This approximately 20 year old Galapagos Tortoise is a relative youngster; it is likely that many of these animals live to more than 150 years in the wild. I photographed this captive tortoise with the handheld Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/160 sec. at f/6.3. Unless you are able to solidly brace your rig when handholding even a medium telephoto lens it is imperative to be in AI Servo AF (C for Nikon) rather than One-Shot (S for Nikon). Why? If you are using One-Shot AF and your position shifts just slightly your image will not be accurately focused.

Galapagos Day 9/July 15, Morning: Floreana Highlands

We sailed overnight to Floreana and made a dry landing on the northwestern shore of the island. We boarded a chiva, an open truck with four bench seats and drove up into the highlands. On our way to the Peace Asylum facility we made a stop for finches. We saw several species including Medium Tree Finch but photography was difficult at best. Once we arrived at the tortoise shelter we took a short hike up a hill and entered the concrete-walled enclosure; there were about 65 tortoises on the several acre plot. They are kept only for educational purposes only never to be bred or be released back into the wild. Why? Biologists are–at present–attempting to keep each island’s subspecies as pure as possible. The giant reptiles were much easier to approach than those living in the wild so we were able to make tight close-ups with even the 70-200 lenses.

I used the fish eye lens and Live View to create this image of a captive tortoise at the Peace Asylum; though the animals are much more tame than those in the wild it was still important to get low and move very slowly. Canon 15mm fish eye lens handheld with the EOS-1D MIV. Live View. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/5.6. To learn to use Live View for nature photography with either the Mark IV or the EOS-7D check out our Mark IV and 7D User’s Guides.

After our photography session Juan gave a rather interesting history lesson on some of the early inhabitants of Floreana. Then it was lunch and a short navigation to our afternoon landing.

Shopper’s Guide

Here is the gear that I used that morning at the Peace Asylum Sanctuary:

Canon 70-200mm f/4 l IS lens
Canon EF Teleconverter 1.4X II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our Shopper’s Guide.

This Galapagos Tortoise was photographed in soft, misty light with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/100 sec. at f/8. If you remain still these ancient animals will come completely out of their shells and show off their long necks.

Galapagos Day 8/July 14:Puerto Ayora: tortoises and landbirds

After our dry landing at Puerto Ayora, the largest city in the Galapagos, we boarded a bus for the 30 minute ride to the Primicias Ranch. I believe that this property is a combination of private and national park holdings. Located in the highlands, the rich habitat is attractive to large numbers of the large tortoises; as the animals are wild they are free to travel the highlands in search of the best grazing areas. They do move down towards the coast during the breeding season. In addition to the almost prehistoric reptiles, large numbers of landbirds can be found on the ranch many close to the cafe/visitor center, and many respond eagerly to spishing.

Juan shared his vast knowledge of the tortoise’s biology and ecology and I educated the group on the best manner of approaching them: low and slow. As is typical, the morning was misty with drizzle and provided ideal light for both the tortoise and passerine photography. After several hours of very good photography a short bus ride down the hill brought us to a spectacular lunch at Galapagos Magic. There were fewer tortoises than in 2009 but several group members ventured into the wet fields for some more photography. I napped peacefully in a hammock.

By about 3pm we were back in town. A few folks went back to the dock while most opted to call home from the cabina and a nice shopping walk in downtown Puerto Ayora. At the far end of town, I found a very nice upscale shop that contrasted mightily with the countless tourist-schlock t-shirt places. Some loverly palm nut carvings caught my eye but I did not bite. On the way back to the wharf Denise and I ran across the Whites and the Owens and chatted with them through the open window of a sidewalk cafe. I told them about the shop and we all returned. Jim and Linda and Sir Richard and Dot purchased many items including several large woven bowls that they had shipped home. And I would up buying five small carved ivory nut figurines: tropical fish for daughter/s Alissa and Jen, another for my younger sister Arna, a hummingbird array for my Mom, and an exquisite frigatebird for my own knick-knack shelf. Denise and I made it back to the ship but the others stayed on in a shopping frenzy and had to take a water taxi back to the Beagle. They arrived just in time for dinner.

