Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This two-frame stitched composite of an Elephant Seal pup and its mom was created at Fortuna Bay, South Georgia with the tripod mounted Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800: 1/320 sec. at f/8 confirmed by histogram check. Central sensor/Surround/AI Servo Rear Focus AF and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. I had been concentrating on the face of the pup and missed a chance when it brought its left front flipper forward so I pointed the lens to my right and created an image that included the young seal’s flipper. Then it was a simple matter of converting both images in DPP and merging them in Photoshop: File/Automate/Photoshop. As described in detail in Digital Basics along with my complete digital workflow, all of my keyboard shortcuts, and dozens of great Photoshop tips.

Wrecked. And Loving It.

While not as well known as the two spectacular South Georgia King Penguin colonies at Salibury Plain and St. Andrews Bay, Fortuna Bay has consistently offered superb photographic opportunities whenever I have visited. Conditions on the morning of October 25 were ideal: cloudy bright with light winds. It was our third day of landings and the fifth day of the expedition. I was in a mellow mood and took my time setting up my gear once I got ashore. Rather than rushing to the colony I headed in the opposite direction toward a big group of Elephant Seals and made the image above. Then I headed towards the colony about a mile distant.

This image of a small group of King Penguins with a frozen waterfall in the background was created at Fortuna Bay with the Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS EF USM AF Lens (hand held at 84mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital Camera (Body Only) w/FREE Bonus Items – $160.75 Value! [expires 11/24]!. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode. Central sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus AF and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

After about a half mile I came across a nicely arranged group of King Penguins. I grabbed the 24-105 lens, got on the ground, and approached slowly without disturbing the birds. With four very good and one acceptable head angle this, the first image in the series, was the best.

This image of a sleeping King Penguin was also created at Fortuna Bay, South Georgia. I used the tripod mounted Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital Camera (Body Only) w/FREE Bonus Items – $160.75 Value! [expires 11/24]!. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2 stops: 1/320 sec. at f/8. Central sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus AF and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.

Next I came upon shipmate Andreas Liedmann sitting low and photographing some King Penguins against a backdrop of pure white snow. After carefully choosing my position to ensure that the snow on the distant hillside (see image next) would make up my background, I splayed the legs of my Gitzo 3532 LS tripod,got down in the snow, and had a blast.

This image depicts the situation described above. It was created with the Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS EF USM AF Lens (hand held at 24mm) and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/640 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. Central sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus AF and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.

Aravind Krishnaswamy soon joined us. That’s my 500 II between them. Little did I know what would happen in less than two hours….

Wrecked

I made my way slowly to the colony, hooked up with Denise Ippolito for a while, had my lunch–ham and cheese roll-ups with mayo and low-sugar ketchup and an ice cold orange-ade made with a little bit of orange juice, water, and Stevia, a natural sweetener. Yummy. And messy.

I worked with Alan and Pat Lillich for a while. A bit after 1pm I began to head slowly back to the landing site. Before the trip I had been concerned about falling on some of the longer, more difficult hikes and wanted lots of time to meander and to enjoy. The last zodiac back to the ship would be at 2:30 pm so that the ship could re-position for the afternoon landing at Stromness. I was walking slowly on a clean, flat area with no snow just taking in the sights, totally relaxed and not at all in my usual rushed state. The 500 II and the 1D X were on the tripod that rested on my right shoulder with the lens pointing behind me. My right toe caught on a small rock about the size of my fist. I pitched forward. There was no chance to roll or attempt to protect my gear. I landed gently but the camera hit a half buried rock and was ripped from the lens mount. As I got up and realized that I was OK but that my gear was not I noted that the 1D X was firing rapidly. I removed the battery and it quit. I tried without success to mount the camera onto the lens. In short order I realized that both items had seen their last action on the trip.

I remembered that the last thing I did before leaving for the airport on October 16 was to remove the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS lens from my Think Tank Airport International™ V 2.0 Rolling Camera Bag, place it in one of the large front pockets of my Xtrahand Vest, and put the 300 f/2.8L IS II lens into the rolling bag. Why? “In case anyone wrecks a lens the 300 2.8 II would make a great back-up and provide lots of magnification with the 2X III TC.” I had no idea that that person would be me.

(Note: you can learn more about my custom-designed Xtrahand Vest from Vested Interest here. Denise got one for the expedition and loved it especially because it distributes the weight of your gear so well making it seem lighter than it would be if you were using a backpack.)

As I walked, still alone, I laughed. I was unhurt (or at least it seemed so at the time). I joked that I had been hurt worse getting into bed. I had the 300 2.8 II as a great back-up. I knew that the wreck was the very best thing that could have happened. How could I know that? Because it happened. And because I am a lover of what is. (See the work of Byron Katie at www.THEWORK.com.) I did not berate myself. No matter how careful we are accidents can and do happen.

When I got back to the ship and shared my tale most folks commented to the effect that “you must be so upset.” “What a terrible thing to happen at the start of the trip.” I thought to myself, “What a trip that was.” With “trip” as a pun of course. “No,” I said. “It was the best thing that could have happened and lots of good will come of it.” “Happiness is a choice,” I explained while hearing Byron Katie’s voice in the back of my head. “I am in a great place with great people, I have a great back-up lens, I was not hurt, and I am simply choosing happiness. What good would it have done to lament my fate.”

As it turned out my shoulder was injured a bit resulting in some numbness in my right hand and arm that continues. Both Dr. Oliver and Dr. McKeon are pretty sure that it is a circulatory issue and that it will subside with treatment over time. So am I.

Yesterday I ordered a second 1D X so that I will have one at Bosque and today Jim and I will be shipping both the 500 II and the 1D X to the Canon Factory Service Center in Jamesburg, NJ. All in all, you gotta love it. Why? It’s what is.

Want more peace in your life? See “Loving What Is; Four Questions That Can Change Your Life” by Byron Katie.

Are IPTs expensive? Of course they are. For good reason. The most experienced, knowledgeable, and hardest working leaders. Great Photoshop instruction. Great folks. And great food. For a greater appreciation of the composite image, click on the photo. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

Largest-ever Bosque del Apache IPT Late Registration Discount

With only a single opening and the IPT beginning in one week we are glad to be offering the largest-ever late registration discount for this great IPT. Please call Jim weekdays from 9-5 eastern time at 863-692-0906.

BOSQUE del APACHE 2012 IPT: “The Complete Bosque Experience.” NOV 21-27, 2012. 7-FULL DAYS: $3399.

Co-leaders: Denise Ippolito, landscape photography expert Jim Heupel, and Photoshop expert Mike Hannisian. Introductory Slide program: 6:30 pm on 11/20. Limit: 12/Openings 3.

