A Ridiculous, Unexpectedly Successful Image … « Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

A Ridiculous, Unexpectedly Successful Image ...

Bugged?

If anything about the subject in today’s featured image bugs you, please leave a comment and let us know what it is.

What’s Up?

On the way home from getting my blood drawn, there was some nice color in the eastern sky so I stopped on SR 60 to make a few sunrise tree silhouettes. Things were slow down by the lake on Wednesday morning despite the seemingly gorgeous weather; a west/southwest wind on a clear morning makes bird photography difficult. I made a very few nice images of the single crane colt family and was working some Mottle Ducks south of the pier when today’s featured subject flew by for a one-good-frame-wonder.

Today is Thursday 9 June 2022. The forecast for ILE this morning is calling for mostly sunny, with a breeze from the SW. Despite the forecast, I will be heading down to the lake early as do every day when I am home. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes eighty-six days in a row with a new one.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon 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!

BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)

Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.

Another Induro GIT 304L Price Drop

Amazingly, we have two, brand-new-in-the-box Induro GIT 304L tripods in stock. They are $699.00 each (were $799.00) and the price now includes the insured ground shipping to the lower 48 states. Weekday phone orders only: 863-692-0906.

And Please Remember

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item β€” a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head β€” 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.

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords 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, or to any prior purchases.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW πŸ™‚

Please Remember Also

Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times β€” I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.



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… 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 8 June 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was estimated in less than 2 seconds. ISO 1600. 1/3200 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be less than one-half stop too dark. Not bad for a WAG. AWB at 7:22:33am on sunny morning.

Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed just fine. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.

Image #1: Great Egret — juvenile in flight

A Ridiculous, Unexpectedly Successful Image …

Talk about a grab shot. I was photographing swimming Mottled Ducks at ISO 1000: 1/500 sec. at f/8. I saw a Great Egret flying from left to right headed for sun angle. I spun the shutter speed dials without counting as I knew I needed a fast shutter speed for flight. From 1/500 sec. to 1 3200 sec is 2 2/3 stops. That means that I increased the shutter speed by eight clicks. But I knew also that I would need a bit more ISO. Again, without counting the clicks, I boosted the ISO from 1000 to 1600. Both were wild a _ _ guesses. It is miraculous that I came close to getting the exposure perfect. But it was more than workable.

With the exposure out of the way (for better or for worse), I framed the bird, acquired focus, and fired off a ten-frame burst. I knew that the bird was too big in the frame, but I went with my new philosophy — shoot first and ask questions later. In the first five images, the wings were cut off. In the last three, the bird had turned left and was flying away from me. Today’s featured image was miraculously perfect. I had the whole bird in the (here un-cropped) frame, the wing position was lovely, the background looked great, and though the active AF point was on the side of the bird about six inches directly behind the bird’s eye, the eye is razor sharp.

The lesson, aptly summed up by National Hockey League Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, is this: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Typos

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

11 comments to A Ridiculous, Unexpectedly Successful Image …

  • avatar Marina Teramond

    To tell the truth, it is truly cool that you have two, brand-new-in-the-box Induro GIT 304L tripods in stock because now I am looking for new reliable and functional tripod, but it is not such an easy task to find one that would meet all my needs and all necessary characteristics. It is really important for me to be provided with convenient shipping and I’m glad that the price now includes the insured ground shipping to the lower 48 states because it is a great advantage which encourages you more to make an order. I can say that I am amazed and impressed with the quality of this image because it was made in a professional way. I really like this minimalism in the photo because it gives it a more refined visual component and turns your attention to the details. Of course, it is impossible to make everything in a perfect way, but, from my point of view, your image has a highlight and interesting distinctive features, despite its simplicity.

  • avatar Keith Solberg

    Hi Artie,
    a little late in commenting, but what bugs me is the background in the lower right. there’s a circular bluish spot that pulls my eye toward it. the rest of the background is abstract enough to be pleasing, but something about the one area grabs my attention. otherwise, very nice. I’d keep it.

  • Hi, Artie. The only thing that bugs me about this otherwise perfect image is the bluish shadow on the curled-up wingtip feathers on the bird’s left wing.

  • I really enjoy the image. What immediately draws my eye away from the bird overall is the small spot of light hitting the bottom wing tip although putting it in shadow might make it appear cut off a bit.

  • Great shot !! Only thing I would try is to get a little more detail on the white body. Is that possible? I’ve got to get through your Saving the Whites soon.

  • avatar Marr Miller

    I like it. It’s a keeper.

  • Hi Artie, not bad reflexes for a old man… LOL. I like the image but think you can do better on pulling detail from the white feathers. Guessing what may bug you I would say the darker area in the background at the top. Thank you for sharing.

  • avatar Ruthie

    I think you have done better work before. Part of the bird is one white blob. The border between the body and the right wing is not visible.

    • avatar Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

      I agree that I have done better. It does not, however look as bad on my screen as it does on yours. The point of the post is that with digital you should push the button and at least try.

      with love, artie

  • avatar Joel Eade

    Not much to complain about here, beautiful image. If I am real picky the only thing I might consider working on is in the middle of the left wing there is one feather darker than all the others. Congrats on quick thinking and execution!

    • avatar Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

      Thanks, Doc. I think that that dark feather is actually a bluish shadow. Congratulations accepted. I was pretty proud of myself on that πŸ™‚

      with love, artie

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