Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

What’s Up?

I stayed in and worked on the RawDigger e-Guide on Tuesday morning. At 10am, Jim and I drove down to the lake to get wet and muddy. With a roll of stiff wire and a pair of pliers, we repaired The Perch that I had erected with Anita North about two years ago. I thought that it has simply fallen down, but closer inspection revealed that it actually broke in half. We were able to wire the upper part of the perch to the lower part. The best news is that the horizontal part of the perch at the top was shortened perfectly when it fell. After that was done, we erected a second tall perch that I had found last week on a day of perch hunting. Thanks, Jim!

Now I will see how long it takes for the birds to get used to them 🙂

Today is Wednesday 16 December 2020. The forecast is partly cloudy with gentle south/southeast winds so I will be headed down to the lake at about 7:30am. Have a great day, and consider joining me at DeSoto at the end of this week.

I peeked out the back door at 7:13am and saw that it is totally foggy so my trip to the lake will be delayed just a bit.

Fort DeSoto In-the-Field Instructional Sessions

As the weather is looking excellent again for this coming Friday and Saturday, I will almost surely be headed over to Fort DeSoto to photograph early on Friday and Saturday mornings. If you would like to join me for one or two morning sessions (and possibly for a Friday afternoon session as well), please contact me via e-mail to learn the low rates.Limit two.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.

Brand New Listings

SONY a7r iii Mirrorless Digital Camera Body(with SONY battery grip!)

Mansoor Assadi is offering a SONY a7r iii Mirrorless digital camera body in excellent condition for a very low $1198.00. The sale includes a Sony VG-C3EM Vertical Grip (a $348.00 value), only the original battery, the original box, the front body cap, the strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Mansoor via e-mail or by phone at 415-559-8027 (Pacific time).

The 7r iii performed superbly as my workhorse camera body on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. The image files are superb and it was not bad at all for flight photography. As this body with the SONY grip sells new for $2,346.00, you can save a handsome $1,148.00 by grabbing Mansoor’s a7r iii (with the SONY grip!) right now. artie

SONY a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body

Mansoor Assadi is offering a SONY a9 Mirrorless digital camera body in like-new condition for a BAA record-low $2,297.00. The sale includes an off-brand (Green Extreme) battery grip, only the original battery, the original box, the front body cap, the strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Mansoor via e-mail or by phone at 415-559-8027 (Pacific time).

I was sold on SONY five minutes after trying my SONY a9 on the Brandt’s Cormorants at La Jolla, CA. The AF system is identical to the AF system on the more expensive a9 ii which costs $4,498.00. The a9 ii body is about 1/8 inch thicker than the a9 ii. If you do not have large hands, or if you like the feel of a smaller body, you will love the a9. And if you like the feel of $1,101.00 in your pocket — the a9 sells for $3,398.00 — get in touch with Mansoor ASAP. artie

Canon R5/R6 AF e-Guide Info

So far, thirty-six folks have sent PayPals for their copy of the Canon R5/R6 AF e-Guide. And twenty who used my affiliate links to purchase their R5 e-mailed for their free copy of the guide. If you e-mailed or sent a PayPal and did not receive your guide, please LMK immediately via e-mail.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive so far. Three folks wrote stating that they had a better way of setting up AF on their R5s. When I wrote back explaining why they were in error, two of them back-tracked. One stubborn guy is still doing it his way, less efficiently. Be sure to scroll down to read about my plans for a Canon R5/R6 User’s e-Guide. Understand that the info in the BAA Canon R5/R6 Autofocus e-Guide is so important that I opted to publish the AF guide immediately as the R5/R6 User’s Guide will take at least a month to finish.

BAA Canon R5/R6 Autofocus e-Guide

Twenty-one pages. 3,452 words. 28-DPP4 screen captures showing the R5’s vaunted AF system in action. Note: the AF system of the R5 is identical to the AF system of the R6.

You will learn:

1- The two most useful AF Methods for general bird photography and for birds in flight.

2- How to set up your R5/R6 AF Menus.

3- What boxes to check (and un-check) under Limit AF Methods.

