Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Harlequin Ducks, two pair on the rocks. Barnegat Jetty, Barnegat Light, NJ. DEC 12, 2011. With the the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop (was still well underexposed): 1/25 sec. at f/18 in Av mode. 1/25 sec. is not a typo. Central Sensor Rear Focus/AI Servo AF and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: +2. For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

Just Duckie: Two Depth-of-field Questions

In the two images here you see two very different approaches. For the image above, I moved way back–sun angle was irrelevant as the birds were in the shade. For the image below I got low and used a few other professional tricks to get close enough to the group for a head portrait; this species can be quite skittish.

I write and teach: work wide open unless you can verbalize a reason for stopping down.

For the group image above, why f/18? (Wide open would have been f/5.6.)

For the head portrait below, why f/11? (Wide open with the TC would have been f/8.)

Harlequin Duck, drake head portrait. Barnegat Jetty, Barnegat Light, NJ. DEC 12, 2011. With the the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 500. Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1/60 sec. at f/11 in Manual mode. Central Sensor (by necessity) Rear Focus/AI Servo AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: +4. For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

Just Duckie: Additional Lessons

In view of the fact that I have long believed that the best way to teach is to ask, I continue:

For the group image why did I hold the shutter button down?

For the head portrait, why did I hold the shutter button down? Why was I actively focusing at the moment of exposure?

Why did I need to add light for the group image but subtract light for the head portrait? (The subjects and the backgrounds are the same….)

Barnegat Jetty Site Guide

Whenever I visit the Barnegat Jetty (which is every time that I come to Long Island in the winter), I follow Denise Ippolito’s excellent suggestions as detailed in her Barnegat Jetty Site Guide. Yesterday I was following Denise Ippolito and she was on the one who spotted the harlequins. Folks visit from many states and whether you are a local or are flying driving to New Jersey just to visit this famed locale, you will learn a ton of valuable lessons. My tips on getting really close to the Harlequins are included in the guide. See more great images and learn about the guide here.

artie is traveling 🙂

artie is traveling in the Southern Ocean (Falklands, South Georgia, & Antarctica) and will unable to respond to your questions and comments until after his return on 26 January 2012.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the images talked about in his blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon 1.4X III Teleconverter. Designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

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 🙂
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
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.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
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.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine. Also available for the 7D and the Mark III here.

This image was created on the Lake Kerkini, Greece IPT with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens and the 1.4X III TC (handheld at 145mm) with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/250 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. Lens/camera body Micro-adjustment: -8.

My Comments on: For Your Critique/Image #8

On September 25, 2011 I posted For Your Critique: Image #8. This Dalmatian Pelican image was entered in the Animal Portraits category of the 2011 WPOTY competition. I love the hairdo and the bird’s expression.The image caused more than a few folks to chuckle. Many folks liked the image and many had some suggestions. Many folks liked the tight crop while others–including my first and only photography teacher, Milton Heiberg, did not like it that the end of the bill was missing. I very much like tight crops on the face when you want to show important details, in this case the colorful eye and the snazzy hairdo. Some complained that the lower part of the bill was out-of-focus. It surely is, but I have been focusing on the eye and working at wide apertures for several decades so it is not likely that I will change soon as I have enjoyed a modicum of success employing that style.

Some folks like the white on white look, others suggested darkening the background.

The oft-asked question popped up again: why did you have the 1.4X TC on the 70-200 if you made the image at 145mm? Setting up with the 1.4X left me holding a 98-280mm lens which I thought would be best for the situation as some of the birds were more distant. And I do not worry at all about sharpness with the 1.4TC in place. Many folks commented that the image was very sharp. Steve Stadler wrote my favorite comment: “I Love it!! It really captures the personification of a grumpy old man who just woke up, and it looks like something Pixar would use as a character in one of their movies.”

This image did not make the final round of judging. Thanks to all who took the time to comment.

artie is traveling 🙂

artie is traveling in the Southern Ocean (Falklands, South Georgia, & Antarctica) and will unable to respond to your questions and comments until after his return on 26 January 2012.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Remember: you can earn free contest entries with your B & H purchases. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here for details.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X III teleconverter. I also use it a lot with the 1.4X III TC.
Canon 1.4X III Teleconverter. Designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

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.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine. Also available for the 7D and the Mark III here.

Wandel Peak, Booth Island, Lamaire Channel, Antarctica. Image courtesy of and copyright 2011: Paul Mckenzie

Antarctic Inspiration from Paul Mckenzie

On Thursday, December 22–just 6 days before I fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina and continue on to Ushuaia, I received the e-mail below with the following Subject Line:

Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica trip report.

