Your Call?
Which of today’s five featured images do you think is the strongest? Why?
Sebastian Inlet Ospreys and More
Multiple IPT veteran Eugen Dolan is joining me for a month, arriving on 26 September. Beginning bird photographer Alvin Red Stevens is joining us for a week; he shows up on 12 October. And when he leaves, new friend Mishael Voisin will be with us for a week of photography and learning. Newcomer John Anderson and his Olympus gear will be Jing me for three day in early November. Several other folks have sworn that they will be joining me at some point in November but right now it is wide open. Check out the opportunities immediately below and then change your life by joining me this fall. Feel free to e-mail me or to call or text — 863-221-2372 with any questions or concerns.
On Tuesday past I completed a third edit of the Sebastian OCT-NOV 2024 folder. It is always fun to discover some really good images that never caught your attention before. Below I share more five images not an Osprey images that got me excited on my third trip through the images created during what was a great month at Sebastian in 2024. Do understand that in 2026 the top Sebastian location, the South Jetty, is scheduled to be closed for major reconstruction next season. That is why I am all in for 2025!
Topaz AI Stuff
Click here for more information. Additional info here on the blog soon.
What’s Up?
On Saturday morning, I worked several preening Sandhill Cranes from my SUV and then took my shirtless pier walk. I spent some time selecting images for my next big project– the Digital Basics IV Video Series. I have some fabulous new tips and techniques to share. Those include the use of the masking feature in Adobe Camera Raw (thanks to Anita North), the use of the Point Color eye dropper to tame super-saturated colors during raw conversions (discovered in tandem with Anita), a fabulous new Remove Tool trick that makes my favorite Photoshop Tool even more amazing — that one discovered by me 🙂 I have recently begun doing some Curves work during my ACR raw conversions and will share this new addition to my workflow in the new videos.
Today is Sunday 14 September 2025. I will be working on the above-mentioned Digital Basics IV Video Series in the morning and watching NFL games for the rest of the day. I so enjoy the close games and the competition. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have fun and have a great day.
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.
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From upper left clockwise around to center: Osprey with fish at dawn; Osprey with menhaden; Osprey with Mullet; Mullet school under attack from below; Wood Stork landing; Tarpon jumping; Reddish Egret landing; Osprey turning to begin dive; Osprey with Yellow-tailed Menhaden. Click on the composite to see a larger, inexplicably sharper high res version. All images copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART |
Sebastian Inlet in Fall
Sebastian Inlet in the fall attracts schools of migrating saltwater fish that in turn attract dozens of Ospreys — we’ve counted 61 in the air at once, along with hordes of hungry birds including Brown Pelican, Royal Tern, and Laughing Gull. Other species of birds feed on smaller baitfish; those include Wood Stork, Reddish Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue heron, Little Blue Heron, and White Ibis. Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone are easily photographed. American Avocet is an uncommon visitor. Rare gulls have included Lesser Black-backed Gull (all ages), Franklin’s Gull (first winter), and in 2024, a spectacular young Sabine’s Gull that remained for several weeks.
As this location provides world class action for at least two months each year, bird photographers travel to Florida’s East Coast from all over the planet. You are invited not only to join me but to learn a ton about bird photography. Remember that the more time you spend at great locations, the more chance you have to enjoy perfect weather conditions and opportunities that leave you in awe.
The shared AirBnB approach has proven to be tremendously popular and is hugely beneficial to learning.
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From upper left clockwise around to center: Osprey with fish at dawn; Osprey with menhaden; Sanderling flock bird-scape blur; Royal Tern with large baitfish; Brown Pelican diving silhouette; 1-second breaking wave blur; Osprey with Yellow-tailed Menhaden blur; Osprey in flight/full downstroke; Snowy Egret/double overhead wingstretch. Click on the composite to see a larger, inexplicably sharper high res version. All images copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART |
2025 BIRDS AS ART Sebastian Inlet Ospreys and More In-the-Field Sessions
Available Dates: Friday 26 September (arrive on Thursday 25 September) thru the morning session on Mon 24 November 2025.
