess, but it does not change very much) is 0.09 feet in front and also in back of the plane of focus. That’s about an inch either side. Nice shots. I’m partial to the hawk, but that’s just me.
Thanks for all your work in putting this out there for us. All the best.

Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART: December 3, 2023 at 8:20am

Hey Guy, Both correct on the d-o-f question.

with love, artie

Please Remember

Please remember that the BIRDS AS ART blog is designed to be interactive. The more answers and comments that a post garners, the more you and I will learn. But only 100% of the time.

Your Call?

Which of today’s five featured bad weather images do you like best? Why?

What’s Up?

As you can tell from the title, Friday morning at Sebastian was not very good and the weather was beyond lousy for the most part. On Saturday morning, I put out the smelly rotted Black Drum carcass down by the lake. Conditions were perfect with cloudy-bright skies and a southeast winds. The vultures were slow at finding the bait but I persisted and was rewarded with one of my best ever road-kill cafe mornings. Details soon.

I took a midmorning walk with the peashooter rig, the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II lens, the 2X TC, and an a-1, and again, got a few ones.

Today is Sunday 3 December 2023. It is 7:26am and I am almost ready to publish today’s offering. It is cloudy, very dark, and foggy but I will head down to the lake in a bit to see what I can see and see what I can learn. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

This image was also created on 1 December 2023 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Standing at full height I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Multi-metering +2.7 stops in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO set ISO 4000: 1/20 sec. at f/4 (wide open). Tracking: Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #1: Black Skimmers in flight — blur

How Dark Was It?

There were huge dark clouds to the southeast when I walked out onto the small jetty. Making sharp images of birds in flight was simply not an option. I went to my standard pre-dawn blur set-up: Shutter Priority with AUTO ISO and Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. At +2.7 stops, I wound up at ISO 4000 at 1/20 second. That is dark!

Despite shooting at +2.7 stops, this image was still a bit underexposed. My understanding of the best exposures for per-dawn blurs increased astronomically when I began evaluating raw file exposures and brightness with RawDigger.

I had lots of chances as this small flock of skimmers coursed up and down the inlet. One of the nice things about Shutter Priority is that you can easily vary your shutter speeds to create a variety of looks.

A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

Learn everything there is to know about creating pleasingly blurred images in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly. This 20,585 word, 271 page PDF is illustrated with 144 different, exciting, and artistic images. The guide covers the basics of creating pleasingly blurred images, the factors that influence the degree of blurring, the use of filters in creating pleasing blurs, and a great variety of both in-the-field and Photoshop techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images.

Artie and Denise teach you many different ways to move your lens during the exposure to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images of flowers and trees and water and landscapes. They will teach you to recognize situations where subject movement can be used to your advantage to create pan blurs, wind blurs, and moving water blurs. They will teach you to create zoom-blurs both in the field and during post-processing. Artie shares the techniques that he has used and developed for making blurred images of flocks of geese in flight at his beloved Bosque del Apache and Denise shares her flower blur magic as well as a variety of creative Photoshop techniques that she has developed.

With the advent of digital capture creating blurred images has become a great and inexpensive way to go out with your camera and have fun. And while many folks think that making successful blurred images is the result of being a sloppy photographer, nothing could be further from the truth. In “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” Artie and Denise will help you to unleash your creative self.

This image was also created on 1 December 2023 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Crouching a bit behind my somewhat lowered tripod — I pulled the front leg out, I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Multi-metering +2.3 stops in Shutter Priority mode. AUTO ISO set ISO 2500: 1/60 sec. at f/4 (wide open). Tracking: Zone/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #2: Reddish Egret non-breeding head and shoulders portrait

Honing Your Low Light Skills

When things are crappy, it is a great time to improve your low light/slow shutter speed sharpness techniques, not to mention lots of opportunities to work on high ISO exposures.

