Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This Roseate Spoonbill image was created at Alafia Banks in Tampa Bay on a Hooptie Deux trip with the tripod-mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR AF lens (in stock!), the Nikon TC-14E II 1.4x Teleconverter for D-AF-S & AF-I Lenses ONLY, and the Nikon D-700 replaced by the Nikon D800 Digital SLR. ISO 640: 1/1600 sec.at f/8 in Manual mode. Image courtesy of and copyright 2013: James Shadle/Wild Florida Photography

Froggie

Froggie is Captain James Shadle, friend and my founding co-partner at BirdPhototogapher’s.Net (BPN). I forget how he got his nickname. Perhaps he will be kind enough to leave a comment here and let us know.

This Brown Pelican with nesting material was photographed at Alafia Banks in Tampa Bay on a Hooptie Deux trip with the tripod-mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR AF lens (in stock!), the Nikon TC-14E II 1.4x Teleconverter for D-AF-S & AF-I Lenses ONLY, and the Nikon D-700 replaced by the Nikon D800 Digital SLR. ISO 800: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. This was a vertical original. Image courtesy of and copyright 2013: James Shadle/Wild Florida Photography

Flight Photographer Extraordinaire

As you can see by the images here, Froggie is about as good a tripod-mounted flight and action photographer as there is, far more skilled than me. He uses Nikon gear and I use Canon gear. And though we also use different methods of determining the correct exposure it is uncanny, borderline amazing, that we wind up with the exact same exposure more than 90% of the time. Our settings are never more off by more than 1/3 stop.

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLRs & 35mm Film Cameras

This Osprey image was created on Tampa Bay with the hand held Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Telephoto Zoom lens and the Nikon D5200 Digital SLR. ISO 400: 1/1000 sec. at f/8. Image courtesy of and copyright 2013: James Shadle/Wild Florida Photography

Proof Positive

Regular readers have heard me say dozens of times that good photographers make good images with whatever gear they have in their hands. James created the killer Osprey image above with a lightweight budget-friendly rig that many would look down their noses at….

You can check out the Canon version of this inexpensive lens here.

This Roseate Spoonbill image was created at Alafia Banks in Tampa Bay on a Hooptie Deux trip with the tripod-mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR AF lens (in stock!) and the Nikon D-700 replaced by the Nikon D800 Digital SLR. ISO 800: 1/500 sec.at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Image courtesy of and copyright 2013: James Shadle/Wild Florida Photography

Your Favorite?

Which of Jame’s 4 images above is your favorite. And why?

Join Us

Do consider joining James and me next week on the 2nd Short Notice Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux/Roseate Spoonbill IPT. Details immediately below. Learn more about James here. Note: all of James images above were created on Hooptie Deux trips over the past few weeks. There will be two more in the next Bulletin.

Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT

The 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013/5 DAYS: $2399. Strict limit: six photographers/ openings 4. Early April can be superb at Alafia Banks. Early April is almost always superb at Fort DeSoto. Click here for complete details.

With only two registrants, this one is shaping up to be a practically private affair and represents an amazing opportunity for you to grow as a photographer. For more info on the complete IPT, click here.

Announcing Two Short Versions of the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill IPT

Can’t make the whole thing? Consider one of the two abbreviated versions below.

Short Version #1: Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill IPT/April 3-5, 2013/3 FULL DAYS: $1399. Strict limit: six photographers/Openings: 5.

Early April can be superb at Alafia Banks. Early April is almost always superb at Fort DeSoto.

Here is the structure and schedule: I will be leading all three days of this Short Version 3-DAY IPT. We will spend one full day on the Hooptie Deux, either Thursday or Friday. The first day and one of the next two full days will be at Fort Desoto where the Laughing Gulls will be in splendid breeding plumage with their full black hoods, their wine-red bills, and white eye crescents. They are one of our most under-appreciated species. The Royal, Sandwich, and Forster’s Terns will also be in breeding plumage. And all of these species will be displaying, courting, and mating. You can also expect a variety of wading birds, especially Reddish Egret, and a variety of shorebirds including Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Dunlin, American Oystercatcher, and many more. And you will need to beat the Willets off with a stick. The additional possibilities are too numerous to mention.

As above, we will spend a full day on the Hooptie Deux with James Shadle on either Thursday or Friday depending on the weather. The morning will be at Alafia Banks with spoonbill as the main target species. There will be lots of great flight photography not only with spoonbills, many of which will be in full breeding plumage, but with Brown Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants, Reddish Egret and White Ibis in full breeding plumage, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Turkey and Black Vultures, and lots more. The afternoon Hooptie trip will be at one of several fresh water heronries. James will trailer his customized pontoon boat to the best rookery. Subjects, depending on location, will likely include Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Black-crowned Night-heron, and Double-crested Cormorant. All nesting and in flight. Most but not all of the photography on a boat trip to the Banks with James is done while standing in the water with your tripod. James has lightweight chest waders and surf booties on board for all at no charge. Folks who wish to keep their expensive Gitzo tripods saltwater free often opt to use Drypods. Learn more here.

Short Version #2: With James Shadle/Roseate Spoonbill/Osprey IPT/April 6-7, 2013/2 FULL DAYS: $899. Strict limit: six photographers/Openings: 5.

Saturday and Sunday with James Shadle will feature a morning on the Hooptie Deux at Alafia Banks and one or more sessions at Honeymoon Island State Park where many dozens of pairs of Osprey are nesting. There will of course be lots of flight photography. Depending on the winds and weather there may be an afternoon session at a Wood Stork rookery or some local beaches that James knows well. All subject to change depending on the weather including wind and sky conditions as well as local conditions. James has an intimate knowledge of each location and has visited them regularly for many years.

Deposit Info

A $500 deposit is needed to hold your spot; call Jim or Jennifer asap at 1-863-692-0906. Your deposit may be placed with a credit card. Your payment in full by personal check will then be due along with your completed paperwork both sent via US Mail. Please print, read, and sign the release form here and include it with your check. If you would rather pay in full via personal check, please call or e-mail immediately to save your spot. With one registrant, both of these will run. Yeah, I know that it might seem nuts but neither James nor I can live with telling folks who have arranged to take time off from work and made travel plans that we are cancelling a trip because we will not be making enough money to justify running it…. Please e-mail with questions or for additional details.