Limit: four photographers.
In 2024, I had an AirBnB in Vero Lake Estates for 26 nights. I had so much fun and enjoyed so many great opportunities that I am returning next fall for two full months; the AirBnB is just 22 minutes from the inlet.
Getting There
You can fly to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and rent a car or fly to Melbourne International Airport (MEL) and explore the possibility of airport pick-up and drop-off or a taxi or uber ride to and from the AirBnB. Rides with me are available for $15/day on a space available basis. Folks who ride with me do not need to purchase a park pass but will need to kick in $2.00/day when we are charged.
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From upper left clockwise around to center: Osprey diving; Osprey with menhaden; Brown Pelican with Yellow-tailed Menhaden in bill pouch; Sabine’s Gull/juvenile top shot; Osprey landing on Cabbage Palm stump; Wood Stork sunrise silhouette; American Avocet running with wings raised; Osprey diving with talons outstretched; Peregrine with wings fully raised. Click on the composite to see a larger, inexplicably sharper high res version. All images copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART |
What You Will Learn
The very best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
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From upper left clockwise around to center: Osprey with Yellow-tailed Menhaden; Osprey overhead with bunker; Osprey with Yellow-tailed Menhaden; Osprey chase; Great Egret with pinfish; Osprey emerging with flounder; Great Egret taking flight; Osprey kiting; 1/8 second sunrise Atlantic Ocean blur. Click on the composite to see a larger, inexplicably sharper high res version. All images copyright 2025 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART |
Trip Costs and Booking Details
Change Your Life
Book any 3-6 Days: Lodging is $175/night. Instruction is $600/day. There is a morning session every day. Afternoon sessions average every other day. Image review and Photoshop sessions are usually daily.
Please note: Folks who sign up for an odd number of days of instruction will enjoy half + 1 afternoon sessions (more are possible if conditions are good) Those who sign up for an even number of days will enjoy at least 1/2 that number of afternoon shooting sessions (more are possible if conditions are good)
Book any 7-10 Days: Lodging is $160/night. Instruction is $575/day. There is a morning session every day. Afternoon sessions average every other day. Image review and Photoshop sessions are almost daily.
Book any 11-14 Days: Lodging is $150/night. Instruction is $550/day. There is a morning session every day. Afternoon sessions average every other day. Image review and Photoshop sessions are almost daily.
Book any three weeks: Lodging is $130/night. Instruction is $525/day. There is a morning session every day. Afternoon sessions average every other day. Image review and Photoshop sessions are almost daily.
Stay for one month (28 nights): Lodging is $120/night. Instruction is $500/day. There is a morning session every day. Afternoon sessions average every other day. Image review and Photoshop sessions are almost daily.
Stay two months (60 nights): Lodging is $100/night. Instruction is $475/day. There is a morning session every day. Afternoon sessions average every other day. Image review and Photoshop sessions are almost daily.
Brunch is on me. Dinners are provided for $20/day. I am an excellent chef and the food both healthy and of high quality.
Please note: your day of arrival is not a day of instruction.
Deposit Information
Payment in full is due now. Please make the check out to:
BIRDS AS ART
And send it via US Mail to
BIRDS AS ART
PO Box 7245
Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855
I hope to spend some quality time with you at Sebastian Inlet in the fall of 2025 and to change your life. If you have any questions, please get in touch via e-mail or with a text to 863-221-2372.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
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.