4- How to change the AF Method quickly, easily, and efficiently. Note: the default way of doing this is clunky, cumbersome, and inefficient at best. One person replied that this tip alone was worth the price of admission.

5- The only setting that should be used for Initial Servo AF pt for Face Detection + Tracking.

I you are currently using multiple back buttons either for general bird photography or for birds in flight, what you learn in this guide will change your life. For the better.

Here are the first three paragraphs of this e-Guide:

From the moment I learned about the new Canon mirrorless bodies, I read about using two or three back-buttons to focus using different AF methods. The word on the street said that the way to go for birds in flight was to use one button to acquire focus with Zone AF or with Large Zone: Horizontal AF and then switch to another button to activate Face Detection + Tracking AF and then use the shutter button to make an image. My immediate thought was, “This is insanity! There has got to be a better way.” In short, there is a far superior way to set up AF on your R5 or R6.

Remember that I got away from any form of back-button or rear focusing many years ago after finally realizing that it is always easier to do one thing (press the shutter button), than it is to do two things (press a back button and then press the shutter button).

The default method of switching AF Methods with the R5/R6 bodies is cumbersome at best. It involves first pressing the grid button (my name) on the upper right back of the camera and then pressing the hard-to-access M-Fn button to toggle through the AF Methods. This method is so bad that it will not be mentioned again in this guide.

The guide is free to all who have ordered an R5 or an R6 using my B&H affiliate link or from Steve Elkins/Bedfords using the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Please send your receipt to me via e-mail. It will take me a few days to a week to verify the B&H purchases. Bedfords folks should expect their free e-Guides fairly quickly.

To purchase your copy of the e-Guide, please send a PayPal for $25.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words R5/R6 AF Guide in your PayPal e-mail.

Everyone who gets the guide will receive a free update no later than the first week in January.

Canon R5/R6 User’s e-Guide

I am planning on doing a complete Canon R5/R6 User’s e-Guide. This will require a lot of research, a lot of time, and a lot of effort. I am hoping to have it complete by mid- to late January. As always, folks who use the BAA affiliate links to purchase their Canon gear will receive a substantial discount.

Understand that the info in the BAA Canon R5/R6 Autofocus e-Guide is so important that I opted to publish the AF guide ASAP.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs approaching 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 can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

Great Topaz News!

Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.

Topaz Stuff

As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.

Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop).

126 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

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 overnight 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 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. 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 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on 15 October 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park, Tierra Verde, FL. TX. I used the Induro GIT 304/Levered-clamp FlexShooter-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter and the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body). ISO 640. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. AWB at 4:33pm on a clear afternoon. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #1: American White Pelican in fresh juvenal plumage

American White Pelican in Fresh Juvenal Plumage

I was thrilled to see several American White Pelican in fresh juvenal plumage in a flock of about forty early-arriving birds in mid-October of this year. Note all the brown and tan feathers on what I believe are the wing coverts. Wanting to create a field–guide-portrait of single bird in what was a brand new plumage for me, I added the 2X TC to the 600 GM and approached carefully. I got lucky as the birds swam from one group to another and was thrilled with several frames; this one was my favorite by a small margin.

Be sure to click on the image to view it larger. Image #1A: Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the American White Pelican in fresh juvenal plumage image at 100%

Topaz DeNoise AI on the American White Pelican in fresh juvenal plumage image

Be sure to click on the image and note how Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto completely eliminated the noise in the blue water background and while sharpening the bird non-destructively.

Understand that the noise in the water was partly due to the fact that water was about one stop under-exposed as we properly exposed for the WHITEs. Remember: WHITEs need one stop less light to be properly exposed than middle tones and about one and two-thirds stops less light than dark tones. Confused? See and study the section on Exposure Theory in the original The Art of Bird Photography.

This image was created on 15 October 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park, Tierra Verde, FL. TX. I used the Induro GIT 304/Levered-clamp FlexShooter-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter and the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body). ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. AWB at 4:37pm on a clear afternoon. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed surprisingly well. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #2: American White Pelican adult taking flight

You Know the Drill!

