Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

What’s Up?

Clemens Van der Werf, Anita North, and I sat in the marsh on a gorgeous Tuesday morning. The courtship behaviors and the number of squabbles have gone way down but we had some good chances with several Black-necked Stilts feeding in still blue water tinged by the reflections of some grey clouds in the southwest. Clemens and Anita went off to photograph the Mother’s Day II chicks and I headed home early to finish yesterday’s blog post.

With both shoulders pain free and feeling much stronger, I’ve gotten back in the pool for the past three days.

Today is Wednesday 19 May 2021. Clemens and Anita had so much fun with the stilts and the new crane babies that Clemens’ boat will again be staying in the driveway while we head down to the marsh.The weather looks good with mostly clear skies and a northeast wind. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.

This blog post took about ninety minutes to prepare and makes 146 consecutive days with a new one. 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 and is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great if you opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.

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Click here to view Kids Meet a 101 Year Old from Hi Ho Kids.

With Zebras, Eye Tracking AF, & Topaz, Is Bird Photography Too Easy Now?

SONY Zebras allow folks to consistently get near-perfect exposures even in changing light. The latest eye/face/bird tracking AF systems truly are science-fiction like. Topaz DeNoise allows us to work at high ISOs while paying only a small penalty if the images are properly exposed. Topaz Sharpen AI does a great job with small errors of motion blur. And with or without Zebras, RawDigger enables serious photographers to learn to fine-tune their exposures.

So is bird photography too easy now?

It is surely easier but nowhere near too easy. You still need to get up early and slog around in the mud. Or walk for mile (with still relatively heavy gear). You still need to know how to evaluate and analyze sky conditions, wind direction, and the quality and direction of the lights.You still need to study the behavior of your subjects in order to maximize your chances. As good as the new AF systems are, you need to study them long and hard in order to get the most out of them. Many folks listening to the know-nothing, online gurus have their cameras set up so poorly that it is a wonder that they ever make a single sharp image, much less a sharp image of a bird in flight. That is why the various BAA Camera User’s e-Guides have been so successful. And lastly, you still need to know what makes a good image.

And as good as the AF systems are, the photographer is still the one who has to point the lens in the right direction to come up with the image design they are looking for. (And to keep the lens still.) There is and will never be an Auto Composition system …

Creativity, intelligence, determination, good sharpness techniques, camera handling skill, and some degree of strength, stamina, hand-eye coordination, good reflexes, and fine motor skills are all needed if one is to become at least a good bird photographer. And field-craft is an oft-overlooked factor; how skilled are you at getting close to free and wild birds? Yes, it is a plus to have the latest/greatest gear, but the factors mentioned above are far more important than what camera and lens you are holding. That said, the recent technological advances have enabled me and many others to make better and better images on a consistent basis, especially of birds in flight and in action.

Did I leave anything out? Do you think that bird photography is too easy now?

This image was created on 17 May 2021 in a marsh down by the lake at ILE. While seated on a milk Crate, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 640. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. AWB at 7:10am when a big cloud covered the sun for a bit. Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed just about perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Black-necked Stilt walking elegantly

Ballerino or Danseur Noble (FR)

Just as a big cloud slid in front of the sun, this male Black-necked Stilt strode by right in front of me and my milk crate. I grabbed the 2-6 off of my work table — another milk crate — to my left, leaned to my right around the tripod mounted 600 GM, dialed up the ISO, and fired off perhaps a half dozen frames. This one, with the balletic pose, was magical. The raised foot with the bill perfectly centered on the white neck gives the bird a quite elegant look. At least from where I sit.

Ballerino is slang for a male ballet dancer, and danseur noble is the French version. The bird in Image #1 certainly qualified, if only for a brief instant in time.

Image #1A: RawDigger screen capture for the Black-necked Stilt walking elegantly image

RawDigger Screen Capture

Though RawDigger showed the raw file brightness for this image to be just about perfect with the G channel two-thirds of the way from the 8000 line to the 16000 line, I brightened the image considerably in post: Exposure +0.65, Whites +12, and Shadows +8. Low light/high key images require some fancy stepping in Photoshop. Note that in no light/low light situations, it is simply impossible to reveal the ruby red irises of this species.

RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos

The RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos

by Arthur Morris with Patrick Sparkman

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image #1B: AF Point for the Black-necked Stilt walking elegantly image

Sony Alpha a1 AF

Barring operator error, the performance of the Sony Alpha a1 AF system at any focal length — including 1200mm as seen in recent blog posts — is, when the a1 is set up properly as detailed in the in e-mails to the Sony Alpha a1 Info & Updates group, more than remarkable. Early on, there was lots of discussion within the group with many preferring multiple back button approaches. For me a simple shutter button approach with the right AF settings that yield 99% sharp-on-the-eye images is best. By far. It is super-simple and mega-effective. In the next SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group e-mail, I will be sharing what I have learned as to when and it what situations it is best to abandon Wide. And with what. The group has already learned to limit the AF Area choices and to switch AF Areas quickly and conveniently. The default method of switching AF points with the C2 button is both slow and cumbersome.

SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group is going great guns as folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based advice. We are now up to an astounding 46 lucky folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. More recently, we have been in contact with folks at SONY sharing our thoughts, experiences, and frustrations with the EVF blackout problem.

All who purchased their Alpha a1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link will receive a free subscription to the Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up and Info Updates after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.) This same service may be purchased by anyone with an a1 body via a $150.00 PayPal sent to birdsasart@verizon.net indicating payment for Alpha a1 Info Updates. Alternatively, folks can call Jim weekdays at 1-863-692-0906 to pay via credit card. New members will receive composite e-mails that summarize all previous discussions.

Typos

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

What’s Up?

On Sunday morning we sat in the marsh again and enjoyed another great day with the Black-necked Stilts. Again, they landed right in front of us and copulated. Twice. In addition, we got some great stuff on Boat-tailed Grackles grabbing snails. Toward the end of the session, I did some ultra-low-level shooting off the tripod with the Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro. That gets me down to about a foot above the mud. I am getting better and better at working off the rear monitor. Techniques for doing that will be shared here soon.

Thanks to all who left comments on Anita’s images yesterday. As I wrote in reply to one comment, Anita’s images are not perfect. Had anyone pointed out some of the legitimate flaws, I would have thanked them very much. The point of the post, however, was that she worked very hard to discover a new location and got some very good images. Not to mention that the first three images were made in extreme low light conditions. I have been preaching here for years that depth of field with super-telephoto lenses, especially with subjects at relatively close range, is very shallow. And some folks on BPN often ask for “more d-o-f” in low light-, already high ISO-, slow shutter speed situations. That is why for decades, my mantra has been to focus on the eye, get that sharp, and to heck with depth of field.

There are many other comments and replies worth reading. Learn more about d-o-f with long lenses in today’s post below.

Today is Monday 17 May 2021. The forecast is for still and sunny with a light breeze from the northeast developing. We are heading down to the lake early. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.

This blog post took about two hours to prepare and makes 144 consecutive days with a new one. 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 and is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great if you opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs now at zero, 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 save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — 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.

New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!

You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.

Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day 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 use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day air shipping. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists 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 a9 ii, 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.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) 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

This image was created on 15 May 2021, my first morning of sitting on a milk crate in the marsh along the lakeshore at ILE. I used the Induro GIT 304L/Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 500. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/4000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:39am on a clear sunny morning. Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly by nailing the plover’s eye. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Black-necked Stilts, pre-copulatory stand

Thanks! Anita

Thanks to Anita for coming up with the idea of sitting on a milk crate in the marsh. It is something that I will be doing quite often — not only in May, but throughout the year. Right now, however, the opportunities have been amazing. We can hardly wait to get up each day and head down to the lake. I’ve gone down the last two mornings, and we’ve had two copulations right in front of us each day. Plus numerous fights between pairs from abutting territories.

