A Six-Way Tie for First; Punking Out? Or Not? « Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

A Six-Way Tie for First; Punking Out? Or Not?

What’s Up?

On a clear Tuesday morning — it had been a while since the sun had been out early — the Cattle Egrets continued feeding voraciously on the large, golden mayfly hatch. The more I photograph this situation, the more I realize how difficult it is. I enjoyed a 1058-image morning and kept 81 including a few pretty good ones. The dead turtle finally made it down to the lake yesterday am, but with a northwest wind, it went back into the fridge for at least another day. The forecast for this morning shows promise — clear skies with a gentle breeze from the north switching to northeast …

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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… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on September 27, 2019 while doing a private day with fraternity brother Harry Lerner at Fort DeSoto. 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: 1/2000 sec. at f/5 in Manual mode was about +2 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 8:10am on a very overcast morning.

Upper Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. The point of sharpest focus was slightly more than halfway down the bill, right on the same plane as the bird’s eye. RAW Digger showed 0% Over-exposed and 0% Underexposed pixels.

Click the image to see a larger version.

Image #1: Snowy Egret with greenback

A Tough Chore

In the If-the-World-Does-Not-End BIRDS AS ART 2020/2021 IPT Schedule … blog post here, I posted this:

Please consider today’s six featured images and let us know your pick as the best. And please also let us know why you made your choice. Comments on any of the images are welcome as well.

My Favorite

Actually, there is no way that I could pick a single favorite as the six images presented were among my very (fairly) favorite recent creations. My vote is that all are tied for first place. Below each image, I will let you know what I liked about each one. All six images got a mention. Somewhat surprisingly #1, the Snowy Egret image, was the consensus favorite followed closely by the dancing booby. The landing eagle was third.

Gary Axten posted my favorite comment when he wrote, Hah, not an easy choice.

Snowy Egret with greenback

Like most folks, I loved the perfectly positioned fish, the soft light, the aqua-colored water, and the breaking wave on the upper left. But nobody mentioned the bubbling wave in the lower right corner that with the previously mentioned wave, completes a perfect frame. While I urge folks to be aware of the position of breaking waves in this situation, I will not claim to have been concentrating on the waves; I was watching the fish and the AF point dance about on the bird’s face!

Fort DeSoto Fall 2020 Sandbar Secrets IPT

OCT 2 thru the morning session October 5, 2020 (3 1/2 DAYS). Three full and one half day: $1399.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/ Openings: 8

This image was created on 28 NOV on the 2019 Bosque IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 236mm) and the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless digital camera body.. ISO 125. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/4 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 10:31am on a cloudy-dark morning.

Center Flexible Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. RAW Digger showed 0% Over-exposed and 0% Underexposed pixels.

Click the image to enjoy a larger version.

Image #2: Snow Geese blastoff

Image #2: Snow Geese blastoff

What can I say? I am partial to blurs and I do them well. And it was great to get back to Bosque in 2019 and enjoy lots of blastoffs. As for technique, I say often: the slower the shutter speed (1/15 is the traditional starting point) the fewer keepers you will make but the greater the chances of creating a contest-worthy image. In this one, I love the degree of blurring, the swatch of pan-blurred cornfield, and the ghostly cranes on the ground (especially the group on the left). In addition, on the left, the row of distant trees and the group of geese in the sky complete a wonderful image design.

Bosque del Apache NWR 2020 IPT

NOV 18 (afternoon session) thru the morning session on November 23, 2020. 5 DAYS. Four full and two half days. $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 5.

This image was created at The Neck on Saunders Island, The Falklands with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III, and my then-favorite bird photography camera, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB.

Center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Shutter Button AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when handholding). The selected AF point was below and in front of the penguin’s eye. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Imagee #3: Rockhopper Penguin sneezing

Image #3: Rockhopper Penguin sneezing

With this one, I love the sharpness, the soft sunlight of a late afternoon, the perfect head-angle, and, like multiple IPT veteran Pat Fishburne, the incredible detail on the inside of the mouth. Does anyone know the name for tiny the rear-facing gripper things that help the penguins hold onto their catches securely? (Or not …)

In addition, I have always enjoyed pushing the limits — getting super-close to birds without disturbing them and using gear combinations that give other folk’s fits — in this case, the Canon 100-400 II with the 1.4X TC.

2020 Land-based Falklands Trip

December 10-26, 2020. $8999.00 per person. Deposit $4000.00. Limit four photographers/openings: 2. Please e-mail for a complete itinerary and complete details.

