October 18th, 2019 What’s Up?
Very early on Thursday morning, someone dumped a load of stale bread, pretzels, and apples on the grass at the parking circle near the pier. When I arrived for my walk, there were lots of Boat-tailed Grackles. But when I finished there were several Turkey Vultures dining on bread and apples. Go figure. I set up my Induro GIT 304 in the car topped by the FlexShooter Pro and went to work at 1200mm with the a7r IV. Photos and more soon.
I was pleased to learn recently of the sale of Don Carter’s SONY a7r III, the sale of Larry Masters’ Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, the sale of Bill Hill’s Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, and the sale Mark Overgaard’s Canon EOS 7D Mark II. I sold my gripped D850 and my 500 PF. In addition, the following sales became pending yesterday: Larry Master’s Canon 5D Mark IV, Anthony Ardito’s gripped D-850, his Nikon 500 PF, his Nikon 24-70, and his Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 –all on the first day of listing! In addition, the sale of my Nikon 600 VR also became pending yesterday. There are still lots of great buys available on the Used Photo Gear page here.
I am thisclose to finishing the Nikon D850 User’s Guide and Video.
Galapagos 2020?
If you are interested in learning about a possible Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, September 29-October 13 on the boat (travel dates: 27 SEPT to Guayaquil and fly home on 14 OCT) please get in touch via e-mail. I will need at least eight deposits by December 1, 2019. Details will be announced here soon.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. Most recently the price of used Canon 600mm f/L IS II lenses have been dropping like a rock with the introduction of the 600 III. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
As used gear sales have slowed a bit in recent months — especially with dSLR bodies, there are lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens
Larry Master, multiple IPT participant who will be joining me again on the upcoming Bosque IPT, is offering a Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM lens in like-new condition for $6,199.00. The sale includes the front lens cover, the rear lens cap, the lens strap, the lens truck with keys, the original product box, an Aquatech silicone lens cap, a Lenscoat, an off-brand low foot, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Larry via e-mail or by phone at 1-518-645-1545 Eastern time.
The 500mm f/4 super-telephoto lenses have long been the world’s most popular for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. Canon’s Series II version is light, fast, super-sharp, and, in competent hands, produces amazing images with both the 1.4X and 2X III TCs. The 500 II is relatively small, easily hand-holdable for some folks, and is much easier to travel with, focuses closer than, and costs a lot less than the 600 II. The lighter 600 III costs an astounding $12,999.00. Lastly, and you might find this amazing, the magnification for the 500 II is the same as it is for the 600 II: .15X. How is that possible? Magnification is calculated at the minimum focusing distance of the lens — 12.14 feet (3.7 meters) for the 500 II and 14.77 feet (4.5 meters) for the 600 II. Simply put, the 500 II focuses more than two feet closer than the 600 II. The seller for the last one that sold here had five calls the first day; the first four folks quibbled on price. The fifth one jumped right on it … Please do not tarry if you are seriously interested in Larry’s lens as it too should sell quite quickly. Or not 🙂 As the 500 II goes for $8999.00 new, you will be getting a practically new copy and saving a very nice $2,800.00! I loved my 500 II. artie
IPT Updates
- The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
- The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
FlexShooter Pro News
All FlexShooter Pro BigFeet are now in stock in the BAA Online Store. You can click on the chart above or here for more information.
Coming Soon
The FlexShooter Mini
The Mini has experienced further unavoidable production delays.
Several months ago I had a FlexShooter Mini to test on both the UK Puffins and Gannets IPT and the Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. It is a smaller, lighter (one pound!) version of the amazing FlexShooter Pro. I used it often with both the Nikon 500 PF and the SONY 100-400 GM with great success and in a pinch, I was able to make sharper images with the Nikon 600 and the TC-E14. All with the Mini mounted on the lighter Induro GIT 204. I suggested to developer/manufacturer Csaba Karai that the Mini needed a bit more spring tension. As there was a problem getting the balls for the new Minis anodized properly, delivery will be delayed several weeks. 🙁 When we do receive our first shipment, the Minis will have my suggested changes.
The FlexShooter Mini with the lighter Induro GIT 204 is dead-solid-perfect for those whose intermediate telephoto or telephoto zoom is their workhorse lens for bird and nature photography. It will sell for $579 plus shipping. Folks who wish to be assured of getting one from our first shipment can order theirs by phone by calling Jim at 863-692-0906 asap. Your card will not be charged until your Mini is shipped. We already have five orders to ship from our first shipment.