Tens of thousand of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks including point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. This will make 18 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for me. Nobody knows the place better than I do. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the light and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

Nobody alive or dead knows Bosque better than I do. Do consider joining us for the educational experience of a lifetime. For a greater appreciation of the composite image, click on the photo. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

Bosque/Albuquerque Thanksgiving Buffet Invite

For the past ten years or so I have hosted a midday Thanksgiving Day meal, in part to honor the memory of my late-wife, Elaine Belsky Morris, and in part because I love meeting others who love Bosque as I do. At first it was held at the wonderful and relatively elegant Val Verde Steak House in Socorro, now defunct. Then it was held at the lovely and historic Luna Mansion. Luna Mansion closed a few years ago and recently re-opened but no longer serves Thanksgiving Day. In 2009 we had fun and a fine meal at the Stage Door Grill but that wonderful little joint recently bit the dust also. Socorro is a tough place for businesses to survive. In 2010 we went a bit upscale and dined in the New Mexico Ballroom at the Hilton Albuquerque hotel. There was tons of food and it was all delicious.

The Hilton is now a Crowne Plaza and the good news is that they are having the buffet again this year as they did in 2011. I will be picking up the tab for the IPT group, but as always, all visiting birders and photographers are invited to join us. If you would like to take part in the fun and camaraderie this year please send a check for $45.00 per person made out to “”Arthur Morris”” to cover the cost of the buffet that will include all the traditional items plus lots more as well as tax and tip. Drinks are on you. Please mark ““Thanksgiving Buffet” on your check and mail it to; BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 4041, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Be sure to include your e-mail address on your check and in a short note. Sorry, no PayPals or credit cards for this. I do hope that you can join us.

I have group reservations for Thanksgiving Day (of course). Those joining us will need to be at the hotel at 11:30 am sharp. It is located at 1901 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, about an hour up I-25 from the Super 8 Motel in Socorro where I have stayed happily with my groups for well more than a decade. I do hope that you can join us.

Shopper’s Guide

Thanks a stack to all who have used our B&H affiliate links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Shop B&H

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. 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 the links above. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

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.

Leopard, Serengeti. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), 600mm lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson. Todd has an uncanny knack for spotting the big cats.

Ten Good Reasons…

Here are a dozen good reasons to join Todd Gustafson, Denise Ippolito, and me on our African Safari to Tanzania is August 2013. All of the images are Todd’s. For more info and a complete itinerary, please contact Jim at BAA via e-mail.

African Elephants, Serengeti. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), 70-200mm lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

Todd (and the other leaders as well) will teach you to develop your creative vision.

Impalas battling, Tarangire. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), 600mm lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

We will put you on the action with the van in the best spot for a given lighting condition.

Hippos battling, Ngorongoro Crater. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), 1.7X TCE, 600mm lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

Crater is like a zoo, only the animals are wild and they are not fooling around…. Note the perfect timing and the two perfect head angles. I taught Todd well.

Zebra braying, Tarangire. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), 1.7X TCE, 600mm lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

We will teach you how to isolate using your longest focal length lenses.

Yellow-billed Storks courting, Tarangire. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), 1.7X TCE, 600mm lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

We will teach you when and why to hold the hammer down.

Baobab sunset, Tarangire. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), Nikon 200-400 lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

You will learn that Todd always knows where to be when….

African Elephants, Serengeti. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), 70-200mm lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

You will learn when to go for more depth-of-field.

Serengeti Lioness yawning. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), 1.7X TCE, 600mm lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

You will learn to create small in the frame wildlife-scapes.

Lion snarling, Serengeti. Nikon D3 (Replaced by the D4), Nikon 200-400 lens. Image courtesy of and copyright Todd Gustafson.

We will teach you to anticipate the peak of action.

Africa Photo Safari: 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, Denise Ippolito, 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 Taranagire 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 now. We will not cash your check until we have 7 deposits in hand. If the trip does not run, we will return or tear up your check. As there has been great interest already, we fully expect that the trip will run.

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.

The 2nd payment of $4000 is due NOV 30, 2012. The final payment/balance is due MAR 30, 2013.

Sign up with a friend or a spouse and apply a $300 per person discount.

Minimum to run as noted above: 7 photographers. 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 to request the complete itinerary. Any questions? Please e-mail Todd. As always, we will work with the first 12 deposits that we receive. I hope that you can join us.

Bosque/Albuquerque Thanksgiving Buffet Invite

For the past ten years or so I have hosted a midday Thanksgiving Day meal, in part to honor the memory of my late-wife, Elaine Belsky Morris, and in part because I love meeting others who love Bosque as I do. At first it was held at the wonderful and relatively elegant Val Verde Steak House in Socorro, now defunct. Then it was held at the lovely and historic Luna Mansion. Luna Mansion closed a few years ago and recently re-opened but will no longer serves Thanksgiving Day. In 2009 we had fun and a fine meal at the Stage Door Grill but that wonderful little joint recently bit the dust also. Socorro is a tough place for businesses to survive. In 2010 we went a bit upscale and dined in the New Mexico Ballroom at the Hilton Albuquerque hotel. There was tons of food and it was all delicious.

The Hilton is now a Crowne Plaza and the good news is that they are having the buffet again this year as they did in 2011. I will be picking up the tab for the IPT group, but as always, all visiting birders and photographers are invited to join us. If you would like to take part in the fun and camaraderie this year please send a check for $45.00 per person made out to “”Arthur Morris”” to cover the cost of the buffet that will include all the traditional items plus lots more as well as tax and tip. Drinks are on you. Please mark ““Thanksgiving Buffet” on your check and mail it to; BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 4041, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Be sure to include your e-mail address on your check and in a short note. Sorry, no PayPals or credit cards for this. I do hope that you can join us.

I have group reservations for Thanksgiving Day (of course). Those joining us will need to be at the hotel at 11:30 am sharp. It is located at 1901 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, about an hour up I-25 from the Super 8 Motel in Socorro where I have stayed happily with my groups for well more than a decade. I do hope that you can join us.

Are IPTs expensive? Of course they are. For good reason. The most experienced, knowledgeable, and hardest working leaders. Great Photoshop instruction. Great folks. And great food. For a greater appreciation of the composite image, click on the photo. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

Bosque del Apache IPT Late Registration Discount Announcement

With four openings on this IPT and me headed out of town till 11/11 we are glad to announce a healthy late registration discount for this great IPT. Please call Jim weekdays from 9-5 eastern time at 863-692-0906 for details and leave a message if he is at the post office. Or call me today, at the same number.

BOSQUE del APACHE 2012 IPT: “The Complete Bosque Experience.” NOV 21-27, 2012. 7-FULL DAYS: $3399.

Co-leaders: Denise Ippolito, landscape photography expert Jim Heupel, and Photoshop expert Mike Hannisian. Introductory Slide program: 6:30 pm on 11/20. Limit: 12/Openings 4.

Tens of thousand of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks including point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. This will make 18 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for me. Nobody knows the place better than I do. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the light and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

Nobody alive or dead knows Bosque better than I do. Do consider joining us for the educational experience of a lifetime. For a greater appreciation of the composite image, click on the photo. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

Shopper’s Guide

Thanks a stack to all who have used our B&H affiliate links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Shop B&H

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. 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 the links above. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

A Greener View

After Jeff Rugg read the “Field Etiquette for Nature Photographers” post here, he sent me the column that he has written for the weekly newspaper column that he writes. He was writing for permission to mention the blog in his column; I gladly assented. Jeff’s Yellow-rumped Warbler Art image was awarded first prize in the Digital Category in the BIRDS AS ART 1st Annual Bird Photography Competition. You can see his image here.

