Asleep at the Switch! On Keeping Your Eyes Open. Getting Closer: the last two hints ...

What’s Up?

Wednesday morning was cranes and more cranes. I did not get into the pool until just before noon having decided to cut my swimming workout from 72 lengths back to 60 as the extra 12 lengths were becoming tedious and I had begun experiencing a bit of soreness in my right shoulder …

I will be heading out as usual this morning — Thursday SEPTEMBER 3, 2020. Two months ago, I was getting down to the lake at 6:45am but now, with the shortening days, I leave my house at about 7:15am.

The blog is designed to be interactive; please take a moment to consider the educational questions below and if you have a moment, please leave a comment.

If you are getting tired of being locked down and are considering the San Diego IPT (social distancing; masks required for indoor sessions), be sure to check out the possibilities by enjoying the San Diego Gallery here.

Please Remember

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — remembering to use my B&H link or shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and will be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

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The BAA Used Gear Page

The BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Past Sales list at the bottom of the page.

SONY e-Guide Discount Program

Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.

Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.

109 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

Money Saving Reminder

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase of more than $1000.00, click here to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please.

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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

Head portrait of Sandhill Crane colt hatched May 9 or 10, 2020

Win Twenty Dollars!

In the recent Win Twenty Dollars! blog post here, I posted this with regards to the featured head portrait image of the surviving Mother’s Day crane colt (now above):

If you are the first to leave a comment noting the exact focal length and the aperture that I used for this image, you will win a $20 discount on any item in the BAA Online Store. Phone orders only.

Hints: The correct focal length is in multiples of 100mm. And the aperture is a full stop aperture.

Six folks tried, and nobody was even close … So in the next post here, I offered up three additional hints:

1-The lens used to create today’s featured image was the same lens used to create the quiz image … That should tell you a lot.

2-The aperture used to create today’s featured image was the same as the aperture that I used when creating yesterday’s quiz image.

3-Both images were made handheld.

The Last Two Hints

Lots more folks guessed and again, most were way off target. Here are the last two hints:

1- Between the two posts, two folks got the focal length correct.

2- When considering the aperture, take a good look at the absolutely creamy, detail-less background Bokeh …

These images were created on 31 AUGUST 2020 at the vulture tree at the south end of the South Field. I used the Induro GIT 404/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body for each of them. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Turkey Vulture 1200mm adult composite

The Situation

The fields were treacherously wet and muddy and there were no cranes near the paved roads. I was delighted to see a single handsome adult Turkey Vulture perched at the very top of the vulture tree. Though the birds are generally tame and allow case approach, I opted to work at 1200mm to reduce my angle of inclination. The closer I got to the tree, the more I would have been shooting up at the birds at an unpleasant angle. And I knew that making sharp images at 1200mm with the a9 ii would be child’s play. In general, a bit more care and a somewhat faster shutter speed is needed when working at 1200mm with the a7r iv.

Composite Question

Which of the eight images needs to be cropped a bit from the left and from below? Why?

This image was created on 31 AUGUST 2020 near the vulture tree at the south end of the South Field. I used the Induro GIT 404/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/400 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode was confirmed as perfect in RawDigger. AWB at 7:52am on a mostly clear morning. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Turkey Vulture juvenile resting on horizontal branch with moss

Keeping Your Eyes Open …

There are a few live pine trees to the right (north) of the vulture tree. There are often lots of vultures (of both species) perched in these trees. The adult vulture pictured in the composite above turned had its back to me and quit doing interesting things. Getting a bit bored, I glanced at the trees to my right and saw a few perched vultures. I decided to walk the 20 yards to get on sun angle and to check things out despite the fact that the birds in the pine trees were usually sitting on cluttered perches. But as I approached, I saw the young vulture featured in Images #2 & #3 resting comfortably on a relatively clean and open horizontal branch. The best news was that the bird was much lower in the pine than the adult vulture had been atop the dead tree. I started well back in order to include some of the moss on the right side of the frame.

This image of the same bird was also created on 31 AUGUST 2020 near the vulture tree at the south end of the South Field. I used the Induro GIT 404/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/320 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode was confirmed as perfect in RawDigger. AWB at 7:53am on a mostly clear morning. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) performed to perfection. Image #3: Turkey Vulture juvenile resting on horizontal branch

Going Vertical

After making lots of wide images similar to Image #2, I approached the bird slowly, went vertical, and created several dozen images with varying head angles. And still learning from RawDigger, I actually did some auto-bracketing in third stops. By 8:15am I was headed home and into the pool.

I am especially blessed to have the cranes and the vultures as fairly dependable subjects here at ILE, especially now that there are very few wildflowers in bloom.

Your Favorite?

Do you prefer Image #2 or Image #3? Why?

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

San Diego 2021 Brown Pelican IPT

January 12 thru the morning session on January 16, 2021. Four full and one-half day: $1999.00. Deposit: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 7.

Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; MON JAN 11, 2021.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well. And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

This IPT will include five 3 1/2-hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-brunch image review and Photoshop sessions. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well.

A $599 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. You can send a check (made out to “Arthur Morris) to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due immediately after you sign up. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).