This male Small Ground Finch image was created with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/100 sec. at f/8. The 800′s new IS system is remarkable allowing those with good sharpness techniques to utilize ridiculously slow shutter speeds as long as the subject is motionless.

This female Medium (?) Ground Finch image was created with the same rig as above. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/5.6. You can learn about Darwin’s Finches and adaptive radiation here.

Thanks to Denise Ippolito for the use of this image of a stretching immature Small Tree Finch. It was created on Puerto Ayora with the Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D MIII. Denise located a small bare bush where several species of finches sat preening spot. She was soon joined by others in the group Check out Denise’s blog, A Creative Adventure and be sure to scroll down to her well written July 22nd post, “My Galapagos Adventure.”

This rain-bathing Groove-billed Ani was also photographed with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/100 sec. at f/8.

This singing male Galapagos Yellow Warbler was photographed with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/125 sec. at f/9. Amazingly, this bird sat in the same spot for almost two full minutes, an eternity for a warbler.

Shopper’s Guide

Here is the gear that I (and Denise) used on Puerto Ayora that day:

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens
Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
Canon EF Teleconverter 1.4X II
Canon EF 25mm Extension Tube

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide

This Whimbrel was photographed in soft, misty light with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6. This tame bird gave us many good chances. We first spotted it swallowing a small octopus. Sorry: no photos of that .

Galapagos Day 7/July 13: Volcano Hike and Peurto Villamil Beach Walk

After a late breakfast at 6:30am. we made a dry landing at the pier in Peurto Villamil. Most of the group took a bus ride and a hike to the top of the Sierra Negra volcano and were fortunate to see the caldera when the clouds and the mist cleared. With my left hip syill bothering me, a stubbed toe, and a cramped left calf I opted for a beach walk with Michael Yessik and Christine Doyle. We were scarcely 50 yards from the wharf when we came across two young male Yellow Warblers battling on the road. They seemed to be locked in struggle to the death at one point but both eventually flew off seemingly none the worse for wear.

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D MIV. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/640 sec. at f/6.3. We tried in vain to create a good image of the two birds tumbling through the air a foot above the dirt road…

Juan had told us about a wetlands boardwalk near the Iguana Crossing Hotel. We found it easily. We spotted a distant flamingo but our only photo opps were with some White-cheeked Pintails.

To create this tight head portrait of a feeding drake White-cheeked Pintail I lay down on the boardwalk with the Canon 800mm and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop set manually: 1/640 sec. at f/8 in cloudy bright conditions.

After our visit to the mangrove lagoon, I walked back along the beach in “soup from a stone mode.” Below are my favorites from that walk.

This Marine Iguana blur was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC handheld at 215mm and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/4 sec. at f/45 in Tv mode for complete control of shutter speed. I took lots of these and kept only one

This something-out-of-nothing image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens handheld at 235mm) and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/16. I created lots of horizontals and lots of verticals. Both worked and were pretty much interchangeable.

Patterns in wet sand was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS L lens handheld at 135mm with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/800 at f/11. Good images are where you see them Note the Rule of Thirds image design.

And finally, one for the whimsically minded: Marine Iguana painting on pink wall This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens handheld at 169mm with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 100. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/6.3. (I eliminated a window on the right frame edge with a series of Quick Masks.

After lunch, we began the long navigation to Puerto Ayora so that we could all get a good night’s rest before our day with the tortoises. Both Denise and I did lots of Photoshop with some of the participants on the voyage.

Shopper’s Guide

Here is the gear that I used that afternoon at Urbina Bay:

Canon 70-200mm f/4 l IS lens
Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our Shopper’s Guide

This Greater Flamingo bird-scape was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (handheld at 70mm) and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 200. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/10. When creating bird-scapes I generally determine the correct exposure, set it manually, focus on the bird using One-Shot central sensor AF, and then recompose to come up with a pleasing composition with sharp focus on the bird.

After a dry landing , our two mile walk over somewhat dicey lava fields brought us to several ponds, one with two photographable Greater Flamingos in it. (The second bird in the image above was covered with a Quick Mask.) Juan educated the group as to the colonizing cacti and other vegetation. The vast lava fields were formed less than 1,000 years ago. As you will see below, we photographed the cacti in a variety of manners.