FlexShooter Pro Update
We currently have only two FlexShooter Pro heads in stock here. All BigFeet are in stock in the BAA Online Store here. Click here to access the pretty-much-complete FlexShooter Pro story with videos.
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
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This image was created on September 28, 2019 on the Fort DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/4000 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode was about +1 1/3 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 8:32am in sunny morning.
Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection.
Click the image to see a larger version and see if you can spot the red jighead …
Image #1: Immature Brown Pelican in wings up flight
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Standing for Tripod-mounted Flight Photography
Today’s featured images were created at the same location as the striking Great Egret images in the blog post here. For that series, I was seated behind my lower tripod. I know some folks who can shoot flight off the tripod while seated, and even a few who can do the same thing while lying prone. But not me. When shooting flight off a tripod with a big super-telephoto lens my great preference is to stand at full height behind my tripod with the viewfinder just at or slightly below eye level. At the beach, try to pick a fairly level spot and make sure that the legs of your tripod are seated firmly in the sand.
FlexShooter Pro Beach Tip
When setting up your tripod in the parking lot, pull out the legs of your tripod one at a time. After the first leg is extended to the height that you want, place the tip of that leg on the ground and pull the other two legs out until they hit the ground so that the tips of the second and third legs extend to the exact same length as the first leg. Now spread the legs of your tripod and check the bubble level on the tripod platform; the bubble will be perfectly centered in the scribed circle. Next, after making sure that the three legs are fully spread and firmly seated, loosen the black lever on the FlexShooter Pro and level the large silver ball perfectly by centering the bubble in the scribed circle.
Now when you begin photographing on the beach, pick a relatively flat spot and note the location of the bubble with relation to the scribed circle on the tripod platform. With just a bit of practice, it becomes easy to center the bubble on the tripod platform in the scribed circle by pulling one or two tripod legs in and seating each firmly in the sand; when the bubble is centered, you are ready to start shooting without having to loosen the black lever and level the large silver ball of the FlexShooter Pro. You need to trust me here: after a bit of practice, leveling the tripod platform becomes easy with a bit of practice. You can even learn to do it quickly when standing in the water and working on a shifting-sands substrate.
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Image #1A: Capture One unsharpened 300% screen capture
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The Red Jighead & Bird Rescue
While converting the RAW file in Capture One, I noted a small red (baited?) jighead with the hook stuck in the pelican’s underwing secondary coverts. Almost anywhere that folks are fishing in Florida, pelicans are getting hooked. About 22 years ago at Blind Pass on Captiva, I was carrying a young pelican to my car. I was going to bring it to the local bird rescue operation as it had a single 8/0 O’Shaughnessy hook deep in its neck. The young bird died in my arms …
If you frequent such areas — they are often quite good for bird photography — it is a good plan to have a few numbers for local bird rescue folks on your cell phone. As I spend a lot of time at DeSoto, I have two numbers for the great folks at Birds in Helping Hands (wildlife rescue, rehab, & release) on my i-Phone8+. They even come for gulls!
SONY a7r IV Resolution
If you are not as impressed with the resolution of SONY a7r IV image files as I am, try blowing up some of your images to 300% and see how they stand up … Notice also the complete absence of noise at 300%.
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This image was also created on September 28, 2019 on the Fort DeSoto Sandbar Secrets IPT. Again I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/5000 sec. at f/4.5 in Manual mode was about -1/3 stop on the analog scale. AWB at 8:34am in sunny morning.
Center Zone Continuous/tracking AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection.
Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version and the amazing sharpness and detail of this relatively large crop.
Image #2: Sandwich Tern fishing in full downstroke flight
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AF Modes for Flight
Patrick Sparkman swears by Wide for flight with SONY and loves the way he can move a bird in flight around in the frame. At this time, my preference is for Center Zone. For Nikon folks, we recommend only center Group (grp) for flight photography. For Canon, most will work with center Expand/Surround with eight AF points surrounding the selected (center) AF point.
With Image #2, the lower-left corner of Center Zone AF acquired and held accurate focus on this fishing Sandwich Tern.
Wing Positions
Today’s two featured images illustrate two very good wing positions. With the amazing AF technology in today’s digital camera bodies, making a sharp flight image is only step one. For every twenty razor-sharp on the eye images, I am happy to have one really good flight shot with a nice wing position. The pelican in Image #1 shows us the wings up position. In a perfect world, the near wing would have been raised a bit more thus eliminating the underwing shadow. With Image #2, I’d consider the wings fully down (and forward) wing position to be fantastic and very dynamic. Note the beautiful look at the dorsal surface of the near-wing.
