Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Which of Today’s Three Featured Images is Your Favorite?

Why?

What’s Up?

It all began with a great night of sleep on Friday. I was to be very early and woke to the alarm at 4:30am to pack the car and make my tea for the road. I met Vince Delack at Gatorland at 6:50am. He was personable and eager to learn. He worked mostly with the handheld Canon 100-400 II and an R5. At my urging, he is in the process of retiring his 7D Mark II. He was a quick study. I showed him how to evaluate the histogram after making a test exposure. He quickly began making perfect exposures. We worked on AF stuff, and he quickly had that down pat. He shot on his own for a while and when I reviewed his images, there were lots of mis-framed photos and terribly busy backgrounds. I urged him to work at the long end to reduce clutter. I explained to him that folks who are new to bird photography first need to learn to make the easy shots, to grab the low-hanging fruit. Pick a good situation with a bird just sitting there, set a good exposure, frame the image perfectly, and make it sharp. Bingo. That simple advice improved his images 1,000 percent. Or more.

Conditions for photography were perfect. The forecast thunderstorms did not materialize so we enjoyed lovely cloudy bright light until after 10am when a hazy sun broke through. There were lots of silly tame Tricolored Heron fledglings and the large, readily accessible Great Egret chicks had not left the nest yet. Just as we left, three of the five large chicks surprised me by flying across the gator moat. We had a few decent chances with the Snowy Egret chicks, and one good Snowy Egret feeding in the clear.

I was on the road by 10:30 and home at noon. I downloaded my images while watching the Golden State Warriors game on TiVo. They come back from 19 points down to defeat the Dallas Mavericks. I enjoy watching Golden State’s amazing skills and teamwork. Steph Curry, wildly acknowledged as the best shooter ever to play the game, will often take your breath away with his long three pointers, his slashing drives to the basket, and his other-worldly passes to teammates. I created 1496 images, keep 114 after the first edit, and had 19 photos that really made me happy. Three of those are shared with you here today with more to come.

I was so juiced by the Gatorland session, my images, and the Warriors win that I never napped. I had a great swim and did 20 minutes of rope flow in the driveway. Then I stayed up to watch the end of the PGA golf tournament (also on TiVo).

Today is Sunday 22 May 2022. The forecast for ILE is for cloudy with a gentle SE breeze. I will be heading down to the lake to see what I see. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes seventy-two days in a row with a new one.

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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)

Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.

Wanting a Sony 600mm GM lens or a Nikon Z9?

If you want to get your hands on a Sony 600mm f/4 GM, get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedfords ASAP as below. other a Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lenses sold quickly.

The best way to get your hands on a Z9 is to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) and then send your member number to Steve Elkins at Bedford via e-mail. Nikon insists that Z9s (and other hard to get stuff) go to NPS members. You can get one from B&H, but they have a huge wait list …

This image was created on 21 May 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 242mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1250: 1/250 sec. at f/7.1 (stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:53:36am on a totally overcast but somewhat bright morning. Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Tricolored Herons — large chicks cuddling in nest

A Basic (and Obvious) Bird Photography Tip …

If you see several photographers posting their lenses in the same direction and looking through their viewfinders, it might behoove you to see what they are up to. And that is true whether you are on the beach, in the woods, or at a rookery. You must, however, approach slowly as if you scare their subject away, you will have lots of explain to do. As we approached the two cuddling tricolored babies, the other three photographers walked away. That made things easy for Vince and me. Working at f/7.1 provided almost enough depth of field to cover the tips of the two bills. As I zoomed in, the depth of field suffered much more.

Lesson

Zooming out and working wider always provided additional depth of field.

Compositional Tip

In situations where you are torn between creating vertical images or horizontal images, a square crop will often win the day.

This image was created on 21 May 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 640: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:59:44am when the day had gotten a lot brighter. Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Great Egret preening uropygial gland

The Uropygial Gland

The uropygial gland is an exocrine gland located above the tail of birds that produces a diverse range of biochemicals. It has been hypothesized to be involved in chemical protection, waterproofing and maintenance of plumage brightness. From the article here.

Normal Anatomy and Function of the Uropygial Gland

The uropygial gland is a bi-lobed gland found at the tail base of most psittacine birds. It drains into a single papilla at the base of the tail.

Normally, the gland is easily expressed and secretes a clear, oily fluid.

This gland is absent in Amazon parrots, some pigeons, and doves.

The uropygial gland produces a sebaceous material containing vitamin D precursors, which are converted to the active form of vitamin D3 when exposed to ultraviolet light. During preening, the active form of vitamin D3 is ingested.

Exposure to unfiltered ultraviolet light is necessary for this metabolic process to take place.

Material produced by the uropygial gland is very important for waterproofing feathers.

The above from the Science Direct website here. Note that the previously sited study questions the always assumed waterproofing theory …

Why Wide Open?

That is a good question. The feathers around the uropygial gland and the barely visible bill tip of this preening juvenile bird were not sharp due to insufficient depth of field. I was at 1/1000 second because the bird next to this one kept stabbing at a branch with its bill. When the bird in Image #2 struck the attractive pose, I made a series of images without stopping down. In a perfect world, for this specific image, working at 1/250 second at f/11 would have been a better option.

