This Roseate Tern was photographed on Great Gull Island with the hand held Canon 300mm f/2.8 L IS II lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode.
Central Sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to enjoy a larger, more spectacular version.
Image #1.
Which One?
One of the Roseate Tern flight images here underwent some major reconstructive Photoshop surgery. Was it image #1 or image #2? If you are sure, what is your evidence? In an upcoming blog post I will share both original captures.
This Roseate Tern was also photographed on Great Gull Island with the hand held Canon 300mm f/2.8 L IS II lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops off the grey sky: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode.
Central Sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to enjoy a larger, more spectacular version.
Image #2.
Your favorite?
Which of the two images above do you like best? Be sure to let us know why. While I like both of them, I do have a clear favorite.
Images copyright 2012: Denise Ippoltio & Arthur Morris. Card design by Denise Ippolito. Click on the image to enjoy a spectacular larger version.
Holland 2014 7 1/2-Day/8-Night: A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART/Tulips & A Touch of Holland IPT. April 17-April 24, 2014 :$4995 Limit: 12 photographers/Openings 9
This trip needs 8 registrants to run so please do not purchase your plane tickets until you hear from us; right now we need 5 more folks.
Join Denise Ippolito, Flower Queen and the author of “Bloomin’ Ideas,” BPN Photo Gear Moderator, former Nikon shooter, and technical expert Peter Kes, and Arthur Morris, Canon Explorer of Light and one of the planet’s premier photographic educators for a great trip to Holland in mid-April 2014. Day 1 of the IPT will be April 17, 2014. We will have a short afternoon get-together and then our first photographic session at the justly-famed Keukenhof. Peter who is originally from Holland, will be our local guide/interpreter/driver. Most days we will return to the hotel for lunch, image sharing and a break. On Day 8, April 24, we will enjoy both morning and afternoon photography sessions.
The primary subjects will be tulips and orchids at Keukenhof and the spectacularly amazing tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil bulb fields around Lisse. In addition we will spend one full day in Amsterdam. There will be optional visits the Van Gogh Museum in the morning and the Anne Frank House in the afternoon; there will be plenty of time for street photography as well. And some great food. On another day we will have a wonderful early dinner at Kinderdijk and then head out with our gear to photograph the windmills and possibly some birds for those who bring their longs lenses. We will spend an afternoon in the lovely Dutch town of Edam where we will do some street photography and enjoy a superb dinner. All lodging, ground transportation, entry fees, and meals (from dinner on Day 1 through dinner on Day 8) are included.
For those who will be bringing a big lens we will likely have an optional bird photography afternoon or two or possibly three. The big attraction should be gorgeous Purple Herons in flight at a breeding marsh. We would be photographing them from the roadside. And we might be able to find a few Great-crested Grebes at a location near Keukenhof.
Click here for complete details and some previously unpublished images. And/or click here and see item one for lots more tulip photos and complete trip details.
Images courtesy of and copyright 2012: Bill Mueller. Card design by Denise Ippolito.
Old Car City Creative Photography In-the-Field HDR Workshop: Sunday, October 13, 2013/ 9am till 1pm.
White, Georgia: $250 plus a $15 entrance fee donation (cash only on the day of the event) that will go to charity. Limit: 16 photographers.
On October 13, 2013, Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART and Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure will be conducting an In-the-Field HDR Workshop at Old Car City in White, Georgia. Old Car City is about an hour north of Atlanta, GA and an hour south of Chattanooga, TN where they will, as noted above, be doing a full day seminar for the Photographic Society of Chattanooga on Saturday, October 12th. Click here for complete details.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
Images by Arthur Morris & Denise Ippolito. Card Design by Denise Ippolito.
Holland 2014 7 1/2-Day/8-Night: A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART/Tulips & A Touch of Holland IPT. April 17-April 24, 2014 :$4995 Limit: 12 photographers/Openings 9
This trip needs 8 registrants to run so please do not purchase your plane tickets until you hear from us; right now we need 5 more folks. Join us for an extraordinary learning experience.
Join Denise Ippolito, Flower Queen and the author of “Bloomin’ Ideas,” and Arthur Morris, Canon Explorer of Light Emeritus and one of the planet’s premier photographic educators for a great trip to Holland in mid-April 2014. Day 1 of the IPT will be April 17, 2014. We will have a short afternoon get-together and then our first photographic session at the justly-famed Keukenhof.
The primary subjects will be tulips and orchids at Keukenhof and the spectacularly amazing tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil bulb fields around Lisse. In addition we will spend one full day in Amsterdam. There will be optional visits the Van Gogh Museum in the morning and the Anne Frank House in the afternoon; there will be plenty of time for street photography as well. And some great food. On another day we will have a wonderful early dinner at Kinderdijk and then head out with our gear to photograph the windmills and possibly some birds for those who bring their longs lenses. We will spend an afternoon in the lovely Dutch town of Edam where we will do some street photography and enjoy a superb dinner.
For those who will be bringing a big lens we will likely have an optional bird photography afternoon or two or possibly three. The big attraction should be gorgeous Purple Herons in flight at a breeding marsh. We would be photographing them from the roadside. And we might be able to find a few Great-crested Grebes at a location near Keukenhof.
Central sensor AI Servo/Rear Focus on the knife edge of the small diagonal petal in the lower left third and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Join us in Holland next year and learn to see creatively with a variety of focal length lenses.
Other than the arrival date: April 17, Day 1, and the date of our last photography sessions on April 24, Day 8, there is no set itinerary. We will check the weather and play everything by ear to maximize the photographic opportunities. We will try to do Amsterdam on a cloudy day. Those who wish to try for birds will do so on sunny afternoons with west or southwest winds. For Kinderdijk we will do our best to be there on a sunny afternoon with west winds as there are some birds there as well as the windmills.
There are several huge pluses to this trip. First off, denise is an amazingly skilled and caring instructor. Both her creativity and her willingness to share and to help beginning and intermediate photographers are–in my experience–unmatched. And though I have learned a ton about flower photography from denise, our styles and our techniques do vary to some degree. You will be counseled by both of us. While denise will hunt you down to help you; my teaching style is more “the closer you stay to me, the more you will learn.” The sky, of course, is the limit.
Manual focus on the lower left petal edge. Click on the image to enjoy a larger size.
I used a long focal length to isolate my subject and carefully chose a perspective that yielded a background of grey walkway.
You will learn to create tight abstracts, how to best use depth-of-field (or the lack thereof) to improve your flower photography, how to get the right exposure and make sharp images every time, how to see the shot, and how to choose the best perspective for a given situation. And you will of course learn to create a variety of pleasingly blurred flower images. If you bring a long lens, you will learn to use it effectively for flower photography. Denise’s two favorite flower lenses are the Canon 100mm macro and the Canon 24-105mm zoom. Mine are the Canon 180mm macro lens and the Canon 600mm f/4L IS II, both always on a tripod and both often used with extension tubes and/or the 1.4X teleconverters. Denise hand holds a great deal of the time. For flower field blurs denise uses the same lenses mentioned above. My favorite is the 70-200 often with a 1.4X TC but I use both the 24-105 and the 600 II as well. Both of us use and love the Canon EOS-5D Mark III for all of our flower photography. The in-camera HDR and Multiple Exposure features are a blast.
One of the great advantages of our trip is that we will be staying in a single, strategically located hotel that is quite excellent. Do note that all ground transfers to and from Schipol will be via hotel shuttle bus.
Central sensor AI Servo/Rear Focus on the knife edge of the petal on the lest and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Once you have a decent image set up it is best to make lots of images while varying your framing just a bit. That’s what I did here; this single image stood out from the pack.
What’s included: Eight hotel nights. All ground transportation except for airport transfers as noted above. In-the-field instruction and small group image review and Photoshop sessions. All meals from dinner on Day 1 through dinner on Day 7. The hotel we are staying in often offers both lunch and dinner buffets. The food is excellent. Whenever you order off the menu be it at the hotel or at one of the several fine-dining spots that we will be enjoying at various locations, only the cost of your main course is included. On these occasions the cost of soups, appetizers, salads, sodas and other beverages, alcoholic drinks and wine, bottled water, and desserts are not included. This is done in part in hopes that folks will be less inclined to enjoy an eight course dinner so that we can get to bed early. As with all A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours both the photo sessions and the days are long. Nothing that we do however will be demanding. Being able to sit down on the ground with your gear is, however, a huge plus. Anyone in halfway decent shape should be fine.