The courtship rituals of all members of the Recurvirostridae family, the stilts and avocets, are entirely fascinating and beautiful. You will be seeing images here over the next few weeks of the various courtship behaviors. I have seen this species in previous years as the water level in the lake drops, but had only photographed them from afar (and not very well) working at 1200mm. As long as we sit and stay still, they come right up to us. Today is day four for Anita, and day three for me. We have been improving our strategies and techniques each day and will continue to do so.

And who knows, perhaps they will nest successfully this year at ILE for the first time … I have never seen a BNST chick here …

Depth of Field with Super-telephoto Lenses

I have attempted to share the information below here on the blog for many years. But after reading some of the comments on yesterday’s blog post, my teachings — for some folks — have fallen on deaf ears. Here are the facts:

Depth-of-field (d-o-f) with super-telephoto lenses is extremely shallow when working at or near the wide open aperture. The closer you are to the subject, the less the d-o-f. Working a 600mm lens at 15 feet at f/4, the total d-o-f is less than 1/4 inch. Increase the distance to 50 feet, and the d-o-f increases to roughly 3 3/4 inches. In each situation, stopping down two full stops roughly doubles to the total d-o-f. Note that with super-telephoto lenses, the d-o-f is about 50/50 with half of the d-o-f in front of the point of focus, and half behind.

Today’s featured image was created at a distance of about 50 feet, perhaps 60. Though the d-o-f was 5.4 inches at most, that was more than enough to cover both subjects. How do we know that? Because both birds are razor sharp.

I recommend stopping down with long lenses when you are very close to the subject. But realize then that the additional d-o-f you will gain will be minimal. Again, the d-o-f roughly doubles for each two stops that you stop down. But folks need to understand that there is a price to pay when stopping down. Stopping down two stops will cost you either two stops of shutter speed or two stops of ISO (or some combination of the two).

My strategy for three and and half decades has been to focus on the bird’s eye and let the d-o-f fall where it may. Unless you can verbalize a good reason for stopping down.

Image #1A: AF Points for the Black-necked Stilts, pre-copulatory stand image

You-Gotta-Be-Kidding-Me AF Performance

Can your camera body detect and track the eye of a Black-necked Stilt, a dark red eye buried in a black cap? The Sony Alpha a1 can. Easily. As for the Sony Alpha a1 AF system, what can I say? The results that you see above are typical of those achieved with Animal Eye Tracking. You will not, however, get consistent results easily unless your AF Menu is set up correctly. If you own an a1, and are not getting the AF performance that you want and expect, consider joining the SONY a1 Info and Updates group. If you are planning on purchasing an a1 — the world’s best camera for bird photography, be sure to use one of my two affiliate links and earn free entry into the group. Details immediately below.

Sony Alpha a1 AF

Barring operator error, the performance of the Sony Alpha a1 AF system at any focal length — as we saw recently even at 1200mm — when your a1 is set up properly as detailed in the in e-mails to the Sony Alpha a1 Info & Updates group, more than remarkable. Early on, there was lots of discussion within the group with many preferring multiple back button approaches. For me a simple shutter button approach with the right AF settings that yield 99% sharp-on-the-eye images is best. By far. It is super-simple and mega-effective. In the next SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group e-mail, I will be sharing what I have learned as to when and it what situations it is best to abandon Wide. We have already learned to limit the AF Area choices and to switch AF Areas quickly and conveniently. The default method of switching AF points with the C2 button is both slow and cumbersome.

SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group is going great guns as folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based advice. We are now up to an astounding 41 folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. More recently, we have been in contact with folks at SONY sharing our thoughts, experiences, and frustrations with the EVF blackout problem.

All who purchased their Alpha a1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link will receive a free subscription to the Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up and Info Updates after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.) This same service may be purchased by anyone with an a1 body via a $150.00 PayPal sent to birdsasart@verizon.net indicating payment for Alpha a1 Info Updates. Alternatively, folks can call Jim weekdays at 1-863-692-0906 to pay via credit card. New members will receive composite e-mails that summarize all previous discussions.

