Your Call?

Which of today’s two featured images do you like best, the one made in the sun or the one made when it briefly turned cloudy? Why?

Scroll down to learn how to come up with perfect exposures in sunny and cloudy conditions with any system.

This Just In

Our landline (863-692-0906) has been giving us problems on and off for days. If you have left a message and not heard from us, please get in via e-mail. If you would like to leave a deposit for the first Fort DeSoto IPT, for one or both of the Homer IPTs, or for an In-the-Field session at ILE, please try me on my cell phone at 863-221-2372 and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

ILE Baby Crane and Eagle In-the-Field Sessions

Right now, I have five tame baby cranes and two baby eagles here at ILE. Timing for a great learning and photo session has never been better. $300 for two solid hours of detailed photographic instruction from this Sunday onwards. We can fine-tune for the best weather. If you are interested in joining me, please get in touch via e-mail.

Galapagos 2023 Opening Filled!

Lake Morton In-the-Field veteran Bob Matyas will be joining the smallest Galapagos 2023 Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime IPT group ever. Why? Two folks signed up for single cabins. This trip is by far the world’s finest photographic cruise of the famed archipelago. I will be returning in August 2024. If you are interested or have questions, please get in touch via e-mail ASAP.

Iceland

My decades-long dream of spending time on Grimsey Island, Iceland, with the puffins — 13 days in this case!, will be realized this coming July. I am doing back-to-back trips as a participant. If anyone would like information on the world’s greatest Iceland/Atlantic Puffin trip this coming July, please contact me via e-mail.

What’s Up?

Based on the weather forecast, I’d guessed that Thursday would have been the better day. Thursday was very good, but Friday was the best day of the year. By far. The shooting strategies this year are far different than they were for the past two seasons. If you are planning a visit soon, you will surely want to sign up and receive the back issues and the very latest Stick Marsh Info. I may be offering a few more In-the field sessions at Stick Marsh in early April.

I was glad to learn the Bear Bob Sabine will be doing both 2024 Kachemak Bay sessions and that IPT veteran Sanjeev Nagrath has left a deposit for the second IPT. Bald Eagle IPT. Please do not hesitate too long if you are thinking of joining me next year in Homer.

Today is Saturday 18 March 2023. I just got back from the lake. It was a Great Egret kind of morning. I spent fifty minutes with a handsome young bird on The Perch II, then did another hunting in the mars. I ended my morning using the 600 f/4 with the 1.4X TC trying for head portraits of the small crane colt using the knee-pod technique. The images are downloading as I type. I located both two-chick families in the South Marsh but drove on by.

This blog post took about more than two hours to prepare and makes three hundred fifty-two days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day. It won’t be long now!

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

The Stick Marsh Site Guide Subscription Service

The Site Guide Subscription Service was a new concept last year. I e-mailed the first issue in late-March 2022. The Basics e-mail includes specific directions to the site, and a map of the rookery area with specific instructions and wind, weather, and where-to-be advice. Sign up now to receive last year’s five e-mails and tomorrow’s very important update. Unfortunately, things at Stick Marsh are changing very soon.

To sign up for the Stick Marsh Site Guide Subscription Service, call Jim in the office weekday afternoons at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand or send a PayPal for the $100.00 to us at birdsasart@verizon.net. Please be sure to include the words Stick Marsh with your PayPal.

I fully understand that you can go to Google Maps, find Stick Marsh, visit, and likely make some good images. You might think, I can do fine just without artie’s advice. But you will do a whole lot better with it. Especially considering the new conditions and the coming change.

B&H

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

This image was created on 18 March 2023 on a Stick Marsh In-the-Field Workshop in Fellsmere, FL Seated on a pillow, employing the knee-pod rest position, I used the handheld BLUBB-supported Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/5000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the exposure was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 8:00:00am on then sunny morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Roseate Spoonbill landing in full sun

Dealing With Constantly Changing Light

With some broken cloud cover to the east, the light was changing almost constantly. One minute you would set the exposure for bight sun, the next minute you had to decrease the shutter speed and raise the ISO when a cloud covered the sun. On the drive back to ILE yesterday after our great Stick Marsh morning, Mike Gotthelf asked if there were a better way to come up with good exposures in constantly changing light.

The answer is “No.”

If you work in any automatic mode with AUTO ISO — Shutter Priority would be best, it is not possible to change the Exposure Compensation quickly enough as the background changes from dark green mangrove reflections to sunlit water (or sky).

Keep on reading to learn the best approach with any system.

This image was created on 18 March 2023 on a Stick Marsh In-the-Field Workshop in Fellsmere, FL Seated on a pillow, employing the knee-pod rest position, I used the handheld BLUBB-supported Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/3200 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 8:02:27am on then cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Roseate Spoonbill landing after a cloud covered the sun

Determining Exposures with Sony

Both images were created at the wide-open aperture: f/2.8. Image #1 was created with a shutter speed of 1/5000 second at ISO 640. Image #2 was created at ISO 1250 with a shutter speed of 1/3200 sec. If my math is correct, Image #2 was created using 1 2/3-stops more light than Image #1.

After setting the shutter speed to 1/5000 second, the sunny spoonbill exposure was determined by pointing the lens at an incoming spoonie and raising the ISO until faint Zebras were present on the back of the neck, the brightest part of the bird. RawDigger showed these exposures to be either perfect or dead-solid perfect.

Then came the cloud. So, how did I get to the right exposure? Using Sony, it was relatively easy to come up with the cloudy spoonbill exposure. When the cloud covered the sun, I pointed the lens at a spoonbill on the ground, decreased the shutter speed from 1/5000 to 1/3200 second (to let in 2/3-stop more light), and doubled the ISO from 640 to 1250 (to let in an additional stop of light). At that point, Zebras appeared on the bird’s neck. Another perfect exposure. Note: RawDigger showed 1,788,000 OvExp pixels for Image #2 with all of the over-exposure on the sky, just what I need to come up with a dead-solid perfect exposure for the subject.

Determining Exposures with Other Systems

Folks using Nikon or Canon or any other system that I am aware of are not blessed with Zebra technology for stills. For those folks, coming up with the right exposure is a bit more difficult and a bit more time-consuming. It is best done by creating a test image and then evaluating the histogram. And yes, that needs to be done every time that the light changes.

In-Camera Histograms

With all systems, the in-camera histograms are poor at best for those who wish to create perfectly exposed to the right raw files. At times that show over-exposed highlights when there are none, and at times they show no data at all anywhere near the right side of the histogram yet there are millions of over-exposed pixels.

Saving Time With Any System

Whatever gear you are using, here is a time-saving tip to use when working in changing light. Once you have a good sunny exposure for a given subject, point your lens at the water (or any other large, consistently-toned area), and note the reading on the analogue scale. Yesterday, in full sun, that showed +2/3-stop. With the sun behind a cloud, +2-stops was pretty much perfect. As noted here previously on many occasions, the most sophisticated metering systems are pretty smart when the sun is out at full strength, and very dumb in low light conditions. And the lighter toned the backgrounds, the dumber they are. All of the above is true whether you are using Canon’s Evaluative metering, Nikon’s Matrix metering, or Sony’s Multi-metering.

If you really want to learn exposure get yourself a copy of the RawDigger-Guide and then sign up for an IPT ASAP.

Hard Work

Yes, getting the right exposure in constantly changing light is hard work. It requires study, skill, and knowledge. It requires concentration and attention to detail. And mental stamina.

Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull landing on head of Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull in flight, Reddish Egret sunrise silhouette, Great Blue Heron with needlefish, Yellow-crowned Night Heron with ghost crab, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling in breeding plumage, and white morph Reddish Egret in glorious breeding plumage.

