This Bald Eagle was photographed at Lower Klamath NWR, CA when I traveled to the Winter Wings Festival in Klamath, OR. As often happens, I flew the last leg on a very small jet (into the Klamath Falls airport–LMT for those of you who are into three letter airport codes.) It is imperative that I get to my destination with my gear intact; see the feature below to learn just how I do that consistently.

I created this image from my rental vehicle with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 in Av mode. Central Sensor/Rear Focus AI Servo AF and re-compose. The big lens was of course resting on a BLUBB (the Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag).

Traveling With Your Photo Gear On Puddle Jumpers and Small Regional Jets

Here is a recent e-mail exchange with Justine Carson who will be joining Robert O’Toole and me (and 17 others in two groups) on the Homer Bald Eagle IPT in late October. See item two for more info including an increased late registration discount.

AM: Hi Justine, re:

JC: Do you have any advice regarding the best way to transport gear on flights in and out of Homer.

AM: Yes.

JC: My flight from San Francisco gets to Homer via Seattle and then Anchorage.

AM: Easy trip.

JC: I’m assuming that the Anchorage to Homer segment is on a smaller aircraft and am wondering about how much carry-on they are likely to allow. (I guess I could contact the airline — Era Aviation — and ask, and I will do that if you don’t have any advice to offer.)

AM: I am fairly sure that all the flights to Homer are 737s…. Oops. Wrong again. Mine flight will be on a Beechcraft B100 Series. But you may be able to get a flight on a 737. I am pretty sure that some of the flights are on 737s but I might be wrong there too….

I am not sure if you can get any rolling bag in the overhead. Here is the strategy that I use:

First I ask at the gate if the flight is full. If they say, “No,” I will get either stand at the bottom of the boarding steps or—if I do not see the flight attendant, get on the plane with my rolling bag (even if they have given me a gate check tag). Then I say, “I need your help. I have $25,000 worth of delicate photographic gear in my rolling bag. I understand that this is not a full flight Is there any chance that I see if I can get it under the seat in front of an empty seat? If they say “yes,” you might be half way there. Sometimes that works and sometimes I can get it under the seat in front of me and sit with my feet up on the bag. I use the big Think Tank Bag, the Airport Security. Learn more here. To see how how pack my bag—there are lots of great tips no matter which bag you have, click here.

If they say “no”, you might try asking, “Is there any chance that I could get this into the crew locker?” Sometimes they say “Yes.” Once I had a flight attendant who was so nice that she took her rolling bag out of the crew locker and gate checked it so that I could put my photo gear safely in the crew locker. I got her name and address and sent her a nice print as a thank you.

On the other hand I once had a male flight attendant who let me get on the plane (which was practically empty) and put my bag under the last two seats in the back on the left side of the plane. I took my seat thinking that all was fine. A minute later he tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Come with me please.” We went to the back of the plane past four empty rows of seats and he pointed to my bag which protruded perhaps 1/2 inch past the back of the seat. He said, “You will need to gate check that as it it blocking the aisle.” I said, “This is not an emergency row and there is nobody seated in the back of the plane. And the bag is maybe sticking out a half inch.” He said, “You will need to gate check that as it it blocking the aisle.”

I responded, “I understand. You have a uniform on and I do not. You are having a bad day and are taking it out on me. I am not sure why God sometimes puts bitter, unhappy people in my path but I can deal with it.” It was a no-win situation for me so I simply gate-checked the bag, confident that with my sturdy Think Tank bag with the gear packed as described here that it would arrive safely at my destination.

The reality of today’s air travel is that photographers must on occasion be prepared to gate-check their roll aboards. That is why I stow my gear in various LensCoat Travel Coats, Covers, Body Bags, Pouches and Bags. Then I rely on the sturdy construction of my Think Tank Airport Security bag to protect my valuable gear. Try if at all possible to make sure that you will be able to grab your bag plane-side when you get to your destination. I had one airline lie to me about that—Kodiak to Anchorage, I believe. My bag was put on the rack with all of the checked bags. My old 500 was slightly damaged. I have never had any gear damaged when my rolling bag was gate checked and picked up plane-side after the flight. That is the standard procedure.

JC: I have a Think Tank Airport Antidote which is supposed to be allowable carry-on for even smaller regional jets.

AM: Though I do not know that bag, many of the puddle jumpers have tiny overheads. Some are so small that you would be lucky to get your wallet in them….