A7r IV AF Tracking and Accuracy for Flight Photography
A7r IV AF initial focusing acquisition and tracking accuracy for flight photography with the 600GM are superb. As weak as my arms are, I am pretty sure that had I not injured my shoulder two years ago, I would have easily been able to handhold this super-light lens for flight …
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Image #2A: Capture One screen capture
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A7r IV Sharpness and Resolution
You can get an idea of the original framing for Image #2 by ignoring the Loupe in the screen capture above. Doing so, it will be obvious that this is a fairly large crop. A flattened 8-bit a7r IV file comes in at `72.3MB. The cropped master file is 101.9MB. Thus, 41% of the original pixels were cropped away and discarded. The sharpness and detail in the cropped image file are indeed remarkable.
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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.
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The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 7)
Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; WED JAN 7, 2020.
Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.
Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or relocated) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.
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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.
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It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.
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Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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The San Diego Details
This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-lunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own.
A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 10/11//2018. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
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Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
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Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
October 16th, 2019 What’s Up?
I am still feeling great. With the intermittent fasting program, I am down to 177 pounds and have much more energy in the afternoons. I am nearly finished work on the Nikon D850 User’s Guide.
IPT Updates
You can see all IPT details here.
- The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
- The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
Galapagos 2020?
If you are interested in learning about a possible Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, September 29-October 13 on the boat (travel dates: 27 SEPT to Guayaquil and fly home on 14 OCT) please get in touch via e-mail. I will need at least eight deposits by December 1, 2019. Details will be announced here soon.
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
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This image was created on September 29, 2019, the second morning of the recent Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1000 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode was about +1/3 on the analog scale. AWB at 8:16am on a clear, sunny morning.
I am not sure if I used Upper Center Zone or Flexible Spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF. Either way, it was active at the moment of exposure and the active AF point was on or near the bird’s eye. At this subject size, Animal Eye AF works quite well.
At present, there is no program that I know of that you can use to access the AF info after the fact … And as far as I know, there is no menu option for seeing the selected AF point, the active AF point, or even the AF mode during Playback. If I am wrong, I would love to hear about it. This is a serious problem for those using high-end SONY camera bodies. How are they supposed to learn? It would seem that it could be rectified with a firmware update or with the development of the appropriate software.
Brown Pelican immature tight front-end portrait
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First Impressions and Thoughts on the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens
When I first picked up the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens I thought, “Wow, this lens is perfectly balanced with most of the weight to the rear and it is so, so light. At 6.7 lbs.(3.04 kg) it is only fractionally lighter than the Canon 600 II that weighs in at 6.71 lb (3.05 kg). But it slays my Nikon 600 VR that tips the scales at 8.4 lbs (3.81 kg). How light is the SONY 600? I brought my Beach Rolly to Fort DeSoto; it takes up a lot of room in the rear cargo area of my Sequoia. On the first morning, I decided to try carrying the lens around and left the Beach Rolly in my vehicle. I was so comfortable getting about in the field with the lens either on my shoulder via the lens strap, held by the (too-large) lens foot, or mounted on the Induro GIT 304L that was topped by the FlexShooter Pro.
The Minimum Focusing distance of the SONY 600 is the worst of the three 600s: 14.67 feet (4.5 meters). The Canon 600mm f/4L IS III is the best of the lot at 13.78 feet (4.2 meters). The Nikon 600mm f/4 VR is only marginally better than the SONY at 14.4 feet (4.39 meters).
I would rate AF performance with the 1.4X TC with static subjects as superb with the SONY rig, excellent plus with the Canon gear, and fair to good with Nikon. With the 2X I would rate the SONY AF performance as excellent-plus, the Canon as very good, and the Nikon as barely useable to poor.
Why the consistent edge to SONY when it comes to AF performance with teleconverters? All three current top-of-the-line SONY bodies, the a9, the a7r III, and the a7R IV, offer practically full-frame AF coverage; you can select an AF point almost right up to the edge of the frame. While initial-focusing-acquisition is always slowed when a TC is added (more so with the 2X TCs than with the 1.4X TC), SONY consistently out-performs Canon and absolutely blows away Nikon where AF suffers badly when the selected AF point is moved farther from the center … I was very pleased with the excellent results at DeSoto when photographing Sandwich Terns diving for fish with the SONY 600/1.4X TC/a7r IV combo off the tripod … Photos here soon.
