The 800 was supported by a BLUBB resting on the raised window [...]]]>

This image was created down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/8 set manually.

The 800 was supported by a BLUBB resting on the raised window of my SUV. BLUBB stands for Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag. I custom-designed this large beanbag for use with super-telephoto lenses. The non-slip concave top of this great beanbag makes it easy to keep your lens perfectly still. Nothing out there compares with the BLUBB, especially the cheap knock-offs that cost half the price. A peek at the Bubble Level in the hot shoe ensured that the lens was square to the world.

Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Central sensor AI Servo/Rear Focus AF and recompose….

For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

Beanbag Sharpness Issues

Most folks with long lenses realize the benefits of using their cars as a blind in a variety of situations. If you are not in that group, see “Using Your Car as a Blind” on pages 120-121 of the original “The Art of Bird Photography.” In addition, if you search for the word “vehicle” in ABP II (916 pages on CD only) you will turn up 58 occurrences; many of those relate to tips for using your car as an effective and movable blind.

This afternoon I received the following e-mail from Assaf Gavra:

Hi, I am using a homemade beanbag made from two pillow cases and filled with 5kgs of beans. I have seen that many of your tack sharp images have been created with a big lens and the 1.4X III tele-converter. So I lost my fear of using it on my 500mm f/4L IS but some of the images (most of them in fact) are not in focus. Considering that I have this top equipment I really don’t know what to do…. Can you help? Assaf

Needing more info I wrote back asking “Have you ever made one sharp image with the 500 and the 1.4X TC??

He wrote back and attached two nice images asking if they were sharp. Each was quite sharp. I wrote him back as follows:

Assaf, Yes, they are razor sharp. That means that the lens and camera and TC are fine. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I now know why many of the images that you make are unsharp: operator error. That means you. I will address the question of beanbag work and image sharpness in tonight’s blog post. In the meantime I would recommend that you get yourself a copy of ABP II and study the section on advanced sharpness techniques so that you can learn to create sharp images while working on a tripod. There is also lots of info on using your car as a blind in ABP II.

Assaf’s e-mail got me thinking: there are some complex issues involved when using a big lens from the vehicle and working on a big beanbag, issues that I had never written about specifically until now. Consider the BreezeBrowser screen capture below and we will get started.

I would advise that you read the following material very carefully if you wish to learn to make a higher percentage of sharp images when photographing from your vehicle. In the screen capture above you will note that none of the AF squares are lit up red. That indicates that AF (in this case, AI Servo AF) was not active at the moment of exposure. I focused on the bird’s eye (using rear focus and the central sensor). Then I released the rear focus button effectively locking or setting sharp focus on the Turkey Vulture’s eye. If you have no idea what I am talking about, it means that that you missed the rear focus tutorial; you can find it here. If you know what I am talking about but do not use rear focus, then for this section assume that you are using One-Shot AF and recompose. (That would be Single Servo and recompose with Nikon.)

OK, here we go. Whether you use rear focus and recompose as I did to create the image above or One-Shot (or Single Servo) and recompose as I used to do, you will have arrived at the critical moment. Either way you have set focus. But whatever system and method you are using, focus is never actually locked. It is set. If you turn the manual focusing ring at this point you will change the focus. What most folks do not realize is that when they move the lens up or down or left or right to recompose there is a huge danger of inadvertently turning the manual focusing ring. If you are aware of this possibility and take care not to rotate the lens at all the problem can easily be avoided. So, after focus is set, take great care to ensure that the focusing ring does not turn even a hair else you will throw off accurate focus.

Conclusion: if you are using rear focus and recompose or One-Shot (or Single Servo and recompose) with relatively fast shutter speeds and many of your images are not sharply focused it is likely that you are accidentally turning the manual focusing ring after focusing.

In the BreezeBrowser screen capture above, note that that the AF sensor in the upper left corner of the array was not only selected but was active at the moment of exposure; you know that because it is illuminated in red. That indicates that I was holding down the rear focus button (with AI Servo engaged) at the moment of exposure. If I had been using the shutter button to focus it would have meant that I was in AI Servo AF (C or Continuous with Nikon) and that focus was active at the moment of exposure. In either case, accurate focus would be pretty much guaranteed for several reasons:

1-The system was focusing when the image was created.
2-Accidentally turning the manual focusing ring (with Canon for sure…) would not have affected accurate focusing as electronic manual focusing is disabled when AI Servo is active.
3-The chance of inadvertently turning the manual focusing ring would be virtually eliminated as you would be happy with the composition created with the active focusing sensor right on the bird’s eye, face, or neck; there would be no need to recompose.