Lesson

Many of the nests at Gatorland are so close to the boardwalk that stopping down for additional depth of field is often a consideration. As I said to Vince, “You only want to stop down if you can verbalize a reason for needing more depth-of-field.”

This image was created on 21 May 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 346mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1250: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:09:45am when the day had gotten a lot brighter. Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #3: Great Egret chick feeding mayhem

More Mayhem

When we met in the parking lot, I explained the whole chick feeding operation to Vince:

• 1- The adult bird lands near or on the nest, stands tall, and stretches its neck toward the sky. This to encourage the chicks to beg.
• 2- The moment the adult lands, the chicks go crazy squawking and trying to reach the adult’s bill.
• 3- The adult, now stimulated to regurgitate the fish or fishes, lowers it head.
• 4- One of the chicks grabs the adult’s bill and yanks on it for all its worth; this stimulates the adult to regurgitate a fish or two. While this is going on, the other chicks try to get in on the action.
• This process is often repeated two or three times before the adult flies off to catch some more fish (or other prey).

Note: when the chicks are small, the adult waits for a significant period of time so that the fish becomes partially digested. Small bits of fish usually wind up on the floor of the nest where they are snatched up by the hungry nestlings.

As he had never seen a wading bird chick feeding, Vince was thrilled to witness several on Saturday morning. Because of the frantic and frenzied action, making a good image in these situations is always a challenge. Amazingly, the a1 AF system barely missed the visible eye of the adult.

Vince e-mailed this (in part) last night:

I am so happy to have made contact and arranged to meet with you! I thoroughly enjoyed your guidance, consultation, and encouragement!! We were truly blessed with great light, and abundant subject matter, quite close at-hand.

He could not believe that so few folks took advantage of the Gatorland sessions this year …

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 early April, the group was up to an astounding 115 lucky and blessed folks. 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 four e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will see 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.

Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG. Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.

Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)

Jacksonville IPT #2: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)

Jacksonville IPT #3: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers/Openings: 5)

Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.

I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.

Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.

We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.

What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT

• 1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
• 2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
• 3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
• 4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
• 5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
• 6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
• 7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
• 9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
• 10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
• 12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
• 13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
• 14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
• 15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.

And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.

Typos

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

What Word?

What word or phrase would you use to describe today’s featured image?

Great News from Bedfords

Steve Elkins of Bedfords texted me on Thursday with great news. He has a Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lens and a Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens in stock. Remember to use the BIRDS AS ART code at check-out to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second day air shipping. It has been nearly impossible to get your hands on either of these lenses for the past two years.

For those looking for a Sony 400 f/2.8 there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that I just bought the one in stock. The good news is that Steve is getting another one next week. Have at it. If you are seriously interested in either lens, it would best to e-mail Steve at selkins@bedfords.com or text him at 1-479-381-2592.

What’s Up?

The great morning photo sessions continued at ILE on Thursday. Sunrise was foggy. I tried some Osprey foggy-sun ball silhouettes without much success. Then I did the small crane colt and the large crane colt family. Once again, I was ready to head home early, but decided to check by the pier one last time. There were ten Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in still blue water. I worked them from the car at 1200mm with the BLUBB for a while and did OK. I decided to try to get out of the car slowly and set up a tripod. Only one bird flew off. I had a ton of fun for the next hour both at 1200 and 840mm.

Today is Friday 20 May 2022. The forecast for this morning is for cloudy with a SW breeze. I will be heading down to the lake early. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes seventy days in a row with a new one.

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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

Nikon D5 Professional dSLR

Price Reduced $200.00 on 20 May 2022
BIRDS AS ART Record Low Price

Sigmon Whitener is offering a Nikon D5 (Dual XQD/CF Express Type B) in like-new condition with 55,000 actuations for a BAA record-low $2596.95 (was $2796.95). The sale includes the original box and everything that came in it including the strap, one battery, the dual battery charger, the manual (Sp and En), the USB connecting cord, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Although the D5 has a 20MP sensor, the frame rate and AF tracking are the best (IMO) you can get in a DSLR. Some of my best BIF shots were made with this camera. It’s also great for any type of sports photography. And the low light performance is best of any camera I have owned. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Sigmon via e-mail or by phone at 1-818-239-2403 (Pacific time).

The D5 was buy first Nikon camera body. After using it for ten minutes on flying pelicans in San Diego I sold all of my Canon gear. The AF system is indeed superb. artie

BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)

Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.

This image was created on 18 May 2022 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 280mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 1250: 1/800 sec. at f/4.5 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:25:36am in the shade of mat torso on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox)

Nature Photography IS like a Box of Chocolates

You never know what you are gonna get …

Please take a moment to enlarge the image above. For the past 24 hours, I have returned to study it many times. I can barely quit looking at it. What amazes me is that some of the turtle’s features seem almost human. I guess it’s those lips!

When I decided to check out the North Field on Wednesday morning, I would never have expected to find a totally tame female Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox). I’ve driven that mowed field many hundreds of times and had never seen a turtle of any kind on the grassy expanse. When I first saw a brown form in the grass at a distance, I was puzzled. I thought that it might have been a dead vulture. As I approached and saw the shape and that pug nose, I knew exactly what it was. The turtle’s size — the shell was at least 20″ long, indicated that it was a female. Males never grow larger than a foot. There was no sign that she had dug a nest nearby. I parked a ways away and grabbed the 70-200 II with the 1.4X in place.