I love that by setting the Fulltime DMF switch on the lens to the On position that you can focus manually at any time before engaging the AF system by half-pressng the shutter button. The absence of the ability to focus manually with both the SONY 100-400 GM ans the SONY 200-600 GM is a shortcoming.
The lens foot is large and somewhat clunky. It is a bit tall for the
Balance on the FlexShooter Pro with the Wimberley P-40 balance is fine but the set-up is a bit tall for optimal performance atop the FlexShooter Pro … I am, however, managing just fine. I am working with Walter Zeiss at 4th Generation Design in hopes that he can create a CR-X-style low foot base (or two) for the big SONY lenses and develop a new, longer plate as well; the SONY 600 needs a good 2 inches behind the mount. None of the off-brand low feet currently available have any room at all behind the mount.
It would have been fantastic if the tripod collar/lens foot on the 600 GM were removable as was the case with the original Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens. Folks who handhold the 600 GM all the time might wish to remove the lens foot by removing the four screws and storing them carefully in a safe place …
Despite minor concerns with the lens foot, I am overall enthralled with the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS/a7r IV combination (with both TCs, especially with the 2X).
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An Unsharpened 100% Crop
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SONY RAW (ARW) File Offer
Those with doubts about the image quality and fine feather detail of sharp SONY a7r IV RAW (ARW) file are invited to shoot me an e-mail by clicking here. I will send them the ARW file for today’s featured image. I do that if you do switch to SONY, you use either my B&H affiliate links or get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford (as above).
Need System or Upgrade Advice?
These are certainly exciting and volatile times in bird and nature photography: Canon, Nikon, SONY? Upgrade or switch systems? Yikes! If you are thinking about switching or upgrading and have questions, feel free to call me on my cell at 863-221-2372 for a free ten-minute consultation. The only thing that I ask in return is that you make a firm commitment to use my B&H affiliate links or to buy from Bedford using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout if you decide to go forward. Remember that Steve Elkins at Bedford can save you a few additional bucks on lens/camera/accessories packages. See the blog for his contact details. Either way, it will not cost you one penny more.
Be sure to leave a message if I do not pick up and I will get back to you. And please follow that up with an e-mail or a text stating your name and a good time for me to call you back. I spend lots of time each day walking, swimming, and watching football and baseball 🙂 And napping.
with love, artie
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Bosque del Apache 2019 IPT
Notice the incredible variety of images that you can learn to make by developing your skills and your creative vision on a BAA IPT.
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2019 Bosque del Apache IPT
Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT #1. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Introductory Meet and greet at 7pm on MON 25 NOV.
Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three In-the-Field Days as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
I quit going to Bosque several years ago as conditions had worsened each year for several seasons running. My understanding is that things have improved dramatically in recent years. Photography-wise, I know Bosque better than anyone. Join me to learn how wind and sky conditions influence bird photography, how to create dramatic sunrise and sunset silhouettes, how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to create contest-winning blurs. As usual, you will learn to get the right exposure every time, to use your camera’s AF system to create pleasing, balanced image designs, and to improve your flight photography skills.
We should get to photograph many thousands of Snow Geese, more than a few blast-offs, some Ross’s Geese, and lots of Sandhill Cranes in the water, taking flight and flying. Depending on local conditions we may get to shoot some ducks: point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck. With any luck, we might enjoy sunrises and sunsets that leave you in tears. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. Join me to learn to think like a pro and to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather. Every time we make a move, I will let you know why. When you get home, applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.
Lunch is included.
To Register
To register, send your non-refundable $500 deposit — check made out to BIRDS AS ART — via US Mail to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Or call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 to put your non-refundable deposit on a credit card. Balances must be paid in full by check no later than two months before the IPT. If you cancel, all but your deposit will be refunded only if the IPT sells out.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
Facebook
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.
Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
October 14th, 2019 What’s Up
I walked an easy 1 1/2 miles on Sunday morning and swam twice, once before brunch and once after dinner for a total of 88 lengths, exactly one mile. I photographed down by the lake with the 200-600 and the 600/2X, both with the a7r IV. It was not a great session. I did have a gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawk on the ground in beautiful light in a very nice setting. But I got too greedy and tried to get too close, that with the 1200mm rig set up on the FlexShooter Pro in my Sequoia … Next time.
