Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handlheld at 208mm). ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/8. In competent hands as seen here, the 7D offers superb image quality. As always, click on each image to see a larger, sharper version.

Early on there were on-line concerns with the quality of images produced with the Canon EOS-7D.   After using the camera extensively in San Diego (especially with the 70-200mm f/4 L IS lens and the 1.4X II TC) I have zero concerns in this area.  I love the 7D files, they are sharp with great edge to edge detail.  The color and contrast levels are excellent.

Canon 70-200mm f.4L IS lens (handheld at 121mm) with the EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/2 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6. Fill flash at -1 stop. Late afternoon light.

As stated in my previous post, I am very pleased with the AI Servo AF performance (acquisition and accuracy) of the 7D.  (I have used the camera right out of the box without any focus calibration.) When doing flight photography, my preference has been to set AI Servo/Auto Select 19-point AF (the one that features a set of parenthesis-like brackets) and then manually select the central sensor.   If you are in AI Servo AF, the selected sensor will light up when you select this AF Mode. If you are in One-Shot AF, only the brackets will appear.  Others much prefer using either the central sensor alone (via Single Point AF-Manual Selection) or AF Point Expansion (Manual Selection) for flight photography.

The more I study the 7D and the Mark IV Instruction Manuals the more I realize how complex each camera is.  I am hoping to offer a combined 7D/Mark IV User’s Guide for sale at some point but that will most likely not be until spring as I have tons more to learn…

Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 235mm) and the EOS-7D. ISO 500. Evalautive metering at zero: 1/250 sec. at f/8. Flash with Better Beamer at -2 stops. When working with tame birds at close range, the 70-200 and a 7D is a great combination with or without the 1.4X teleconverter. As always, you can click on each image to see a larger, sharper version.

BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #313 is online now and can be viewed here:  http://www.birdsasart.com/bn313.htm

 

This bloody lion cub was photographed from the top of a safari van in Ndutu, Tanazania with the Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens, a 1.4X TC, and the EOS-1D Mark II on a Todd-Pod-mounted Wimberley head. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/80 sec. at f/5.6.

 

Arthur Morris smiling, San Diego, CA. Image courtesy of and copyright 2010: Rebecca Field (www.RebeccaFieldPhotography.com)

California Brown Pelican in flight, La Jolla, CA. Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (handheld at 154mm) with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-7D. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops set manually.

With one day to go, the San Diego IPT has been a huge success.  Great folks, great camraderie, great photographic opportunities, great food, and lots of learning.  We have been blessed with the right light, the right winds, and the right weather.  Keep your eyes peeled for the next BAA Bulletin for a complete report.

Everyone is anxious to know my thoughts on AI Servo AF performance with my new cameras:  Canon’s flagship professional body–the EOS-1D Mark IV, and the top of the line pro-sumer model–the EOS-7D.  AI Servo AF performance in both is excellent.  When I get the central sensor on the bird’s eye, face, or head and keep it there, the images are sharp.  When I fail to do that, sometimes the images are sharp, and sometimes they are not.  My initial impression (as you can plainly see in the Mallard image below) is that the Mark IV is surely the best ever Canon body when it comes to tracking incoming subjects that are rocketing towards you. 

And two things are sure: competent photographers will produce excellent flight images with either of these bodies, and excellent flight and action photographers will continue to produce award winning images with either the 7d or the Mark IV.  (Do note that when it comes to flight and action I consider myself in the former group, not the latter.) 

Mallard drake incoming, Santee Lakes, CA. Canon 400mm f/4L DO lens handheld with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/800 sec. at f/4 set manually.

As always, you can click on an image to see a larger sharper one.  I am supposed to be in San Diego until next Saturday but with the gloom and doom weather forecast: rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, I am likely to get out of Dodge well before that.  I will be back soon with more MIV and 7D images.

Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens handheld with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/320 sec. at f/4.

Anxious to create a few pix with one of my new Mark IV bodies I headed to the cliffs at La Jolla yesterday afternoon.  Within minutes, a cormorant flying by overhead unloaded a ton of whitewash on my bald head.  Pretty stinky stuff.  But when I looked down, I saw that he had scored a double hit: the top of my brand new Canon EOS-1D Mark IV was covered with the white goo.  Yikes.  Well, it is supposed to be good luck and I am a lover of what is, so, ….

The two images in this post teach an important lesson.  In the image above, the head angle is perfect; the bird’s head is turned about two degrees towards me.  In the image below, the bird’s head is turned about two degrees away from me.  (I knew it the instant that I pushed the shutter button but had no time to move to my right.)  It is great that the gular sac is inflated but the head angle is far less than ideal….

Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens handheld with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/250 sec. at f/5.6.

As always, you can click on each image to see a larger, sharper version.  You can learn lots more about head angle at this BPN thread: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7781

It is 4:48 am.  I am sitting at Gate 13 in Orlando International Airport headed for San Diego via Dallas flying American Airlines.  After 9/11, there was huge concern about flying with photography gear.  Other than getting dump-searched at the Dallas Airport right after 9-11–I had been in the air during the attacks– flying with photo gear after 9-11 was exactly the same as it was flying before 9-11.  One rolling bag, one computer case, and my vest.  Sometimes they checked my rolling bag carefully, sometimes they did not.  And once in a very great while I got hassled about my vest.  But getting through security and on the plane was and has been relatively hassle free.

After the last recent security fiasco/terrorist attempt there has once again been huge concern about the “new security measures” that will make it impossible to travel with long lenses and mutliple camera bodies.  Well, aside from the line at TSA being very slow this morning, I can assure you that at least in Orlando things are exactly the same.  Once it was my turn I got through security in record time: one rolling bag, one computer case, and my vest.  And they did not even swab my bag.  No pat down and no body scan even though they have those machines at MCO. 

On a personal note, I was up till after 1am talking to a friend on Sunday night, and then up this morning at 3am to make my 6am flight.  Though I am wide-eyed and alert at the moment, I am sure that I will catch some z’s on my flights.  I will be back soon to post some Mark IV and 7D images.

This image was created with the Canon 180mm macro lens and the EOS-1D MIII. Canopy Lodge, Panama. See below for needed help <smile> As always, you can click on the image to see a larger, sharper version.

On Wednesday of last week I got my brand new Canon EOS-7D.   And on Friday afternoon I received (just in the nick of time) my two Canon EOS-1D Mark IV bodies.  I have been busy packing and getting ready to head to San Diego for the IPT and then a week-long busman’s holiday.  It is cold and clear here at my office/home in Indian Lake Estates, FL this morning but I will not have any time to go down to the lake to try out my three new toys.  I hope to have time to set up a tripod in the driveway and do the focus calibration for each camera with a variety of lenses.  That will take a few hours.   As I have never made a trip before with three brand new cameras I am very excited!

BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #312 is on-line and can be accessed here:  http://www.birdsasart.com/bn312.htm

Here are the featured items:

HAPPY NEW YEAR WISHES AND BAA INF

HOME AT LAST BUT NOT FOR LONG

POSSE NEWS: JIM NEIGER

JPI BRADENTON GEORGE LEPP EVENT

 BPN HOT THREADS

MONGOOSE NEWS

SAN DEIGO IPT VERY LATE REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

IPT UPDATES

Here is where I could use a bit of help:   I have spent the last two days creating titles for the 34 images that will comprise my upcoming Canon USA-sponsored exhibit at Bok Tower in nearby Lake Wales.  I am pretty happy with nearly all of the titles.  Several friends including Todd Gustafson, James Shadle, Jim Heupel, and BPN Out-of-the-Box moderator Denise Ippolito pitched in with some creative  stuff.  

But I am least happy with the title for the Red-eyed Tree Frog image above.  If you have any suggestions, please e-mail me (no later than 5pm Sunday, January 10) at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.  Thanks!

Mallard drake on ice, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/250 sec. at f/5.6. Fill flash with Better Beamer at -1 stop. There were lots of gulls and Mallards on the pond right outside my Mom's kitchen window in Holbrook. As I approached carefully, every bird but this one walked or flew away.

I am posting this morning from MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York (with free WiFi).  I love Southwest Airlines for a variety of reasons including lots of computer station plugs and comfortable leather chairs with outlets.  No charge for bags, and no ridiculous change fees.  (I changed this flight four times without hassle.)

BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #311 is on-line.  You can access it here: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn311.htm

Here are the features:

HOLIDAY BEST WISHES/BAA CLOSED TILL 2010!

JIM LITZENBERG KUDOS

ROBERT O’TOOLE: PHOTOGRAPHER, PHOTOSHOP GURU, & GROWTH AS A TRIP LEADER

THANK YOU TEACHER

LONG ISLAND WINTER HOTSPOT: MORTON NWR

SAN DIEGO IPT LATE REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

I made it out onto the Barnegat jetty twice more on this visit.   Conditions on the middle of the three visits were not as benign as they had been on my first visit but the jetty is a relatively safe one as long as you are careful with each step and avoid wet rocks at all costs.  Many of the huge flat boulders near the end of the jetty, the last 100 yards or so, that had been covered with dried seaweed and were perfectly safe on that first afternoon, were–with the wind more from the south–wave splashed and slick on that second afternoon. 