Hi there, This is a much longer blog report than normal, but you’ll see why. Click here and enjoy! Best regards, Paul Mckenzie

Paul is a helluva nice guy and one of my favorite nature photographers. I have photographed with him twice on Midway and he will be joining Robert O’Toole and me for our (post-)Japan IPT songbird trip. I knew that I would leave out some great folks in the Inspirational Photography Websites post here. When I received Paul’s e-mail I realized that I had left him out of that post so I went back and added this:

Paul Mckenzie (website). Paul (along with wife Paveena) are aspiring professionals who travel extensively. Paul is equally skilled above and below the water. You will marvel at the images in his galleries and on his blog.

Imperial Shag breaking egg shell, New Island, Falkland Islands. Image courtesy of and copyright 2011: Paul Mckenzie

With my big trip coming up I spent a good half hour studying Paul’s images to get some inspiration.

Blue Ice Hole, Antarctic Peninsula. Image courtesy of and copyright 2011: Paul Mckenzie

I asked Paul how the heck he made this image. I know that he is a very good underwater photographer but doubted that he had been in the water on his last trip. He wrote back:

The blue hole image was taken shooting blind. The entrance of the hole was small and right at the water’s edge. I lowered the camera (5D MK 2) with a 15mm fish-eye lens attached into the hole; it barely fit in. I could not even use Live View to see what the camera was seeing. I guessed at the composition and tilted the camera slightly upwards, fired off a few shots, checked the histogram, made some adjustments, and took some more. The sun was so bright that I really couldn’t see what I was getting on the back of the camera so was pretty pleased when I saw this on the computer monitor.

When I replied to thank him I asked if knew that the hole was there before he made the first image.

He sent back a one word e-mail:

No!

Note: creativity is–in part–about getting the right lens in place where there has never been a lens before….

Adult King Penguin feeding chick, St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia. Image courtesy of and copyright 2011: Paul Mckenzie

Thanks!

Thanks Paul for permitting me to share your images here and for the inspiration. Reminder: you can see the entire blog post here.

artie is traveling 🙂

artie is traveling in the Southern Ocean (Falklands, South Georgia, & Antarctica) and will unable to respond to your questions and comments until after his return on 26 January 2012.

Earn Free Contest Entries and Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here to visit the competition home page.

Shopper’s Guide

Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Visit Arctic Norway with Jasper Doest–Exclusive to BAA Folks

Two Trips: Svalbard 2012/second trip (birds and landscapes) and Svalbard 2013/first trip (prime time for birds). Be sure to see the image collection below.

In June of 2011, I traveled to Svalbard with Patrick Sparkman and his wife Robin during prime time for birds. Jasper Doest was our guide. It was an astounding trip: we had two ponds full of courting Common Eiders, lots of breeding shorebirds including Purple Sandpiper and Red Phalarope (Grey Phalarope on the other side of the pond), Ivory Gull, nesting Pacific Loon, Barnacle Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Parastic Jeager, King Eider–a lucky find, Svalbard Ptarmigan, Svalbard Reindeer, and the impossibly cute little Dovekies among others. The Dovekies are relatively easy but for the climb. Plus gorgeous scenery including ice-scapes and ice macros and killer wildflowers. To see my images that were featured on the blog, click here, here, and here. To see my images featured in the Bulletin click here and here.

The absolute maximum group size is three. It is impossible visit Spitzbergen by yourself. Why? A guide with a rifle to protect against polar bears is a necessity. (We never saw or heard of a bear….) Jasper is already taking three BAA folks this coming June on the best dates for birds–the time frame for the drake Common Eiders is very narrow. The three folks inquired before I had time to make any announcements….. Jasper has agreed to put together a second trip this June, June 2012 as below, and another trip during the prime for birds dates in June 2013.

Svalbard – Arctic bird & landscape photography/Limit: 3. Date:June 21 – June 26, 2012. Price: €3300. Arrive Longyearbyen June 20, 2012, fly home, June 27, 2012. Join wildlife photographer Jasper Doest on an amazing wildlife adventure to Spitzbergen (Svalbard) in the high arctic.

Note: the trip above, the “second 2012 trip,” will most likely not feature large numbers of drake Common Eiders in the kennel ponds. On the other hand the female Common Eiders will be very cooperative and give you plenty of opportunities to make interesting compositions. Also you may get some images of nesting shorebirds and if you are very lucky, of shorebird chicks. Most of the rest of the subjects should be the same as they were for me on my trip: fantastic. Before you sign up for the second 2012 trip, do check out the info below on the first June 2013 trip….