This image was created while seated behind the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed : 1/2000 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. The sun had gotten a lot brighter here. One sensor right of central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the base of the bird’s bill 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 Best Out-of-Camera Image

In the March 26th blog post, “Poor Conditions/Great Photography: New Concept 10 Out-of Camera Images,” I wrote, “My strong belief is that one of the ten images above clearly stands out as the best of the morning. Which is it? And why?”

My clear choice as the best image of the ten presented is the American Osytercatcher with the still unknown prey item. Brian Small left a comment that echoed my feelings accurately. He wrote, “O.K., I’ll join in just for fun. Far and away the feeding oystercatcher is the best image of the 10. Other than the scratching godwit it’s the only image with action. All the others while nice, are simple portraits and are pretty similar to each other (headshot or not). The oystercatcher depicts a real “natural history” moment showing feeding behavior along with the birds choice of prey item. It also shows most of the birds legs whereas the scratching godwit is in deeper water which is less desirable IMHO. The oystercatcher is more colorful and a bit more interesting to my eye. Finally, the open bill of the oystercatcher gives the bird a more lively, expressive look that none of the others show. My two cents–take it for what it’s worth.”

Thanks to all who commented.

Note: when working with the RAW file it was evident that the blue material was in fact cutting into the bird’s leg.

Image optimization was straightforward. A Quick Mask fine-tuned with a Layer Mask was used to cover the fine blue string or whatever it was on the bird’s leg, NIK Color Efex Pro’s Detail Extractor was applied judiciously (20%) only to the black hood and the bright white feathers. A 15% Linear Burn toned down the light flesh-colored legs and some Eye Doctor work put the finishing touches on a fine image. I almost forgot: the one bit of fancy stepping was using my Selective Color trick to tone down the bird’s red bill. This bird, one of a pair, has been both dependable and tame.

All of the above as detailed in Digital Basics that includes my complete digital workflow, all of my time-saving Keyboard Shortcuts, Quick Masking, Layer Masking, and NIK Color Efex Pro basics, and dozens of great Photoshop tips. You can learn the advanced Quick Masking techniques that I used here in APTATS I and learn advanced Layer Masking in APTATS II.

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. 🙂

This Double-crested Cormorant head portrait was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/8 in Manual Mode. Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on base of the bird’s bill active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. You cannot beat the 600II/2XIII TC combo for reach (with phase detection AF).

Poor Conditions/Great Photography

Fort Desoto this morning. Cold. Blustery winds from the north increasing in velocity and switching to the northwest. Mixed sun and clouds. That was the weather not the forecast. I knew just where the birds would be and went directly there. Created 410 images. Kept 43. Processed none so far…. See more on that below.

This Marbled Godwit with American Oystercatcher in the background image was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed was a bit of an underexposure as the sun slipped behind a cloud: 1/640 sec. at f/8 in Manual Mode. Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on base of the bird’s upper 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. You cannot beat the 600II/2XIII TC combo for reach (with phase detection AF).

New Concept 10 Out-of Camera Images Blog Post

As I need to get this posted soon in hopes of having one or two folks join me in the morning I decided to post ten unprocessed images here. Each was created via my JPEG action from the extracted JPEG. With the image above I am not crazy about the position of the oystercatcher but I love the ruffled feathers of the godwit.

This image was created while seated behind the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop as framed in soft light: 1/1250 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s upper 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.

Scratching Birds

When photographing scratching birds always opt for more shutter speed and less depth of field to ensure stopping the action.

This image was created while seated behind the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed in soft light: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s upper 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.

Manual Mode Exposure Lesson

This image was made moments after the scratching Marbled Godwit image immediately above. As this Laughing Gull has bright white on it’s breast I simply went two clicks higher on the shutter speed to make sure that I did not burn the highlights.

This image was also created while seated behind the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Back to the godwit exposure: Evaluative metering +2/3 stop as framed in soft light: 1/1250 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the side of the bird’s lower neck active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Lots of Missed Lessons & A Question

There was a disjointed group of about 10 Brits who came to enjoy warm and sunny Florida. Not…. On the whole they had pretty good gear for Brits: mostly 300 f/2.8s and a 500 or two. But most of them had no clue. I had to shout out to two of them who were about to walk right through the middle of the flock. They kindly detoured. Their biggest mistakes: working well off sun angle. Failing to get as close as they could have.

All those who did not join me this morning missed a great learning opportunity as the light was changing from minute to minute…. Most of the morning was about getting low and isolating the subject.

How will I deal with the white reflection in the upper left corner during post processing?

This image was created while seated behind the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. The sun brightened a bit/Evaluative metering +2/3 stop worked out to 1/600 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the edge 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.

The Good and the Bad

I love the bird’s super-alert posture just before the flock took flight. What do I not like about this image?

This image was created while seated behind the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed : 1/2000 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. The sun had gotten a lot brighter here. One sensor right of central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the base of the bird’s bill active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Miscellaneous Stuff

Not sure what the prey item here was but both the godwits and the oystercatchers were chowing down on them. Any clues?

Images like this are much more possible with the amazing frame rate of the 1D X. Unlike most other cameras that I have used, the frame rate does not seem to slow down when you are in AI Servo AF….

This image was created while lying flat on the ground behind the tripod-mounted (legs fully splayed) Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Four sensors to the right of the central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s lower neck active at the moment of exposure was needed to fit the bird into the frame. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Standard ISO 400/Bright White/Full Sun Exposure.

1/2000 sec. at f/8 is my standard ISO 400/bright white/full sun exposure. On some clear mornings you may need to go to 1/2500 sec. at f/8. Rarely darker. It is always your responsibililty to check for blinkies.

This sleeping Royal Tern head portrait was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed: 1/2000 sec. at f/9 in Manual Mode. Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on base of the bird’s bill active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. You cannot beat the 600II/2XIII TC combo for reach (with phase detection AF).

Super Bright Whites

Here I made one image at 1/2000 sec. at f/8, checked for blinkies, and saw that I needed to go 1/3 stop darker. So I did.

This tight Marbled Godwit head portrait was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +q q/3 stops: 1/200 sec. at f/11 in Manual Mode. Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on base of the bird’s bill one inch from the head active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. You cannot beat the 600II/2XIII TC combo for reach (with phase detection AF).