Without a ton of wind and with a still subject, I am confident of making sharp images with the 600mm f/4 on the tripod at 1/60 second. Amazingly, that is true with either the 1.4X TC or the 2X TC in the mix. There were several Reddish Egrets posing near the shore, some perched on rocks. There was a group of four or five photographers chatting, standing under the bridge to stay out of the rain. Nobody seemed at all interested in trying to be creative, improving their skills, or learning anything. Lousy weather gives you the opportunity to do all those things at once.

I did seek shelter once or twice during the morning when it began to rain really hard. But for the most part, there was a light drizzle early on that let up as the morning progressed.

The Image Optimizations

As regular readers know, properly exposed to the right raw files will look washed out and boring. I followed my current workflow and brought the images to life. With Image #2 in particular, the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool made it easy to juice up the colors so that they matched what I saw in real time. Learn how in The Digital Basics III Video Series. Volume I/#2 was distributed to subscribers on Tuesday past and will be available for sale on Tuesday for those who wish to purchase single videos.

This image was also created on 1 December 2023 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Standing at full height I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1250. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/125 sec. at f/5.6 (stopped down 1-stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:07:01am on a cloudy, drizzly morning. Tracking: Expand Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #3: Ruddy Turnstone shaking head after bath

The Violently Spinning Head Shot Blur

After shaking water off their feathers, most birds will spend a good deal of time preening after they bathe. On occasion, they will spin their heads violently while maintaining their feathers. I was attracted to this preening bird because of the relatively clean sand. Once the subject began ruffling its feathers, I pounded on the shutter button. The intermediate shutter speed of 1/125 second was capable of rending the eyes sharp when the bird ruffled its feathers, but with the violent head spin, it created a really neat blur effect. Though I am very selective in general, there may be some great benefits to holding the shutter button down when photographing action (and flight).

This image was also created on 1 December 2023 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Standing at full height I used the handheld (!) Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1250. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:22:28am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #4: Royal Tern wheeling in flight — wings fully down

I Must Be Getting Stronger: Hand Holding the 600mm F/4 GM

When I headed back to the jetty, I went with the 600 on the tripod, but there were very few Ospreys in the air. There were, however, lots of Royal Tern fishing at relatively close range. So, I took the 600 out of the levered-clamp and hand held it for about twenty minutes without a problem. If, and only if, you are able to handhold a lens comfortably, it will always be easier to pan with a bird in flight and keep it in the center of the frame than it is when working off a tripod and attempting to do the same thing.

I was happy that when I did head back to the car I had zero right shoulder pain and zero left elbow and left wrist pain. If I had kept at it for too long, I would surely have paid a somewhat painful price.

Image #4: Close-up of damaged bill — Royal Tern wheeling in flight — wings fully down

Damaged Bill

I used the new Remove Tool (as detailed in The Digital Basics III Video Series) to repair the badly damaged bill of this tern. I continued discovering more and more about this amazing new Photoshop Tool and am including what I learn in each new video. I wind up using it only virtually every image that I process.

This image was also created on 1 December 2023 at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Standing at full height I used the handheld (!) Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1250. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:23:19am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #5: Royal Tern in flight with pinfish

Not Too Smart

I have stated for years, “If you head into the field wearing shorts or a short-sleeved shirt, only bad things can happen. You might get lucky, but …

As it had warmed up considerably as it brightened slightly, I removed my rain pants and my long-sleeved shirt. When the wind dropped away, the no-see-ums appeared and began chewing on any exposed areas of skin. That is why I lasted only 20 minutes or so. Again :-), I need to learn to listen to my own advice.

The Digital Basics III Video Series

The Digital Basics III Video Series

I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.

As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here.

You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

What’s Up?

Yesterday Jim sent DB III, Volume I/#2 to all who purchased the Digital Basic III Video series. If you wish to purchase the series at this point, you will receive the first two videos as soon as we process your order and the next three about one every week or so. I will share details on DB III, Volume I/#2 in the next blog post when it will be available for purchase as a single video.

I was glad to learn yesterday that good friend and many multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown will be joining me on the first San Diego IPT.