Svalbard – Arctic bird photography/Limit 3/Openings 2. Date: June 15 – June 20, 2013. Price: €3300. Arrive Longyearbyen June 14, 2013, fly home, June 21, 2013. Join wildlife photographer Jasper Doest on an amazing wildlife adventure to Spitzbergen (Svalbard) in the high arctic.

To save yourself a spot on either trip please contact Jasper directly via e-mail and copy me as well here.

Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. Located north of mainland Europe, it is about midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The group of islands range from 74° to 81° north latitude (and thus inside the Arctic Circle), and actually about twice as close to the North Pole as Barrow, AK.

Spitzbergen is the largest island with the administrative center being Longyearbyen. The archipelago is administered by the Governor of Svalbard. The archipelago features an Arctic climate, although with significantly higher temperatures than other areas at the same latitude. The flora takes advantage of the long period of midnight sun to compensate for the polar night. Svalbard is a breeding ground for many seabirds, and also features polar bears, reindeer and marine mammals. Seven national parks and twenty-three nature reserves cover two-thirds of the archipelago, protecting the largely untouched, yet fragile, nature. Sixty percent of the archipelago is glacier, and the islands feature many mountains and fjords.

During this time the archipelago turns into a bird paradise with approximately 30 species of birds breeding throughout the summer, including King Eider, Ivory Gull, Long-tailed duck, Parasitic Jaegers, Dovekies and the only endemic species, the Svalbard Ptarmigan. Svalbard is home to millions of Dovekies and we will be able to witness and photograph large flocks nesting and flying to and from their feeding grounds at sea as well as individual birds. As the arctic summer is really short, some birds will be on their nests. Parasitic Jaegers are to be found at several places on the tundra and they will allow us to photograph at VERY close distance. The Arctic Terns will be a little more challenging, as they tend to attack everything that moves. However, as soon as they find out that you have no bad intentions they will continue their normal behavior, allowing us to photograph them up close and personal. Every year Red-Throated Loons, Long-tailed Ducks and King Eiders are to be found in the area. And usually we will have some good opportunities with some of these amazing birds. The opportunities with most other birds, especially Common Eider –will be plentiful. And the aim of these trips is to make most of the opportunities offered with some of the arctic specialties and to nail those special images out of what might seem common. Besides birds, the tour will cover all aspects of nature photography including dramatic landscapes, the abundant arctic flora (which you will see develop throughout the week) and wildlife photography (including encounters with the native Svalbard Reindeer).

Although the Red-Throated Loons, Long-tailed Duck and both eiders will likely have moved farther out on the tundra or to the open sea during the second trip, the opportunities with most other birds will be plentiful. And we may find some shorebird nests with or without tiny chicks. Besides birds, both tours will cover all aspects of nature photography including dramatic landscapes, the abundant arctic flora (which will be at its best during the second trip) and wildlife photography (including encounters with the native Svalbard Reindeer). The cost of the trip includes a boat trip to an island where Barnacle Geese are common nesters.

As all of the birds and mammals rarely see humans, most of them will only give you a glance and then continue with their daily routines, allowing you to make most of the photo opportunities. Although overcast situations are most common, when the midnight sun comes through it will provide plenty of sweet warm light. Unlike many other tours to this destination, the main focus will not be the Polar bear. We will not tour around Svalbard on a sea-going vessel; we will focus on a rather small but diverse area on the main island of Spitzbergen. Over the years Jasper has spend over 6 months in this area and is very familiar with the animal species and photographic opportunities.

Accommodations

With modern comfort in historic surroundings Spitsbergen Hotel offers a unique Svalbard experience. Situated on the “Hill” it has great views of Longyearbyen, the Lars glacier and the Longyear glacier. The hotel was originally built as accommodation/dining area for employees at Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani. It was also the company’s official representational building, and its interior and architecture made it Longyearbyen’s grandest construction. Great effort has been placed in preserving its special history and it is well worth a cultural stroll along the hotel corridors and public areas where you’ll find historic photographs, old maps and newspaper clippings.

Your Favorite?

The images below were created by two photographers: Jasper Doest and yours truly. Take a moment and let us know which two images below are your favorites and let us know why.

artie is traveling 🙂

artie is traveling in the Southern Ocean (Falklands, South Georgia, & Antarctica) and will be unable to respond to your questions and comments until after his return on 26 January 2012.