I thought it apropos to share this with you here in a guest blog post.

Jeff enjoys creating avian composite images. He created the files for this one in his backyard with the old EOS-30D (replaced now by the EOS 7D) and the Canon EF 100-400mm IS L zoom lens. He did not need to worry about having others scare off his birds. From Jeff: “This bird bath composite was created in the bird bath area of my water garden. I used the Canon 30D set on a tripod with the Canon 30 foot remote cable release. When I saw a bird striking a good pose, I created an image. The first shot was at 10:20am and the last one was 4:46pm all on April 10 of this year. The shutter speed varied. All at f/5.6, ISO 160, at 200mm. For more on the 7D/100-400 combo see “How Dan Cadieux Masters Canon EOS-7D Image Files.”

A Greener View

By Jeff Rugg

It is the political season and that seems to bring out the worst in human behavior. I won’t be getting into politics in this article, but I would like to talk about proper etiquette while people are roaming around in nature. If you, like me, have been on a bike or hiking trail this summer, you may have seen some familiar scenes. First, there are the trail hogs. They are having a great time talking about who knows what and who knows who and while doing so they are taking up the whole width of the trail. They often seem oblivious to the natural surroundings and to anyone else who wants to use the trail. Second, there are the speed demons. They may be running or riding a bike and they are not to be trifled with. Pity the poor trail hogs when a speed demon is on the same trail.

Next, there are people with dogs. The dogs are almost always supposed to be on a leash, but the rules don’t say the leash can’t be 500 feet long. Dogs can frighten some people, but they can really frighten animals. Have you been to the beach this summer? Did you see someone sending their dog running into flocks of gulls and shorebirds? Last, we have people who loudly interrupt or barge on past bird watchers and nature photographers. Parks and wildlife are ‘used’ by lots of people with differing needs and that can lead to confrontations.

What do all these situations have in common? Lack of knowledge of proper natural area etiquette. In cities, people don’t usually make eye contact, but in nature most people are friendlier and are often willing to stop and talk. Trail hogs need to pay more attention to their surroundings and note when other people are approaching; they need to be courteous enough to allow passage without hindering other people. Trail runners, joggers and mountain bikers all need to realize there will be slow people on the same trail and give them enough advance notice of their approach that they can safely get out of the way. Dog owners need to realize that terrorizing people and wildlife is never appropriate, even for gulls or squirrels. This advice also applies to beach joggers and driving on the beach.

Bird watchers and wildlife photographers are usually cognizant of their affect on birds and other animals, but not on people. Other park users may not realize their own affect on an animal when they just walk right up to someone who spent a lot of time trying to get close to a bird or another animal. Birders and photographers may need to notice other people more often. People will often stop from walking in front of a camera and wait for the photographer to take a picture, but they shouldn’t be made to wait forever. It is not appropriate to approach birders or photographers without their first acknowledging your presence, just as it is not appropriate for them to ignore people trying to use the same area of the park. If after several minutes the photographer has not acknowledged your presence, it is appropriate to quietly ask if you can approach or move past.

The bigger concern is not about disturbing the person, but about disturbing the objects of their attention, the birds and animals that they are photographing. It may be more appropriate for the photographer to move towards you, so that the wildlife is not bothered by too many people getting too close.
If you are interested in more information on field etiquette for nature photographers, Arthur Morris writes an incredibly good blog on his Birds As Art website and he recently covered this topic. Check it out at www.birdsasart-blog.com and I am sure you will not be disappointed at the photography and the information he delivers. If you or someone you know is interested in nature photography, Mr. Morris has written several excellent books that would make great holiday presents.

To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website here.

Article Copyright 2012: Jeff Rugg and Creators.Com

What Do You Think?

Take a moment to leave a comment and share your thoughts with Jeff in my absence. Denise Ippolio and I are on a Cheeseman’s Ecology Safaris Southern Ocean expedition until 11/11.

NYC Weekend Nature Photography Seminar

Presented by Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island, New York. December 8-9, 2012 from 9am-4:30pm.
Weekend: $169. SAT or SUN: $99. Lodging available for out of town guests.
Saturday: Image Capture Sunday: Image Evaluation and Processing

Click here for complete details including the Saturday and Sunday schedules, club and group discount info, and registration incentives and for more info on the In-the-Field Seminar Follow-up Workshop.

Artie, the grizzled veteran, is widely noted as one of the premier bird photographers, tour leaders, and educators on the planet. Denise, who specializes in flowers, is the mega-creative up-and-comer, a popular lecturer, a skilled field instructor, and an amazing Photoshop wizard who will share her tips and tricks with you. Both artie and denise are full time professional nature photographers.

BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours

Click here for complete IPT information including the current schedule and links to general IPT info, deposit and cancellation policies. and the required registration and release forms.

Shop B&H

Shop B&H. Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of the links above or below. We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

This image of a Royal Tern coming in for a landing was created at Fort DeSoto with 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 +2/3 stop off the sky: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. 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 for a larger version.

A Great Morning at Desoto

This is another of the many wonderful images that I created on the morning of Sunday, September 16 at Fort Desoto Park just south of St. Petersburg, FL. For more on that wonderful day (including lots of great images and a 100% crop that will knock your socks off) click here and here.

The image above was created from the original image below.

What Would You Do?

What changes did I make during post-processing? (Hint: there are at least six major ones.)

What would you have done?

Was what I did to the image wrong?

Would you have done anything else?

Which image do you like better, the original below or the master file above?

NYC Weekend Nature Photography Seminar

Presented by Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island, New York. December 8-9, 2012 from 9am-4:30pm.
Weekend: $169. SAT or SUN: $99. Lodging available for out of town guests.
Saturday: Image Capture Sunday: Image Evaluation and Processing

Click here for complete details including the Saturday and Sunday schedules, club and group discount info, and registration incentives and for more info on the In-the-Field Seminar Follow-up Workshop.

Artie, the grizzled veteran, is widely noted as one of the premier bird photographers, tour leaders, and educators on the planet. Denise, who specializes in flowers, is the mega-creative up-and-comer, a popular lecturer, a skilled field instructor, and an amazing Photoshop wizard who will share her tips and tricks with you. Both artie and denise are full time professional nature photographers.

BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours

Click here for complete IPT information including the current schedule and links to general IPT info, deposit and cancellation policies. and the required registration and release forms.

Shop B&H

Shop B&H. Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of the links above or below. We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

This image was created with the hand held Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital camera body. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3. Central sensor Surround/Rear Focus AI Servo AF active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger version.

I Suck at Flight Photography. But…

I Suck at Flight Photography. But I am hard-working and determined. On our first afternoon with Osvaldo and Walter we had lots of great chances with Condors in flight. Click here if you missed the info on Osvaldo. Out of about 350 images, I kept 41. Most of the keepers were pretty bad. Tons of the images had the wings cut off, were mis-framed, or plain old not sharp. Heck, you cannot expect the images to be sharp when you cannot keep the active AF sensor anywhere near the bird’s head.

