If you are interested in traveling to Homer, AK with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry. The first IPT is looking sold out as I await the last deposit check.
Arna Lee Morris
My youngest of three sisters, Arna Lee Morris, died five years ago of morbid obesity. Had she lived, she would have been 67 today. She was a good kid, and bright, and was great at taking care of others. But she was not very good at taking care of herself. The first Morris baby, Carla, died of infantile diarrhea ten days after she was born while my Dad was overseas serving in WW II. Sister Ilene and I survive.
What’s Up?
On Tuesday morning, I headed back to the cliffs to meet up with San Diego IPT #2 veteran Bryan Love. He kindly loaned me his new Sony a7R V Mirrorless Camera body. As I got out of my rental vehicle, Bryan was coming down the hill. There were pelicans floating down into a strong NW wind with their feet hanging below them. Having heard good things about the a7R V, I was anxious to get it on the tripod with the 600mm f/4 GM lens. So I did. Many pelicans were parachuting down from great heights. The big problem was that Bryan, relatively new to bird photography, had not set up the camera body. At that point, it would not focus on anything. I ditched the a7R V, grabbed an a1, and went to work.
The weather was wild, raining hard one minute and bright sun the next with lots of clouds as well. With a NW wind in the morning the last thing you want is sun. We both photographed through most of the rain and had a ton of fun. When it poured, I got into my Nissan Murano and set up the V as closely as I could to the a1. When it let up, I worked with the new camera on the bare Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens . I will share my findings with you here in a future blog post. I did make a few good ones.
As a thank you, I took Bryan out for brunch to Shorehouse Kitchen in La Jolla Shores, about 5 minutes from the cliffs. BTW, I never got to loan Bryan my 600mm f/4 because when he walked down the hill he was smiling ear to ear and holding his brand new Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens. When I heard that he had used my B&H affiliate link I was the one smiling. He saw that they had one in stock and grabbed it. He already owned the Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM but when he tried out my 600 on the IPT, he fell in love instantly. Why? Since the size of the bird in the frame is a function of the square of the focal length, a bird photographed at a given distance with the 600 will be 2.25 times larger in the frame than the same bird photographed from the same spot with a 400mm lens.
Six squared is 36. Four squared is 16. 36 divided by 16 is 2.25. He could not stop talking about how amazing the Sony 600 f/4 GM lens is.
Today is Wednesday 18 January 2023. The forecast for the morning is for cold and mostly to partly cloudy with a 6mph breeze from the east. This blog post took more than two hours to prepare with most of that time spent on the very challenging image optimization and makes two hundred ninety-five days in a row with a new, educational post. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
I fly back to Florida in one week. Please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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 16 January 2023 on the beach at Coronado, CA. While standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter (zoomed out to 286mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 2000: 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 4:37:23pm on a variably cloudy afternoon.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Western Gull on pile of kelp with a rainbow in the background
Western Gull with Rainbow
There was a ton of kelp on the beach as a result of the recent storms. The pile that the gull was sitting atop was pushed together by a bulldozer that had been cleaning up the beach.
As much as I strive to expose to the right when photographing rainbows, I always wind up underexposing them a bit so that I get at least a hint of the rainbow when reviewing the image in camera. RawDigger showed that the brightness for this raw file was 1/3-stop short of perfect. The best way to create images with dramatic rainbows is to use a warming circular polarizer set to dark. I travel with a 77mm but it was in my rental car 🙁
In any case, optimizing today’s featured image was a bear. It took me more than 90 minutes to come up with something acceptable.
After clicking on the image to view the high-res version, leave a comment letting us know what you like and what you do not like about this one.
Image Design Question
Why did I zoom out from 400mm to 286mm?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are interested in traveling to Homer, AK with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry. The first IPT is looking sold out as I await the last deposit check.
What’s Up?
On Monday morning, I headed back to the cliffs to continue working on my 1200mm pelican macro techniques. It brightened a bit, and when a rain squall blew in from the east, I keep right on photographing. Though there have been several dire forecasts in my four weeks in San Diego, including several “100% chance of rain all day,” I have not missed a single morning session. All my Sony gear has stood up well to getting wet. Very wet at times. One body needed 30 minutes of the hair dryer in a pillowcase treatment. It has done just fine since.
I headed to Coronado in the afternoon. I checked on the Lesser Scaups and found a small flock. At the beach there was lots of action with the Western and Heermann’s Gull’s and several species of shorebirds. The sunset fizzled. I enjoyed mixed clouds and sun while back across the bridge, it rained in San Diego. The far out of character heavy rains have taken a toll. A section of the sidewalk and fence washed out on Prospect above the low cliffs, and I saw two huge, downed trees on Monday. One was right across the street from my AirBnB in Pacific Beach.
Today is Tuesday 17 January 2023. It rained again last night. It quit early so I will be meeting up with San Diego IPT veteran Bryan Love and try out his Sony a7R V. He owns an a1 and loves the V. He will get to play some more with my 600mm f/4. This blog post took more than 90 minutes to prepare (including the time spent on the three image optimizations) and makes two hundred ninety-four days in a row with a new, educational post. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
Please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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 14 January 2023 at Sonny Bono NWR, Salton Sea, CA. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1000. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/500 sec. at f/4 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to 1/3 stop too dark. AWB at 7:51:55 am on cloudy morning.
Manual Focus with Focus Peaking performed perfectly (as did the operator). Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #1: Green Winged Teal and other ducks in impoundment
Salton Sea Bird-scapes
I quickly realized that getting close to any birds at Sonny Bono NWR was not gonna happen. Attracted by the soft light and the beautiful earth tones of green, tan, and brown with some soft yellow tones thrown in, I went the long lens bird-scape route. Note that I was comfortable working 1/500 second at the wide-open aperture and that I lowered the ISO as the day got brighter.
Most of the ducks in Image #1 are Green-winged Teal. There were also a few Northern Shovelers and possibly another species or two.
This image was also created on 14 January 2023 at Sonny Bono NWR, Salton Sea, CA. Again, while standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 800. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/500 sec. at f/4 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to 1/3 stop too dark. AWB at 9:01:59 am on cloudy morning.
Manual Focus with Focus Peaking performed perfectly (as did the operator). Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #2: Long-billed Dowitcher — feeding flock in impoundment
The AF Problem with Bird-scapes
When creating bird-scapes it is imperative to focus accurately on the closest bird. Picking one that is doing something somewhat special is always a plus. When creating such images, especially those made at the wide-open aperture, using autofocus presents a problem as you attempt to focus accurately on the closet bird in the flock. It can be difficult to get a single AF point to hold focus on a small-on-the-frame subject.
The simple solution is to move the AF switch to M and focus manually. With Image #1, I adjusted the focus so that the closest teal had the brightest focus peaking edges. In image #2, all of the dowitchers showed the red focus peaking edges as they were (conveniently) on the same plane. And in Image #3, the line of shorebirds at the bottom of the frame lit up with the red edgings when the image was focused properly.
The Lesson
When you need to focus accurately on the closest bird or the front row of birds, manual focus with Focus Peaking will always be best. It will produce the sharpest images and make your life easy.
This image was also created on 14 January 2023 at Sonny Bono NWR, Salton Sea, CA. Again, while standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 800. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/500 sec. at f/4 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to 1/3 stop too dark. AWB at 8:29:44am on cloudy-bright morning.
Manual Focus with Focus Peaking performed perfectly (as did the operator). Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #3: Shorebirds feeding in impoundment
Your Call?
A- I like Image #1 best because …
B- I like Image #2 best because …
C- I like Image #3 best because …
D- I do not like any of today’s images because …
E- …
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are interested in joining me this coming Thursday in San Diego to improve your photography by leaps and bounds and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #3 late registration discount info. Though different every day, the photography has been consistently and astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are interested in traveling to Homer, AK with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry. The first IPT is looking sold out as I await the last two deposit checks.
What’s Up?
On Sunday, I photographed in the morning for several hours and then took the rest of the day off. There was only a breeze, so the hoped-for great flight photography never materialized.
Yesterday’s blog post here was something of a SNAFU as I inadvertently swapped the image codes. I have fixed that and corrected and responded to all the comments. I was the only one to like the pelican greeting blur.
Today is Monday 16 January 2023. It has been pouring here all night. As I began this blog post at 4:30am Pacific time, it continued to rain hard. The forecast is calling for the rain to quit soon. The forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a SSW wind from 15-18mph, so I will head to La Jolla as soon as the rain quits as these seemingly very poor morning conditions can offer some excellent pelican photography if you know where to be. I will be there. Most likely, alone. This blog post took about two hours to prepare (including the time spent on the two straightforward image optimizations) and makes two hundred ninety-three days in a row with a new, educational post. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
As I put the finishing touches on this post, it is 6:03am and the rain has stopped 🙂
It is looking as if Homer #1 and #3 will be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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 15 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, 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 400! 1/30 sec. at f/11 (stopped down one-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be within 1/6th stop of dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:52:55am on a dark, sometimes drizzly morning.
Manual focus with Focus Peaking is one of my favorite new techniques. I will post and iPhone image of that soon. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Sleeping young Brown Pelican neck, face, scapular, and coverts feather detail.
Sleeping Pelicans
On dreary, rainy days in San Diego there is a spot where you can get inside of 15-20 feet of sleeping pelicans without disturbing them one iota. The trick to making successful images is being able to isolate single birds or to look for feather detail shots with clean backgrounds. Using your longest available effective focal lengths makes the latter especially possible. Creative tripod-set-up techniques also helps as it does when photographing the nearby male Anna’s Hummingbird.
