Homer 2027
I will be returning to Homer in 2027 for my last-ever Bald Eagle Instructional Photo-Tours. Five of the ten spots are already spoken four. If you are seriously interested in joining me, please get in touch via e-mail or shoot me a text at 863-221-2372.
PhotoCon KC
PhotoCon is coming to Kansas City for the very first time. And bringing the Midwest’s biggest photography and imaging event with us. The Overland Park Convention Center will transform into a massive interactive trade show floor, buzzing with creativity, education, and community. This isn’t just another conference. It’s a hands-on experience designed to fuel photographers, filmmakers, and content creators of every level. Whether you’re here to test-drive the newest gear, sharpen your skills, or connect with people who share your passion, PhotoCon KC is your place.
Free Event Passes!
If you live in or near Kansas City, KS and would like a free pass to this great event, simply shoot me an e-mail with PhotoCon KC as the Subject Line and I will be glad to have a pass sent to the first ten folks who get in touch. I am really looking forward to seeing Steve Sanders’ Saturday Keynote A Day In The Life! NFL Photographer (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM in Courtyards 4 – 7).
Steve Sanders is the Director of Photography for the Kansas City Chiefs Football Club. With over 30 years of covering the Chiefs, and the last 16 in a full-time roll, he has continued to evolve and excel with the changes in the photography industry. Before landing the full-time role with the team, his diverse portfolio included weddings, portraits, events, commercial advertising, architecture, and food photography. This experience enabled him to bring a wealth of knowledge to every Chiefs project. By fostering strong relationships with the team and players, Steve has earned trust both on and off the field, which allows him to capture exceptional images and achieve career milestones.
The Fortunate Bird Photographer
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM in Courtyard 3
After 42 years of bird photography — heck, I started late, I am, thanks to mirrorless autofocus technology, photographing more and enjoying it more than ever before as I approach age 80. Join me as I share the illustrated story of a life filled with countless incredible blessings. All bird photographers have benefited from the amazing technological advances made over the past decade — none more so than I!
What’s Up?
I left Homer in my rental Jeep Wagoneer at 8:00am (Alaska time) on Monday morning and got to the airport at 1:00pm. It was the first time that I made that drive by myself. My 5pm flight got to Seattle way early as did my red-eye flight to Orlando — heck, I even slept for three hours!. Jim picked me up and after a stop at Publix I was home before 10:00am — 22 hours door to door.
Bob Eastman drove down from Wisconsin and got to my house at 8:30pm on Tuesday evening. Today is 25 February 2026. Happy birthday to Bob and to my late wife Elaine. We will be heading down to the lake early to see what birds are around. Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you choose to have fun. And please remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
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.
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This image was created on 12 February 2026 by yours truly at Anchor Point, AK on the second 2026 Homer IPT/Songbird Day. Standing on snow and ice I used the Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #1: Pine Siskin — descending flight |
Why 28,000+ Songbird Photos?
I made more than 28,000 songbird images over the course of two shooting days in hopes of creating at least one very special image. Songbird flight is extremely challenging. See movement? Try to get the bird in the frame — acquire focus, and fire away. Pine Siskins are small and fast. I have no recollection of making this remarkable image.
High Frame-rate Mirrorless Camera Bodies
High frame-rate camera bodies make it routinely possible to create five or ten thousand images in a single bird photography session. Is that obscene? Is it overkill? Should you lower your maximum frame rate? From where I sit, no way. We should all be looking to create that one great image. High frame rate bodies increase our chances exponentially.
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This image was created on 18 February 2026 by yours truly at Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK. Standing on the deck of our work (eagle) boat, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) 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 3200: 1/3200 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 3:35:51pm on a cloudy afternoon. Wide/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #2: Bald Eagle beginning dive over snow-covered mountain |
Why 75,000+ Bald Eagle Images?
I made more than 75,000 eagle images over the course of eight shooting sessions in hopes of creating at least one very special image. The dramatic pose here and the soft light on the low, snow-covered mountain combined to make this one outstanding. The eagle was moved from the right side of the frame to the left side using a series of Quick Masks.
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This image was created on 19 February 2026 by multiple IPT participant and good friend Mishael Voisin. Standing outside his rental vehicle, he used the handheld Canon RF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens with the Canon Extender RF 2x (at 800mm) and the Canon EOS R5 Mark II Mirrorless Camera ISO 400: 1/1000 sec. at f5.6. AWB at 8:50:25am on a sunny morning. Image #3: Northern Goshawk — juvenile male taking flight |
Working Hard
With an afternoon sailing, Mishael opted to head out early in his rental car to look for Moose. He struck out on Moose but rewarded handsomely when this young Northern Goshawk took flight.
Slow Shutter Speed Motion Blur
Misha was making portraits of the perched gos when it suddenly took flight. He made several frames at 1/1000 second. As a result of the relatively slow shutter speed for flight, the bird’s face showed some motion blur. I cleaned that up with Topaz Sharpen AI followed by the application of a contrast mask. Had he been ready for the bird to take flight, the equivalent exposure –1/2500 second at ISO 1000 would have been a far better option.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Artie: Back when you were shooting at 10 fps, did you ever look at a series of images and think you’d missed a perfect shot because the frame rate was too slow?
David,
Absolutely yes. Do not forget that I used the a9 iii for a while — 120 fps. I went back to 30 fps for the 51 MP files and I feel that 30 fps does not miss much.
with love, artie
Dear Art: I can’t believe — after that arduous trip — that you and Bob are heading down to the lake to check out photographic opportunities today!!
Not only did we head down to the lake we had a tiny baby crane and an active woodpecker nest and an un-photographable Great Horned Owl nest with two big white chicks!
with love, artie
>> High frame-rate camera bodies make it routinely possible to create five or ten thousand images in a single bird photography session… Should you lower your maximum frame rate? <<
What I think will eventually happen is that we will be shooting high-frame-rate video — whether that's 30, 60, 90, 120 frames per second, whatever — at full RAW resolution, and we will select frames from that video to be our still photos.
Could be.
with love, a