This Candelabra Cactus is the same cactus as in the birdscape above. The image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 200. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6. The relatively dark background here (that makes the image for me) was the side of a distant volcano. There are six volcanoes on Isabella.

This Prickly Pear Cactus image was also created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1/320 sec. at f/16. I love silhouetting a variety of subjects against the brilliant flashing highlights created when a relatively strong sun strikes the water. For more on creating what I call “11am silhouettes” see page 530 in The Art of Bird Photography II (916 pages on CD only)..

After our lava walk we took a short panga ride and had some decent chances with nesting Flightless Cormorants. Then it was back to the Beagle for yet another great dinner. And sleep.

This Flightless Cormorant is gular panting; it helps with thermo-regulation. The image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3. Remarkably, I was able to set up my tripod low in the bow of the panga for a short photo session.

Shopper’s Guide

Here is the gear that I used that afternoon at Urbina Bay:

Canon 70-200mm f/4 l IS lens
Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our Shopper’s Guide

This Bryde’s Whale image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (hand held at 129mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/8. I used the lowest focusing sensor in the middle to get the whale down in the frame just as I do with small in the frame ducks. The bird are Galapagos Shearwaters. If the wind had been in the opposite direction the birds would have been flying in the same direction as the whale was swimming. Alas.

Our morning at Elizabeth Bay was a magical one filled with penguins, a single Bryde’s Whale, thousands of Galapagos Shearwaters, and a few Brown Pelicans and Blue-footed Boobies. We were pretty much surrounded by volcanoes. The sun peeked through two layers of cloud just as we approached the penguins; very high ISOs were needed due to the low, sweet, yellow light. There was not a breath of air so once the sun disappeared the misty, foggy conditions heightened the sense of magic and mystery. Juan put us in good position to photograph the whale several times but unfortunately it never fed on the surface as it had done spectacularly the previous evening when it had been simply too dark for photography.

We thought that we had finished our morning off with another snorkel in frigid waters, this one with large schools of Peruvian Grunt and about twenty Pacific Green Sea Turtles. As we all boarded the panga we saw (and soon smelled–and I mean smelled!) the whale blow. Juan tried to position the panga close enough to the whale so that we could get back in the water and swim with it. Part of me hoped that he would succeed and part of me–the very cold part–hoped that he would not. He did not. The last time that we saw the whale it surfaced at the corner of the nearby islet in the exact spot that the panga had picked us up from just fifteen minutes before….

This Galapagos Penguin was photographed at 6:14 am with the handheld Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 2500. Evaluative metering plus 2/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/4 in Tv Mode with ISO Saftey Shift enabled to ensure the chosen shutter speed.

As I was making the image above, I noticed this penguin pair resting on gorgeous red rock so I had Juan move the panga into position. This image was created at 6:20 am just as the sun began to fade behind a fog bank. I used the same gear as for the previous image: ISO 2000. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/320 sec. at f/5.6. This image was optimized by Robert O’Toole who did a lot better with the color than I did. Thanks Robert.

Galapagos Shearwater had been lumped with Audubon’s Shearwater until it was recognized as a separate species several years ago. With the uneven patterns of the upperparts this bird is likely an immature. I created this image with the hand held Canon 400mm f/4IS DO lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/6.3. The 400 DO is a great tool to use when you are photographing from a boat.

Safe on Long Island

I am laying on the couch at my Mom’s home in Holbrook, Long Island (having flown from Orlando to Islip yesterday morning. I am spending time with my younger sister Arna and with my younger daughter Alissa and her kids, my northern grandkids). All the while rooting for Tiger in the PGA. I will be getting out to photograph tomorrow morning and then most days after that at Jamaica Bay WR and Nickerson Beach until I head back to Orlando on August 25th. Have lots of private day clients and an IPT.

Shopper’s Guide

Here is the gear that I used that afternoon at Urbina Bay:

Canon 70-200mm f/4 l IS lens
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
Canon EF Teleconverter 1.4X II

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our Shopper’s Guide.

Both originals for this two-frame top and bottom stitched image were created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 250. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/10 set. II could not quite fit the whole head in the frame along with the spines so I locked focus on the eye and then raised the camera to create the top of the head and back that I needed. Going to a smaller aperture would have brought up much unwanted background detail in the form of dark shadows.