Order your Vello RS-S2II Wired Remote Switch for Select Sony Cameras by clicking here.
Vello Cable Release for Sony
Wrong Again: The Secret to Creating Sharp 1200mm Sleeping Pelican Feather Detail Images
More than forty years ago, I saw someone using a cable release for bird photography at the Venice Rookery. I said to myself, That’s stupid.” Wrong again! Now, I travel with two Vello RS-S2II Wired Remote Switches for Select Sony Cameras and always have one of them in my fanny pack. Simply put, they are the bomb when photographing sleeping or otherwise static subjects.
In addition, I have come to realize that there are other situations when a cable release can be fabulously helpful. I will, of course, share those with you here soon.
This image was also created on 15 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. I used the no-longer available Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, 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 320! 1/8 second! at f/25! (stopped down 3 1/3 stops if my math is correct) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:45:55am on a dark, sometimes drizzly morning.
Manual focus with Focus Peaking is one of my favorite new techniques. I will post an iPhone image of that soon along with additional applications. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Sleeping adult Brown Pelican neck, face, scapular, and coverts feather detail.
Making a Sharp 1200mm Image at 1/8-Second!
When photographing the handsome pelican featured in Image #2 at point blank range, less then 15 feet, I pulled out all the stops to get a sharp image at 1/8-second. After framing the shot and focusing manually with focus peaking, I locked down the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro and made sure to tighten the tripod collar securely. As the bird was sound asleep, I enabled the five-second self-timer to ensure a razor-sharp result.
The Lesson
Being able to create sharp images at long focal lengths with lots of depth-of-field and low ISO settings is a very nice arrow to have in your quiver.
Show Me the Diffraction. Or Not?
For decades, the experts have always cautioned about shooting at apertures smaller than f/16 at any focal length. Why? Because it creates diffraction. I have never seen diffraction. Years ago, I asked George Lepp about diffraction with telephoto lenses. He did not come up with an answer.
Do a web search for “diffraction in photography” and you will come up with many different answers. This, from the Cambridge in Colour website is the top one:
Diffraction is an optical effect which limits the total resolution of your photography — no matter how many megapixels your camera may have. It happens because light begins to disperse or “diffract” when passing through a small opening (such as your camera’s aperture).
Read all the rest of the answers and let me know if you see any diffraction in Image #2 that was created at f/25. I do not 🙂
Your Call?
A- I like Image #1 best because …
B- I like Image #2 best because …
C- I like them both as I find feather detail abstracts interesting.
D- I like feather detail image but I do not like either of these because …
E- I hate all feather detail images because …
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are interested in joining me in San Diego to improve your photography by leaps and bounds and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #3 late registration discount info. Though different every day, the photography has been consistently and astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are interested in traveling to Homer, AK with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry. The first IPT is looking sold out as I await the last two deposit checks.
What’s Up?
I made the long drive to the south end of Salton Sea and back to Pacific Beach in a single day. I left at 4am, and took I8 East to S-30 (Forrester Road) to the refuge. I had not been for nearly 30 years. The place did not smell as bad as it use to, but one must consider that I used to visit when it was a lot hotter. The single huge change is that nearly all of the roads that I drove three decades ago are now closed, adorned by the all-too-familiar blue and white flying goose signs: National Wildlife Refuge/UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED/US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR/FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. The good news is that hunters at least have far more access than birders and bird photographers. I created a few earth-toned bird-scapes and discovered a new focusing technique that worked great for bird-scapes. I drove around a bit, stumbled upon a hunter-related Snow Goos blast-off that reminded me of the good old days at Bosque, and found-but-did-not photograph two distant Burrowing Owls nesting in dirt holes.
At 1:15pm, I decided to head back to my AirBnb via the northerly route through the mountains. I took 78 through the Anzo Borrego Desert into Julian, then 67 down into Ramona, and finally onto 52 West. It began to rain and fog over before I pulled into Julian and those conditions continued until I finally made it back to San Diego. The drive home included steep climbs, long, steep downhill sections, and seemingly a zillion sharp S-curved switchbacks. To say that the 4 1/2 hour trip back was harrowing would have been a big understatement. I was glad that I made it. My cards are still in my rental car as I work on this post.
Today is Sunday 15 January 2023. The forecast is for cloudy with a brisk wind from the west. These seemingly very poor morning conditions can offer some excellent pelican photography if you know where to be. I will be there. Most likely, alone. This blog post took about 90-minutes to prepare and makes two hundred ninety-two days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer #1 and #3 will be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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 the 23 December on the first San Diego IPT. I used the the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Shutter Priority +2.0 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 250: 1/40 second at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 7:18:56am on a foggy morning that later became sunny. RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/3-stop short of perfect.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Brown Pelicans/landing greeting blur
Why the 200-600 for Pre-dawn Blurs?
Why would I choose the much slower 200-600mm f/63 G lens for pre-dawn blurs when I have two faster GM (Grand Master) lenses — the 400mm f/2.8 and the 600mm f/4 — to choose from?
There are many reasons:
1- First and foremost, faster lenses offer little advantage when you will be creating blurs and working with already low ISO settings as with today’s two featured images — ISO 250 for Image #1, and ISO 100 for Image #2.
2- The 200-600 is much easier to handhold.
3- You can zoom in or out as needed. Note the focal lengths used for today’s two images: 200mm for Image #1, and 600mm for Image #2.
My plan for this morning is to utilize the speed of the 70-200mm f/2.8 II GM and the 400mm f/2.8 GM lenses to create sharp flight images in low light conditions without having to jack up the ISOs too much. Different tools for different jobs.
On Listening to the Leader
I remember letting Anar Daswani know — she too was using the 200-600/a1 handheld rig — that by zooming out there was a good chance to create a decent story-telling image as the pelicans landed. Birds on the ground often distend their bill pouches as another bird lands. Some might construe this behavior as being aggressive, but I see it as more of a greeting. At times, the landing birds also distend their bills as if in conversation for a critique soon.
If I had the proverbial nickel for each time that I have made a suggestion to an IPT-participant only to have them ignore it completely, I would have a lot of nickels. If you have carefully chosen to spend your money on a trip with a leader that you respect, it might be a good plan to follow their advice. Or not.
This image was created on 25 December, the day after the first San Diego IPT. Again, I used the the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (this time at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Shutter Priority +2.0 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 100: 1/30 second at f/7.1 (stopped down 1/3-stop). AWB at 7:16:26am before the sun came over the hills of La Jolla. Again, RawDigger showed the exposure to be 1/3-stop short of perfect.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Brandt’s Cormorant pre-dawn pan blur
Your Call
A- I like Image #1 best because …
B- I like Image #2 best because …
C- I like them both.
D- I like blurs but I do not like either of these because …
E- I hate all blurs because …
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are interested in joining me in San Diego to improve your photography by leaps and bounds and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #3 late registration discount info. Though different every day, the photography has been consistently and astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are interested in traveling to Homer, AK with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry. The first IPT is looking sold out as I await the last two deposit checks.
What’s Up?
Yesterday got off to a slow start. At about 8am just as the sun came out from behind a few clouds, gorgeous pelican after gorgeous pelican landed on The Ridge right in front me with killer Pacific-blue backgrounds.
Today is Saturday 14 January and I am laving at 4am Pacific time to head to the Salton Sea for the first time in about two decades. This blog post took more than an hour to prepare, and makes two hundred ninety-one days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer #1 and #3 will be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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.
Screen capture of an eighteen-frame sequence of
The 18-frame Sequence — All Perfect
As it was slow going at first, I checked out one of my favorite spots. There are ofter some pelicans roosting there on most tides regardless of the surf conditions. As I am shooting down at the birds, it offer chances for unique perspectives. A 70-200mm zoom lens sometimes with a 1.4X TC is perfect for being creative. On Friday morning, my peek over the edge paid off in spades when an isolated pelican ruffled its feathers.
I had already checked the exposure and set Tracking: Expand Spot so when the bird put on a show for me, I held the shutter button down and created an 18-frame burst. All of the images were perfect. At least ten of them were outstanding enough to make the blog but, alas, I only had time to optimize one of my favorites. I know that you will bot be able to see all the details but I wanted to give you an idea of what it is like to work with a 30 frames per second camera body. If you would like to see a short video of all the images, please say so in a comment.
If you own a copy of the still very relevant San Diego Site Guide and would like to know the location of my secret spot, please shoot me an e-mail with proof of purchase and the words “Pelican Secret Look Down Spot” cut and pasted into th subject line.
This image was created on 13 January 2023. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 185mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600: 1/1600 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:08:49pm on a dark, dingy morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Brown Pelican, Pacific-race ruffling/optimized
The Lengthy Image Clean-Up
Though you cannot see each of the images large in the 18-frame screen capture above, you can get an idea of the fact that the cliff the bird was resting on was a mess. I used my usual cadre of Photoshop tools to do the clean-up work. All as detailed in BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
Your Call?
Do you like this image? Why or why not? Do you like that I was shooting down at the subject? Why or why not? Do you like the background? Why or why not?
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.
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.
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 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 19 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 4.
Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT and In-the-Field 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.
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 as well, often 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.