On my third afternoon visit, the wind howled from west at about 25 knots and a bit surpisingly, the end of the jetty was again wave-splashed and dangerous.  There were hundreds of sea ducks with many of them at fairly close range, but photography was extremely difficult as they bobbed up and down in the choppy water.   Species included Harlequin Duck, White-winged Scoter, Common Eider and Long-Tailed Duck (formerly Oldsquaw).

The drake Surf Scoter was photographed with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 800. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop (to save the whites). The hardest part of the whole deal was simply getting the central sensor on the ducks as they bobbed up and down violently in the chop.

Thanks for dropping by.  I will be back soon.

ps: Thanks to Ray Wilsson and Gene Herzberg for the ID/brain typo correction on the “White-winged Scoter.”

This image of a Northern Cardinal was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with a 25mm Extension tube and the EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 320. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/320 sec. at f/11 set manually. (Should have been +1 2/3 stops....) Fill flash at -1 stop.

Morton NWR is located in Noyac, Long Island.   I was amazed to learn last year that bird feeding there is not only permitted but encouraged.   After Saturday’s blizzard I was anxious to get out in the snow and put some of what I had learned from Alan Murphy’s “Guide to Songbird Set-Up Photography” to good use.  Heading out to eastern Long Island on Sunday would have been borderline suicidal so I passed on that.  I woke early on Monday, packed my gear and warm clothing, and headed to the refuge.   Thinking that I might need to dig my way out at some point, I threw my Mom’s long-handled spade into the back seat of the car.   It took me a shade more than an hour to make the trip but when I arrived, I noted that the road into the parking lot had not been plowed.   I got my warm coat on, took the long-handled spade out of the back seat, and started digging my own parking space.  After about 30 minutes (when I was about half finished with my one car parking lot) I was wishing that I had brought my Mom’s real snow shovel.   

I stopped one guy with a plow on the front of an SUV; he stopped and was very nice but explained that it was his bosses truck and that he was forbidden to plow anything.   So back to work I went.  After another 15 minutes I was about 3/4 done when I spotted a bobcat with a snow plow on the front.  I waved the guy down and he stopped.  I asked him if I could pay him to finish plowing my spot.  He said, “No.  I will do it for free.”  One, two three and there was a beautiful practically effortless parking spot big enough for two cars.  I tried to give the guy a ten-spot for breakfast but he refused and drove off.

I wound up photographing for more than 7 hours.  I created the cardinal image above just before I left at 4pm.  By that time, my feet were frozen blocks of ice.  I was able to utilize many of the tips in Alan Murphy’s Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography to help me create better images.   The woodpecker image that follows was just one of many of those.   Be sure to click on each image to see a larger sharper version.

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with a 25mm Extension tube and the EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 100. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/320 sec. at f/8 set manually. Fill flash at -1 stop.

Tips:  When I am working with songbirds at close range I remove my Better Beamer to avoid over-flashing the birds.   When working in bright sun I use more fill flash than I usually do.

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with a 25mm Extension tube and the EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 250. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/11. Fill flash at -1 stop.

This is another one that was created by following  Alan’s directions explicitly.   His tip on the exact piece of equipment used for placing and adjusting the position of your selected perches is priceless.  You can learn more about Alan’s book or order a copy here:  https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=33

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with a 25mm Extension tube and the EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 250. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/250 sec. at f/13 set manually. Fill flash at -1 stop.

OK, you have read this far; now we will share some tips for photographing in the snow.   If you are photographing during the height of the storm, always use flash as light levels will be very low.   Once the weather clears, you will often have bright blue skies and northwest winds.  Be sure to select a location that is sheltered from the wind, especially in the mornings when a wind from the north or west can kill you.    During the short days of winter the sun is so low in the sky in the northeast that you can photograph in nice light all day long. 

In places like Morton where the birds are accustomed to being fed, it is fun to create some images of them on the fresh snow.   Do not scatter the seed about as the individual kernels will be distracting.   Instead, poke a small hole in the snow and fill it with seed.  Attempt to photograph the birds as they come to the seed hole or wait their turn.

Wear your warmest boots and clothing.   Hand-warmers can save the day if it is in the low 20s or the teens.  Work right down sun angle.  In addition to Alan’s techniques, I used many of my own from the Practicalities chapter of “The Art of Bird Photography II (916 pages on CD only):     https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=32

Important BAA Note:  

HOLIDAY BEST WISHES/BAA CLOSED TILL 2010!