Snacks, personal items, phone calls, etc. are not included.
Beware of seemingly longer, slightly less expensive tours that include travel days and days sitting in the hotel doing nothing as part of the tour. In addition, other similar trips have you changing hotels needlessly. The cost of this years trip is a bit higher than last years to reflect our increased experience and the extra hotel night that is included. One final note on other similar trips: the instructors on this trip actually instruct. On other similar trips the instructors, though usually imminently qualified, serve for the most part as van drivers….
This image of the inside of the Willem-Alexander Pavilion at Keukenhof, Lisse, Holland with the hand held Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM zoom lens (at 85mm) and the Canon EOS-5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/2.8 in Av mode.
Central sensor AI Servo/Rear Focus on the red and white tulips 1/3 of the way into the frame and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
A simple walk into the Willem-Alexander Pavilion puts most folks into sensory overload. Note the stand of yellow and orange tulips in the lower right: Beauty of Spryng was pretty much everyone’s favorite.
Happy Campers only please. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 per person is required to hold your spot. The second payment of $2,000 due by October 30, 2013. The balance is due on January 15, 2014. Payments in full are of course welcome at any time. All payments including the deposit must be made by check made out to “Arthur Morris.” As life has a way of throwing an occasional curve ball our way, you are urged to purchase travel insurance within 15 days of our cashing your check. I use and recommend Travel Insurance Services. All payments are non-refundable unless the trip fills to capacity. In that case, all payments but your deposit will be refunded. If the trip does not run every penny will be refunded. Again, please do not purchase your air tickets until you hear from us that the trip is a go. We are very confident that it will.
All checks should be made out to “Arthur Morris” and sent to: Arthur Morris, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855.
For couples or friends signing up at the same time for the tulip trip, a $200/personduo discount will be applied to the final payment.
ISO 100. Evaluative metering +1 stop at f/22 in Tv mode. See the similar image in the blog post here and try and figure out how both of these images were created.
Central sensor Surround/AI Servo Rear Focus about 1/3 of the way into the frame and then panned vertically. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
When you send your deposit check, please print and sign the paperwork here.
If you are interested in joining us, please let me know asap via e-mail.
This image of a backlit windmill blade was created at Kinderdijk, Holland with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/11 in Manual mode.
Next year’s trip includes a late afternoon visit to Kinderdijk and street photography in Amsterdam and Edam. There will be lots of fine dining (meals on us!) in all three of these spots.
Chose a sensor all the way to the left of and two rows down from the Central sensor (Surround)/AI Servo Rear Focus active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Your Favorite?
Take a moment to leave a comment and let us know which of the images above you like the best, and why.
Tulips on the Blog
Whether or not you are seriously thinking of joining us in Holland next April you may wish to re-visit some of the tulip blog posts.
The first was “Dire Tulip Forecast Update” Plus Super Bonus Bird here.
Learn about wide angle tulip field image design in the “Variety” blog post.
Lastly, BAA Bulletin #439 features the Holland Tulip IPT report, two great flower/tulip photography lessons, four very sweet tulips images, and my favorite windmill image from the trip. Click here to access BAA Bulletin #439.
Two sensors to the right of the central sensor/AI Servo-Surround/Rear Focus just in front of and below the bird’s eye active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see the new even larger version.
Down By the Lake With the EF200-400mm f/4L IS/Internal 1.4 Extender
I couldn’t resist trying out my new lens on the morning of June 14, which just happened to me my 67th birthday. As there are almost always a few Sandhill Cranes around and the big fields were too wet to drive on safely, the cranes were my primary and only target. The image above was created with the internal 1.4X TC in place. I was delighted to see that the internal TC moves smoothly in and out of place with a fairly large, conveniently located lever on the left side of the barrel about only 1 1/2 inches from the camera end of the lens. Though I doubt that I will use the locking feature much, the internal 1.4X can be conveniently locked in place.
The Huge Surprise
The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens weighs 8.65 pounds. I have a really hard time hand holding it. I am OK for a flight image or two but even then I struggle with framing. Working with static subjects is much more difficult as you feel the build-up of lactic acid within a few moments. The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender weighs 7.98 pounds, exactly .67 pounds less than the 600 II. With the 2-4 being only 2/3 pound lighter than the big gun, I assumed that it would be a difficult lens for me to hand hold. )You can find complete specs for all Canon telephoto lenses here.)
The very big surprise was that I found the new 200-400 to be eminently hand holdable. Even when creating static images like the two above. I was easily able to hold the lens up and frame the subject for periods of from 20 to 30 seconds. Whenever possible I will of course sit on the ground and use my left knee as a support; I plan to be doing that a great deal in the Galapagos. And I am positive that the 200-400 with the built-in TC will prove to be the perfect lens for our panga (zodiac) photography cruises. It will, with the 1D X, serve as my primary lens for penguins and pelicans and flight photography. The 70-200 will be on the floor of the panga with another 1D X mounted ready for a Blue-footed Booby feeding spree. The 200-400 with the built in TC will prove to be even more valuable in Africa.
(Editor’s note: surprisingly, there is only one “m” in eminent.”)
Why?
With the weight of the two lenses being so close, it would seem that the size–especially the length–and the compactness of the 200-400 as compared to the 600 II are the main reasons that I found it relatively easy to hand hold. With the lens hoods in place, the 600 II is 24 and 3/4″ long. At more than 2 feet, that is one long lever arm. The 2-4 is a relatively manageable 19″, just a it more than 1 1/2 feet long. Other than that I am clueless: but I do know that I am confident that I will be able to hand hold the new Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender in a great variety of bird and wildlife photography situations. And I am looking forward to doing just that.
no images were found
Sharpness?
Above is a 100% crop of the crane’s head from the opening image in today’s blog post. As expected, and as you can see, the 200-400 is razor sharp with the internal 1.4X TC in place. I made a few similar images with the lens alone and an external 1.4X III TC; they were equally sharp.
Three sensors to the left of and one row down from the central sensor/AI Servo-Surround/Rear Focus on the crane’s upper back just behind the neck active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see the new even larger version.
Versatility
The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender is of course an extremely versatile zoom lens with a focal length range of from 200-560mm which yields a very nice zoom range of 1 to 2.8. That with superb sharpness, the incredible four-stop IS, and excellent close-focus. In the image above I went with the lens alone at 200mm in order to include the pier at Indian Lake Estates in the frame to give the viewers a sense of place. The wide end of the 2-4 without the internal TC engaged will be useful for creating bird-scapes and habitat images.
Images copyright 2012: Denise Ippoltio & Arthur Morris. Card design by Denise Ippolito. Click on the image to enjoy a spectacular larger version.
Holland 2014 7 1/2-Day/8-Night: A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART/Tulips & A Touch of Holland IPT. April 17-April 24, 2014 :$4995 Limit: 12 photographers/Openings 9
This trip needs 8 registrants to run so please do not purchase your plane tickets until you hear from us; right now we need 5 more folks.
Join Denise Ippolito, Flower Queen and the author of “Bloomin’ Ideas,” BPN Photo Gear Moderator, former Nikon shooter, and technical expert Peter Kes, and Arthur Morris, Canon Explorer of Light and one of the planet’s premier photographic educators for a great trip to Holland in mid-April 2014. Day 1 of the IPT will be April 17, 2014. We will have a short afternoon get-together and then our first photographic session at the justly-famed Keukenhof. Peter who is originally from Holland, will be our local guide/interpreter/driver. Most days we will return to the hotel for lunch, image sharing and a break. On Day 8, April 24, we will enjoy both morning and afternoon photography sessions.
The primary subjects will be tulips and orchids at Keukenhof and the spectacularly amazing tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil bulb fields around Lisse. In addition we will spend one full day in Amsterdam. There will be optional visits the Van Gogh Museum in the morning and the Anne Frank House in the afternoon; there will be plenty of time for street photography as well. And some great food. On another day we will have a wonderful early dinner at Kinderdijk and then head out with our gear to photograph the windmills and possibly some birds for those who bring their longs lenses. We will spend an afternoon in the lovely Dutch town of Edam where we will do some street photography and enjoy a superb dinner. All lodging, ground transportation, entry fees, and meals (from dinner on Day 1 through dinner on Day 8) are included.