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. 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 2022/23 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.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or error
If you are interested in joining me in San Diego to improve your photography by leaps and bounds and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #3 late registration discount info. Though different every day, the photography has been consistently and astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are interested in traveling to Homer, AK with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry. The first IPT is looking sold out as I await the last two deposit checks.
What’s Up?
BAA blog volunteer proofreader Jordan Cait joined me for an In-the-Field session at La Jolla on Thursday morning and learned a ton from the first minute. When the sun came over the hills to the east, he was in the right place at the right time with his Canon R5/EF 70-200mm L IS lens/1.4X TC with the one gorgeous pelican on The Ridge that performed well for about a dozen photographers. He wound up with one great one and learned a lot from his errors. He had such a great time that he went home and purchased the R5/R6 guide! Later in the morning we walked down to the point at La Jolla Cove and enjoyed some great pelican flight photography.
Today is Friday 13 January 2023. Be sure not to walk under any ladders. Again, I will be heading to La Jolla early. The peregrine has not been relocated. Yet. This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes two hundred ninety days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer #1 and #3 will be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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.
ISO 400. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/9 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be 1/2 stop too dark. AWB at 8:47:55am on a partly sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone with Bird Face/ye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Peregrine Falcon stretching
Image courtesy of and copyright Steve Murdock 2023
Image Optimization by BIRDS AS ART
Steve Murdock
Steve Murdock is a tall, friendly, smiling man. I vaguely remember that he attended a Bosque IPT with his son in 2006. He has enjoyed three or four distinct and different careers and as a result is an interesting guy to talk to with an eclectic knowledge base. He knows a lot about a lot.
He arrived at the San Diego IPT with a Sony a1 and a 200-600 and had little idea as to how to use the camera effectively as it was not set up for efficient use. I copied my camera settings onto a card and loaded them onto his camera and to both of Bryan Love’s a1 bodies as well. Bryan had pretty much been in the same boat as Steve. It took me about two minutes to teach both of them how to use the camera. Both were quick studies.
Tuesday past, when we spent two hours with the tame peregrine, there were very tight shooting windows due to the dead vegetation on the cliffside between us and the perched raptor. As long as you worked wide open, the intruding thin branches were not evident in the images. Kudos to Bryan who was the first to walk up the path well past the bird to see if there were any alternative shooting locations. Steve, who had added the 1.4X TC to his set-up, followed suit and found a wide-open angle past Bryan.
Steve seemed a bit leery about my exposing far to the right in all situations and wound up a bit dark with his very fine image. Going vertical to include the suffused green at the bottom was brilliant. As you will see below, the Sony AF system did the rest brilliantly.
Steve got a bit lucky by creating a super-sharp image at 1/320 second. In retrospect, what would have been a better choice of ISO? Why?
Via e-Mail from Steve
I learned a lot during the excellent workshop. Your energy and enthusiasm are infectious. Stay safe and hope to see you again soon.
Steve
Image #1: a7INFO screen capture for the Peregrine Falcon stretching image.
The green crosshair icon shows the location of the active AF point.
Image courtesy of and copyright Steve Murdock 2023
Science fiction-like AF
With all dSLR bodies, the speed of initial AF acquisition and tracking accuracy suffered with the addition of any teleconverter. With the Nikon D850 and the 500mm PF lens and the TC-E 14 for example, AF beyond the center point was extremely poor at best. That the Sony a1 with the 200-600 and the 1.4X TC tracked the peregrine’s eye perfectly as the bird leaned forward to stretch is beyond remarkable.
I’ve said to before and I will say it again, a Sony rig with the a1/200-600/1.4X TC set up properly as detailed in my a1 User’s Group e-mail/guide, will change your life.
For the Eagle-Eyed
What five small changes were made during the image clean-up? You can compare the original in the a7INFO green capture with the optimized version (IMAGE #1.).
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.
If you are interested in joining me in San Diego to improve your photography by leaps and bounds and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #3 late registration discount info. Though different every day, the photography has been consistently and astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are interested in traveling to Homer, AK with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry. The first IPT is looking sold out as I await the last two deposit checks.
What’s Up?
The last morning of the 2nd San Diego IPT was phenomenal. There were fewer pelicans on the Left Ridge, making it easy to isolate single birds. The Left Ridge offers clean ,distant backgrounds. Those range from deep Pacific-blue when the sun is shining to cyan when it is a bit cloudy to white as in today’s featured image when it is cloudy or foggy. Can you say high key? Without the high winds of the previous day, there was little flight photography. But, by going with the 600 rather then the 400, I made some really nice images of red-pouched birds well away from the main cliff.
Then I took the group down the coast to The Crevice to try for some surfing pelicans. There was some big surf there and we arrived at high tide, so I was surprised that one Black Oystercatcher with its sidekick Whimbrel were resting near their usual hangouts. We had a few good chances with the surfing pelicans but I did not get anything memorable.
After wishing everyone well, I headed to Cafe Vahik for brunch. In the afternoon, for old time’s sake, I drove down to Imperial Beach and walked along the shoreline down to the Tijuana River. The huge expanse of wetlands to the east has been protected (i.e., closed) for several decades. Anyhoo, I came across a Say’s Phoebe, two dozen Western race Snowy Plovers, four Dunlin, a few Sanderlings, several Marbled Godwits, and hordes of Willets. I stopped at Silver Strand State Beach for sunset and was fortunate to find a single cooperative Willet that was sun-setably cooperative.
Today is Thursday January 12 2023. I am meeting blog regular Jordan Cait at the main pelican cliff for a morning In-the-Field session. This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-nine days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer may be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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.
Photo Mechanic 42-image screen capture
The Exciting Story
As you can see in the screen capture, I was working vertically when I created _A1G3984. The last image in that 34-frame sequence was made at 8:47:40am. When the young pelican to its left began to stretch 10 seconds later, I followed my own advice — when unexpected action happens press the shutter button. I created 27 images, each with one or both wings clipped. The first one was made at 8:47:49. The last vertical, _A1G4011, was created at 8:47:50am. Thus, the vertical sequence ran for less than 2 seconds.
The bird held the pose seemingly forever, and turned a bit so that the pose became more dramatic, I decided to go for the gusto and rotate the lens to horizontal. It took about two seconds to switch from vertical to horizontal and two more seconds to fit the bird in the frame. I remember holding my breath and praying that the bird would continue to hold the pose. The first perfect stretch was created at 8:47:54am. The last frame was made at 8:47:55am. The 13-frame perfect sequence was created in well less than two seconds.
The entire stretch lasted for about six seconds. In bird photography, that is an eternity.
The last image in the screen capture is the optimized version of _A1G4022, my pick as the best of the verticals.
This image was created on 11 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA, the last morning of the 2nd San Diego IPT. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 800. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1000 sec. at f/4 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to dead soliid perfect. AWB at 8:47:55am on a partly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S with Bird Face/ye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Brown Pelican wing stretch
Elegant Angularity
Adding diagonal lines to your compositions is always a huge plus. Here, the bird’s elegant pose provided the angularity. All I had to do was hope that the pose would last long enough for me to get from vertical to horizontal — it did! And then fit the entire subject in the frame. I did!
Your Thoughts?
What do you like about this image? What don’t you like? Would you have added a bit of canvas all around?
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 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 19 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 4.
Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT and In-the-Field 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.
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 as well, often 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.
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. 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 2022/23 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.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
The BIRDS AS ART Canon EOS R5 Camera User’s e-Guide: $75.00
The guide is 82 pages long: 21,458 words. More than 50 DPP 4 Autofocus-depicting screen captures. And a 31 minute 44 second educational video. This guide took three and a half months of hard work and a ton of help from at least seventeen very helpful and generous folks.
The guide covers — in great detail — all Menu Items that are relevant to bird, nature, and wildlife photography. It does not cover video. The section on AF methods and the AF Gallery has been expanded from the R5/R6 AF e-guide. It remains the one of the great strengths of this guide. I share my thoughts on what I am sure is the single best AF Method for photographing birds in flight. As most of you know, the guide includes a simple and easy way to change AF Methods that was introduced to me by Geoff Newhouse. In the AF Gallery you will see exactly how Face Detection plus Tracking AF works. In the Educational R5 Gallery video, I share my favorite R5 images along with dozens of bird photography tips and techniques.
In addition, I teach you how to get the best exposures with your R5. Detailed instructions on using the great In-camera HDR and Multiple Exposure features will be appreciated by creative folks who like to have fun. The three shutter modes are explained in detail as well. Bruce Dudek solved the can’t-get-to-Auto ISO problem that had stumped everyone at Canon. This information is of course shared in the guide. You will learn how to set up your EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) and Screen toggle options. Not to mention that the mysterious performance of the Q Button is revealed and simplified. Brian Sump’s images reveal how well you can do when using the R5 with EF lenses using one of the three Canon EF-EOS R Mount Adapters (as Donna did with Image #1 below). You will learn how I use Customize Dials to put either ISO or EC on the Thumb Dial and how to set up and save Custom Shooting Modes (C1-C3) that can remember both your Customize Dial and Customize Button settings! That is something that none of the SONY bodies do. 🙁 Near the end of the guide I share my all-important MY MENU items with you.
Like all BAA educational materials, the R5 guide is written in my informal, easy-to-follow style. I am quite proud of this guide and look forward to hearing your thoughts on our hard work.
You can purchase your copy of the BIRDS AS ART Canon EOS R5 Camera User’s e-Guide for $75.00 here in the BAA Online Store or by calling Jim in the office weekday afternoons at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand.
