Your Call?
Which two of Judy’s four featured images do you like best? Please let us know why you made your choices.
In the Last Blog Post
In the last blog post, my favorite image was the consensus pick, the pink sky Common Tern silhouette. My second favorite was one that did not touch anyone else, the young Great Black-backed Gull pano with the ghostly Common Tern with its wing raised.
What’s Up?
Photography at Nickerson Beach continues to be excellent. On Thursday morning, dozens of skimmer chicks of all ages moved out of the Easy Colony onto the open beach as they usually do at this time of year. We shall see on Friday if that repeats. I forgot to mention that on Tuesday morning Steve Shore and I witnessed an adult Great Black-backed Gull swallow a large skimmer chick whole. There will be lots more of that in the coming weeks.
Today is Friday 15 August 2025. We headed to the beach early. Steve experienced his first wind and sun together morning with a nice northeast wind and sweet gorgeous light. After five straight days of clear skies and southwest wind, he created more than 8,000 images with his handheld Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, either TC, and an a-1 ii. We will be headed to the beach at about 6pm for some more fun and learning. 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: $1899.00.
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.
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.
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This image was created by Judy Stepenaskie on 9 August 2025 on the first 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand she used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens (at 428mm) and the impressive Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using the in-viewfinder histogram and confirmed after evaluation of blinkies on the JPEG. ISO 1000: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1. AWB at 7:46am on a sunny morning. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Adult Common Tern with Atlantic Silversides for chick
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Judy Stepanaskie
Judy’s first IPT was Nickerson Beach in 2024. In the Judy Proves that Bird Photography is Not Rocket Science blog post here, I wrote:
Judy showed up barely understanding how to operate her Canon gear. After a 90-minute camera body setup session, a phone call to Dan Cadieux for menu help, and a bit of in the field instruction, she began making some excellent images. And she continued to do so for the next five days. When she got back home, she shared some of her images with her partner, Dave, and sent me this e-mail:
Hi Artie: I can’t believe it – Dave was looking at some of my pics and he said: “You never made pictures like this before”!!!
I can believe it. Bird photography is not rocket science. If you cannot join an IPT, be sure to study and bookmark the Improve Your Bird (and Nature) Photography By Leaps and Bounds blog post here. Judy has been working hard to improve. She attended a Stick Marsh IPT last March and came back to Nickerson Beach last week for another crack at the terns, skimmers, and oystercatchers.
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This image was also created by Judy Stepenaskie on 9 August 2025 on the first 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand she used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens (at 400mm) and the impressive Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using the in-viewfinder histogram and confirmed after evaluation of blinkies on the JPEG. ISO 1000: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1. AWB at 7:54am on a sunny morning. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Adult Common Tern in flight straight down the lens barrel
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Zooming with the RF 100-500mm
Zooming in and out with the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens is a challenge for two reasons:
1- The lens does not feature internal focus; it gets longer physically as you zoom in and shorter when you zoom out.
2- Even when it is on the Smooth setting, the lens does not zoom smoothly. It is very sticky in one direction (but cannot remember which). At times I suggest that you need an oil filter wrench to zoom in or out.
Kudos to Judy for zooming out perfectly with her three Common Tern flight shots, especially this one as it is presented full frame, un-cropped.
The Pink Hotel
When you are working on sun angle at Nickerson Beach, you will often wind up with the old “pink hotel” in your backgrounds. In this image, it adds rather than detracts as it often does. The former Lido Club Hotel is now Lido Beach Towers, a high end condominium.
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This image was also created by Judy Stepenaskie on 9 August 2025 on the first 2025 Nickerson Beach Extended IPT. Seated on dry sand she used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens (at 324mm) and the impressive Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using the in-viewfinder histogram and confirmed after evaluation of blinkies on the JPEG. ISO 500: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1. AWB at 8:23am on a sunny morning. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Juvenile Common Tern looking down in flight
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R6 II Photo Mechanic Alert
If you use an R6 II and opt to capture in HDR PQ, Photo Mechanic will not be able to render your images; you will not be able to view them.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. PQ stands for Perceptual Quantization. Select [HDR shooting ]. Select [Enable]. On the screen during shooting and playback, converted images are displayed so that that resemble how the images would look on an HDR display device. HDR PQ settings do not affect the raw file so turning this feature On makes zero sense to me. Judy had no idea how it got activated on her camera.
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This image was also created by Judy Stepenaskie on 28 March 2024 on a Stick Marsh Extended IPT. Seated on on a milk crate, she she used the handheld Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z lens (White) with the Canon Extender RF 1.4x (at 280mm) and the impressive Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using the in-viewfinder histogram and confirmed after evaluation of blinkies on the JPEG. ISO 5000! 1/1600 sec. at f/4.. AWB at 6:24:57am on a hazy morning. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Roseate Spoonbill landing
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Lessons Learned Well
More kudos to Judy for purchasing the RF 70-200Z lens and the RF 1.4X TC just for Stick Marsh. Kudos to Judy for not being scared of ISO 5000. Kudos to Judy for selecting a reasonable shutter speed in low light conditions, and for creating the lovely spoonbill image featured above.
Note: the first Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens did not accept either teleconverter. I commented at the time of its release that that made zero sense to me.
Bird photographers are advised to purchase either the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens (White) or the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens (Black). Each accepts both TCs and is — as Judy’s spoonbill image shows, wonderful for close range photography of birds in flight.
If you are interested in joining me at Stick Marsh next season, please let me know via e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I liked #4, the roseate landing feet first — great wing position. My second choice is #1, the common tern carrying food for a chick against a lovely blue background.
I think Judy has got her gear figured out now and has made some really great images! The spoonbill from Stick Marsh is fantastic! Way to go Judy!
Agree, image #4 is fabulous. I recently bought the 70-200Z and look forward using it. Judy’s photo sets a high bar…
Image #4 for me. Love the composition and the muted color in the rocks with the almost white high key type background. The spoonbill with its wing position, position in the frame and color seal the deal. Very nice image. I would do a large test print and then have someone do a 20 x 30 on metal.