For those who will be bringing a big lens we will likely have an optional bird photography afternoon or two or possibly three. The big attraction should be gorgeous Purple Herons in flight at a breeding marsh. We would be photographing them from the roadside. And we might be able to find a few Great-crested Grebes at a location near Keukenhof.
Click here for complete details and some previously unpublished tulip images. Click here and see item one for lots more tulip photos.
Images courtesy of and copyright 2012: Bill Mueller. Card design by Denise Ippolito.
Old Car City Creative Photography In-the-Field HDR Workshop: Sunday, October 13, 2013/ 9am till 1pm.
White, Georgia: $250 plus a $15 entrance fee donation (cash only on the day of the event) that will go to charity. Limit: 16 photographers.
On October 13, 2013, Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART and Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure will be conducting an In-the-Field HDR Workshop at Old Car City in White, Georgia. Old Car City is about an hour north of Atlanta, GA and an hour south of Chattanooga, TN where they will, as noted above, be doing a full day seminar for the Photographic Society of Chattanooga on Saturday, October 12th. Click here for complete details.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
While checking out yesterday’s blog post “How’d He Do Dat?” this morning, I was shocked to see that there were no comments. Then I noticed that it said “Comments Not Allowed.” Not sure how that happened but a quick call to Denise Ippolito rectified the situation. So now it is time for you to tell me how I created that image in-camera….
ISO 100. Evaluative metering +1 stop at f/22 in Tv mode. What do you think was the shutter speed?
Central sensor Surround/AI Servo Rear Focus on the first row of pink tulips. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
How’d He Do Dat?
First off, do you like it? Do you hate it? Why? Be forewarned: I love it in part because of the outline effect on the pink tulips.
Do let us know how you think this image was created in-camera? What technique or techniques were used? Please be as specific as you can. What was the shutter speed?
Here is a clue: the original was rendered as a JPEG.
Sometimes you can come up with something new and creative just by screwing around and having some fun.
Speaking of Good Flower Images
If you like flower photography, you need to check out Denise’s most recent blog post, “Bloomin’ Canadians.” There she shares 14 images created by folks who attended her recent workshop in Ontario, Canada. Here is the comment I left: Oh my God. I have never seen such a strong group of images from a 3 hour workshop. There are many fantastic images. Congrats to everyone. And here is the best part, the stamp of your teaching is all over every single image. Way to go girl!
Images copyright 2012: Denise Ippoltio & Arthur Morris. Card design by Denise Ippolito. Click on the image to enjoy a spectacular larger version.
Holland 2014 7 1/2-Day/8-Night: A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART/Tulips & A Touch of Holland IPT. April 17-April 24, 2014 :$4995 Limit: 12 photographers/Openings 9
This trip needs 8 registrants to run so please do not purchase your plane tickets until you hear from us; right now we need 5 more folks.
Join Denise Ippolito, Flower Queen and the author of “Bloomin’ Ideas,” BPN Photo Gear Moderator, former Nikon shooter, and technical expert Peter Kes, and Arthur Morris, Canon Explorer of Light and one of the planet’s premier photographic educators for a great trip to Holland in mid-April 2014. Day 1 of the IPT will be April 17, 2014. We will have a short afternoon get-together and then our first photographic session at the justly-famed Keukenhof. Peter who is originally from Holland, will be our local guide/interpreter/driver. Most days we will return to the hotel for lunch, image sharing and a break. On Day 8, April 24, we will enjoy both morning and afternoon photography sessions.
The primary subjects will be tulips and orchids at Keukenhof and the spectacularly amazing tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil bulb fields around Lisse. In addition we will spend one full day in Amsterdam. There will be optional visits the Van Gogh Museum in the morning and the Anne Frank House in the afternoon; there will be plenty of time for street photography as well. And some great food. On another day we will have a wonderful early dinner at Kinderdijk and then head out with our gear to photograph the windmills and possibly some birds for those who bring their longs lenses. We will spend an afternoon in the lovely Dutch town of Edam where we will do some street photography and enjoy a superb dinner. All lodging, ground transportation, entry fees, and meals (from dinner on Day 1 through dinner on Day 8) are included.
For those who will be bringing a big lens we will likely have an optional bird photography afternoon or two or possibly three. The big attraction should be gorgeous Purple Herons in flight at a breeding marsh. We would be photographing them from the roadside. And we might be able to find a few Great-crested Grebes at a location near Keukenhof.
Click here and see item one for lots more tulip photos and complete trip details.
Images courtesy of and copyright 2012: Bill Mueller. Card design by Denise Ippolito.
Old Car City Creative Photography In-the-Field HDR Workshop: Sunday, October 13, 2013/ 9am till 1pm.
White, Georgia: $250 plus a $15 entrance fee donation (cash only on the day of the event) that will go to charity. Limit: 16 photographers.
On October 13, 2013, Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART and Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure will be conducting an In-the-Field HDR Workshop at Old Car City in White, Georgia. Old Car City is about an hour north of Atlanta, GA and an hour south of Chattanooga, TN where they will, as noted above, be doing a full day seminar for the Photographic Society of Chattanooga on Saturday, October 12th. Click here for complete details.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
This image was created on a Bear Boat trip to Katmai National Park with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV (now replaced by the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera). ISO 1250. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stop off the blue water: 1/250 sec. at f/3.2 in Manual mode.
Central sensor in the top row AI Servo/Rear Focus (C. Fn. III-8-2: immediate surrounding points) active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2012: David R. Neilson
Excellent Image
Most of you know that we specialize in the care, feeding, and education of Happy Campers on BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours (IPTs). David Neilson who created the wonderdful image above, is signed up with me for his third bear boat trip this coming September. Adit Merkine, who is traveling from Jerusalem, Israel for her first bear boat trip, had a few questions that she shared with the group. Dave kindly enough to answer all of Adit’s questions in great detail and attached the image above to his e-mail. I loved it the moment I saw it and wrote Dave asking if I could run it in a blog post. He said, “Sure. Go ahead.” Thank you David.
This is the BreezeBrowser Main View screen capture for David’s image.
BreezeBrowser Main View Screen Capture
Above is the BreezeBrowser Main View screen capture for today’s image. The illuminated red square shows the selected sensor. There is lots to learn by studying the screen capture. Note the black on the salmon’s belly and the black specks in the water droplets. In real time as viewed in BreezeBrowser, these would be flashing highlight warnings. What David did beautifully here was push the histogram to the right so that the brightest highlights triggered the over-exposure warning. Those allegedly over-exposed highlights were easily recovered during the conversion of the RAW file. Why was it so important to expose to the right? To ensure maximum detail in the bear’s dark fur.
Note that the histogram shows some clipping and that David takes the time to micro-adjust his lenses. Note also the excellent job that was done to eliminate the extra bear along the upper frame edge. Sometimes there are just too many bears in the frame.
Note: in Breezebrowser you need to make sure to check Show Focus Points under View to activate this feature. To see the focus points in DPP check AF Point under View or hit Alt L. Regular readers know that I use and depend on BreezeBrowser every day of the year. It allows me to sort my keepers and deletes the rejects faster than any other browsing program. We use it on the main computer in the home office to catalog our images file-drawer style. And the companion program, Downloader Pro allows me to download my images quickly and conveniently. It automatically adds my IPTC data and the shooting location. I have it set up to create a folder named by the Month/date/year. The Breezebrowser/Downloader Pro combo saves me many hours each week. To learn earn more or to purchase this great PC only program, click here.
Excellent Photographer and Excellent Student
David Neilson has been on several IPTs. His first was San Diego about six years ago. He has worked and studies hard and his images are now consistently quite excellent. Below are some excerpts from David’s bear image e-mails that you might find both interesting and instructive.
Thanks Artie, I really appreciate your comments. You can, however, take a bow here as well. Multiple IPTs and a regular reading of the BAA Blog all helped me to create this image. The bear, the fish, and the white water are all different tonalities. To keep from blowing out the big splash and the droplets that add drama to the image, I needed to keep the blinkies to a minimum. Using NIK software with its U-Point technology–another IPT heads-up BTW, the splash, fish and bear were selectively optimized.