Typos

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

What’s Up

On our last morning at DeSoto there were some egrets in the washover pond, but with few baitfish, there was very little action. Working on the Panning Ground Pod with the 600 f/4GM lens, I went after some more eye-level Marbled Godwit images using the rear monitor. After a bit, I added the 1.4X TC. Several really sweet Dunlins made their way into the shallow pool I was working. I did well. My problem the previous day was that the Dunlin never stopped their rapid, sewing-machine-like feeding. After about ten minutes, four Dunlin, lit by soft early sunlight, decided to stop and stand right in front of me and right down sun angle to rest and preen. I made a lot of images. Really fine images.

At times I sat with the lens at ground level and worked off the monitor. At times I got down flat on the muck and worked through the viewfinder. And at times I lay on the sandy mud and worked off the monitor. The advantage of the latter is that it is much easier for me to see what is going on without my glasses as I am only a few inches from the monitor. When I am sitting and using the rear monitor my left eye is about 20 inches from the monitor; without my glasses, I am often guessing as to the AF performance and the orientation and head angle of the subject.

Next I decided to try to get close to the Red Knot flock on a different flat that abutted the lagoon. They were much tamer than they had been the day before. I got on the ground easily at about fifty yards and advanced slowly mostly by rolling. Yes, rolling. No matter how I advanced, both shoulders were hurting. After about an hour, I had moved about 40 yards and gotten within about ten yards of the birds — easy pickings at 1200mm on a then-cloudy/very bright morning. But the flock was tightly packed; isolating a single bird was close to impossible. I did get one pretty nice bird sleeping and was able to isolate a single preening Dublin, but that was about it.

Today is Thursday 13 May. The forecast for this morning at ILE is for partly cloudy turning cloudy with a northeast wind … I have not decided whether or not to head down to the lake as I need to get some work done for the Sony Alpha a1 Info and Updates group. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.

This blog post took more than 2 hours to prepare and makes 140 straight days with a new one. 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 and is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great if you opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Notice the under-side of the right sleeve of my sun protective blouse. You can tell that I had been doing lots of crawling on my belly in the muck. artie after Gulf bath. Image courtesy of and copyright 2021: Anita North

Cleaning Up at the Beach

It seemed as if I had been photographing for many hours; I thought that it was after eleven. So I headed back to the car, wet and covered in sand from head to toe. I was shocked to see that it was only 9:30am. Anita had headed off early to the far north end of Outback Key. I thought that she might already be back to the car. She was not. I called her cell and got her. She was headed back, but was still about 15 minutes away. I asked her to meet me at the Gulf beach in front of the parking lot and she did. Then, with all of my clothes on, I went for a delightful swim to get cleaned up a bit, albeit in saltwater. At my request, she created a few before snaps of me (dirty and sandy), and a few after snaps (cleaner and wetter), with her 200-600.

Now I was ready for a grand shower in the men’s room bathhouse at North Beach. Several years back, they redid the showers, but removed the bench and the clothes hooks. I was puzzled as to why. So anyhoo, I walk in, go around the new partition, and much to my surprise, I see a lovely, wide wooden bench. Could it get any better? So I put my complete change of clothes on the bench along with a brand new can of Johnson’s baby powder, my sandals, my robe, and a clean towel. I get out of my wet, sandy clothes and turn around. There I see eight very clean shower stalls. With all of the plumbing removed. As Anita would say, “Rotter!”

So I put my wet, sandy clothes back on and headed to the multi-level outdoor sprinkler/shower nearby. I took a nice shower, eventually stripping down to just my green Jockey shorts. Yikes! (No pictures of that, thank the lord.) I quickly put on my robe, made my way back to the bench, powdered my feet, and got dressed.

On the way back to ILE we stopped at Bass Pro Shops in Brandon for a bit of shopping, at Starbucks in Bartow (so Anita could get another fix), and at Publix in Lake Wales to pick up something for dinner. We got back to ILE at about 3:30pm. It was just another exciting day in the life of a professional bird photographer.

Scanning Help Needed

If you know anything about scanning slides, please leave a comment below or contact Jeff Walters via e-mail.

Jeff Walters/May 12, 2021 at 4:42 pm

Great skimmer shots and mating avocets images show truly why I love bird photography. Thanks to your friends for sharing their images and thank-you for bringing them to us in your blog.