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This image was created on 9 November 2024 on a Sebastian Inlet Extended IPT. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Sony a-1 (now replaced by the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1000: 1/4000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide oepn) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 7:58:02am on a partly cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #1: Willet flapping after bath |
Learn the Behavioral Signals
When you see a tern, a gull, or a shorebird (or a songbird for that matter) dipping its breast in the water it is taking a bath. Nine times out of ten it will jump up and flap its wings when it is done bathing. Move closer for the tight/splashing bathing shots, or, as I did here, stay back (or zoom out) to make some flapping-after-bath images. Note that the birds will almost always flap into the wind when they are done. At times, they may jump straight up and flap and then land in the same spot to resume bathing. At other times they will fly to shore and look for a good spot to preen.
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This image was created on 10 November 2024 on a Sebastian Inlet Extended IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Sony a-1 (now replaced by the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: ISO 640. 1/8000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 8:25:06am on a mostly sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #2: Caspian Tern juvenile braking to land |
Favorite Handheld Sebastian Combos
Depending on the wind, the sky conditions, and the presence of baitfish, I will often grab the 300mm f/2.8 GM lens with the 1.4X TC in place (as with this one on the next three images). That puts me at 420mm at f/4 and gives me an eminently handhold-able flight lens. On sunny days, I’ll sometimes go with the 2X so that I have a lightweight eminently handhold-able 600mm f/5.6 rig in my hands.
Caspian Tern is “good” (i.e., uncommon) bird anywhere in Florida at any season. If you know of a good location anywhere in the northeast to photograph this species at an accessible breeding colony shoot me an invite. Years ago there was a decent breeding colony in Tampa Bay but Florida Audubon approved a dredging project that destroyed the nesting area. The Caspians never returned to breed.
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This image was created on 10 November 2024 on a Sebastian Inlet Extended IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Sony a-1 (now replaced by the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: ISO 320. 1/5000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:57:41am on a mostly sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #3: Royal Tern adult in flight |
Get the Head in the Clear
When picking your flight keepers and the bird is flying from one side of the frame to the other, look for images where the bird’s head does not merge either with a wing or with the breast. The fast frame rates and science-fiction-like autofocus systems of the high end mirrorless camera bodies should give you lots of images to choose from. But it always helps to know what you are looking for.
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This image was created on 15 November 2024 on a Sebastian Inlet Extended IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Sony a-1 (now replaced by the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: ISO 1600. 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:52:22am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #4: Snowy Egret displaying |
Sometimes There’s No Time To Sit
When photographing at the beach, getting on the ground to get lower is generally a great idea. I’ve recently come up with a new Artie-fact: when photographing at the beach, get down on the ground unless you have a clear reason for remaining standing. The most common acceptable reason would be to keep from introducing distracting elements in the distant background.
With Image #4, I was standing when the bird began to chase another SNEG so I had no choice but to make the image when the action happened. I think that the photo would have been a bit stronger had the subject raised its head (and its crest!) a bit more so that the bill did not merge with the far wing. Beach clean-up was minimal and some black crud was removed from the snowy’s chin with the Remove Tool.
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This image was created on 15 November 2024 on a Sebastian Inlet Extended IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the Sony a-1 (now replaced by the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera). Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel: ISO 2000. 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 9:36:36am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #5: Brown Pelican in flight |
Cloudy Day/White Sky Flight Photography
I love cloudy days for flight photography because you do not have to deal with harsh underwing shadows. By exposing well to the right, you open up the underwings so that the maximum amount of detail is revealed. When I juiced up the color of the ocean by increasing AQUA in Color Mixer, there was a big CYAN cast on the pelican. So I nixed that and opened the image in Photoshop. Then, working on a new layer, I went back to ACR and juiced up the AQUA on the whole image. Then, I added a Regular Layer Mask and erased the color cast on the pelican. Voila.
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The title says it all. Purchase your copy here. The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
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The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight: $99.00
I had long dreamed of becoming a great flight photographer. When using dSLR gear, making sharp images was a huge problem. Most of the time, the camera bodies simply were not up to snuff. Things have changed dramatically with mirrorless technology. The high-end mirrorless camera bodies now feature science fiction-like autofocus systems and frame rates of 30, 40, and even 125 fps. Nowadays, getting the eye sharp is no longer a problem. The problem more often involves selecting the strongest image from a long series of sharp images.