Artie, I was metering to accommodate 3 tonal values: the bear, the fish, and the white water. Therefore, I took a meter reading off the blue water, over exposed by 1 2/3 stops to properly expose for the bear, and then backed off another 1/3 stop so as not to blowout the white water. This was my standard procedure throughout the salmon run. After a few images I would check the histogram for blinkies and adjust accordingly. My preferred ISO was 800 and the max I would go would be to 2000. Generally I would allow for a few blinkies on the whitewater and/or on the fish’s bright belly because I could correct that in post. To eliminate motion blur I kept my shutter speeds above 1/1250 sec. I was continually taking meter readings as the light changed and adjusting the shutter speed, the ISO, and the f/stop. I had IS Mode 3 active.
By trade David, who lives in Trego, WI, is a certified gemologist and a master goldsmith. Be sure to check out his photography here. The Prairie Chickens near the end of the birds gallery are mind boggling! Thanks again David.
My One Wish
My one wish for this image would be for a bit more room all around. That’s why I will be taking my 200-400 on the Bears Catching Salmon IPT. If you would like to join me on the next Katmai Bear Boat adventure drop me an e-mail
Images courtesy of and copyright 2012: Bill Mueller. Card design by Denise Ippolito.
Old Car City Creative Photography In-the-Field HDR Workshop: Sunday, October 13, 2013/ 9am till 1pm.
White, Georgia: $250 plus a $15 entrance fee donation (cash only on the day of the event) that will go to charity. Limit: 16 photographers.
On October 13, 2013, Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART and Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure will be conducting an In-the-Field HDR Workshop at Old Car City in White, Georgia. Old Car City is about an hour north of Atlanta, GA and an hour south of Chattanooga, TN where they will, as noted above, be doing a full day seminar for the Photographic Society of Chattanooga on Saturday, October 12th. Click here for complete details.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
I bit the bullet and purchased a Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender through the Explorers of Light program. I was blessed to have been selected as one of the original Canon Explorers of Light about 18 years ago and continue in that role today. I will be bringing the lens on my Galapagos trip in early July, my Africa trip in early August, and, as my big lens, on my bear boat trip in early September. The lens will be here on Thursday afternoon. I hope to get out with it this weekend and to be sharing some images with you here. The best news is that I will be doing a Focus On feature on the 200-400 for the Canon Digital Learning Center.
Big Lens News II: Canon 500mm f/4L IS II Lens for Sale
Sold
Save $2,000. I am offering my Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens for sale for for $8,399.00 (buyer pays insured shipping). The lens is in like-new condition with one tiny nick on the tripod collar. Glass perfect. Having fallen in love with the 600II I used the 500 II less than a dozen times. I was protected from the get-go by a LensCoat. I am including the LensCoat less the rear section and the tripod collar section. This is the lens that was dropped in South Georgia; note: it was the camera that took the fall. The lens elements were intact; only the lens mount was replaced. Priced only $3K more than some well-used 500mm f/4L IS lenses (the old version), this item is priced to ship tomorrow so do not tarry if you are seriously interested. If you are dissatisfied you may return the lens within two weeks for a full refund–you pay only the insured return shipping. Please call me at 863-692-0906 (7am till 10pm) if you would like to purchase this beauty. Leave a message if no answer. As my word is my bond I do not send pictures.
This image was created at 6:44 am on the early morning of June 5, 2013 on Great Gull Island with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual Mode.
One sensor below and two to the right of the central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear just below and behind the tern’s eye active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Photoshop Hanky Panky?
The image presented in the Photoshop Hany Panky? post here and above was right out of the camera. I converted the image in DPP, selected the BKGR, added Refine Edge, and executed Filter/Blur/Surface Blur at 4/2 to smooth the dark blue background.
Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the forward part of the near wing near the body active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Try This One
The optimized image present in the Try This One blog post is a completely different story. As you can see by taking a look at the original image below, the second bird was removed. I used the Protective Cloning on Layer technique taught to me by Denise Ippolito. Removing the out-of-focus rock was actually much more difficult than removing the bird as getting the edge of the rock to look natural was a challenge that required some extra care. I did some background smoothing as well with a 60% opacity Clone Stamp Tool. All of course as described in detail in Digital Basics File, an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. It includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips including Digital Eye Doctor techniques, several different ways of expanding canvas, all of my time-saving Keyboard Shortcuts, and Layer Masking and NIK Color Efex Pro basics.
5D Mark III, 1D X AF, & DPP e-Guides
To learn everything that I know about the the great EOS-5D Mark III, check out our 5D MIII User’s Guide. To learn everything that I know about the great 1D X AF system check out our 1D X AF Guide here. To learn how I convert all of my images in DPP check out the DPP Raw Conversion Guide here.
This is the original image from which the optimized image was created in Photoshop.
Why?
I had two reasons for presenting these two images on consecutive days. First and foremost is to show that it is easy to find flaws with optimized images after you see the original, but much more difficult in cases where you only see the final image and when the Photoshop work was well done. I am glad that not too many folks invented stuff on the “Hanky Panky” image and that nobody even hinted that a bird and a rock had been removed from the “Try This One” image. Second was to show that if you know what you are doing in Photoshop and work carefully that even when you make extensive changes to an image they can be undetectable to most folks. Or to all folks. 🙂
Help Keep Great Gull Island Open For Terns!
This spring crews are continuing to fight vegetation and to rebuild most of the blinds to be ready for the terns when they arrive. 31 of 34 blinds, many already in dire need of repair, were finished off by Hurricane Sandy. Crews are ready to help with both of these projects, but the GGI Project needs funds to purchase lumber and equipment. Contributions of all sizes are both welcome and appreciated AND are tax deductible! Please make checks payable to: AMNH, and send them to:
Great Gull Island Project/AMNH, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY 10024
GGI’s best-ever dock, completed in 2010, was totaled by Sandy. The project is looking to FEMA for help but as above, any and all donations would be greatly appreciated. You can learn more about Great Gull Island here and visit the GGI Blog here.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
Two sensors to the right (yes to the right–see the original capture below) of the central sensor/AI Servo-Surround/Rear Focus on right hand bird’s upper back active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see the new even larger version.
And every time I’ve held a rose It seems I only felt the thorns…
Roseate Tern exhibits a rosy blush on the breast at the height of breeding plumage. As I mentioned here before, it is most evident in soft light and is rarely noticeably at all on sunny days. It is quite evident in the image above, enhanced a bit by an increase in Saturation. See below for more on the optimization of this image.
I was looking for a quote relating to the word “rose” or “rosy” to title this blog post and came upon “But he that dares not grasp the thorn Should never crave the rose.” (Anne Bronte, English poet and novelist, 1820-1849.) That brought to mind one of my favorite-ever songs, “And So It Goes. (Music and lyrics by Billy Joel.) In haunting tones, the song begins like this:
In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along
I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense
And every time I’ve held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose
Click here to hear the song (sung by a very young Billy Joel). In case you have not figured it out by now I am a huge Billy Joel fan. What is your favorite Billy Joel tune?
The volunteer researchers on Great Gull Island (including me on my recent visit) get to deal with a few thorns of their own. The terns poop on you all day long as you go about your chores. If you let your guard down for a moment, they peck at your head often drawing blood. At times they will strike you on your shoulders, and when you bend over to mark a nest your butt is theirs (so to speak). But well worth it. Those rosy Roseate Terns are gorgeous.
The first Common Tern chicks hatched either yesterday or today and things will be getting really busy on GGI over the next few weeks as the peak of hatching approaches.
This is a screen capture of the BreezeBrowser Main View. Note that the selected AF point is illuminated in red. With Surround the 8 surrounding AF points are active.
BreezeBrowser Main View Screen Capture
Above is the BreezeBrowser Main View screen capture for today’s image. The illuminated red square shows that I moved the active sensor two to the right of the central sensor. Why to the right? I was photographing another tern on another rock. That bird was facing to my right. When I saw this bird nearby begin to display I simply focused on fired without caring about the composition. I did not have time to switch the AF sensor and I did not want to miss the image. See my comments on the image optimization below.
