December 16th, 2010
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Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (hand held at 200mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/4 sec. at f/14.
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Flames & BAA Bulletin #352
With the recent cold snaps, the single deciduous tree in my driveway had some nice fall color just a few days ago. (Most of the leaves are on the ground now…) On Saturday morning last, I wanted to go down to the lake to try for some birds but it was 100% foggy. By 10am it had brightened just a bit so I popped a flash card into the my camera, grabbed the 70-200 f/4L IS lens, and made the short trip down my driveway.
I made about 60 images and kept one. Creating pleasing blurs is like playing the lottery. For this one I did a diagonal pan blur with a bit of jiggle on the way down. To learn this technique and dozens more, check out A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly.
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I took the optimized image back into Photoshop and brought it into Nik Color Efex and ran a 60% Tonal Contrast on a layer to create a brighter variation.
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Do you like the softer subdued look of the first image or the bolder more contrasty look immediately above?
You can save 15% on all NIK products by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code box at check-out. Then hit Apply to see your savings.
BAA Bulletin #352
BAA Bulletin #352 is on-line and can be accessed here.
If you have been searching for the world’s best lens cleaning fluid, be sure to check out “Introducing Lens Clens.” The feature includes tips on how I clean my gear (even though I don’t do it as much as I should…)
FEATURES
- BIRDS AS ART GIFT CARDS
- INTRODUCING LENS CLENS
- ADDITIONAL GIFT IDEAS
- “WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY; STORIES FROM THE FIELD” by GEORGE LEPP & KATHRYN VINCENT LEPP
- SOME OF MY CANON LENSES FOR SALE
- SOUTH GEORGIA/FALKLANDS EXPEDITION UPDATE
- IPT UPDATES
Shopper’s Guide
Here is the gear that I used to create “Flames.”
Canon 70-200mm f/4 l IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 15th, 2010
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“Early Morning Cattle Egret” was created this morning with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/10. My rig was supported by the BLUBB (Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag; designed by yours truly). Double Bubble Level in the hot shoe.
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What’s Wrong With These Images?
For me, the Cattle Egret above has one major flaw. Leave a comment and let me know what you think the biggest problem is. And let me know if there are any other issues that you would address while optimizing the image. The only thing that I did after converting the RAW file was to run a pretty hefty (40%) Linear Burn on the brightest whites.
I will be back in two days to let you know what I saw as the single biggest problem and will post the optimized image at that time.
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“Sandhill Crane Dancing” was also created this morning, this one with the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (hand held at 200mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/2000 sec. at f/5. 45-Point AAFPS.
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No need to comment on the major problem with this one; I think that it might be fairly evident 🙂 If you would like to bust me on some minor items, please do leave a comment. I posted this one to show how frustrating bird photography can be at times. Even though the wind was from the northwest (the bird should have been facing into the wind as it jumped up…), this one would have had a perfect head angle had I framed the image properly. You gotta love it! (Byron Katie)
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 70-200mm f/4 l IS lens
Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens
Canon EF Teleconverter 1.4X II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
BLUBB (Big Lens Ultimate BeanBag; designed by yours truly)
Double Bubble Level
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 13th, 2010
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“Snow Geese in Farmfield” was created with the hand held Canon EF14mm f/2.8L II USM and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 320. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/125 sec. at f/22.
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Cloud Lens
I borrowed the 14mm f/2.8 lens from CPS (Canon Professional Services) for my Bosque trip just because. I broke it out whenever we had some cool cloud formations in that big New Mexico sky.
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“Evening Cloud” was created at Ed Kranepool with the hand held Canon EF14mm f/2.8L II USM and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/4.5.
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This image was processed as a single frame HDR in NIK HDR Efex pro. Tony Sweet graciously spent 20 minutes on the phone with me on his way to a jazz gig giving me NIK HDR lessons. He is a drummer. He played professionally for 20 years in his first life.
As I learn more about NIK HDR Efex Pro I will be sharing what I learn with you here and in the Bulletins. Tony suggested that I start each HDR with the default (all the sliders at zero), hit reset to flatten the curve, set the Black and White Points, adjust the Warmth slider, adjust the Tone Compression slider, and then tweak as needed. And that is what I did with “Evening Cloud.”
The NIK program is the first HDR program that does what it is supposed to do: take the details from the highlight areas and blend them with the revealed detail in the shadow areas. With Photomatix, every image that comes out of Tone Mapping has blown highlight and underexposed darks…. That has not happened to me once with NIK HDR EFEX Pro and I love the natural look that I can get if I want it.
You can save 15% on all NIK products by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code box at check-out. Then hit Apply to see your savings. I have been using and learning and loving COLOR EFEX and SILVER EFEX also.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 14mm f/2.8 II USM lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 12th, 2010
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This Sandhill Crane pan blur was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/30 sec. at f/6.3 in Tv mode.
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My Thoughts on A & B and Lots of Lessons
Thanks to all who offered their opinion. Of the two images in the December 9, 2010 post, I greatly prefer Image A to Image B. Before I let you know why, here are the tech specs for both images. Yes, as some surmised, the set up for each image was identical: Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +1 stop in Tv mode. 1/8 sec. at f/10. Image A and Image B were not only created at the same shutter speed, there were actually created in the same 1/100 of a second at 06:57:28 as part of a two-frame sequence. I have written and said many times that I rarely hold the hammer down for flight photography: I wait until the bird is in the zone and then I create one or two (as here) or three images at most.