The 2023 Spring Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)

Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #1: Tuesday 28 March through the morning session on 31 March 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers/Openings: five.

Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #2: Tuesday 11 April through the morning session on 14 April 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers/Openings: four.

Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #3: Tuesday 9 May through the morning session on 12 May 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers. /Openings: five.

Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for terns and gulls, wading birds, and shorebirds in spring. Many of the birds will be in full breeding plumage. Simply put, DeSoto is the new Ding Darling. Migrant shorebirds are in abundance, and many are exceedingly tame. We should have great chances on Royal and Sandwich Terns and both white- and dark-morph Reddish Egrets. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two along with some American Oystercatchers. We will enjoy lots of great flight photography, especially with the Brown Pelicans.

Again, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull in flight, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Sandwich Terns copulating, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret with reflection, breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, white morph Reddish Egret, and Snowy Egret in marsh.

In Addition!

We should also get to photograph a variety of other shorebirds including Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, Snowy, and Piping Plovers, Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, and most especially, Red Knot, with many individuals in their handsome breeding plumages. In spring the T-shaped peninsula and the newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, are literally packed with avian treasures.

With just a bit of luck, we may get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable species: Roseate Spoonbill. And we will surely get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. With luck, they will have Laughing Gulls landing on their heads. And though not guaranteed, Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two.

Yes, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: breeding plumage Dunlin, dark morph Reddish Egret displaying, Laughing Gull vertical front-end portrait, Laughing Gull with prey item, landing on head of Brown Pelican, breeding plumage Royal Tern displaying, Royal Terns — pre-copulatory stance, Laughing Gulls copulating, Laughing Gull head portrait, breeding plumage Sandwich Tern with fish, and a rare treat, a breeding plumage White-rumped Sandpiper.

What You Will Learn on a DeSoto IPT

• 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
• 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
• 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
• 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds including various sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and possibly yellowlegs.
• 6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
• 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
• 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
• 10- More than you could ever imagine.

You got it by now! Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Roseate Spoonbill, immature Brown Pelican in flight, the heron/egret hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, immature Royal Tern on railing, Great Egret morning silhouette, Black Skimmer in surf, and underside head portrait of Great Blue Heron.

The Details

Morning sessions will run two and one-half to three hours; afternoon sessions about two. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till noon and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy. We may opt to visit a great North Tampa rookery if conditions warrant that.

There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each of the three full days. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).

Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field as early as possible and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:30am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We will be getting wet.

Your $599 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check three months before the trip begins. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice two months before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.

IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

ILE Baby Crane and Eagle In-the-Field Sessions

Right now, I have five tame baby cranes and two baby eagles here at ILE. Timing for a great learning and photo session has never been better. $300 for two solid hours of detailed photographic instruction from this Saturday onwards. If you are interested in joining me, please get in touch via e-mail.

Stick Marsh In-the-Field Session

I am offering what might be a final Stick Marsh In-the-Field Sessions on Friday: $300 for two solid hours of detailed photographic instruction. I have two folks for Friday morning — still have room for one or two more folks. There are many, many reasons to attend this session. If you are at all interested in learning why or in joining me, please get in touch via e-mail immediately.

Galapagos 2023 Opening

Due to a cancellation, I have an opening for a single male photographer on the Galapagos 2023 Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime IPT, the world’s finest photographic cruise of the famed archipelago. I am offering the spot with a substantial discount. If you are interested in joining a great group, or have questions, please get in touch via e-mail ASAP.

Iceland

My decades-long dream of spending time on Grimsey Island, Iceland, with the puffins — 13 days in this case!, will be realized this coming July. I am doing back-to-back trips as a participant. If anyone would like information on the world’s greatest Iceland/Atlantic Puffin trip this coming July, please contact me via e-mail.

What’s Up?

It was cold and windy with brisk north wind and an occasional drizzle at 8:30am. I put five ounces of butternut squash in the oven at 375° figuring that I would be back soon. More than two hours later, I made it back to my home. Fortunately, Jim had taken the squash out of the oven. Learn why I was so late for brunch in today’s blog post below.

Today is Thursday 16 March 2023. House guest Mike Gotthelf and I will be leaving early for a Stick Marsh session. We will be meeting up with IPT veteran Nancy Fischer. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes three hundred fifty-one days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day. It won’t be long now!

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Mike’s Magical ILE Tour

Old friend and multiple IPT veteran Mike Gotthelf arrived at 1:00pm on Wednesday. He is doing the two Stick Marsh mornings with me and staying in my guest room for two nights. As it was still cloudy, I took him down to the lake for a quick tour. We hit a grand slam. The two chick family was where I had left them in the morning. The small colt was foraging in its favorite spot. The brand new, tiny two-chick family was on the edge of the marsh. And amazingly, all four Bald Eagles were at the nest tree, one ripping something apart in the nest, and both adults and the second eaglet were perched above and to the right of the nest. I headed back for a nap and a swim and Mike had a ball.

This image was created on 15 March 2023 down by the lake near my home at ILE. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500. 1/1000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 8:56:48am on cloudy dark morning. Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Sandhill Crane family foraging

Not Expecting Much

I drove down to the lake with the wind blowing, dark clouds, occasional light rain, and not much hope of taking even a single image. That changed quickly when I found the two week old chicks foraging with their parents on the South Peninsula. As I predicted yesterday, they had come out of the marsh for the first time. I worked them from the car for quite a while. Then I drove north to check on the nearly-a-month old crane colt and stopped along the way to check on the new crane nest that I had found in the reeds. I knew the exact spot but could not find the bird either on the nest or nearby. That meant that either the nest had failed or that the chicks had hatched,

This image was created on 15 March 2023 down by the lake near my home at ILE. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/2000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 9:46:36am on cloudy dark morning. Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Bald Eagle recently fledged and flying juvenile

The Young Eagles Favorite Pine Tree

As soon as I headed north, I came across the lighter of the two eaglets (I call its sibling “Blackie”) sitting the same branch in the very same pine tree that his brother or sister from the previous brood had perched one year ago. Strange how that works. Though I had the 600mm f/4 on the passenger seat to my right, I went wider with the 400mm f/2.8 so as to frame the bird nicely with the pine boughs. And yes, I am quite blessed to own both of these great lenses, not to mention that I am first on the list to get the Sony 300mm f/2.8 lens that Sony had announced.

This image was created on 13 September 2022 down by the lake near my home at ILE. Seated on wet muck, I used the knee-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600. 1/1000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect (ho hum). AWB at 9:58:30am on cloudy dark morning. Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Sandhill Crane chick getting fed

The Big Wonderful Surprise

After checking on the small colt at the north end of the North Field, I drove back to check on the 2-chick family. On my way to the eagle nest tree, I searched again for the bird that I had found on the nest last week. No luck. Then I checked The Perch II. Nothing there. Then I drove back to check on the small colt. I had wanted to call Jim to have him check on my squash in the oven but had left my phone on the charger. At about 9:45am I decided to check on the two-chick family one last time. I passed on those as the family was foraging in high grass along the edge of the canal. I decided to head home at last, I was shocked to see two adult cranes and two very tiny chicks, no more than two or three days old, foraging along the edge of the marsh. I spent a wonderful hour with them.

I sat on the muck for an hour watching the two tiny chicks get fed. The relatively tall grasses made things difficult, but it was a ton of fun watching them gobble up big mole crickets. When the mother crane laid down in marsh grasses, I knew that she wanted to brood the two chicks. I was in perfect position. One of the chicks ran toward the adult bird. I was so excited that I could barely stand it. Eye AF performed perfectly, but just as the chick got near its parent I was struck down by the dreaded “battery exhausted.” So home I went.

