Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This Brown Pelican was photographed this morning from the deck of the Hooptie Deux at Alafia Banks with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO Safety Shift is the equivalent of Auto ISO: ISO 2000. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/30 sec. at f/6.3 in Tv mode. 61-Point/AI Servo/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.

K-7500 & Pre-dawn AF Tips

Before the somewhat bland sunrise turned glorious the colors were rather muted. I switched the color temperature on my 1D X from my usual AWB (Auto White Balance) setting to K (Kelvin) and spun the index finger dial until it read 7500 knowing that this would accentuate the colors. With a small boost in Saturation after the RAW conversion in DPP that trick worked quite well. As my aim was to create a pleasing blur I was working in Tv mode at 1/30 sec. I set the exposure compensation to only +1 to avoid burning the red channel. That worked quite well too.

When attempting to photograph single birds in the pre-dawn light I will usually work in 61-Point AF. This worked especially well this morning as there were some birds flying left to right and others flying right to left. Being in 61-Point allows me to at least attempt to get the bird out of the center of the frame.

A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

As some folks believe, pleasing blurs are not out of focus mistakes. If you would like to learn how to create these increasingly popular images, get yourself a copy of “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” by Denise Ippolito and yours truly.

This is about a 200% crop of the image after conversion.

Noisy

With the ISO set automatically to 2000 and with the image somewhat underexposed to avoid burning the red channel there was, as you can see above, lots of noise present in the converted image. The noise we are seeing here is luminance noise. Chrominance noise would be seen as splotches of green and purple in the blacks. Note: I originally wrote that we were seeing chrominance noise; as that was a brain typo I chose to correct it here.

This is about a 200% crop of the image after running a Surface Blur adjustment.

Surface Blur

The amazingly creative Denise Ippolito, who is also something of a Photoshop whiz, taught me the Surface Blur trick about a year ago. Here, it shines. I put the image on its own layer and hit Filter/Blur/Surface Blur. After experimenting a bit I wound up going with the Radius at 3 pixels and Threshold at 6. I usually start at 2/3 and increase the numbers until the background is baby-tush smooth. You can click Preview on and off to check your results.

Once I hit OK I enlarged the image to about 200% and clicked the layer eyeball on and off to see if the Surface Blur settings were affecting the sharpness of the subject. As they were not there was no need to fine-tune with a Layer Mask. Thanks Lady D.

This image of a week-old Sandhill Crane chick was also created with the hand held 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: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode previously confirmed via histogram check. Two sensors up and one to the left of 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 to see a larger version. When hand holding either the 500II or the 600II I like to sit and rest my left elbow on my bent left knee. This reduces fatigue and the quick build up of lactic acid in the muscles and allows for much sharper images. That is exactly what I did here.

Crane Chick Behavior Answer; Bird Watching

In the blog post of March 8, 2013 I posted the image above and asked “What was the baby crane doing?” And I mentioned that there had been a clue in a recent blog post. The clue was in the March 4, 2013 post, When Sharp Does Not Cut It.

In the image above the crane chick was looking up at swirling Tree Swallows. Amazingly, both parents were both somewhat alarmed by the swallows. Kudos to Doug West for getting the behavior right.

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. 🙂

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!

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Check for B&H Used Dept.

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop Amazon here!

Consider doing all of your Amazon.com shopping using the search link below. You'll be getting the same low prices and great service that you are accustomed to and at the same time, supporting my efforts in the Bulletins and on the Blog to bring you great images, timely product news and info, and tons of free educational articles on an almost daily (and sometimes almost back-breaking) basis :) Just type your search in the little white box and hit Go.

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 of a week-old Sandhill Crane chick getting ready to swallow a beetle that was fed to it by one of the parents was created with the hand held 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: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode previously confirmed via histogram check. One sensor left of 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. When hand holding either the 500II or the 600II I like to sit and rest my left elbow on my bent left knee. This reduces fatigue and the quick build up of lactic acid in the muscles and allows for much sharper images. That is exactly what I did here.

What, No Itinerary?

When folks ask why there is never an itinerary for a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-tour I usually chuckle. The truth is that I often do not even know where we are going after lunch when we are at lunch! Each decision is based on a combination of factors that include weather, sky conditions, wind direction, and local trends and conditions.

We are right smack in the middle of the Fort DeSoto/Hooptie Deux/Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT. As you saw in the March 7 blog post, Impossible Conditions, we had a rough time on Wednesday morning. We did have some great chances that morning thanks to some good thinking on my part and the ability of the group to follow directions as to how to carefully approach a large group of beautiful White Ibises. In any case, when multiple IPT veteran John Snodgrass mentioned that the weather forecast for Thursday morning was even worse, colder with stronger winds from the northwest, I started thinking….

There had been some nice baby Sandhill Crane action down by the lake near my home in Indian Lake Estates, FL. With the dire forecast, I breached the idea of leaving St. Pete at 5am and making the 1 hour forty five minute drive to ILE to try for the baby cranes in lieu of freezing out butts off on another wind against sun morning. I did not have to twist any arms.

