Your Call?
Which of today’s four featured La Jolla images is your favorite? Why?
Sony a-1 “System Error” Inquiry
If you own a Sony a-1 body and, after updating the firmware on your body, the camera showed “system error” and/or became inoperable and you sent it in to Sony and were charged an expensive repair fee, please send me all relevant details (the e-mails to and from Sony) via e-mail.
The Perfect Bird Photograph Teaching Laboratory
It would hard to design or even to imagine a better place to learn and improve your bird photography than San Diego, California. On a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT), you will get to photograph a wide variety of species. While the pelicans, cormorants, gulls, and ducks are the stars of the show, we should and will also have some great chances with shorebirds, terns, and two species of hummingbirds. Songbirds like Orange-crowned Warbler and Song Sparrow are likely as well. With rare exception, the weather is usually excellent for bird photography in winter. There is tons of flight photography. No matter your longest lens or the camera system you use, there will be plenty of opportunities for you on a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). A 600mm f/4 lens is not a requirement. If you need extra help or wish to maximize your travel dollars, you can arrive early or stay on for a few days or even a week.
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San Diego offers an incredible variety of attractive avian subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of Brown Pelican. Clockwise from top left back to center: juvenile and sub-adult Brown Pelicans; Heermann’s Gull; Western Gull; Allen’s Hummingbird; Brandt’s Cormorant; Gadwall hen; Wood Duck drake; Willet; Brown Pelican tight flight. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
The 2026 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #1: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 8 JAN thru the morning session on MON 12 JAN 2026: $2599.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
San Diego IPT #2: 4 1/2 DAYS: FRI 16 JAN thru the morning session on TUES 20 JAN 2026: $2599.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $449.00/per session
Available dates: JAN 14 & 15, 2026. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
AirBnB accommodations and ground transport with the leader are available for both IPTs and for In the Field Instructional Sessions on a first come, first served basis. Please e-mail for details and information on personalized pre- and post-IPT morning sessions.
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) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler 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 and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). 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.
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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. |
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 exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … 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.
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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, at times with 70-200mm lenses! 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 those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego. Each IPT will include one or two duck sessions.
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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
These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon shoot. 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. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.
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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. |
Deposit Info
A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2024 San Diego IPT. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.
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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.
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San Diego offers an incredible variety of attractive avian subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of Brown Pelican. Clockwise from top left back to center: juvenile and sub-adult Brown Pelicans; Heermann’s Gull; Western Gull; Allen’s Hummingbird; Brandt’s Cormorant; Gadwall hen; Wood Duck drake; Willet; Brown Pelican tight flight. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. |
The 2026 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #1: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 8 JAN thru the morning session on MON 12 JAN 2026: $2599.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
San Diego IPT #2: 4 1/2 DAYS: FRI 16 JAN thru the morning session on TUES 20 JAN 2026: $2599.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $449.00/per session
Available dates: JAN 14 & 15, 2026. Please get in touch with questions or to register with an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and please shoot me a text to 863-221-2372.
AirBnB accommodations and ground transport with the leader are available for both IPTs and for In the Field Instructional Sessions on a first come, first served basis. Please e-mail for details and information on personalized pre- and post-IPT morning sessions.
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) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler 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 and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). 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.
|
|
|
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. |
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 exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … 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, at times with 70-200mm lenses! 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 those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego. Each IPT will include one or two duck sessions.
|
|
|
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
These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon shoot. 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. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.
|
|
|
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. |
Deposit Info
A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2024 San Diego IPT. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.
|
|
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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.
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This image was created by yours truly on 19 January 2025 on a San Diego Extended Instructional IPT. While seated on a sandstone cliff, I used the knee–pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 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 via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 800: 1/10,000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 9:56:29m on a mostly sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed adequately. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper high resolution version Image #1: Brown Pelican Pacific race breeding plumage adult |
The Star of the Show
Breeding plumage adult Pacfic-race Brown Pelicans just might be my all-time favorite subjects. The color scheme is amazing and they are usually very tame once the sun gets up a bit. You will have countless chances to work them and refine and improve your image design skills.
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While seated on a sandstone cliff, I used the knee–pod technique with the handheld, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 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 via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1000: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 9:50:40 a on then mostly cloudy morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed adequately. Click on the image to see a larger, sharper high resolution version Image #2: Brown Pelican Pacific race subadult |
Plumage Variety
There are about a zillion pelican plumages ranging from fresh juveniles to breeding plumage adults with many stages in between. I find it fascinating to study and compare the numerous variations. With their brown juvenile wing feathers and mostly red adult-like bill pouches I call the birds like the one in Image #2 “chocolate covered cherries.”
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This image was created by yours truly on 16 January 2025 on a San Diego Extended Instructional IPT. Standing at full height, I used the used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens (at 136mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 500: 1/320 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:40:41am in the shade. Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #3: Brandt’s Cormorant on nest yawning |
Easy Peasy
With the birds just scant yards away, on of the 70-200 f/2.8 lenses is ideal for photographing at the Brandt’s Cormorant nesting shelf. And with the right conditions, flight photography is just about child’s play. With the birds and nests in the shade, you will learn to be on your toes when it comes to getting the right exposure.
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This image was created on 29 January 2025 by yours truly on a San Diego Extended Instructional IPT. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony a-1 (now replaced by the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter and the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb wheel. ISO 800: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect: AWB at 8:39:37am on a mostly sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #4: Heermann’s Gull braking to land |
Learning About Wind, Sun, and Sky Conditions for Flight Photography (and for General Bird Photography as Well)
San Diego is the ideal location to learn how the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of light impact bird photography. And the lessons that you will learn travel well — you will be able to apply them either close to home or whenever you travel. Winds from the east and northeast are prevalent in the mornings at La Jolla — both are excellent for flight photography.
Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens with Extras!
BIRDS AS ART Record Low Price (by far!)
IPT veteran Stan Driscoll is offering a Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens in near-mint to like-new condition for the BAA record low price of $8798.00. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens strap, the lens trunk, the matching LensCoat, the 3.39 inch long 400mm Zemlin One Piece Lens Hood, the Zemlin Lens Cap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only.
Your new gear will not be shipped until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. Photos are available upon request by e-mail (as below).
Please contact Stan via e-mail or by phone at (910) 409-2362 (Eastern time).
I purchased my Sony 400mm f/2.8 three years ago to complement my 600mm f/4. Stan is selling his and downsizing to the 300mm f/2.8 GM because he is not getting any younger. Somewhat strangely, it is far easier for me to handhold the 4 ounces lighter, much smaller, and better balanced 400 f/2.8 than it is to handhold the 600mm f/4. The 400 f/2.8 is superb for large mammals and for flight with or without the 1.4X teleconverter. Being able to handhold this lens is a huge plus. That said, I use it a lot on the monopod for low light flight photography. And no matter the conditions, you can’t beat the f/2.8 Bokeh!
The Sony 400mm f/2.8 lens sells new right now for $12,998.00 at B&H and there are used copies in lesser condition there going for as high as $10657.95. Save an amazing $4,200.00 by grabbing Stan’s might-as-well-be-new 400mm GM lens. artie
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
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