JC: I can fit my 200-400 and a 70-200 or 70-300, plus camera bodies into that, but it will not accommodate my 600. I was originally thinking of leaving it at home, but since your e-mail saying to “bring your longest lens” I’ve been reconsidering that. I have been contemplating buying a Guru Kiboko bag, which I think would accommodate both long lenses and bodies, plus a smaller lens or two.

AM: I strongly suggest that you leave the 200-400 at home and bring the 600 and one or both of the smaller tele-zooms. Plus your two camera bodies. The 600 plus TCs is great for the perched eagles. I am 99% sure that the Think Tank International will hold all of that gear easily. I do not know the Kiboko bag at all.

JC: The other alternative is to use the Think Tank backpack plus a Think Tank roller bag which will hold the 600. The roller bag would almost certainly not go as carry-on for the smaller aircraft. But not sure that the fully loaded Kiboko would make it as carry-on either.

AM: I am sure that it would not. I do not like having anything on my back. Furthermore, where would your laptop go? I always bring my rolling bag and my laptop bag as my two carry-ons.

JC: Any advice on the best and safest way to get this amount of gear to Homer?

AM: See above. Let me know if you have any more questions. If you do purchase any additional Think Tank product, please do so after clicking here so that you get a free gift and I earn a small commission. Later and love, artie

(Note: the info above was adapted and expanded from a free excerpt from The Art of Bird Photography II (916 pages, 900+ images) that appeared at the end of the blog post here.

Homer Bald Eagle IPT Late Registration Discount Increased to $500!

Robert O’Toole and I have 2 slots open on our first Homer Fall Bald Eagle IPT and due to a cancellation, one on the second trip. We are glad to offer blog folks a $500 late registration discount. If you like to photograph eagles you have not lived until you have been to Homer. Robert and I have photographed Homer both before and after the Jean Keene era. Few if any (aside from us) have mastered the latter….

All of the images in this collage were created on BIRDS AS ART Homer, AK Instructional Photo-Tours, many of them last fall. To see a 1024 pixels wide version, click on the photo above. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

THE OCT/NOV 2011 HOMER-BASED BALD EAGLE IPTs with Arthur Morris and Robert O’Toole

OCT 25-29, 2011. Limit 10 (six photographers per boat)/Openings: 2). 5-FULL DAYS: $3399.

You will need to be in Homer no later than the evening of October 24.

OCT 30, 2011. Add-on day: $550. (Limit 10/Openings: 1). If you are on the second trip and are doing the add-on day, you will need to be in Homer no later than the evening of October 29.

OCT 31-NOV 4, 2011. Limit 10 (six photographers per boat)/Openings: 1). 5-FULL DAYS: $3399.

You will need to be in Homer no later than the evening of October 30.

These trips are based in Homer, AK. We will enjoy virtually unlimited photographic action. Each year, most folks opted to miss at least one boat trip due to photographic exhaustion. Two great leaders provide both in-the-field and in-classroom instruction that will include at least two Photoshop sessions. For more info on this trip, please click here. Please call me at 863-692-2806 or e-mail immediately. artie

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 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
BLUBB I designed the Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag out of necessity. It supports my big glass perfectly and allows me to create sharp images at slow shutter speeds from the car window and with the lens on top of the roof or the hood (with the BLUBB turned upside down). Beware of cheap imitations that cost half the price. They are all junk.
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.

This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens, the 2X III teleconverter (hand held at 360mm), and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6.

The raised foot and the open bill add interest.

Afternoon Farming Lessons II

Tip #1:

In late afternoon search out relatively low perches with distant backgrounds. You will find the one in the image above in a bit of a clearing near the start of the boardwalk. It will be on your right (as your are facing north, that is, toward the ramp that leads up to the Gomek exhibit). If there is nothing on the perch, hang out; there will be soon!

This head & shoulders portrait of a fading adult Cattle Egret was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens, the Canon EF 1.4X III TC and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/60 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode.

Tip #2:

On bright sunny afternoons look for subjects that (as above) are completely shaded. Birds often perch close to the boardwalk on the left (again, as you are facing north). Birds in bright sun–especially white ones–do not make good photographic subjects until the sun is quite low in the sky (yet not obscured by trees or by other vegetation).