Your Call?

Which of today’s three featured images do you like best? Why?

Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull landing on head of Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull in flight, Reddish Egret sunrise silhouette, Great Blue Heron with needlefish, Yellow-crowned Night Heron with ghost crab, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling in breeding plumage, and white morph Reddish Egret in glorious breeding plumage.

The 2023 Spring Fort DeSoto Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)

Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #1: Tuesday 28 March through the morning session on 31 March 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers/Openings: five.

Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #2: Tuesday 11 April through the morning session on 14 April 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers/Openings: four.

Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #3: Tuesday 9 May through the morning session on 12 May 2023. 3 1/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers. /Openings: five.

Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for terns and gulls, wading birds, and shorebirds in spring. Many of the birds will be in full breeding plumage. Simply put, DeSoto is the new Ding Darling. Migrant shorebirds are in abundance, and many are exceedingly tame. We should have great chances on Royal and Sandwich Terns and both white- and dark-morph Reddish Egrets. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two along with some American Oystercatchers. We will enjoy lots of great flight photography, especially with the Brown Pelicans.

Again, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Laughing Gull in flight, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Sandwich Terns copulating, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Egret with reflection, breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Royal Tern, white morph Reddish Egret, and Snowy Egret in marsh.

In Addition!

We should also get to photograph a variety of other shorebirds including Black-bellied, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, Snowy, and Piping Plovers, Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, and most especially, Red Knot, with many individuals in their handsome breeding plumages. In spring the T-shaped peninsula and the newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, are literally packed with avian treasures.

With just a bit of luck, we may get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable species: Roseate Spoonbill. And we will surely get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography. With luck, they will have Laughing Gulls landing on their heads. And though not guaranteed, Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two.

Yes, Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: breeding plumage Dunlin, dark morph Reddish Egret displaying, Laughing Gull vertical front-end portrait, Laughing Gull with prey item, landing on head of Brown Pelican, breeding plumage Royal Tern displaying, Royal Terns — pre-copulatory stance, Laughing Gulls copulating, Laughing Gull head portrait, breeding plumage Sandwich Tern with fish, and a rare treat, a breeding plumage White-rumped Sandpiper.

What You Will Learn on a DeSoto IPT

• 1- The basics and fine points of digital exposure; how to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure (or before if you are using SONY gear).
• 2- How and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it).
• 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 4- Lots about bird behavior and how to use that knowledge to help you create better images.
• 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds including various sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and possibly yellowlegs.
• 6- To spot good situations and to choose the best perspective.
• 7- To see, evaluate, and understand the light.
• 8- To design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 9- And perhaps most importantly, to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
• 10- More than you could ever imagine.

You got it by now! Fort DeSoto in spring is rife with tame birds, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. Clockwise from upper left around to center: Roseate Spoonbill, immature Brown Pelican in flight, the heron/egret hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, immature Royal Tern on railing, Great Egret morning silhouette, Black Skimmer in surf, and underside head portrait of Great Blue Heron.

The Details

Morning sessions will run two and one-half to three hours; afternoon sessions about two. There is never a set schedule on an IPT — we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with the right wind, we may opt to photograph till noon and skip the afternoon session. That especially when the afternoon weather is looking iffy. We may opt to visit a great North Tampa rookery if conditions warrant that.

There will be a Photoshop/Image Review session before and after brunch (included) each of the three full days. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time. Each of these IPTs will run with only a single registrant as I do not like disappointing anyone. The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with lodging information. Do know that it is always best if IPT folks stay in the same general area (rather than at home or at a friend’s place a good distance away).

Folks attending this IPT will be out in the field as early as possible and stay out late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors; this is pretty much a staple on almost all BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours. Doing so will often present unique photographic opportunities, opportunities that will be missed by those who need their beauty rest and those who need to get home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I am leaving the beach at 9:30am on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving … We will be getting wet.

Your $599 deposit is due now. Credit cards are OK for that. You can register by calling Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Once you leave a deposit, you will receive an e-mail with your balance statement and instructions for sending your balance check three months before the trip begins. If you wish to pay in full right off the bat, you can make your check out to BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, and clothing and gear advice two months before the trip. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions.

IPT veterans and couples or friends signing up together may e-mail for discount information.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Stick Marsh In-the-Field Sessions

I am offering two Stick Marsh In-the-Field Sessions later this week: $300 for two solid hours of detailed photographic instruction. I have one sign-up for each day. There are many, many reasons to attend one or both of these sessions. If you are at all interested in learning why or in joining me, please get in touch via e-mail immediately.

Galapagos 2023 Opening

Due to a cancellation, I have an opening for a single male photographer on the Galapagos 2023 Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime IPT, the world’s finest photographic cruise of the famed archipelago. I am offering it with a substantial discount. If you are interested in joining a great group, or have questions, please get in touch via e-mail ASAP.

Iceland

My decades-long dream of spending time on Grimsey Island, Iceland, with the puffins — 13 days in this case!, will be realized this coming July. I am doing back-to-back trips as a participant. If anyone would like information on the world’s greatest Iceland/Atlantic Puffin trip this coming July, please contact me via e-mail.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

2024 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: WED 21 FEB 2024 through the full day on SUN 25 FEB 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings 4.

IPT #2: MON 26 FEB 2024 through the full day on FRI 1 MAR 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings 4.

Register for both trips to maximize your travel dollars and enjoy a $1000 discount while you are at it.

This trip features non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.

In addition, we should see Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require some good luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when pleasing creating bird-scapes.

If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If the conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will be in the right spot.

We will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country; landscape and scenic opportunities abound.

Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader and instructor. He is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer. But only if that is what you want.

You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes.

You will learn to make pleasing blurs working in manual mode and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode.

Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight photographs from tens of thousands of images.
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You will enjoy working with the best and most creative boat captain on his sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck watercraft.

Only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader.

Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants.

What’s Not Included

Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.

Please Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour. The leader will pay for the bait.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer. In 2023 those included Moose, Great Grey, and Short-eared Owls.

Deposit Information

A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (the latter made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 90 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check (as above).

In Closing

I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of these two trips is to sign up for all of them. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, or two of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.

What’s Up?

Not much. It was cloudy and stormy in the morning, so I did lots more discovering than photography. I finally found the Crested Caracara nest in a tall Cabbage Palm tree in the North Field. There are two barely visible half-grown chicks. I found a new crane nest in the South Marsh, and a new natural Osprey nest in a dead tree at the end of Palmetto Drive. I did get my swim in between the afternoon thunderstorms.

I was thrilled to learn this morning that Robert “Bear Bob” Sabin loved Homer so much this year that he has signed up for both 2024 Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs.

Please remember that the blog is designed to be interactive. The more you consider the questions, the more your photography will improve. Leaving a comment is the icing on the cake. Please do share any and all blog posts with photography friends.

Thanks to the many who commented yesterday. Like many, my very great preference was for Image #1 for its exquisite colors, the soft light, and the elegant pose. My ranking was 1,2, 3. Note that I find no need at all for the eye to be sharp in every pleasingly blurred image. You can see my responses to the various comments by clicking here. For spoonbills, I like the soft light much better than the sun for many reasons, most especially the lack of any shadows at all.

