Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke — from The Late Show with James Cordon
If you like to be enveloped by a warm glow of love, smiles, and possibly tears of joy, hit play on this 23:40 video from eight years ago. James Corden heads to Liverpool for a special day with Paul McCartney spent exploring the city of Paul’s youth, visiting his childhood home where he wrote music with John Lennon, performing songs in a local pub, and of course driving around and singing a few of Paul’s biggest hits.
Nickerson Beach In-the-Field Sessions
The weather is looking good for both Friday and Saturday (May 22 & 23) mornings at Nickerson Beach Park. If you would like to explore the possibility of meeting me on either or both mornings for a ridiculously low-priced In-the-Field morning session, please shoot me a text ASAP to 863-221-2372 and include your e-mail address and I will get back to you quickly.
Trigger Finger Surgeries
I saw Dr. Puopolo on Tuesday afternoon. His PA discovered that the middle finger on my right hand was, in addition to my painful ring finger, triggering. The former has had no pain or discomfort. Yet. Dr. Pop agreed that both should be repaired so he will be performing trigger finger surgery on both digits next Wednesday. The best news is that he will be using a local with sedation rather than general anesthesia– much better for the body. The problem turned out to be that I would need a ride home. With my sister Ilene in the hospital (get well soon, Sis), Alissa and Ajinyiaz in Spain, and the fact that they will not allow you to head home with Uber or Lyft, I was pretty much dead in the water. Until Dr. Pop, who happens to be the world’s best hand surgeon and is loved by all his patients (especially me), volunteered to drive me back to Alissa’s house. He scheduled me for his next to last surgery to give me time to recovery. Have you ever heard of anything like that?
Pre-order Your Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5 OSS GM lens From Bedford’s Now
I am trying to get my hands on this amazing new lens and will surely be doing a BAA Lens Guide when I do. As mentioned here previously, this new lens is 1/4 pound lighter than the 200-600, features internal focusing (sorry Canon users), performs fabulously with the 1.4X TC, and most amazingly, offers a constant f/4.5 aperture. As I have long described the original Sony FE 100-400mm GM OSS Lens as “a clunker,” an upgrade of the this versatile focal length range zoom lens is long overdue. This new lens will surely prove to be a hugely popular winner. Demand for this phenomenal new kid on the block will be huge and the wait lists will be long. Bedfords, however, is the choice of many when it comes to getting one’s hands on hot new gear. Pre-ordering yours right now from Bedfords will have the lens in your hands at the earliest possible date and will ensure you of getting a free copy of the BAA Lens Guide. And don’t forget that you will receive 3% back on your credit card when your new lens ships.
Pre-order yours now by clicking on this link. Be sure to enter the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy the post-shipping, 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.
When looking at the specs for the recently announced the a7R VI, many will assume that it will perform exactly like the a-1 ii for $2500.00 less. Appearances, however, can be deceiving. It is yet to be determined whether the new camera will be suitable for photographing birds in flight and in action. Stay tuned for a look at the potential problems.
Those who live in or near Kansas City can get their hands on the new Sony gear described above today only between 2:00 and 6:00pm at the Bedford Camera & Video store at 8701 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS.
What’s Up?
SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD V2 External Hard Drives
Today is Thursday 21 May 2026. I have been working hard and tediously clearing space on the 8TB SSHD on my new M5 MacBook Pro. Why? My backup drives are only 4TB so I like to have at least 4.5TB of space available on my laptop. That in part because the external 8TB SSHD have long been disproportionately priced as compared to the 4TB SSHDs. And now, with the AI industry’s huge demand for storage, the prices of all storage devices have risen and will continue to rise exponentially.
I have used and depended on the SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD V2 external hard drives for years and have found them to be fast and extremely reliable. Note that these 1TB and 2 TB versions of these great SSHDs are available from B&H. Click on this link and click on the size you wish to order.
Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have fun and enjoy life.
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.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible. 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. To receive a free guide or free entry into a Sony Set-up and Info Notes e-Mail group, you need to shoot me your receipt via e-mail. The B&H receipts need to include the order number.
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 17 May 2026 by yours truly at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height near my SUV, 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 Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 1600: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). In APS-C Crop Mode. AWB at 7:24:44am on a sunny morning. Wide AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper and warmer high-res version. Image #1: Black-bellied Whistling Duck braking taking flight |
APS-C Crop Mode and Pre-Capture a Winner!
As mentioned here recently, this species will often blast off in an instant without any warning at all. I was in APS-C Crop Mode doing vertical and AF was performing perfectly. I kept two of those. Then, without any obvious stimuli, the bird launched like a rocket. I pressed the shutter button and Pre-Capture enabled me to create one very nice image.
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This image was created on 17 May 2026 by yours truly at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height near my SUV, 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 Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 1600: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). In APS-C Crop Mode. AWB at 7:24:44am on a sunny morning. Wide AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper and warmer high-res version. Image #2: Black-bellied Whistling Duck braking taking flight |
In the Same Second, APS-C Crop Mode a Loser!
With the unexpected action, there was no time to even think of pressing the Trash Can button to toggle to full frame. The result; a clipped wing and cut off reflection disaster. Technology giveth and technology taketh away. I suspect that had I been in full frame mode, the resulting image might have been spectacular.
If you are relatively tight while using APS-C crop mode, it would likely be best to toggle to full frame if there might be even a slight chance of flight or action …
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
How fortunate you are that Dr. P. is a first class surgeon as well as a first class “mensch” as well.