This image of a young spoonbill with its wings raised was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/5.6 in Av mode. The dark brown primary tips indicate that this is a young bird, most likely about ten months old.

Tip #3:

If you own a long lens, look for the large bare tree that looms over the boardwalk; it will be hard to miss. Stay well back. (You will be facing south/southeast with the sun going down somewhat behind you.) Use a teleconverter if need be to reduce you angle of inclination; in general you do not want to stand right under the tree shooting up at the birds. Be patient. Most evenings a variety of birds will land and take off from the tree and at times there are some decent squabbles. The bird in the image above had just landed.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above (along with some related items). 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 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X III teleconverter. I also use it a lot with the 1.4X III TC.
2X III teleconverter. This new TC, which is noticeably sharper than the 2X II TC, is designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
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 workhorse professional digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

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.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card. These high capacity cards are fast and dependable.

I pack my 800 and tons of other gear in my ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V2.0 rolling bag for all of my air travel and recommend the slightly smaller Airport InternationalTM V2.0 for most folks. These high capacity bags are well constructed and protect my gear when I have to gate check it on short-hops and puddle jumpers. Each will protect your gear just as well. By clicking on either link or the logo below, you will receive a free gear bag with each order over $50.

Think Tank Free Offer

This image was made near Homer, AK with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop off the blue sky: 1/1600 at f/5.6 set manually. Early morning (8:56am) light. I have utmost confidence in my 32gb Delkin e-film Pro Flash Cards. In fact, I never give them a second thought.

Why 32-gb Flash Cards?

For years the argument against large cards has been as follows: “If you use a very large capacity card and it fails or you lose it, you lose everything. It is wise not to put all of your eggs in one basket.”

Why then do I head afield with one 32-gb Delkin e-film Pro compact flash card in the Mark IV on the 800 and another 32-gb Delkin e-film Pro compact flash card in the Mark IV on my shoulder along with the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens?

• In my nearly ten years of digital photography, I have never lost a single image to a failed card. I have had a few cards fail over the years (though none in the last four years knock on wood; I do not want to give myself a kinehora), but each time I was able to recover the images.
• As long as I remember to format the cards at the start of a session, I never have to change cards in the field. A 32-gb card is large enough so that I never fill a 32-gb card with Mark IV RAW files even though I routinely photograph at many of the worlds premier photographic locations. (The latter is just one of the many blessings that I enjoy.) Thus, I never miss any action because I am changing cards; I am effectively working with an endless roll of film in each camera body.
• If you use smaller cards, the odds of losing one of them or of having one of them fail increase greatly….. When photographing at locations where I bring my gear into the room each night, I simply leave my cards in the cameras until my two rigs are placed on my bed. Then I remove and re-charge each battery, remove each card, and place them on the desk next to my laptop. At some locations I opt to leave my gear in the trunk. When we get back to the motel I remove the batteries and the two cards, place the cards in my otherwise empty right hand pants pocket, get back to the room, and begin downloading. I always have a small tote bag with me so that I can conveniently transport small items to and from the room. The batteries go in the tote bag.

This Brown Pelican image was created in La Jolla, CA with the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/2000 sec. at f/8. Early morning (8:53am) light. Note that at f/8 I have brought up a pleasing amount of background detail, but nothing too sharply defined. When I visit San Diego either for an IPT or for Photo Expo West I often wind up having dinner with Martin Wood and Alan Parry of Delkin.

Why Delkin e-film Pro?

At a NANPA Forum about a zillion years ago, probably in 2002 or so, I first met Alan Parry of Delkin Devices. In those days a 512 mb card was a big card and cost about $300! Delkin had a booth. In short order Alan offered to give me a few cards to test. (In those days I was too timid to ask. I have learned to ask and I almost always get what I ask for. Just another of the many great blessings in my life.) Anyway, I used the cards and loved them. I found them to be quite dependable, and though I never test anything, I found them to be fast. Soon we were up to 4gb cards, and then 8gb, and then 16 gb cards. Delkin always keeps up with the latest technology and the cards are always fast, especially with Canon cameras. I began using a variety of Delkin card readers with my various computers. All but one were very dependable. Right now I have the same Delkin Express Card 54 adapter (reader) in the PCMCIA slot of my laptop that I have used for about four years. On IPT, I am always the first one downloaded at lunch… The combination of Delkin UDMA 32 gb e-film Pro cards, the Express Card 54, and BreezeBrowser’s Downloader Pro is lighting fast. There have been times at Applebee’s when I have actually finished editing a good morning’s folder of images before the group has finished ordering!