Our wet landing at Urbina Bay featured several of the large, yellow Land Iguanas in decent settings. a circling adult Galapagos hawk, and a host of landbirds that responded eagerly to spishing during the last hour of daylight. The landbirds included Yellow Warbler, Small Ground Finch, Medium Ground Finch, and Galapagos Mockingbird. Many of us chose to photograph some pretty yellow blossoms. It was after sunset when Juan finally rounded us all up for the trip back to the Beagle.

This adult Galapagos Hawk began circling closer and closer to us but was way up there. The best move was to grab the 800 off the tripod and hand hold it. Hand holding it with the birds directly overhead is a lot easier than trying to hold it steady with a perched static subject in front of you. This one was created with the aforementioned Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. (Should have been 800). Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6. When going from photographing birds or iguanas at close range you need to remember to switch to far distance range limit. This once I did remember. Then I set 45-point AF as with my unsteadiness it does a better job of holding focus. One of the two properly framed images was sharp.

This female Medium Ground-Finch was photographed in low light with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm Extension tube for close focus, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/100 sec. at f/8. As regular readers know, the new image stabilization on the Canon 800 is nothing short of amazing.

By the middle of the first week we were old hands at getting in and out of the pangas safely with our gear. Actually, one person did slip and go down to one knee with a 400 DO lens in the rear pouch of his vest. That would be me. But the wool hat kept the salt water off of my expensive glass and I was back on my feet almost before my knee hit the sand. That little excitement occurred on our landing at Darwin Bay, Tower Island on our first full day. I was just a bit careless for an instant. I made this image with the Canon 70-200mm IS L zoom lens handheld at 85mm) with the EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/4. That’s Denise Ippolio getting gracefully into the panga as Juan holds her 500.

BIRDS AS ART Bulletin 334

BIRDS AS ART Bulletin 334 is on-line now and can be viewed here.

Shopper’s Guide

Here is the gear that I used that afternoon at Urbina Bay:

Canon 70-200mm f/4 l IS lens
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
Canon EF Teleconverter 1.4X II
Canon EF 25mm Extension Tube
Canon EOS-7D

And from the BIRDS AS ART On-line store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Carbon Fiber tripod

Mongoose M3.6

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our Shopper’s Guide.

This three frame stitched panorama was created with the 24-105mm zoom lens handheld at 28mm with the EOS-1D Mark IV. I was inspired by the sweet light and the sloping hillside covered with incense trees. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/200 sec. at f/11 set manually. One Shot AF. When creating stitched panos it is important to work in Manual mode to ensure a consistent exposure.

We slept a bit late to allow the group to recover from the continuous frantic action of the past few days. When the sun broke through the mist at 7am I grabbed the short zoom lens and a body so that I could create the image above. We had another wondrous morning in the pangas photographing any number of Galapagos Penguins including four copulating pairs. We had chances with lots of different behaviors including squabbling, courtship snuggling, and individual birds jumping into the water but I pretty much struck out on most of those; such is the nature of panga photography. In addition we had an elegant perched Swallow-tailed Gull and a handsome young American Oystercatcher foraging on a lava boulder. You can tell the year-old birds by their dusky bill tips.

Our guide, Juan Salcedo, is superb at positioning the panga for photography even in choppy seas and moderately strong currents. Here I hand held my very favorite panga lens the Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens along with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/5 in Tv Mode.

Galapagos Penguins mating. This image was created from a panga with the handheld Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 500. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop; 1/500 sec. at f/4.5. in Tv mode with ISO safety shift set again to ensure an adequate shutter speed while photographing from a rocking boat.

A vertical rock wall with a collection of young Sally Lightfoot Crabs caught my attention as we drifted along near shore. Again, I made this image with the handheld 400mm f/4 IS DO lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 3200. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/4 in Tv mode. ISO safety shift raised the ISO to 3200 so that I could have the shutter speed that I (mistakenly) dialed in. Even pros make mistakes

We stayed with this young American Oystercatcher for about 15 minutes with Juan re-positioning the panga every few minutes so that the folks on each side of the boat had excellent chances. Meanwhile, the bird continued to pry all manner of invertebrates from its favorite huge rock. Then it would then bash away at them with its stout bill, often after placing the prey item in a crevice to secure it until it was able to get at the juicy flesh inside. You guessed it: this image was created with the handheld 400mm f/4 IS DO lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/1500 sec. at f/5.6 in Program Mode. (Don’t ask me how I got in Program Mode!)