This image of a young Sandhill Crane colt was created at ILE on Thursday morning 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 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/9 in Av mode. The exposure was confirmed via histogram check. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF on a spot just below the forward part of the wing bud active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. .

Choice of Perspective

The key to the success of the image above was going long focal length and getting on the birds level by working from the slope of the adjacent canal. I recognized the shade of blue as one that would be dramatically enhanced by a layer of White Neutralizer. That was followed by a layer of my 50/50 Tonal Contrast/Detail Extractor recipe reduced to about 50% opacity.

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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.

This Sandhill Crane image was created with the hand held Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode previously confirmed by histogram check. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s head just behind the 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.

Why Hand Hold the 600II?

While working the cranes with his tripod-mounted 600mm f/4L IS II/1.4X III/1D X rig, multiple IPT participant John Snodgrass, always eager to learn, asked me, “Why are you hand holding?” I replied, “When hand holding it is easier to frame the image, easier to follow the fast little buggers, easier to acquire and maintain AF, and easier to get up off the ground and move to the right sun angle. And any by using my knee-pod as described above pretty much all of the images will be sharp. And, as you can see here, cute.

This image of a week-old Sandhill Crane chick was also created with the hand held 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: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode previously confirmed via histogram check. Two sensors up and one to the left of 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 to see a larger version. When hand holding either the 500II or the 600II I like to sit and rest my left elbow on my bent left knee. This reduces fatigue and the quick build up of lactic acid in the muscles and allows for much sharper images. That is exactly what I did here.

Whaddaya Think?

If you think that you know what the baby crane in the image immediately above was doing please leave a comment and let us know. Hint: there have been clues in recent blog posts.

Which is Your Favorite?

Take a moment to leave a comment and let us know which is your favorite image, and why.

So What’s the Point?

The point is that on a BAA IPT there is never a set itinerary because we need to be able to change and react in response to a variety of current conditions in order to get you in a spot where you will have the best chance to make some great images. And we always strive to explain to you why we are going here rather than there.

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. 🙂

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!

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Check for B&H Used Dept.

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop Amazon here!

Consider doing all of your Amazon.com shopping using the search link below. You'll be getting the same low prices and great service that you are accustomed to and at the same time, supporting my efforts in the Bulletins and on the Blog to bring you great images, timely product news and info, and tons of free educational articles on an almost daily (and sometimes almost back-breaking) basis :) Just type your search in the little white box and hit Go.

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....
Gizo 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 gorgeous adult Wood Stork was photographed at Anhinga Trail on this year’s Canon Digital Learning Center Everglades Destination Workshop with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Autofocus lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV now replaced by the Canon EOS-1D X digital SLR . ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero as framed: 1/500 sec. at f/16 in Manual mode (to protect the whites).

800mm f/5.6 L IS Faulty Reasoning; Could It Be?

This was a beautiful bird; the colors and textures on the head inspired me to go long and to create a tight, sharp head portrait. The darker tones as they came out of the camera needed more detail. First I ran a Curves Adjustment layer and a layer of NIK Color Efex Pro Detail Extractor at about 30% I kept the layers intact so that I could go back and reduce the Opacity as needed. I added Regular Layer Masks to these layers so that I could fine tune the results. I finished up with some Tim Grey Non-destructive Dodging and Burning till I got it perfect. Or at least perfect to my eye. The trick is to avoid overdoing things, especially with the Detail Extractor.

Thanks to a comment by Mike Vanacek at BAA Bulletin #432 I realized that my reasoning for proclaiming the Canon 600mm f/4L IS II far superior to the older 800mm f/5.6L IS might indeed be faulty. Mike, who was relaying the thoughts of multiple IPT veteran and mutual friend Jim Bickett, wrote, “Todd (Gustafson), with whom will be with you in Africa later this year, used his Nikon 600mm + 1.7TC almost 95% of the time. One of the older participants in Africa had sold his 800mm and got the 600mm II. He constantly taunted me with its advantages. My neighbor (Jim Bicket whom you know) loves his 800mm and believes I would be making a mistake selling it for the 600mm.”

That got me to thinking. I quickly realized that for folks who are not comfortable using a 2X III teleconverter or who simply cannot create sharp images with the 600II/2X III combo would be far better off sticking with the 800 or purchasing a used one. Why? They will enjoy great reach with larger in the frame subjects.

Thanks Mike, and thanks Jim.

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. 🙂

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!

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Check for B&H Used Dept.

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop Amazon here!

Consider doing all of your Amazon.com shopping using the search link below. You'll be getting the same low prices and great service that you are accustomed to and at the same time, supporting my efforts in the Bulletins and on the Blog to bring you great images, timely product news and info, and tons of free educational articles on an almost daily (and sometimes almost back-breaking) basis :) Just type your search in the little white box and hit Go.

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....
Gizo 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.

New Concept IPTSold Out!