The turtle was totally placid as I approached. As the sun was not doing me any favors, I shaded the head and the front of the carapace by squeezing my legs together. I made some images while pointing the lens down, standing almost directly above the turtle. As expected, those images were not very intimate. Still, the turtle showed no sign of being upset so as slowly as I could, I got down on the ground. She pulled her head into her shell for about ten seconds and then stuck it back out and began looking around. I forgot to switch the Subject from Bird to Animal, but Eye Tracking performed perfectly. In ten minutes, I took lots of images. I kept only two of those that were made when I was standing, the rest of the keepers were made while I was seated. Today’s featured image was one of the last that I made. It was chosen from four wonderful images that were virtually identical.

Do you like the narrow depth of field? Why or why not? Would you have tried to shoot this at f/16? Why or why not?

Typos

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

What’s Up?

The weather was gorgeous again on Tuesday morning. I spent an hour photographing various Sandhill Cranes. I began with a sleeping adult crane and experimented (successfully) with depth-of-field. I will share two of the sleeping bird series with you here at some point. After its nap, it began to preen so I kept on shooting. I saw the large colt crane family (once again a family of four) fly across the canal from the North Field to the North Peninsula. It was the first time that I had seen the two colts fly though I suspect they have been flying for several weeks. I made a few frames of one of the colts lying on the grass for a rest.

Today is Wednesday 18 May 2022. The forecast for ILE for this morning is calling for sunny skies with a very soft breeze from the NNW. I will be heading down to the lake early as usual. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 45 minutes to prepare and makes sixty-eight days in a row with a new one.

It is not likely that anyone can explain any of these. If, however, you are personally aware of a situation in photography that leaves you scratching your head, please do share by leaving a comment.

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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

Wanted to Buy

If you have a Canon 400mm f/5.6 L Lens sitting on a shelf, have not used it for years, and would like to get a decent price for it, please contact me via e-mail. I have an interested buyer.

BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)

Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.

Can You Explain Any of These?

The MAC Group and Induro Tripods

#1: When Gitzo went down the tubes several years ago, I looked for a relatively inexpensive, sturdy, well-made line of tripods that would stand up to abuse from sand and salt water. I was thrilled to find Induro. I tried to become a dealer but was inexplicably black balled by the owner of seven (I think) camera stores in the Northeast. I own several GIT 304Ls, a 404XL, a 505XL, and one GIT 204L. I promoted the brand and sold many through Outdoor Photo Gear and B&H. The Induro legs met all my requirements. Not only did they cost a fraction of the ridiculously heavy, over-priced Really Wrong Stuff tripods, but they were also lighter and performed better.

Induro was manufactured under the auspices of The MAC Group, the boys and girls who refused to make me a dealer as I built the Induro brand name in the US. I’d say that well more than half of the serious photographers I’ve run across in the last few years are using Induro tripods. I learned recently that the MAC group, in its’ infinite wisdom, has stopped making all Induro tripods and has no plans to re-created them under another brand of theirs.

Can you explain that?

Think Tank Urban Disguise Laptop Bags

#2: I purchased a Think Tank Urban Disguise laptop bag probably twenty years ago. They offered several different models. Mine is the Urban Disguise Classic 60. It is large and roomy and super-sturdy with excellent construction. Over the decades it has gotten me out of many a travel jam. I thought about replacing it even though it still functions perfectly. I learned that Think Tank quit making them five years ago.

Can you explain that?

The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens and TCs …

#3: This one may very well take the cake. On the February 2022 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs, BPN friend Kevin Hice told me that the new Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens did not accept either of the RF teleconverters, the Canon Extender RF 1.4x or the Canon Extender RF 2x.

That is impossible, I said. That destroys the versatility of the world’s most popular mid-range telephoto zoom lens. I simply did not believe him. Until he took out his new lens and the two TCs. Neither one would fit into the back of the lens (even when it was zoomed out). I was incredulous. I called my good friend from Canon EoL days, top tech-rep Rudy Winston. He stated that the Canon engineers in Japan opted to design the lens that way!

Can you explain that?

ps: Amazingly, Canon is attempting to keep that a secret; there is no mention of this problem in the product information. I did, however, find this review on B&H:

Not compatible with extenders By Rkthunder:

Totally surprised this lens is not compatible with either the 1.4 or 2X RF extenders. Those worked with the RF 100-500mm, which I returned because it was not a high-quality lens. Very disappointed in the RF series so far.

Homer 2022 Bald Eagle Highlights and Handholding Compositional Tips by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Enjoy and be inspired by just a few Homer Bald Eagle highlight images. Hand holding intermediate telephoto lens will always yield slightly different compositions. Learn more about that topic in this short (3:14) video.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

2023 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers

IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4.

IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers.

Save $1,000.00 by doing back-to-back trips. Save $1500.00 by doing all three.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight images from tens of thousands of images.

You will enjoy working with the two best and most creative boat captains on their sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck crafts.