Changing Light

Two minutes after I needed my super bright white exposure a big cloud came over the sun so I went to +1 1/3 as framed. I went to f/11 as depth of field at point blank range is measured in tiny fractions of an inch if that.

Which is the Best Image Here?

My strong belief is that one of the ten images above clearly stands out as the best of the morning. Which is it? And why?

Though these were my ten favorite images from the morning please note that all of the exposures are pretty darned good right out of camera and that only one or two require anything fancy in Photoshop.

Tomorrow Morning

Imagine how much you could learn if you are able to join me in the morning. See here for up to the minute 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.

Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT

The 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013/5 DAYS: $2399. Strict limit: six photographers/ openings 5. Early April can be superb at Alafia Banks. Early April is almost always superb at Fort DeSoto. Click here for complete details.

With only a single registrant, this one is shaping up to be a practically private affair and represents an amazing opportunity for you to grow as a photographer.

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. 🙂

This image was created at Indian Lake Estates on the morning that the IPT group made the early trip from Fort Desoto to my home. I used the hand held Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed in soft light: 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode confirmed in advance via histogram check. IS Mode 1. Left knee as tripod. 61-Point/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure performed perfectly. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. Learn everything that I know about the great AF system of the 1D X in our 1D X AF Guide here. Learn how and why I am converting all of my images in Canon DPP (Digital Photo Professional) in our DPP RAW Conversion Guide here.

The Image Optimization

In the image above, the rear end of the adult standing nearby appears in the upper right corner. As you can see by looking at the BreezeBrowser Screen capture below, the adult’s rear end was fairly sharp in the original capture. To soften it I painted a Quick Mask of the rear end, put it on its own layer (Control J), and applied a 30 pixel Gaussian Blur. Other than that just the usual 50/50 NIK Color Efex Pro stuff (Tonal Contrast and Detail Extractor) at 25% opacity, a tiny bit of Eye Doctor work, and sharpening of the face and upper neck with a 15/65/) Contrast Mask.

All of the above as detailed in Digital Basics that includes my complete digital workflow, all of my time-saving Keyboard Shortcuts, Quick Masking, Layer Masking, and NIK Color Efex Pro basics, and dozens of great Photoshop tips.

61-Point AF

Above is the BreezeBrowser Main View screen capture for the opening image. The illuminated red squares on the bird’s neck indicates that AF sensors that were active at the moment of exposure. 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.

Note also the sharpness of the adult’s rear end.

Only when using 61-Point AF will more than a single AF point be illuminated. The trick with 61-point is to know exactly when to use it. There have been lots of great examples of when in various blog posts over the past six months. For the whole story in a neat package see our 1D X AF Guide or the 5D Mark III User’s Guide. All of my 1D X and 5D Mark III images are converted in Canon’s Digital Photo Professional. See our DPP RAW Conversion Guide to learn why and how.

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.

This image was also created at Indian Lake Estates on the morning that the IPT group made the early trip from Fort Desoto to my home, just moments after the opening image in this blog post. Again I used the hand held Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed in soft light: 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode confirmed in advance via histogram check. IS Mode 1. Left knee as tripod. 61-Point/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure performed perfectly. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. Learn everything that I know about the great AF system of the 1D X in our 1D X AF Guide here. Learn how and why I am converting all of my images in Canon DPP (Digital Photo Professional) in our DPP RAW Conversion Guide here.

Like the Rear End or Not?

Take a moment to leave a comment and let us know which image you like best and why. If there is something additional that you like about one image or the other, be sure to let us know that too. I am assuming that nobody prefers the original capture with the sharp rear end but if you do feel free to chime in.

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.

Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT

The 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013/5 DAYS: $2399. Strict limit: six photographers/ openings 5. Early April can be superb at Alafia Banks. Early April is almost always superb at Fort DeSoto. Click here for complete details.

With only a single registrant, this one is shaping up to be a practically private affair and represents an amazing opportunity for you to grow as a photographer.

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. 🙂

This Turkey Vulture was photographed at Indian Lake Estates with the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed: 1/1000 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode left the bill tip with a very few blinkies. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s neck active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. As it almost always is when I am working from the car the lens was supported on the lowered window of my Sequoia on a BLUBB, the Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag that I designed myself. It is available only from BAA. See the BLUBB and learn more here. Beware of cheap knock-offs; all are seriously lacking in size, heft, and quality materials. None have the non-skid material on the inside of the ears and none have the noise-less fabric top.

The Challenge

In the comments at the “Comparing the Canon 500mm f/4L IS II and the Canon 600mm f/4L IS II” blog post of March 2, 2013, Ken Clear wrote, “I would like to see a comparison of the 600 and the 500 with the same type of shots.”

I have been heading down to the lake most mornings with Ken’s request in mind but as birds generally do not stay put in the same place for long the task was a difficult one. Yesterday this Turkey Vulture was picking at a really dead and desiccated fish in the sand pit. I created the image above with the 600 II and the 1D X, grabbed the 500 II with the 5D III (also full frame), and made the similar image that I needed for this blog post.

This image of the same bird was created less than a minute after the image above was created, this one with the Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. ISO 400. Exposure set 1/3 stop darker than as above because to avoid the blinkies on the bill tip: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s neck and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. As it almost always is when I am working from the car the lens was supported on the lowered window of my Sequoia on a BLUBB, the Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag that I designed myself. It is available only from BAA. See the BLUBB and learn more here. Beware of cheap knock-offs; all are seriously lacking in size, heft, and quality materials. None have the non-skid material on the inside of the ears and none have the noise-less fabric top.

The Comparison

For a direct comparison of subject size with a 600mm focal length and subject size with the 500mm focal length check out the animated GIF below.

The Size of the Subject in the Frame is Directly Proportional to the Square of the Focal Length: A Practical Example

The animated GIF above should give most a clear understanding of the major benefit of choosing the longer focal length when considering the 600 II vs. the 500 II. As noted before, here is the math: since the size of the subject in the frame is a function of the square of the focal length, a subject that fills 25% (5X5) of the frame in an image created with a 500mm lens will fill 36% (6X6) of the frame if photographed with a 600mm lens from the same distance. The huge advantage here goes to the 600 II as it renders the subject 44% larger in the frame than the 500 II.