San Diego IPT Late Registration Discount
If you are interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #3 late registration discount info. The photography has been consistently and astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are interested in traveling to Homer, AK with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry. The first IPT is looking sold out as I await the last two deposit checks.
What’s Up?
Day 4 of the 2nd San Diego IPT was quite amazing. With a big surf and a 15-20 mph wind from the east, the IPT boys and girls enjoyed a fabulous morning of pelican flight photography. Again, for me, the Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lens with the a1 proved to be deadly. The flight action was still hot and heavy just before 10:00am when John Dupps, who had taken an exploratory walk with his Nikon 80-400/Z9, let the pelican photographers know that my La Jolla friend Laurel Strohmeyer had a Peregrine Falcon on a fairly clean perch inside of 55-feet with a distant ocean background. The entire group spent the next two solid hours creating probably more than 10,000 images of this handsome adult raptor, probably a male. It flew from the perch several times but always returned. I am hoping that I will find it in the same spot for the next two weeks. Though I managed to miss the ruffle five times, I kept 172 peregrine images out of the more than 2,000 that I created. In addition, I kept 72 very fine pelican images, most of those flight shots.
Conditions on Tuesday morning ranged from cloudy-dark to cloudy bright with a bit of a drizzle here and there. Mind you, the forecast for Tuesday had been for a 100% chance of rain all day. We did not see another photographer all morning.
Today is Wednesday 11 January 2023, the last morning of this 4 1/2-day IPT. The forecast is for partly cloudy skies with a gentle east breeze. We will start at the main pelican cliffs. I will be meeting the group at 7am. This blog post took more than two hours to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-eight days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer may be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now to avoid being disappointed.
Images courtesy of and copyright 2022: Sanjeev Nagrath
Photo Mechanic screen capture: two slightly out-of-focus Brown Pelican carrying large fish in pouch images
Image Optimization by BIRDS AS ART
Wow!
We abandoned the main pelican cliffs on Monday in search of more action and found it in spades after a 1/4-mile walk. When repeat client Sanjeev Nagrath showed me a series of images on the back of his R5 of a pelican in flight carrying a huge fish in its pouch, I was mega-excited. Sanjeev first studied with me at Nickerson Beach and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last summer. You can see three of his fine images in the Like Bringing a Bazooka to a Knife Fight blog post here.
I encouraged Sanjeev to purchase a 600mm lens for his upcoming trip to Africa after he told me that many had advised him that this 100-500 would be “more than enough.” He was thrilled that he did, and I was thrilled that he used the BIRDSASART discount code at Bedfords. Anyhoo, he is still relatively new to using the 600 and has not done much flight photography with it. Using a tripod-mounted 600mm lens for flight photography is a skill that takes years to perfect, and even then, properly framing large-in-the-frame birds is a tricky proposition. As a result, several of the images of the pelican were mis-framed, and the focus was off slightly.
He showed me the images on his laptop at lunch on Tuesday. We decided to work with the two images above and see if we could create something memorable. I loved the flat flight pose in the _J7A4898 image (on the left above), but the left primaries were clipped. My plan was to grab the primary tips from the _J7A4903 image (on the right above) and to resize and warp them to reconstruct the missing primary feather tips in the base image, _J7A4898 (after expanding the canvas right and below).
Image courtesy of and copyright 2022: Sanjeev Nagrath
Image #1A: an unsharpened 100% crop of the out-of-focus original Brown Pelican carrying large fish in pouch image
Image Optimization by BIRDS AS ART
Sharpening the Image
I sharpened the bird selectively using the masking feature of Topaz Sharpen AI and then selected the bird’s face with the quick Selection Tool (W) and the Lasso Tool (L) and sharpened that selection with a Contrast Mask. Be sure to click on the optimized image below to see the (quite amazing if I do say so myself) final image.
This image was created by repeat client and friend Sanjeev Nagrath on Monday 9 January on Day 3 of the 2nd San Diego IPT. He used the tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens and the highly touted 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 500. Exposure determined via test image and blinkies evaluation: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual (M) mode. AWB at 10:15am on cloudy-bright Lightbox of a morning.
Full screen Eye Detection AI Servo AF (as detailed in the EOS R5/R6 e-Guide) was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.
Image courtesy of and copyright 2022: Sanjeev Nagrath
Image #1: The optimized Brown Pelican carrying large fish in pouch image
Image Optimization by BIRDS AS ART
The Optimized Image
I am quite proud of the image optimization. I have been coming to La Jolla for more than 50 years, and had never seen a pelican flying with a large fish in its pouch.
The Sanjeev Pelican Image Optimization Video
I created an informal video of the entire image optimization process. The video includes the following:
The two raw conversions
The Topaz DeNoise noise reduction.
Adding canvas right and below using Content-Aware Crop
Painting a Quick Mask of the primary tips from _J7A4903
Moving that selection on a layer roughly into place on the base image, _J7A4898
Re-sizing and warping the added wingtip feathers and refining those with the addition of a Regular Layer Mask
Flattening that Layer and sculpting and refining the feather detail using the Clone Stamp Tool
Sharpening the bird selectively using the masking feature of Topaz Sharpen AI
Sharpening the face using a Contrast Mask
The un-edited video detailing the entire process is available to you for a mere $10.00. Do understand that it was created in a restaurant not a recording studio. That said, everything I said is legible and as always, the directions are easy to follow. All of the techniques used are covered in detail in Digital Basics II.
To purchase a copy of the video, you can send a PayPal for $10.000 by clicking here, or by calling Jim at 863-692-0906 weekdays (Friday before noon).
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.
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.
If you are at all interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #2 late registration discount info. The photography has been consistently and astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry.The first IPT is looking very sold out as I await the last two deposit checks.
What’s Up?
Day 3 of the 2nd San Diego IPT was quite amazing. With no big waves things were a bit difficult at the main pelican cliffs so I took the group down the hill. I quickly found a spot with great flight photography for Royal Terns and Brown pelicans. I created 5210 images. All but one of the folks in the group created more images than I did!
Today is Tuesday 10 January 2023. For more than a week, the forecast for today had been for 100% rain all day. By last night it was down to 80%. This morning is showing no rain for many hours beginning at 7:30am so that is when I will meet the group. This blog post took more than two hours to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-seven days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer may be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now to avoid being disappointed.
This image was created on 6 January 2023. I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with a twist with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 50. 1/2 second at f/14 (stopped down 4 2/3 stops) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:57:56am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Manual focus with focus peaking performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Children’s Pool breakwater on huge surf day/100% juiced up version
Three Versions
Today’s post features three versions of the same image, my favorite from the huge surf day in San Diego, 6 January 2023. Image #1 was my first effort and featured juiced up colors. I lowered the color temperature to bring up the BLUE and then played around with the Saturation and Luminance of the AQUAs and GREENs under the Color Mixer tab to really boost the colors. Image #2 was converted conservatively with the original color temperature, the white and black points set as usual, the Highlights slider at -40, the White slider at +20, the Blacks at -50, Clarity at +10, Dehaze at +2, and Vibrance at +10. To create a middle-of-the-road version, I dragged a 50% opacity layer of Image #3 onto Image #2.
This image was created on 6 January 2023. I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with a twist with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 50. 1/2 second at f/14 (stopped down 4 2/3 stops) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:57:56am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Manual focus with focus peaking performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Children’s Pool breakwater on huge surf day/straight up conversion version
Singh-Ray 5-stop Mor-Slo Solid Neutral Density (ND) Filter
To get down to 1/2 second, I used a Singh-Ray 5-stop Mor-Slo Solid Neutral Density (ND) Filter that was screwed on to the front of the lens. Note that I still needed to stop down to f/14 for the right exposure at 1/2 second. A 10-stop Mor-Slo™ Solid Neutral Density (ND) Filter would have been better as it would have allowed me to work at a wider aperture. I am not sure if my artie10 discount code still works at Singh-Ray but I will let you know.
Here is some advice for Sony folks that might help others as well. When shooting long exposure blurs, I find that setting the exposure to show no Zebras avoids over-exposing the brightest highlights.
Singh-Ray Filters
Singh-Ray filters have been used by the world’s top photographers for many decades. Who? Art Wolfe, Tony Sweet, Ian Plant, Denise Ippolito, Nevada Weir, Brenda Tharp, Cole Thompson, Chuck Kimmerle, and the late Galen Rowell among others. Singh-Ray has been and is the name in quality filters. I often use a 77mm warming polarizer set to dark at Bosque to get to a slower shutter speed in too-bright conditions. Toward that end, BIRDS AS ART is working with Singh-Ray to produce a 5-stop Neutral Density filter to fit the filter drawers of Canon Super-telephoto lenses. Stayed tuned for info on that.
No other filter manufacturer comes close to matching the quality of Singh-Ray’s optical glass that is comparable to that used by NASA. And they continue to pioneer the most innovative products on the market like their ColorCombo polarizer, Vari-ND variable and Mor-Slo 15-stop neutral density filters. When you use their filters, you’ll create better, more dramatic images and, unlike other filters, with absolutely no sacrifice in image quality. All Singh-Ray filters are handcrafted in the USA.
