I had not realized when I awoke yesterday that it had rained overnight (for the first time in many weeks). A front had gone through, there was a brisk northwest wind, and the temps were in the high 50s, a far cry from the near-90-degree afternoons we had been experiencing recently. I discovered that one of Old Gnarly’s two chicks had perished. The two larger colts were foraging with their parents. But I was attracted by a fair-sized flock of about 40 Cattle Egrets hunkered down at the edge of a canal. I concentrated on them and wound up doing quite well.
It is cold and dead-clear here this morning, Thursday 2 APR 2020. I will be heading down to the lake at about 7:30am.
Tripod Handling
Many folks do not know the correct and easy way to extend their tripod legs or to shorten them. I’ve seen folks on IPTs and folks in the field struggle terribly with these most basic of tasks. This short video will show you exactly how to perform these simple but very important procedures. There are also some tips on setting up your brand-new tripod.
LB. ST.
Lengthen from the bottom, shorten from the top. Be sure to always leave two to three inches of the bottom leg extended. Always. And be sure to purchase your Induro tripod here. For tripod advice, please contact me via e-mail.
If you have a tripod-related question, please leave a comment below.
Yesterday, I decided to sell all of my SONY gear and return to Nikon because I miss the 500 PF too much! SONY fire sale coming soon.
What’s Up?
I went back down to the lake on Tuesday afternoon. With a stiff west wind, there were whitecaps on the lake. I had some good chances with Crested Caracara; two have been hanging around for the past few days. I will be heading down to the lake again this morning, WED 1 APR 2020.
COVID-19
Below is a comment by award-winning photographer Paul Mckenzie at the blog post here.
There needs to be a complete mind-shift in the US/EU. Here in Hong Kong where I live, more than 99% of the population has been wearing masks since January. We have had relatively few cases and single-digit numbers of deaths. The vast majority of positive cases are from persons that have recently been in the US and EU. Masks work big time especially if everyone uses them. However, I do appreciate that there are shortages of masks in many geographies. I cringe when I see un-masked US politicians speaking into microphones …
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane colt, head portrait
Clean, Tight, and Graphic
Clean, tight, and graphic has been the hallmark of my BIRDS AS ART style for well more than three decades. I do my best to follow my own oft-given advice: When the light is bright, think tight.. Since I’ve always been a head-hunter, Image #1 put a big smile on my face.
This image was also created om 29 MAR 2020. For this one I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 220mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode; I went for lots of Zebras on the white sky. AWB at 8:18am on a suddenly cloudy morning.
Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly.
Image #2: Sandhill Crane colt and pine tree bird-scape
Thinking Wide …
The colt in Image #2 was about 30 feet from me. When it was a bit closer to me, I made some very lovely 3/4-frame vertical portraits of the whole bird at 353mms. I am not sure how I conceived this image, but I zoomed out, decided where to cut the pine tree, used Tracking Flexible Spot M to place the bird in the lower-left corner of the frame, and made only two images, almost as an afterthought … Bird-scapes rarely excite me. I kept only this one with the bird’s bill slightly open.
Which is the Best Image?
Which of today’s two featured images is the best? Be sure to let us know why you made your choice.
840mm and 200-600 Versatility
When I first got the SONY 600 GM, I assumed that there would be a lot of focal length overlap with the 200-600. But once I realized that I almost always used the 600 with a teleconverter — usually the 1.4X, it became obvious that having the 200-600 on my shoulder via an Black Rapdi Curve Breathe strap with the 600/1.4X TC rig on the tripod was a deadly, effective, and hugely versatile combination … To bad I am ging back to Nikon. Or is today April Fool’s Day?
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store đŸ™‚
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
I was down at the lake by 8:00am on Monday 30 MAR 2020. For the first time in a week, I could not locate the crane family — two adults with two colts — in the marsh at the south end of the South Peninsula. With a nice breeze from the west, flying Ospreys were out as well. I did a few foraging Cattle Egrets and headed back home early. I needed to get to the post office for the first time in two weeks, needed gas, needed to pick up two pairs of new reading glasses, and needed to do aa bit of shopping.
I’ve been swimming and doing my bursts every day.
Stunned
With a mask over my nose and mouth, my left hand in my pocket with my credit card and car keys, and a glove on my right to do the cart-pushing and shopping, I completed all of my tasks in short order. Though the number of cases in Polk County, FL is relatively low at 34, that number is double what it was two days ago. Anyhoo, I was stunned while shopping to note only two other shoppers wearing protection on their hands, and perhaps four others wearing masks. That left more than one hundred folks in Publix and WalMart touching public surfaces with impunity.
I repeat from an earlier blog post, the easiest way to become infected with COVID-19 (if you are not a health care provider), is to touch a public surface and then touch your mouth, noses, or eyes.. When are folks gonna get it?
Actually from the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website
There have been lots of bogus lists being circulated online. Below is a direct cut and paste from the Johns Hopkins Medicine website here.
Reviewed By: Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.
To help lessen the spread of the new coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease it causes, here are important steps that can help protect you, your family and others. Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Medicine, shares these guidelines:
Avoid close contact with others.
It’s important to understand that the new coronavirus spreads mainly from person to person. If an infected person coughs or sneezes, their droplets can infect people nearby. That’s why it’s important to avoid close contact with others. Understand that people (including children) may be infected with the new coronavirus and have only mild symptoms.
Some measures you can take to avoid close contact with others include:
Stay home as much as possible and reduce visitors.
Practice social distancing:
Stay at least six feet away from others in public places.
Call friends and family or visit by video.
Ask your employer if it’s possible to work from home.
Avoid people who appear sick.
Go grocery shopping and run errands during off-peak times.
Healthy people do not need to wear a mask unless they are caring for someone diagnosed with, or being monitored for, COVID-19, or respiratory illness.
Practice good hygiene wherever you are.
The new coronavirus can survive for hours or even days on some surfaces. Touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face is one of the ways to become infected.
The virus is no longer detectable on plastic after 72 hours, and on stainless steel or cardboard after about 48 hours. With that in mind:
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, especially:
After being in public places and touching door handles, shopping carts, elevator buttons, etc.
After using the bathroom
Before preparing food
If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
If you cough or sneeze, do so in the bend of your elbow. If you use a tissue, throw it away immediately.
Almost all good advice (as I see it), but again I am stunned as there is no mention at all of avoiding touching public surfaces with unprotected hands …
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
i-Phone 11 Video
I created this short video on Saturday morning past. The day began as a gloriously sunny one but clouds moved in very quickly. Yes, this crane family is inordinately accepting. I went to video after trying to do some head-shots showing the adult handing off a fat mole cricket or another tasty morsel. My best (not very good) effort is below. Sometimes we just need to sit back and enjoy the show.
Best not to enlarge when viewing as I use a low quality setting to reduce upload times …
This image was created om 29 MAR 2020. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 324mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:41am on a suddenly very cloudy morning.
Center Zone AF-C had some problems as the adult was jabbing violently into thee soil. But it worked for this frame.
Sandhill Crane adult and hungry and attentive colt
My Best Effort
This was the lone keeper from more than 100 attempts. I did get some really good stuff when the sun was out earlier.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store đŸ™‚
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who regularly visit the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