If I have said it here once … When unexpected action happens, push the shutter button. Do not try to make it perfect. I created about a dozen sequences of individual birds taking flight knowing that at 1200mm (much too long a focal length), my chances of not clipping wings or feet or heads were somewhere between slim and none. But push the button I did, and in just one frame, slim came home! You can see how tight the original image capture was and what I did about that in the Animated GIF just below.

Adding Canvas with Choppy Water …

First I tried adding canvas using the Crop Tool/Content-Aware Fill option. That made a total mess of things. Instead, I expanded the canvas and then filled in the skinny triangle on three of the frame edges one skinny triangle at a time!. Though I am sure that the pixel-peepers could find some problematic areas, the optimized image with just a bit more room behind, above, and in front of the subject, is a lot more pleasing to my eye.

The expanding and filling in canvas techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and tricks are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail.

Exposure Fine-Point Question

Why did I use 1/3-stop less light to photograph the adult than I did to make the image of the juvenile?

Note: both exposures were confirmed as dead-solid perfect by RawDigger.

RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available

Save $10 Now

The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line. The recent delay is the result of my recent conversations with Iliah Borg, the brains behind RawDigger. It is likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you.

You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.

Typos

Feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :). with love, artie

What’s Up?

Saturday morning at DeSoto was totally different from Friday morning. When I left my hotel it was drizzly but quickly turned cloudy, then cloudy bright, then mostly sunny by 10am. Carl Page, who had signed up for the recently canceled San Diego IPT, who was attending a business meeting in Sarasota, joined me for a morning of instruction. He was like a kid in the proverbial candy store. In addition to the birds we had seen on Friday morning we added Red Knot and a pair of tame American Oystercatchers. As Joe Usewicz did on Friday morning, Carl learned a ton about bird photography in just three hours. Carl and I also got along great, and again I had a great time. Safely. With masks when close, social distancing, and wind. And sun 🙂 My SONY 600 stayed in the back of my SUV for the entire weekend as I continued to use and learn more about my Canon loaner rig.

Today is Sunday 13 December 2020. It is foggy at 7:15am but looks clear behind that … I will likely head down to the lake in a few minutes.

Charlie Pride

Country singer Charlie Pride died yesterday at age 86. I am sending love, strength, and energy to his family and friends. Pride was one of three African-American members of the Grand Ole Opry — the others are DeFord Bailey and Darius Rucker. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. While preparing this blog post, I listened to his greatest hits here on You Tube. My favorite is the little-known Streets of Baltimore (at the 34:09 mark). I hope that you got to kiss an angel this morning 🙂

From Wikipedia here:

When Pride was 14, his mother purchased his first guitar and he taught himself to play. Though he loved music, one of Pride’s lifelong dreams was to become a professional baseball player. In 1952, he pitched for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League. In 1953, he signed a contract with the Boise Yankees, the Class C farm team of the New York Yankees. During that season, an injury caused him to lose the “mustard” on his fastball, and he was sent to the Yankees’ Class D team in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Later that season, while in the Negro leagues with the Louisville Clippers, two players – Pride and Jesse Mitchell – were traded to the Birmingham Black Barons for a team bus. “Jesse and I may have the distinction of being the only players in history to be traded for a used motor vehicle,” Pride mused in his 1994 autobiography.

R5 Bodies Available Right Now!

Steve Elkins at Bedfords Camera still has a handful of R5 bodies ready to ship second day air with the 3% discount for using the BIRDSASART code at checkout. Not to mention a free copy of the Canon R5/R6 AF e-Guide. Scroll down to get in touch with Steve.

Canon R5/R6 AF e-Guide Info

Yesterday, thirteen folks sent PayPals for their copy of the Canon R5/R6 AF e-Guide. And twelve who used my affiliate links to purchase their R5 e-mailed for their free copy of the guide. If you e-mailed or sent a PayPal and did not receive your guide, please LMK immediately via e-mail.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive so far. Two folks wrote stating that they had a better way of setting up AF on their R5s. When I wrote back explaining why they were in error, they both back-tracked. Be sure to scroll down to read about my plans for a Canon R5/R6 User’s e-Guide. Understand that the info in the BAA Canon R5/R6 Autofocus e-Guide is so important that I opted to publish the AF guide immediately as the R5/R6 User’s Guide will take at least a month to finish.