Several folks figured that the shutter speed for each image was the same, and they were obviously correct. And some nailed the reason also: the panning rate was different for each image (even though they were created at almost the same instant). In A I was probably panning a bit faster than the bird was flying in order to catch up with it as it took flight. In B my panning speed better matched the speed of the bird in flight, thus the sharper heads in B. More on that in a second.
I prefer the more abstract look of Image A and as someone hinted at, the blurred wings in A are more attractive. And I much prefer the colors in A to the colors in B. With the heads of the two birds in B a bit sharper, it draws attention to the fact that the birds are flying slightly away and that their heads are also angled slightly away. (Congrats to Joerg for nailing that!) You all should know how I feel about poor head angles: I do not like them even in intentionally blurred images. Another plus for A.
Compare Image B with the image above. In the opening image here the bird is pretty much flying parallel to the imaging sensor and the head and neck are angled ever so slightly towards us. I greatly prefer the opening image here to Image B. Heck, I do not very much care for Image B at all.
As detailed in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs, I have chosen an intermediate blur speed (from the low end of the range) in an effort to render the eye or eyes sharp and the wings blurred. And I succeeded. Strangely enough, the Image B RAW file file was darker than the Image A RAW file. I over-compensated a bit by lightening it too much. Lastly, no flash was used with either image.
As Paul Mckenzie noted in his comment, “blurs are very much a matter of personal taste.” If you love B and I love A, not to worry. Your opinion is just as valid as mine.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above.
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 11th, 2010
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King Penguins, Gold Bay, South Georgia.
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The Skinny on a Killer South Georgia/Falklands Cruise: October, 2012
I just got the heads up on a killer South Georgia/Falklands Expedition that will run October 18 to November 11, 2012. It seems a long way off but if you want a seat on this ride you will need to act soon. So far eight BIRDS AS ART folks (including two couples, my pal George Brunt (eggs-ZACT-lee), and Paul Mckenzie, an extremely skilled globe-trotting young photographer are already on board with an equal number threatening to join us very soon. Paul’s web site and his blog are both amazing. Check out his two latest blog posts and you will agree 100%: the guy is talented!
After I returned from my Falklands/South Georgia/Antarctica trip a few years back I knew that I had to return to the Southern Oceans, but not with Zegrahm’s who had most generously had me along; we just had too little time ashore…. Here’s what I wrote in the Antarctica Site Guide soon afterwards:
“By signing up with one of the few photography-only cruises, you will get a lot more bang for you buck. My understanding is that there are two companies that run trips that allow for far more photography time ashore.” I am currently working with the one of those two groups; they offer as much or more time onshore than any other tour company that regularly travels to the Southern Oceans. And they are very well respected.
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Gentoo Penguin, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands.
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I am already registered for the trip: October 18 to November 11, 2012 (including the travel days). Many folks who have been to the continent quickly realize that when it comes to wildlife photography, South Georgia is the crown jewel of the Southern Ocean. This trip offer 10-11 days of photography at various South Georgia locations and three additional and equally spectacular days in the Falklands on the way home. On my Zegrahm’s trip we had but a single day on the Falklands; the photography there was so amazing that if I had not hitched a ride down the hill from the spectacular cormorant colony in the afternoon with a farmer the ship would have left without me.
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King Penguin, neck detail, South Georgia.
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I will not be an official leader on this trip but those of you who have traveled with me know that I cannot help but teach. I will be available on the boat to review images and answer questions and all who sign up as a result of reading this note are invited to tag along with me on the landings. In addition my friends Tom Murphy and Rod and Marlene Plank will be along as photography leaders. Rod’s images inspired me early on and Tom and wife Bonnie offered guidance when I was just getting started in the tour business. It is obvious to me that the folks running this trip have an obvious passion for photography, for their business, and for their clients needs; they remind me a great deal of BIRDS AS ART, just on a larger scale.
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King Penguin arguing with Antarctic Fur Seal, Gold Bay, South Georgia.
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When I read through the entire itinerary for the first time the excitement for me was palpable; I practically had a cow! If you can read the whole thing and not dream of making this trip you have me beat by miles. One of the great things about this trip is the timing; we will be early enough in the season that the fur seals will not be set up in their rookieries. This will allow us safe access to lots of locations that are inaccessible December through February.
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Elephant-Seal yawning, Grytviken, South Georgia.
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It is a far less expensive trip than the expeditions that travel to the continent, it packs far more photographic punch for your dollar than the longer trips that include time on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the wildlife and photography opps will be beyond mind boggling. I cannot even imagine getting the chance to photograph four different species of albatross on a single trip. Not to mention Rockhoppers and Macaronis and more King Penguins than you could ever imagine. If you are seriously interested in this trip feel free to call me with any questions at 863-692-2806 or email at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net for details. I am good to go. And I hope that you can join me.
later and love, artie
ps: I will be back tomorrow to share my thoughts on Images A & B 🙂
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King Penguin, immature: “Oakum Boy,” South Georgia.
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December 9th, 2010
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This image was made with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +1 stop in Tv mode. That is all that you are getting for now…
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A or B or Neither or Both?? Shutter Speeds?
The image above is Image A. It was created just before 7am on November 23, 2010. See the questions below.
