The Stars of the Show
Without a doubt, the Pacific-race Brown Pelicans are the stars of the show on any winter visit to La Jolla, CA. And thus, they are the single biggest attraction on every San Diego Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). The AirBnB IPT experience maximizes learning and minimizes the amount of time spent traveling. Those who wish to come early or extend their journey are invited to contact me via e-mail or shoot me a text at 863-221-2372.
An e-Mail From Homer (and Multiple) IPT Participant Jim Dolgin
Artie,
I’m sure I speak for the entire Homer gang: as always, you go above and beyond to teach, cajole, and push us all to get great images. Your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated. Spending time in Homer with you, Gabe, and the other guys was a true privilege. Now, the biggest issue is to select the very best of so many good images.
Take care and get some rest after a truly great photo experience.
All the best,
Jim Dolgin
What’s Up?
The first morning of the first 2026 Spoonbill IPT was the best day of the season. By far. After a slow start, the second morning turned out to be even better! Alvin “Red” Stevens continues to make great progress. Newbie Drew Salmon is doing the same. It took several hours on Wednesday to get multiple IPT veteran Mike De Rosa straightened out with his new hard drive and updating his Sony a-1 from ver.1.31 to 4.00! As for the HD, it it weren’t for Maury Nepris Mike would have been out of business. And Mike has been making some excellent images as well.
This group has been in weather heaven with clear skies and a breeze from the east. Today is Friday 6 March 2026 and the weather is again looking perfect. All are looking forward excitedly to our third morning. I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun. 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.
Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom Lens
Your truly is offering a (barely) used Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Lens in near mint to like-new condition for the silly low price of $1,998.00. The sale includes the original box, the lens shade, the front cover, and insured ground shipping via Fed-Ex to lower 48 addresses. (Others please inquire.)
Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372.
Ultra-Wide, Ultra Versatile
Comprising a range of ultra-wide fields of view, the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM is an E-mount zoom characterized by an impressively bright and versatile design. Ideal for landscape, nature, architecture, and interior applications, the lens’s constant f/2.8 maximum aperture and advanced optical design make it a perfect choice for working in difficult shooting conditions while still offering well-corrected imagery. As part of Sony’s esteemed G Master series, this lens is designed to achieve notably high resolution and sharpness through the correction of a wide variety of spherical and chromatic aberrations. Bright f/2.8 constant maximum aperture benefits working in difficult lighting conditions and also affords increased control over depth of field.
Nano AR Coating II has been applied to reduce surface reflections, flare, and ghosting for increased contrast and color rendering in strong lighting conditions. This updated coating is better suited for larger, curved elements and is especially adept at minimizing internal reflections.
Rounded nine-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality when employing shallow depth of field techniques. Sony & B&H
I am selling this lens because I rarely use it; I am a telephoto kind of guy. It is selling new for $3,248.00. There are used copies in lesser condition (9 – Minor surface marks) like this one for $2,585.95 and one in the same condition (10 — Good as new) here for $2,824.95. Get in touch with me today and save a handsome $1250.00 for my pretty much new lens. artie
Sony a-1 Professional Mirrorless Camera Body
Yours truly is offering a Sony a-1 (ILCE-1) mirrorless camera body (Firmware ver. 4.00) in like-new condition for a ridiculously low $2,698.00. The sale includes the original product box, the front body cap, the camera strap, one battery and the charger, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. (Others please inquire). The camera has all my latest settings and I will send you the INFO sheet and the Buttons and Dials Guide for free. I am keeping one a-1 body as a backup to my two a-1 ii-s.
Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372.
I used Sony a-1 bodies as my workhorse cameras for more than three years. They produce stunning 51MP files with vivid natural colors. The AF system is science-fiction-like. They are rugged and dependable and 30 frames per second is nothing to sneeze at. Right now, B&H is offering a used a-1 in similar condition for $$6,297.95. Honest! See that body here. This one is an absolute steal at only $2,698.00! artie
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This image was created on 14 January 2026 at La Jolla, CA on a San Diego Extended AIrBnB IPT. Standing at full height on the lower ledge I used the Tracking: Spot XS/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #1: Brown Pelican Trio Bathing |
Did Not Miss The 600mm f/4 Much
With my 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens in the shop, I flew to San Diego with a relatively light Think Tank roller. It contained the 400-800, the 200-600, the 70-200, two a-1 II bodies, and a-1 body as a back-up and for scenics, and five teleconverters. The only time that I really missed the 600 was shooting flight off the tripod at the Bridge Club at 840mm. The 400-800 served me very well as my long lens and is much more versatile than the 600 as it offers a great focal length range and you do not need to use a TC unless you want to get to 1120mm. And being much smaller and lighter than the 600mm f/4, it is far easier to travel with.
Bathing pelicans are always a treat at La Jolla. Here I zoomed out a bit to 700mm so as to include all three birds in the frame.
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This image was created on 15 January 2026 at La Jolla, CA on a San Diego Extended AIrBnB IPT. Standing at full height on the downhill sidewalk I used the Tracking: Spot XS/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #2: Brown Pelican resting/ocean blurred water |
Learning New Techniques on an IPT
I worked at 1/8 second in hopes are creating some wicked wave blurred backgrounds. To avoid the vibrations from equipment shake that results from pressing the shutter button, I used the Vello remote, the Vello RS-S2II Wired Remote Switch for Select Cameras with Sony Multi-Terminal Connector.
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This image was created on 18 January 2026 at La Jolla, CA on a San Diego Extended AIrBnB IPT. Standing at full height on the lower ledge I used the Tracking: Spot XS/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #3: Brown Pelican/sleep tight |
Shooting Down
In most bird photography situations, being at eye level with your subject is the way to go. But when photographing a sleeping Brown Pelican, shooting down at the subject if often best for several reasons. The most important of those is that being above the bird and pointing your lens down provides a great look at the bird’s tertials, the feathers that cover the area where the wings meet the body. When you have this chance, be sure to work at a variety of focal lengths and to vary your compositions.
Thus, in some instances, working at a steep angle of declination is bingo.
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This image of the same bird was also and obviously created on 18 January 2026 at La Jolla, CA on a San Diego Extended AIrBnB IPT. Still standing at full height on the lower ledge, for this one I used the 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 using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600: 1/4000 second at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:16:48am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Spot XS/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #4: Brown Pelican/sleeping wide |
Why Did I Switch to the 300mm?
Once I saw the tip of the bird’s bill peaking out below its primaries, I wanted to create an image of the whole bird. The 4-8 at was too tight at 400mm so I grabbed the 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and went to work. For this one, it would have been nice to have been at eye level with the subject but there was a cliff in the way 🙂 I love situations like this so much that I was able to get the whole group in on the party.
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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: WED 6 JAN thru the morning session on SUN 10 JAN 2027: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
San Diego IPT #2: 4 1/2 DAYS: TEUS 19 JAN thru the morning session on SAT 23 JAN 2027: $2699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
AirBnB accommodations and ground transport with the leader are available for both IPTs and for the 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. Staying in the group AirBnB allows for increased learning and less travel for all.
Morning BAA In-the-Field Instructional Sessions (ITFIS) followed by brunch and an Image Review & Photoshop session: $499.00/per session
Available dates: JAN 11-20 2027. AirBnB accommodations possibly available for multiple sessions. 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.
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 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 five 3-hour morning photo sessions, four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and four working brunches (included) 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.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
A couple of typos:
1. Shooting Down: “at the subject is”
2. 2026 San Diego: 2027 San Diego