If you had a mess of old slides, how would you go about digitizing them today, sir? And could it be done for a reasonable cost? I ask, because seeing the skimmer image reminds me of shots I have on slide film from years past. I have many terrific skimmers shots, and image of many other species from wetlands on slide film. I would love to find an affordable way to get them converted to digital. Anyone’s comments or assistance would be most appreciated and especially any guidance from you Artie! Thanks to all.

Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART/May 12, 2021 at 7:27 pm

Hi Jeff,

ps: if you do want to have some slides scanned, I would limit that to your very strongest images …

Bedfords

The very affable Steve Elkins asked me to let you know that Bedfords has many Canon R5 bodies in stock right now. He is expecting some Control Ring Adapters, more than a few Canon RF 70-200s, and several RF 800mm lens in a day or two. Don’t forget to save 3% at Bedfords (and enjoy free 2nd-Day Air fed-Ex) by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs greatly reduced, please — if you learn from and enjoy 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 save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — 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.

New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!

You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.

Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day 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 use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day air shipping. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists 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 a9 ii, 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.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) 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.

Georgina Steytler

In the Australian Lady Bird Photographer Georgina Steytler Creates High-Key, Soft Light, and Dramatic Stunners … blog post here, all were invited to leave a comment listing no more than three of their favorite images created by the quite amazing Georgina Steytler and to let us know why they made their choice or choices.

Lots of folks commented on the superb artistry of the collection, but only a few were specific. Including my favorites, Image #7: New Holland Honeyeaters, was the leader with three mentions. The Red-capped Parrot on Bottlebrush, #3, the Pacific Black Duck, #5, and the Great Egret abstract, #9, all garnered three mentions. The Pacific-Gull flapping, #4, and Red-capped Plover on the run, each were mentioned once.

Though there is — of course — no rights or wrongs when judging the artistic merits of photographs, Phill Bird echoed my feelings when he wrote:

Thanks for introducing us to Georgina’s work, Artie. Lots of fantastic images and the standout for me is the Red-capped Parrot. The parrot’s beautiful coloring standing out in the misty lighting and the inclusion of the quintessentially Australian Bottlebrush in the composition appeals greatly to me.

As always, remember that looking at (and evaluating) great imagery is one of the very best ways to improve your own photography … You can see my three favorites by scrolling down.

Image #3: Red-capped Parrot on Bottlebrush. Image courtesy of and copyright 2018: Georgina Steytler

My Very Favorite Georgina Steytler Image

I fell in love with this one the moment I saw it as I am a sucker for a good watercolor. The bird is sharp and perfectly positioned in the frame. And the pastel colors are incredible. The erect pose is perfect as is the selective focus on the subject. Your eye is led around the frame from the REDs on the bird to the REDs in the flower and also by the sharp to soft transitions.

Image #5: Pacific Black Duck preening. Image courtesy of and copyright 2018: Georgina Steytler

My First Tied-for-Second Favorite Georgina Steytler Image

With the vibrant colors of the duck’s speculum and the striking black background, this is another spectacular image. I am, however, betting that Georgina wished she had pointed her lens down just a bit so as to include more of (if not the complete) reflection … Do notice that this one works very well despite the fact that we see neither the bird’s eyes nor its face. You are the artist; you get to break the rules with purpose.

Image #7: New Holland Honeyeaters. Image courtesy of and copyright 2018: Georgina Steytler

My Second Tied-for-Second Favorite Georgina Steytler Image

Note: this section of the blog was inadvertently deleted but I am not sure when that happened. I am restoring it just after noon on 14 May.

Here we have another watercolor-like photo with tons of action and interaction. That five of the seven honeyeaters are not only facing the camera but have excellent head angles is quite amazing. And the squabbling pair at the top is the proverbial icing on the cake.

Typos

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

What’s Up?