The second and third IPTs are the only Bald Eagle workshops that feature an incredibly helpful first mate.

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

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

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

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

What’s Not Included

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

Please Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips, or 24 hours for the second trip, the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer.

Deposit Information

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

In Closing

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

Typos

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

Your Favorite?

Which of today’s three featured images is your favorite? Please leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice. Or not. 🙂

What’s Up?

I finally found the Killdeer nest on Sunday morning. I will be going down with Jim later today to put up a string fence around it to protect it from the big mowers. I saw the two young Killdeer babies that I had photographed as chicks on 24 April near the base of the pier; both are now flying. How fast they grow. I photographed the growing baby crane in the North Field, did some adult crane sky-scapes, and a pair of Mottled Ducks. The results were iffy at best, but I had fun.

Today is Monday 16 May. The forecast for this morning is for clear with a breeze from the west. Though this is the kiss of death forecast for bird photography, I will head down to the lake early just because (I love birds and photography). You know the life is like a box of chocolates thing … Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes sixty-six days in a row with a new one.

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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)

Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.

Wanting a Nikon Z9?

The best way to get your hands on a Z9 is to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) and then send your member number to Steve Elkins at Bedford via e-mail. Nikon insists that Z9s (and other hard to get stuff) go to NPS members. You can get one from B&H, but they have a huge wait list …

And Please Remember

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.

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords 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 immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

Please Remember Also

Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.

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… 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 8 May 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 5000: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:22:45am in the shade on a sunny morning. Tracking: Spot/S with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Snowy Egret feeding chick

Why 1/1000 Second

In the ISO 5000. Last Two Chances for Gatorland I-T-F Sessions blog post here, I asked:

Why did I choose such a high shutter speed?

No-one left a comment. I chose a high shutter speed to try and freeze the action when the chick is going crazy yanking on the adult’s bill. In low light situations, this will always result in the use of high ISOs.

This image was created on 9 May 2022 on the South Peninsula down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported 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 Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 7:43:49 am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Upper Left Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Cattle Egret holding mayfly in bill tip

Joe Przybyla Nailed It

In the 1200mm Cow Egret & Mayfly Gems! blog post here, I wrote, Which of today’s two very excellent images do you like best. I think that that is a tough call. If you leave a comment, please be sure to let us know why you made your choice.

BPN/Avian Forum-friend Joe Przybyla nailed it when he posted this comment (in part):

Hey Artie, I really like both, but I think the Mayfly perfectly positioned in the second take it over the top.

I agree but only 100 percent.

This is an unsharpened 100% crop of the Cattle Egret holding mayfly in bill tip image

Rodney Dangerfield

Sometimes I feel like Rodney Dangerfield, I don’t get no respect. A here un-named reader left this comment:

Lack of sharpness in both images; their feathers have no detail, a monitor issue? Processing? File size, too big for the number of pixels. Umm ..

Lack of sharpness? No detail? Really? You can visit the original post to check out my reply.

This image was created on 10 May 2022 at Stick Marsh, Fellsmere, FL. I used 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 ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 64: 1/8 second at f/8 (stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 6:56:26am on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead-solid perfect. Tracking: Spot S and then locked focus by pressing and holding the AF-ON button. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Cabbage Palm stand: vertical pan blur

Go Figure

In the Some Days are Diamonds, & Some Days Nothing is Flying blog post here, two ladies who usually do not like or who hate blurs, liked the Cabbage Palm stand: vertical pan blur image. I loved it.

Linear Perspective

One of the reasons is that I loved the image is because I had pointed my lens to the left. This resulted in the trees on the right side of the frame appearing taller than the trees on the left side of the frame. Without realizing it, I used one point linear perspective to add depth to the image. “It seems that things that are further away appear smaller than those that are closer to us.”

The quote above is from Types of Perspective in Art, an excellent and informative blog post by Tom, of TomoStudio. You can read the article here. While visiting the website, I came across a neat article entitled 100 Cool, Easy, Fun & Cute Things to Draw. It might be great for you, for your kids, or for your grandkids. You can find it here.

Typos

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

What’s Up?

I had an interesting morning down by the lake. It was a beautiful morning with lots of small, fluffy white clouds and the sun going in and out. I spent some more quality time with the no-longer-a-baby Sandhill Crane (but I did not get anything nearly as good as today’s featured image). The adults stumbled upon a killdeer nest with eggs and the killdeer went nuts as expected. At the end of the South Peninsula, I saw the two adults with the two large colts. One of the adults had been on vacation (MIA) for about two weeks. The last photos of the morning were of an adult eagle in a pine tree.

I was glad to learn that many-multiple IPT veteran John Dupps signed up for the Jacksonville #3 IPT.

Today is Saturday 14 May 2022. The forecast for Kissimmee is for mostly sunny with a gentle breeze from the E/NE. I am headed for Gatorland and may try to do some flight photography. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes sixty-four days in a row with a new one.

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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)

Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.