If you need the reach the 600 II is obviously the way to go. But before you plunk down your credit card, be sure to give the original comparison post a very careful read.

Please

If reading this article or the original blog post here please consider clicking on one of the two logo links below and making your purchase using our B&H affiliate link. Doing so helps to support my bringing you the free educational information that so many enjoy here on a daily basis.

Please also remember to purchase the needed accessories including tripods, tripod heads, LensCoats, and plates from the BAA Store.

This image of the same Turkey Vulture photographed from the exact same spot was created with the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 400: 1/400 sec. at f/11 in Manual Mode. Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s face and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. You cannot beat the 600II/2XIII TC combo for reach (with phase detection AF).

Just for the Record Book

I included the image above to give you an idea of the advantage of becoming competent when using the 2X III TC with an f/4 super-telephoto lens. Note that I went to f/11 to ensure sufficient depth-of-field and that I needed to focus on the bird’s face and then re-compose. Had the central sensor been active at the moment of exposure focus would have been on the nearest part of the folded wing and the bird’s face and eye would not have been rendered sharply even at f/11. Depth-of-field in situations like this is measured in tiny fractions of an inch.

Again, the lens was supported on the lowered window of my Sequoia on a BLUBB, the Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag that I designed myself. It is available only from BAA. See the BLUBB and learn more here. Beware of cheap knock-offs; all are seriously lacking in size, heft, and quality materials. None have the non-skid material on the inside of the ears and none have the noise-less fabric top. If you have trouble creating sharp images with or without a TC see the section on Advanced Sharpness Techniques beginning on page 460 of the Spreads for Easy Viewing version of ABP II.

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.

Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT

The 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013/5 DAYS: $2399. Strict limit: six photographers/ openings 5. Early April can be superb at Alafia Banks. Early April is almost always superb at Fort DeSoto. Click here for complete details.

With only a single registrant, this one is shaping up to be a practically private affair and represents an amazing opportunity for you to grow as a photographer.

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. 🙂

Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT

The 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013/5 DAYS: $2399. Strict limit: six photographers/ openings 5. Early April can be superb at Alafia Banks. Early April is almost always superb at Fort DeSoto. Click here for complete details.

With only a single registrant, this one is shaping up to be a practically private affair and represents an amazing opportunity for you to grow as a photographer.

This seemingly well-over-exposed image of a Great Blue Heron carrying nesting material was created at Alafia Banks on the recently concluded Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 3200. Evaluative metering +3+ stops: 1/200 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Cick here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.

Go Figure…

Sometimes, everything is wrong. I had been photographing some baby Double-crested Cormorants in the nest when I saw a Great Blue Heron flying in carrying nesting material. Not thinking too clearly, I raised the ISO to 3200, focused, and fired off a single frame. As I was in Manual mode this would not of course have given me any additional shutter speed. As I said, I was not thinking clearly.

Once you saw the image above on the back of the camera and note that the shutter speed was only 1/200 sec. would you have deleted it?

Here are some commonly accepted “truths:”

1-Flight photography with an f/4 super-telephoto and a 2X TC is impossible; this combo does not focus fast enough for flight photography.

2-At the very least, you need a shutter speed of at least 1/500 sec. to create a sharp flight image. Heck, when folks ask me what my minimum shutter speed for flight photography is, I always answer “1/500 sec.”

3-If the entire sky is flashing over-exposed–see the screen capture below, you will not be able to salvage the image. Heck, I have been preaching for years that you need to avoid having the entire sky flashing as well over-exposed…. (See the BreezeBrowser screen capture immediately below.)

BreezeBrowser Main View Screen Capture

Above is an animated GIF that represents the BreezeBrowser Main View screen capture for the image. Note the flashing highlights. The illuminated red square shows that the central sensor was not even on the bird at the moment of exposure. That’s why we recommend AF Expand whenever you are using the 2X III TC. By choosing Expand as my AF Area Selection Mode four of the surrounding sensors are active. Here, the sensor just above the central sensor obviously saved the day. 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. Hit Alt M to see Highlight Alert.

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.

This is the optimized image. It was created at Alafia Banks on the recently concluded Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 3200. Evaluative metering +3+ stops: 1/200 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Cick here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. We will get to photograph a great variety of breeding behaviors on the 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT. See the brief notice at the top of this blog post or click here for details.

The Optimized Image

Once I saw the image in BreezeBrowser I realized that it was actually sharp despite the 1/200 sec. shutter speed so I decided to convert it in DPP and play with it. I was quite surprised to come up with a decent, sale-able image. Go figure….

Sometimes when everything seems to be wrong, you can end up smelling like a rose. Especially with digital capture.

The Lesson

In ABP II I wrote something like this, “When unexpected action occurs; push the shutter button.” If you wait for everything including all of your settings to be perfect, you will never push the button. And therefore, you will never make any images. As we see here, when you push the shutter button, at least you have a chance even when it seems that everything has gone wrong.

Image Optimization

First I darkened the image during conversion in DPP. (See our DPP RAW Conversion Guide here.) Then it was some Curves and some Eye Doctor work in Photoshop followed by a layer of NIK Color Efex Pro/Tonal Contrast work. All as detailed in Digital Basics that includes my complete digital workflow, ACR conversion tips, all of my Keyboard shortcuts, dozens of great Photoshop tips, NIK Color Efex Pro tips, and free updates.

NIK 15% Discount

NIK Color Efex Pro was used on each of the optimized images above. As regular readers know, it has drastically changed my digital workflow and little by little I have begun using Viveza to solve more than a few sticky image optimization problems and Silver Efex Pro for fast, dramatic B&W conversions. You can save 15% on all NIK products (including Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, and Viveza) by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code box at check-out. Then hit Apply to see your savings. You can download a trial copy that will work for 15 days and allow you to create full sized images.

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. 🙂

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 made on March 8 at Fort Desoto on the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital Camera (Body Only). ISO 400; 1/4000 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode was a slight underexposure. Rig supported by my left knee-pod. One sensor above the central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s neck active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.

Proper Hand Holding Technique

Above is a BreezeBrowser Main View screen capture. The illuminated red square on the bird’s neck indicates that AF was active at the moment of exposure. 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.