Dolphin Gull calling, Uhusaia, Argentina. With the the tripod-mounted Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens, the 2X III teleconverter, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/800 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode.

See Ya Later!

It is the last day of 2011. I am sitting on a tour bus with my photo gear and 1/3 of the group that will be boarding the Ortelius this afternoon for 26 days of touring the Southern Ocean. We will spend several days in the Falklands, six or seven days at South Georgia, and then head to the South Orkneys and the Antarctic Peninsula before heading north through the famed and feared Drake Passage. We will wind up back in Ushuaia, Argentina on the early morning of January 25th to catch our flights home later in the day. I am looking forward to a great adventure and to sharing my favorite images with you when I get home.

My plan is to post this from the hotel lobby after our whirlwind tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park. Old friends Rod and Marlene Planck are leading the trip today. Attending a seminar that Rod did in Philadelphia in 1990 or 1991 was a life-changing event for me as it served as motivation for me to leave teaching and pursue my current career. Seeing his great images in Birder’s World magazine had inspired me year’s before that.

My trip from Orlando to Ushuaia was a long one. I left my home at 12:30 on January 28th, flew to Miami at 3:35 pm, and continued on to Buenos Aires, Argentina arriving at about 7:30am the next day at the international airport, EZE. An hour cab ride brought me to AEP, the domestic airport for my 3:40pm flight to Ushuaia. I was in my room at the Albatros Hotel by 9pm. Fighting a cold, I rested for most of the day on the thirtieth. At about 4pm, finally succumbing to feeling a bit better, I grabbed my 300mm f/2.8L IS lens, both teleconverters, and my Gitzo my 3530 LS tripod with the Mongoose M3.6 on it and headed down to the causeway road alongside the harbor to try for some gulls. As luck would have it, someone had dumped a huge load of bread on the rocks that attracted a big assemblage of gulls including both Dolphin and Kelp Gulls of varying ages.

Surprisingly, the birds were somewhat skittish so I sat near the pile of bread and waited with some success for them to come to me. It was a good chance to work with the long lens that I will be using as big glass for the trip. I am used to working with extremely long effective focal lengths in the 1040 to 1456mm. With the 300 f/2.8L IS II and the 2X III TC my maximum effective focal length will be 780mm. Considering that the size of the bird in the frame is a function of the square of the focal length (rather than the focal length itself), I am sure at times that I will be wishing that I had my 800. But I am equally sure that I will make a few very good images. And by working wider rather than tighter I will have a better chance of creating images that depict interesting behavior.

Dolphin Gull, head portrait, Uhusaia, Argentina. With the the tripod-mounted Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens, the 2X III teleconverter, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens. The new version of the 300 f/2.8L IS lens is only a bit lighter than its predecessor but it is insanely sharp and features four-stop Image Stabilization. I will be using it with both Series III teleconvters.

2X III teleconverter. This new version of the 2X TC is noticeably sharper than the previous model, the EF 2X II.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

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 🙂
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
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.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
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.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine. Also available for the 7D and the Mark III here.

This image was created with the with the tripod-mounted Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens and the EOS_1D Mark III (since replaced by the EOS-1D Mark IV). ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/320 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. In the old days before I went to rear focus full time I probably used central sensor/One-Shot AF to focus on the fish’s eye but it is possible that I was in AI Servo and focused on the fish just beyond the claws and the eye of the fish…. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: +4. For a greater appreciation of the image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

My Comments on “For Your Critique: Image #4”

On August 1, 2011 I posted For Your Critique: Image #4. It was entered in the WPOTY category: Behavior: Mammals. When this bear caught a salmon and walked right towards me I was a bit frazzled as it stopped to dine only 20 feet away. At first I was confused as to what type of image to create. I did not have an intermediate zoom lens on my shoulder. I knew that I needed to remove the 1.4X TC. That done I looked through the viewfinder, saw the eye of the fish between those big claws, and visualized the image that I wanted to create. I have always loved this image and thought that it might do well in a contest or two. It has not.

Several folks inferred that the subject matter was inappropriate mentioning the “poor salmon getting its guts ripped out.” Gore sells. Gore wins contests. Bears gotta eat…. As for me, I am always rooting for the predator. One poster mentioned that images like this had (pun intended) been done to death. Though I have seen lots of close-ups of bears eating fresh-caught salmon I have never seen one even remotely similar to this. Mary Stamper as she almost always does, saw things exactly as I did when she wrote: “I like the image as it is. To me, it is mostly about the eye between the claws. I like the way my eye first grabs the red flesh and then slides down the fish body to meet up with the eye between the claw. Then you realize that it’s a bear. That’s just about a perfect visual manipulation to me. A very engaging and arresting, not to mention startling, image.”