I took a walk with the peashooter rig yesterday when it clouded over. I created 376 images and kept three.

Today is Wednesday 29 November 2023. It is the coldest morning of the season. The temperature in the house was 71° when I awoke and the pool was down to 72.7°; the low overnight temps overwhelmed the heater. It will be another cold half-mile swim today. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

This image was created on 21 November 2023. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 500: 1/400 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:51:30am, right after sunrise on a partly cloudy morning. Tracking Zone/AF-C performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger, sharper, high-res version. Image #1: Osprey carrying fish

Coming or Going?

Is the bird in Image #1 flying toward me or away from me? How do you know?

Why So Slow?

Looking at the EXIF above, many would ask, “Why 1/400 second shutter speed? You recommend at least 1/2500 or 1/3200 second as a minimum shutter speed?”

I had been doing blurs in Manual mode. When I visualized a possible decent image, I raised the shutter speed a bunch of clicks and lowered the ISO a bunch of clicks. I got the exposure right but was way short on shutter speed. But with the bird a good distance away, it was rendered sharp. I had gotten lucky. I did fail to mention one important principle yesterday: at a given shutter speed, the degree of blurring increases as the distance to the subject decreases.

Had I been working in Shutter Priority as detailed in yesterday’s blog post, I would have only needed to change one parameter instead of two and could have easily gotten to a much faster shutter speed.

On the morning of 21 November 2023 there were lots of Ospreys in the air but not many diving and even fewer catching. Otherwise, it was a great morning with 92 keepers; Royal and Caspian Terns, Laughing, Ring-billed, immature Herring, and adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Great and Reddish Egret, Brown Pelican, Ruddy Turnstone and Willet (among others!) Not to mention dozens of Wood Storks.

Sebastian Inlet — It Ain’t Just Osprey

Most photographers visit Sebastian Inlet with eyes only for Osprey. When the Osprey action is lacking, there are lots of other great avian subjects to shoot. The fact is, however, that most photographers ignore the other birds. And if on occasion, they get so bored by the lack of action that they point there lenses at the gulls, terns, shorebirds, and wading birds, they carelessly work well off sun angle with total disregard for the wind.

As mentioned previously, the key to making superb photographs at Sebastian (or anywhere else), is to understand the relationship of the wind strength and direction, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. Learn to do just that by joining me on this coming Friday or Saturday at Sebastian. The morning forecasts are again dead-said perfect as was the case on 21 NOV. In addition, the tide is perfect as well.

If you would like to join me for one or both mornings, please call my cell at 863-221-2372 ASAP. Please shoot me a text if I do not pick up. I need to know no later than today at 7:00pm — earlier is of course better. If you want to do the two mornings, we can share an AirBnB.

Clockwise from the upper left back around to center: Osprey gaining altitude after missed strike; school of mullet under attack from below; Wood Stork with Southern Whiting; Osprey with Menhaden; Wood Stork with small lobster; Royal Tern with large baitfish; Osprey with Menhaden; juvenile Osprey directly overhead “t-shot”; Osprey taking flight with freshly caught Mullet.

Sebastian Inlet In-the-Field Sessions

Join me for 3 hours of morning or afternoon In-the-Field Instruction at Sebastian Inlet for only $300.00/session (or $500 for a full day with two sessions). The main target will be fishing Ospreys hunting for a variety of migrating saltwater fish that visit the inlet each fall. Back-up subjects include fishing gulls, terns, and Brown Pelicans, Wood Stork, a variety of herons and egrets, shorebirds, sunrise cloud-scapes, and the occasional sea turtle or manatee.

Best Current Dates: Friday 1 and Saturday 2 December 2023.