First off, Jim Litzenberg, older-daughter Jennifer Morris, and I would like to wish each of you a safe and enjoyable holiday season.  With luck it will be filled with friends, family, good food, and at least a bit of photography.

Jennifer is flying to Islip on X-mas Eve day with husband Erik and children Sam and Maya to join the rest of the family that includes my Mom, my two sisters, her Mom, and her younger sister Alissa and her family (husband Ajiniaz and two sons, Ilyas and Idris).  And me <smile>

Jim will be in the office until noon on Thursday, DEC 24th and is then taking a rare and much needed vacation.  He will be able to ship or mail any order received before the close of business on Wednesday, DEC 23.   Both Jennifer and Jim will be back in the office on Monday, January 4, 2010.  PayPals and BAA On-Line Mail Order store orders will be processed and shipped on either January 4th or 5th. 

I will be back soon.

Purple Sandpiper is another rock loving winter species that is most easily photographed on rock jetties where they spend nearly all of their time when away from the breeding grounds. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stops: 1/320 sec. at f/5.6. (DPP conversion.)

For those who thought that my warnings about jetty safety might have been a bit exagerrated, check out this link: http://www.howardsview.com/Jetty/Jetty.html.  It was posted by Dave Blinder in the BPN “First Mid-Atlantic Get Together” thread.  The  photographer came within a hair’s breath of buying the farm and was extremely lucky to get out alive.

After reading the tale above and seeing the accompanying images I am betting that you will not be doing any jetty photography without having a photo buddy along….

Canon 800mm f/5.6 L IS lens with a 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/8 set manually. One-shot AF and recompose with the central AF sensor. As always, click on any image to see a larger, sharper version.

God bless my sister Arna.  She skipped out of work early today so that she could take our Mom to therapy.  That allowed me to head down to Barnegat Inlet.  It was 164 miles from Holbrook to the motel in Ship Bottom, NJ;  it took me almost exactly three hours with two pits stops.   I arrived at Barnegat Lighthouse at about 2:30 pm and was headed to the jetty with only the tripod-mounted 800 f/5.6 and a Mark III soon after that.  The 1.4X II TC was in my jacket pocket. 

The wind was 20-25 from the north northwest with higher gusts.  After reading the posts here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?p=405212#post405212 about the planned Saturday BPN get-together (the weather may cancel it….)  I was a bit apprehensive about the condition of the jetty.   Having actually been there this afternoon for the first time I must report that the warnings were over-stated.   I am a veteran jetty fisherman and while all jetties can be dangerous the jetty at Barnegat is rather tame.   It is wide and the rocks are fairly flat.   There were very few puddles and only a few rocks near the end were covered with (dried) seaweed.   Those can be very slick when wet.   I did not see any slick black rocks; those can be lethal and are to be avoided at all costs.  With any wind out of the north or west the jetty should remain dry (and relatively safe).  

The air temp was about 30 degrees.  I wore my warmest coat, lined pants, rain pants to cut the wind, and my hiking boots with a pair of NEOS (also to cut the wind and to provide an layer of insulation).  I was over-dressed on the way out but glad to be warm on the long walk back into the wind.

When photographing on a rock jetty it is vitally important to be careful.  Look at where you are putting your feet with each step; do not look for or at the birds unless you stop.   One mis-step can be quite costly in terms of broken bones, broken equipment, broken skulls and possible concussions, and even death should you hit your head or fall into the water.  If you are at all in doubt about the safety of a given step, turn around and go back.   Be especially careful near the edges of a jetty.  Never step on a rock covered with wet seaweed.  Avoid stepping in a puddle as they are almost always slippery, especially if the water has been standing for any period of time.  And never ever even consider stepping on either a wet rock that slopes toward the water or a slimy black rock.  Excpetions to any of the above rules should be made only by folks wearing ice-creepers or similar footwear designed for traversing slick jetties.

Be vary careful when putting your tripod down.   No matter how beautiful an image you think that you might miss, be sure to level the tripod platform by raising or lowering the individual legs as needed (or by pulling out the leg tab and changing the angle of one or more legs to achieve the same results).   When adding a teleconverter or handling any small pieces of equipment such as bubble levelsor batteries, be sure to remove your heavy gloves and to hold on to each item firmly.  If you drop something and it falls between the rocks you will most likely never see it again. 

The rewards of photographing from rock jetties in winter can be great, but no image is worth a serious injury;  as Sgt. Phil Esterhaus used to say on Hill Street Blues, “Be careful out there….”