Earn Free Contest Entries and Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here to visit the competition home page.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in this blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens. 500mm is the most popular telephoto focal length with a wonderful blend of reach, ease of handling, and relatively light weight. I owned two of these at one time and loved them to death. This focal length will soon be replaced with a Series II model that will be smaller and lighter and feature 4-stop IS. I can’t wait 🙂 To learn more about the news lenses start here.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

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 🙂
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
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.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
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.

This image of a Mute Swan flapping after a bath was created at the East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3. For a greater appreciation of the image above, click on the photo to view a larger version. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

My Comments on: For Your Critique/Image #7

On September 14, 2011 I posted For Your Critique: Image #7. This one was entered in the Behaviour Birds category of the 2011 WPOTY competition. I like this image a lot, especially for its elegance. As the contest is UK based Mute Swan images often do well. Because I choose to remove distracting background elements from so many of my avian images, I cannot enter them in various contests. This one was pretty much straight out of camera but for dust-spotting, color & contrast adjustments, and sharpening.

Most folks offered positive comments. Some folks like the brown and blue bands in the water. Others did not. I would have preferred all blue without any ripples. (The brown was reflections of the phragmites, the giant reeds, on the far shoreline.) It was suggested that I eliminate the single, large drop of water from the spray in front of the bird. I would have liked to but that is not permitted under the WPOTY rules. (Click here for an interesting discussion on digital contest guidelines.) Some folks praised the exposure and the detail in the white feathers, others felt that the white feathers lacked detail. Two folks thought that the primaries of the near wing had been damaged or clipped; though this species is introduced in the US this was a free and wild bird. The primaries of the near wing are simply foreshortened. As fr the image design and the crop, I love it as is.

Note that in North America both Canada Goose and Mute Swan are often ignored as potential photographic subjects. Though I am not a fan of introduced species like Mute Swan, I do not hesitate to photograph them and use them as teaching aids both in the field and during Photoshop sessions. When you see either species dipping their breasts in the water, get ready to create some dramatic images as they will almost always rise up out of the water and flap for all they are worth. The same goes for most bird families especially shorebirds and ducks.

For those who prefer a bit more detail in the WHITEs, I ran NIK Color Efex Pro’s Detail Extractor at about 40% on the image and painted the effect in on the bird only with a Hide-all Mask (as described in detail in Digital Basics). For a greater appreciation of the detail in the WHITEs in the image above, click on the photo to view a larger version. Click on the enlarged version to close it.

NIK Color Efex Pro 4 Recipe Tip

If missed my NIK Color EFEX Pro 4 Recipe Tutorial, click here.

You can see spectacular before and after Color Efex recipe images here.

NIK 15% Discount

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.

NIK Creative Efex Collection

NIK recently announced the availability of a special limited production bundle of 3 of their most popular products, Color Efex Pro 4, Silver Efex Pro 2, and HDR Efex Pro. You can save more than $200 on the bundle which is available only through NIK affiliates. If you would like additional info, please e-mail with the words “Creative Efex Collection” in the Subject line. If you have been on the fence about purchasing the plug-ins mentioned above this is a great chance to save some significant bucks.

Thanks to all who commented. Note: this image did not make the final round of judging.

Earn Free Contest Entries and Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here to visit the competition home page.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

Remember: you can earn free contest entries with your B & H purchases. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here for details.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens. Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

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 🙂
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
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.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
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.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine. Also available for the 7D and the Mark III here.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Jim, Jennifer, Peter Kes, and I would like to send each and every one of you best wishes for a joyous holiday season and a wonderful, productive, rewarding, and healthy 2012 filled with great photographic opportunities and wonderful travels. Jennifer will not be back to work until 2012! Jim will be here Monday through Thursday this week (DEC 26-29). He will, however, be out of the office on Wednesday, DEC 28 from 1-4pm and all day on Friday; please leave a phone message and we will get back to you on January 2, 2012.

Please note that as I will be on a Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctica cruise from DEC 28, 2011 through JAN 26, 2012 without internet access except possibly for a day or two at the beginning and/or the end of the trip. Then I am home for a bit spending a week on the road for the sold-out SW FLA IPT. The I disappear again for a month-long (17 FEB to 13 MAR) trip to Japan. (There is lots of room there if you would like to join us.) Jim will be here to help you with your mail order and other needs and Jennifer as always will be handling the IPT registrations; do note that the Morro Bay IPT is now half full.