You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers

The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers/by Warren Hatch
Editorial Consultant: Arthur Morris

In this downloadable e-book (you will receive a link by e-mail), you’ll learn everything a wildlife photographer needs to know about the Nikon Z9. The Z9 is one of the most complex camera bodies ever made. In this guide, the brilliant Warren Hatch will teach you exactly how to set up your Z9 for bird, wildlife, and nature photography. The camera offers hundreds of settings and options. Selecting the right combination of these is essential if you wish to effectively use the Z9 in the field.

This 83-page guide, created in the tradition of the many mega-successful BIRDS AS ART Camera User’s Guides, includes:

1- Extensive information on the autofocus system and the optimal settings for the various shooting situations that wildlife photographers encounter including and especially for birds in flight.

2- The camera controls – what they do and how to customize them for your shooting style and varying conditions.

3- Configuring the camera so that you never need to take your eye from the viewfinder when the action unfolds.

5- Insights and details on using legacy F-mount lenses on the Z-9.

6- Practical advice about the camera batteries and chargers.

7- How to take advantage of the new capabilities introduced with firmware v2.00.

8- The AF-area Modes you should use and those you should avoid.

Learn more about the guide here. Order yours here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.

Wanting a Nikon Z9?

The best way to get your hands on a Z9 is to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) and then send your member number to Steve Elkins at Bedford via e-mail. Nikon insists that Z9s (and other hard to get stuff) go to NPS members. You can get one from B&H, but they have a huge wait list …

And Please Remember

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.

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords 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 immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂

Please Remember Also

Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.

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… 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 11 May 2022 on the North Field at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated on the grass while watching out for fire ants, I used the ankle-pod technique with the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 640. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:53:18am on a sunny morning in the shade of a shelter. Tracking: Zone with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Sandhill Crane adult feeding small colt

Learning From My Mistake: The Second Time is the Charm!

Last week I had some similar chances with the same colt. I used the ankle-pod technique at 840mm with a shutter speed of 1/500 second; none of the images were sharp. So, on Wednesday, I doubled the shutter speed, and all was well with the world.

I have been trying for this shot without success for two decades. One of the birds was always facing away. I am very happy with this one but wish that the prey item had been a big fat juicy mole cricket instead of a small grub. You can’t have everything! But you can always hope for it.

Critique This Image

All are invited to leave a short critique of today’s featured image. Many folks say, “I am not qualified to critique a photo.” I do not buy that. You look at the image. What is your overall impression of the photo? Do you like it? What do you like? What don’t you like? Could the image have been improved in the field? Could it have been improved on the computer? Either way, explain how.

Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG. Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.

Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)

Jacksonville IPT #2: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)

Jacksonville IPT #3: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers/Openings: 5)

Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.

I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.

Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.

We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.

What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT

• 1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
• 2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
• 3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
• 4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
• 5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
• 6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
• 7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
• 9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
• 10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
• 12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
• 13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
• 14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
• 15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.

And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.

Typos

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

Which is Your Favorite Warren Hatch Image?

Why?

What’s Up?

Early on Wednesday I was working hard on the final edit of Warren Hatch’s Z9 guide, so I did not get down to the lake until 7:45am. I was home to get back to work by 8:15! In about twenty minutes of photography with a bad wind (NW), I made some very good images and kept 21 including my best-ever adult crane feeding young image. I was stoked by that one and will share it with you here soon. Or you can check it out on Facebook now.

Today is Thursday 12 May 2022. The forecast for this morning is the same as it was yesterday: clear with the breeze from the NW. I will head down to the lake early to check things out. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about three hours and two months (of working on the guide) to prepare and makes sixty-two days in a row with a new one.

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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

Wanting a Nikon Z9?

The best way to get your hands on a Z9 is to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) and then send your member number to Steve Elkins at Bedford via e-mail. Nikon insists that Z9s (and other hard to get stuff) go to NPS members. You can get one from B&H but they have a huge wait list …

Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords 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.

You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers

The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers/by Warren Hatch
Editorial Consultant: Arthur Morris

In this downloadable e-book (you will receive a link by e-mail), you’ll learn everything a wildlife photographer needs to know about the Nikon Z9. The Z9 is one of the most complex camera bodies ever made. In this guide, the brilliant Warren Hatch will teach you exactly how to set up your Z9 for bird, wildlife, and nature photography. The camera offers hundreds of settings and options. Selecting the right combination of these is essential in order to effectively use the Z9 in the field.

This 83-page guide, created in the tradition of the many mega-successful BIRDS AS ART Camera User’s Guides, includes:

1- Extensive information on the autofocus system and the optimal settings for the various shooting situations that wildlife photographers encounter including and especially for birds in flight.

2- The camera controls – what they do and how to customize them for your shooting style and varying conditions.

3- Configuring the camera so that you never need to take your eye from the viewfinder when the action unfolds.

5- Insights and details on using legacy F-mount lenses on the Z-9.

6- Practical advice about the camera batteries and chargers.

7- How to take advantage of the new capabilities introduced with firmware v2.00.

8- The AF-area Modes you should use and those you should avoid.

Order yours here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.