Note: in Breezebrowser you need to make sure to check Show Focus Points under View to activate this feature. To see the focus points in DPP check AF Point under View or hit Alt L. Regular readers know that I use and depend on BreezeBrowser every day of the year. It allows me to sort my keepers and deletes the rejects faster than any other browsing program. We use it on the main computer in the home office to catalog our images file-drawer style. And the companion program, Downloader Pro allows me to download my images quickly and conveniently. It automatically adds my IPTC data and the shooting location. I have it set up to create a folder named by the Month/date/year. The Breezebrowser/Downloader Pro combo saves me many hours each week. To learn earn more or to purchase this great PC only program, click here.
The Image Optimization
The image optimization was easy. After converting the RAW file in DPP I used several of the techniques that I learned in APTATS II to move the bird well left in the frame so that I wound up with a pleasing composition. Then I worked on the dark cap and the bill running my favorite 50-50 Nik Color Efex Pro recipe and reducing the opacity to 50% and following that up with a 15/65/0 Contrast Mask.
All of the above of course as described in detail in Digital Basics File, an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. It includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips including Digital Eye Doctor techniques, several different ways of expanding canvas, all of my time-saving Keyboard Shortcuts, and Layer Masking and NIK Color Efex Pro basics.
1D X AF & DPP e-Guides
To learn everything that I know about the great 1D X AF system check out our 1D X AF Guide here. To learn how I convert all of my images in DPP check out the DPP Raw Conversion Guide here.
Help Keep Great Gull Island Open For Terns!
This spring crews are continuing to fight vegetation and to rebuild most of the blinds to be ready for the terns when they arrive. 31 of 34 blinds, many already in dire need of repair, were finished off by Hurricane Sandy. Crews are ready to help with both of these projects, but the GGI Project needs funds to purchase lumber and equipment. Contributions of all sizes are both welcome and appreciated AND are tax deductible! Please make checks payable to: AMNH, and send them to:
Great Gull Island Project/AMNH, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY 10024
GGI’s best-ever dock, completed in 2010, was totaled by Sandy. The project is looking to FEMA for help but as above, any and all donations would be greatly appreciated. You can learn more about Great Gull Island here and visit the GGI Blog here.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the forward part of the near wing near the body active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Try This One…
In the last blog post, Photoshop Hanky Panky, I asked if folks saw anything that indicated that I had done any extensive image optimization in Photoshop. Aside from two comments about possible halos by the legs (see image next), the general consensus was that there were no indications of any monkeying around.
So let’s try it again. If you can detect any evidence of Photoshop chicanery, please leave a comment and state your case. Let us know if you think that I have removed a bird or birds or a rock or rocks from the background. How about a rope or a wooden structure? Might I have replaced the bird’s eye or even worse, its whole head? Do you see any funky looking pixels or evidence of sloppy Clone Stamp Tool work? Be sure to click on the image to see the larger version as you gather evidence of manipulation.
In any case, please let us know by leaving a comment. I will tell all and share the original capture for both of these Roseate Tern images in two days.
This 141% crop was made from an image that was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual Mode.
Leg Halos?
In yesterday’s aforementioned blog post, two folks left comments stating that the area around the bird’s left looked a bit funky. That area looks fine to me. Is anyone seeing anything problematic there?
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
This image was created at 6:44 am on the early morning of June 5, 2013 on Great Gull Island with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual Mode.
One sensor below and two to the right of the central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear just below and behind the tern’s eye active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Roseate Tern
The main reason that I made the trip to Great Gull Island was to photograph Roseate Tern. Why? How many folks do you know who have had a chance to photograph this endangered species?
Photoshop Hanky Panky?
If you can detect any evidence of Photoshop hanky panky, please leave a comment and state your case. Let us know if you think that I have removed a bird or birds or a rock or rocks from the background. How about a rope or a wooden structure? Might I have replaced the bird’s eye or even worse, its whole head? Do you see any funky looking pixels or evidence of sloppy Clone Stamp Tool work? Be sure to click on the image to see the larger version as you gather evidence of excessive manipulation.
In any case, please let us know by leaving a comment. I will tell all and share the original capture in two days.
Help Keep Great Gull Island Open For Terns!
This spring crews are continuing to fight vegetation and to rebuild most of the blinds to be ready for the terns when they arrive. 31 of 34 blinds, many already in dire need of repair, were finished off by Hurricane Sandy. Crews are ready to help with both of these projects, but the GGI Project needs funds to purchase lumber and equipment. Contributions of all sizes are both welcome and appreciated AND are tax deductible! Please make checks payable to: AMNH, and send them to:
Great Gull Island Project/AMNH, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY 10024
Kudos to Julianna Barrett (UCONN) and Suzanne Peyton (USFWS) who obtained grants to expand the Roseate Tern terraces and rebuild the observation blinds but more help is always needed. Not to mention that the GGI’s best-ever dock that was completed in 2010 was totaled by Sandy. The project is looking to FEMA for help but as above, any and all donations would be greatly appreciated.
You can learn more about Great Gull Island here and visit the GGI Blog here.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
More Thoughts on the Canon 200-400 f/4L IS and the Series II Super-telephoto Lenses
In the blog post that noted the announcement of the long awaited Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender, I wrote, “It promises to be a great lens for wildlife and for trips to places like Africa, the Southern Ocean, and the Galapagos. At $11,799, it is quite pricey. I will surely try to borrow one before I buy one.”
So here I am at my Mom’s in Holbrook, Long Island, NY, getting ready to fly back to Florida on Monday morning. I will be leaving for my two-week Galapagos Photo-Cruise on June 30, and then heading to Africa departing on August 1. I currently own the 300mm f/2.8L IS II, the 500mm f/4L IS II, and the 600mm f/4L IS II. Along with the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II and two set of Series III teleconverters (2 @ 1.4x EF Extender III and 2x EF Extender III).
I used the 500mm f/4L IS II only a bit before I received my 600mm f/4L IS II. Since that time I have rarely used it and never traveled with it always opting for the greater reach of the 600 with my three full frame bodies–2 EOS-1D X bodies and my 5D Mark III.
I had always assumed that I would be bringing the 500 II to the Galapagos and still might go that route. But, there are at least three others on the trip who will be bringing their 600 IIs. And I just hate to be short man on the totem pole. In any case, the 300 II will be invaluable on the cruise for flight photography and for our panga (zodiac) cruises. And the 70-200 II is a necessity. So here is the problem: even if I could borrow a 200-400 for the trip to the archipelago there is simply no way that I could get it all there along with the three camera bodies, the 24-105, and the 15mm fish eye lens.
One must consider the option of making the trip with a 200-400 and without the 500 or 600mm. The 200-400 with the internal 1.4X TC in place and a second 1.4X TC added externally would yield an equivalent focal length of 784mm. This would be well on the short side as compared to either the 500 II or the 600 II with the 2X TC. Those work out to 1000 and 1200mm equivalent focal lengths respectively.
Another possibility would be to travel with the 200-400 and either the 500 or 600 II while leaving the 300 II at home. I have one very big problem with that. The 300 II is a superb flight lens, one that I can easily hand hold. The 200-400 does of course offer greater flexibility than the 300 II but, and this is a very big but: the 300 II weighs only 5.19 pounds while the 200-400 comes in at a relatively whopping 7.98 pounds, almost three pounds heavier than the new 300. The 200-400 weighs more than the 500 II at 7.04 pounds but less than the 600 II that weighs 8.65 pounds. Call me a wimp if you will, but I can hand hold the 500 II for short periods of time for both flight and routine bird photography. I can hand hold the 600 II only for a few seconds at most for flight photography and barely at all for routine photography. So ix-nay on that idea at least for me.
After getting my thoughts down here in writing I am thinking of taking the 500 II as my big lens to the Galapagos along with the 300 II and the other lenses mentioned above. But I still might go with the 600 as my big lens for the cruise. I am pretty sure that Denise Ippolito is going with the 300 II as her big lens for the trip.
That brings us to Africa. I know that Todd Gustafson travels routinely to Africa with his Nikon 600, a Nikon 200-400, a Nikon 28-300, a 10.5mm fish eye, and only two Nikon D4 camera bodies. But Todd is much younger and stronger than I am and can easily hand hold his Nikon 200-400 for flight. He absolutely loves, kills with, and swears by his 200-400 in Africa. I just got off the phone with him and have pretty much decided to sell my 500 II–heck, I rarely use it anymore, and purchase the 200-400. I am pretty sure that I can make it to Africa with the 600 II and the 200-400 while leaving the 300 at home. Or not. Yikes!