It is nice to have practically guaranteed cranes and vultures every morning when you are looking to test new gear. This morning I ran into blog regular Tilo Samter and his wife photographing down by the pier at ILE. It was nice meeting them.
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s two featured crane images do you like best? Why?
IPT Updates
You can see all IPT details here.
- The Return to Bosque Reduced Rate Scouting IPT. NOV 26-28, 2019 — 3 FULL DAYS: $1199.00. Limit: 8/Openings: 6. Extra Day Options: Join me for one to three extra In-the-Field Days at the end of the IPT as follows: FRI 29 NOV, SAT 30 NOV, and SUN 1 DEC for only $300.00/day.
- The 2020 San Diego 4 1/2-DAY BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) WED JAN 8, 2020 thru and including the morning session on SUN JAN 12: 4 1/2 days: $2099.(Limit: 8/Openings: 5)
Galapagos 2020?
If you are interested in learning about a possible Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime, September 29-October 13 on the boat (travel dates: 27 SEPT to Guayaquil and fly home on 14 OCT) please get in touch via e-mail. I will need at least eight deposits by December 1, 2019. Details will be announced here soon.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please scroll down here or shoot us an e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past year, we have sold many dozens of items. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 100-400, the old 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the 7D Mark II and the original 400mm DO lens have been dropping steadily. Most recently the price of used Canon 600mm f/L IS II lenses have been dropping like a rock with the introduction of the 600 III. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
As used gear sales have slowed a bit in recent months — especially with dSLR bodies, there are lots of great buys right now on the Used Gear Page.
New Nikon Listings
Nikon D850
Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is offering a gripped Nikon D850 in like-new condition for only $2,399.00. The sale includes the MB-D18 Multi Battery Power Pack, the Nikon Battery Chamber Cover BL-5, a Nikon EN-EL 18c Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (10.8V, 2500mAh)- “the Nikon D5 battery”, a dual D5 battery charger — the Wasabi Power Dual Battery Charger for Nikon MH-26, MH-26aAK, EN-EL18, EN-EL18a and Nikon D4, D4S, D5 with Adapter for Canon LP-E4, LP-E4N –as recommended by Steve Elkins at Bedford’s, the small Nikon D850 battery and charger, a Sony 64GB XQD card, a Sony XQD/SD card reader, the original product box and factory operating manuals/accessories, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. All products were originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera one year ago with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.
The Nikon D850 was my preferred Nikon body for 18 months. After trying it, I sold my D5 and purchased a second D850 as a backup. Both the AF system and image files are superb. artie
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens
Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens in like-new condition for only $3,396.95. The sale includes the original product box with all of the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. This lens was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera in May 2019 with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.
Of all of my Nikon lenses, I will miss the 500 PF the most. It is an amazing flight lens and does quite well on static subjects with the TC-E14. On many trips, it was the only lens that I carried into the field. Some days I handheld it, and on some days it was mounted on the Induro GIT 204/FlexShooter Mini artie
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens
Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering a Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition for $1,796.95. The sale includes the original product box with all the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. It was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera one year ago with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.
The amazingly versatile 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are the world’s most popular mid-range telephoto, I made zillions of great images with my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 lenses. The Nikon version works well with both the TC-E14 and the TC-E17 teleconverters, even with a crop factor body. They are easily hand-holdable and are great for tame birds, landscapes, urbex, indoor stuff like concerts and recitals, and just about anything you want to photograph. As new one sells for $2,796.95 you can save one grand by grabbing Tony’s lens right now. artie
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF Lens
Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering a Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF lens in like-new condition for only $1,196.95. The sale includes the original product box with all of the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. It was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera in March 2019 with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.
Super-fast and super-sharp, this one is the Nikon landscape photographer’s dream lens. artie
200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR Zoom Lens
Blog-regular Anthony Ardito is also offering a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR Zoom lens in like-new condition for the very low price of $899.95. The sale includes the original product box with all of the factory accessories/operating manuals and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. This lens was originally purchased from Bedford’s Camera one year ago with the USA warranty. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Anthony Ardito via e-mail.
This inexpensive Nikon-starter super-telephoto zoom lens is sharp and versatile. It was my first big Nikon lens. I fell in love with it instantly and used it until the 500 PF was released. At that time, I went to the Nikon 80-400 VR for its versatility. artie
BIRDS AS ART
BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Money Saving Reminder
If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.