This image was created by Warren Hatch. He used the hand held Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens and the Nikon Z9 Mirrorless camera body.. ISO 1600: 1/3200 sec @f/3.2 Image #1: Wood Duck flapping

Alan Murphy on the Z9 Guide

I was excited to learn that Warren had written a guide to the Nikon Z9 as I have been learning so much about the camera from him. I’ve had the Z9 for several months. Whenever I was puzzled by my new mirrorless camera body, I’d call Warren. He always had the answer. Now, everything that he knows about this great camera body — it continues to amaze me, is available to everyone. Warren’s Z9 guide is great asset for Nikon shooters.

This image was created by Warren Hatch. He used the hand held Nikon AF-S 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR lens (at 120mm) and the Nikon Z9 Mirrorless camera body with the FTZ II Adapter Kit. ISO 1000: 1/5000 sec. at f/4.5. Image #2: Bald Eagle juvenile turning in flight/cropped from a horizontal original

The Backstory

I’d been thinking about trying to find someone competent to write a Z9 for BIRDS AS ART ever since I heard that Nikon had released a mirrorless camera that was great for bird photography. Warren Hatch attended an IPT several decades ago, learned the basics, and was inspired by the original The Art of Bird Photography. When a participant on the last 2022 Homer IPT had to leave early, Warren joined the IPT for several days. He raved about his Z9. After he told me about the work he had done extracting metadata for the last ten years of Nikon camera bodies for ExifTool, I was pretty sure that I had found the author I needed for a Z9 guide …

This image was created by Warren Hatch. He used the tripod-mounted Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Lens (at 24mm) and the Nikon Z9 Mirrorless camera body.. ISO 64: 1/5 sec. at f/11. Image #3: Valley and mountains/Eastern Sierras

The Backstory Continued

When I broached the subject of doing a Z9 guide for BIRDS AS ART, he did not seem too thrilled. But I talked him into it. We sent him a few of my Camera User’s Guides for reference. I was shocked when he sent me a link to his first draft in what seemed like only a week. Even better, the layout and design of the document was beyond impressive. I was busy getting ready for the GNPA EXPO (and then came home with COVID) so it took me a while to get into it. As the editorial consultant, my job was to bust Warren’s b____s when it came to clarity and readability. So I did. We exchanged three or four edited versions, each one a great improvement from the previous version. When we were almost done, Warren enlisted the help of Kaitlin Marks-Dubbs who did a professional job of copy editing the document. The last step was to send the final draft to the esteemed and talented lifelong Nikon shooter Alan Murphy who gave the project his blessings. That brings us to the publication of The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers by Warren Hatch. 🙂

This image was created by Warren Hatch. He used the handheld Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens with the Nikon TC-14E II 1.4x Teleconverter for D-AF-S & AF-I Lenses Only and the Nikon Z9 Mirrorless camera body with the FTZ II Adapter Kit. ISO 1600: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 ISO. Image #4: Coyote with magnificent winter coat in snow

So Who the Heck is Warren Hatch?

When it comes to Nikon camera bodies and nature photography, Warren Hatch is not chopped liver.

Warren retired from the information technology field eight years ago. He began as a computer programmer and retired as the Chief Information Officer of a multibillion-dollar consulting firm. He has been photographing full-time since then. His images have been honored by Audubon, Nature’s Best, and other international photo contests. Like me, photography is both his profession and his passion. For decades, Warren has made a concerted effort to understand what each and every camera body feature does and believes that his in-depth knowledge of his cameras’ buttons, dials, and capabilities has improved his photography.

Because of his close ties to Nikon, Warren was one of the first in the US to get his hands on a Z9. Not to mention a Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens!

For the past ten years, Warren has extracted the encrypted metadata from the Nikon NEF (raw) files for all Nikon professional camera bodies. The metadata contains the camera settings that include detailed autofocus information that is not available in Nikon’s NX Studio. He shares the extracted metadata with Phil Harvey who uses it in his hugely popular ExifTool software.

This image was created by Warren Hatch. He used the hand held Nikon AF-S 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR lens (at 210mm) and the Nikon Z9 Mirrorless camera body with the FTZ II Adapter Kit. ISO 800: 1/3200 sec. at f/4. Image #5: Adult Bald Eagle in flight over grasses

Homer 2022 Bald Eagle Highlights and Handholding Compositional Tips by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Enjoy and be inspired by just a few Homer Bald Eagle highlight images. Hand holding intermediate telephoto lens will always yield slightly different compositions. Learn more about that topic in this short (3:14) video.

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

2023 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs

IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers

IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4.

IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers.Openings: 4.

Save $1,000.00 by doing back-to-back trips. Save $1500.00 by doing all three.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight images from tens of thousands of images.

You will enjoy working with the two best and most creative boat captains on their sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck crafts.

The second and third IPTs are the only Bald Eagle workshops that feature an incredibly helpful first mate.

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

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

All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK

What’s Included

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

What’s Not Included

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

Please Note

On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips, or 24 hours for the second trip, the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour.

Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer.

Deposit Information

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

In Closing

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

What’s Up?

Monday morning down by the lake was quite interesting. Several of the Osprey nests are overflowing with three large chicks. I tried to photograph at the best one and failed. The newest crane baby is already about half as large as its parent. For the past few days, I have not seen one of the two parent birds with the two large colts. I did see the eagle family flying around together for the first time. And a pair of Black-necked Stilts showed up just to the left of the pier.