Please get in touch via e-mail or call my cell at 863-221-2372 ASAP to book one or more sessions. Please shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

Click on the composite to view a larger version and be even more impressed. The Art & Science of Photographing Birds in Flight with the Sony α-1 e-Book/PDF link sent via e-mail: $150.00

The Art & Science of Photographing Birds in Flight with the Sony α-1

by Arash Hazeghi and Arthur Morris

First of all, if you use Nikon or Canon (or Olympus or Fuji) gear, do not be put off by the title. While a portion of the guide deals with the Sony α-1, there is a ton of priceless information, tips, and techniques that can help you become a better flight photographer. No matter what system you are using. If you do not use an α-1, be sure to read down to the bottom to save a few bucks.

Arash Hazeghi and Arthur Morris have created the definitive and most comprehensive ever treatise on photographing birds in flight. With more than sixty years of experience photographing birds, they know what you need to know but have not figured out yet! You will be astounded by the depth of their knowledge and the tips they have to offer. More than six months in the making, the guide contains 229 pages, 24,321 words,97 exceptional and inspirational flight images — each with a legendary, enlightening BIRDS AS ART caption, and 22 screen captures. The guide contains a wealth of useful, practical, and for the most part — never-before-available information.

Purchase

Click here to purchase your copy in the BAA Online Store.

What Everyone Will Learn

We will teach you the basic concepts that you need to master to become a great flight photographer along with the techniques used by the world’s best flight photographers.

You will learn that most any telephoto lens can be perfect for flight photography in a given situation; focal lengths for the images in the book range from 200mm to 1200mm and everywhere in between.

We discuss the merits of various lenses in depth, including and especially comparing the 400mm f/2.8 lenses with the 600mm f/4s.

We guide you in getting your hands on the flight photography lens that will best meet your needs. We offer a variety of handholding and rest position tips and include tips on working with a big lens on a tripod when working with a flight lens that is otherwise too heavy for you.

Both authors offer their thoughts on getting the right exposure when photographing birds in flight. You will learn to get the right exposure on foggy days and even when photographing black birds in white sky conditions.

You will learn the tremendous importance of pre-focusing, of finding the bird in the viewfinder quickly, acquiring focus almost instantly (with tips on doing all three).

You will learn the role of image stabilization in flight photography and the best settings.

Both authors share their thoughts on using the focus range limiter switch. In the same vein, you will learn to use Direct Manual Focus to make your flight photography life easier.

All will learn about the best wing positions and the importance of the background with images of birds in flight. With lots of examples.

You will learn about the best shutter speeds (and the best aperture) to use when photographing flying birds.

You will learn to photograph flight while seated and the many advantages of doing so.

You will learn the best methods of controlling high ISO noise.

All will learn to format their flash cards properly and safely.

You will learn what to do when your AF system is temporarily blinded.

All will learn the huge effect that wind strength and direction has on flight photography and to evaluate the quality and direction of the light on both sunny and cloudy days.

You will learn why it is vitally important to shoot aggressively when photographing birds in flight.

You will learn to carefully observe and evaluate a variety of bird behaviors that may shine light on some excellent opportunities for photographing birds in flight. And about getting into the best position from which to photograph.

You will learn to be a much better flight photographer.

What Sony Folks Will Learn

Exactly how Artie uses Zebras to come up with perfect exposure after perfect exposure.

The fine points and recommended settings for Optical Steady Shot (OSS).

The concept of Auto-Focus (AF) tracking in the α-1.

Everything there is to know about the complex Sony autofocus system.

About all the AF patterns, how to quickly switch them, and about those favored by each author. And why.

The Tracking and Non-tracking AF patterns. When and why Arash uses Non-Tracking Zone. And why Artie uses only two AF patterns.

How to set and use Bird Face-Eye detection for flight photography.

How and why to assign various custom functions to the various programmable buttons on the α-1 body.

The perfect settings for the many, many Menu items that are vitally related to flight photography.

How and why the Sony α-1 uses both contrast and phase detection AF to determine focus (and the benefits thereof).

Which are the best memory cards for the Sony α-1.

To quickly access frequently used menu items.

Non-Sony α-1 Discount

Using the honor system, folks who do not use a Sony α-1 body are invited to click here to save $25.00 on the purchase price of the guide.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.