When my flight images are bad, the first place I look is in the mirror; can you say “Operator Error”? Sure, it is easy to blame your gear but the fact is that the gear that I would be complaining about is the same gear that produced the image above….

When Osvaldo saw my optimized Condor image, he said, “That is the finest image of a Condor that I have ever seen. And I have seen lots of great ones on several of the Chilean nature photography sites.” The next day I asked him if he said that to be nice. He assured me that that was not the case and that his original assessment was both accurate and honest. I was flattered and very proud of myself, especially considering how bad I am at flight photography. Sometimes persistence can be a great virtue.

This JPEG represents the original capture. The dark blotches were quite distracting. Note the crop from the right and below for a more pleasing composition–easy to do with the killer 22mp files of the 5D Mark III.

I used a 40% opacity/0% hardness Clone Stamp Tool brush to clean up most of the dark areas. The dark area by the feet was dealt with with Protect and Defend Cloning on a Layer as taught to me by Denise Ippolito. A small bit of NIK Color EfexPro Detail Exractor and Tonal Contrast. All of the above and tons more is covered in detail in the latest update of our Digital Basics File. If I can finish packing tonight I will do my best to create the PDF and get it to Jim before I head off-line for three weeks….

This is a 100% crop of the optimized TIFF.

The 100% crop above gives you an idea of the kind of quality you can expect from sharp RAW files converted with Canon Digital Photo Professional. Once I get into Arash Hazeghi’s NR eGuide I am positive that I will be able to eliminate most or all of the luminance noise in the BLACKs.

The Digital Photo Professional RAW Conversion Guide

The Digital Photo Professional RAW Conversion Guide by Arthur Morris with Arash Hazeghi is complete and available.

I have long resisted doing conversions in Digital Photo Professional (DPP), the software that comes on a CD in the box with your new Canon camera. I tried it a few times, found that the interface was not as user-friendly as with Adobe Camera RAW (ACR), and did not see any great advantages to using it. ACR was fast and the results were excellent.

When I began working with images from my new EOS-1D X, I noticed right off the bat that the colors were off and that the image quality was poor at best. Skilled photographer Arash Hazeghi had been using DPP for quite some time, often touting its benefits in the Avian Forum at Bird Photographer’s.Net. With phone help from Arash, I began converting my 1D X images in DPP explicitly following his instructions. The images looked so good and so clean with accurate color that before long I was converting all my 5D Mark III, 1D Mark IV, and 1D X images in DPP and loving the results.

In this new eGuide (sent via e-mail as a 19-page PDF) I share everything that Arash taught me. I encourage you to give DPP a shot even if like me you tried it before and did not like it…. There is a good reason that Arash has a PhD!

The simplest and fastest way to order your copy of “The Digital Photo Professional RAW Conversion Guide” (DPP RCG) is through the BAA On-line Store by clicking here. Or, you can order your copy by sending a check for $15 made out to “Arthur Morris” to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Be sure to include your e-mail address (written legibly). If you prefer PayPal you can send $15 to us via e-mail; be sure to include the title of the eGuide.

This image of an adult White-tailed Kite was created by Arash Hazeghi with the hand held Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Telephoto lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the unfortunately discontinued EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 640: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6. This image was of course converted in DPP and processed further using the techniques detailed in Arash’s new eGuide, “The Professional Photographer’s Guide to Noise Reduction for EOS Cameras.” Note the superb detail and the beautiful smooth virtually noise-less background. If you want to have your socks knocked off, check out the bird’s talons in the HD sized version here. Image courtesy of and copyright 2012: Arash Hazeghi.

Announcing “The Professional Photographer’s Guide to Noise Reduction for EOS Cameras” by Arash Hazeghi

The Professional Photographer’s Guide to Noise Reduction for EOS Cameras: $35

This 50-page eGuide includes many high-resolution examples, figures, and screen captures.

After learning to do RAW conversions in DPP with the The Digital Photo Professional RAW Conversion Guide, those who wish proceed to the next level, who wish to consistently obtain professional quality images that look impressive in both large prints and digital presentation, are directed to Arash’s advanced eBook, “The Professional Photographer’s Guide to Noise Reduction for EOS Cameras.”

This eGuide, which covers post-conversion noise reduction for EOS cameras, will help you improve the quality of your digital photographs over a wide ISO range. The techniques detailed in this guide approach both luminance noise reduction and sharpening in a scientific manner and are designed to help you produce the highest quality image files, files with maximum fine detail.

These techniques have been developed and refined after many years of dedicated work by Arash. The various steps in processing high-ISO images are explained clearly and in detail with many examples. You will learn to produce clean, noise free images with most modern EOS camera models at ISO 1600 and even at ISO 3200 and beyond with selected models. The 50-page eGuide is available in digital (PDF) format; it is sent via e-mail. It includes many high-resolution examples and figures. To order your copy, click here, send a check for $35 to BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855, or send a PayPal for $35 to us at birdsasart@verizon.net. After purchase, you will receive e-mail instructions for downloading it via YouSendIt.

NYC Seminar Door Prizes!

NYC Seminar Door Prizes!

Wow! We have put together a killer collection of door prizes for the NYC Seminar. If you live in the northeast and are not yet registered click here to join us and have a chance at winning some of the great and valuable loot below.

From ThinkTank: an Airport AirStream™ Rolling Camera Bag; meets all International carry- on regulations. A $324.75 value.
From LensCoat: a Standard LensCoat® RainCoat. A $79.99 value.
Manfrotto/Gitzo will be contributing one or more items.
From Delkin: a 32 gb 700X Compact Flash Card plus give-aways. The card is a $134.99 value.
NIK has sent a gift certificate for one copy of NIK Color Efex Pro, the Photoshop filter plug-in that has changed my digital workflow. Enter the code BAA at checkout to save 15%.
Topaz is sending a gift certificate for their black and white effects filter program.
Micheal Tapes at RAW Workflow has chipped in with a Lens Align Mark II. A $79.95 value.
You might also win a copy of The Art of Bird Photography II by Arthur Morris or a copy of A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Arthur Morris and Denise Ipplito.

Thanks a stack to all of our generous sponsors.

Shopper’s Guide

Thanks a stack to all who have used our B&H affiliate links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Shop B&H

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. 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 the links above. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

This very nice image of a bathing Royal Tern was created by David Pugsley with the (discontinued) Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender II, and the (discontinued) EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/10. Image courtesy of and copyright 2012: David Pugsley. This was the best of a 9-frame sequence.

Thanks Artie!

I received the e-mail below from David Pugsley with the image above attached. I had had the pleasure of meeting David at the Orange Audubon presentation back in September. I had recognized his name from the blog. He struck me as very fine young man (in part because helped us carry in some boxes and stayed late to help us pack up despite the fact that he had a pretty long drive to get back some. As I said, a nice young man.

Hi Artie,

Not only is the blog the bomb, it’s also very timely. The day after your Bathing Bird Strategies post I went out and made this image of a down-the-barrel Royal Tern. While I was, unfortunately, off sun angle a bit, I’m pretty pleased. And, as you suggested, bottom center sensor with AI Servo active at time of exposure. 🙂 Thanks for all you do to help us out.