With so many folks already signed up it is looking as if folks are liking the idea of more image review during the days, more in-the-field-instruction with a smaller group, no time in the classroom, and a bit more time to rest and sleep…. Learn more by clicking here and scrolling down to the first item.

Pro-rated

While this trip is sold out, we still have room for one more on a pro-rated basis. If you would like to explore the possibility of joining us for a day or two on this IPT or a morning on the Hooptie Deux please e-mail me asap or call me asap on my cell at 863-221-2372 or on my personal line at 863-692-2806.

Fort DeSoto/Hooptie Deux/Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT: March 6-10, 2013. 5-DAY: $2399 (Includes 3 mornings on the Hooptie Deux). Limit: 6/Openings: 0.

Join me as part of a small group for five great days of bird photography and learning. We will spend three mornings with the breeding plumage spoonbills on James Shadle’s customized pontoon boat, the Hooptie Deux. This alone would cost you $1050 so this works out to the cheapest IPT ever: 5 full days for only $1349. We will spend two of our mornings and four of our afternoons at Fort DeSoto photographing all manner of wading birds, gulls, terns, and almost surely some Great Horned Owl chicks. Our last afternoon will be spent at an active Wood Stork rookery with lots of flight photography opportunities.

This image (Tree Swallow sharp I) was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode confirmed by histogram check. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/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.

When Sharp Just Does Not Cut It

There have been about 20,000 Tree Swallows down by the lake that is five minutes west of my home for the past two mornings. I had been set up for flight when the group in the images above and below blasted off so I went with a fast shutter speed knowing that I would not like the results.

This image (Tree Swallow Sharp II) was also created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode confirmed by histogram check. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/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 Problems With Sharp

Note that in both of the images above the off-angled light is accentuated by the fast shutter speed. With the narrow depth-of-field note that the out-of-focus birds in the foreground that are in front of the plane of sharp focus are huge distractions. Note that there is no sense of implied motion. I would normally deleted both of the images above but kept them only for teaching purposes.

This image (Tree Swallow Flock Blur I) was also created on March 2, 2013 with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. Note however that for creating a pleasingly blurred image I dropped all the way down to ISO 50. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop as framed: 1/15 sec. at f/16 in Manual mode confirmed by histogram check. (Folks who convert in DPP as I do need to disable Highlight Tone Priority to get down to ISO 50. Note also that unless you are converting in DPP that enabling Highlight Tone Priority has no effect on your RAW files. To learn more about converting in Canon Digital Photo Professional and why I am using it 100% of the time click here and here. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/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.

ISO 50

When creating pleasing blurs setting the lowest possible ISO allows you to work at relatively wider apertures; this reduces the amount of time that you will spend cleaning microscopic dust bunnies. There is a lot less visible sensor dust at f/16 than at f/32 or smaller.

This image (Tree Swallow Flock Blur II) was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. Note however that for creating a pleasingly blurred image I dropped all the way down to SO 50. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop as framed: 1/15 sec. at f/18 in Manual mode confirmed by histogram check; note that it had gotten a shade brighter. Central sensor Surround/AI Servo/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.

Why Pleasing Blurs? To Pan or Not to Pan?

Note the implied motion. Note that the off angled light has been softened considerably. See the pleasingly pan-blurred backgrounds. Note that the birds traveling in the direction opposite the pan were rendered as soft, white streaks.

In the image above I was panning from right to left with the main flock, the dark birds. This accentuated the streak blur on the birds flying against the pan. But I varied my approach; with the image below, I held the lens relatively still without panning. Note the the degree of blurring of the individual birds was roughly the same regardless of the direction of flight.

This image (Tree Swallow Flock Blur III) was created on the morning of March 3, 2013 with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop as framed: 1/15 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode confirmed by histogram check. Lowest 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.

Why 1/15 sec.? Why Only f/10 For This Image?

1/15th of a second has long been the classic pleasing blur shutter speed. For good reason: it often offers a very pleasing degree of blurring. I made images on both mornings at 1/8 sec. but did not keep a single one….

On Sunday I was out in the field an hour earlier than I had been on Saturday as it was a clear morning. Saturday had started off cloudy. As there was less light on Sunday I was able to use a larger aperture than I had on Saturday while still pushing the exposure to the right and making sure to get data well into the fifth (rightmost) box of the histogram.

This image (Tree Swallow Flock Blur IV) was also created on Sunday morning. For this one I got lower and used 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 50. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/15 sec. at f/14 in Manual Mode was a bit under-exposed. Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on flock and released the back button. 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).

Which is Your Favorite?

Take a moment to leave a comment and let us know which is your favorite image, and why.

A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

If you would like to learn more about creating pleasingly blurred images–they are not out of focus accidents, check out A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly.

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

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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.

Southwest Florida Site Guide

Several folks have written recently asking why this great guide has not been updated since 2007. The answer is that I have not discovered any new hotspots and that the good places remain good and the great places remain great.

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. 🙂

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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....
Gizo 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.