Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on an Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025) or in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or, shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Both offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and ground transportation during your stay.
Your Call
Which of today’s featured extreme images do you like best? Why did you make your choice?
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post, Drizzly Morning Baby Cranes and a Colt at ILE here, Image 2, 3, and 4 were my favorites with 5 & 6 right behind them. Several folks really dug Image #3 for the perspective.
What’s Up?
As noted in the last post, photography at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm was challenging as expected, and, as is usual at wading bird rookeries, extremely difficult; there is no better place to make thousands of very bad images. I still have 2300 images to get through. As those include some very good ones, you will see some of the images here soon. As I was able to put together a small group at the last moment, we were able to enter at 7:00am, one hour before the masses. Thanks Pat Fishburne! One hour of soft light each morning before the blasting sun rose came over the trees was a huge blessing I made it back to ILE on the afternoon of Friday 11 April exhausted and promptly took a two hour nap.
Today is Saturday 11 12 April 2025. Despite the death forecast for morning bird photography — NW at 8mph with clear skies, I will be heading down to the lake early to check on the five Sandhill Crane families.
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This image was created on 12 March 2025 at Lakeland, FL. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 1600; 1/4000 second at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:40:59am just before sunset. Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #1: Boat-tailed Grackle taking flight at sunset |
Why Photograph Boat-tailed Grackle?
Boat-tailed Grackle is a dirt bird. There are hundreds of them down by the lake every day. They are abundant along all southeastern coasts and inland as well. They are often seen foraging in gas stations and 7-11 parking lots.
Why photograph them? Even better, why should you photograph any very common bird species?
Here’s why:
1- Pushing the shutter button is fun.
2- It is possible to create superb photographs of all bird species.
3- Photographing common birds gives you a chance to hone your skills in the following areas:
a- exposure
b- shutter speed choices and sharpness techniques
c- image design
d- autofocus and pre-capture choices and settings
e- camera and lens handling
f- understanding bird behavior
4- Doing so will make you a better bird photographer
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This image was created on 28 March 2025 on a Stick Marsh Extended IPT. Seated on a pillow atop a sturdy milk crate, I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. ISO 4000. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel; 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect: AWB at 8:51:33am on a partly sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #2: Boat-tailed Grackle male taking flight |
Sony a-1 ii Pre-Capture
Pre-capture was 100% responsible for creating both of today’s featured images. Pre-capture, however, does not do a thing for you unless you have the right settings, are actively focusing (by keeping the shutter button half-presses), and fully understand the process. In both situations, when I felt that a take-off was imminent, I took a moment to increase the Pre-Capture time from my default setting of 0.2 sec. to a full 1.0 sec. And in both cases, I was late pressing the shutter button due to my slow reflexes and reaction time, yet having mastered the skills needed to take advantage of this amazing technology, I got the shot. Heck, with the second image I created a second stellar image.
Amazingly, the a-1 ii nailed the bird’s eye in both of today’s featured images. How does the system detect the eye of a bird in silhouette or a grackle’s dark eye on a black head? Beats me. I you purchase an a-1 ii or any other new gear, please write for advice and my affiliate links. Tanks for that.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I often photograph common ravens, which are very common in my area, for many of the same reasons. Why not? We are no longer buying rolls of film 🙂
Nice to see you here 🙂
a
I love photographing “dirt birds” and agree with all your reasons why. Besides, if any of those were a rare bird there would be mobs showing up to ooooh and aaaah and take pictures 🙂 One of my favorite images I’ve taken is of a crow.
One of my favorites of yours is your American Robin with minnow in winter image.
Others should be able to see it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaNp_DgvMT1/
with love, artie
That’s some good stuff Dan!
Thanks Anthony!
Thanks artie, I love that one too 🙂 Another proof to keep on photographing dirt birds.
Love the elegant “swan dive” of pose of #2. To answer the headline question of the blog, see the previous sentence.
Thanks, David.
with love, a
I totally agree about photographing common (and slow moving) birds for practice, and especially when starting out as a learning exercise. Living on Cape Cod, seagulls and crows were, and occasionally still are, my practice subjects. They’re plentiful and are mostly unafraid of humans, and also great for practicing exposure…lots of darks and brights! Not many contest winners though 🙂
Thanks, Loren. Creating contest winners is the responsibility of the photographer 🙂 More than a few images of common species have done well in a variety of contests.
with love, artie
Art: Thanks back at you! It was great getting into the Alligator Farm an hour before the hordes of photographers at 8:00am. I will pass Maury’s resume on to Denise who, as you probably know, works at Cisco.
You are welcome. Tell Denise that Maury is a very fine young man and is super smart and always helpful and caring.
with love, a
Typo:
I you purchase and a-1 ii or any other new gear, please write for advice and my affiliate links. Tanks for that.
Good catch. I fixed the an(d) but am fine with tanks 🙂
a
I like both but prefer image 1. If I didn’t photograph common birds I would be a terrible bird photographer because I would get no opportunity to practice and learn. And many common birds are beautiful, interesting, or both. One of my friends told me that the best photograph I have ever taken is one of a raven, and ravens are dime a dozen around here. And I like all your reasons, too.
Thank you Dr. Fish.
I have one raven image that I like. On a post, at Bosque, holding the foot of a rabbit!
with love, a
Love that pre-capture! Get a 1Tb card and go to town!
I love dirt birds. Gulls are the same, whether it’s by the lake or the wal-mart parking lot, I take some shots.
Agree. I am using a Delkin 480 in each a-1 ii body so no worries there. I am with you on the gulls, etc. I am still trying for a good frame of a boat-tailed on top of a gas pump.
with love, artie