Your Call?
Which of today’s two featured images best tells the story? Why?
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post everyone chose Judy’s soft light landing spoonbill as their top pick (and that included me as well). My second pick was image #1, the tern with its wings raised and the nice blue sky.
What’s Up?
Steve Shore made it safely back to Dallas on Saturday after spending seven days with me at Nickerson Beach. His photography has improved dramatically since Sebastian Inlet last fall. Vasili Chernishof arrived safely from Pasadena and arrived at the AirBnB even before we got back from our morning session that day. He will be here for eight days. We attended the Mets game at Citi Field last night, got to witness a great game, and saw Mets rookie pitcher Nolan McLean go behind-the-back to begin a wicked ending inning double play. His first ever major league victory got him his first major league victory. Check out the smile on his face after he makes the amazing play below. And check out the smile on the face of Mets first baseman Pete Alonzo; he thought it was a pretty darned good play! The batter: not so much.
Today is Sunday 17 August 2025. Vasili’s first session went quite well, again despite the wind against sun conditions. We did lots of backlit flight. We will be headed to the beach at about 6pm for some more fun and learning. Whatever you opted to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
I still have room at the AirBnB for the last Nickerson Beach IPT:
Nickerson Beach 4-Day Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): MON AUG 25 afternoon thru the morning session on FRI AUG 29, 2025: $2299.00.
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.
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This image was created on 16 August 2025 on the second 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Standing on the beach, I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78 at 6.8mm. ISO 64: 1/480 sec. at f/1.8. 7:26:30am on a cloudy bright morning. Image #1: Fledged and flying young Black Skimmer
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My First Instinct
My first instinct when I saw that the handsome and healthy young skimmer had been run over by a beach vehicle, most likely while it slept on the beach, was to go in tight with the I-phone and shoot straight down. Note the blood drops in the image above.
My first emotion was anger as such deaths occur pretty much every day. When I ask the research about preventing all driving on the beach in the vicinity of the colony I’m told that such a move would be impossible (for a variety of reasons mostly having to do with local ordinances. The number of vehicles on the beach seems to have been reduced over the years but there are still way too many — police cars, safety officers, garbage trucks, and beach cleaning machines are a common sight.
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This image was also created on 16 August 2025 on the second 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Standing on the beach, I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78 at 2.2mm. ISO 40: 1/340 sec. at f/2.2. 7:28:29am on a cloudy bright morning. Image #2: Fledged and flying young Black Skimmer run over by vehicle
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On Second Thought …
On second thought, I realized that a wide angle bird-scape might work well so I went to .5X. Note the three photographers sitting peacefully by the colony ropes in the top left corner of the frame (properly positioned for the cloudy skies and southeast breeze) as well as my unattended tripod on the beach. Note also the almost countless sets of tire tracks.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
This makes my blood boil. Can you provide the name of a person of importance where I could write about this tragic, preventable incident please? There has to be a better way to monitor the beaches. Thank you.
Art: The second image really tells the story. I’m so glad I didn’t see this kind of thing when I was there with you last year.