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This image was also made with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +1 stop in Tv mode. That is all that you are getting for now on this one too.
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The image immediately above is Image B. It too was created just before 7am on November 23, 2010.
Which do you like best, Image A or Image B? Why? What do you think was the shutter speed for image A? For Image B?
When I revisit these images in a few days I promise that there will be a lot to think about and a lot to learn.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 8th, 2010
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This image shows the jetty and the lighthouse in front of a very pink pre-dawn sky. The image was made with the 24-105mm IS L lens hand held at 58mm with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/20 sec. at f.11. If you head to a new spot to photograph birds it is always a great idea to create a few establishing shots that show the place or a few folks birding. Such images are great for slide programs and can help sell an article or two. Don’t think of this B-roll stuff as “just snapshots.” Look for wonderful light, design a pleasing image, and take as much care as you would with an image of a hard to photograph sea duck.
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The Barnegat Jetty, Barnegat Light City, NJ
Though I lived in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area for nearly two decades as a birder and bird photographer (and for 46 years in all), I never made it to the famed Barnegat Jetty until last December (2009). Why famous? It is the best place in the Northeast to view and photograph a variety of sea ducks and wintering shorebirds most noticeably Harlequin Duck and Purple Sandpiper. When I got there, a 26″ snow storm sent me running back to my Mom’s home in Holbrook, Long Island, leaving the motel in Ship Bottom at 3am. Yikes! I returned a week later and with Denise Ippolito as my guide, created the wonderful images that you see here plus quite a few more.
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This Harlequin Duck drake was photographed with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/8.
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The jetty is very long. And very dangerous. Denise, who spends many days each winter season on the jetty, knew right where the birds would be, took me right to them, and gave me more than a few tips on how to avoid killing myself.
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This image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/50 sec. at f/5.6. You gotta love the 4-stop IS system on the 800.
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It was sunny and bright on the day that I made this image. As I hate high contrast situations I simply went looking for a bird on the shady side of a big rock. And found one 🙂 Purple Sandpiper was my second most wanted Barnegat species. I can’t wait to get back there this December.
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Denise Ippolito has written a fabulous Site Guide for the Barnegat Jetty. (I helped out just a bit :))
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Denise’s Barnegat Site Guide will make your first visit to this great bird photography location productive and safe. She explains the effects of the winds and the tides and the light on the photographic opportunities. She lets you know what birds you will find there and where and when you will find them. She shares her favorite conditions and her tricks for getting close. And she will keep you safe while you are there, the same way she kept me safe.
The Barnegat Site Guide (6190 words, 68 images) is available from BIRDS AS ART by e-mail as a PDF for only $22. You can call Jim with a credit card in hand at 863-221-2372 or send us a Paypal to birdsasart@att.net . If you prefer the convenience of ordering through the BAA On-line store you can find the Barnegat Guide here.
Just for the record books Barnegat is located on Long Beach Island less than 30 minutes from Manahawkin, NJ.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 24-105mm IS L zoom lens
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EF 1.4XII teleconverter
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 6th, 2010
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This image of a very worn first winter Western Gull was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 2X II teleconverter (hand held at 400mm) and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 set manually and confirmed by histogram check. AI Servo central sensor rear focus AF and re-compose.
When I am creating portraits of static birds with my favorite new set up, I always support the lens in one way or another when hand holding. Here I sat on a rock and braced my left arm on my left knee. In addition to ensuring a sharp image I was able to create a more intimate photo with the pleasing background that I wanted (including the white strip of breaking surf at the top) by getting low.
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My Thoughts on the Western Gull “Which Do You Like Best?” Images
Though I like all three images (else I would not have posted them here :)), the first is my fave. I am a sucker for wing stretches and for distant blue ocean backgrounds. I was also down low when I created this image.
Note that that in the second image, the one of the bird landing, I was standing. As a result, the background, i.e., the Pacific Ocean, was actually much closer to the subject than in the wing stretch image where I was much lower. Thus the background in the first image was softer, sweeter, and more out of focus than the background in the second image.
I love the third image for its abstract look, but feel that I could have created a much more powerful photograph had I not been lazy about mounting my flash when I left the car in the pre-dawn light. The way to go with this image would have been to underexpose the ambient and light the bird with the flash. This would have yielded a much darker pink/blue background and brought the bird to life. Next time I will not be so lazy 🙂
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This is the original of the second image, the one of the landing gull. As you can see, I cropped it from our left, covered the remaining part of the closest bird with a Quick Mask of ocean background, added canvas to the top, and repaired the clipped wing tip.
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The techniques that I used to process the image are included in Ditigal Basics and Robert O’Toole’s APTATS I, both PDFs sent via e-mail.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the two images in this post.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon EF Teleconverter 2X II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 6th, 2010
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This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens and the 2X teleconverter (hand held at 400mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop to keep from burning the whites: 1/1600 sec. at f/7.1 set manually.
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Variety: The Spice of…. Wigeons?
We have a spot in Socorro where we feed the American Wigeons (and a ton of barnyard ducks). With a bit of effort we can–on some mornings–get them to fly where we want them to. Once I acquire focus I hold the shutter button down and see if I get lucky with a pose. Above, I did. I love the dorsal view of the near wing with its green speculum and the bird’s eye just peeking at us.