Today is Tuesday 14 March 2023. I will head down to the lake for a bit no matter the weather. This blog post took three hours to prepare and makes three hundred forty-nine days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

This image was created by IPT veteran Carolyn Johnson on 23 February on the first 2023 Homer Bald Eagle IPT at Kachemak Bay, AK. She used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 98mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 500: 1/4000 sec. at f/4.5 (stopped down 1 1/3-stops) in Manual mode. AWB at 10:05am on a cloudy very bright morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Bald Eagle bird-scape Photo courtesy of and copyright 2023: Carolyn Johnson Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

CJ: Carolyn Johnson

Carolyn, a shipmate on a Southern Ocean voyage about ten years ago, called me several months before I headed to California last winter. She was seeking advice on photographic systems. I think that she was using a Nikon dSLR and that she has also tried one of the micro four-thirds systems. She was not happy with her images. I explained to her that Sony was the best system by far and that if she purchased a 200-600 and an a1 that I could teach her to make good images in ten minutes after loading my settings on her camera. I remember saying to her, “If you trust me, I will change your photographic life. She did and I did.

She followed my advice and purchased a Sony A1 and the 200-600 from Bedfords (thank her very much). When we met early on a Sunday morning before the San Diego IPT, she had never used the camera. The word on the street is that the a1 is a difficult camera to use with a menu that is nearly impossible to understand. That may very well be true if you do not know how set up the camera. After I loaded my CAMSETA2.DAT setting onto Carolyn’s brand new camera body, I worked with her for ten minutes demonstrating how to set the right exposure using (properly set-up) Zebras, and how to use the AF system. She was astonished as she watched the back of my camera as it tracked the bird’s eye seamlessly with both Tracking: Spot S and Tracking: Zone. When she tried it herself, she was even more astonished.

She worked off the tripod for a bit, but when the light levels increased, she began hand holding her rig and did so with ease. Carolyn is on the petite side and was 78 years young at the time. Not to mention that she learned to use her new camera in ten minutes flat.

After our first morning in La Jolla, she sent me a text that afternoon, and I quote:

Artie, I am sitting here in tears as the photos are so good. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The fact is that set up correctly, the a1 is super-easy to learn to use. With the right instruction, you too can begin making excellent photographs in short order.

Last May, she signed up for the first 2023 Homer IPT. At my suggestion, she purchased the new version of the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens. She used it quite effectively in Homer to create today’s three featured images. And hundreds more. She drove down from Homer to Anchorage with Bob Eastman and me, and celebrated her 79th birthday on the first day of the IPT.

CJ is a pleasant lady, has a great sense of humor, and laughs easily. She has worked hard to improve her photography. Please take a moment to leave a comment and let her know what you think of her images.

Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action. Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By June 1, 2022, the group was up to an astounding 124 lucky and blessed folks. (More than a few folks own two or more a1 bodies! Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive six e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will receive new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.

All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.

This image was created by IPT veteran Carolyn Johnson on 23 February on the first 2023 Homer Bald Eagle IPT at Kachemak Bay, AK. She used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 280mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 1250: 1/1000 sec. at f/4.5 (stopped down 1 1/3-stops) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:27am in the shade on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Bald Eagle chert-scape Photo courtesy of and copyright 2023: Carolyn Johnson Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

CJ Loves Creating Bird-scapes

Carolyn loves working wide to create bird-scapes. With Image #1, she zoomed out 98mm to include a snowbank and the distant Homer bluffs across Kachemak Bay. With Image #2, she stayed well back and included the beautiful chert wall in her image design. Kachemak Bay is rife with gorgeous scenery including interesting geological formations and snow-covered mountains to use as backgrounds for your Bald Eagle images.

Important IPT note: When I do an image optimization for the group, I create a Camtasia screen recording of the entire process that is sent to everyone via Hightail at the conclusion of the IPT.

This image was created by IPT veteran Carolyn Johnson on 21 February on the first 2023 Homer Bald Eagle IPT at Kachemak Bay, AK. She used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. AWB at 3:02 pm on a cloudy afternoon. Tracking: Zone AF/C performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Adult Bald Eagle beginning dive Photo courtesy of and copyright 2023: Carolyn Johnson Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Amazing

That a 79-year old with only one year’s experience using Sony gear could create an image as good as Image #3 is a testament to the ease of using the Sony A1, to how hard Carolyn has worked to improve her photography, and to the quality of the instruction she has received (he said modestly).

This image was created by IPT veteran Carolyn Johnson on 22 February on the first 2023 Homer Bald Eagle IPT at Kachemak Bay, AK. She used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 571mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 6400. 1/2500 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 3:14pm on a cloudy afternoon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect. Tracking: Expand Spot AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #4: Adult Bald Eagle perched on snag Photo courtesy of and copyright 2023: Carolyn Johnson Image Optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

CJ Gets the Right Exposure

With the Sony A1 I teach folks to work wide open, to set a shutter speed that they know will yield a sharp image, and then to raise the ISO until faint Zebras appear on the highlights, in this case, on the eagle’s white head. Note that Carolyn did not hesitate to raise the ISO to 6400 in order to come up with a perfect exposure. Note also that CJ used the reach of her 200-600 when she needed it!

This image was created by me on 23 February on the first 2023 Homer Bald Eagle IPT at Kachemak Bay, AK. I use the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 400: 1/400 sec. at f/4.5 (stopped down 1 1/3 stops) in Manual mode. AWB at 3:26 pm on a cloudy afternoon. Tracking: Spot AF/C with Human Face-Eye Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #5: Carolyn Johnson on the eagle boat Photo by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

The Versatile Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II Lens

The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II lens is incredibly versatile. It makes a great portrait lens, especially when working in close quarters. It kills in low light. I love mine for landscapes, bird-scapes, and quasi-macro applications. On the recently concluded Homer IPTs it was my most valuable lens; I used it alone, with the 1.4X TC, and with the 2X TC.

This emoji was created by Carolyn Johnson. Carolyn Johnson’s Personal Emoji

World’s Best Personal Emoji!

I loved Carolyn’s emoji from the first moment I saw it. Does it not look just like her? In addition, it captures her spirit very well. I thought that her son had created it for her but while preparing this blog post, I learned that she created it — and other, similar ones, using the messaging app on her iPhone.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Galapagos 2023 Opening

Due to a cancellation, I have an opening for a single male photographer on the Galapagos 2023 Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime IPT, the world’s finest photographic cruise of the famed archipelago. I am offering it with a substantial discount. If you are interested in joining a great group, or have questions, please get in touch via e-mail ASAP.

What’s Up?

As is usual, please remember that the blog is designed to be interactive. The more you consider the questions, the more your photography will improve. Leaving a comment is the icing on the cake. Please do share any and all blog posts with photography friends.

There was a strong west wind on a sunny Saturday morning at ILE. Things clouded over as I headed home early. I found all three baby cranes easily, but my best images were head shots of a preening Great Egret on the edge of the lake. I did see one of the adult eagles fly into the nest with a small prey item for the two eaglets.

In yesterday’s post, I ranked the images 2, 1, 3, just because. I left the dried grass stem in #3 just to see what folks would say. Today is Sunday 12 March 2023. If I do not oversleep, I will be heading early to Stick Marsh to check things out and meet up with old friend Clemens Van der Werf who is visiting from his new home in Holland with wife Adri. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes three hundred forty-seven days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

B&H

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

This image was created on 25 February 2023 on the second Bald Eagle Instructional Photo-Tour at Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK with the Sony a1. What lens, TC, and focal length? The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 400: 1/4000 sec. at f/? in Manual mode. AWB at 3:25:03pm on a sunny afternoon. Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Bald Eagle tight head in flight!

Stunned!