We quit at 10:30 and snorkeled in Tagus Cove with about 20 Pacific Green Sea Turtles in water much too cold for me even with two wet suits on Then it was lunch, a nap, and a two hour cruise to Urbina Bay.

Here is the gear that I used that morning.

Canon 24-105mm IS L zoom lens
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our Shopper’s Guide ]]> http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/08/05/galapagos-day-5morning-july-10-tagus-cove-isabella/feed/ 2 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/08/01/galapagos-day-4afternoon-july-9-punta-espinoza-fernandina-the-tall-fall/ http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/08/01/galapagos-day-4afternoon-july-9-punta-espinoza-fernandina-the-tall-fall/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:33:59 +0000 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=2507 This image was created just after 2:30 pm on an obviously clear sunny day with the Canon 15mm fish eye lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 200. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/11. I held the camera on the ground and used Live View to frame the image. I warmed the image up during RAW conversion, ran a reverse S curve to reduce contrast, did some color work on the blue of the sky, added a bit of canvas below and right, and cloned out an intruding photographer on the left.

Day 4/Afternoon, July 9: Afternoon: Punta Espinoza, Fernandina

We sailed about two hours to Punta Suarez, Fernandina and made a dry landing in bright sun at about 2:30. Richard Owen, who traveled with loverly wife Dot from their home in the UK to join up with friends Jim and Linda White–both IPT veterans– in Chicago, is a tall Brit who claims to be only six foot six (but looked a lot taller to me). He scared the heck out of Dot and the entire group as well when he took a header face down on the lava rock and wound up with his head underwater in the Pacific Ocean. I saw the start of the fall and could only think of a giraffe going down one section at time. What I heard next–many loud thuds and crashes–was even more terrifying than what I had seen.

After it was determined that Richard would indeed survive, Juan tended expertly to the first aid. Richard’s wounds included a gashed chin, a badly scraped knee, and a scraped elbow. Gashed would be more accurate than scraped….. According to Richard the worse damage was to his Nikon D-90 and to his pride. Richard’s demeanor immediately after the fall and during the ensuing days was simply remarkable. He was as smiling and happy afterwards as he was before, never griped for a moment, and encouraged others to poke fun at him by taking the lead himself. All, including me, joined in eagerly I came to calling him “Sir Richard” to honor his remarkable attitude but he said with a straight face that he much preferred “Big Dick.”

To create this image I was lying on the ground on jagged lava rock that sloped towards the water. It was painful. I rested my lens on a rock that was a bit taller than the rest. Getting a swimming Marine Iguana in the frame was nearly impossible. I tried very hard as I knew that the eye level view would yield an intimate image. It hurt so much that I had to give up after about four minutes. I did not think that I made a single good image. I was thrilled when I saw this one in BreezeBrowser. Canon 800mm f/5.6 handheld with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 250. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6.

I love using the blue Pacific as background for head portraits of the Marine Iguanas. I went with just enough d-o-f to keep the face sharp while leaving the ocean pleasingly blurred. Algae-stained salt crystals adorn the top of this iguanas head. When working in bright sunshine, I try to remember to lower my ISO setting. And I make sure to point my shadow right at the subject to attain the most pleasing results. We noticed that when the Marine Iguanas came back from their underwater grazing and climbed up on the rocks that they would lick their chops. This made for some great photographic opportunities. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 250. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/400 sec. at f/6.3.

When I first began visiting the Galapagos six years ago Punta Espinoza was fantastic for Marine Iguanas and Flightless Cormorants with large numbers of the former and more than a handful of breeding pairs of the latter. There are still large piles of Marine Iguanas and despite the fact that Flightless Cormorants have become scarcer each year this is still an interesting and productive photographic location. The Marine Iguanas are fabulous subjects; as you see in this blog post you can make some great images of them using any lens in your bag. There are some nice stands of Lava Cactus, some Galapagos Sea Lions, Pacific Green Sea Turtles, Brown Pelicans and Blue-footed Boobies in flight, and lots of Sally Lightfoot crabs. We stayed late to take advantage of the sweet light and to try to create some iguana silhouettes.