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This image was created with the same rig, the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens and the 2X teleconverter with the EOS-1D Mark IV. This time hand held at 320mm. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop to keep from burning the white belly and the underwing lining: 1/1600 sec. at f/7.1 set manually.
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With flapping birds, it is best to frame loosely so that you can get everything in the frame whether you catch the front flap or the back flap. With some extra space I cropped this one from the right and from the bottom for a more pleasing composition.
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This one was created with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 1250. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/5.6 in Tv mode with ISO Safety Shift enabled. Fill flash at -2 stops.
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I just love finding new and different situations and sharing them with my IPT group. A few well placed kernels of whole corn got the birds up on the ice. This hen stopped for a sip of ice water.
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This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens and the 1.4X II teleconverter (this time hand held at 230mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 320. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/300 sec. at f/4 in Tv mode. Fill flash at -1 stop with the flash mounted in the hot shoe.
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The image above was all about the blue and gold reflections in the water. The blue from the sky, and the gold from the cottonwoods surrounding the pond. Sometimes the background can be more important than the subject in bird and nature photography. But creating a variety of images of the same subject always adds spice to the mix.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens
Canon EF Teleconverter 2X II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
Canon 580 EX II Speedlite
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
Mongoose Integrated Flash Arm
Promaster Flash Extension Cord
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 4th, 2010
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This Blue Goose was photographed with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400: 1/1250 sec. at f/9 set manually. I clipped two primary tips when this adult bird wheeled in flight to avoid a midair collision. I used the techniques detailed in Digital Basics to add canvas and those in Robert O’Toole’s APTATS I to repair the missing wingtips.
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This is a JPEG that represents the original RAW file. Note the nasty sensor dust…. I used my Lens Pen to clean the sensor quickly and easily and used the Patch Tool as described in Digital Basics to remove the spots from the images.
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Working in Manual Mode
What follows is a free excerpt from the Bosque Site Guide November 2010 Update that I have been working on for two straight days. It has been slightly modified for this blog post. It was in turn adapted from The Art of Bird Photography II (916 pages on CD only). It is important to know how to work in Manual mode at Bosque because the birds in flight often drop below the horizon where varying exposure compensations would be needed if you were working in Av (Aperture Priority) or any other automatic mode.
Many professional and serious amateur photographers work in Manual mode most or all of the time. (Doing the latter can be a big mistake at times…) I often stick with Av mode with exposure compensation when the background if of relatively constant tonality as doing so is easier and faster. Av (or Tv when creating pleasing blurs) is also best when the light levels might change ten stops in an instant….. When the background tonality is changing from moment to moment and the light is constant, it is best, however, to work in Manual mode. In either case, I rely on Evaluative Metering. Here are some examples of rapidly changing backgrounds: a shorebird on a rock along the edge of the ocean with waves breaking behind it. Birds flying against a blue sky with occasional white clouds. Cranes flying by in front of a variety of backgrounds that might include sky, mountains, yellowed grasses, or water.
As many folks are confused as to how to work in or set exposure compensation when working in Manual mode, I offer the following basic tutorial.
#1: When you work in Manual mode you select and set the shutter speed and you select and set the aperture. With my Canon cameras the default has you changing the shutter speed with your index finger dial and the aperture with the thumb wheel.
#2: After selecting Manual mode, point your camera at a scene or stationary subject and lock your tripod head so the framing remains constant. Next select and set the desired aperture. Then adjust the shutter speed until the analog scale in the viewfinder nulls out to zero. With Canon pro bodies this scale is laid out vertically along the right side of the viewfinder display (when you are working in horizontal format). With many of the Canon pro-sumer bodies and with pretty much all Nikon bodies the analog scale is laid out horizontally at the bottom of the viewfinder display. The zero or null indicator is at the center of the analog scale. With Canon pro bodies the three full stops above the null symbol (marked in 1/3-stop increments) indicate overexposure. The three full stops below the null symbol (also marked in 1/3-stop increments) indicate underexposure. If you change the aperture and you do not see the small square moving, check either the top or the bottom of the analog scale. You will note a small triangle at the top if you are way overexposed or a small triangle at the bottom if you are way underexposed. If the former, rotate the dial and choose a faster shutter speed, if the latter, choose a slower shutter speed. In either case, you will soon see the small square moving up or down the analog scale. At first, you will simply want to practice nulling the meter, that is, getting the small square to rest on the null symbol. This indicates that you have now set the metered exposure (as determined by the camera’s Evaluative Metering system).
#3: When you work in Manual mode you do not actually set an exposure compensation value as you do when working in an automatic mode like Av or Tv. To come up with the exposure that you wish, simply change the aperture or shutter speed as above until the small square indicates the amount of over- or under-exposure that you desire. If you wish to work at +2 stops, you need pick either a slower shutter speed or a larger aperture until the small square rests on the symbol that is two full stops above the null symbol. If you wish to underexpose by 1/3 stop, you need pick a faster shutter speed or smaller aperture so that the small square rests on the symbol that lies just below the null symbol indicating -1/3 stop.
With a bit of practice you should quickly become comfortable whenever the need to work in Manual mode arises.
In case you missed the blog post entitled “Flight Photography Considerations: Wind and Sun Direction & Subject Tonality,” click here for a great tutorial on coming up with perfect exposures when photographing Bosque’s geese and cranes. In addition, you will find some great info there on the connection between light angle and wind direction and its importance.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the Blue Goose image above.
