Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

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What’s Up?

We were in the blinds early on Saturday and had lots of birds in front of us. At 6:45am, about 25 or 30 birds got spooked by something and flew off to other areas on the huge lek. We looked for the cause, a raptor or a coyote, but did not see a thing. The were a few birds behind us and several dozen to our right, some on a relatively distant hillside also to our right. We did not have the greatest morning.

Then my newly beloved only a9 iii went on the fritz. If you or a friend is using an a9 iii and have had strange, intermittent autofocus problems, please contact me via e-mail.

Today is Sunday 14 April 2024. We headed early to the big Fort Pierre (say “pier”) lek. Whatever you are doing, be sure to have fun.

If you plan on purchasing a Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera (or anything else for that matter), please remember to use or write for either my Bedfords discount code or my B&H affiliate link. Folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase the a9 III will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up) along with a Buttons and Dials Guide.

Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Join me in Little Rock, Arkansas this May for a great weekend of learning and fun. You can check out any and all of the latest/greatest photo gear. If you know any good nearby spots for bird photography, and/or if you would like a free (5-image) portfolio review, shoot me an e-mail.

Little Rock Photo EXPO
A Bedford Event: Inspire, Learn, Discover
HUGE TWO DAY INTERACTIVE TRADE-SHOW
May 17-18, 2024
State House Convention Center
101 E. Markham St., Little Rock, Arkansas

​Don’t miss the Photo Expo in Little Rock! Regardless of your experience level, join hundreds of photographers, as we take over Little Rock on May 17-18, 2024. The Little Rock Photo Expo offers a remarkable experience packed with presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and a massive trade show featuring all the major photographic companies. Explore the latest gear, trade in your old camera equipment, and gain valuable insights from our experts. Get up close and personal with world-renowned keynote speakers and seize countless unique photo opportunities. Bring your camera and get ready for a weekend of fun, learning, and inspiration to elevate YOUR photography to new heights.

Click here to learn more and follow the links to see the schedule of events and/or register. Use this discount code at checkout to save $20.00: VIPEXPO24.

Save 15%!

If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.

I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.

Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.

Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com

B&H

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Simplified

Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often stave you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

This image was created on 12 April 2024 at Fort Pierre National Grasslands, SD. Seated on a small camp chair working off the rear monitor in a large pop-up blind, I used the lowered Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. ISO 3200. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/640 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:10:28am on a clear sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Greater Prairie Chicken male boomer displaying

Cooler Morning Light/Small in the Frame

The early morning light on the male chickens really lights up their colors. When the sun comes up, the shadows of the blinds extent about almost 100 yards to the west. The trick is photograph the birds that are left or right of shadows of the blinds and thus, are lit by the warm light of the sun. While showing off for the ladies, the males often erect the pinnated feathers on the sides of their heads. And they raise the feathers on the sides of their necks exposing their orange air sacs. Then they inflate the sacs to create a booming sound while leaning forward and lowering their heads.

Once we get some light, I find that a shutter speed of 1/250 second will freeze most of the movement of a booming chicken. At 1/640th, as with image #1, most images of displaying males will be sharp.

Seeing the Shot

When I saw the three birds walking in the same direction, I got on the closest male and made a series of story-telling, small-in-the-frame images. Image #2 with the female close to being on the same plane as the male in the front, was the best of the lot. In our four days on the lek Kevin has seen three copulations and Anita has seen one. Zero for me. No good mating photos for anyone so far with one day to go.

This image was created on 12 April 2024 at Fort Pierre National Grasslands, SD. Seated on a small camp chair working off the rear monitor in a large pop-up blind, I used the lowered Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1250. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/4000 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:07:50am on a clear sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #2: Greater Prairie Chicken males following hen

Cooler Morning Light/Small in the Frame

Just after sunrise, the low angled light travels through lots of atmosphere. The atmosphere filters out the blue light leaving the red and yellow light to dominate. As the sun rises, the light is not so steeply angled and the cooler, bluer light takes over. Compare the color of the light in the two images.

The dirt mounds are made by the Prairie Dogs.

Why 1/4000 Second?

I was set up for a fight.

What’s Up?

We enjoyed a third straight great morning with the prairie chickens. Sunny and not too cold with about 60 birds on the lek. After two straight days of being in a pretty good spot by pure luck, both Kevin and Anita enjoyed the lion’s share of the action today, Friday 12 April 2023. Some bad weather is coming early next week. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have fun.