Here again I got flat on the lava rock only this time it was level and not as jagged. Much better. By moving slowly I was able to get very close to this Sally Lightfoot Crab. I used the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II teleconverter (handheld at 280mm) and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/500 sec. at f/9.

I wanted a nice blue background for this tight image of a Lava Cactus cluster so I switched my 70-200 for my 400 DO and sat on the lava so that I could get the background I wanted. Handheld Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/16. With a relatively slow shutter speed I made sure to brace the back of my left wrist on my left knee so as to solidly support the lens.

I noticed several Blue-footed Boobies roosting on an offshore rock. I was photographing the group when another bird flew in to land so I pressed the button and was lucky to make a sharp image at a relatively slow shutter speed. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X II teleconverter and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 200. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/11.

I was working with my 800 while standing on a sand beach so that I was at eye level with a Flightless Cormorant sitting on a handsome nest. (See the next image.) Suddenly one Galapagos Sea Lion was chasing another; both animals were coming right at me at high speed, at least high speed for a sea lion. I grabbed the 70-200 that was hanging on my right shoulder via a camera body strap on the MIV. Rather than try to check the exposure I fired off two frames while zooming out. (Fire first; ask questions later.) This one was created at 116mm. I was glad that I had set the exposure compensation back to zero; the exposure was perfect. ISO 400: 1/640 sec. at f/6.3.

In the field the problem here was that with the breeze in our face the bird was sitting on its nest facing away from us. I made this image when the Flightless Cormorant turned its head a bit towards me providing a halfway decent head angle. Canon 800mm f//5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X II teleconverter and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/1 stop: 1/320 sec. at f/8. The problem on the computer was dealing with the very bright but not over-exposed white branches that were part of the nest. I used Select Color Range, Refine Edge, and a 20% Linear Burn to tone down the whites. All as described in Digital Basics.

This photograph was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens and the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 280mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/640 sec. at f/14. Because of the exceedingly bright backlight I found it easier to focus manually and listen for the beep than to focus automatically. Getting into position on the lava rock was a another painful endeavor that resulted in a sore butt But it was well worth it.

As we waited for the panga I grabbed the 70-200 to create a scene-setting image of the small bay where many iguanas were returning to shore after sunset. ISO 1600. Evalautive metering +2 stops: 1/250 sec. at f/4. (Handheld at 78mm.)

All in all it had been a long and memorable day. Do note that I used several different lens always trying to come up with the best tool for the job.

Here is the gear that I used that afternoon:

Canon 15mm Fish Eye lens
Canon 70-200mm f/4 l IS lens
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
Canon EF Teleconverter 1.4X II

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our Shopper’s Guide.

The original image here was made with the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV handheld at 70mm. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/30 sec. at f/20. I added the bird with the very blue feet top/right/center from another frame to create this photo illustration. Photographing a Blue-footed Booby feeding spree is one of the most difficult situations in nature photography.

We woke late on the gray, foggy morning of July 9 and undertook a two hour navigation to Punta Vincente Roca, the location of our first panga (Zodiac) ride. Panga rides can be interesting and at times photographically rewarding, but nothing prepared us for the wonders that we were to experience that morning. As we boarded the pangas the skies were brightening. As we entered the cove, a Blue-footed Booby feeding spree was developing. About 400 birds would circle above the salemas (baitfish) and sardines and then dive in unison plunging into the water at speeds of up to 60 mph. While the number of birds was not relatively large, the feeding sprees continued for hours and when we had to go back to the boat, they continued. Between the sprees we photographed Brown Noddies both on their nesting walls and fishing. Though conditions were nearly perfect with relatively calm seas and the Image Stabilized and Vibration Reductionlenses allowed us to make sharp images, the two problems that you have on virtually all panga rides plagued us: maintaining focus and framing. Nonetheless, everyone made some great images. While we were photographing the noddies, Juan called out, “Flightless Cormorant mating dance” and on and off for the next two hours we had the privilege of photographing the rarely seen water courtship displays of this endangered species; there are only about 1900 individuals in the world, all concentrated in the western section of the Galapagos archipelago.