Cheers!
David Pugsley

David is a very fine photographer. He has learned a ton both from the blog and from ABP II. You can see lots of his stunning images on his website both in the home page slide show and in the galleries.

Here is David at work on the morning that he made the image above. The photo is courtesy of and copyright 2012: Stephanie Abeles.

Lots of Lessons

First off, it is always gratifying to learn that somebody out there is not only reading the blog but grasping the materials covered, applying them in the field, and making some great images.

Picking a lower sensor for bathing birds is of great importance as it generally prevents clipping the wings. David’s choice here was to stay close with the TC mounted and go for the in-your-face splashing shot presented above. I am 99% sure that when the bird finished the bath and jumped up and flapped that David was too tight to get the whole bird in. Here is another lesson: with digital, it pays to try to keep the bird in the frame with the sensor on the bird and make some really tight images of the bird in the air. If you have a moment’s notice as to when the bird will jump, it is best to go to the central sensor. Another fine point that is covered in both the EOS-1D Mark III User’s Guide and the EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide is that it it possible to select two side-by-side sensors below the central sensor or two side-by-side sensors from the bottom row. I love the former for most bathing birds situations.

The second main point here is one that we have been stressing on recent IPTs: when everything looks good blast away!

That’s David in the front row in the cap at the Orange Audubon/Canon Explorers of Light-sponsored event. My granddaughter, Maya, is to his left. That’s me standing with the white shirt and a lapel mike. Photo copyright and courtesy of Milton Heiberg.

EoL-Sponsored Programs

If you are a member of a photography club (or know of a group of clubs) that can put 100+ folks in seats and can provide a venue, I would love to do a program for your group. Please e-mail if you would like to discuss the possibility of arranging a visit that would be sponsored by the wonderful Canon Explorers of Light Program. I was one of the original 55 Explorers and continue in that role today.

NYC Weekend Nature Photography Seminar

Presented by Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island, New York. December 8-9, 2012 from 9am-4:30pm.
Weekend: $169. SAT or SUN: $99. Lodging available for out of town guests.
Saturday: Image Capture Sunday: Image Evaluation and Processing

Click here for complete details including the Saturday and Sunday schedules, club and group discount info, and registration incentives and for more info on the In-the-Field Seminar Follow-up Workshop.

Artie, the grizzled veteran, is widely noted as one of the premier bird photographers, tour leaders, and educators on the planet. Denise, who specializes in flowers, is the mega-creative up-and-comer, a popular lecturer, a skilled field instructor, and an amazing Photoshop wizard who will share her tips and tricks with you. Both artie and denise are full time professional nature photographers.

BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours

Click here for complete IPT information including the current schedule and links to general IPT info, deposit and cancellation policies. and the required registration and release forms.

Shop B&H

Shop B&H. Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of the links above or below. We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

This Comedocino was photographed at Farellones, Los Andes with the Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera body. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/10. Central sensor Expand AI Servo/Rear Focus AF and re-compose. Click on the image for a larger version. Thanks to my new friend, Osvaldo Larrain (Fotografo Profesional) and his pal Walter, for guiding Denise and I to two great spots near Santiago, Chile over three days, 10/17-19. You can see lots of Osvaldo’s killer images here. Not only is Osvlado Chile’s best bird photographer, but both he and Walter are two of the nicest, sweetest folks you could ever hope to meet. More on these two great guys later, and still more when I get back to civilization.

I saw what seemed to be an accurate rumor of the new firmware on Wednesday but could not corroborate it. That came on Thursday morning. I downloaded the new firmware here and loaded it onto my 1D X on the way up the Andes in search of Condors. I did not get to try out f/8 AF until late in the day when we got to photograph some nice songbirds including the male Comedocino above. Lots of folks have been announcing AF at f/8; here you get to see what you can do.

Being very brief here, AF at f/8 changes everything as far a lens choice: the new 600 becomes far more attractive for folks with a 1D X and the 800 loses some of its luster…. There are many ramifications. More on that when I get back home on 11/11.

If you run out and purchase a 1D X, please use this B&H affiliate logo-link:

You can see the entire glitzy announcement here and download the firmware here.

It’s a Whole New World: Canon EOS-1D X AF at f/8

AF at f/8

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., October 17, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced a new firmware update in response to user requests which further enhances the capabilities of Canon’s flagship EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. The EOS-1D X will now be capable of AF point illumination during AI Servo AF and cross-type AF for maximum apertures as small as f/8. The new firmware update is available now at no charge from the Canon U.S.A. website and can be downloaded by end users or through Canon Factory Service Centers.

AF Point Illumination During AI Servo AF

To support the needs of wedding, portrait, sports, wildlife, and theatrical performance photographers working in low light, the new firmware allows AF points in the EOS-1D X’s viewfinder to be illuminated in red when the shutter button is pressed halfway during AI Servo AF, for easy viewing of the selected point. This valuable feature will enhance the photographers’ ability to aim the camera accurately in low-light conditions, and when photographing dark subjects. To preserve exposure-metering accuracy, illumination is intermittent, not continuous. Three choices will be selectable from the menu system – Non-illuminated, Illuminated (Normal) and Illuminated (Brighter).

Cross-Type AF Support at f/8

The EOS-1D X is equipped with an innovative 61-point High Density Reticular AF System featuring up to 41 cross-type AF points, depending on the lens in use. The cross-type AF points recognize a wide variety of subject matter, making them highly desirable for maximum autofocus performance. Until now, cross-type AF on the EOS-1D X has been limited to EF lenses and lens/extender combinations with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or larger. The new firmware allows cross-type autofocusing with the center AF point even when the maximum aperture of a Canon EF lens/extender combination becomes as small as f/8. Ideal for wildlife photographers and others who often use EF super-telephoto lenses with extenders, this new feature greatly expands the range of EF lens/extender combinations that support autofocus when used with the EOS-1D X.

If AF point expansion is selected with an f/8 maximum aperture lens/extender combination, the four AF points surrounding the center point will act as AF Assist points. This option effectively expands the size of the AF detection area to enhance autofocus performance with subjects that are small in the frame and difficult to track, such as small animals and birds in flight. AF points above and below the center will be sensitive to vertical contrast, while points to the left and right will be sensitive to horizontal contrast.

More…

I will have more to say on the fine points above when I return. Please remember: I will be off line from the very early morning of Saturday, 10/20 until 11/11.

Shopper’s Guide

Thanks a stack to all who have used our B&H affiliate links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Shop B&H

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. 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 the links above. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

This image of an adult dark morph (Blue) Snow Goose (with the head of a juvie just sticking into the frame) was created on last year’s Bosque del Apache BAA Instructional Photo-tour with the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Autofocus lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the unfortunately discontinued EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. Central Sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Rear Focus active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

How’d He Do Dat?

Though I did my very best while creating the image above, there are lots of problems with the original capture….