I simply will be unable to respond to questions in my usual timely fashion until at least mid-March so please hold off with your photography questions till then. You can learn the answers to practically of your questions in ABP, ABPII, and Digital Basics. In addition, there is a killer-good search feature on the blog, the little white box in the upper right of the blog pages. It will lead you to information both on the blog and in the Bulletins. At all times we ask that you try to find the answers to your questions either in the books or on-line before e-mailing. That said I look forward to receiving your fresh, new questions via e-mail this spring.

Despite my absence on the Southern Oceans trip blog folks will scarcely notice my absence as Peter Kes will be posting lots of great stuff for me about every other day. (I have been working hard preparing posts in advance.) I will not, of course, be able to respond to your comments until I get back. One final note, it is getting closer to the time for everyone to enter the BRIDS AS ART 1st International Bird Photography Competition; the deadline is March 31, 2012. Right now, many of the $20,000+ worth of prizes are pretty much unclaimed and there are many empty categories…. The entry fee is only $25 for ten images or see more immediately below.

Earn Free Contest Entries and Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here to visit the competition home page.

Shopper’s Guide

Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

If you give the animated GIF above a moment to play you will note that in the course of optimizing the image I did a fair amount of digital clean-up. See more below. This image was at Indian Lake Estates, FL with the tripod-mounted Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 1.4X III TC and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV ISO 200. This is a 7-frame AEB HDR: +/- one stop around Evaluative metering at zero: 1/800 sec. at f/8. Central sensor/rear-focus AI Servo AF. Lens/camera body Micro-adjustment: -8.

Digital Manipulation and Nature Photography Competitions

I did not have to look far to find an image that would be disqualified from most international nature photography competitions; it is an HDR image that has obviously been cleaned up). As far as the ethics of nature photography are concerned my stance is a simple one: the before image is an image of a lily in a pond and the after image is an image of a lily in a pond. No lies have been told at least from where I sit.

Recently, while searching the web for information on my friend, the late Fritz Pölking, an iconic German nature photographer, I came across a link to an interesting article entitled “Manipulated Images in Nature Photography Competitions; Pure Nature or Pixel Pushing? You can find the entire article here. It is an interesting article that would be well worth reading for all serious nature photographers especially those concerned with the ethics of nature photography (like me) or those (like me) who enjoy entering (and especially having images honored by) one or more of the prestigious international competitions. The article was credited to the “GDT board of management” but at the very end included this “by Thomas Block” and this “German to English translations by Alexandra Korte” so I am a bit confused as to how to credit the authorship.

The GDT

The GDT (Gesellschaft Deutscher Tierfotografen) is based in Germany. Rather than try to explain exactly what they do I offer this from their website:

What does the GDT want?

The GDT set itself the task, to produce photographical appealing, convincing and biologically irrefutable nature photos under the compliance with the prevailling laws and to distribute them to the public by exhibitions, books, photo magazines, catalogues and lectures. That way the GDT wants to contribute to a better understanding of the nature and to advertise for her protection. For GDT members the respect for nature is the most important rule at their photographical work.

What does the GDT do?

Every year the GDT organizes the huge “International Nature Photography Festival” with slide shows by photographers from all over the world, with photo exhibitions and seminars on latest subjects of the nature photography. During the festival a unique photo market presents innovations of the film and equipment market, customized designs, numerous accessories, books and travels about nature photography. Above that, every year the GDT organizes an internal photo contest “GDT – Nature Photographer of the Year” as well as an open contest “European Wildlife Photographer of the Year”.

(I have been meaning to join the GDT ever since I visited to speak about six years ago….)

My Comments

Note: the bold italics in the “What does the GDT want?” paragraph above are mine. The choice of using “biologically irrefutable” to qualify nature photos is an interesting one that clearly implies that little or no digital manipulation (I far prefer the term optimization) is permitted. As you read the article above that implication becomes very clear. And I am fine with their stance. For the contest and for their exhibits. If I do join (I am planning to do that soon) and I enter the contest (as I also plan to do) I will of course abide by the rules.