Monday morning at DeSoto was epic. It started with still blue water and five pink and carmine birds with spatulate bills. Woohoo! Throw in 3 dozen Snowy Egrets, six Great Egrets, a few skimmers, and a tidal pool full of fish, and you have a full-fledged feeding spree with tons of activity, I concentrated on the spoonbills. Next I had some good chances on breeding plumage Red Knots and made a few Royal Tern head portraits. After the fact, we heard from several folks that Sunday — with zero birds – had been the worst day of the year in that same spot. Next we headed to our morning back-up location. I worked the small shorebirds — a single breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher, a Dunlin (that I fanned on), and a slew of running Sanderlings. While I as working along the beach, Anita was her usual self, wading out almost neck-deep to photograph floating and flying Brown Pelicans.

We had a nice dinner at Pia’s Trattoria and then headed to my favorite afternoon beach. It was hot and things started off very slowly. There were a few groups of small sandpipers when we arrived, but they all departed with the dropping tide. We stuck it out and wound up getting some good stuff on Willet, a juvie Little Blue Heron, some Laughing Gulls, and several breeding plumage Black-bellied Plovers. Working at 1200mm off the Panning Ground Pod, I was hammering the shutter all afternoon as the Willets grabbed fiddler crabs and the little blue struck in hopes of a small baitfish. When a young gull began bathing, I filled a fresh card for the first time ever in my 20-year digital career. It just happened to be a Sony 160GB CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Card.

Photography was so good at DeSoto that we extended our stay an additional day. We’ll be headed home on Wednesday. Today Tuesday 11 May 2021. The forecast for this morning is for still and partly cloudy with no-see-ums in the parking lot followed by a gentle east/southeast breeze. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.

This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes 138 straight days with a new one. 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 and is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great if you opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Bedfords

The very affable Steve Elkins asked me to let you know that Bedfords has many Canon R5 bodies in stock right now. He is expecting some Control Ring Adapters, more than a few Canon RF 70-200s, and several RF 800mm lens in a day or two. Don’t forget to save 3% at Bedfords (and enjoy free 2nd-Day Air fed-Ex) by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout.

Sony CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Cards

Folks using the Alpha a1 can use either UHS II cards or one of the two Sony CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Cards you . The latter are made only by SONY and are thus ridiculously over-priced. With the UHS II cards, you cannot get to 30 frames per second and the buffer fills much too quickly. The CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Cards provide fast read speeds up to 800 MB/s, write speeds up to 700 MB/s, and are ideal for high-resolution continuous raw shooting.

You can purchase the CFexpress Type A TOUGH Memory Cards from B&H or save 3% by getting them from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code at checkout.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs greatly reduced, 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 save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — 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.

New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!

You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.

Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day 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 use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day air shipping. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists 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 a9 ii, 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.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) 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

This image was created on 9 May 2021 down by the lake at ILE on a great morning. I used the Induro GIT 304L/Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body). ISO 500. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/1000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed this image to be one stop to dark (due to operator error). AWB at 7:27am on a clear morning. Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. But the operator did not; see Operator Errors below. Image #1: Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Operator Errors

This image was from my great Sunday-morning-past session. I had photographed this species before at ILE, but never well. On the same morning in the same spot, just left of the pier, I also had good chances with a drake Wood Duck, several Black-necked Stilts, and a landing Great Egret.

#1: I blew the exposure on this one when I added the 2X TC. I reduced the shutter speed from 1/2000 sec. to only 1/1000 sec. I forgot that I was losing two stops of light (not one had I used the1.4X). IAC, Topaz DeNoise completely eliminated the noise.

#2: I used this image in ten-minute Camtasia video that I did recently for the SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info group to further illustrate the point that no matter how amazing a camera’s AF system or method is — in this case Tracking: Expand Spot, it is the photographer who determines the image design by pointing the lens in the right direction. Here I failed to do that by placing the bird too low in the frame. (This image is a decent crop from above and from our left.) The trick with Tracking: Expand Spot is understanding exactly how it works and when to use it.