Best News: 10% Discount/Code at checkout: artie10
To shop for a Singh-Ray 5-Stop Mor-Slo Fliter (for example), click on the logo link above, click on “Neutral and color
Solid Neutral Density Filters (glass), then click on “Mor-Slo™ 5, 10, 15 and 20-Stop Solid Neutral Density Filters (glass),” choose the size and model, add to cart, and then checkout. At checkout, type artie10 into the “Have a coupon? Click here to enter your code” box, and a healthy 10% discount will be applied to your total. In addition to enjoying the world’s best filter at 10% off you will be supporting my efforts here on the blog. I use the George Lepp models in 77mm and 95mm for my 3-stop NDs.
This image was created on 6 January 2023. I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with a twist with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 50. 1/2 second at f/14 (stopped down 4 2/3 stops) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:57:56am on a mostly sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Manual focus with focus peaking performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Children’s Pool breakwater on huge surf day/50% juiced up version
Breaking Wave Blur Shutter Times
While photographing the huge surf just four days ago, I did lots of experimenting with shutter speeds ranging from 1/8 second to 15 seconds. Shutter speeds in excess of 2 seconds produced creamy milky water that showed little shape or form. Those in the range of 1/2 to 2 seconds showed the most pleasing bridal veil effects where the water ran down in streaks. My very favorite for those was right at about 1 second.
Your Call?
After clicking on each image to enlarge it, all are invited to leave a comment letting us know which version they liked best, the juiced up version (Image #1), the conservatively processed version (Image #2), or the middle-of-the-road version, Image #3. Please let us know why you made your choice. I have a very clear choice.
With All Due Respect
With all due respect for all the faithful bird photographers using the latest Canon mirrorless bodies, those using the vaunted (and large and very heavy) Nikon Z9, and anyone using a dSLR, the Sony a1 is the cream of the crop by far. It is the easiest to learn to use efficiently and the easiest to use efficiently. And as far as getting the right exposure, Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb wheel leaves all the others in the proverbial dust. If you would like to receive an e-mail explaining in greater detail why the Sony A1 is best y far, please click here
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.
If you are at all interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #2 late registration discount info. The photography has been consistently and astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry.The first IPT is looking very sold out as I await the last two deposit checks.
What’s Up?
We spent the morning and afternoon of Day 2 of the second San Diego IPT at Santee Lakes. Both sessions were filled with learning and unique opportunities. Ring-necked and Wood Ducks along with Cinnamon Teal cooperated nicely as they responded to offering of scratch (now $2/bags at the pay booth or the camp store). With zero wind in the morning there were lot of great reflections.
Today is Monday 9 January 2023. We will be headed early to La Jolla. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-six days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer will be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to posting every other day.
Thanks to BPN-friend Bill Dix for sharing his heartfelt letter to Phil Norton and three of his very fine images below.
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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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.
Image courtesy of an copyright 2023 Bill Dix
Image #1: Gambell’s Quail
Bill Dix
I’ve met Bill Dix in person only once or twice, once for sure at Nickerson Beach. Bill is (obviously) an accomplished photographer, one of the many who has honed his skills in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographers.Net. Bill has been a member since 2009 and participated to the tune of 12,483 posts!
At $40/year BPN is the greatest buy in an avian photographic education except for the BIRDS AS ART Blog at $0.00/year.
Image courtesy of an copyright 2023 Bill Dix
Image #2: Ross’s Geese in flight
Dear Phil and Phoebe
I just listened to the interview with you that Art Morris posted here in his recent “What About Bosque?” blog post here. My wife Joanne and I visited Casa Blanca in 2019. I had heard at least part of the story of your management of Bosque, and its subsequent demise when you left, but that 51-minute interview contained a wealth of fascinating detail and personal stories. I am exceedingly grateful to you for your wise, visitor-oriented management of the refuge during your tenure. You conclude the interview with a somewhat hopeful outlook, that one of these days the pendulum will (or at least may) swing back the other way and wiser government and management could prevail.
I had looked forward to visiting Bosque again, and again staying in your wonderful B&B: but alas, I understand that you will be closing the place, and besides, I don’t have that many more years to wait for the pendulum to swing. So I will treasure my short visit in 2019, and the few images that resulted from that trip. One of your wonderful turned bowls occupies a place of honor in my living room.
I wish the two of you all the best as you move on to another chapter.
Bill
Image courtesy of an copyright 2023 Bill Dix
Image #3: Sandhill Cranes taking flight
Your Call
Which of Bill’s three featured images is your favorite. Do leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice. For me, it is a tie for first place.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
On a fair weather weekend day in winter, you can expect a good number of photographers on the cliffs at La Jolla. in contrast to the big crowd on the January 2nd federal holiday, everyone was respectful of the birds and the other photographers. A bit of haze to the east came and went providing lovely soft light. The biggest complaint from the group was that there were so many pelicans that it was difficult to isolate a subject. As the morning progressed, many photographers wandered off as predicted. By moving slowly and getting low, the group was able to get ridiculously close to the birds. Bryan Love was shooting pelicans with his Sony 24-70mm II lens!
Bryan, and Steve Murdock (who had attended a Bosque IPT 17 years ago), both needed help setting up their a1 bodies. Multiple IPT veteran John Dupps gave his Nikon 500mm PF and his new Z9 a good workout. And Sanjeev Nagrath used his Canon mirrorless R5b bodies with both his Canon RF 600mm and the RF 100-500. The tame birds and the soft light made for an ideal teaching laboratory so we photographed until after 11:00am, enjoyed a long working brunch, and took the rest of the day off.
Today is Sunday 8 January 2023. We will be headed early to Santee Lakes. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-six days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer will be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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 January 2023 on Day 1 of the second San Diego IPT. While seated on damp sand behind my lowered tripod I used the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens
the Sony FE 1.4x 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 640. 1/2000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be just short of perfect. AWB at 8:46:09am on a then-cloudy morning.
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: The Photo Mechanic screen capture for today’s featured image
Wish That I Had Pointed the Lens Down a Bit More
When I saw the original while reviewing images during brunch with the group on Saturday morning I really like the whitewashed patterns and colors on the sandstone rock. They looked a bit like some prehistoric cave art. I wished that I had pointed the lens down a bit more to include more of the rock and less of the sky.
Can you envision a crop that would put more emphasis on the rock?
This image was created on 7 January 2023 on Day 1 of the second San Diego IPT. While seated on damp sand behind my lowered tripod I used the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens
the Sony FE 1.4x 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 640. 1/2000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be just short of perfect. AWB at 8:46:09am on a then-cloudy morning.
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 #2: The Optimized version of Brown Pelican scratching
Saved by the Crop
working with Original Ratio, I began by pulling the Crop Tool in a bit from the top left to eliminate the bird on the left frame-edge. To put more emphasis on the handsome rock, I cropped from above and from the right. Bingo!
I did a bit of whitewash clean-up on the top of the rock just to our right of the bird’s bill. As you can see by viewing the high rest version, sharp a1 images can stand up to healthy crops.
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 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #3: 4 1/2 DAYS: THURS 19 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 4.
Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT and In-the-Field 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.
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 as well, often 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.
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. 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 2022/23 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.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are at all interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #2 late registration discount info. The photography has been astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry.
What’s Up?
With the hundred year big surf, I did not photograph a single pelican. I concentrated on the 15+ foot waves using both the 200-600 and the 70-200 with 3-, 5-, and 10-stop ND filters. I got some really nice stuff that I will share with you here soon, especially of the breakwater at Children’s Pool.
Today is Saturday 7 January, Day 1 of the second San Diego IPT. I will be joined by old friends John Dupps and Sanjeev Nagrath and first timers Bryan Love and Steve Murdock. The forecast for the morning is for partly cloudy turning cloudy with a gentle breeze from the NE. Not bad. This blog post took about an hour to prepare (plus the two weeks spent creating the images) and makes two hundred eighty-five days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer will be sold out fairly soon. Please do not forget to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for your new gear purchases.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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.
San Diego December Flight Photography Fine Points
Flight photography in December in San Diego was fantastic. See what Sony lenses I used with my a1 and learn a bunch about flight photography and wing positions. If you have any questions about the images in the video, please leave a comment here.
Your Call?
Which of the raw files in the video would you like to see processed? You can pause the video to see the file number. Why?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are at all interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for IPT #2 late registration discount info. The photography has been astoundingly good.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info. Several folks are in the process of registering so do not tarry.
What’s Up?
I enjoyed another great am session at La Jolla on Thursday despite the sometimes drizzly weather. There are still a zillion pelicans, probably five to ten times more than I have seen in the last five decades of visiting La Jolla in winter. With the low light and light rain for the past few days, both the 400mm f/2.8 and the 70-200mm f/2.8 II (that latter usually but not always with the 1.4X TC) have been my most valuable lenses.
Today is Friday 6 January 2023. The forecast is for cloudy with a gentle east breeze early on (very good) switching to the north at about 9am (bad unless the clouds persist). The surf forecast is for 15 to 20 footers that would match the highest waves in 100 years in San Diego. In general, high surf conditions are great for bird photography as it keeps the birds moving when it breaks on the lower cliffs and drives the birds to the higher cliffs. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-four days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
It is looking as if Homer will be sold out fairly soon.
My plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now 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, or to any prior purchases.
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 5 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. While standing behind my somewhat lowered tripod, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) 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 1250. 1/60 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be absolutely dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 6:59:59am on dank, dark morning.