This is a roughly 100% unsharpened tight crop of the head of the bird in the screen capture above. The sharpness is satisfactory.

Doing Things Right

When you do things correctly the resulting image is sharp. With AF active at the moment of exposure while working in AI Servo as I always do with rear focus, the system maintains accurate focus even if the bird moves its head or, even if the photographer, that would be me, shifts position even slightly.

Behavior Note

If a bird that you are photographing stretches its far wing it is pretty much a given that it will stretch its near wing within the next few minutes. Knowing that I was excited….

This image was made on March 8 at Fort Desoto on the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT minutes after the image above was created, both of course with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital Camera (Body Only). ISO 400: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was a slight underexposure. Rig supported by my left knee-pod. Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s eye and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.

Doing Things Wrong

Note in the Breezebrowser screen capture above that no focus points were active at the moment of exposure. Had one or more been active, it/they would have been illuminated in red.

This is a roughly 100% unsharpened tight crop of the head of the bird in the screen capture above. The sharpness is quite unsatisfactory.

What Happened?

What happened was that in my excitement, while recomposing, I shifted position enough to throw off accurate focus. Remember, for the second image AF was not active at the moment of exposure.

The Lesson

When hand holding, it is best to have AI Servo AF active at the moment of exposure with the active sensor on the bird’s eye, face, or neck. Doing so will ensure the creation of a sharp image. If that is not possible it is imperative that neither you nor the subject move after focusing. All of the above is true whether you are using Rear Focus or using the shutter button for AF.

The 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013/5 DAYS: $2399. Strict limit: six photographers/ openings 5.

Early April can be superb at Alafia Banks. Early April is almost always superb at Fort DeSoto. Click here for complete details.

EOS-5D Mark III User’s Guide

In the EOS-5D Mark III User’s Guide You can learn everything that I know about the following important topics: 5D III exposure fine points, handling the WHITEs, the top LCD and all camera control buttons, 5D Mark III drive modes, how to manually select an AF sensor, choosing an AF Area Selection Mode, and Menu Item access. Coverage of almost all Menu Items and Custom Functions including: Image Quality, Auto Lighting Optimizer, Highlight Tone Priority, AF Configuration Tool (includes details on the custom Case 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.Plus detailed instructions on how to set up for both in-camera HDR and in-camera multiple exposures.

The guide is–of course–written in my informal, easy-to-follow style. Learn more or purchase 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. 🙂

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 Brown Pelican image was also created on the Hooptie Deux with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 2/3 stops off the white sky: 1/1250 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. I simply opened up 1/3 stop from the exposure that I was using at the time for the spoonbills. It is not uncommon to see a pelican landing at the nests with its bill pouch distended as seen in this image. I am unsure as to why they do that. I have never seen this behavior away from a breeding colony. 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 to see a larger version.

Image Optimization Revelations

In the March 12, 2013 blog post, How are Your Eagle Eyes?, I asked that folks let us know if they saw any evidence of Photoshop work, extensive or otherwise. As you can see by looking at the JPEG that represents the original capture below, the optimized image above is pretty much as it came out of the camera but for the crop and a bit of Levels, Contrast, and Color work. I did use NIK Color Efex Pro’s Detail Extractor to bring up the density on the pelican’s crown.

The unsharpened JPEG here represents the original RAW capture after being converted in DPP.

The Mangroves in the Corner

Note that the mangroves in the lower right corner were not, as some folks surmised, messed with in any way.

This Roseate Spoonbill flight image was created on the Hooptie Deux with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 1/3 stops off the white sky: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. Exposure previously confirmed via histogram check. 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 to see a larger version.

The Spoonbill Image

There was, on the other hand, extensive work done on the original capture here. The optimized image that appeared in the original post is above. See more below.

The unsharpened, uncropped JPEG here represents is the original capture after being converted in DPP.

The Closed Eye

It is obvious here that the spoonbill’s eye was closed. This happens often with the best flight pose in a sequence.

The Solution

I painted a Quick Mask of the sharp eye and the base of the bill from the next frame in the sequence(see same below), used the Move Tool (V) to bring it into the original image, reduced the Opacity of the layer, and carefully position and transformed the eye using the Transform and Warp commands. The “good” eye had the pupil well back so I did some Eye Doctor work, first with the Clone Stamp Tool and then with a Quick Mask, to center it.

This is the next frame in the sequence. The cropped, sharpened JPEG above represents the the RAW capture after being converted in DPP. If you click on the image to see the larger version, you will note that though the eye is open the lid is partially closed and thus the pupil is centered in the back of the eye. Thus the need for the Eye Doctor work described above.

Digital Basics, APTATS I, AND APTATS II

Digital Basics details Eye Doctor techniques, my complete Digital Workflow, all of my keyboard shortcuts, and dozens of great Photoshop tips. APTATS I covers advanced Quick Masking and APTATS II was responsible for me finally understanding how to use both Regular and Hide-all Layer Masks.

NIK 15% Discount

NIK Color Efex Pro was used on each of the optimized images above. As regular readers know, it has drastically changed my digital workflow and little by little I have begun using Viveza to solve more than a few sticky image optimization problems and Silver Efex Pro for fast, dramatic B&W conversions. You can save 15% on all NIK products (including Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, and Viveza) by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code box at check-out. Then hit Apply to see your savings. You can download a trial copy that will work for 15 days and allow you to create full sized images.

The Gull Wingstretch Image

The third image in the March 12, 2013 blog post, How are Your Eagle Eyes?, underwent the most radical post-processing of the three. The work done there along with a very important hand holding lesson will be featured in a blog post soon.

BAA Bulletin #434

BAA Bulletin #434 is on-line now. It can be accessed here.

• Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT Report
• Announcing the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013
• TPPA Convention Keynote
• Swan Island Dahlia Farm Instructional Photo-Tour
• Used Camera Gear Including Some New Items
• Posse News: Robert Amoruso
• Posse News: Jim Neiger
• IPT Info

Seriously Huge B&H Savings on Nikon and Canon Gear

Nikon

For the first time in many years NIKON is going to be deeply discounting many legacy pro lenses individually for the next 2 weeks only with discounts up to $350. There are also many amazing deals on NIKON Buy together and Save packages as well. Click here to save.

Nikon DSLRS Bundles with Lenses & Flash: Save up to $750. Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.