This Black Vulture image was also created down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/8 in Av mode. As above, the big lens was supported by a BLUBB resting on the raised window of my SUV. BLUBB stands for Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag. I custom designed this large beanbag for use with super-telephoto lenses. Nothing out there compares with the BLUBB, especially the cheap knock-offs that cost half the price. A peek at the Bubble Level in the hot shoe ensured that the lens was square to the world. Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Upper left corner AI Servo/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

Conclusion: if you are able to select a sensor that falls on the subject’s eye, face, or neck and you work with AI Servo AF (or Continuous with Nikon) active at the moment of exposure, you will be virtually assured of an accurately focused image.

Additional Tips

1: When using a Bubble Level (I always do) be sure to point the lens at the subject first. Now set the camera body square to the world and then focus. If you focus first and then square your rig to the world you will turn the focusing ring and screw up the accurate focus that you had set.

2: All else being equal, images made with lens/camera and lens/TC/camera combinations that have been micro-adjusted with the Lens Align Mark II will always be sharper than those those made with rigs that have not been focus calibrated.

3-If time permits, shut off your vehicle’s engine before making a photograph. While this seems obvious, there are times when it is best to take an image or two with the motor running. If you think you know when it is proper to do this, please leave a comment. Hint: there are two qualifications. Only one is obvious .

4- Leave your pillows on your bed; the BLUBB is the bomb and was designed to help you make sharp images with big lenses when working from a vehicle. We ship them all over the world every week.

Which Image Do You Like Best?

Take a moment to leave a comment and let us know which image you like best, the Turkey Vulture image or the Black Vulture image. And be sure to let us know why.

Earn Free Contest Entries and Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here to visit the competition home page.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the images in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern.
LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine. Also available for the 7D and the Mark III here.

The images in the animated GIF above were created at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/500 sec. at f/25 in Manual mode. Central Sensor/Rear Focus AI Servo AF and [...]]]>

The images in the animated GIF above were created at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/500 sec. at f/25 in Manual mode. Central Sensor/Rear Focus AI Servo AF and re-compose. Read on to learn about rear focus.

Lens/TC/Camera Body Micro-Adjustment: 0.

Something From Nothing?

It was a slow morning. Not much around. Partly sunny. Would you keep image A above? Why or why not? Would you keep image B? Why or why not? BTW, I am not sure not sure why I was at ISO 800 and f/25….

Be sure to check back tomorrow evening for the answers.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the images in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here to visit the competition home page.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon 1.4X III Teleconverter. Designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern.
LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine.

Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF and re-compose.

The [...]]]>

This image was created at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY with the tripod-mounted (I was kneeling) Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/13.

Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF and re-compose.

The extension tube allowed me to focus closer than the minimum focusing distance of the prime lens alone. This young Semipalmated Sandpiper was sleeping but woke up just for a second to throw this lovely pose. Note that by working very close to sun angle that the negative effects of the harsh light (9:20am) on the image have been minimized.

For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

September 20, 2011 Update: B&H is once again back-ordered on Mark IV bodies.

Please enjoy the image above. One blog subscriber was lucky enough to grab one.

Mark IV Alert

Mark IV bodies have been in short supply ever since the earthquake tragedy in Japan. If you are looking for one, be advised that B&H just received a small shipment. To purchase, please use this link: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. I have been using Mark IV bodies exclusively for almost two years. Get yours right now to avoid disappointment and you can earn three free entries into the BIRDS AS ART 1st International Bird Photography Competition.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Remember: you can earn free contest entries with your B & H purchases. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here for details.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EF 25mm Extension tube. I am never out without one of these in my vest; it allows for closer focus in a variety of situations.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern.
LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine.

Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF (with AF active at the [...]]]>

This image was created at Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY with the tripod-mounted (I was kneeling) Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 stops: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6

Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF (with AF active at the moment of exposure).

The extension tube increased magnification about 3% and allowed me–if need be–to focus about 2 1/2 feet closer than with the prime lens alone. Lots of beach clean-up and seaweed re-arrangement. See the original below.

For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

Preparing JPEGs for the WEB

When questioned about poor image quality more than a few folks on Bird Photographers.Net complain about the 200kb file size limit. I am always baffled by these comments and I never have a clue as to what folks are doing that causes their image quality problems.