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: Brown Pelican Pacific-race breeding plumage adult — head and bill portrait
The Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM Lens in the Dark
The light gathering capabilities of the 400 f/2.8 are a huge plus in low light. With the wide open lens on the tripod, I am confident making sharp images at 1/60th second. Early on a dark cloudy morning, I lowered my tripod about a foot, dialed up the ISO until there were significant Zebras on the yellow and white feathers of the birds crown, and fired off a dozen virtually indistinguishable very sharp images.
Image Design Question
Why did I lower my tripod before creating Image #1?
Image Question
Does anything about Image #1 bug you? What and why?
This image was also created on 5 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I again used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) 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 1250. 1/60 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 again). AWB at 9:13:00am on an off and on drizzly 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: Brown Pelican Pacific-race breeding plumage adult in greenery
No Problem Adding Green Here
With this handsome adult pelican sitting in the wet vegetation, adding green was not a problem. I long ago gave up my vertical grip and have no problem at all working in vertical format either on the tripod or when handholding.
Image Question
Does anything about Image #2 bug you? What and why?
Your Call?
Which of today’s two 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.
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
San Diego IPT Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
What’s Up?
I photographed for three hours in a light drizzle on Wednesday morning. Though not as productive as most of my mornings have been, I created more than 2,000 images including many superb flight sequences, most of those made when things brightened up at about 10:00am.
Today is Thursday 5 January 2023. The week long prediction of “rain all day” has fizzled. They are now predicting partly cloudy skies from sunrise till about 11:00am. Much better. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-three days in a row with a new, educational post 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 then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news? We have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now to avoid being disappointed.
What About Bosque?
For the past few years, folks often ask, “How is Bosque doing?” The answer, unfortunately, is “Not well.”
I first visited the refuge less than two weeks after the death of my beloved wife Elaine Belsky Morris in late-November 1994. Using Fuji Velvia pushed one stop, I created two BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year honored images, “Blizzard in Blue” and “Fire in the Mist.” The latter was wrap-around cover art for “Light on the Earth,” a collection of the best winning images from two decades of this prestigious contest.
Over the next decade and a half, Bosque became one of my soul places. I reveled in the magic of glorious sunrises and sunsets and skies and pools full of Sandhill Cranes and Snow and Ross’s geese.
Phil Norton, a soft-spoken, gentle man, skillfully managed the refuge for 14 years, from 1986 to 2000. He managed for the birds, for the visitors, and for the huge numbers of photographers who visited each year during late fall and winter. He understood and brilliantly managed the web of habitat, water, and vegetation to attract the many tens of thousands of geese and cranes that visited each season. His relationships with the local farmers and the cooperative farming program that he instituted at the refuge ensured an ample supply of corn and other grains for the ravenous avian winter visitors. All that food led to blastoffs and blastoffs and more blastoffs.
Phil founded the Festival of the Cranes that served as the blueprint for the now hundreds of annual birding festivals in the US. And he formed the first volunteer program where skilled folks worked their butts off for a motor home hook-up and a thank you from Phil. That program also served as a model for the refuge system.
Today at the refuge there is little food for the birds, and thus, very few birds.
I received this e-mail from David Policanksy on 27 December:
Hi, Artie. I went to Bosque today; partly cloudy, mid-50s, south-south-west wind about 15, less later. Lots of water including at the crane pool, and bth routes to the north are open. The birds weren’t concentrated or flying where it was easy to photograph them, but I got a few images I liked. Lots and lots of great-tailed grackles wading in shallow water, which I don’t remember seeing before, and an ibis, glossy or white-faced, likely immature so I don’t know which. I’ve never seen an ibis there before.
With love, Dr Fish
An e-mail conversation with Alistair Montgomery
BAA: Hi Alistair,
Re:
Alistair: Do you have an update on Bosque del Apache NWR bird photography?
BAA: I understand from others that there are very few birds.
Alistair: I understand from refuge publications on the internet that several changes including constructing levies and new ditches have been made to cope with the drought and optimize food supply.
BAA: There are few cranes and almost no geese this year. The mis-management plan has succeeded. They have completely ruined one of the crown jewels of the NWR system.
Alistair: Do you still run IPTs there?
AM: No sir.
Alistair: Happy new year and thanks! Alistair Montgomery
AM: Thank you, and ditto.
With love, artie
I copied Phil Norton on my reply to Alistair and received the e-mail below from my old friend. It is reprinted here with his permission.
Arthur, I have been watching Bosque become a shadow of its former self. When I go to the refuge, I always leave upset. There have been issues for sure. Water, COVID, and staffing for example. But when I look at what is happening, I consider it to be a result of incompetence and apathy. It’s hard to watch. I would be happy to visit with you if you would like to discuss things in more depth. Phil
Bosque Though the Years with Phil Norton
In this 51-minute video, Phil Norton, the former refuge manager at Bosque del Apache NWR, shares the history of the refuge through his eyes. When he left the refuge, things went downhill fast. In 2019, when I interviewed him, things were looking up. Since then the refuge, once the crown jewel of the NWR system, has gone completely into the tank. Phil talks frankly about the good and the bad. Everyone who has ever visited the refuge will appreciate the backstory.
Since his retirement for the NWR system, Phil has run a Bed and Breakfast in the tiny town of San Antonio, NM with his partner Phoebe — the self-described love of his life. In his spare time, he is an avid bowl turner, working on a lathe in his workshop out back. Phil and Phoebe will be closing the doors of Casa Blanca B & B at the end of this season. Join me in thanking Phil for all those great years at Bosque and in wishing him a long, happy, and healthy retirement.
Quite a while back I received an e-mail informing me that one of my images, “Fire in the Mist,” had been chosen for inclusion in the book, “Light on the Earth,” a compilation of twenty years of the best winning and commended images in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. I was thrilled of course, but a bit disappointed that only one of my five (at that time) commended images had been chosen. What can I say? I am greedy. As I read on, I was quite a bit more thrilled when I learned that “Fire in the Mist” would not only appear in the book but would be used as cover art, gracing the wrap-around dust jacket. The book, which features 170 images, is–at 224 pages and just under five pounds–a large one by any standards. The images are of course for the most part breath-taking (though I would disagree with a few of the choices…) In addition to the images, there are essays by some of the world’s premier photographic artists including one of my idols, Jim Brandenburg.
We have a limited number of signed copies available. The book will be signed on page 35 where “Fire in the Mist” appears. If you would like me to personalize the book, please let us know when you order and I shall do so on the title plate. If you request a personalized copy and I am on the road, your order will be shipped when I return home.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you have a Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens in excellent or better condition that has been sitting on a shelf for a while and would like to make someone happy and get a decent price for it, please let me know via e-mail.
Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
San Diego IPT Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
What’s Up?
The forecast for Tuesday was basically rain all day. I was sitting in my car at La Jolla working on my next YouTube video in the dark. It was pouring rain. The rain let up as it began to get light. I headed down to the main cliffs with the 400mm f/2.8 on the tripod and the 70-200 on my shoulder via a Black Rapid Curve Breathe Strap. I started off doing blurs with the 400 f/2.8 and in short order, it was bright enough to go sharp at about ISO 2000 — 1/1000 sec. at f/2.8. I wound up at ISO 800 — 1/2500 sec. at f/2.8. It is hard to beat the 400mm 2.8 for low light flight photography and staying well back from the incoming birds produces some very sweet backgrounds. After a while, looking for something different, I took a walk to find some new perspectives. And struck gold. The flight tapered off so I went back down the hill with just the hand held 70-200mm with the 1.4X TC. I had a ball and created some new and different images. And so it has been going: horrible forecasts with a zillion pelicans, tons of great chances, new opportunities, and new discoveries. I’ve been creating between 2800 and 4000 images each morning since I arrived.
Right now I’d have to say that the photography here rivals the greatest nature photography locations on the planet: East Africa, the Falklands, and South Georgia among others. There is still time for you to get in on the actoin by signing up for either the 2nd or third San Diego IPT.
Today is Wednesday 4 January 2023. The forecast is for more rain. I will surely give it a go. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-two days in a row with a new, educational post 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 then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA just sold its last one. The good news is that we have located two more new-in-the-box tripods. They will be available for shipping at the end of January. Best to order yours now to be sure that you get one. We will not run your card until your item ships. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now to avoid being disappointed.
Great Gear Question
Steve White
January 3, 2023 at 11:23 am
I love both images. I don’t prefer one over the other because they are totally different and both are great.
Question: how do you carry the 400 and the 600 in the field at the same time? And I assume you had the 70-200 with you also? I have the 200-600 and 600. They both will fit with camera attached in my Kiboko and Mindshift 36L, but that is more weight I want to deal with in the field. Just curious.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Steve. And for your excellent question.
The situation at La Jolla is unique. From the car to the top of the steps is about 10 yards. On cloudy mornings I have been heading down the steps with the 400mm f/2.8 lens in my left hand, the 70-200/a1 rig on my shoulder via a Black Rapid Curve Breathe Strap, and the tripod in my right hand. On clear mornings I’ll move the 70-200 to the front of my body and carry the 600 f/4 in an old Domke lens bag via the lens strap on my right shoulder. I take my time getting down the steps. Once I get down to the main cliff, I make sure the 600 in a save spot, that is, somewhere in front of me where I can keep my eye on it.
I would never think of taking both big lenses to a place like De Soto where you might walk a mile or two in a single session. Note also that I never ever carry anything on my back 🙂 If I need to bring a short zoom lens I will wear my old X-tra Hand vest.