At the end of the article they included “Statements of some (actually 3) of the members of the jury (for the 2009 European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.) The first two judges towed the party line. Here is a typical remark by made by judge Theo Bosboom (Netherlands):

The second day was still pleasant, but brought also a lot of frustration. After viewing the raw-files, we had to eliminate many selected pictures, because the competition rules had been breached by the photographers. Sometimes this decision was easy, for example when all kind of objects had been removed from a picture, or when the picture turned out to be only a small crop of the original (while only 30 % cropping is allowed). In other cases, the decision was less obvious and required extensive discussions between the jury members. It is for example hard to determine whether the contrast and colour temperature of a picture have been changed so much that also “the message of the photograph” has been changed.

We could spend days discussing that single paragraph alone so I will limit myself to a single comment: It is very hard indeed to determine if an image has been “juiced up” too much especially since the judges were not there and in view of the following facts:

1-Digital images are inherently unsharp and low in contrast as they come out of the camera as compared to film images.
2-Properly exposing digital images to the right to ensure that a file of the highest quality will often result in a RAW file that looks dull and washed out.

When I read the comments of the third judge–Dr. Siegmar Bergfeld (Germany) I was, however, stunned. Here they are:

While judging this competition I was once again struck how the intensity of the images had amplified through the use of digital photography. There were a lot of great eyecatchers which were in many cases later identified as a breach of the competition rules. It was a painful task to exclude otherwise great photographs because of undue manipulations. I came to ask myself the following: should we make the creators of these photographs the centre of our criticism or our competition rules?

Back in the analogue era of photography we – as genuine wildlife photographers – accepted the numerous feeding places that we consciously did not incorporate into the photograph, the “manipulations” using graduated filters, ultra zoom lenses, flashes, blurring, a little twig removed and much more…not to
mention the work in the dark room. Now with digital photography at our hands our possibilities to improve images have been increasing magnificently. It is my opinion that we should utilize this (sic: technology) openly rather than making it a taboo (a much straighter approach would be for example to hang a small copy of the original raw file with the corresponding photograph). To avoid any misunderstanding: copying additional objects into an image, distorting the essential meaning and also any kind of composing if not stated, turns wildlife photography into an untrustworthy and interchangeable matter. But great photographs are often not created by adding something but by the art of reduction.

Wow! Stunned is an understatement. Blown away. Shocked. Though the translation (or possibly just the intended meaning) is a bit less than crystal clear here is the judge of a prestigious international competition suggesting that nature photography contests might be better off allowing things like background clean-up so long as the natural history of the situation is preserved.

I am hoping that Dr. Bergfeld proves to be a man ahead of his time….

Do note that the relaxed digital restrictions (see below) in The 1st BIRDS AS ART International Bird Photography Competition accurately reflect Dr. Bergfeld’s suggestions.

From the Rules page:

• Digital Restrictions: Entrants are permitted to remove both major and minor distracting elements from an image so long as the natural history of the scene at the moment of capture is preserved. You may add canvas, a wing-tip, or a tail-tip. Compositional elements that were not present at the moment of capture may not be added. Dust-spotting is of course permitted as are adjustments to color, contrast, and tonality. You may crop your images. Cropping shall not exceed more than 50% of the width and/or the height of the original RAW image.
• RAW files for all winning and honored images (except for those entered in the Digital Creations category) will be requested via e-mail after the close of the contest. They must be submitted in a timely fashion. Instructions for submitting the required files will be sent via e-mail. Failure to submit the requested RAW files will result in the image being eliminated from the competition.

Rejoinder

Nothing above including my comments should be construed as being critical of the GDT. Most prestigious international nature photography competitions have similar digital restrictions. I am hoping of course that in the future things may change drastically.

Your comments on any of the issues raised above are of course welcome.

B&H Specials

B&H has two great specials that run till the end of December.

Canon EOS-5D Mark II Package

You can get a Canon EOS-5D Mark II package that includes a 16GB CompactFlash Card, a Lowepro Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag, and the Red Giant B&H Video Production Software Bundle (a $719.85 value) for only $1,999.95 with free USA shipping by clicking here. The 5D Mark II is everyone’s favorite landscape camera body; see the lead image here. I took one to Bosque to create some very wide images and will be taking one to Antarctica along with the circle lens. Not to mention that it is a killer video camera…. (No questions on video please!)

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Zoom Lens

If you own a 7D, a 60D, or a 50D, and you like to do landscape and/or side angle photography this would be the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS zoom lens will thrill you. (Note: this lens will not fit on an EOS-1D Mark IV or other 1D series bodies and it will not on the EOS-5D Mark II.) The $41 instant rebate is good only till the end of the month; you can purchase this lens here.