A final thought on a Southern Ocean trip (aka The Falklands, South Georgia, and possibly Antarctica): the Canon 200-400mm with the internal TC is pretty much perfect for that trip as the birds are both tame and curious. Though I would leave the 600 II at home I would surely have the 300 II along for flight photography and, with the 2X II TC, as a back-up big lens.
As soon as I order my 200-400 I will likely be offering my 500 II for sale….
You can find complete Canon telephoto lens specs here; be sure to bookmark this page for quick reference. The chart now includes data for the new Canon 200-400.
Questions?
If you have a question or a suggestion on anything above please leave a comment; I will reply asap.
BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #442
BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #442 is online and can be accessed here.
Great Gull Island Visit
Image Optimization Lessons
The Blog is the Bomb!
Japan in Winter
Alan Murphy’s Photography e-Guides
Affiliate Links
Used Camera Gear
IPT Info
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
This image was created this morning, June 5, 2013 on Great Gull Island with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/3200 sec. at f/8 in Manual Mode.
One sensor below the central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF barely on the subject’s tail active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
My Pissed Off Pano Opinions
In the “Pissed Off Pano Questions post here, I asked, Which optimized version better tells the story? Which is more dramatic? Which is the better photograph? Why?
Which optimized version better tells the story? Of the two optimized versions, Version 1 tells the story as the pissed off bird had been perched on the rock. Even though just a cropped version two is somewhat of a lie. I think that most experienced birders would realize from either version I or the original that the pissed off bird had been perched on the rock until it was displaced by the incoming bird.
Thanks to all the folks who commented. I never considered for one second eliminating the wing of the incoming bird as it is a vital part of the story. Remember, while I am the first to clean things up I strive to tell the real story, to share with the viewers what was going on when I pressed the shutter button.
Which is more dramatic?
For me, version II is the most dramatic but also the least truthful.
Which is the better photograph?
When I wrote the blog post I felt strongly that Version 1 was the strongest of the three. I did, however, listen to you all to some degree and created the third version that includes a bit more rock.
I did not like the original composition at all. I wanted to bring the wing of the intruder into the frame from the upper left corner. After doing that, leaving the whole rock left me with a too-boxy composition. Kudos to Nick Clayton on his thoughts on the image design. He was the only one who figgered out what I was thinking :).
And yes, I went with the 5D III for more pixels on the subject and because I was using the 1D X on the 300 II for flight photography.
Any questions? Please feel free to leave a comment.
The Big Lesson
As I wrote in The Art of Bird Photography II, when unexpected action occurs, push the shutter button. Folks, it’s digital. If you waste a frame, it will not cost you one cent. Try to force, train, or otherwise get yourself to push the button the instant anything moves. On occasion, you will be rewarded.
Help Keep Great Gull Island Open For Terns!
This spring crews are continuing to fight vegetation and to rebuild most of the blinds to be ready for the terns when they arrive. 31 of 34 blinds, many already in dire need of repair, were finished off by Hurricane Sandy. Crews are ready to help with both of these projects, but the GGI Project needs funds to purchase lumber and equipment. Contributions of all sizes are both welcome and appreciated AND are tax deductible! Please make checks payable to: AMNH, and send them to:
Great Gull Island Project/AMNH, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY 10024
Kudos to Julianna Barrett (UCONN) and Suzanne Peyton (USFWS) who obtained grants to expand the Roseate Tern terraces and rebuild the observation blinds but more help is always needed. Not to mention that the GGI’s best-ever dock that was completed in 2010 was totaled by Sandy. The project is looking to FEMA for help but as above, any and all donations would be greatly appreciated.
You can learn more about Great Gull Island here and visit the GGI Blog here.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
This image was created just before 7pm on June 5, 2013 on Great Gull Island with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/4000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual Mode.
One sensor below the central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the flock active at the moment of exposure. I was amazed at how well this AF Area Selection Mode acquired and held focus with the fairly proximal background. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Dynamic Flock Flight
The tern colony at GGI is always a noisy place even when there are no researchers around and you are completely covered up with a Summer Weight Kwik Camo Throwover Blind. But every so often all the birds on a given end of the island take silent flight; it can be very eerie. One second screaming, shrieking, deafening bedlam; the next second, a loud whoosh followed by silence. The phenomenon is known as a dread flight and nobody knows why they occur.
Yesterday afternoon the wind was just right and the AF system of the 5D III performed admirably. I made about 25 images in the series; the one above was my very favorite. As you can see by looking at the original image below, it needed to be leveled. In addition, I cleaned up the edges quite a bit. See more on that below.
If you click on the image to see the larger size most will be able to pick out the lighter mantled Roseate Tern from among the more common Common Terns.
This is the original capture.
The Image Optimization
The image was leveled using my Keyboard Shortcuts: R for the Ruler Tool and Control + / for Image/Rotate/ Arbitrary. Using the shortcuts saves a ton of time as compared to using the most annoying drop-down menu. I cleaned up the birds on the edges using both the Clone Stamp Tool and the Patch Tool. I eliminated several merges uses Quick Masks with Layer Masks added. The unwanted single birds in the sky were removed with the Clone Stamp Tool; those against the blue water were eliminated with Quick Masks and fine-tuned with Layer Masks.
All of the above of course as described in detail in Digital Basics File, an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. It includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips including Digital Eye Doctor techniques, several different ways of expanding canvas, all of my time-saving Keyboard Shortcuts, and Layer Masking and NIK Color Efex Pro basics.
This is a screen capture of the BreezeBrowser Main View. Note that the selected AF point is illuminated in red. With Surround the 8 surrounding AF points are active.
BreezeBrowser Main View Screen Capture
Above is the BreezeBrowser Main View screen capture for the image. The illuminated red square shows that I moved the active sensor one down from the central sensor. Note that since I was working with Surround as my AF Area Selection Mode that were 8 additional active AF sensors. In Breezebrowser you need to make sure to check Show Focus Points under View to activate this feature. To see the focus points in DPP check AF Point under View or hit Alt L.
Regular readers know that I use and depend on BreezeBrowser every day of the year. It allows me to sort my keepers and deletes the rejects faster than any other browsing program. We use it on the main computer in the home office to catalog our images file-drawer style. And the companion program, Downloader Pro allows me to download my images quickly and conveniently. It automatically adds my IPTC data and the shooting location. I have it set up to create a folder named by the Month/date/year. The Breezebrowser/Downloader Pro combo saves me many hours each week. To learn earn more or to purchase this great PC only program, click here.
To learn everything that I know about the great 1D X AF system check out our 1D X AF Guide here. To learn how I convert all of my images in DPP check out the DPP Raw Conversion Guide here.
Pissed Off Pano Questions
Do check out the comments on yesterday’s blog post, “Pissed Off Pano Questions,” I am thinking that everyone is way off base. My views coming soon.
Last 2013 Short Notice, Dirt Cheap, In-the-Field Nickerson Beach Photographic Instruction with Arthur Morris
June 8 (pm) and June 9 (am & pm). Afternoons with west winds can be great. Morning sessions run from 5am sharp-9:30 am. Afternoon sessions from 4pm til whenever. These are priced so low that you need to e-mail for the rates. Limit 5/session.
If you e-mail, please include all phone numbers. Payment in full due immediately via credit card after calling the office on a weekday: 863-221-2372. If you would like to join me, please get in touch via e-mail. Breeding American Oystercatcher (chicks likely) and Piping Plover (chicks possible). Common Tern and Black Skimmer/courtship behaviors. Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. Lots of flight photography when the wind is right. Learn digital exposure and creative image design. Learn to create pleasing blurs at 5am. As I will be living and photographing on Great Gull Island for a week from the afternoon of May 30 until the late afternoon of June 6 and may not have internet access, do sign up and be patient. You will hear from me via e-mail early on June 7th if not the previous evening.