The truth, however, is that there is a lot more than owning a Canon EOS R1, a Nikon Z9, or a Sony a-1 ii to consistently creating great photographs of birds in flight. Some of the biggest factors to success include gear choice, shooting strategies, and understanding the importance of sky conditions and wind speed and direction. Once you have the techniques and technical aspects down pat and can routinely create sharp images, learning the importance of flight poses, wing positions, backgrounds, and subject placement and image design enable you to create and then select superb flight images. And you guessed it, each of those topics and tons more are covered in detail in The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight.
The guide consists of 267 pages and 21,013 words. There are 82 illustrative photos scattered throughout the text, two screen captures, and a 112-image gallery that includes examples created by Canon, Nikon, and mostly Sony gear. As seen above, each of the 194 inspirational photos is labeled with an educational caption.
You can purchase your copy here for $99.00.
Arash Hazeghi
Arash Hazeghi, Ph.D. is a principal electron device engineer. He received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in 2011, from Stanford University, Stanford, California. His pioneering research on Carbon Nanotubes has been cited many times. In the past decade, Arash Hazeghi has been a major contributor to the research and the development of some of the most cutting-edge technologies introduced by Silicon Valley’s most reputable names including SanDisk, Intel and Apple.
More relevant here is that he is widely recognized as one of the world’s best birds in flight photographers. He specializes in raptors and the technical aspects of bird photography.
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Flight photography is a skill that can be studied, practiced, and learned. Improve your skills by studying The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight |
The Complete and Quintessential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight
By Arash Hazeghi Ph.D., and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
What you will learn (about):
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1- Weight and handholding super-telephoto lenses.
2- Weight and handholding intermediate telephoto and telephotos zoom lenses.
3- Choosing the right flight photography lens or lenses for you.
4- The importance of focal length for flight photography.
5- The importance of lens speed (the maximum aperture for flight photography.
6- Choosing between fixed focal lengths and zoom lenses for flight photography.
7- The importance of AF speed and performance for flight photography.
8- Handholding tips and techniques.
9- Shooting flight off a tripod with the Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro.
10- Flight poses and wing positions.
11- Why artie changed his mind about the 400mm f/2.8 lenses for flight and more.
12- The advantages and disadvantages of using teleconverters for flight photography.
13- Why to stay away from off-brand lenses.
14- Understanding the importance of wind direction and speed for flight photography.
15- The relationship between sky conditions and wind direction and how it affects flight photography.
16- Creating flight silhouettes in wind-against-sun conditions.
17- The importance of being on sun angle for flight photography (and avoiding harsh shadows).
18- Tips on doing flight photography in cloudy, foggy, or overcast conditions.
19- About the direction of light in cloudy, foggy, or overcast conditions and how it affects flight photography.
20- How your understanding of bird behavior can dramatically improve your flight photography.
21- Tips on attracting birds for flight photography.
22- What to do when your camera’s AF system is temporarily blind.
23- The vital importance of pre-focusing.
24- How Direct Manual Focus can help you with flight photography.
25- The importance of shooting aggressively when doing flight photography.
26- Everything that you need to know with regards to rest positions for flight photography.
27- The importance of getting low when doing flight in many situations.
28- Getting the right exposure when doing flight photography.
29_ Why to use Manual mode 95% of the time for flight.
30- Tips on finding the bird in the frame, acquiring focus, and tracking the bird in flight.
31- How to set and best utilize your lens’s image stabilization feature (and why).
32- Setting the focus range limiter switch on your flight lens or lenses.
33- To choose the best shutter speed for photographing birds in flight.
34- The vital importance of pre-focusing. And yes, this is so important that it is on the list twice.
You can see four sample pages in the blog post here. And you can purchase your copy here.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
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