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
Double Bubble Level
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 3rd, 2010
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Western Gull wing stretch, La Jolla, CA. With the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 2X II TC (hand held at 370mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6 set manually.
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Which Image Do You Like Best, and Why?
Three images of adult Western Gull, each completely different. Which one do you prefer? And why? Which is the best image?
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Western Gull landing, La Jolla, CA. With the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 2X II TC (hand held at 400mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 set manually.
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Note that I used the same rig to create all three of these images. I will be ordering my very own 70-200 2.8 II from Canon on Monday 🙂
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Western Gull preening, La Jolla, CA. With the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 2X II TC (hand held at 400mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 1600. Evaluative metering +2 2/3 stops: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6.
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In the image above, the high ISO performance of the MIV was excellent. If you are mystified by the varying exposure compensations for the birds in the sun versus the bird in the pre-dawn light you need to get yourself a copy of The Art of Bird Photography II (916 pages on CD only) and study the Exposure Simplified section….
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon EF Teleconverter 2X II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 2nd, 2010
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“Sandhill Crane over the Chupaderas” was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops off the early morning sky: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. When the winds are from the north/northwest in the early morning, a very common occurrence at the two Bosque crane pools, the birds take off into the wind veering slightly away from you and the light. The trick in those conditions is to walk 200-300 yards to the north. Once the birds are in the air for a bit they will begin to head to the northeast to the farm fields. You will be in perfect position to create images of the against and just above the mountains in the background. This is just one of the many tips that you will find in the Bosque Site Guide, the next best thing to being on an IPT. I share my 16 years of experience there with you so that you will know where to be when even on your very first visit. There is a free update coming very soon.
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Did You Ever?
Did you ever have a day when everything seemed to go right? The day began with about six hours of work on BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #349. (See below.) A satisfying job well done. Within an hour of sending the Bulletin a very lovely Ginger Creevy called and signed her and her husband up for the last two Galapagos spots. Whew! And yahoo! Next, someone called to register for the SW FLA IPT.
When I am in San Diego I always visit my health and spiritual advisor, Dr. Cliff Oliver. Most of you know that he saved my from killing myself with food. Before we met, I had eaten more than 2/3 of a million Oreo cookies. If you would like to hear the whole amazing story of my return from the abyss to the best health of my life, e-mail me and request the Health Basics File. IAC, Cliff had suggested that I set up an appointment with a young acupuncturist named Melvin Tann. So I did. It was a most revealing 90 minutes. Melvin mentioned that my kidney pulse (or chi or life force or energy) was low. At his suggestion I switched from my beloved pistachio nuts to walnuts. When I got home I remembered that I had purchased a set of musical qigong CDs from master Shen Wu after visiting him in Orlando. One of the five CDs had to do with restoring chi to the kidney. Yesterday I searched for the kidney CD on my nightstand to no avail.
Today I got the huge box of CDs from my closet. Most were in plastic clam shell holders. There must have been four hundred CDs in all in the carton. As I grabbed the first handful of CDs I thought, “I might search this whole box one CD at a time and the one that I am looking for might not even be in it.” Bingo! The very first CD in the pile that I picked up was “A Journey Into Harmony II.” The one that I had marked “kidneys” many years ago…. You gotta love it.
Next I got a call from the folks at the Lands End Motel in Homer, Alaska. It will serve as base of operations for the Bald Eagle IPTs that Robert O’Toole and I are conducting late this winter. At first they wanted $250 a day for 15 days for a conference room. I suggested $50 per day in lieu of the fact that we had accounted for more than 150 room nights. The very nice lady said that she would speak to her manager and see what they could do. (They are already comping us a suite….) She calls back in two minutes and tells me that they will be glad to comp us a second suite at no charge and set it up for our small group programs.
Did you ever have a day when everything seemed to go right? All that’s left now is for the Texans to beat the Eagles on Thursday night football and help out my Giants….
Blake Shaw Photo Expo West Blog Post
Bulletin subscriber Blake Shaw sent me a link to his blog post detailing my recent appearance at Photo Expo West in Del Mar, California, my trip sponsored by Canon USA’s Explorers of Light Program and by Delkin Devices. It is full of very excellent photo tips. (He was quoting me :)) And the two images of me speaking are quite creative. You can check out the images and Blake’s Photo ABCs blog here.
BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #349 is On-line Now
BIRDS AS ART Bulletin #349 is On-line now and–thanks to Peter Kes–you can view it here.
Here are the features:
- CANON LIVE LEARNING/BIRDS OF THE EVERGLADES WORKSHOP with ARTHUR MORRIS:
FEB 4-6, 2011
- THE EARLY WORD ON BOSQUE
- GALAPAGOS 2011
- CANON GEAR FOR SALE
- GREECE/DALMATIAN PELICANS with ARTHUR MORRIS & ROBERT O’TOOLE
- A GUIDE TO PLEASING BLURS
- SHOPPER’S GUIDE
- IPT UPDATES
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the Sandhill Crane image above.
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
Double Bubble Level
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
December 1st, 2010
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“Snow Geese Heading Home” was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/13 sec. at f/14 in Tv Mode.