This image was created on 1 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 800. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be within 1/6-stop of perfect. AWB at 9:28:17am on a cloudy day.
Tracking: Zone was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Brown Pelican landing on low cliff
Vertical Original Flight Photography?
Today’s featured image was created as a vertical original. It is un-cropped.
Why Shoot Birds in Flight as Vertical Originals?
1- Why not?
2- You never know when you will come up with something different and exciting.
3- When you could sell images, vertical made for great magazine covers.
4- It is fun and extremely challenging.
Your Call?
Is today/s featured image anything special? What do you like? What don’t you like?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
San Diego IPT Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
New Listings
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
BAA Record-low Price!
Neal McEwen is offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for a BAA record-low by far $1099.00. The lens was recently serviced by CPS with the 11-Point EF Lens Maintenance Service. The sale includes the original box and packing materials, the front and rear lens caps, the tripod collar, the lens hood, the carrying case with strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Neal via e-mail or by phone at 1-404-326-0505 (Eastern time zone).
This incredibly versatile zoom lens — with its amazing .98-meter close focus — was my favorite Canon telephoto zoom lens ever. By far. It is easy to hand hold, great for tight portraits, for birds in flight, for quasi-macro stuff, and lots more. For flight, it is fabulous with an EOS R, R5, R6, or R7! This lens sells new for $2399.00 so you can save a handsome $1300.00 by grabbing Neal’s lens ASAP. artie
What’s Up?
With less than ideal conditions on Monday morning at the La Jolla Cliffs I enjoyed yet another spectacular 3000+ image morning. After feasting on pelicans I headed down the coast and found four cooperative Black Oystercatchers on their favorite rock shelf. I’ve been creating so many great images that I have been staying in every afternoon in order to get some work done.
I was glad to learn that Barbara White’s husband took advantage of the late registration and spouse discounts and will be joining us on IPT #3. And I was thrilled to learn that Mark Smith, bird photography’s You Tube rock star, will be joining me in Homer for two or three of the Bald Eagle IPTs.
Today is Tuesday 3 January 2023. The forecast is for rain early replaced by light rain at about 8am. I have been on such a hot streak that I will surely give it a go. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred eighty-one days in a row with a new, educational post 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 then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA has just one of my favorite-ever tripods left in stock. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab this last one here right now.
This image was created on 26 December 2022 at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1250. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/400 sec. at f/4 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be perfect.When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect.AWB at 7:15:10am, 25 minutes before he sun would come over the hill to the east.
Tracking: Spot (S) was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #1: Brown Pelican sub-adult high key
High Key Simplicity
I call this one “Charcoal Grey High Key.” It is hard to imagine a simpler image: a pelican on a rock in the pre-daw shade with a white water background. The yellow bill tip, the pink eye skin, and the red and olive of the bill pouch add just enough color to bring this one to life. I even like the hint of CYAN in the water.
The Lessons
1- In the first few frames, the feet were lost behind the out of focus rock mound in the foreground. To get taller, I pulled in the legs of the tripod. Bingo.
2- The key to success of high key images, is to push the exposure far to the right and then some. This ensures that the darker tones will not be under-exposed.
This image was created on 2 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 800. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open). When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect plus a bit as I needed to overexpose the sky to get the best out of the bird’s dark feathers. AWB at 7:49:02am as the sun broke through the clouds in the east ten minutes after the sun came over the hill to the east (albeit behind the clouds at first).
Tracking: Zone was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #2: Brown Pelican backlit braking to land on cliff
Morning Backlight at the Pelican Cliffs
I’d done some backlit stuff at the pelican cliffs in year’s past. Thanks to the very talented Phil Colla for the reminder. You can see Phil’s eclectic images here on Instagram or on his Natural History Photography website, OceanLight.
Anyhoo, when the sun peeked through the clouds on Monday morning I traded the 400mm f/2.8 for the 600mm f/4 and went to work.
So, just what is special about this complex image? The backlight is superb. The braking pose is dynamic as the bird turned to its right to land. The color is sweet, though I may have overdone it a bit — the raw file was pretty bland. I love that you can see a hint of the other pelicans that are roosting on the cliff.
The Better Image?
So, which is the stronger of today’s two featured images? If you leave a comment, please let us know why you made your choice.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
San Diego IPT Late Registration Discounts
If you are at all interested in traveling to San Diego to improve your photography and enjoy the phenomenal Brown Pelican photography this month, please shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
What’s Up?
It poured all night and slacked off at about 6am on Sunday morning. I got to La Jolla at about seven. The wind was from the west at about 25mph with higher gusts. The main cliff was wall-to-wall pelicans. I made a few images of the zillions pelicans with the tripod mounted 70-200 for about 20 minutes and then — gasp — shot video for nearly 90 minutes using both the 70-200mm f/2.8 and the 600mm f/4. Thanks to Mark Smith, I have my a1 bodies set up perfectly to capture slow motion video. The next step is learning to process the videos. Mark has a great a1 Video How-to course online. If you would like advance information on the course, please let me know via e-mail.
Today is Monday 2 January 2023. The forecast for the morning is for mostly cloudy with a gentle breeze from the SW. I will head to the cliffs and probably explore a bit along the coast to the south in search of shorebirds and gulls. This blog post took about two hours to prepare and makes two hundred eighty days in a row with a new, educational post 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 then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA has just one of my favorite-ever tripods left in stock. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab this last one here right now.
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, or to any prior purchases.
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 1 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 1600. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 8:48:39am on a stormy morning.
Tracking: Spot (S) was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #1: Brown Pelican flock on the water
The Armada
I noticed two big groups of pelicans several hundred yards offshore. As I had never seen anything like it before, I switched from videos to stills and made a few images of the flotilla. Click on the image to enlarge it and see why this scene reminded me of a huge convoy of WW II ships with the three Heermann’s Gulls acting as destroyer escorts. Can you say “Victory at Sea”?
This image was also created on 1 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. Again, while standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 2500. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (wide open). AWB at 9:46:05am on a stormy morning.
Tracking: Spot (S) with Bird Face/Eye enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.
Image #2: Brown Pelican cliff party
Umbrella Excitement
To say that the sidewalk cliffs were crowded with pelicans would be an understatement. I had been looking for an image of the birds packed like sardines in a can but wasn’t finding anything. When a woman walking down the hill struggled to hold on to her umbrella, the birds freaked. Composing through the lens, I trusted Tracking: Spot S with Bird Face/Eye enabled so that I could re-compose after picking my main subject, the handsome breeding plumage bird in the upper right. I had my shot.
This image was also created on 1 January 2023 at La Jolla, CA. While standing at full height, I used the no-longer available (except from BIRDS AS ART) Induro GIT 304L tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 88mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. A 3-stop 77mm ND filter was screwed on to the front of the lens. ISO 64. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1.3 seconds at f/11 (stopped down four stops). AWB at 10:56:25am on a stormy morning.
Manual Focus with Focus Peaking. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Brown Pelicans on cliff in storm
NDs for Moving Water Blurs
I travel with 77mm and 95mm three- and five-stop Neutral Density filters. The 77mm sizes fits my 24-105 and my 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses while the larger ones fit my Sony 200-600mm. They allow me to get to very low shutter speeds even on sunny days. I even have a 10-stop ND for 77mm.
Your Call?
As expected, the really bad weather on Sunday provided many unique photographic opportunities. Heck, twice I kept my back to the wind to protect my gear as two short rain squalls swept through La Jolla.
Which of today’s three very different featured images do you like best? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice. I am not sure if anyone will go with my pick.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
If you are at all interested in traveling to Homer with me in FEB/MAR 2023 to photograph Bald Eagles, shoot me an e-mail for late registration discount info.
iPhone 11 Pano
La Jolla Sunrise
Have a Great 2023!
Jim Litzenberg, Jennifer Morris, and I, would like to wish each of you, your friends, and your family, a happy, healthy, and productive 2023. My the coming year be filled with love, wonder, fun, accomplishment, peace, sweet light, lots of great images, and at least one BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo Tour.
Today is 1 January 2023. I signed up for a New Year’s Day pelagic trip sponsored by the San Diego Field Ornithologists and was excited by the possibilities. It was cancelled on Thursday due to a hellacious forecast that included high winds and 2-foot seas. It was the first cancellation in thirty years. As my late Mom would say, “Oh well.”
If and when the overnight rains quit, I will head to La Jolla. This blog post took about 30 minutes to prepare and makes two hundred seventy-nine days in a row with a new, educational post 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 then go back to 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA has just one of my favorite-ever tripods left in stock. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab this last one here right now.
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, or to any prior purchases.
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.
The iPhone Photography e-Guide
To order your copy of the The iPhone Photography e-Guide please click here.
The PDF is sent link by e-mail for downloading: the file is relatively huge at 216 MB.
Hard to Believe
Cliff has a great eye and wonderfully creative vision. Yet it is still hard for me to believe that he can make so many great images with “just“ an i-phone. Almost more amazingly, Cliff captures with his iPhone and does all of his post-processing on the phone! In this great e-Guide written for BIRDS AS ART you will learn to set up your iPhone quickly and efficiently and how to to use it. In addition, there are dozens and dozens of tips on Cliff’s favorite apps and his favorite gear. Scroll down to the bottom to see the Table of Contents.
The iPhone Photography e-Guide: $20.00.
To order your copy of the The iPhone Photography e-Guide please click here.