Earn Free Contest Entries and Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here to visit the competition home page.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the image in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X III teleconverter. I also use it a lot with the 1.4X III TC.
Canon 1.4X III Teleconverter. Designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

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 🙂
Gitzo GT3530LS Tripod. This one will last you a lifetime.
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.
CR-80 Replacement Foot for Canon 800. When using the 800 on a Mongoose as I do, replacing the lens foot with this accessory lets the lens sit like a dog whether pointed up or down and prevents wind-blown spinning of your lens on breezy days by centering the lens directly over the tripod.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Be sure to check out our camera body User’s Guides here.
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.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine. Also available for the 7D and the Mark III here.

This Great White Pelican image was created at Lake Kerkini, Greece with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens, the 2X III teleconverter (hand held at 185mm) with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/1250 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: -4. Central Sensor/Rear Focus/AI Servo AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. To enjoy viewing a larger sized image, click on the photo. Then click on the enlarged version to close it.

NIK Color Efex Pro 4 Tip

As stated in Capture and Beyond Workflow Lessons That You Cannot Afford to Miss, it is important to take care of your RAW files so that when you learn new techniques or learn to work with new software you can go back and re-work some of your favorites. Though I had never optimized this image before the other day it surely benefited from a visit to Color Efex as you can see by viewing the animated GIF below.

In the before and after images above note that 50% Tonal Contrast has given the image some pop, White Neutralizer has eliminated the sickly color cast, and Detail Extractor has restored density and detail to the white feathers. I just love the way that White Neutralizer makes the BLUEs in an image sing. As I have been saying, NIK Color Efex Pro has made huge changes in my workflow, made my life easier, and vastly improved the quality of my images.

Working more and more each day with the plug-in, I have been making some neat and time-saving discoveries. Recently I came up with a great way to run Tonal Contrast at 50% and White Neutralizer at 100% in one fell swoop (thanks to Denise Ippolito for the Save Recipe revelation) and to follow that up with Details Extractor as needed. It is a real time saver. Here is how I do it:

• With your cleaned-up image open in Photoshop, hit Filter/NIK Software/Color Efex Pro 4.
• Click on Tonal Contrast; move the Highlights slider back to 12%, the Midtones slider back to 25%, and the Shadows slider to 12%.
• Click on the + sign by Add Filter and select White Neutralizer. Leave the sliders at the default settings.
• Now click on Save Recipe and create a name; I used 50% TC + WH NEUTR. Hit OK after you save your named recipe.
• Now when I open an image in Color Efex I click on Recipes/Custom and then click on the icon for 50% TC + WH NEUTR. A dialog box will appear and say: “Adding a Recipe will replace all filters currently applied to your image. Would you like to continue?” Before clicking Yes I would suggest checking the “Do not show again” box.
• If I wish to run Detail Extractor or experiment with any other filters on the list I simply hit the + sign by Add Filer and continue. Details Extractor is great for restoring detail in various areas of an image especially the bright WHITEs. If you wish to tone down the effects I would recommend moving the Detail Extractor to the left.

Note: If you want to apply Detail Extractor only to part of your image you will need to apply your Recipe first, reopen the image in Color Efex Pro 4, run Detail Extractor, apply it, and then add either a Hide-All or a Layer Mask to the new NIK layer once the image opens in Photoshop. You can learn to use both types of Layer Masks in the Layer Masking for Dummies section of Digital Basics.

You can see spectacular before and after Color Efex recipe images here.

NIK 15% Discount

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.

NIK Creative Efex Collection

NIK recently announced the availability of a special limited production bundle of 3 of their most popular products, Color Efex Pro 4, Silver Efex Pro 2, and HDR Efex Pro. You can save more than $200 on the bundle which is available only through NIK affiliates. If you would like additional info, please e-mail with the words “Creative Efex Collection” in the Subject line. If you have been on the fence about purchasing the plug-ins mentioned above this is a great chance to save some significant bucks.

Earn Free Contest Entries and Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here.

More and more folks are earning multiple contest entries with their B & H purchases. See here for details on that. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here to visit the competition home page.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear used to create the images in today’s blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide 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.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens. Man, I am loving this lens on my shoulder with the 2X III teleconverter. I also use it a lot with the 1.4X III TC.
Canon 1.4X III Teleconverter. Designed to work best with the new Series II super-telephoto lenses.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body. My two Mark IVs are my workhorse digital camera bodies.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

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.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine. Also available for the 7D and the Mark III here.