In the Last Blog Post
Here is my 4-favorites list from the last blog post: 1 & 3 (tied for first), 6, 5. Lot of folks went with 3 and the spectacular splashes and several even liked the scratching blur. Amazing.
What’s Up?
For the most part, bird photography at Nickerson Beach in the late season continues to excite. Saturday morning dawned a chilly 58° and with the bright sun and a brisk NW wind, things were tough. The tern blastoffs on Saturday night were breathtaking.
Today is Sunday 31 August 2025. The opportunities this morning at the remaining coastal flooding pool were fabulous. Had the wind been from the northeast rather than from north with a touch of west, I would have created a lot more than the 5,701 images that I still have to edit 🙂 I had countless opportunities with skimmers and terns where the birds turned about 20° away from me and away from the light when they flapped facing slightly to the northwest after their baths and I never pressed the shutter button. I a thousand or two images made in the same situation where the bird was facing ever-so-slightly away from me; all were near misses and all were deleted.
This just in at 3:52pm Eastern time on Sunday. I deleted 5553 photos and kept 148 after the first edit that took me about 45 minutes.
Whatever you opt to do today, I hope that you chose to have fun and be happy.
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
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B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1-ii from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1-ii Info and Updates Group, a roughly $225.00 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 on 29 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering at zero EC. AUTO ISO set ISO 12800: 1/80 second at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:48:43pm on a mostly cloudy afternoon. Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #1: Canada Goose in coastal flooding pond after sunset |
10-Stop Optical Steady Shot (AKA Image Stabilization)
To begin, the AF system was struggling to see the subject in the next-to-no light situation — it focused only rarely. Next, shooting at 1/80 second handheld when working at 800mm is not recommended. But, I pushed the envelope and somewhat amazingly, created a single sharp image. My double noise reduction technique cleaned up the image beautifully. A good deal of the credit goes to the a-1 ii’s IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization) system.
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This image was created on 30 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Seated on dry sand, I used the footpad technique with the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 785mm) and The Latest Greatest Flagship Body, the Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: ISO 2500: 1/125 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:27:39pm on a partly cloudy afternoon. Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #2: Black Skimmer large chicks on beach |
Handholding the 400-800 in Low Light
Handholding the 400-800 at the long end in low light is pushing the envelope a bit and requires a some luck. 1/125th second was as slow as I was willing to go with Image #2. Wide AF/C tracked the eye of the closer bird on my left as it turned toward me. I did my best to sharpen the eye as the bird’s head suffered some motion blur. I went with Topaz Sharpen AI and followed that up with a Contrast Mask. The result: acceptable but not the world’s sharpest image.
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This image was created on 30 August 2025 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 700mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation (EC) on the thumb wheel. Multi Metering +1.3 stops: AUTO ISO set ISO 5000 (!): 1/8 second (!) at f/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 7:49:36pm on a cloudy afternoon. 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: Common Tern flock blastoff blur |
Think it was Dark?
After the birds took Friday night off, the tern blastoffs on Saturday evening returned to being beyond spectacular. The darker it got, the more the flocks blasted off. As my ISOs were getting ridiculously high, I dropped the shutter speed to the lowest possible in Electronic Shutter: 1/8 second. I still wound up at ISO 5000. Again, my double noise reduction technique eliminated both the luminance and the color noise beautifully.
While tracking and framing the flock, I concentrated on panning smoothly with the panning rate matching the speed of the birds in flight as closely as possible.
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The Digital Basics III Video Series |
The Digital Basics III Video Series
Learn my double noise reduction technique and tons more including the use of the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with the new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.
You can order your copy here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
In Stock!
Bedfords has both Sony a-1 ii bodies and 400-800 zoom lenses in stock. I am at a loss as to why so few folks have bought into the 400-800 as it has quickly become my all-time favorite lens. Purchase both and use my discount code at checkout to get back 3% on your credit card and earn a free copy of both my a-1 ii settings and guide and the lens guide as well.
The BIRDS AS ART SONY 400-800mm f/6.3-9 G Super-telephoto Zoom Lens Guide
When I borrowed this lens from Sony, I assumed that at 5.45 pounds it was too heavy to handhold for long and that at f/8 at the long end (800mm,) it was too slow for most bird photography applications. In short, I did not want to like the lens. After months of using it, I cannot live without it. After returning the loaner, I was miraculously able to get my own from Bedfords on 16 April 2025. In this guide I share everything that I have learned about using the 400-800. For best results, you need to know exactly what you are doing to get the most out of this zoom lens. It would be best, therefore, to consider and study the material in the guide so that you can begin making great images with your new lens.
You will learn how to deal with the relatively show apertures: f/6.3, f/7.1, and f/8 when working in Manual mode.
You will learn how to ensure that you are working at the widest aperture by working in Shutter Priority mode with AUTO ISO.
If you are able to hand hold the lens, you will learn proper hand holding techniques.
If you can’t, you will learn when, why, and how to employ other options. Those include:
1- The knee-pod, heel-pod, and toe-pod techniques
2- Using the lens on a monopod.
3- The best lens plate and low foot for your 4-8.
4- The best tripod and head for the 4-8 and how best to utilize them.
5- How to use the lens from your vehicle while supporting it on a BLUBB (or not and why not).
6- Detailed instructions on how to set and use the lens controls and buttons:
a- AF/MF
b- DMF Switch
c- Limit Range Switch
d- OSS (Optical Steady Shot) Switch
e- OSS Mode Switch
f- Focus Hold Buttons
The guide also includes a Hand Holding Shutter Speed Primer and an illustrative, educational, and inspiring 67-image gallery.
Free to folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase their Sony 400-800 G lens. Otherwise, please click here to order yours or send a PayPal for $115.43 to birdsasart@verizon.net and include the words “400-800 Lens Guide” in your e-mail.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Amazed that it got that cold at Nickerson Beach on Saturday morning!
Agree. What happened to the NYC August heat waves?
with love, artie
ps: 48° was a typo. It was 58°. 48 was the dew point (whatever that is).