16 and 32gb flash cards filled at an implausible rate on that memorable morning but photographing the Blue-footed Booby feeding spree turned out to be beyond extremely difficult. I had had the chance to photograph a much larger spree (that lasted only ten minutes) on our last morning panga ride at Black Turtle Cove in 2009; my initial approach was to create pleasing blurs. I was happy but not thrilled with the results so for the first 1 1/2 hours I tried but mostly failed to create sharp images of the diving groups at shutter speeds of from 1/500 to 1/1000 sec. When I switched to slower shutter speeds I was able to create a few decent images. All in all it was a most memorable morning filled with natural history wonders.

Here I went for a sharp image by setting my shutter speed to 1/800 sec. at f/5 and allowing the camera to set the ISO as needed after I had put in my exposure compensation. Again I used the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV this time handheld at 93mm. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/5.

Photographing a Blue-footed Booby feeding spree is a difficult chore for a bird photographer. What lens? What framing? What shutter speed; sharp or blur? Will it continue? Will they dive in the same spot again or a half mile to either side? Yikes. In addition, with the other photographers trying their best to get images you never know when somebody’s hat or back will appear in your viewfinder at the wrong time… The action is frantic. For this one of a Blue-footed Booby turning to begin its dive I grabbed the Canon 400mm IS DO lens with an EOS-1D Mark IV on it because the birds were diving right in front of us. ISO 640. I metered the pretty much white sky and added two full stops: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6. The central sensor was right on the eye in the original. This is a small crop. The BKGR was smoothed out using a 60% Clone Stamp after I got rid of some whitewash on the cliffs.

Folks need to realize how difficult flight photography is. And from a rocking panga, you can double that. I created several dozen images of the fishing noddies at Punta Vincente Roca. Nearly all were our of focus. Most were mis-framed with one part or another of the bird cut off by the frame edge. And then–as is so often the case, Bingo! Sometimes I think that I do it out of sheer determination. This Brown Noddy image was also created with the handheld Canon 400mm IS DO lens and an EOS-1D Mark IV.Here is worked in TV mode at 1/1000 sec. and ?1/3 stop. The camera set the ISO to 500 with an aperture of f/4.5. Sometimes even an old dog can hunt.

Flightless Cormorant courtship dance: from the panga with the handheld Canon 400mm IS DO lens and an EOS-1D Mark IV ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop; 1/800 sec. at f/5.6 in Tv mode. When working from a panga in low light where shutter speed rules as far as sharpness is concerned, I recommend that folks work in Tv mode, select a shutter speed that will yield sharp images with the lens that they are using, dial in the correct compensation, and let the camera set the necessary ISO either via the Auto ISO setting or via ISO Safety Shift (depending the camera body they are using).

Puerto Egas

After a wet landing on a black volcanic sand beach at James Bay, Peurto Egas, Santiago, we enjoyed a coast walk in cloudy bright conditions. The best photography was afforded by the numerous Sally Lightfoot crabs and the plentiful marine iguanas. In addition we got to photograph Small Ground Finches, Galapagos Flycatcher, Galapagos Mockingbird, and lots of Striated Heron (this species and Lava Heron have recently been lumped even though the two forms are somewhat distinct). At the underwater grotto at the end of the walk we encountered more than half a dozen Galapagos Fur Seal Lions. Though they were cooperative subjects they were quite difficult to photograph even in the ideal light.

This image was originally a two-frame stitched pano but I was not happy with is so I cropped tighter on the face of the Marine Iguana that was resting its head on the back of the other one. Much better. The image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/60 sec. at f/10.

I was intrigued by the dessicated carcass of a Marine Iguana so I grabbed the 70-200f/4L IS lens (handheld at 200mm) with the Mark IV attached and added a 25mm Extension tube for close focus. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/100 sec. at f/6.3. Better technique would have found the lens on a tripod so that I could gone to a smaller aperture for more depth-of-field.