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This image was created on October 11, 2019, during my first session with my newest lens. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lensat ( 600mm) with the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800 (could have been ISO 400). Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was about zero on the analog scale. AWB at 8:10am on a clear, sunny morning.
I am not sure if I used Upper Right Zone or Flexible Spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF. Either way, it was active at the moment of exposure. There is no program that I know of that you can use to access the AF info after the fact … And as far as I know, there is no menu option for seeing the selected AF point, the active AF point, or even the AF mode during Playback. If I am wrong, I would love to hear about it. This is a serious problem with the high-end SONY camera bodies. It would seem that it could be rectified with a firmware update.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane preening back
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First Impressions
I had realized last week that the 2-6 was a variable aperture lens: f/5.6 at the shot end, f/6.3 at the long end. For bird photographers, the pretty much means that it is an f/6.3 lens. Strike one. When I got the box on Thursday and opened it, the lens looked big and heavy and seemed clunky. Strike two. When I put it on the scale and compared it to the weight of my Nikon 500 PF/gripped D850 I was pleasantly surprised. With the lens foot removed, the 2-6/a7r IV combo weighed 6 lbs, 7.7 oz with a card in the camera. The Nikon 500 PF/gripped D850 rig, with the lens foot removed am a card in the camera, weighed 6 lbs., 3.3 oz. Because of the far lighter weight of the camera, the SONY rig weighed only 4.3 ounces, a bit more than 1/4 pound than my beloved Nikon rig. That was good news.
More good news: while handholding, the lens handled beautifully in the field. Unlike the 600mm f/4 GM that comes in two pounds heavier than the 2-6, I was able to handhold the 200-600 rather easily. (Note: I can handhold the SONY 600mm f/4 using the knee-pod technique and make sharp images at least at 840mm. But when a bird flew by, my formerly damaged left shoulder did not allow me to raise the lens and fire; that is why I was on the tripod for the striking Great Egret striking situation detailed in the blog post here). With the 2-6, the entire zoom range is covered with a quick twist of the wrist over about 75 degrees — you get from 600 to 200 (and back again) in an instant. The lens does not change length when you zoom in and out. That is a huge plus, especially when working on a FlexShooter head.
Best of all, the handheld images were sharp. Very sharp. Scary sharp. Because the new 2-6 is a G series lens rather than a GM series lens, I had been a bit concerned about image sharpness and about the quality of the build of the lens. I now have no concerns with the former and time will tell on the latter; the lens does, however, seem sturdy and well-constructed. I’ve had only a few halfway decent flight chances so it is too soon for me to make a definitive statement on photographing birds in flight with the 200-600/a7r IV combo. (Note: flight photography with the 600 f/4 GM/1.4X TC/a7r IV combo was quite excellent as you will see by the fishing Sandwich Tern images that will be featured here sometime this week.) The more that I’ve used the new rig the more I am liking the SONY 200-600.
A Caution
Folks moving from the Canon 100-400 II, the Canon 400mm f/4 DO II, any 80- or 100-400 lens, or the Nikon 500 PF need to understand that sharpness technique errors that lead to lens shake will be exacerbated by the square of the focal length! Yes, the square of the focal length. If you are going from a 400mm focal length to a 600mm focal length the math looks like this: Six squared is 36; four squared is 16; 36 divided by 16 is 2.25. Unsharpness due to lens shake at 600mm will affect the image 2 1/4 times more than unsharpness due to lens shake at 400mm. For the 500 PF, the math looks like this: Six squared is 36; five squared is 25; 36 divided by 25 is 1.44. Unsharpness due to lens shake at 600mm will affect the image nearly one and one half times more than unsharpness due to lens shake at 500mm.
I did learn yesterday that setting the OSS (Optical Steady Shot) to 1 rather than 2 or 3 better stabilizes the subject in the viewfinder. The trick is to remember and get in the habit of going to 3 for flight photography …
In short, handholding and getting sharp images at a focal length of 600mm is far more difficult than when handholding at 400mm (or at 500mm). What are the implications here? You need to go to faster shutter speeds (with correspondingly higher ISOs), improve your sharpness techniques, sit and use the knee-pod technique whenever possible, or put the rig on a tripod. The Induro GIT 204/FlexShooter Mini will be dead-solid perfect for the SONY 200-600 with any SONY body. We hope to finally have the Minis in stock within two weeks after a lengthy production delay.