BAA Canon R5/R6 Autofocus e-Guide

Twenty-one pages. 3,452 words. 28-DPP4 screen captures showing the R5’s vaunted AF system in action. Note: the AF system of the R5 is identical to the AF system of the R6.

You will learn:

1- The two most useful AF Methods for general bird photography and for birds in flight.

2- How to set up your R5/R6 AF Menus.

3- What boxes to check (and un-check) under Limit AF Methods.

4- How to change the AF Method quickly, easily, and efficiently. Note: the default way of doing this is clunky, cumbersome, and inefficient at best. One person replied that this tip alone was worth the price of admission.

5- The only setting that should be used for Initial Servo AF pt for Face Detection + Tracking.

I you are currently using multiple back buttons either for general bird photography or for birds in flight, what you learn in this guide will change your life. For the better.

The guide is free to all who have ordered an R5 or an R6 using my B&H affiliate link or from Steve Elkins/Bedfords using the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Please send your receipt to me via e-mail. It will take me a few days to a week to verify the B&H purchases. Bedfords folks should expect their free e-Guides fairly quickly.

To purchase your copy of the e-Guide, please send a PayPal for $25.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net and be sure to include the words R5/R6 AF Guide in your PayPal e-mail. If you would like to receive your copy before Monday, please shoot me a copy of your PayPal transaction via e-mail.

Everyone who gets the guide will receive a free update no later than the first week in January.

Canon R5/R6 User’s e-Guide

I am planning on doing a complete Canon R5/R6 User’s e-Guide. This will require a lot of research, a lot of time, and a lot of effort. I am hoping to have it complete by mid- to late January. As always, folks who use the BAA affiliate links to purchase their Canon gear will receive a substantial discount.

Understand that the info in the BAA Canon R5/R6 Autofocus e-Guide is so important that I opted to publish the AF guide ASAP.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.

Brand New Listing

Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4 G ED VR Super-telephoto Lens (with extras)

John Mosier is offering a Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4 G ED VR lens in excellent plus to near-mint condition (with extras) for a very low $8596.95. The sale includes a LensCoat, the rear lens cap, the hood, the lens trunk, the original tough front lens cover, the lens strap, the original lens foot, the Wimberley Replacement Foot for Nikon 600mm f/4.0 AF-S, the product manual, 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 John via e-mail at john@fastforwardrentals.com or by phone at 1-337-739-0400 (Central time zone).

In all systems, the 600 f/4 lenses are the weapons of mass destruction when it comes to birds and wildlife. I loved my Nikon 600 both alone and with the 1.4X teleconverter. If you use Nikon gear and have been dreaming of moving up to the big leagues, do get in touch with John ASAP to save a very sweet $3,700.00; this lens sells new for $12,296.95. artie

Back in Stock

Three sold yesterday!

We now have fifteen of the hugely popular Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro tripod heads in stock. Click on the preceding link to learn more about this amazing head, the ballhead that thinks it’s a gimbal head and — thanks to the amazing counter-balanced spring mechanism — works great with any rig from the longest, heaviest super-telephoto lens to a camera-body-mounted wide angle. The latter is possible because of the bi-directional clamp; it is no longer necessary to travel with a gimbal head for long lens photography and a ballhead for scenic photography. And after just a moment’s adjustment, the double ball enables you to ensure that every image you take is on the level.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs approaching 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 can always help out by clicking here 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 overnight 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 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. 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.

126 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on 11 December 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park during a morning session with old and new friend Joe Usewicz. I used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens (at 500mm) and the highly touted 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 500. Exposure determined by experience and luck and confirmed as perfect by RawDigger: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:42am on sunny morning. Face Detection + Tracking/AI Servo AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Photo Mechanic screen capture for the small-in-the-frame immature LBH in flight image

Operator Error and More

I’ve said it here before and often; my birds in flight skills are somewhat lacking. Here, I was not able to match my panning rate with the speed of the bird in flight. The first four frames were clipped and in today’s featured image I barely got the bird into the frame. At first I thought, This one is too small-in-the-frame — delete it. Then I realized that I have zero flight shots of immature Little Blue Heron and that this it was a sharp 45MP R5 file, so I decided to take a crack at it.

Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1A: RawDigger screen capture for the small-in-the-frame immature LBH in flight image

RawDigger and Canon Raw Files

When I first started looking at the R5’s CR.3 files in RawDigger I realized that something was off. After several back and forth e-mails with Patrick Sparkman and Iliah Borg — the creator and the brains behind RawDigger, we got it figured out. In the pre-publication version e-mail, there is a brand-new chart that has been updated with the Canon Max G values. I will be working hard on finishing the guide this coming week and it will have lots more info on the Canon files that have a substantially high Black Level value baked into the raw files (as compared to both Nikon and SONY files).

After the ease and convenience of having Zebras live in the viewfinder with SONY, I am struggling a bit with getting perfect exposures with the R5. I have to rely on the less-than-ideal histogram in the viewfinder followed by a review of a time-wasting test image … In addition, having the histogram in the viewfinder can play havoc with your image designs.

Huge Advantage: SONY. But, the R5 has many amazing features and is the best Canon body ever by far (with the possible exception of the far heavier 3.17 pounds), far more expensive ($6499.00) EOS-1DX Mark III. The R5 tips the scales at 1.62 pounds and sells for $3899.00.

Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1B: DPP4 screen capture for the small-in-the-frame immature LBH in flight image

A Great AF System. But …

The Canon R5 (and the R6 as well) have admittedly great AF systems and Face Detection + Tracking is — when set up properly — quite amazing, even astonishing. But … A user who has strength, stamina, fast reflexes, excellent hand-eye coordination, and superb fine motor skills, will do far better than most. And folks in that category who practice, practice, and practice, will do even better. Yes, the system is great. Note the large focus square in red. That is an indication of a sort of “in-the-general-area” focusing. Note that the image is sharp on the eye I have no doubt that if I had done a better job of framing and panning with the subject, and had gotten the bird closer to the center of the frame, the system would have tracked with a smaller square box indicating that face detection had worked. And in an ideal world with a user more skilled than I, there would have been a tiny box right on the eye indicating that Eye Tracking had performed perfectly.

This image was created on 11 December 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park during a morning session with old and new friend Joe Usewicz. I used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens (at 500mm) and the highly touted 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 500. Exposure determined by experience and luck and confirmed as perfect by RawDigger: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:42am on sunny morning. Face Detection + Tracking/AI Servo AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1C: The optimized immature Little Blue Heron in flight image

The Image Optimization

The CR.3 file was quickly and easily converted in the latest version of Capture One. First I moved the bird away from the left frame-edge in small increments using techniques from APTATS I & II. Then I cropped away about 2/3rds of the original pixels (using Original Ratio. I used the Patch Tool and Content-Aware Fill to clean up the remains beach. I did a 65-pixel Gaussian blur on the whole image, added a Hide-all (or Inverse) Layer Mask, painted in the effect only on the sand, and — because the sand looked too smoothed, reduced the opacity to about 60%. Then I ran Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the whole image. With the image pretty much finished, I put it through Topaz Gigapixel AI at 2X to double the file size while improving the image quality of the large crop from the 45MP file.

The techniques mentioned above and tons more (with the exception of the Capture One RAW Conversions and the Topaz stuff) — along with all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail.

I was quite happy with the master file. Would I say that the image quality is superb? No, but it is more than acceptable for a wide variety of electronic and web usages, for magazine publication, and for making small to medium-sized prints.

A Variable Aperture Zoom Lens Tip!

I use manual exposure mode 95+ percent of the time. Just as you should be doing. As I have begun using the Canon RF 100-500 lens, I remembered something that I learn long ago when using the Canon 100-400 II. Many zoom lenses feature variable apertures — that is, there is a wider aperture at the short and a narrower aperture at the long end. For example, the RF 100-500 opens up to f/4.5 at 100mm, and closes down to f/7.1 at 500mm. If you are photographing birds and working in manual mode, it is important to set the aperture as follows: start by going to a smaller aperture (larger f/number) than f/7.1 (like f/11), and then dialing it down to f/7.1. Now set the correct exposure by adjusting the shutter speed and the ISO. Now, if you zoom to a shorter focal length, the aperture will remain at f/7.1 and you will still have the correct exposure. If, however, you are working at 200mm and you have the aperture set to f/5.0, for example, and then zoom to 500mm, the lens will stop down to f/7.1, the image will be under-exposed by three clicks — one full stop.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