Fly on a red-eye to Santiago, Chile on WED 9 DEC 2020, arriving there on THURS 10 DEC. We will do an add-on condor trip ($450/per person including lunch) that morning assuming that everyone gets there by about 8am at the very latest. And another add-on morning to Del Mar for Inca Terns and Peruvian Pelicans ($450/per person including lunch) on FRI 11 DEC leaving the hotel very early. We fly to Mont Pleasant on SAT 12 DEC. In the Falklands we will visit Bleaker, the Rookery and the Neck on Saunders, and Pebble. Then two nights at the Malvina House on Stanely with a visit to an amazing rockhopper colony. Fly back to Santiago on SAT 26 DEC. Fly home either that night (red-eyes are hard to get) or the following day.

This image was created on the 2020 San Diego IPT. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode was about +1 1/3 stops on the analog scale. AWB at 8:13am on a rare cloudy morning.

Upper Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed well. The point of sharpest focus was on the as of the bird’s bill just forward of the eye. RAW Digger showed 0% Over-exposed pixels and 0.3% Underexposed RED pixels.

Click the image to see a larger version.

Image #4: Pacific race Brown Pelican with bill distended

Pacific race Brown Pelican with bill distended

What works here for me? I’ve always loved Pacific race Brown Pelicans with their bright red lower bill pouches. That the bill is distended here shows off that color beautifully. The soft light is perfect — no shadows, the sharp eye, the goofy look on the bird’s face is comical, and the distant light-Pacific blue background completes a lovely color palette.

San Diego 2021 Brown Pelican IPT

January 12 thru the morning session on January 16, 2021. Four full and one half day: $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 7.

This image was created at Kachemak Bay, AK on 25 FEB 2020. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (at 200mm) with the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) that features incredibly accurate AF. ISO 500. Exposure determined via Zebras on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/3.2. AWB at 9:20am on a cloudy-bright day.

Wide Continuous (C) AF performed beautifully. Click on the image to see a larger version. Uncropped.

Image #5: Bald Eagle braking to land

Bald Eagle braking to land

I dig the super-soft light. I dig that the bird’s undersides were lit up by the light reflected off the snow. I dig the perfect braking wing position. I dig the strip of soft yellow grasses. I dig the inclusion of the snowfield behind the grasses. And I dig the fact that I alerted the group to this incredible situation by describing the image that I envisioned …

The Greatest-ever Bald Eagle Experience IPTs:

Deposit: $2000.00.

  • IPT #1: SAT 20 FEB 2021 through the full day on THURS 25 FEB MAR 1, 2021. Six full days: $5499.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4.
  • IPT #2: SAT 27 FEB 2021 through the full day on WED 3 MAR 2021. Five full days: $4599.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4

This image was created on 6 AUG 2019 at North Seymour Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. I used the hand Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and my souped up Nikon D850. ISO 500. Matrix metering plus about 1 1/3rd stop: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6. NATURAL AUTO WB at 7:50am on a (typically and blessedly) cloudy afternoon.

Nikon Focus Peaking fine-tune value: +3. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here.

Upper Single Point/Continuous (C in Nikon/AI Servo with Canon) AF was active at the moment of exposure.

Image #6: Blue-footed Booby dancing

Blue-footed Booby dancing

Most everyone loves this one and that includes me. The raised foot is comical. The soft distant background (as a result of the bird dancing on top of a rock!) is pleasing. The background clean-up and slightly expanded canvas work well — sorry, no contest entry for this image as presented. That this was the last bird we photographed on the 2019 Galapagos trip on one of the three great landings that we make twice makes this one even more special for me. What an ending!

The GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Archipelago Photographic Experience.

August 17-31, 2021 on the boat. 13 FULL and two half-days of photography: $14,999.00. Limit: 12 photographers/Openings: 5. Deposit: $5000.00. Please e-mail for a complete itinerary and complete details.

Admission

If twisted my arm and made me pick only one, I’d go with Image #2, the Snow Geese blur … But don’t forget that I love them all.

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.

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6 comments to A Six-Way Tie for First; Punking Out? Or Not?

  • avatar Margaret

    Pelican – what an attitude.

  • avatar Maggi Fuller

    Booby, Egret, Pelican, Eagle, Penguin, Snow Goose blur…….

  • avatar David Policansky

    Thanks for rte narratives, Artie. I still like the first one the best of all these marvelous images. 🙂 Mark Harrington: It’s hard to give an “evolutionary reason” for something beyond saying that it was selected for, but I’ve been told that the brighter blue the feet, the more attractive the bird is, and that as the bird gets older its feet get a bit duller so it has to compensate by dancing better. (If I were a blue-footed booby I’d be toast.) I haven’t done either the field or the library research to verify this, but it seems reasonable.

  • avatar Mark Harrington

    I love the Blue Footed Booby for the same reasons James sited. Is there a evolutionary reason for the blue feet?

  • avatar Mike Cristina

    I love dancing boobies

  • avatar James Saxon

    Blue Footed Booby Dancing is my favorite. The colors, composition, background and the whimsical feel with one foot off the ground and the head position. The image makes me smile when I view it on my screen. Thanks for sharing.

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