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Kruger-2-Kalahari Interview
Mario Fazekas of Kruger-2-Kalahari.com has kindly posted a fine 15-question interview of yours truly here. Be sure to surf around the site after you read the interview and check out some really fine African nature photography.
Here is a short excerpt from the interview:
7. Of your many IPT (Instructional Photo-Tour) workshops, which is your favorite and why?
Bosque del Apache NWR because of the birds, the spectacle, the light, and the connection to the memory of my beloved late wife, Elaine Belsky Morris. As I put the finishing touches on this interview my group is enjoying Bosque at its incredible best…
8. What makes a workshop successful from the student’s perspective?
Learning to think like a pro, learning to evaluate situations, getting some great images, and having an instructor who gives a damn.
Seeing me at work in the field, always moving, always switching gear and gears. And of course the killer classroom sessions where a good part of the learning occurs.
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Peter Kes, who designed and created both the new BIRDSASART.com and the Blog that you are now reading created this image of me on the recent Bosque IPT where he served as one of our great co-leaders. He posted this in the Friends and Family Forum at BPN here under the title, “Boss del Apache.” You gotta love it. This image is courtesy of and copyright 2010/Peter Kes. Check out Peter’s excellent, interesting and informative photo blog, Nature Notions, here or inquire about having him design your web site or blog.
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Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear used to create the Bosque image above.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
Delkin e-Film Pro UDMA 32gb Compact Flash Card
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
November 30th, 2010
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Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 1.4X II TC (hand held at 280mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 200: 1/15 sec. at f/4 in Tv Mode.
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Flames and More…
On one of our many trips around the Farm Loop on the recently concluded Bosque IPT, the bright colors of a stand of vegetation caught my eye. When I exited my rental car everyone had a puzzled look on their faces as there were zero birds in sight. “We’re gonna do blurs” I explained. The colors had caught my eye. It was up to each of us to create attractive patterns by choosing a slow shutter speed and moving the camera during the exposure. Within minutes everyone was into it big time. To create the image above, I simply panned the camera vertically during the exposure. We did lots of image sharing right there in the field and there were lots of oohs and ahs. When I showed this one around everyone thought that the image looked like flames.
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Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark III. ISO 160. Evaluative metering +1/3 stops: 1/13 sec. at f/18. Image courtesy of and copyright 2010: James E. Heupel.
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Jim Heupel, who was my right-hand man on the Iceland trip a few years back, has been co-leading Bosque IPTs with me for several years. He was the Chief Judge for the United States Air Force for seven years before he retired a while back. He is a fine nature and landscape photographer, and also enjoys photographing World War II re-enactments. On the Bosque IPT Jim did a Lightroom Basics program for the group. As he was scrolling through his images the one above jumped out at me. As I did, most folks asked, “Where did you get that?” While we had enjoyed some nice sunrise color that morning, all agreed that Jim’s image was unique. When I asked him how he created it he said, “I moved the camera vertically while panning with the flock, just as Denise (Ippolito) suggested that we do in last night’s Blurry Day program.” Denise uses that technique often for a variety of natural history subjects but I had never thought of trying it with a flock of Snow Geese in flight in the pre-dawn as Jim did. Looks a lot like flames to me. Thanks to Jim for sharing this wonderful image with us here.
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Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with the 1.4X II TC (hand held at 215mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50: 1/8 sec. at f/20 in Manual Mode. I screwed a 77mm stop neutral density filter onto the front of the new 70-200 which is fast becoming one of my very favorite ever lenses. The correct exposure was determined via a histogram check.
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If you look at the distant mountains, you can see the vertical pan-blurred background streaks. And if you look at the geese in the lower right corner of the image, you can see that that look like straight white lines. When the flock blasted off I followed their movement by raising the camera vertically thus creating the pan-blurred background and foreground streaks. As Denise and I point out repeatedly in “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs,” digital allows folks to play, experiment, and have lots of fun. And once you have $10,000 to $30,000 worth of cameras, lenses, accessories, computers, compact flash cards, and software, it’s all free!
Moving your camera vertically while creating pleasing blurs can be a great strategy.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear used to create the images above.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Wimberley VII Tripod Head
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
November 29th, 2010
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Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 set manually.
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Flight Photography Considerations: Wind and Sun Direction & Subject Tonality
On my busman’s holiday morning yesterday we had perfect flight photography conditions for about 30 minutes: when the wind shifted from the north/northwest (the worst!) to the south/southeast at about 8:30 we had the geese landing right at us with the sun at our backs. Birds will always land and takeoff into the wind. The adult blue morph Snow Goose in the image above came in just a shade to my left of right down sun angle.
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Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400: 1/2000 sec. at f/9 set manually. Fine point: note that for the white morph adult Snow Goose image I used 1/3 stop less light than for the blue morph image above.
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The adult white morph Snow Goose in the image above came in just a very few degrees off the perfect light angle.
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Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400: 1/1250 sec. at f/8 set manually. Fine point: note that for this immature dark morph Snow Goose image I used one full stop more light than for adult white morph image above.
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The young blue morph Snow Goose in the image above came in slightly to my right of perfect sun angle. With the top of the cottonwood tree in the lower left corner of the frame I like the high-in-the-frame upper-right placement of the subject here as it yielded perfect compositional balance.
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Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400: 1/1650 sec. at f/8 set manually. Fine point: note that for this immature white morph Snow Goose I used 1/3 stop more light than for the adult white morph image above.