1-the image is not level; in my excitement, I forgot to check my double bubble level.
2-the extra heads on the left frame-edge are distracting.
3-the pretty plant pointing to the bird’s breast is compositionally distracting.
4-the out-of-focus white blotches in the background (actually Snow Geese in the field beyond the road) are distracting, especially those that merge with the bird’s breast and tail and with the plant in the lower right corner.
5-the bird is a bit too high in the frame; there is not enough room above, and too much o-o-f road in the foreground. If I have placed the active sensor higher up on the bird this problem would have been eliminated….
6-the dark blotches in the upper right are distracting.
7-the black rocks (?) on the road just behind the bird are distracting.
8-there are several dust spots in the background.
9-the entire right foot and the toes on the left foot are not visible.

Well, to paraphrase Meat Loaf, “7 out of 8 ain’t bad.” I was able to work on all the problems above in Photoshop except for #9.

This is the image that I created from the original image above. Artistically, it is far superior to the original. Notice how much better the image looks with a cleaner more uniform background and a bit more room above the bird….

What He Did

1-I leveled the image quickly using two of my favorite time-saving keyboard shortcuts.
2-I covered the distracting stuff on the left frame-edge with one large, warped and layer-masked Quick Mask. I cleaned up the edges and eliminated the last trace of one of the goose heads with the Patch Tool.
3-I painted a Quick Mask of the pretty plant and moved it to the right where it balanced the composition nicely.
4-I used Denise Ippolito’s Protect and Defend cloning on a layer technique along with Refine Edge. (Denise does it all with layer masks.) For the lower right corner I just used here 40% Clone Stamp Tool trick and cloned over the whole plant; it worked superbly.
5-I used one of the APTATS II tutorials to move the bird down in the frame seamlessly.
6-I used another Denise Ippolito trick–she is one smart lady–to eliminate the dark areas and some of the o-o-f white areas as well. What was the trick: use the Clone Stamp Tool at 40%.
7-The black rocks (if that’s what they were…) were quickly eliminated with the Patch Tool.
8-I used the Spot Healing Brush to eliminate the dust spots.
9-Sorry, no can do. 🙂

You can learn to do pretty much everything above by getting a copy of Digital Basics and studying it. Digital Basics is a PDF that is sent via e-mail. It contains my complete Digital Workflow, all of my time-saving keyboard shortcuts, and dozens of great Photoshop tips.

Bosque/Albuquerque Thanksgiving Buffet Invite

For the past ten years or so I have hosted a midday Thanksgiving Day meal, in part to honor the memory of my late-wife, Elaine Belsky Morris, and in part because I love meeting others who love Bosque as I do. At first it was held at the wonderful and relatively elegant Val Verde Steak House in Socorro, now defunct. Then it was held at the lovely and historic Luna Mansion. Luna Mansion closed a few years ago and recently re-opened but will no longer serves Thanksgiving Day. In 2009 we had fun and a fine meal at the Stage Door Grill but that wonderful little joint recently bit the dust also. Socorro is a tough place for businesses to survive. In 2010 we went a bit upscale and dined in the New Mexico Ballroom at the Hilton Albuquerque hotel. There was tons of food and it was all delicious.

The Hilton is now a Crowne Plaza and the good news is that they are having the buffet again this year as they did in 2011. I will be picking up the tab for the IPT group, but as always, all visiting birders and photographers are invited to join us. If you would like to take part in the fun and camaraderie this year please send a check for $45.00 per person made out to “”Arthur Morris”” to cover the cost of the buffet that will include all the traditional items plus lots more as well as tax and tip. Drinks are on you. Please mark ““Thanksgiving Buffet” on your check and mail it to; BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 4041, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Be sure to include your e-mail address on your check and in a short note. Sorry, no PayPals or credit cards for this. I do hope that you can join us.

I have group reservations for Thanksgiving Day (of course). Those joining us will need to be at the hotel at 11:30 am sharp. It is located at 1901 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, about an hour up I-25 from the Super 8 Motel in Socorro where I have stayed happily with my groups for well more than a decade. I do hope that you can join us.

Ooops.

I almost forgot. I applied a bit of Detail Extractor and Tonal Contrast from NIK Color Efex Pro to the goose only.

NIK 15% Discount

As regular readers here know, NIK Color Efex Pro has drastically changed my digital workflow. You can save 15% on all NIK products 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.

Wanna Chat?

Call me, today only, Sunday 10/14, if you’d like to sign up for the NYC Seminar: 863-692-0906. All info here. I will be in the pool from 11-noon eastern and in the ice-bath 5-6pm. All eastern time.

Are IPTs expensive? Of course they are. For good reason. The most experienced, knowledgeable, and hardest working leaders. Great Photoshop instruction. Great folks. And great food. For a greater appreciation of the composite image, click on the photo. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

Bosque del Apache IPT Late Registration Discount Announcement

With four openings on this IPT and me headed out of town till 11/11 we are glad to announce a healthy late registration discount for this great IPT. Please call Jim weekdays from 9-5 eastern time at 863-692-0906 for details and leave a message if he is at the post office. Or call me today, at the same number.

BOSQUE del APACHE 2012 IPT: “The Complete Bosque Experience.” NOV 21-27, 2012. 7-FULL DAYS: $3399.

Co-leaders: Denise Ippolito, landscape photography expert Jim Heupel, and Photoshop expert Mike Hannisian. Introductory Slide program: 6:30 pm on 11/20. Limit: 12/Openings 4.

Tens of thousand of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks including point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. This will make 18 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for me. Nobody knows the place better than I do. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the light and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

Nobody alive or dead knows Bosque better than I do. Do consider joining us for the educational experience of a lifetime. For a greater appreciation of the composite image, click on the photo. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

Shopper’s Guide

Thanks a stack to all who have used our B&H affiliate links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.

Shop B&H

Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. 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 the links above. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!

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This is the assembled Lens Align Mark II. Thanks to Michael Tapes for the image.

Why Micro-adjust?

It’s simple. While the images made with most rigs are sharp, in many cases, they will be that much sharper with more fine detail once a given camera body/lens or camera body/TC/lens combination has been properly micro-adjusted. While some of my rigs are spot on, others have needed front- or back-focusing corrections as high as +/- 12 units.

The Lens Align Mk II; Micro-adjusting Magic!

Ever since the introduction of digital camera bodies that feature micro-adjustments for individual lenses, folks–including me–have been searching for a quick, easy way to make those micro-adjustments. When I was working on the 7D and the Mark IV User’s Guides, I worked hard on developing a make-it-yourself cardboard rig that was a big improvement on the original version. But in reality, it did not offer the needed precision. And in addition to the extremely low cost, the rig took up lots of space–heck, it was huge, and using it was tedious work.

I had heard about Lens Align for some time, but a quick web check revealed that it was expensive. And performing the calibrations seemed to require somewhat of an extraordinary effort…. But, Michael Tapes, the designer/creator/inventor of Lens Align–with the introduction of the Lens Align MkII about 2 years ago–drastically changed the playing field. But having to tether your rig to a laptop still made things a bit on the cumbersome side. Working with both Peter Kes and Robert O’Toole I have developed a neat way to micro-adjust your lenses without being tethered to a laptop or other computer. As with many of my writing projects this one has taken far too long, in fact, the Non-tethered Micro-adjusting Tutorial below comes in second only to the creation of The Art of Bird Photography II; that one took four years but at 916 pages with more than 900 images I had a good excuse.