Here is what I am am currently doing: I start with my master file and crop horizontals 1024 px wide at 96 dpi. I know that that the word on the street is to save web JPEGs at 72dpi but I have been saving at 96 dpi since forever: if it ain’t broke, done’t fix it. (With most of my avian images I selectively sharpen the bird only in my master files using a contrast mask and a hide-all mask.) I sharpen my JPEGs to taste using Unsharp Mask with the Amount between 130 and 225 (to taste) and the Radius always at .3. The average Amount would be about 180. Then I Save for Web with the image optimized to <195 kb. If you convert to sRGB you need to make sure that the Embed Color Profile box is checked when you save for web. If you are not right on the money with all of the above you can find everything detailed in our Digital Basics File, an easy-to-follow PDF that is sent via e-mail. DB includes my complete Digital Workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips, and free updates for as long as I am still pushing the shutter button.

I have been preparing my JPEGs for web presentation this way (albeit with smaller sized images and smaller KB allowances) for more than ten years and all that I have ever heard is “Your JPEGs look great!” I have never once had image quality problems by having to save at <200kb and never even in the old days when saving at 800 or 600 pixles wide and <80 kbs. Ever. So when I see comments like those above I am always mystified.... Do note that many of the images posted to the web are not optimized to less than 200kb but if I downsize them for BPN they look just as good!

This is the original image from which the image above was created.

Note: the image above is unsharpened. Here’s what I did to get from A to B (my master file saved as a TIFF at 300 dpi): Leveled the image with the Ruler Tool based on the foot. Expanded canvas with the Crop Tool Added beach with a flopped Quick Mask. Filled in open spots with the Clone Stamp Tool. Cleaned up the seaweed with a series of Quick Masks and moved a small pile of the green stuff from behind the bird to in front of it. Additional beach clean-up with the Patch Tool, the Clone Stamp Tool, and the Spot Healing Brush. Used those same tools to clean the large sands specks from the birds head. Eliminated the dark area behind the leg with the raised foot using Denise Ippolito’s great new Improved Protect and Defend Cloning on a Layer. Click here for more info or to get the free tutorial. Selectively sharpened the bird only using a contrast mask and a hide-all mask. Lightened the iris. The usual contrast and Selective Color work. Flattened, converted to 8-bit, and saved at full resolution as a TIF.

Editing Your Comments

Many folks have noticed that it is no longer possible to edit a comment using traditional methods. We are aware of the problem; it was caused by the recent update to the latest version of Word Press. Do note however that you can correct your errors by using the backspace key to navigate. Peter Kes is working diligently to find a solution.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Remember: you can earn free contest entries with your B & H purchases. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here for details.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EF 25mm Extension tube. I am never out without one of these in my vest; it allows for closer focus in a variety of situations.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern.
LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine.

Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Two sensors below the center [...]]]>

This image was created at Nickerson Beach, NY with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops was a big underexposure but I knew that I need some shutter speed: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6

Lens micro-adjustment: -4. Two sensors below the center AI Servo/Rear Focus AF (with AF active at the moment of exposure).

For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

The Trap: Lousy Light, Boring Birds

You put your head on the pillow and dream of nice sunrise and gorgeous light. The alarm rings all too soon. You leave in the dark and make the one hour drive to the beach. You notice that there are no stars…. You arrive, get your gear, and head out. There are few birds and no light. So you find the last flock of skimmers–most have left the area, and created some pleasing blurs. You walk up and down the beach and there is nothing but gulls. Herring Gulls. And most of them are the very plain worn juveniles and one year old birds.

At such times its easy to just quit. But determined photographers never quit. They may think blurs or they may think high key, but they do not quit. They walk up and back looking for a good situation. They chat with others to garner information. And then they take even longer walks. On the morning of September 3 Denise Ippolito and I had just such a morning. We both made some great blurs. Denise took one of those walks. She met an older man. He told her of a tame Buff-breasted Sandpiper. I stayed behind and found this young Herring Gull taking a bath. When he flapped, I made six images. All were sharp but this was the best by far. To see what others had to say about this image, click here.

Seeing that Denise had found something to photograph I headed after her and found her with a shorebird treasure. I made about 200 images of the bird. It was a pain in the butt bird. It never left the beach wrack. Seaweed and plastic. Cups and seaweed. Rope and plastic. You gotta love it. Denise actually worked ten times harder than I did that morning. My lower back was killing me from kneeling and getting up. Kneeling and getting up. Check out tomorrow’s blog post to see how I did with the buff-breasted.