Preening Bird Photo Tip
When photographing a preening bird, strive to have the eye visible and the bird’s face perfectly parallel to the imaging sensor. As was done with Image #1.
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This image was also created on October 11 during my first session with my newest lens. Again I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens at ( 600mm) with the the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 400 (could have been ISO 400). Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/800 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was about zero on the analog scale. AWB at 8:16am on a clear, sunny morning.
For this one, I used Flexible Spot (S) Continuous/tracking AF. Either way, it was active at the moment of exposure. There is no program that I know of that you can use to access the AF info after the fact … And as far as I know, there is no menu option for seeing the selected AF point, the active AF point, or even the AF mode during Playback. If I am wrong, I would love to hear about it. This is a serious problem with the high-end SONY camera bodies. It would seem that it could be rectified with a firmware update.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image #2: Sandhill Crane head portrait
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Thoughts on the SONY 200-600
For me, I do not envision ever going into the field with the tripod-mounted 600mm f/4 GM lens and the 200-600. If I do carry an auxiliary lens on a Black Rapid Curve Breathe strap on my shoulder while carrying the big lens, it will be the 100-400 as it meshes much better with the 600 in terms of focal length coverage and because of its great close-focusing capabilities. On the other hand, if I want to head out handholding a single lens, the 200-600 will be my choice. Along with the 1.4X teleconverter in my fanny pack. (I have yet to test the 200-600 with the 1.4X TC.).
For folks who have never and will never own a 600mm f/4 lens — the latest versions from the major manufacturers average about $13,000 new, the SONY 200-600 represents a whole new world of possibilities: you sacrifice 1 1/3 stops of speed (f/6.3 vs f/4) in exchange for handholdable 600mm of reach (along with the versatility of a 200-600 zoom). Like the Nikon 500 PF ($3,596.95), the SONY 200-600 is — at $1998, relatively inexpensive (but very difficult to get at this time).
Minimum Focusing Distance
While the Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) of the 2-6 pales somewhat in comparison to the .98 meter (3′ 2.22 inches)close focus of of the CANON 100-400 II and the SONY 100-400 GM. But those working around tame birds and wildlife will be justifiably impressed with the MFD of the 2-6 (2.4 meters or 7.87 feet), especially when compared to the MFDs of the SONY 600mm GM (4.5 meters or 14.67 feet), the Canon 600mm f/4L IS III (somewhat better at 4.2 meters or 13.78 feet), and the Nikon 600mm f/4 VR (4.39 meters or 14.4 feet).
My Prediction
My prediction is that the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens may become the life-changing super-telephoto weapon-of-choice for the ever-growing legions of bird photographers going to mirrorless camera body systems … That if — and this might be a very big if — the 2-6 proves to be more than adequate for flight photography with the a7r III and the a7r IV. I have no doubt, however, that the 2-6/SONY a9 (or a9 II) combo will be best for photographing birds in flight (albeit at “only” 24 MP). Time will tell on flight photography with the 200-6oo and either the a7R IV or the a7r III …
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This is a Capture One screen capture of Image #3.
Click to enlarge
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Editing My SONY Images with Capture One
As mentioned here before, when I view SONY images in Photo Mechanic, the small embedded JPEGs do not allow me to enlarge the image enough to judge critical sharpness. To do that, I go to Capture One Pro 12 and use the (adjustable) Loupe (P) to enlarge as needed. I use Large for the Loupe size and 100% for the magnification. I may be doing a video detailing exactly how I set up and use Capture One so that I can do my editing (pick my keepers) quickly and efficiently.
The Capture One Screen Capture
As regular readers know, I do pretty much all of my SONY and Nikon RAW conversions in Capture One Pro 12. If you enlarge the screen capture, you can see all of the adjustments I made to the RAW file before converting it and bringing it into Photoshop as a TIF file.
If In Doubt …
If you are in doubt about using the BAA B&H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking here. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via e-mail.
Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the BAA Online Store 🙂
To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&H affiliate links on the right side of the blog or Bedfords, for all of your photo and electronics purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially the Mongoose M3.6 tripod head, Wimberley lens plates, Delkin flash cards and accessories, and LensCoat stuff.
As always, we sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And please remember that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
I would, of course, appreciate your using our B&H affiliate links or Bedfords for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above, and for everything else in the new store, we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and those who will be visiting the New BIRDS AS ART Online Store as well.
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 :).
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