Canon Lenses & Speedlites: Save Up to $300

Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.

Canon Buy Together & Save: Save Up to $400

Click here to save.

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. 🙂

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 Roseate Spoonbill flight image was created on the Hooptie Deux with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 1/3 stops off the white sky: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. Exposure previously confirmed via histogram check. 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 to see a larger version.

How are Your Eagle Eyes?

Please take a close look at each of the three images here by clicking on them to see the larger version. Let us know if you see any evidence of Photoshop work, extensive or otherwise. Right now, I ain’t saying.

This Brown Pelican image was also created on the Hooptie Deux with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2 2/3 stops off the white sky: 1/1250 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. I simply opened up 1/3 stop from the exposure that I was using at the time for the spoonbills. It is not uncommon to see a pelican landing at the nests with its bill pouch distended as seen in this image. I am unsure as to why they do that. I have never seen this behavior away from a breeding colony. 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 to see a larger version.

The Hooptie Deux

All of the images here was created on the just-concluded Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short notice IPT. We spent three mornings on the Hooptie Deux with my friend Captain James Shadle (aka FROGGIE). James has been taking small groups of photographers out to Alafia Banks for about a decade to photograph the Roseate Spoonbills and the several other species that breed there. The Hooptie Deux is a pontoon boat that has been customized and recently upgraded for photography. Most but not all of the photography on a boat trip to the banks with James is done while standing in the water with your tripod. Some folks have shown up with their Sunday-best Air Jordans…. James does have lightweight chest waders and surf booties on board for all at no charge. Folks who wish to keep their expensive Gitzo tripods saltwater free often opt to use Drypods. Learn more here. In addition James trailers the boat to one of several fresh water breeding bird rookeries in west-central Florida. Subjects on these trips include Wood Stork, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Black-crowned Night-heron, and many more.

There simply is no better place in Florida (and possibly in North America) to photograph spoonbills than Alafia Banks. If you have any questions, or would like to join James for either a full or half-day, try contacting him as follows: by cell phone at 813-363-2854 or via e-mail. Best would be to get a small group together to cut costs. James always has a lot on his plate. If you do not hear back from him in a day or three please shoot me an e-mail and I will get on his case. Not to worry: I am serious.

This image was made on March 8 at Fort Desoto on the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital Camera (Body Only). ISO 400; 1/2000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode was a slight underexposure. Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s eye and recompose. Lots more on that in a future blog post soon. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.

Fort Desoto Site Guide

There have been some major changes at Fort Desoto. Most of them are good. I will, therefore, be updating the Fort Desoto Site Guide quite soon. Learn more about this great guide here. You can check out all of our Site Guides by clicking here.

Your Favorite?

Please take a moment to let us know which of the three images here is your favorite. And let us know why.

IPT Opportunities

Click here to see the current schedule and IPT openings.

Highlights include a single opening on the next Bear Boat IPT, two slots left on this summer’s killer Galapagos trip, and lots of room on the Tanzania Photo-Safari.

Bear Boat/Bears Catching Salmon IPT: September 2-9, 2013 from Kodiak, AK: $6699.

Happy campers only! Maximum 6 + two leaders: Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito. Openings: 1.

GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience. July 2-16, 2013 on the boat.

13 FULL and two 1/2 days of photography: $12,749. Co-leader: Denise Ippolito. Limit 14 including the leaders/Openings: 2.

Africa/Tanzania/Serengeti Summer Migration Safari: 12 full and two half-days of photography: $12,999/person double occupancy. Limit: 12/Openings: 7.

Leaders: Todd Gustafson and Arthur Morris. Leave the US AUG 3, 2013. Fly home from Arusha, Tanzania on the evening of August 18. Day 1 of the safari is August 5. Our last morning of photography is August 18. We will be visiting Tarangire National Park, Seronera Lodge–aka Leopard City!–twice, an exclusive mobile tented camp in the Serengeti, and at the end, the spectacular wildlife spectacle that is Ngorongoro Crater. Please e-mail for itinerary.

Nickerson Baby Beach-nesting Birds IPT: July 23-25, 2013: $1099. Introductory slide program: Monday, July 22, 2013. Limit 12/Openings: 3. Co-leader: Denise Ippolito.

Again, please click here for additional info and additional IPTs.

Seriously Huge B&H Savings on Nikon and Canon Gear

Nikon

For the first time in many years NIKON is going to be deeply discounting many legacy pro lenses individually for the next 2 weeks only with discounts up to $350. There are also many amazing deals on NIKON Buy together and Save packages as well. Click here to save.

Nikon DSLRS Bundles with Lenses & Flash: Save up to $750. Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.

Canon Lenses & Speedlites: Save Up to $300

Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.

Canon Buy Together & Save: Save Up to $400

Click here to save.

EOS-1D X AF Guide

You can learn exactly how I set up and use this camera’s great new AF system in our EOS-1D X AF Guide. And you can learn about our other camera User’s Guides here.
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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. 🙂

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 back on February 25 on the Monday Ft. Desoto In-the-Field Workshop with the tripod-mounted Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/13 in Manual mode confirmed in advance via histogram check. Two sensors up from the 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.

A Yellow Legged Gull, actually a gull with yellow legs….

When I first saw the gull above, I was somewhat mystified. It looked perfect for Herring Gull only it had yellowish not pink legs. I knew that there was a race of Herring Gull in Europe with yellow legs and I thought that there might be a different species, Yellow-legged Gull. So I send the photo to several friends, Kevin Karlson, Richard Crossley, and Julian Hough. Each agreed that it was a Herring Gull with yellow legs. Kevin referred me to his friend, a top of the food chain gull expert, Micheal Brothers. Michael works at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Fl.

Micheal kindly responded:

“It is a Herring Gull. In spring, some Herring Gulls get a flush of yellow in the legs. Note that the webbing in between the toes is still pink. Yellow-legged Gulls have an orange-red eye-ring, rather than the yellow-orange eye-ring you have so beautifully photographed here. They also have a slightly darker mantle and also a flatter crown. If it had a darker mantle, I would have suggested that it might be a Herring Gull x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid. However, those birds have a distinctly darker mantle and an orange-red eye-ring.” Best wishes, Michael

This tight head portrait of the gull in the image above was created on the same day with the tripod-mounted Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/13 in Manual mode confirmed in advance via histogram check. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/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. The 500 makes a great super-telephoto when you are working with relatively tame birds and wish to go light.