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Here the wind has shifted to the southwest; this is an ideal condition for creating images of birds landing parallel to the imaging sensor. At this point we have seen images of both young and adult light and dark morph Snow Geese.
If my comments on exposure (which are based on the varying tonalities of the geese) confuse you, you need to get a hold of the ABP/ABP II combo (and save $10 in the process). Then you need to study the section on exposure theory in the original “The Art of Bird Photography” (soft cover) and follow that up with work on the Exposure Simplified section in “The Art of Bird Photography II” (916 pages on CD only). If you already own the books and are still confused than you need to either hit the books or join an IPT.
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Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400: 1/800 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. In a given lighting situation I use the same exposure for both Sandhill Cranes and the young white morph Snow Geese as both are gray birds with small patches of white. This image was made as the birds flew into a south/southwest wind in early morning. The soft early morning light required a slow shutter speed and a wider aperture than I used for the young white morph Snow Goose image above. The crane flying with its feet tucked in indicates that it was a very cold morning with the temps in the teens.
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I will be photographing at Bosque in about forty minutes and fly home this afternoon. Be sure to see the complete Bosque IPT report in the next Bulletin.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
Double Bubble Level
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
November 27th, 2010
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This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8IS L II (hand held at 145mm) and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 200. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/13 sec. at f/13 in Tv Mode. Even dead clear mornings can provide nice color at Bosque. You do not need to add as much light as you might think at sunrise lest you risk blowing the RED channel. And Tv mode with either ISO Safety Shift of Auto ISO (as described in detail in both the 7D and the Mark IV User’s Guide) is the best way to go despite the protestations of the “real photographers work only in Manual mode” folks….
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My Thoughts on Sharp vs Intentionally Blurred
Several folks who commented hit the nail on the head as far as I see it. Both are fine images. I like them both. But my very great preference is for the intentionally blurred image of the four cranes. What can I say? I have always liked blurs. And for me, this one is very special as the impressionistic blur of the wings of the four birds seem almost like the wings of a single creature. And I too love the light and the Southwestern colors.
This is not to say that one image is better than the other as that of course is strictly personal choice. I could however guarantee that the wigeon image would have zero chance of doing anything in a BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition while the crane image might do well in the right year….
Bosque Wrap-up
The 2010 “The Complete Bosque Experience IPT” concluded on Saturday afternoon with a visit to the Albuquerque Zoo. We had a great group, more than our fair share of clouds, some spectacular sunrise and sunset colors, and lots of south winds. And as I have stated already, conditions at the refuge were better than they have been in years. We had a great crew of co-leaders: Peter Kes from Switzerland provided lots of technical experitise in several areas, Denise Ippolito shared her creative genius, Jim Heupel was his all-around helpful self, and Robert O’Toole, though suffering through a very nasty cold, was there to assist all, to provide expert guidance to the Nikon folks, and to help me decide where to be and when. Thanks to all of the co-leaders and to all of those who filled yet another IPT. Be sure to see the next Bulletin for the complete trip report.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
7D & Mark IV User’s Guides
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
November 24th, 2010
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This image was created in Tanzania in January 2001 as I shared a safari van with Wes and Patti Ardoin. I used the Canon 28-135mm IS zoom lens (hand held at 135mm) with the EOS-10D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/100 sec. at f/14 in Av Mode. The zebra stallion was mourning the death of his mare. We learned later on that morning that she had died during the birthing process. All of the other vans opted to leave the scene to have breakfast in the field. Wes and Patti agreed to stay with me and photograph until the drama played out. At the time, I was still mourning the death of my wife Elaine Belsky Morris so it was a moving experience for me seeing the stallion so obviously in love and so obviously sad.
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In Memoriam: Wes Ardoin
I first met Patti Ardoin at a seminar that I conducted in Baton Rouge, LA probably some time in the mid-1990s. I returned a few years later to Baton Rouge and this time Patti dragged Wes with her to the full day program. Wes stated plainly that he had no interest in wildlife photography. Patti on the other hand was addicted. Well, Wes must have enjoyed the seminar because in short order he had his own 500 IS lens. Over the next few years Wes and Patti traveled with me on many IPTs including the Photo-Safari mentioned above and a great Katmai Bear Boat IPT among others.
The rookery at Lake Martin, LA near the Ardoin’s home in Lafayette used to be a great place to photograph nesting Great Egret, nesting Roseate Spoonbill, Barred Owl, and lots more. After photographing there once on my own I decided to schedule a Lake Martin Spoonbill IPT. I believe that we did two of them. Well, Wes and Patti hosted each event at their home. On the night of the introductory slide program Patti would prepare a huge crawfish etouffee dinner for the group. And that was followed by the slide program. In their living room.
I learned with great sadness today that Wesley H. Ardoin died at home on Monday, November 22, 2010 at age 68. I just got off the phone with Patti. When I said to her, “When I think of Wes I think of the fact that he always had a smile on his face and was quick with a funny story or a joke” she said, “You’re right,” and then started laughing out loud.
Wes and Patti were married for 49 years. They began dating when they were 14 after meeting at the home of Patti’s cousin. They have 5 children, 4 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild on the way. Wes was an orthodontist. I attended several staff parties and can honestly say that the man was loved by each and every one of his employees.