The next time that you head out and find conditions less than ideal, don’t quit. Keep on plugging; most days you will be nicely rewarded.

Editing Your Comments

Many folks have noticed that it is no longer possible to edit a comment using traditional methods. We are aware of the problem; it was caused by the recent update to the latest version of Word Press. Do note however that you can correct your errors by using the backspace key to navigate. Peter Kes is working diligently to find a solution.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Remember: you can earn free contest entries with your B & H purchases. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here for details.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern.
LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine.

For the past ten years or so I have hosted a Thanksgiving Day midday meal, in part to honor the memory of my late-wife, Elaine Belsky Morris, and [...]]]>

For a greater appreciation of the composite image, click on the photo. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

Bosque Thanksgiving Buffet Invite

For the past ten years or so I have hosted a Thanksgiving Day midday meal, in part to honor the memory of my late-wife, Elaine Belsky Morris, and in part because I love meeting others who love Bosque as I do. At first it was held at the wonderful and relatively elegant Val Verde Steak House in Socorro, now defunct. Then it was held at the lovely and historic Luna Mansion. Luna Mansion closed a few years ago and recently re-opened but will no longer serves Thanksgiving Day. In 2009 we had fun and a fine meal at the Stage Door Grill but that wonderful little joint recently bit the dust also. Socorro is a tough place for businesses to survive. In 2010 we went a bit upscale and dined in the New Mexico Ballroom at the Hilton Albuquerque hotel. There was tons of food and it was all delicious.

The Hilton is now a Crowne Plaza and the good news is that they are having the buffet again this year. I will be picking up the tab for the IPT group, but as always, all visiting birders and photographers are invited to join us. If you would like to take part in the fun and camaraderie this year please send a check for $40.00 per person made out to “”Arthur Morris”” to cover the cost of the buffet that will include all the traditional items plus lots more as well as tax and tip. Drinks are on you. Please mark ““Thanksgiving Buffet” on your check and mail it to; BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 4041, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Be sure to include your e-mail address on your check and in a short note. Sorry, no PayPals or credit cards. I do hope that you can join us.

I have group reservations for Thanksgiving Day (of course). Those joining us will need to be at the hotel at 11:30 am sharp. It is located at 1901 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, about an hour up I-25 from the Super 8 Motel in Socorro where I have stayed happily with my groups for well more than a decade. I do hope that you can join us.

For a greater appreciation of the composite image, click on the photo. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

Bosque IPT Late Registration Discount Offer

With two recent cancellations, there is now a single spot available on the 2011 Bosque IPT. If you would like to join us, a $300 discount will be applied to your balance. Here are the basics:

BOSQUE del APACHE 2011 IPT: “The Complete Bosque Experience.” NOV 19-25, 2011.

Slide program on the evening of Friday, NOV 18. 7-FULL DAYS: $3299. (Non-refundable deposit: $500; see details below.) Limit: 10/Openings: 1. Co-leaders: Robert O’Toole & Jim Heupel. Geese, cranes, ducks, sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. 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. Plus great co-leaders and top-notch Photoshop instruction. Please see terms and deposit info below.

This will make 17 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for me. Nobody knows the place better than I do. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the light and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

With my ever-shrinking teaching schedule and all the specialty trips sold out, this trip may well represent a rare opportunity to learn from the best so do not wait too long before sending your deposit. Clemens van der Werf who was on last year’s Bosque trip is already registered for this year’s. If you missed the Photographer Experience Quiz and the Mystery Photographer & Experience Level Revealed! posts on the blog, you will surely want to check them out to see what Clemens accomplished in less than a single year of bird photography. And how!

The Bosque Site Guide

If you cannot make the IPT for whatever reason but are heading to Bosque this year it would be foolish to make the trip without our Bosque Site Guide whether this will be your first trip or your tenth. Everything that I’ve learn over the past sixteen years is revealed in detail: where to be on what wing and what weather and when to be there. Exactly what to do each morning depending on the wind direction and cloud cover (if any). I’ve seen leaders keep their groups on the Flight Deck for two to three hours wasting their time while we have moved six times during the same time span with fabulous results. In the Site Guide we teach you where to be when. And why.

Learn more and order your copy by scrolling down here.

Shopper’s Guide

Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Remember: you can earn free contest entries with your B & H purchases! Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here for details.