There was a big hatch of the large mayflies overnight. I was surprised that only a single Cattle Egret was partaking of the feast. It was soon joined by the large crane colt family of three. I shot the whole gang. On what seemed like a slow morning for photography I created more than 1700 images. Why? I was trying to get head portraits of the crane colts with a mayfly in their bill at 1200mm and was taking full advantage of the 30 frames/second frame rate of the Sony a1. Then I got out of my SUV and tried the same with the hand held 200-600. Last was a Great Blue Heron standing on a dock at 1200mm.

The feeding Sandhill Cranes were moving quickly in all directions and as a result, about 90% of the images were badly mis-framed. I have no idea if I got even a single keeper … But you can’t win if you don’t play!

Today is Tuesday 10 May. As of Monday evening, I was not sure if I was going to Stick Marsh or down to the lake on Tuesday morning … Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes sixty days in a row with a new one.

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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

This Just In!

I kept 61 of 1703 images from Monday morning. If you are counting, that is a keeper rate of only .0358, less than 4%. I told you it was difficult. I did get a few decent ones of a crane with a mayfly, but the Cattle Egret images were far stronger. The two best of those with a mayfly are featured in today’s blog. In addition, I kept 18 vertical images of the Cattle Egret ruffling.

Your Favorite?

Which of today’s two very excellent images do you like best. I think that that is a tough call. If you leave a comment, please be sure to let us know why you made your choice.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission on items priced at $1,000 or more. With items less than $1000, there is a $50 flat-fee. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. If you are interested, please click here, read everything carefully, and do what it says. To avoid any misunderstandings, please read the whole thing very carefully. If you agree to the terms, please state so clearly via e-mail and include the template or templates, one for each item you wish to sell. Then we can work together to get your stuff priced and listed.

Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice only to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past years, we have sold many hundreds of items. Do know that prices for used gear only go in one direction. Down. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.

New Listings

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens with great extras!

Ted Keltz is offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (with extras) in excellent condition for $1488.00. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the front lens cap, the lens hood, the tough fabric ens case, the original product box and manual, a LensCoat, a Canon Extender EF 1.4x II in like new-condition $429.00 new), a Canon 25 mm Extension Tube EF 25mm II in like new-condition ($144.95 new), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. (Both accessories include the front and rear lens caps and the lens pouches.) Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Ted via e-mail.

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 R5! This package sells new of $2972.95 so you can save an amazing $1584.95 by grabbing Ted’s lens with the great extras now. artie

Canon Extender EF 2X III

Sale Pending first day of listing

Ted Keltz is offering a is offering a Canon Extender EF 2X III (teleconverter) in like-new condition for $259.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the soft case, the original product box, 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 Ted via e-mail.

As regular readers know, TCs are so important to what I do that I always travel with three 1.4X teleconverters and two 2X teleconverters. (Note: they do fail on occasion …) The 2X III sells new for $429.00. artie

This image was created on 9 May 2022 on the South Peninsula down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported 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 Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 7:43:46am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Upper Left Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Cattle Egret ready to swallow mayfly

Multiple Choice Quiz

Which of the following contributed most to the artistic success of Image #1?

a- it is razor-sharp on the bird’s eye

b- the exposure and processing are spot-on.

c- the light was sweet.

d- the bird was near the edge of a drop-off to the marsh below.

There was a bit of motion blur on the bird’s eye. I painted a Quick Mask of the eye and as expected, Topaz Sharpen AI rendered it much sharper at 80% without making a mess of things.

Great Topaz News!

As regular readers know, I run DeNoise on virtually every image that I process immediately after executing the crop with the Delete Cropped Pixels box checked. For images made in sunny conditions, I used Standard. For images made in low light, I use Low Light. You can check all four methods by using the Comparison View but I rarely do that any more as I am confident as noted above.

Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. If the stuff is on sale (as it usually is), you save 15% off of the sale price! To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.

Those who purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or any other Topaz plug-ins using my link and then entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. Please include a copy of your Topaz receipt that shows the discount. Aside from the basics, the guide explains how to install the plug-ins so that they appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu.

This image was created on 9 May 2022 on the South Peninsula down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported 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 Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 7:43:49 am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Upper Left Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: Cattle Egret holding mayfly in bill tip

Three Seconds Later

Image #2 was made three seconds after Image #1. It would have made a nice sequence if the order had been reversed, but the background would have been a mismatch as the bird had walked to my left. In both images the sharpness of The Sony rig at 1200mm is astounding. I cannot believe that the mayfly posed so perfectly right before it became breakfast.

Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG. Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.

Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)

Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)

Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)

Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.

I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.

Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.

We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.

What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT

• 1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
• 2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
• 3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
• 4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
• 5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
• 6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
• 7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
• 8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
• 9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
• 10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
• 11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
• 12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
• 13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
• 14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
• 15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.

And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.

Typos

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

Before You Scroll Down …

Before you scroll down, click on the original image immediately below to view the high-res JPEG that represents the TIF file that was created from the converted raw file. Take a good look at it. Then leave a comment and let us know how you might have optimized it. Then you can scroll down and see what I did with the too-tight flight shot.