When I was reviewing my 25 FEB raw files in Photo Mechanic, I was stunned when I came across a sequence of tight heads shots of an adult Bald Eagle in flight. Who ever heard of point blank head shots of a bird in flight? I keep six of the eleven frames from the burst, all created in the same second. When I reviewed the AF points in A7INFO, Tracking: Expand Spot with AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection enabled nailed either the eye or the head in five of the six keepers. In the first image in the series, not included here, the AF point was on blue sky directly above the bird’s eye yet the image was critically sharp. To judge critical sharpness on my MacBook Pro, I check out the black feathers right behind the eye.

Five of the keepers, however, were critically sharp on the eye and the face. In Image #3 below, the AF point nailed the edge of the eye yet the black feathers behind the eye were not quite up to snuff. A round of Topaz Sharpen AI applied using a painted mask rectified that problem very nicely. All of the discarded images were critically sharp but rejected because of framing issues, i.e., operator error.

My theory on how the a1 can yield critically sharp images when the AF point is not in the perfect spot, or on the sky rather than on the bird’s face, is that the system that records the location of the AF point is unable to keep up with the accuracy of the AF system itself. I am working on a birds in flight guide with Arash Hazeghi, one of the world premier flight photographers. In the guide, Arash explains the science behind the supremacy of the Sony a1 autofocus system.

In any case, when I saw the series, I was flabbergasted.

This image was created on 25 February 2023 on the second Bald Eagle Instructional Photo-Tour at Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK with the Sony a1. What lens, TC, and focal length? The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 400: 1/4000 sec. at f/? in Manual mode. AWB at 3:25:03pm on a sunny afternoon. Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Bald Eagle tight head in flight!

The Bird was Really Flying!

If you viewed only Image #1, you might think that the bird was perched but leaning forward. I included this pose to show that the bird was actually in flight. Take my word on the fact that it was in full flight; it had not just taken off.

And yes, I wish that the bird’s head were lower in the frame so that we could have seen the primary tips of the far wing.

Note that all three images are presented un-cropped as full frame original captures.

This image was created on 25 February 2023 on the second Bald Eagle Instructional Photo-Tour at Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK with the Sony a1. What lens, TC, and focal length? The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 400: 1/4000 sec. at f/? in Manual mode. AWB at 3:25:03pm on a sunny afternoon. Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Bald Eagle tight head in flight!

Your Call?

Please take a guess at the lens/TC (if any) that I used to create today’s featured images. What would you guess the focal length to be?

After clicking on all three images to enlarge them, how would you judge the sharpness of the three images?

Which of today’s three featured images is your favorite? Why did you make your choice?

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

2024 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: WED 21 FEB 2024 through the full day on SUN 25 FEB 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers.

IPT #2: MON 26 FEB 2024 through the full day on FRI 1 MAR 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Limit 5 photographers.

Register for both trips to maximize your travel dollars and enjoy a $1000 discount while you are at it.

This trip features non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.

In addition, we should see Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require some good luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when pleasing creating bird-scapes.

If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If the conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will be in the right spot.

We will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country; landscape and scenic opportunities abound.

Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader and instructor. He is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer. But only if that is what you want.

You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes.

You will learn to make pleasing blurs working in manual mode and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode.

Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight photographs from tens of thousands of images.
,
You will enjoy working with the best and most creative boat captain on his sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck watercraft.

Only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader.

Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants.

What’s Not Included

Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.

Please Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour. The leader will pay for the bait.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer. In 2023 those included Moose, Great Grey, and Short-eared Owls.

Deposit Information

A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (the latter made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 90 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check (as above).

In Closing

I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of these two trips is to sign up for all of them. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, or two of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

artie, knackered in Seattle i-Phone photo by Bob Eastman

What’s Up?

I slept for most of the 3-hour red-eye flight from Anchorage to Seattle and arrived just after 5:00am. On my layover in Seattle, I set my alarm and fell asleep on a padded bench in the Alaska Lounge for about twenty minutes when I heard a woman saying urgently, “Sir, sir, we do not permit sleeping on the bench seats.” Ugh! Then I slept for more than two hours at the very beginning of the SEA to Orlando leg. We got in early and Jim picked me up at about 5:15pm. We had dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse near the airport and were home before 8:15pm Florida time. The door-to-door trip from Homer to home took 28 1/4 hours. I slept for 10 hours last night and awoke at 6:00am feeling great.

The eagle photography opportunities this year were unmatched. Everyone was great and eager to learn. In prior years we’d have a slow day on occasion. This year, dozens and dozens of eagles responded to our offerings in every bay we visited. We did great in China Post, in Peterson, in Sadie Cove, on McKeon Spit, at Elephant Rock, and made several high tide visits to Franklin Flats. At every stop, we were inundated by eagles with as many as 50 birds in the air at once. The first two trips enjoyed snow on the ground and our two mega-days were 25 February and 1 March, so I made sure to include both of those dates on the two trips planned for 2024. Working closely with Captain Gabe, we came up with new ideas that helped us deal with the sometimes less-than-ideal wind and sky conditions. And when the conditions were perfect as they often were, we were in the right spot to take full advantage of them. Do consider joining me in Homer next year to improve your photography by leaps and bounds.

Today is Friday 10 March 2023. I will head down to the lake to check on the eagle nest and see if there are any crane chicks around. This blog post took about two hours to prepare and makes three hundred forty-five days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

2024 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: WED 21 FEB 2024 through the full day on SUN 25 FEB 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers.

IPT #2: MON 26 FEB 2024 through the full day on FRI 1 MAR 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Limit 5 photographers.

Register for both trips to maximize your travel dollars and enjoy a $1000 discount while you are at it.

This trip features non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.

In addition, we should see Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require some good luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when pleasing creating bird-scapes.

If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If the conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will be in the right spot.

We will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country; landscape and scenic opportunities abound.

Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader and instructor. He is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer. But only if that is what you want.

You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes.

You will learn to make pleasing blurs working in manual mode and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode.

Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight photographs from tens of thousands of images.
,
You will enjoy working with the best and most creative boat captain on his sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck watercraft.

Only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader.

Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants.

What’s Not Included

Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.

Please Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour. The leader will pay for the bait.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer. In 2023 those included Moose, Great Grey, and Short-eared Owls.

Deposit Information

A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (the latter made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 90 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check (as above).

In Closing

I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of these two trips is to sign up for all of them. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, or two of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.

This image was created on 6 March 2023, the next-to-last day of the third and final 2023 Kachemak Bay/homer Bald eagle IPT. I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO set 1600. 1/2000 sec. at f/7.1 (stopped down 2/3-stop). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be about 1/3 stop short of perfect. AWB at 5:53:36pm on a warm, sunny afternoon. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 800mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Bald Eagle adult posturing

Always Searching for New and Different

With a run of warm sunny afternoons, I went ashore at McKeown Spit with the 400mm f/2.8 and both TCs. After doing some flight with the 1.4X TC at 560mm, I tried for some 800mm close-ups and head portrait by adding the 2X teleconverter. As you can see above, the backgrounds are creamy and dreamy if you get low and the sharpness and image quality are superb. When handholding this combo and working static subjects, you will do best by going with a relatively fast shutter speed while raising the ISO so that you can stop down a bit for extra sharpness. All as I did with today’s featured image.

Remember that when working at 800mm you have 16X magnification and that unsharpness due to gear shake when handholding can be significant; most of the time you would be better off on a sturdy tripod topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro.

Your Call?

What do you think of today’s featured image? Does anything bug you?

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Galapagos 2023 Opening

Due to a cancellation, I have an opening for a single male photographer on the Galapagos 2023 Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime IPT, the world’s finest photographic cruise of the famed archipelago. I am offering it with a substantial discount. If you are interested in joining a great group, or have questions, please get in touch via e-mail ASAP.

What’s Up?