Note: Getting low in this situation would have been a very wet and mucky proposition …

Sony Alpha a1 AF

Barring operator error, the performance of the Sony Alpha a1 AF system at any focal length (when the a1 is set up properly as detailed in the in e-mails to the Sony Alpha a1 Info & Updates group), continues to astound me. Early on, there was lots of discussion within the group with many preferring multiple back button approaches. For me a simple shutter button approach with the right AF settings that yield 99% sharp-on-the-eye images is best. By far. It is super-simple and mega-effective. In the next SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group e-mail, I will be sharing what I have learned as to when and it what situations it is best to abandon Wide. We have already learned to limit the AF Area choices and to switch AF Areas quickly and conveniently. The default method of switching AF points with the C2 button is both slow and cumbersome.

SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group

The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up and Info Group is going great guns as folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based advice. We are now up to an astounding 41 folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. More recently, we have been in contact with folks at SONY sharing our thoughts, experiences, and frustrations with the EVF blackout problem.

All who purchased their Alpha a1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link will receive a free subscription to the Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up and Info Updates after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.) This same service may be purchased by anyone with an a1 body via a $150.00 PayPal sent to birdsasart@verizon.net indicating payment for Alpha a1 Info Updates. Alternatively, folks can call Jim weekdays at 1-863-692-0906 to pay via credit card. New members will receive composite e-mails that summarize all previous discussions.

Typos

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

What’s Up?

It has probably well more than a decade since I had been to Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray. Heck, probably two decades. I began with digital in 2001, and do not think that I have a single digital image from Wako … During my absence, the Wood Storks have taken over the joint. In force. There are dozens and dozens of nests with chicks ranging from just-hatched tiny ones to almost-fledged. The species is doing quite well. Some of the nests are within 20 feet of the boardwalk. Shooting at rookeries is, however, always a big challenge and that was the case during our morning visit. Rookeries are always super-cluttered, many nests are quite close together, and light angle is often a problem. None-the-less, I think that I got a few good ones.

Today is Sunday 9 May 2021. The forecast for ILE for this morning is for sunny with an east southeast wind. I will surely be heading down to the lake early. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day.

This blog post took about an hour to prepare, and makes 136 straight days with a new one. 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 and is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great if you opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

If the two images in today’s post tickle your fancy, note that there is an educational 14-frame section on creating pleasing blurs in the video webinar, Designing and Creating Pleasing and Dramatic Natural History Images.

Designing and Creating Pleasing and Dramatic Natural History Images A Video Webinar: $30 by electronic download Order your copy by clicking here.

Designing and Creating Pleasing and Dramatic Natural History Images

A Video Webinar

In this 1 hour 28 minute plus video you will learn and be inspired. We cover everything from the very basics to the fine points. After a brief bio, the topics include Behavior, Action, Diagonal Lines, and the Cuteness Factor; Birds in Flight — The Holy Grail of Bird Photography; Mis-Framing!; Basic Image Design/HORIZONTALS: Get the subject out of the center of the frame. Basic Image Design/VERTICALS: The center of the frame is generally fine; The Importance of BACKGROUND; Isolating the Subject; Other Elements of Composition; On Getting Low; Going Wide for Bird-scapes; Super-tight!; Working in Sunny Conditions; Working in Cloudy Conditions; Working in Foggy Conditions; Working in the Shade; Working in Bad Weather; Creating Back-lit Images; Creating Silhouettes; and Creating Pleasing Blurs.

Each segment of the program consists of an average of about 15 images that will drive home the points being made, educate you, and inspire. The instructions and advice, given clearly and concisely, are based on my near-38 years of experience photographing birds with telephoto and super-telephoto lenses. And on several decades of creating educational blog posts.

This presentation is based on the webinar that I did for the South Shore Camera Club in April. You can find some of the comments below along with comments from two of the folks who viewed the webinar the night before the DeSoto IPT began.

You can order your copy of Designing and Creating Pleasing and Dramatic Natural History Images/A Video Webinar by clicking here or by calling Jim with your credit card in hand at 863-692-0906.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs greatly reduced, 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 save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) — 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.

New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!

You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.

Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save.

Money Saving Reminder

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day 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 use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day air shipping. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists 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 a9 ii, 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.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) 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

This image was created on 23 April 2021 on Lake Kissimmee aboard Clemens Van der Werf’s flats boat. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 376mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. AUTO set ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with EC on the Thumb Dial. Multi metering +2.7 stops: 1/30 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. AWB at 6:49am on a very overcast morning. Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Anhinga taking flight

Why (Pleasing) Blurs?