A 30-Year First

In the image above you can see the yellow-orange eye-ring that Michael referred to. For the many non-birders here. Herring Gull is the common gull of the northeast where I lived for 46 years. Yellow-legged Gull would be an extreme rarity. That said, in 37 years of birding and 30 years of photography I had never seen a Herring Gull with yellow or yellowish legs.

As an aside, I love gulls. I love the challenged of identifying and ageing them. I love their beauty and their behavior. And for you beginning photographers, they make great practice subjects.

This image was on March 8 on the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital Camera (Body Only). ISO 400; 1/1600 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode confirmed in advance via histogram check. Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s neck active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.

Finally a Side View

When I first saw the Herring Gull with a blush of yellow in the leg color, I was not able to create a field guide type portrait as the wind was lined up directly at the sun so the bird was almost always facing us. I was delighted to see what I assumed to be the same bird on the big sand bar at North Beach yesterday. With the wind square to the sun creating the image above was a snap. Not that AF was active at the moment of exposure. This will be a small point of major importance that will be covered in detail in the next blog post that features this wonderful bird.

IPT Opportunities

Click here to see the current schedule and IPT openings.

Highlights include a single opening on the next Bear Boat IPT, two slots left on this summer’s killer Galapagos trip, and lots of room on the Tanzania Photo-Safari.

Bear Boat/Bears Catching Salmon IPT: September 2-9, 2013 from Kodiak, AK: $6699.

Happy campers only! Maximum 6 + two leaders: Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito. Openings: 1.

GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience. July 2-16, 2013 on the boat.

13 FULL and two 1/2 days of photography: $12,749. Co-leader: Denise Ippolito. Limit 14 including the leaders/Openings: 2.

Africa/Tanzania/Serengeti Summer Migration Safari: 12 full and two half-days of photography: $12,999/person double occupancy. Limit: 12/Openings: 7.

Leaders: Todd Gustafson and Arthur Morris. Leave the US AUG 3, 2013. Fly home from Arusha, Tanzania on the evening of August 18. Day 1 of the safari is August 5. Our last morning of photography is August 18. We will be visiting Tarangire National Park, Seronera Lodge–aka Leopard City!–twice, an exclusive mobile tented camp in the Serengeti, and at the end, the spectacular wildlife spectacle that is Ngorongoro Crater. Please e-mail for itinerary.

Again, please click here for additional info and additional IPTs.

Seriously Huge B&H Savings on Nikon and Canon Gear

Nikon

For the first time in many years NIKON is going to be deeply discounting many legacy pro lenses individually for the next 2 weeks only with discounts up to $350. There are also many amazing deals on NIKON Buy together and Save packages as well. Click here to save.

Nikon DSLRS Bundles with Lenses & Flash: Save up to $750. Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.

Canon Lenses & Speedlites: Save Up to $300

Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.

Canon Buy Together & Save: Save Up to $400

Click here to save.

EOS-1D X AF Guide

You can learn exactly how I set up and use this camera’s great new AF system in our EOS-1D X AF Guide. And you can learn about our other camera User’s Guides 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. 🙂

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.

Want Spoonbills?

We still have room for one more photographer on James Shadle’s customized pontoon boat, the Hooptie Deux on the mornings of March 8-10, Friday through Sunday. If you would like to explore the possibility of joining us for a morning on the Hooptie Deux please e-mail me asap.

This tight face portrait of a pretty spiffy looking White Ibis was created on the first morning of the Fort DeSoto/Hooptie Deux/Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/800 sec. at f/11 in Manual mode confirmed in via histogram check. This was 1/3 stop lighter than my standard bright white/ISO 400 exposure in full sun of 1/2000 sec. at f/8. Why? We had a very faint haze over the sun. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF on the eye and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. The 500 makes a great super-telephoto when you are working with relatively tame birds and wish to go light.

Impossible Conditions?

Forty-eight degrees. Twenty-five mile per hour northwest winds. These were the pretty much impossible conditions that we faced at Fort Desoto on the first morning of the Fort DeSoto/Hooptie Deux/Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT. At 7am we were blessed with some cloud cover but things did not look good. By 8am it was clear as a bell and with wind against sun conditions things were looking pretty dismal. We had photographed three sorry looking Laughing Gulls hunkered down on the edge of the Gulf surf while it was still cloudy and then did some Royal Terns and a hauled out Double-created Cormorant. I had suggested trying the only spot where the birds could find shelter from the wind. There was a fairly big group of White Ibis there right along the shoreline but even then things seemed impossible as they were tight against the mangroves and the backgrounds were horrific. The light was still nice and there was one hope.

I did not think that we had a chance to get five folks really close but the previously stifling wind became our ally; within a few minutes and after some careful coaching we have everyone tight to the birds and on sun angle. We needed to choose our perspectives carefully. I talked the group through the exposure and we had nearly an hour of great opportunities. Two of my favorites are featured in this blog post. A third will have a starring role star in the next BAA On-line Bulletin.

A surprisingly high 80% opacity layer of NIK Color Efex Pro’s Detail Extractor really brought out the detail in the whites. See more on that in the animated GIF below. In this image I also reduced the blue saturation in the whites with a Hue/Saturation adjustment (Control U) on the white layer. All as detailed in our Digital Basics file. Digital Basics includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips, Layer Masking for Dummies, Eye Doctor work, NIK Color Efex Pro basics, all of my Keyboard Shortcuts, and tons more. This PDF, sent via e-mail, will be the best $25 you’ll ever spent on your photography.

This White Ibis image was also created on the first morning of the Fort DeSoto/Hooptie Deux/Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Note: this is my standard bright white/ISO 400 exposure in full sun. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF on the eye and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. Knowing that we would be working with relatively tame subjects and wanting to travel light I grabbed the 500II and left the 600II in the trunk of my vehicle.

Neat Juxtaposition

While I was able to come up with a completely clean background in the opening image I originally saw the background bird here as a big problem. But by carefully choosing my perspective I was able to change a negative into a positive. In the first few frames the legs of the back bird merged with the breast of the front bird so I took a small step to my left to clean that up. I started working at f/16 but realized that by working wide open at f/8 the legs of the second bird would be more pleasingly blurred.