The last morning of the 3rd Homer IPT was yet another fabulous one. We enjoyed loads of diving, twisting, and turning eagles in flight, still blue water, butter light, and flocks of Pacific Loons in front of Iliamna Volcano. Charlie Curry and Mark Harrington caught the 4:40pm flight to Anchorage. Monte Brown, Bob Eastman, and I headed out at 5:00pm to try for Short-eared Owl and struck out. The bird was on a perch close to the road as we drove up only to see it driven off by crows, never to be seen again. We did come across a lovely mom moose with a large calf and then enjoyed yet another gorgeous sunset. Uncharacteristically, we rarely saw a cloud on the last IPT.

Photography has been so good that I am far behind in picking my keepers. I have about 15,000 images from the past few days to get through.

As for yesterday’s two similar featured images, I felt that Image #2 was by far the best. The wings-swept-back landing pose with outstretched talons was far more dramatic than the static flight pose in Image #1. And I loved the wider view at 70mm. I created Image #1. Bob Eastman created Image #2. Thanks to all who commented and to those who liked my image best, but as I see things, it was really no contest. Two very skilled bird photographers, Cliff Beittel and Brian Small, agreed emphatically with me.

I will reply to each comment as soon as today’s offering is posted. And then I need to get packing.

I asked Bob Eastman to classify himself as a photographer, expecting him to answer “intermediate.” His answer, “OK.” I’d guess that those are about the same. Bob has worked hard at his photography and made great sacrifices to attend the first and third Homer IPTs. He has been a great roommate and is a great guy; we get along famously and are very much on the same page. We say “Hi” to everyone we pass and clown around with the kids we see in the hallway. On one hand, Bob has consistently made many great images over the past two plus weeks. On the other hand, his work has improved dramatically. He does, of course, use the Sony a1 (along with an a7r IV for scenics and the rest). A future blog post or two will feature more of Bob’s excellent images and his incredible life story.

Anyhoo, today’s best gear makes it easy for beginning and intermediate photographers to create fantastic images as long as they listen to their instructors and work hard. 🙂

First-timer Charlie Curry sent me the lovely text below (as he unexpectedly left earlier than planned).

Arthur, thanks for the great Eagle IPT in Homer. You are a gentleman and a scholar. Your Socratic method is unique for photography workshops and is very effective. I had heard that you were a great teacher. Now I know that it is true. I appreciate your attention to detail and your willingness to teach.

Best, Charlie

I have my dates for the two February 2024 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs. If you are interested in doing both 5-day trips and driving from Anchorage and Homer and back with me (with a big discount), or are interested in the $500 early-registration discount, please get in touch via e-mail. Please note that several spots are already sold.

Today is Wednesday 8 March 2023. Bob Eastman, Monte Brown, and I will be driving up o Anchorage for dinner at So Thai. Then we will return the rental SUV and hang out at the airport for our red-eye flights to Seattle (Bob and I) and to Denver (Monte). This blog post took 90 minutes to prepare including the time spent on the two image optimizations and makes three hundred forty-three days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

One thing is for sure — it will be a long trip home as I will not be back to ILE until about 9:00pm on Thursday evening.

The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

B&H

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Induro GIT 304L Tripod

Price reduced $50.00 on 16 FEB 2023

Out of production for more than two years, BAA sold its last one in December. The good news? We have two more new-in-the-box tripods. They are now available for only $649.00 (were $699.00). The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now by clicking here to avoid being disappointed.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

This image was created on 7 March 2023 at Homer, AK. Standing at full height on a snow bank along the side of the road, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/400 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect (with a bit of the snow properly showing as over-exposed to ensure detail in the dark fur). AWB at 6:04:44pm in the shade on a mostly sunny afternoon. Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Moose female, head portrait

The Mooses

As we drove down the airport road, we spotted two Moose browsing along the edge of the road, a momma and her large calf. As we exited the SUV with our gear, the large animals were totally at peace with us. The continued to feed on leaves and twigs of small trees and bushes. Having taken my tripod along because the arthritis in my left thumb and wrist had flared up near the end of the trip turned out to be the winning move as the light levels were extremely low and the dark-toned animals were completely in the shade.

Yes, I know that Moose is the plural of Moose 🙂

This image was created on 7 March 2023 at Homer, AK. Standing at full height on a patch of grass adjacent to an icy parking lot, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +2-stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 500: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be about 1/6 stop short of perfect. AWB at 6:26:44pm just before the sunset. Manual Focus with Focus Peeking performed perfectly at 180mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Augustine Volcano at sunset

Big Glass

Though we were a lot closer to Augustine on the Homer Spit than we were in China Post Bay across the Cook Inlet, I went to my longest focal length — the 400mm f/2.8 and the 2X TC. As I was shooting through a lot of humid atmosphere, I selected the edges of the volcano and used the masking feature in Topaz Sharpen AI to sharpen the edges of the volcano. As Monte had Bob had only their 200-600s with them, they each opted to put a card in my camera and make a few images. The Moose and the sunset put a nice finishing touch on the end of our Homer visit.

Your Call?

Which of today’s two vastly different featured images do you like best? Why?

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Homer 2024

I have my dates for the two February 2024 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs. If you would be interested in doing both 5-day trips (with a discount) and driving from Anchorage and Homer and back with me, please get in touch via e-mail.

What’s Up?

Thanks to the those who commented on yesterday’s image. I will respond to each comment as soon as this is posted.

As below, I knew that I would be able to create a dynamic optimized image from the washed out, properly exposed raw file. Keep reading to learn why you need to learn to expose your silhouettes far to the right.

Both sessions on Day Three of the third and last 2023 Homer IPT were epic. On a sunny morning, we worked in a shaded bay and were rewarded with dozens of banking and turning Bald Eagles in flight. The group learned why I prefer low light to full sun for eagle flight photography. Then we worked a frozen waterfall. Everyone, including Captain Gabe, was amazed when a Coyote presented itself on a snowy hillside and posed at length for the group. The afternoon session was mega-successful as the sun shined and the wind switched from NE to west. We had dozens of eagles landing right at us on natural perches. As a result of the wind switch, however, our sunset silhouette efforts were more challenging than they had been on Saturday evening. That said, we had lots of excellent chances with another colorful western sky. The sun sets very close to Iliana volcano.

Of note is the fact that other eagle tour groups almost always head back to the barn for dinner early thus missing the sweetest light and the gorgeous sunsets …

Today is Monday 6 March 2023. With partly cloudy skies all day and light breezes from the east/northeast, we will likely do two sessions, one early and one late. This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes three hundred forty-one days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for all your new gear purchases. If you use B&H, please be sure to click on any B&H link in the blog to start your search. Or simply start with this link. There is always the option of e-mailing me for gear advice and for the correct links.

The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.

As above, please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

This image was created on 27 February on a Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPT. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter (at 282mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. Shutter Priority +2-stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 6:05:51pam just before sunset. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. The Photo Mechanic screen capture for the Bald Eagle landing at sunset image

From Yesterday’s Blog Post

In yesterday’s blog post, I asked the following:

What is the black shape in the lower right corner?

If this were your image, would you keep it or delete it? Either way, why?

If you would keep it, please leave a comment detailing your plans for the image optimization. Would you create a silhouette, or go for an image that revealed the tones of the eagle? How would you crop it? What would you do about the black shape in the lower right corner?

Yes, the black shape in the LRC is the body of a second eagle.

See below for my image optimization. And more.