You are out early. It is overcast. There is little light to work with. Even with Topaz DeNoise and cameras that have fabulous sensors that handle high ISOs better than ever, nobody wants to be working at ISOs in the range of 6400 to 12800 or even higher in order to get a shutter speed high enough to create sharp image. IMHO, the best way to go in such situations is to get creative and work with low shutter speeds (and correspondingly lower ISO). Creating a good pleasing blur is like winning the lottery — you’ve got to buy lots of tickets (i.e., makes lots of images), and throw in a bit of luck …

Note: the bird’s eye is the original eye after some Eye Doctor work; I brightened the pupil and increased the Vibrance. All as detailed along with dozens of great workflow and Photoshop tips and techniques in Digital Basics II.

This image was created on 4 May 2021 on Lake Blue Cypress aboard Clemens Van der Werf’s flats boat. 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. ISO 250. Exposure determined by Zebras and experience with ISO on the Thumb Dial: 1/5 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 6:49am on a very overcast morning. Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Cypress Tree jiggle blur

Jiggle Blurs

The trees on Lake Blue Cypress are gorgeous and I have photographed them often in lots of different lighting conditions. Aside from perhaps a silhouette or two, I have never created anything memorable. At least until the morning of 4 May. Or not, depending on your taste. I went down to 1/5 second, adjusted the ISO to show 3 stops off the white (actually dreary grey) sky, and began creating vertical pan/jiggle blurs. Working rapidly, I created about 50 images checking ever few to see how I was doing. Some of the images showed hope, but most were mis-framed too high or too low. So I kept trying. I did not see this one in the field but when I saw it on the computer I was impressed. After setting the black point and adding some Vibrance it literally jumped off the screen. At least for me.

Note: Denise Ippolito came up with the term “jiggle blur” and taught me the technique. Here I combined that with a vertical pan blur.

Why Manual?

For well more than a decade –heck, probably for more than two decades, I have been teaching folks to create pleasing blurs in low light in Shutter Priority mode using Auto ISO with Exposure Compensation (EC) on this or that dial or wheel. That approach works very well during the pre-dawn at the beach where pretty much everything — the sand, the sky, and even the water, is relatively light-toned. The single negative to this approach is that if the birds fly in front of a dark background — mangroves, for example, the subject will be grossly over-exposed as you will generally be between +2 or +3 EC. So I have recently begun going back to basics when shooting blurs: work in Manual mode, set the shutter speed and aperture, and then adjust the ISO (again on this or that dial or wheel) as needed to get the right exposure on the subject. Just as I did for Image #2.

Multiple Choice Quiz

A- I hate blurs. I would delete both of today’s featured images.
B- I like both equally.
C- I like both but Image #1 is stronger.
D- I like both but Image #2 is stronger.
E- Fill in the blank if you wish.

A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

Learn everything there is to know about creating pleasingly blurred images in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly. This 20,585 word, 271 page PDF is illustrated with 144 different, exciting, and artistic images. The guide covers the basics of creating pleasingly blurred images, the factors that influence the degree of blurring, the use of filters in creating pleasing blurs, and a great variety of both in-the-field and Photoshop techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images.

Artie and Denise teach you many different ways to move your lens during the exposure to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images of flowers and trees and water and landscapes. They will teach you to recognize situations where subject movement can be used to your advantage to create pan blurs, wind blurs, and moving water blurs. They will teach you to create zoom-blurs both in the field and during post-processing. Artie shares the techniques that he has used and developed for making blurred images of flocks of geese in flight at his beloved Bosque del Apache and Denise shares her flower blur magic as well as a variety of creative Photoshop techniques that she has developed.

With the advent of digital capture creating blurred images has become a great and inexpensive way to go out with your camera and have fun. And while many folks think that making successful blurred images is the result of being a sloppy photographer, nothing could be further from the truth. In “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” Artie and Denise will help you to unleash your creative self.

Typos

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