Bird-scape Tips Along With a Handholding Focusing Trick

Need You Help Twice

#1:Have you ever purchased a new Nikon, Canon, Olympus, or Sony camera body that came with a battery that could not be charged with the stuff that came in the original box? If yes, which one?

#2: The Sony a-1 ii costs $6,998.00 new. It comes with a double charger, Sony BC-ZD1 Battery Charger. However, no cord or plug is included with your purchase. (I did not notice until Friday past when I began setting up Alvin Stevens’ camera body.) I called Sony Pro Support to verify that I had not misplaced the cord. I was told that they no longer included a cord or a plug for the charger because “everybody has one and other companies are doing the same thing.” So, I asked exactly what was needed. First, I was told to purchase Sony Part Number 1-912-742-21 for $13.95. That cord is perhaps six inches long at most. I also encountered this notice: This item is currently out of stock until 08/06/2025 (or 9 days). But, this cord does not come with any sort of plug. So, I called back and was told to purchase a Sony 30W Fast charger XQZUC1/B- for $49.99. It comes with a cord that looked to be about six inches long (but nobody could verify that).

So, the question is, what are your thoughts on a $7,000 camera body that comes without a usable charger and requires you to make an additional purchase if you wish to charge the camera body?

What’s Up?

I was hoping to have my laptop back before this is published. I sent it to Apple in Memphis, TN by Fed-Ex on Monday 21 July. As I never look at or work my images on a desktop computer, I have been keeping all the images from my morning shooting sessions on Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Cards, one in each of my two Sony a-1 bodies. I am hoping to get laptop back very soon. As always, you can get in touch by e-mail. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.

The last two mornings have been typically slow but with (at least) one miracle per session. On Saturday, I ran into a very handsome, ridiculously tame Black-bellied Whistling Duck. After getting out of the car and making head and neck portraits with the 400-800, I stood up, went back to my SUV, and switched that for the 600mm f/4 and the 2X TC so that I could create some nice head portraits. On Sunday, I photographed a handsome adult Tricolored Heron in the bay south of the pier. Every time it ran to grab a tiny fish it either ran away from me or ran well off of sun angle. After a bit, it flew to the pier and landed on the railing. Long story short, I grabbed the 400-800 and walked right up to the bird. Amazingly, it snatched a medium sized dragonfly out of midair. It had trouble swallowing it breakfast so I created several hundred images. I am, as always, hoping for one really good one.

Today is Monday 28 July 2025 and I will of course be heading down to the lake early in search of yet another miracle. 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 you’ve been thinking of joining me for one of the two Nickerson Beach IPTs, please e-mail for late registration discount info.

If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — 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 or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford 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 BirdPhotographer’s.Net, 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

If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025), in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.

B&H Simplified

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!

B&H

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. But 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. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always 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 when your product ships. 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 prior purchases.

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

This image was created on 5 July 2025 at Hueguenot Memorial Park, Jacksonville, FL. Standing at full height I used the handheld 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 1600. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel; 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was 1/3 stop short of dead solid perfect: AWB at 6:47:51pm on a cloudy afternoon. Manual focus trick performed perfectly. Learn more below. Image #1: (Handsome) Royal Tern chick on crowded beach with terns, gulls, and pelicans. Image copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Bird-scape Tips

1- Always focus on the closest bird.
2- In a perfect world, the closest bird will have something special about it, a neat pose, or in this case, a handsome plumage. I call the plumage of this young royal “checkerboard.” It is my favorite of the many, many variations.
3- Whether you are shooting horizontally or vertically, always place the closest bird in a corner of the frame.
4- Work wide open so that depth is added to the image as focus falls off with the distance.

A Handheld Bird-scape Focusing Trick

As noted above, focusing on the closest bird is of utmost importance; that is why it is #1 above :-). For years I have always moved a small focusing point so that it falls right on the (small in the frame) subject and attempted to focus actively when making a short series of images. This is much easier to say than to do — especially when handholding. If the lens moves a smidgeon, the selected AF point will fall of the subject and focus will be thrown off.

I say often that every time I am in the field (in other words, pretty much every day recently), I am striving to learn or figure out something new. One afternoon at Huguenot I had a revelation. While creating the bird-scape above I got tired of struggling with the focus. So, with the smallest AF point in the middle of the frame, I focused on the handsome bird and then reached up and turned the AF switch to M. Standing in the same spot — I did not need to be terribly precise at all as depth of field at a distance is large, I simply reframed the image and made a few photos. All of them were sharp on the subject bird. And, if your camera is set up for focus peaking, the subject will be overlaid in whatever color you have set in the menu. In my case, red.

If you are handholding, why will this trick work only with distant subjects?

I’ve used manual focus before for bird-scapes when working on a tripod but never realized how effective it can be when handholding (until recently) :-). If you have already tried focusing when creating handheld bird-scapes, I tip my hat to you.

Bird-scape?

If you look for a formal definition of the word bird-scape, you will come up empty. Why? It is one of the many bird photography terms coined by artie in his 42-years of doing what he loves.

Summer bird photography at Nickerson Beach is excellent.

Nickerson Beach 2025 Educational Opportunities

Please note that prices for both the IPTs and the ITF sessions have been reduced in an effort to attract new blood. Please e-mail for late registration discount info.

Nickerson Beach 3 Day Mini IPT: WED AUG 6 afternoon thru the morning session on SAT AUG 9, 2025: $1899.00.

Three afternoon sessions, three morning sessions, two brunches with Image Review & Photoshop sessions. AirBnB lodging and rides with the leader possible. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.

Breeding Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young.

Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $1899.00.

Three afternoon sessions, three morning sessions, two brunches with Image Review & Photoshop sessions. AirBnB lodging and rides with the leader possible. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.

Breeding Black Skimmers, Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers with young.

Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $449.00/per session

Available dates: AUG 10-31, SEPT 1-5, 2025. Please get in touch with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net (and please BCC birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) and/or via a text to 863-221-2372 with questions or to register.

Afternoon BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS): $299.00/session.

Available dates: AUG 10-15 & 17-31, SEPT 3-5, 2025. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please copy birdsasartstaff@gmail.com) just to be sure. It looks as if Will have access to webmail on one of the two office computers. You can also shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.

Morning and afternoon sessions may be combined and multiple days of instruction are feasible.

Morning In the Field Instruction at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge may be available — 7/21-22/25.

Some of What You Will Learn on a Nickerson Beach IPT

• 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
• 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
• 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
• 6- To spot the good and great situations and to choose the best perspective.
• 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
• 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they combine to affect bird photography. You will learn where and when to be (and why).
• 10- More than you could ever imagine.

Typos

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