Dr. Cliff Oliver
Dr. Cliff Oliver is an award-winning photographer, former photography instructor for the San Diego Natural History Museum, cutting-edge integrative health care professional, and international workshop leader. He created and taught the first 5-day immersion iPhone photography workshop at Hollyhock, Canada’s premier Leadership Learning Center. He teaches quarterly iPhone photography classes at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library School of the Arts (these include Art on the iPhone, iPhoneography, Portraits and Selfies, and Practicing in the Field). His images have been on the cover of WildBird magazine, on display at Scripps Oceanography Institute, and been honored with multiple first-place finishes in the International Exhibition of Photography Del Mar. The San Diego Natural History Museum’s, “Birds of the World” centennial exhibit featured several of his images. One of his iPhone images received an honorable mention in the Athenaeum 23rd annual juried exhibition. He has displayed images at Art Speaks: Expressions of Hope and Healing and has produced a series of books, called Zen I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII that feature original images that promote inner peace. The last 4 books feature only images taken on the iPhone. He teaches individuals and groups the skills of capturing iPhone/mobile photographs and then how to create personalized works of art.
Learn more about Cliff and what he does on his Center for Balance website here. And don’t forget, if I had never met Cliff I would be pushing up daisies somewhere. To request my Health Basics File that contains the whole story, please shoot me an e-mail by clicking here..
You can learn how I got interested in iPhone photography and see some of Cliff’s great iPhone images in the 2018 blog post here.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
On Friday, I enjoyed a different kind of wonderful morning with the pelicans. As predicted, there was a barely perceptible breeze from the east so there was not much flight and the birds that did land came in very low. The few photographers who came late left early leaving all of the beautiful pelicans for me to enjoy. With the 400mm f/2.8 on the tripod and both TCs in my fanny pack, I made my way safely down the crevice and in a very few minutes was point blank with several dozen pelicans. With its amazing minimum focusing distance (MFD) of less than 9 feet, this lens offers 0.16X magnification. Compare that to the 0.14X magnification of the Sony 600mm f/4 GM. How can the be? Magnification is measured at the MFD; the 400 f/2.8 focuses much closer than the 600mm f/4’s 14.8 feet.
Anyhoo, with either TC added, the lens I did not like for nearly forty years becomes a giant macro lens. I had a ball doing body parts and faces and bill and wing detail as the birds slept peacefully, some almost within arms-length of me. I got some good ones and learned quite a bit for the next time.
Today is Saturday 31 December 2022. The forecast for this morning is for more of the same, cloudy skies with a gentle wind from the east. I may head down the coast early. This blog post took about two hours to prepare and makes two hundred seventy-eight days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great 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.
Induro GIT 304L Tripod
Out of production for more than two years, BAA has just one of my favorite-ever tripods left in stock. The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab this last one here right now.
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, or to any prior purchases.
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.
Manual focus with Focus Peaking performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the higher res version.
Image #1: Anna’s Hummingbird displaying
Anna’s at La Jolla
Over the years, heck, the decades, there is a single yucca tree near the pelican cliffs that the male Anna’s hummingbirds frequent often. I have never seen a female there. They are totally oblivious to the many humans that pass by within yards.
To drive away intruders, the Anna’s will display aggressively whenever another hummer zips by. At times, the will take flight in pursuit. When photographing the territorial displays, I find that shutter speeds of 1/500 sec. or faster will produce sharp images and will eliminate almost all motion blur.
Manual focus with Focus Peaking performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the higher res version.
Image #2: Anna’s Hummingbird displaying
Hummingbird Behaviors and Habits
When perched, hummingbirds are almost constantly doing something interesting. They display (Image #1), they stretch their wings (Image #2) in a variety of ways, often fanning their tails as they do, they sing, and they threaten other birds. They are constantly moving their heads either lighting up the gorget (as in all three of today’s featured images), or turning the head and neck feathers jet-black. Photographing hummingbirds is never boring and is always a challenge.
Image design Question
Why did I place the subject right of center looking out of the frame in Image #2
When the hummers are perched on the yucca leaves, it is not possible to use the shaded water inside the opening of the cave as a background. When the bird perches well to your right, you are good to try for that. So I did.
Your Call?
Which of today’s three featured images is your favorite? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
As below, Thursday morning proved to be quite interesting.
Today is Friday 30 December 2022. The forecast for this morning is for more of the same, cloudy skies with a gentle wind from the east. As always, I will be at the cliffs early. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes two hundred seventy-seven days in a row with a new, educational post just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
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iPhone pano of the pelican cliffs early on Thursday morning.
Pelican Cliffs Pano
First, note the undisturbed pelicans on the main cliff on the left side of the image. Coast Walk is on the extreme right. From right to left in the distance are La Jolla Shores and then Torrey Pines. Standing just this side of the Western Gull in the center with the tripod-mounted 400mm f/2.8 was, as noted below, perfect for incoming and fly-by Brown Pelican photography.
The apparent tsunami in the bay was caused by operator error — faulty panning when creating the iPhone pano.
A Strange but True Little Person/Midget/Dwarf Story
The amazing pelican photography at La Jolla continued on Thursday morning. Early on, I was the only photographer there. After doing some flight blurs with the 200-600, I did some more high ISO flight in low light with the tripod-mounted Sony 400mmm f/2.8 and the a1. Then I worked several gorgeous carpet necked pelicans with the tripod-mounted 600 f/4. I am glad that I got both big lenses to San Diego. (I shipped the 600 via UPS Ground insured.)
The flight photography all morning long was superb with dozens of pelicans flying in and around almost constantly. At about 9:00am, I noticed a guy climb over the fence on the downhill sidewalk across the small bay. I put the big lens on him and saw that he was photographing the pelicans with a cell phone. He was a little person, a dwarf or a midget, whatever is politically correct today. Anyhoo, his actions drove about 200 roosting pelicans off the hillside. While that helped the flight photography, it surely was not too cool. Not to mention that if he had slipped, he would have died.
Thirty minutes later, he showed up at the main cliffs, walked down into the crevice on the left, and scared away about three dozen birds. He climbed up on a ridge and continued photographing the pelicans and making selfies. As he was now even with me and several other photographers, I called out to him: “Sir, please do not scare off the rest of the birds.” He smirked. Then he continued to walk towards the point, scared away all the birds, turned around to face us, and smiling — laughed in our faces. Nice guy. After he left, the birds flew back in creating more great flight chances as the wind was perfect from the east.
Then he went up Coast Walk, climbed over the fence there, again scared some more birds, and again risked his life. The last we saw of him he was trespassing in a area surrounded by “Native tree restoration area — Please KEEP OUT” signs.
Man and dog scaring the remaining pelicans off the cliff
Hard to Believe
By 10:30am, hundreds of pelicans had returned to the main cliff while creating still more great flight photography. Then the gentleman in the image above walked down the steps and came through the gate. His entire head was covered with tattoos. He was being dragged by a very large dog. Is that a pit bull? He barely slowed down as he walked toward the point, scaring away every pelican that was up top. I simply gave up retired to the deck as did many others. The man and the dog followed. With a friendly smile he said, and I quote, “I’m sorry that I scared all the birds away. I did not notice that you were photographing them.”
Go figure.
The iPhone Photography e-Guide
To order your copy of the The iPhone Photography e-Guide please click here.
The PDF is sent link by e-mail for downloading: the file is relatively huge at 216 MB.
Hard to Believe
Cliff has a great eye and wonderfully creative vision. Yet it is still hard for me to believe that he can make so many great images with “just“ an i-phone. Almost more amazingly, Cliff captures with his iPhone and does all of his post-processing on the phone! In this great e-Guide written for BIRDS AS ART you will learn to set up your iPhone quickly and efficiently and how to to use it. In addition, there are dozens and dozens of tips on Cliff’s favorite apps and his favorite gear. Scroll down to the bottom to see the Table of Contents.
The iPhone Photography e-Guide: $20.00.
To order your copy of the The iPhone Photography e-Guide please click here.
Dr. Cliff Oliver
Dr. Cliff Oliver is an award-winning photographer, former photography instructor for the San Diego Natural History Museum, cutting-edge integrative health care professional, and international workshop leader. He created and taught the first 5-day immersion iPhone photography workshop at Hollyhock, Canada’s premier Leadership Learning Center. He teaches quarterly iPhone photography classes at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library School of the Arts (these include Art on the iPhone, iPhoneography, Portraits and Selfies, and Practicing in the Field). His images have been on the cover of WildBird magazine, on display at Scripps Oceanography Institute, and been honored with multiple first-place finishes in the International Exhibition of Photography Del Mar. The San Diego Natural History Museum’s, “Birds of the World” centennial exhibit featured several of his images. One of his iPhone images received an honorable mention in the Athenaeum 23rd annual juried exhibition. He has displayed images at Art Speaks: Expressions of Hope and Healing and has produced a series of books, called Zen I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII that feature original images that promote inner peace. The last 4 books feature only images taken on the iPhone. He teaches individuals and groups the skills of capturing iPhone/mobile photographs and then how to create personalized works of art.
Learn more about Cliff and what he does on his Center for Balance website here. And don’t forget, if I had never met Cliff I would be pushing up daisies somewhere. To request my Health Basics File that contains the whole story, please shoot me an e-mail by clicking here..
You can learn how I got interested in iPhone photography and see some of Cliff’s great iPhone images in the 2018 blog post here.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
