What’s Up?
After getting drenched on my birthday, we headed back to Nickerson on Sunday morning. It was cold and a little bit wet with a brisk northeast wind. At times, I had the chills. But the photography was fantastic and the tern chicks got fed many times; there was lots of action. Note: photographing tern feedings is a huge challenge as 99% of the time either the chick or the adult is facing away and/or there is blocking vegetation and/or there are extraneous subjects in the frame. I started with the 600 and the 1.4X TC on my flattened tripod and switched to the 2X TC once it brightened up a bit. When the dust cleared, I had created 5,476 as yet un-edited images. I cherry-picked one as a teaser for a future post that will feature my best images from what was a most wonderful morning. We returned to the same spot on Sunday afternoon in similar and seemingly perfect conditions — very cloudy with a dead east wind, and pretty much came up empty.
Today is Monday 16 June 2025. We drive into the city to attend a pre-BILD gathering at B&H at 4:00pm so I am fervently hoping for early check-in at my midtown hotel. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro — 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.
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 save 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.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
To learn of the late-registration discounts and AirBnB availability for the Jacksonville Royal Terns with chicks and more extended IPT late June/early July, or 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.
Amazing BILD Discovery: BILD EXPO Presented by B&H
I learned recently that all BILD programs are 100% free. All you need to do is register and show up. See you there!
Why Attend? BIRDS AS ART Appearances, Speakers, Gear, Deals, and more
I am pleased to announce that I will be doing four round table sessions at BILD this June. Here are the round table topics:
1- Systems, Lenses, and Camera Bodies for Bird Photography
2- Creating Sharp Bird Photographs
3- Bird Photography Hotspots
4- Creating Bird Photographs that depict Flight, Action, and Behavior
Bild Expo is back! Join B&H at The Javits Center in New York City for an unforgettable event featuring 100+ expert speakers, 250+ exhibitors, hands-on experiences, and the world’s greatest creative community. B&H’s incredible show specials will be the icing on the cake! Whether you’re a seasoned pro, an enthusiast, or a beginner, at Bild you will get inspired, learn, meet like-minded people, and celebrate being part of this amazing world of creativity.
Click here or on the logo link above for more information.
Click here to register.
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This image was created on 15 June 2025 at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. Seated on damp sand behind my flattened tripod, I used the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. ISO 2500. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/500 second at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 9:46:09am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Common Tern chick running |
Your Call
What do you like about this image?
What don’t you like about this image?
What are your thoughts on the motion-blurred left foot?
What are your thoughts on the eye highlight?
What are your thoughts on the exposure and presentation?
What are your thoughts on the low perspective?
What are your thoughts on the image sharpness?
Could I have done anything different in the field to improve this image?
Could I have done anything to improve the post processing?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
All good. The sharper foreground shows how the chicks coloring would blend in with the ground when tucked into a scrap. God’s own camouflage. Just tell AI what you imagine the final adjustments to look like and whalah. Oh happy day.
What do you like about this image?
I love the dynamic action, low perspective, and intimate feel that draws the viewer into the chick’s world.
What don’t you like about this image?
The slightly flat background due to the overcast light lacks visual depth or contrast.
What are your thoughts on the motion-blurred left foot?
The motion blur adds a sense of movement and energy, enhancing the story.
What are your thoughts on the eye highlight?
The catchlight brings the image to life and helps anchor the viewer’s attention.
What are your thoughts on the exposure and presentation?
The exposure appears perfect, with well-balanced tones and clean detail, even at ISO 2500.
What are your thoughts on the low perspective?
The low angle is highly effective, creating intimacy and making the image more engaging.
What are your thoughts on the image sharpness?
The sharpness is excellent, especially on the chick’s head and eye, which is critical for impact.
Could I have done anything different in the field to improve this image?
A slightly faster shutter speed might have frozen the foot more, but overall your settings were well-judged.
Could I have done anything to improve the post processing?
Perhaps a minor lift in midtones or subtle background noise reduction could refine the final image slightly.
My only comment would be on possible processing to try and follows the idea proposed by Cliff Beitttel. I would try slightly cooling the background and slightly warming the foreground and chick. Try both together then just bkgd and then just fgd. Very small adjustments either way should make the chick pop away from the background giving more depth to the image.
I like the foot, exposure, perspective, sharpness, and the image itself. The catchlight looks added, could possibly be blurred some or eliminated altogether, as the natural light at the top of the eye, possibly already brightened, is good as is. I’d consider adding some blue to everything other than the bird, making the bird stand out more from the background. On my screen, adding a Photo Filter adjustment layer (Cooling LBB) at 10% looked good.
What do you like about this image?
High-key
What don’t you like about this image?
No environmental context
What are your thoughts on the motion-blurred left foot?
Adds motion to an otherwise static image.
What are your thoughts on the eye highlight?
Catch light gives eye depth.
What are your thoughts on the exposure and presentation?
Exposure appears to within dynamic range.
What are your thoughts on the low perspective?
Appears to be shot at ground level. It’s like taking a portrait of a human child, putting camera at subjects eye level.
What are your thoughts on the image sharpness?
Does look look like it was taken through a hardware softening filter or perhaps added in post processing with a software filter. Vignette added in processing?
Could I have done anything different in the field to improve this image?
NA
Could I have done anything to improve the post processing?
So glad you had such a great Father’s Day in the field! I love the raised foot, even though it’s not in focus.. I don’t like the immediate foreground because it’s too blurry — I would have cropped some off the bottom. The eye highlight makes the image come alive!
What do you like about this image? The low perspective, the warmth, room for the bird to run
What don’t you like about this image? nothing. but maybe putting the bird a bit closer to the bottom of the frame
What are your thoughts on the motion-blurred left foot? I like it, shows it’s running
What are your thoughts on the eye highlight? looks fine to me. I’m guessing that was added because of a cloudy day and late morning?
What are your thoughts on the exposure and presentation? fine
What are your thoughts on the low perspective? love it. makes me feel equal with the bird
What are your thoughts on the image sharpness? eye and bill are sharp which is what matters
Could I have done anything different in the field to improve this image? not in my book
Could I have done anything to improve the post processing? don’t know of anything. warmth looks good. on a cloudy day it could have looked dark and muddy without good exposure and processing.