5D Mark III User’s Guide
Learn everything that I know about the EOS-5D Mark III including how I set up my camera for in-camera HDRs in the 5D Mark III User’s Guide. This guide also includes info on the following: 5D III exposure fine points, handling the WHITEs, the top LCD and all camera control buttons, all 5D Mark III drive modes, how to manually select an AF sensor, choosing an AF Area Selection Mode/how and why (includes extensive detail), and Menu Item Access. Coverage of almost all Menu Items and Custom Functions including the following: Image Quality, Auto Lighting Optimizer, Highlight Tone Priority, AF Configuration Tool (includes details on the custom setting that I use), Acceleration/deceleration tracking, Tracking sensitivity, Lens drive when AF impossible, Orientation linked AF point (I love this feature on the 5D III!), Highlight alert, Histogram display, Auto rotate, Custom Shooting Mode set-up, Safety shift, using the Q button, and setting up rear focus. The guide is–of course–written in my informal, easy-to-follow style.
Help Keep Great Gull Island Open For Terns!
This spring crews are continuing to fight vegetation and to rebuild most of the blinds to be ready for the terns when they arrive. 31 of 34 blinds, many already in dire need of repair, were finished off by Hurricane Sandy. Crews are ready to help with both of these projects, but the GGI Project needs funds to purchase lumber and equipment. Contributions of all sizes are both welcome and appreciated AND are tax deductible! Please make checks payable to: AMNH, and send them to:
Great Gull Island Project/AMNH, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY 10024
GGI’s best-ever dock, completed in 2010, was totaled by Sandy. The project is looking to FEMA for help but as above, any and all donations would be greatly appreciated. You can learn more about Great Gull Island here and visit the GGI Blog here.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
This image was created this morning, June 5, 2013 on Great Gull Island with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/3200 sec. at f/8 in Manual Mode.
One sensor below the central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF barely on the subject’s tail active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
The Original
The image above is the original image. I was happy to get all of the subject in the frame.
This is my first version.
The Situation
I was photographing a very nice looking Common Tern on the triangular rock perch. It was wearing a single aluminum band. Another bird flew in and chased it off its perch. I fired twice; the first image is presented here.
This is the second version.
Pissed Off Pano Questions
Which optimized version better tells the story? Which is more dramatic? Which is the better photography? Why?
EOS-5D Mark III
Can you come up with two reasons why I was using the 5D III on the 600 II? My 1D X is fine.
Help Keep Great Gull Island Open For Terns!
This spring crews are continuing to fight vegetation and to rebuild most of the blinds to be ready for the terns when they arrive. 31 of 34 blinds, many already in dire need of repair, were finished off by Hurricane Sandy. Crews are ready to help with both of these projects, but the GGI Project needs funds to purchase lumber and equipment. Contributions of all sizes are both welcome and appreciated AND are tax deductible! Please make checks payable to: AMNH, and send them to:
Great Gull Island Project/AMNH, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY 10024
Kudos to Julianna Barrett (UCONN) and Suzanne Peyton (USFWS) who obtained grants to expand the Roseate Tern terraces and rebuild the observation blinds but more help is always needed. Not to mention that the GGI’s best-ever dock that was completed in 2010 was totaled by Sandy. The project is looking to FEMA for help but as above, any and all donations would be greatly appreciated.
You can learn more about Great Gull Island here and visit the GGI Blog here.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
Two sensors down and two to the right of the central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus on right hand bird’s upper back active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Passing Fancy
In the image above, the male, the bird on our left, has just passed a baitfish to its mate. I believe that the prey item is an Atlantic Silversides, the “spearing” of my youth. I used them as for bait for snappers, baby bluefish about 6-8 inches long. Ten inches was a lunker. Helen is excited (assuming that I am correct) as this is the first year in 45 that the terns of GGI have been feeding on this species of baitfish.
I was hand holding the 300 II/2X III/1D X combo while sitting low in the rocks covered up with a Summer Weight Kwik Camo Throwover Blind. I was facing southeast on a somewhat chilly, hazy afternoon. Hand holding gave me a lot more freedom that had I been using the tripod-mounted 600 II. Why was I lucky not to be using the 600 II with the 2X III TC?
If you missed yesterday’s blog post and would like to learn more about Great Gull Island and the most amazing Helen Hays, click here.
This is a screen capture of the BreezeBrowser Main View.
BreezeBrowser Main View Screen Capture
Above is the BreezeBrowser Main View screen capture for the image. The illuminated red square shows that I moved the active sensor 2 down and two to the right of the central sensor. Why did I do that?
Note that since I normally work with Surround as my AF Area Selection Mode that were six rather than the usual eight active AF sensors. In Breezebrowser you need to make sure to check Show Focus Points under View to activate this feature. To see the focus points in DPP check AF Point under View or hit Alt L.
Regular readers know that I use and depend on BreezeBrowser every day of the year. It allows me to sort my keepers and deletes the rejects faster than any other browsing program. We use it on the main computer in the home office to catalog our images file-drawer style. And the companion program, Downloader Pro allows me to download my images quickly and conveniently. It automatically adds my IPTC data and the shooting location. I have it set up to create a folder named by the Month/date/year. The Breezebrowser/Downloader Pro combo saves me many hours each week. To learn earn more or to purchase this great PC only program, click here.
To learn everything that I know about the great 1D X AF system check out our 1D X AF Guide here. To learn how I convert all of my images in DPP check out the DPP Raw Conversion Guide here.
Help Keep Great Gull Island Open For Terns!
This spring crews are continuing to fight vegetation and to rebuild most of the blinds to be ready for the terns when they arrive. 31 of 34 blinds, many already in dire need of repair, were finished off by Hurricane Sandy. Crews are ready to help with both of these projects, but the GGI Project needs funds to purchase lumber and equipment. Contributions of all sizes are both welcome and appreciated AND are tax deductible! Please make checks payable to: AMNH, and send them to:
Great Gull Island Project/AMNH, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY 10024
Kudos to Julianna Barrett (UCONN) and Suzanne Peyton (USFWS) who obtained grants to expand the Roseate Tern terraces and rebuild the observation blinds but more help is always needed. Not to mention that the GGI’s best-ever dock that was completed in 2010 was totaled by Sandy. The project is looking to FEMA for help but as above, any and all donations would be greatly appreciated.
You can learn more about Great Gull Island here and visit the GGI Blog here.
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF on the blind and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Helen Hays
Helen Hays spent her first season on Great Gull Island in 1969. She had no clue that she would be here in 2013 for this, her 45th season. She spends an average of 17 weeks here each season directing a team of volunteers and researchers that number from a handful to 20 or 30 during the peak of hatching, usually sometime in mid-June. When asked why she is still here she said, “There are so many things to do.” Simply put, she has devoted her life to studying the Common Terns of Great Gull Island and to a lesser degree, its Roseate Terns–the latter species often nests among the huge boulders and is much more difficult to trap. Since 1995, in Helen has made 14 trips to South America in search of her wintering terns. On the very first trip, that to Brazil her team found the previously unknown wintering grounds of Roseate Tern. She describes it as pure luck. After a 23-year absence, I am spending a week here thanks to Helen’s kindness and support. I am both thankful and blessed.
Central sensor Expand (by necessity)/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the bird’s eye and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
The Focus of Her Attention
Over the decades on GGI Helen has overseen the clearing of habitat, finding and marking nests, banding, weighing, and measure chicks, and trapping and banding the adult commons, all with the goal of helping the birds. Last season was yet another record year for the Common Terns of Great Gull with about 9,500 pairs. Late July 2013 found more than 32,000 Common Terns on the island. GGI is likely the world’s largest Common Tern colony and the Roseate colony, with about 600-1000 pairs, is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. It should be noted that Helen directs the Great Gull Island project under the auspices of the American Museum of Natural History and has been ably assisted by Joe DiCostanzo since about 1975.
Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.
Dealing With a Morning West Wind
The west winds have been relentless since I arrived late on Thursday past. Great in the afternoons but not so great in the mornings. Somewhat out of desperation I tried doing some backlit stuff yesterday morning as we were returned from a round of marking nests in heavy vegetation with orange fiberglass rods so that they can be easily re-located once the chicks hatch. I was quite pleased with several of the images. The weather had been great until today.
Help Keep Great Gull Island Open For Terns!