Setting the White Balance to shade rendered the color of this Galapagos Fur Sea Lion’s thick coat accurately. This tropical species is the world’s third most heavily insulated mammal. It is easily separated from Galapagos Sea Lion by its shorter snout. The photograph was created with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering + 1/3 stop: 1/80 sec. at f/5.6.

This Small Ground Finch was photographed with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering + 2/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/6.3. With its 19 foot plus minimum focusing distance I keep a 25 tube on the lens whenever small landbirds are the expected subjects; this allows me to focus down to approximately 16 feet. The combination of having the birds on a rocky shelf at eye level and a distant background yielded a pleasing image in the BAA style.

That afternoon we sailed around the northern tip of Isabella and stopped for our first snorkeling session at Cape Marshall, Isabella. Though the water was on the cold side–heck, it was way cold even with a wet suit–we enjoyed our swim with the sea lions, sea turtles, and a huge school of colorful Yellow-tailed Surgeon. With the Beagle peacefully anchored that night, we all slept long and well.

Shopper’s Guide

1. I have been doing telephoto photography for almost three decades now. My knowledge in the area of equipment for long lens nature photography is quite specialized and I am opinionated. But I know what works and what does not and for more than 20 years I have been willing and eager to share. And have done just that.
2. If you are looking to spend some money on photography gear and have checked the BAA Store, the Bulletin Archives and the Blog, chatted with friends, posted questions on line and are still confused, feel free to e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net for advice. I have helped thousands of folks over the past two plus decades and would be glad to help you. I will always—depending on my travel schedule—strive to get back to you in a timely fashion. And my first concern will always be to help you get the right gear in your hands. In my absence my right-hand man, Jim Litzenberg, will likely be able help.
3. BIRDS AS ART has recently added B&H Photo as a sponsor joining Hunt’s whose Gary Farber has been a big supporter for years not only of BAA but of NANPA, the NANPA scholarship students, and many other worthy photographic causes. Eagle-eyed visitors will have noted that recent Bulletins and Blog posts have included active links to the B&H web site for most mentioned equipment. I have always urged folks ready to spend many thousands of dollars on a new lens or the latest camera body to comparison shop, to price an item at Hunt’s and to price it at B&H and to be sure to get a complete quote that includes the shipping charges and any tax. I urge you to do the same today.
4. BIRDS AS ART does not sell cameras or lenses, but we do carry a wide range of photographic accessories and educational materials. We offer only the very best tripods and tripod heads. We will not sell you junk as pretty much every other specialized mail order operation will. We sell what I use every day and what I believe in. Everything that we sell is competitively priced; we try to sell all of our tripods and heads for “one cent less than B & H or Hunts. As a thank you for the information that we provide via e-mail, Bulletins, and the Blog, was do ask for your business. Know that it is greatly appreciated.
5. Hunt’s does not offer a click-through program similar to that offered by B&H but you can always check their prices at on the website. Gary will continue running his great BAA Specials in selected Bulletins. In a recent Hunt’s Special he was selling Canon EOS-1D Mark IV bodies at a lower price than B&H. It always pays to compare. And best of all, you can contact Gary personally to ensure that you will be getting Hunt’s very best price: by calling his direct line at 1-617-462-2332 or by e-mail to digitalguygary@wbhunt.com. He will do his best to get you a low price and great customer service.
6. We ask the following. Once you have comparison shopped:
   • If you decide to order through Hunt’s, please let them know that you were referred by BIRDS AS ART.
   • If you decide to purchase from B&H, please either click on a direct product link in a Bulletin, a Blog post, or in Gear Bag or on the general B&H shopping link immediately below. If you opt for B&H, do know that a small percentage of your purchase price helps to fund production of both the BAA Bulletins and blog posts and is a great way to thank us for 15 years of equipment advice. Your purchase price will be unchanged.
7. Please don’t forget to e-mail me with your equipment questions. Spending a lot of money on the wrong gear gets old fast. I see it every day…. We are in a better position to answer your equipment questions than the folks at any camera store. As above, we do appreciate your continued patronage of the BAA On-Line Store for your tripod, tripod head, photographic accessory, and educational material needs.