I relish the time that I spent with Wes and Patti. They were as happy a couple as I have ever encountered, always happy, always smiling, always loving what is. And always laughing. Wes and I loved to swap fishing stories. Though I never made it to his fishing camp, I felt as if I knew the place well.
I had such a wonderful relationship with Wes that many years ago I began calling him “Pops.” He will be sorely missed and remembered with love by all who knew him. I love you Pops.
November 23rd, 2010
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This image, “Sandhill Crane, Family of Four” was created this morning with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/8 sec. at f/10 in Tv Mode.
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Which Do You Prefer: Soft or Sharp?
Let me know with a short comment which image you like best, the crane blur or the sharp wigeon. And do let us know why. As always, if you’d like to learn to create pleasing blurs, check out: “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” by Denise Ippolito and yours truly.
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This image, “American Wigeon Landing” was also created this morning. I used the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II lens with the 2X II TC (hand held at 400mm) and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1600 sec. at f/8.
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Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EF Teleconverter 2X II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
November 21st, 2010
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This zoom blur was created with the tripod-mounted 70-200 f/2.8L IS II lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/3 sec. and f/18. (Zoomed from long to wide.) To learn to make images like this plus everything that you wanted to know about creating pleasing blurs but were afraid to ask, check out: “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” by Denise Ippolito and yours truly.
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Bosque Is Rocking!
When I spoke to Jim Neiger last week, he said, “It’s the worst year ever, worse than last year.” I have been hearing the dire predictions for more than a decade but in recent years they have proven to be true. But this year, I knew that there was corn. Today, the first day of the 2010 The Complete Bosque Experience IPT, was one of the best days I have had here in 16 years. We started with a spectacular sunrise, enjoyed great blackbird and geese blast-offs, had some great incoming flight photography with single geese, and finished with a spectacular sunset filled with birds. Whew.
Congrats to the Bosque management team for getting it right: this year is Bosque like it used to be! And for the third straight year Gary Roleuau and his team of volunteer Animals did a great job of opening many strategically placed viewing windows. Thanks a stack guys and gals!
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This blackbird motion blur was created with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II lens and the 1.4X II teleconverter (hand held at 280mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 200. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/8 sec. and f/22 set manually.
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This Snow Goose blast-off blur was created with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II lens hand held at 80mm with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 200. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/13 sec. at f/18 in Tv Mode.
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This banking Snow Goose image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop off the sky: 1/2000 sec. and f/9 set manually.
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This landing Snow Goose image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop off the sky: 1/2000 sec. and f/8 set manually.
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This sunset silhouette with killer cloud image was created with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II lens hand held at 88mm with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/500 sec. at f/3.2. This was created at one of my favorite sunset spots, a spot that few serious photographers ever visit. To make the most of your Bosque visit get your self a copy of the Bosque Site Guide–the next best thing to being on an IPT.
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Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens
Canon EF Teleconverter 1.4X II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body
And from the BAA On-line Store:
Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
November 18th, 2010
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This California Brown Pelican was photographed on Wednesday morning past in La Jolla, CA with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II lens, the 2X II TC, and the EOS-7D hand held at 342mm. (You gotta love the versatility of zoom lenses.) ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/2000 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode. Bright sun fill flash at 0.
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Canon 70-200 with the 2X II TC and the EOS-7D
With all the success that I have had with the new 70-200, the 2X, and the Mark IV, folks have been clamoring for info on how the new lens and the 2X II TC would do with the 7D. I used the 7D on Wednesday morning after the sun broke through with the 70-200 f/2.8 IS L II and the 2X. For images of static subjects the combo performed superbly. I had only a few chances with birds in flight, too few to offer any substantive opinion….
Folks need to realize that with the 1.6X multiplier effect of the 7D that it will be more difficult to hold the rig steady than with the Mark IV with its 1.3X multiplier effect: 640 compared to 520. And errors of equipment shake are multiplied by the square of the focal length, not by the focal length alone. This of course goes quadruple for folks who are hand holding. Do not think that you can go out with the new 70-200, the 2X TC, and your 7D and make sharp images in any light without using a tripod. You need to have superb sharpness techniques when hand holding this combo. And lots of shutter speed. And you need to understand how your choice of AF mode (One-Shot or AI Servo) will influence focusing accuracy and therefore image sharpness….
The image above, however, shows that the combo can produce superbly sharp images in the right conditions when used by folks who know what they are doing.
One note about flight photography: in most flight situations, there would be little need to use the 2X II TC with the 70-200 and the 7D. With the 1.6 multiplier effect of the camera all that you will need most of the time for hand held flight photography is the 1.4X teleconverter. And I have no doubt that that combination will acquire focus quickly, track accurately, and produce a high percentage of razor sharp on the eye images….
You can learn how to better use your 7D by purchasing a copy of our 7D User’s Guide. For this image I had set a different focusing sensor for vertical camera orientation. Learn how in the 7D UG. The update will be sent very soon.
I fly to Albuquerque, NM to pick up Denise Ippolito and Peter Kes. The Bosque IPT begins tomorrow night. If you are in the neighborhood and would like to attend the introductory slide program as my guest, be at K-Bobs at about 6:45 pm.
Shopper’s Guide
Here is a list of the gear that I used to create the image above:
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens
Canon EF Teleconverter 2X II
Canon EOS 7D
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.
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