This image was created on a San Diego IPT on 19 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 112mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 800: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 12:09:47am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Image #1: Brown Pelican 2-year-old in flight

112mm Full Frame Flight!

With the right wind, the absolutely amazing Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens can be used without a teleconverter to photograph the incoming pelicans at La Jolla. I will most often use the 1.4X TC for incoming flight, and go with the 2X TC when trying for the elusive head throws.

The variations in the plumage of both adult and sub-adult Pacific-race Brown Pelicans always amazes me. Every season, we see a several unique birds wearing plumage combinations that we have never seen before.

You zoomed out enough to avoid clipping any wings, but just barely. Before you scroll down, think about how you would process this image. Even if you do not leave a comment, you can learn a ton by just thinking it through.

What’s Up?

It was cloudy black at dawn, so I went down to the lake to check things out at 7:30am. I was glad to see that the Softshell Turtle nest appeared to be undisturbed. Then the sun came out. With a stiff SW wind, I headed home early. I watched and videoed some Honeybees tearing the stamens off a Magnolia blossom in my driveway. I watched lots of NBA and NHL playoff games while working on images and answering e-mails. Today is Sunday 8 May and I am headed to Gatorland to photograph Great Egret and Tricolored Heron chicks. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes fifty-eight days in a row with a new one.

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. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

Wanted to Buy

If you have a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III lens or an RF 600mm f/4 that you would like to unload for a good price, please get in touch via e-mail.

Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART

Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission on items priced at $1,000 or more. With items less than $1000, there is a $50 flat-fee. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. If you are interested, please click here, read everything carefully, and do what it says. To avoid any misunderstandings, please read the whole thing very carefully. If you agree to the terms, please state so clearly via e-mail and include the template or templates, one for each item you wish to sell. Then we can work together to get your stuff priced and listed.

Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice only to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past years, we have sold many hundreds of items. Do know that prices for used gear only go in one direction. Down. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.

New Listings

Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a great extra!

IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon EOS 7D Mark II in like-new condition with only 4504 shutter actuations for a very low $649.00. The sale includes one battery and the charger, the strap, the original product box, and everything that came in it, a Really Right Stuff Modular Sliding L-Plate (RTS B702-L Set — a $150.00 value), 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 Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.

If you are looking to get started with a Canon dSLR, Sandy’s 7DII is for you. Both Patrick Sparkman and I used and loved the 7D Mark II until about two years ago when we both committed to using full-frame Canon bodies. We both made some truly great images with it. Two of my three 2016 Nature’s Best honored entries were created with the 7D II, one still, and one video. The 7D Mark II is one of the greatest-ever values in a digital camera body. artie

Canon Extender EF 1.4X III

IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (teleconverter) in like-new condition for $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, soft case, original product box 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 Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.

As regular readers know, TCs are so important to what I do that I always travel with three 1.4X teleconverters and two 2X teleconverters. (Note: they do fail on occasion …) artie

Canon Extender EF 2X III

IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon Extender EF 2X III (teleconverter) in like-new condition for $259.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, soft case, original product box 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 Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.

As regular readers know, TCs are so important to what I do that I always travel with three 1.4X teleconverters and two 2X teleconverters. (Note: they do fail on occasion …) artie

Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM Lens

IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens (the original version) in like-new condition for a silly-low $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the soft case, the lens hood, the original product box, 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 Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.

When I shot Canon, the original version of this lens was my never-leave-home-without-it all purpose zoom lens. Whenever I would leave it in the car, I would get 50 yards away and wished that I had it with me. It sells new for $1299.00 and is backordered in most places. artie

Two Canon 580 EX II Speedlights (flashes)

IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a pair of Canon 580 EX II Speedlights (flashes) in near-mint condition for a ridiculously low $249.00 (or $149.00 for one). The sale includes the soft cases, the stands, the original product boxes, 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 Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.

Anyone looking to create a Canon multi-flash set-up for hummingbirds will want to grab both of Sandy’s 580 EX flashes ASAP. I think that I paid something like $600 apiece for mine when I shot Canon. artie

B&H Mother’s Day Specials

Click here or on the logo-link above to see a changing line-up of Mother’s Day Specials. You do not have to be a mother to click or to make a purchase!

BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)

Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.

This image was created on a San Diego IPT on 19 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 112mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 800: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 12:09:47am on a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: The optimized version of the Brown Pelican 2-year-old in flight image

The Image Optimization

For me, images like this with the bird steeply angled and tight in the frame scream for a square (or at least for a boxy) crop. I went with a perfect square.

1- I leveled the image and added canvas above and below in one fell swoop by using the Content-Aware Crop Tool. Tip: put the cursor outside of the crop mark and rotate the image as needed using the love handles.

2- I repaired the hole in one of the secondary feathers on the bird’s right wing using Content-Aware Fill.

3- I darkened the Pacific via the Color Mixer tab of the Camera Raw Filter. And yes, all the tabs and sliders in the Camera Raw Filter are available in Photoshop after the raw conversion.

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 #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 21 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 24 DEC 2022. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.

San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 7 JAN thru the morning session on WED 11 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 4.

San Diego IPT #3: 3 1/2 DAYS: FRI 20 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00.

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

A $599 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, 3385, 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.

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.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.

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.