Anita North tried her new a9 iii (with all of my settings on it) and was quite impressed. She said, “It does great with backgrounds other than sky, it acquires focus faster, it grabs the eye faster than the a1 and sticks with it better than the a1, and the ergonomics are greatly improved. With more space to the front and left of the grip, it is easier to hold the camera without accidentally hitting any of your custom buttons with your thumb.” After looking briefly at her images, she added this “I can tell you right now that a9 iii image quality is nowhere near as good as it with a-1. We will not be able to crop with impunity as we have done with the a-1.”

This image was created on 11 April 2024 at Fort Pierre National Grasslands, SD. Seated on a small camp chair working off the rear monitor in a large pop-up blind, I used the lowered Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1600. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:38:40am on a clear sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Greater Prairie Chickens squabbling

Action Satisfaction

While Kevin has been giving us some great tips on photographing the chickens, there is nothing as satisfying as figuring out new bird behavior on your own. I thought that I would need to raise the tripod and work with my eye to the viewfinder in order to try for fights and flight. But I continued working off the rear monitor so that I could maintain the low perspective that I love. Once I figured out the that trick was to look for two males in close proximity, acquire focus, and get ready for action to begin, I found that I could capture the squabbles while working off the rear screen. As long as I had my reading glasses on. Image #1 was my first BINGO!

This image was also created on 11 April 2024 at Fort Pierre National Grasslands, Seated on a small camp chair working off the rear monitor in a large pop-up blind, I used the lowered Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1600. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:38:47am on a clear sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #2: Greater Prairie Chickens squabbling

Seven Seconds Later

In addition, I learned to stay with the action once it begins. The two birds in Image #2 are the same as in Image #1. They flew up, squabbled, landed and, and then resumed midair hostilities almost immediately. Whatever you do, do not start chimping after a midair tussle to see if you got something good or great. You might miss even better stuff.

This image was also created on 11 April 2024 at Fort Pierre National Grasslands, Seated on a small camp chair working off the rear monitor in a large pop-up blind, I used the lowered Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. ISO 1000. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at e: 8:07:44am on a clear sunny morning. Tracking: Expand Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #3: Greater Prairie Chickens head and neck portrait with pinnae erect

In Love With Pinnae

The prairie chickens are interesting. Their behaviors on the leks are beyond fascinating. A lek is an aggregation of male game birds that gather to engage in competitive displays and courtship rituals to entice visiting females that are looking for prospective mates. The long pinnated (symmetrical) feathers atop their heads can be twirled around, pointed fore or aft, and erected before, during, and after various courtship displays. The birds on the lek in Fort Pierre do not seem to notice us or the three blinds at all. Some walk within fifteen feet of the front of the blinds and yesterday, a squabbling duo crashed into the back of my blind. When the walk right by, I go head hunting.

a9 iii Image Quality

As I have stated from DAY 1, the 24MP a9 iii files cannot stand up as well to large crops as the 50MP a1 files. Wile this is true, Image #3 represents less than 38% of the original frame. It looks more than fine to me.

Click on the card to view a larger, sharper high resolution version. Sony a9 iii .DAT File and More e-Guide

Sony a9 iii .DAT File and More e-Guide

Though I have had the a9 111 for only a month, I have created many amazing images with it. (I did get to play with one in Homer for a bit>) As it is a complex camera body and there are more than a few differences when compared to the a-1, it has taken me a while to get the setup close to perfection and I am still and will continue to learn more everyday. I am 100% convinced that a9 iii Bird Face/Eye AF/C is significantly better than it is on the vaunted a1.

Use one of my two affiliate links (B&H or Bedford) to earn a free copy of the guide. Overseas folks and this who purchased their 19 iii without using a BAA affiliate link may purchase the e-Guide for $209.93 by calling Jim weekdays until noon on Friday at 863-692-0906.

Why so expensive? Heck, it is free if you use one of my links. Get in the habit. It never costs you one one penny more and in many cases I gave save you some money if you get in touch with me before you purchase something great.

Your camera cost you about $6K USD. You might opt to struggle with the menu and with trying to figure out the proper settings for bird photography. Or, for just 3 1/2 percent of the price of an a9 iii, you can have my settings on your a9 iii in about five minutes. And ten minutes after that you will know as much as I do about this amazing new technological miracle.

What you will get:

My a9 iii .DAT file along with instructions on how to load it onto your a9 iii. In just minutes, your camera will be set up exactly as mine is. And you can begin making great images.

A Buttons and Dial guide.

An INFO sheet with my comments on all the important stuff.

Product support to the best of my ability. E-mail your questions and I will either answer them or get them answered.

Occasional e-mails with anything new that I discover.

Rejoinder — there may very well be stuff about the a9 iii that I am unaware of. And some of that might be beneficial for bird photography. Do not hesitate to let me know via e-mail if you figure out something great.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.