The Lens Align MkII offers an inexpensive, accurate and repeatable methodology that allows photographers to test for potential front/back focus issues. The MkII maintains the high quality standards of the original LensAlign Pro and uses the same patent pending True Parallel Alignment™ (TPA™) Sighting System that is an exclusive feature of all genuine LensAlign products. TPA allows the user to establish exact parallel alignment between the camera’s sensor-plane and the focus target of LensAlign quickly and easily. The huge failure of all other AF micro-adjustment products and procedures (including my incredibly crude efforts in the two most recent User’s Guide Updates) is their inability to ensure true parallel alignment. TPA is, however, an absolute requirement for accurate and repeatable AF testing and and for making accurate and repeatable micro-adjustments. The Lens Align MkII costs only a fraction of the original Lens Align Pro and–with the slightly longer ruler, and the new ruler patterns, it performs even better. You can order yours right now for only $79.95 plus shipping: ~$6/US or ~$13/INT via Priority Mail. Please be aware that the shipping fees may vary a bit depending on your location or when you order through the BAA On-Line Store. International shipping charges will also vary by country depending on additional fees for customs, VAT, duties, or fees depending on their laws, rules or policies. You can send us a Paypal, call Jim at 863-692-0906, or purchase through the BAA On-Line store here.

Lens Align Non-Tethered Testing & Micro-adjusting Tutorial

Finally!

Non-tethered testing is fast, easy, and much more convenient than tethered testing. Below I will teach you how to do it and how to make a few images to confirm your results.

All you need is a relatively level and open spot for you to set up your lens and the LA Mark II on tripods. I far prefer to work outdoors so that I have lots of light and contrast. I generally try to do my micro-adjusting (MA-ing) on cloudy bright days. Even when working with shorter focal length lenses it is best to work outside. With non-tethered testing it is not necessary to install EOS Utility from the CD that came in the box with the camera. And Nikon folks do not need to purchase Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 Software Full Version for Nikon DSLR Cameras or Breeze Systems’ NKRemote as they did for tethered MA-ing.

Here is exactly how I do non-tethered MA-ing with my Canon gear. I set up a tripod with the big lens that I will be testing with the camera body attached. I make sure that only the central sensor active and that no surrounding points are enabled. I work in Av mode at the wide open aperture. I make sure that the Live View/Movie function is set to Stills. Make sure to set the AF Mode to Quick Mode. I like to have the focus confirmation beep on. I set the ISO high enough to give me a decent shutter speed to ensure that my final confirmation images are sharp. I use rear focus and believe that that is the best option for MA-ing. And I set the Drive Mode to Single Frame Advance.

I keep a spare Wimberley P-5 plate on the base plate of the Lens Align MKII. Next I grab any old tripod–a light one is fine, and screw on my Giotto’s tiny ballhead (the Giottos MH 1302-655) which is ideal for the chore. (Any ballhead will do.) Note: the unit comes with a 1/4 20 threaded hole that requires a mounting plate with a 1/4 20 bolt. Having the LA MII on a small ballhead makes the alignment process (described below) a snap.

Now I take the tripod with the Lens Align MKII atop it and walk off the prescribed distance. It is recommended that all lenses including telephoto lenses be tested at distances of at least 25 times the focal length of the lens. That works out to 8.2 feet per 100mm. I usually work at about 20 times the focal length; that works out to a bit more than 6.5 feet per 100mm. For a 500mm lens that’s about 32.5 feet. You can either estimate the distance by walking it off or use a carpenter’s rule. A good rule of thumb without calculating or measuring anything is to set up so that the corners of the central AF sensor are just touching the edges of the main focusing circle as seen through the viewfinder.

Camera Settings Review

For your calibration efforts it is–as above–imperative to check and make sure that you camera is set up properly for testing:

• Central Sensor AF point (selected manually) with no surrounding points enabled.
• Av mode at the wide open aperture
• Live View/Movie function set to Stills
• The Live View AF Mode needs to be set to Quick Mode
• The (focusing) Beep is On.
• The ISO is set high enough to give you a decent shutter speed to ensure that the final confirmation images (if you choose to make them) are sharp
• Rear button focus is set.
• Drive Mode should be set to Single Frame Advance

Setting Up

Walk off or estimate the distance and set down the small tripod with the LA MII on top. Loosen the ballhead just a bit while still maintaining enough tension to prevent it from flopping. Then point the Lens Align roughly at the lens. Then look through the TPA’s Rear Sighting Port’s Main Target on the back of the unit, center the lens barrel in the center of the viewing port, and tighten the ball. This part is easy.

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This is the view from the back of the Lens Align Mark II. Thanks to Michael Tapes for the image.

Next I return to the camera set up and aim the lens so that the central AF sensor is on the center of the large focusing target on the left side of the Lens Align Mark II unit as shown in the image below.. Getting the central sensor to rest precisely on the center of the target once you tighten the tripod head may require several attempts and you will never get it done perfectly. Close is good enough. I will teach you how to deal with this situation below.

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This image shows the central AF sensor just touching the edges of the main circular target. This configuration gives you about 20 times the focal length for any lens regardless of focal length.

Attaining True Parallel Alignment

The next step is to align the camera and lens so that the camera (actually the imaging sensor) is perfectly parallel to the test target. As it turns out, this is–thanks to the brilliance of Michael Tapes and his ingenious design, sometimes fairly easy to do. But at times it can be frustrating. The very best case is to work with a partner who is capable of making minute adjustments to the aim of the LA MII as per your instructions. That way you do not have to walk back and forth until you are happy with your aim and the position of the edge of the red circle inside the hole in the center of the target.

With your tripod head tightened and the central AF sensor on the circular main target, focus, activate Live View, and magnify the image to 10X. As long as you have taken care and centered the lens in the Main Target from behind the device you should see at least parts of the red target circle in the hole in the center of the focusing target. If the circle made by the edge of the red circle is–as shown in the image below–perfectly centered in the hole in the target then you are ready to continue.

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This Michael Tapes screen capture shows the red ring centered in the hole in the center of the focusing target. If this is what you see at 10X, then your rig is perfectly square to the test target; you have attained True Parallel Alignment. Note: you will only see a thin bit of red–I am guess that this image was enhanced for educational purposes. 🙂

If the red circle is well off to one side or too high or too low, you or your assistant will need to re-aim the LA MII, re-focus, re-activate Live View, magnify to 10X, and see how you did. Trial and error is required when attempting to re-aim the LA MII. Sometimes you may get so frustrated that you simply start over by re-aiming from behind through the Rear Sighting Port’s Main Target. In any case, you do not need to have it as perfect as it is in the image above. If you can see at least part of the red circle all the way around you can proceed with confidence.