The optimized image: Bald Eagle landing at sunset

Transforming an Eagle into a Rock

Creating a dynamic silhouette from a properly exposed (see below) raw file is quite simple. The color is there, all you need to do is bring it out. That is properly and easily done by adjusting the sliders on the Basic tab during the raw conversion in Photoshop. I thought of replacing the eagle in the LRC with grass, but like Eleanor, could not figure out a way to do that. After a very small proportional crop below right and top right, I came up with the idea of using the Clone Stamp Tool to transform the obtrusive eagle into a small boulder. I like the way that the rock balances the dark silhouetted eagle.

Note: like others, I considered a square crop but, again like Eleanor, did not love that idea.

The RawDigger screen capture for the Bald Eagle landing at sunset image

Getting the Right Exposure for Silhouettes

Most folks — often including me — do not add enough light when creating silhouettes against colorful skies. When I created this image, I was 100% sure that it would be a silhouette. Most folks like their images to look good on the rear monitor. The problem with that approach is there their good looking raw files will be much noisier than properly exposed images that look washed out. And those washed out image files will contain far more color information than underexposed image files. Click on the RawDigger screen capture to see the dead-solid perfect exposure. With only 247 OvExp pixels (out of 51 million) the raw file brightness is dead-solid perfect.

Ho Hum, Another Perfect Exposure

What can I say? The combination of Zebras live in the viewfinder (with your camera set up properly) and post-capture study of the raw files in RawDigger makes it pretty much child’s play to come up with perfect exposure after perfect exposure. It would be impossible to overstate how much I have learned by studying RawDigger and how much better my exposures have become since I started with the program almost two years ago. Again, the raw file brightness for today’s featured image is dead-solid perfect with the G channel making it all the way to the 16000 line.

RawDigger — not for the faint of heart …

Nothing has ever helped me learn to create perfect exposures to the degree that RawDigger has. I think that many folks are reluctant to learn that most of their images are underexposed by one or more full stops and that highlight warnings in Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, and your in-camera histogram are bogus as they are based on the embedded JPEGs. Only your raw files tell the truth all the time. Heck, I resisted RawDigger for several years … Once you get over that feeling, RawDigger can become your very best exposure friend no matter what system you are using. On the recent IPTs and In-the-Field sessions, we have demonstrated that fact. Convincingly.

The RawDigger Adapted (pink) Histogram

In the RawDigger e-Guide, you will learn exactly how to set up the Adapted “pink” RawDigger Histogram and how to use it to quickly and easily evaluate the exposure or raw file brightness of images from all digital cameras currently in use. RawDigger was especially helpful to me as I have struggled with R5 exposures and learned my new camera body, the Sony Alpha a1.

RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos

The RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos

by Arthur Morris with Patrick Sparkman

The RawDigger e-Guide was created only for serious photographers who wish to get the absolute most out of their raw files.

Mr. Sparkman and I began work on the guide in July 2020. At first, we struggled. We asked questions. We learned about Max-G values. We puzzled as to why the Max G values for different cameras were different. IPT veteran Bart Deamer asked lots of questions that we could not answer. We got help from RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. We learned. In December, Patrick came up with an Adapted Histogram that allows us to evaluate the exposures and raw file brightness for all images created with all digital camera bodies from the last two decades. What we learned each time prompted three complete beginning to end re-writes.

The point of the guide is to teach you to truly expose to the mega-Expose-to-the-Right so that you will minimize noise, maximize image quality, best utilize your camera’s dynamic range, and attain the highest possible level of shadow detail in your RAW files in every situation. In addition, your properly exposed RAW files will contain more tonal information and feature the smoothest possible transitions between tones. And your optimized images will feature rich, accurate color.

We teach you why the GREEN channel is almost always the first to over-expose. We save you money by advising you which version of RawDigger you need. We teach you how to interpret the Max G values for your Canon, Nikon, and SONY camera bodies. It is very likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you. And lastly — thanks to the technical and practical brilliance of Patrick Sparkman — we teach you a simple way to evaluate your exposures and the raw file brightness quickly and easily the Adapted RawDigger histogram.

The flower video takes you through a session where artie edits a folder of images in Capture One while checking the exposures and Max-G values in RawDigger. The Adapted Histogram video examines a series of recent images with the pink histograms and covers lots of fine points including and especially how to deal with specular highlights. The directions for setting up the Adapted Histogram are in the text.

If we priced this guide based on how much effort we put into it, it would sell it for $999.00. But as this guide will be purchased only by a limited number of serious photographers, we have priced it at $51.00. You can order yours here in the BAA Online Store.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

This all-new card includes images created on my JAN 2022 visit to San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The 2023/2024 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs

San Diego IPT #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 27 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 30 DEC 2023. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.

San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: TUES 9 JAN thru the morning session on SAT 13 JAN 2024: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.

San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: TUES 23 JAN thru the morning session on SAT 27 JAN 2024: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.

Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT morning sessions.

Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.

I discovered some really neat spots on my 2022/23 visit. As a result, the first and second IPTs may include an afternoon or two of landscape photography.

Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not

Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.

Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

It Ain’t Just Pelicans

With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning, there is usually some excellent flight photography, at times with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego. Each IPT will include one or two duck sessions.

Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

The San Diego Details

These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon shoot. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.

San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Deposit Info

A $699 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2023/2024 San Diego IPTs. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.

Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.

Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late

On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.

What’s Up?

Again, please remember that the blog is meant to be interactive. Even if you do not opt to leave a comment, run through the questions in your head. Doing so will help you improve your bird photography. Thanks to the many who commented on yesterday’s image. I will respond to each comment as soon as this is posted.

The first morning of the 3rd Homer IPT was quite successful as the strong north wind switched just a bit to the east. With two relatively new Sony a1 folks — Charlie Curry and IPT veteran Mark Harrington — joining Monte Brown and Bob Eastman, the last group is comprised of Sony a1 shooters. As we crossed Kachemak Bay, I reviewed and explained all of my 1.31 dot DAT file settings. We began with some decent flight photography and ended the three hour forty-five minute session doing head shots. We stayed in in the afternoon as the winds picked up. That gave us lots of time for image review. “Bear” Bob Sabin did join us for an extra morning session before beginning his trip back home to Long Island on the 5:00pm Rav’n flight to Anchorage. Bob stated many times during the trip that I was by far the most dynamic leader he had ever traveled with, offering more tips and instruction both in the field and at the hotel than anyone he had ever encountered. Thanks for that, Bob! And get home safely.

Today is Saturday 4 March 2023. The morning forecast is for a brisk wind from the northeast with sunny skies, nearly perfect for flight photography. This blog post took less than an hour to prepare and makes three hundred thirty-nine days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for all your new gear purchases. If you use B&H, please be sure to click on any B&H link in the blog to start your search. Or simply start with this link. There is always the option of e-mailing me for gear advice and for the correct links.

The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.

As above, please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

This image was created on 21 December at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 560mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500. 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be perfect. AWB at 8:50:47am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Brown Pelican Pacific-race pre-breeding plumage head throw

From Yesterday’s Blog Post

We have a perfectly exposed photo that captures the peak of the head throw action with a great look at the bill pouch. We managed avoid clipping the bill tip. Sharp focus is on the eye with enough of DOF to cover the entire subject that is ideally and perfectly parallel to the imaging sensor.

Keep or Delete? Why?

If this were your image, would you keep it or delete it? Either way, why?

If you would keep it, please leave a comment detailing your plans for the image optimization. How would you crop this? Where would you add canvas? Would you eliminate the out-of-focus young pelican in front of the subject? How?

Several folks stated that they would delete the image. Others suggested ways to save it. Thanks to Cliff Beittel and Eleanor Osborne who took the bull by the horns, grabbed the images from the blog, and sent me their square versions. Both were similar to my third version. Neil Hickman suggested an excellent plan that sounded easier than it was; see my comments on my version #2 below.