This spring crews are continuing to fight vegetation and to rebuild most of the blinds to be ready for the terns when they arrive. 31 of 34 blinds, many already in dire need of repair, were finished off by Hurricane Sandy. Crews are ready to help with both of these projects, but the GGI Project needs funds to purchase lumber and equipment. Contributions of all sizes are both welcome and appreciated AND are tax deductible! Please make checks payable to: AMNH, and send them to:
Great Gull Island Project/AMNH, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY 10024
Kudos to Julianna Barrett (UCONN) and Suzanne Peyton (USFWS) who obtained grants to expand the Roseate Tern terraces and rebuild the observation blinds but more help is always needed. Not to mention that the GGI’s best-ever dock that was completed in 2010 was totaled by Sandy. The project is looking to FEMA for help but as above, any and all donations would be greatly appreciated.
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
It is Thursday, May 30, 2013. I am headed out to Great Gull Island for a week. GGI is in the middle of the Long Island Sound between Orient Point, Long Island and Niantic, Connecticut. Last time I was there–in 1990–I think, it was home to 9,000+ pairs of Common Terns and about 800 pairs of Roseate Terns. On that visit my older daughter Jennifer met a young biologist named Erik Egensteiner. He is now the father of my two oldest grandkids, Sam and Maya, and obviously Jennifer’s husband. I am a bit excited as I will be living in some sort of open air gun emplacement dating back to the Spanish American War.
You cannot mention GGI without mentioning Helen Hays who has overseen the project under the auspices of the American Museum of Natural History for many, may decades, since the late y 60s I believe. IAC, I am pretty sure that there is more data on the Common Terns of Great Gull Island than on any other species of vertebrate….
I am not sure if I will have internet access or any contact with y’all. If that turns out to be the case, do spend some times visiting back issues of the blog. There is tons to see and to learn. If I do get on line, I will probably be seeing you every day or so as usual. If not, I will see you sometime on June 8th.
later and love, artie
Last 2013 Short Notice, Dirt Cheap, In-the-Field Nickerson Beach Photographic Instruction with Arthur Morris
June 8 (pm) and June 9 (am & pm). Afternoons with west wind can be great. Morning sessions run from 5am sharp-9:30 am. Afternoon sessions from 4pm til whenever. These are priced so low that you need to e-mail for the rates. Limit 5/session.
If you e-mail, please include all phone numbers. Payment in full due immediately via credit card after calling the office on a weekday: 863-221-2372. If you would like to join me, please get in touch via e-mail. Breeding American Oystercatcher (chicks likely) and Piping Plover (chicks possible). Common Tern and Black Skimmer/courtship behaviors. Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. Lots of flight photography when the wind is right. Learn digital exposure and creative image design. Learn to create pleasing blurs at 5am. As I will be living and photographing on Great Gull Island for a week from the afternoon of May 30 until the late afternoon of June 6 and may not have internet access, do sign up and be patient. You will hear from me via e-mail early on June 7th if not the previous evening.
Thanks!
Thanks a stack to the many who used our B&H link over the past 30 days; May was one of our best months ever. Using our B&H Affiliate Links is a great way to thank me for the 20+ hours each week on the blog, for my efforts in getting out the BAA Bulletins, and for the countless e-mail questions that I answer each week. All are invited to do the same. 🙂
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the center of the bird’s breast active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Above you are looking at the optimized image.
Over-exposed American Robin
In the “Your Call and More” blog post here, I presented what seemed to be a badly over-exposed image of an American Robin. Most folks were confident that I would be able to salvage the image. The optimized image above shows that they were correct.
The Image Optimization
First eliminated the blinkies in DPP and then reduced the Brightness by two clicks to -.33 stops. As detailed in the DPP RAW Conversion Guide. In Photoshop a simple Curves adjustment brought the image to life. In addition, note also the elimination of several of the taller, ugly, weed-like stalks. Those repairs were done with the Patch Tool and the Clone Stamp Tool. As described in our in Digital Basics File, an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. It includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips including Digital Eye Doctor techniques, several different ways of expanding canvas, all of my time-saving Keyboard Shortcuts, and Layer Masking and NIK Color Efex Pro basics.
Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF on the central anther and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.
Iris flower #2
My Favorite Iris Who Image
In the recent “Iris Who?” post here, I asked folks to let us know which was their favorite of the four images and why. Iris flower #1 was the clear favorite. #s 2 and 3 got a few votes as well. #2 was my favorite for the soft yellow color palette and the sweet, out-of-focus green background.
BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #441
BAA Bulletin #441 is online and can be accessed here. There are 8 previously unpublished images each with its own legendary BAA educational caption.
The Holland 2014 A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART/Tulips & A Touch of Holland IPT
Tulips on the Blog
Last 2013 Short Notice, Dirt Cheap, In-the-Field Nickerson Beach Photographic Instruction with Arthur Morris
Japan in Winter
Thanks!
Affiliate Links
Used Camera Gear
IPT Info
Last 2013 Short Notice, Dirt Cheap, In-the-Field Nickerson Beach Photographic Instruction with Arthur Morris
June 7 (pm), June 8 (am & pm), 8 and possibly the morning of June 9. Afternoons with west wind can be great. Morning sessions run from 5am sharp-9:30 am. Afternoon sessions from 4pm til whenever. These are priced so low that you need to e-mail for the rates. Limit 5/session.
If you e-mail, please include all phone numbers. Payment in full due immediately via credit card after calling the office on a weekday: 863-221-2372. If you would like to join me, please get in touch via e-mail. Breeding American Oystercatcher (chicks likely) and Piping Plover (chicks possible). Common Tern and Black Skimmer/courtship behaviors. Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. Lots of flight photography when the wind is right. Learn digital exposure and creative image design. Learn to create pleasing blurs at 5am. As I will be living and photographing on Great Gull Island for a week from the afternoon of May 30 until the late afternoon of June 6 and may not have internet access, do sign up and be patient. You will hear from me via e-mail early on June 7th if not the previous evening.
Thanks!
Thanks a stack to the many who used our B&H link over the past 30 days; May was one of our best months ever. Using our B&H Affiliate Links is a great way to thank me for the 20+ hours each week on the blog, for my efforts in getting out the BAA Bulletins, and for the countless e-mail questions that I answer each week. All are invited to do the same. 🙂
Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
If you are considering an item for purchase or comparison shopping be sure to place an item in your cart to see the too-low-to show the actual price. In many cases the prices are so low that B&H is forbidden from publicizing them!
Support the Blog
Amazon
Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant. Support the blog by starting your search by typing in the little white box below. No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up. Why make it a habit? Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis.
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern. LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather…. Gitzo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here. Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head. Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash. The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here. BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
Urgent Notice: Denise Ippolito Program Tonight: New York City Sierra Club Photography Committee
Denise Ippolito will be presenting “Bloomin’ Ideas and Pleasing Blurs” at the New York City Sierra Club Photography Committee meeting tonight in Manhattan. She will cover techniques, both in-camera and Photoshop, for capturing beautiful flower images and creating pleasingly blurred flower and bird images.
The program is free and open to the public; click here for directions and complete details. The suggested donation is $6.00. If you are able to attend the program after seeing this notice be sure to go up to denise after the program and give her a BIRDS AS ART hug.
Learn everything that there is to know about creating pleasingly blurred images in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs, the e-Book that I co-wrote and co-illustrated with Denise Ippolito. You can learn more about this great guide by clicking here. And you can click here to see Denise’s killer Blur Galleries; be sure to click on several of the galleries as her creativity is pretty much unlimited.
The great e-Guide covers the basics of creating pleasingly blurred images, the factors that influence the degree of blurring, the use of filters in creating pleasing blurs, and a great variety of both in-the-field and Photoshop techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images. Denise and artie teach you many different ways to move your lens during the exposure to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images of flowers and trees and water and landscapes. They teach you to recognize situations where subject movement can be used to your advantage to create pan blurs, wind blurs, and moving water blurs. They teach you to create zoom-blurs both in the field and during post-processing. Artie shares the techniques that he has used and developed for making blurred images of flocks of geese in flight at his beloved Bosque del Apache and Denise shares her flower blur magic as well as a variety of creative Photoshop techniques that she has developed.
With the advent of digital capture, creating blurred images has become a great and inexpensive way to go out with your camera and have fun, and virtually every major photographic competition includes more than a few pleasing blurs as winning or honored images. And while many folks think that making successful blurred images is the result of being a sloppy photographer nothing could be further from the truth. In “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” Artie and Denise will help you to unleash your creative self.