At some point, probably about 2005 or so, I visited the Delkin plant in Poway, CA for a tour. It reminded me of being in the place where the shuttle is assembled–never been inside that of course but I have seen the images. There the cards are assembled from a good number of components and tested rigorously, all right here in the US of A. Part of the operation includes soldering tiny bits and pieces…. Amazing.

Over the years I had two 4-gb cards fail, and one 8-gb card fail. Each time I was able to grab the images using a recovery program and each time Delkin cheerfully replaced the card at no charge. No questions ask. We have been marketing the Delkin cards for about six years. On rare occasion folks have returned cards that failed to us. We send them a new the next day and Delkin replenishes our stock.

Now here’s the great news: I have used Delkin 16-gb e-film Pro cards for about three years, first the gray ones and then the 450X red, white and blue UDMA cards. Then about two years ago I graduated to the 32gb UDMA cards. I have never had either a 16gb or a 32 gb Delkin card fail. Does that mean that if you order at 32 gb card from us that it will never fail? No, of course not. Cards of all sizes from all manufacturers will fail on occasion; it’s those tiny soldering jobs that cause the rare problem. With Delkin cards you can be confident that you have the same dependable card in your camera that I use every day, and that if there is a problem that the card will be replaced promptly and without question even if the paint is worn off. Do know that if a card is going to fail it will most likely do so during the first few days of use–again, its those soldered connections. It is best therefore to use a new card for at least a week before taking it to Antarctica or the Galapagos….

That said I have had a Delkin card spend several hours in the garbage at a Chinese restaurant. When I finally got it back, it was lathered in grease. It worked perfectly for many years after a bit of clean-up. And on several occasions, I have put Delkin cards in the washing machine. All functioned perfectly after a session with a blow dryer. I use my 32-gb Delkin e-film Pro cards without ever giving them a second thought.

Delkin created the Sensor Scope that I use at least once a week to help me keep sensor dust under control. And in addition to the card readers they make a wide variety of photographic related products including replacement camera batteries, re-chargeable batteries and chargers, archival storage media, Fat Gecko Mounts, flash drives, and more than a few clever accessories. Though we only carry a few of them, we would be glad to have any Delkin items drop-shipped for you while you save a few bucks in the process.

You can visit the Delkin Devices web site here. I did this morning and learned of a variety of products including their new 625X waterproof, ruggedized Combat Flash cards designed for folks working in extreme conditions. Learn more about the Combat flash cards here. Delkin has just introduced the USB 3.0 Universal Memory Card Reader. We will have them in the store soon. Here is their blurb:

“Move video and image files from memory card to computer over ten times faster, with sustained transfer speeds up to 5Gbps. Transfer two hours of high definition 1080p video in 26 seconds, almost 10,000 images in less than a minute or 2000 MP3 files in less than 13 seconds. Complete backwards compatibility with USB2.0 and USB1.1 allows for seamless integration with portable and desktop computer systems, making this the ideal companion for your present and future data management needs.”

(Note from me: though this card reader will work with older USB, the fastest transfer speeds are available only with USB 3.0.)

Delkin is of course a BAA sponsor and I look forward to a long and continuing relationship with Martin and Alan and the rest of the gang at Delkin Devices. Again, we will be glad to save you a few bucks and have your order for any Delkin product drop-shipped to you same day. The new USB 3.0 Universal Memory Card Readers will be in stock and in the store in a day or two.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear (or the current replacement) that I used to create the images above. 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 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X III teleconverter. I also use it a lot–depending on the situation–with the 1.4X III TC.
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EF 1.4X III TC. This new TC is designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. The very best professional digital camera body that I have ever used.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

I pack my 800 and tons of other gear in my ThinkTank Airport SecurityTM V2.0 rolling bag for all of my air travel and recommend the slightly smaller Airport InternationalTM V2.0 for most folks. These high capacity bags are well constructed and protect my gear when I have to gate check it on short-hops and puddle jumpers. Each will protect your gear just as well. By clicking on either link you will receive a free gear bag with each order over $50.
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.
Double Bubble Leve.l You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am on a tripod and not using flash.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card. These high capacity cards are fast and dependable.