In general, out-of-focus elements in front of a sharply focused subject are image wreckers. But …

Version 1: Brown Pelican Pacific-race pre-breeding plumage head throw

Version 1

The first step for me was a very careful crop that began just above the folded white neck of the pelican on the left frame-edge. That left only that bird’s white head in the image. That was easily dealt with using Content-Aware Fill. Next, I used Content-Aware Crop to expand the frame on the left. I was surprised to note that with the very distracting elements in the lower right corner gone, the out-of-focus pelican was not as bothersome as it had been in the original image.

Version 2: Brown Pelican Pacific-race pre-breeding plumage head throw

Version 2

Here, I used Divide and Conquer and then Content-Aware Fill to lose the out-of-focus pelican completely. Doing so made somewhat of a mess of the blue background. Next, I needed several Quick Masks of the back of the pelican. Each needed to be warped first and then refined by the addition of a Regular Layer Mask. Next, I had to smooth out the blue background just above the pelican’s back. To do that I used the Clone Stamp Tool and Content-Aware Fill. The area still looked a bit lumpy and uneven, so I applied a layer of Gaussian Blur, added a Black (Hide-all or Inverse) Layer Mask, and judiciously painted in the effect in 33% increments as needed.

Version #3: Brown Pelican Pacific-race pre-breeding plumage head throw

Version 3

This last version is simply a square crop of the second version.

Your Call?

Does anyone prefer Version 1 over Versions 2 and 3? If yes, why?

Of Version 2 and 3, which do you think is the stronger image? Why? I have a clear choice and will share it with you here tomorrow along with my reasons.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

What’s Up?

The long dreamed of epic photo session arrived a day late for Homer IPT group #2. I created 6470 images (a record) and kept a ridiculous 698 images after the first edit (a record by far). It was snowing when we left the harbor at 8:30am and quit at about ten. We had about 5 inches of fresh, unblemished, pristine white snow to work with. In addition to the white studio backgrounds, the snow acts as a giant reflector that lights up the undersides of the eagles’ dark wings. Fierce winds were predicted to follow the snow and a bit after noon, we noticed blowing snow on the mountains in China Poot. We continued to photograph. Captain Gabe kept a weather eye out and when the snow on the beach began blowing, he let us know that it was time to cross back. Our remarkable five-hour session was over. With 38+ mph gusts, the trip back across Kachemak Bay was an E-ticket ride for sure.

If you are interested in joining me on one or both of the 2024 Homer IPTs next February, please shoot me an e-mail.

I was completely overwhelmed by the number of folks who commented on yesterday’s post, and by the quality of the responses Check them out. My favorite Glaucous-winged Gull image was #5 for the frosty, almost glowing look of the gull and the pink feet. My least favorite was #2 because there was some motion blur to the head and the bill was a mess. Huge thanks to all who commented … Just what do y’all have against gulls?

Today is Thursday 2 March 2023. The marine forecast is calling for a 30mph wind from the northwest with seas building to from 8-10 feet. Though it is likely that we will not sail in the morning, we never believe the forecast until the fat lady sings. I am hoping to at least get in an afternoon session. This blog post took less than an hour to prepare and makes three hundred thirty-seven days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for all your new gear purchases. If you use B&H, please be sure to click on any B&H link in the blog to start your search. Or simply start with this link. There is always the option of e-mailing me for gear advice and for the correct links.

The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

This image was created on 1 March 2023 on the second Homer IPT. Sitting on the snow, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 400. 1/2500 sec. at f/2.8 (wide-open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 11:59:07am a while before the sun broke through. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Bald Eagle taking flight

Sitting for Flight with the Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM Lens

You have been hearing the basics here for many months. I am now in love with the lens I used to hate. I did, however, make an important discovery yesterday. Like many quantum leaps in technique, it seems obvious once the realization comes to you. Using the big lens from the boat for flight, the problem, and the strain and fatigue, comes from having to lift the lens from the rest position to your eye time after time after time. In his e-Book, Flight Plan Guide, old buddy Jim Neiger was the first to write about the rest position when photographing with telephoto lenses. Not even the strongest photographers can hold a heavy lens with their eye to the viewfinder for more than a short period of time. The standard rest position involves having the lens straight down at your side while waiting for a bird to approach. At times, there might be something to rest the lens on, say the gunnels of a small boat, before raising the lens.

When we got off the boat yesterday and into position to photograph the braking, incoming eagles (with the wind right behind us, of course), I decided to try sitting when handholding the 400mm f/2.8. While waiting for action, I simply rested the rig on my left knee. That done, when a bird approached, the lens needed to be raised only a very short distance. This reduced shoulder strain and muscle fatigue, seemingly by a factor of ten. Thus, I was able to find the bird in the viewfinder much more quickly and easily than when standing and was able to keep them centered in the frame until they landed.

Note: This image was cropped from a horizontal original.

Success!

Of all the great flight sequences I had yesterday, the 82-frame sequence in this one-minute video illustrates best the success that I had while doing handheld flight photography while seated. The images were created in less than three-seconds and every one is razor sharp on the eagle’s eye or eyes.

Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action. Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By June 1, 2022, the group was up to an astounding 124 lucky and blessed folks. (More than a few folks own two or more a1 bodies! Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive six e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will receive new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.

All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

What’s Up?

We sailed twice on Monday and enjoyed two excellent sessions and a second consecutive colorful sunset. Today is Tuesday 28 February 2023. The long-predicted heavy snowfall began at about 4:00am. We are having breakfast (again) at the Duncan House Diner in town and will be on the boat for a very long session at 8:30am. We are all looking forward to a long-anticipated and epic day. This blog post took about 2 hours to prepare (including more than 90 minutes on the image optimization) and makes three hundred thirty-five days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.

Please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for all your new gear purchases. If you use B&H, please be sure to click on any B&H link in the blog to start your search. Or simply start with this link. There is always the option of e-mailing me for gear advice and for the correct links.

The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day.

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so, works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.

Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

B&H

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.

Important Note

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

This image was created on 26 February 2023 by Bob Eastman. He used the tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera with the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens (at 16mm). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1000. Ten seconds at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 10:25:16pm on a very cold clear night. Manual focus with Focus Peaking and Bright Spot Monitoring performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Northern Lights — Homer, AK Image courtesy of and copyright Robert Eastman Image optimization by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

I Slept Through This! How Would You Have Felt?

According to the locals, the Northern Lights display in Homer on Sunday evening past was the largest and most intense ever. Kudos to blog-friend and first time IPT-er Bob Eastman. He had never photographed Northern Lights before, but did a bang-up job on the images. He even taped the manual focus ring after setting the focus. He had obviously done some studying beforehand. Bob said that he’d wished that he had a wider lens.” I know that he was going out to try to photograph the aurora which usually peaks at about 3:00am. My brand-new Sony 12-24mm lens was in my Think Tank bag locked up on the boat. The display began just after sunset at 7:30pm. The colors got more intense, and the lights were really dancing by 9:30. Bob was back in bed by 11:30!

The image optimization took so long as I opted to remove about one thousand lights on the headland, most in and surrounding the town of Homer.

Do note that the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro has a bi-directional clamp; Bob was able to easily and securely mount his camera on the tripod by way of a Wimberley P-20 plate.

I asked Bob, “What were the most important things you learned on the first Homer IPT?” He stated, “Getting the exposure right, seeing the shot, and improving my image design and compositional skills.”

Bob, who attended the first IPT and will be joining me for the third one, has led a beyond amazing life. I will be sharing his life story and some of his eagle images in a future blog post here.

How would you have felt if you had slept through this event without even peeking out the window?

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.