Non-tethered Testing

You are now ready to determine if your rig–the lens and the camera–are front or back focused. Activate Live View. Turn the manual focusing ring on the lens counter-clockwise to de-focus the image just a bit. You may have to “bend your rig” a bit by shifting the lens so that the AF sensor is precisely on the main target. This is easy to do even with the image de-focused a bit. Then you focus. Now magnify to 5X. Use the joystick to shift the view to your right so that you can see both the main target on the left and the ruler on the right. At 5X the ruler should be just about filling the horizontal frame from top to bottom.

Now look carefully at the pairs or numbers above and below the zero mark. If all the 4s, 8s, and 12s look equally sharp and relatively in focus and the sharpness falls off equally as you look at the pairs of 16s and 20s and the pairs of 28s, 32s, and 36 look equally blurry then the single image that you created is neither front- nor back-focused.

Here’s the rub: in order to determine that your result was not a lucky (or unlucky) fluke, we recommend that you take a look at at least ten Live View rounds of focusing, five slightly de-focused by turning the manual focus ring counter-clockwise, and five slightly de-focused by turning it clockwise. Important note: after viewing in Live View at 5X be sure to go back to the full screen view each and every time before focusing again so that you can be sure–even though you have de-focused the image a bit—that the active AF sensor, the central sensor, is squarely on the main focusing target. If 8 of the 10 show neither front- nor back focus then you are good to go. You can be confident that your rig is neither front- or back-focused.

Just to be clear on everything above. You are not making any images. You are not tethered to a laptop. You are simply focusing multiple times while in Live View and checking the results on the large LCD screen on the back of the camera as detailed above.

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Note first that what you see above is roughly what you will see on the rear LCD at 5X magnification. In this image that the 4s, 8s, and 12s are all in relatively sharp and focus falls off equally above and below them. Note that when you view the screen at 5X on the rear LCD that it will be relatively easy to determine front of back focus. This image was actually created with the 500II/5D Mark III with a micro-adjustment of -2 dialed in to correct for slight back-focus.

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The image above represents what you would see on the rear LCD if your camera/lens combination were severely back-focused. To correct such severe back focus you would need to dial in an adjustment of approximately -15 units; you want to move the focus towards the camera. Remember, however, that you need to focus about 10 different times after de-focusing the lens manually in different directions. Never make a micro-adjustment based on a single Live View view or test image.

You can see additional examples of front- and back-focusing in the original tutorial here.

To learn to perform the actual micro-adjustment please consult your camera body manual or a BAA camera User’s Guide. Once you have entered the needed micro-adjustment for a given camera body/lens combination you may wish to create a series of three to five test images being sure to de-focus manually after each image. It is not a bad idea to set your Picture Style to Monochrome to make the images easier to see clearly once you download them and view them on the computer to double-check your non-tethered micro-adjustments.

Specific instructions for doing the actual micro-adjustment on the EOS-1D MIV can be found in the original tutorial here.

Important note: you must make individual micro-adjustments for each lens/camera combination and for each lens/teleconverter/camera combination (with individual MAs for the 1.4X and the 2X TC. If you own and use two 1.4X TCs for example, understand that the camera will not be able to differentiate between them. I mark my two 1.4X TCs with a black Sharpie so that I can tell them apart.

If you are confused at all by this tutorial feel free to leave questions or comments below. Do note that I will be without internet access from 10/17 through 11/11. Peter Kes and Michael Tapes, however, will likely be able to help.

News Flashes

The Digital Photo Professional RAW Conversion Guide

I am working with Arash Hazeghi on a short new eGuide, The Digital Photo Professional RAW Conversion Guide (The DPP RCeG). It should be finished in a few days. As regular readers know I have been working more and more in DPP, at first with my 1D X files, and more recently with all of my Canon RAW files. There are many advantages. The eGuide, which should be available this week, will cost $10 and will be sent as a PDF.

Digital Basics News

The basics of converting Canon RAW images in DPP will be included in the next update of Digital Basics. As always, updates are free to all who have purchased Digital Basics. Once the next update is complete, the cost for new purchasers of Digital Basics will go up, from $20 to $25. Buy Digital Basics now or before the next update is released and you will effectively get the DPP Conversion info for free when the update becomes available.

The 1D X Autofocus Guide

The 1D X Autofocus Guide is available for $25. All of the early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. Click here for more info (see item 1) or here to purchase.

“The Photographers Guide to Attracting Birds”

The amazing “Photographers Guide to Attracting Birds,” available for only a week, has also been receiving rave reviews. Click here for more info or to purchase.

This Sandhill Crane was photographed at sunset at Bosque del Apache NWR in San Antonio, NM with the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Autofocus lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the unfortunately discontinued EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 1250. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/125 sec. at f/8 in Tv mode. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial.

Sunrise/Sunset Silhouette Magic: No Flash Needed

The JPEG above represents the original capture. The image is neither here nor there. It is not an effective silhouette with the crane and its reflection in the pond jet black. There is not enough light on the bird to make the image interesting. At times, hitting the shadowed side of the bird with some flash can yield spectacular results. But using flash is somewhat of a pain. And digital is magic, right? Lastly, the small branch sticking out of the water just beyond the bird’s head is distracting.

This was my first attempt at improving the image. I used Content Aware Fill to eliminate the protruding stick.

I used the Quick Selection Tool to select the bird. Once I made my initial selection I worked large and fine-tuned the edges of the selection. (Holding the Alt key down allows you to subtract from the selection as you paint.) I made sure to save the selection. Then I put the selection on its own layer (Control J) and used curves on a layer (Control M) to lighten the bird only by pulling the curve up. Better, but no cigar.

Now you’re talking!

I was still not too happy with the image so I brought the bird only on its own layer in NIK Color Efex Pro. I applied Detail Extractor at 80% followed by Tonal Contrast at 30%. Digital is magic but here, Color Efex Po was the magician. The final image looks more natural than if I had used flash in the field. Almost forgot, I reloaded my saved selection, selected inverse, and applied a bit of Tonal Contrast to the background only.

The animated GIF above gives you an idea of the progression from the original image through to the optimized master file.

NIK 15% Discount

As regular readers here know, NIK Color Efex Pro has drastically changed my digital workflow. You can save 15% on all NIK products 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.

NYC Weekend Nature Photography Seminar

Presented by Denise Ippolito/A Creative Adventure and Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island, New York. December 8-9, 2012 from 9am-4:30pm.
Weekend: $169. SAT or SUN: $99. Lodging available for out of town guests.
Saturday: Image Capture Sunday: Image Evaluation and Processing

Click here for complete details including the Saturday and Sunday schedules, club and group discount info, and registration incentives and for more info on the In-the-Field Seminar Follow-up Workshop.

Artie, the grizzled veteran, is widely noted as one of the premier bird photographers, tour leaders, and educators on the planet. Denise, who specializes in flowers, is the mega-creative up-and-comer, a popular lecturer, a skilled field instructor, and an amazing Photoshop wizard who will share her tips and tricks with you. Both artie and denise are full time professional nature photographers.

BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours

Click here for complete IPT information including the current schedule and links to general IPT info, deposit and cancellation policies. and the required registration and release forms.

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