The Lesson?

When things look bleak and making a good image seems an impossibility, put your thinking cap on and don’t give up. On IPTs we actually teach you how to consider the conditions and figure out the best option, just as I did yesterday morning.

Your Favorite?

Take a moment and leave a comment letting us know which of these two images you liked best. And why you prefer the one that you do.

Animated GIF

As the animated GIF plays note the increased detail in the white feathers, the punched up look of the face and bill, and the subtle but effective clean-up of the lores. As above, I used an 80% layer of Detail Extractor on the whites and a 15% layer of Tonal Contrast on the bill and face. Bill clean-up with the Patch Tool, Content Aware Fill–I have been using that more and more recently, and the Spot Healing Brush.

All of the above is detailed in our Digital Basics file. Digital Basics includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips, Layer Masking for Dummies, Eye Doctor work, NIK Color Efex Pro basics, all of my Keyboard Shortcuts, and tons more. This PDF, sent via e-mail, will be the best $25 you’ll ever spent on your photography.

NIK 15% Discount

As regular readers know, Color Efex Pro has drastically changed my digital workflow and little by little I have begun using Viveza to solve more than a few sticky image optimization problems and Silver Efex Pro for fast, dramatic B&W conversions. You can save 15% on all NIK products (including Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, and Viveza) by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code box at check-out. Then hit Apply to see your savings. You can download a trial copy that will work for 15 days and allow you to create full sized images.

Africa Photo Safari/Tanzania: August 2013

Serengeti Summer Migration Safari: 12 full and two half-days of photography: $12,999/person double occupancy. Limit: 12/Openings: 7.

Leaders: Todd Gustafson and Arthur Morris.

Leave the US AUG 3, 2013. Fly home from Arusha, Tanzania on the evening of August 18. Day 1 of the safari is August 5. Our last morning of photography is August 18. We will be visiting Tarangire National Park, Seronera Lodge–aka Leopard City!–twice, an exclusive mobile tented camp in the Serengeti, and at the end, the spectacular wildlife spectacle that is Ngorongoro Crater.

A deposit of $4,000 is due immediately. With four signed up, this trip is a go. Happy Campers only please.

Once we cash your check you will be strongly advised to purchase travel insurance. While we all assume that we will be fine, health and family emergencies do arrive unexpectedly. You may wish to consider using Travel Insurance Services. Do understand that most policies must be purchased within two weeks of our cashing your deposit check.

Payment in full is due no later than 15 April, 2013. Sign up with a friend or a spouse and apply a $300 per person discount.

This trip is a go. Guaranteed maximum no more than 12 photographers plus the three great leaders. 3 persons/van. You get a row of seats for yourself and your gear. In addition to rotating in-the-field instruction with each of the co-leaders, artie, Todd, and denise will be available for image sharing and review and informal Photoshop instruction during breaks and after meals. And–with apologies to Miss Manners–even during meals!

The lodging is all first class. Please e-mail
for a PDF with additional details, the complete itinerary, and a description of the unparalleled photographic opportunities that we will enjoy. Please e-mail or call me on my cell at 1-863-221-2372 with any questions. I hope that you can join us.

Bear Boat/Bears Catching Salmon IPT: September 2-9, 2013 from Kodiak, AK: $6699. Happy campers only! Maximum 6 + two leaders: Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito. Openings: 1.

It is mandatory that you be in Kodiak no later than the late afternoon of September 1 to avoid missing the float plane(s) to the boat on the morning of September 2. With air travel in AK being what it is, with the chance of fog or other bad weather–being on Kodiak on August 31 is an even better plan). I will take the group out to dinner in Kodiak on the evening of September 1. Denise and I will plan on being on Kodiak on August 31 to avoid any potential disaster. We will take one or more float planes to the boat mid-morning on September 2. We will photograph bears that afternoon and every day for the next six days (weather permitting of course). We should have bears catching salmon every day. In addition, we will get some nice stuff on Mew Gull and Glaucous-winged Gulls dining on roe and the remains of predated salmon. we may–depending on where the concentrations of bears are–get to photograph Harbor seals and some hauled out Steller’s Sea Lions (an endangered species). Halibut fishing (license required) is optional. On September 9, our last morning on the boat, we will photograph in the early morning and then return to Kodiak via float plane. The eight days will consist of six full days (Sept 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8) of photography featuring lots of Coastal Brown Bears catching salmon as above plus a variety of other natural history subjects plus some nice scenic photography that I forgot to mention above. Plus the first afternoon and the last morning.

What’s included? 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS on the boat as above. All meals on the boat. (The food is quite excellent.) National Park fees. One night’s double occupancy lodging on Kodiak; arrive: Sept 1/depart: Sept 2. The thank-you-in-advance dinner on Sept 1. In-the-field photo tips, instruction, and guidance. An insight into the minds of two top professionals; we will constantly let you know what we are thinking, what we are doing, and why we are doing it. Small group image review, image sharing, and Photoshop instruction on the boat. Denise’s creativity will amaze you.

What’s not included: Your round trip airfare to and from Kodiak, AK (almost surely through Anchorage). All necessary lodging other than the cost of your double occupancy room on the night of August 31 should you opt to arrive early–we can arrange that in advance for you. We will let you know the cost of a single supplement if so desired. The cost of the round-trip float plane to the boat on September 2 and back to Kodiak on September 9. The cost of a round trip this year was $500. The suggested crew tip of $210.

Is this an expensive trip? Yes, of course. But with 6 full and two half days, a wealth of great subjects, and the fact that you will be walking with the bears it will be one of the great experiences of your life. (See the comments below.) Most folks who take part in a Bear Boat IPT wind up coming back for more. A $2,000 per person non-refundable deposit by check only made out to “Arthur Morris” is required to hold your spot. Please click here and then scroll down and read our cancellation policies. Then please print, read, and sign the necessary paperwork here and send it to us with your deposit check. Deposit due immediately. That leaves a balance of $4499. The first payment of $2499 is due January 15, 2013. The final payment of $2000 is due on April 15, 2013. This trip is a go. Note: most similar but cheaper trips are only 7 DAYS/6 NIGHTS. Please e-mail for photos.

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. 🙂

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.