Today is Wednesday, 9 December 2020. I was up early again. As usual. It is even colder than yesterday, but with less wind; I have not decided whether or not I will head down to the lake this morning. I have lots of work to do. But I do love photography …

I have been swimming my slow half-mile every day and did get in the pool yesterday afternoon; it was quite cold when I got out. I did make it down to the lake 30 minutes before sunset and had a nice session with the very dependable Mother’s Day crane family. The surviving colt — recognized by a gray patch on the front of its almost fully red crown — is doing quite well. At seven months, it is a big as its mother and bigger than its father!

Steve Elkins at Bedfords came through with R5 bodies and RF 100-500 lenses for quite a few folks early this week. Those included many blog folks like old friend Steve Freno (and his beloved adopted daughters) and blog-regular Roger Dietrich. Both ordered additional lenses and accessories as well. All that while other are languishing on long waiting lists with the big camera dealers … Save your e-mail receipts for a free copy of the BAA Canon R5/R6 AF Guide (coming soon) and to earn a discount on the BAA R5 Camera User’s Guide …

Fort DeSoto In-the-Field Instructional Sessions

I will be headed over to Fort DeSoto to photograph early on Friday and Saturday mornings. The weather is looking very good. If you would like to join me for one or two morning sessions (and possibly for a Friday afternoon session as well), please contact me via e-mail to learn the low rates.

Most Importantly

As always, if what you read or learn here inspires or convinces you to purchase an R5 or 6, and/or the RF 100-500 lens, and/or the RF Extender 1.4X, please use my B&H affiliate links or get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford to save 3% on your new gear and get it a lot quicker …

RawDigger e-Guide and Video Advance Copy Available

Save $10 Now

The RawDigger e-Guide and Video is almost finished. It will sell for $51.00. If you are anxious to get started with RawDigger, learn to mega-Expose to the Right, and wind up with the highest quality image files, you can save $10.00 and have a chance to review a pre-publication copy of the guide by sending a PayPal for $41.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net with the words RawDigger e-Guide and Video Pre-publication Copy cut and pasted into the Subject line. The recent delay is the result of my recent conversations with Iliah Borg, the brains behind RawDigger. It is likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you.

You will of course receive a link for the completed PDF when the guide is finished.

The BAA Canon R5/R6 AF Guide

I will be working on and completing a short Canon R5/R6 AF e-mail Guide today. If you used my B&H affiliate link or got your camera from Steve Elkins at Bedford, the guide will be free. If not, the cost will be $20.00. Details on obtaining a copy of the guide will be published tomorrow.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.

New Listing

Canon EOS-1DX Mark II Professional Digital Camera Body (with extras!)

BAA Record-low Price!

Sold first day of listing!

Bryan Berkowitz is offering a Canon EOS-1DX Mark II in excellent condition (with extras) for a BAA record-low $2099.00. The sale includes the front cap, the manual, the battery charger, the original LP-E19 battery and an extra, two straps, a Sony Cfast 2.0 64GB memory card, the Sandisk Cfast 2.0 USB card reader, a Transcend 64GB memory card, and insured ground shipping via major courier to all 50 US addresses only. The camera body received a clean bill of health from Canon Professional Services in November 2020. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

The EOS-1DX Mark II is a Canon flagship professional camera body. I made many fine images with mine. It is rugged and fast and featured Canon’s best AF system (before the release of the 1DX III — $6499.00). The 1DX II is still in production and sells new for $4,499.00 so you can save a very cool $2400.00 on this great deal from Bryan. artie

Price Drops

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR Lens

Price Reduced $100.00 on 9 DEC 2020

Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR lens in excellent plus condition for the very low price of $550.00 (was $650.00). The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 Karen via e-mail.

The relatively lightweight and inexpensive 16-35mm wide angle zooms are great for serious landscape shooters on a budget. The heavier faster Nikon AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED lens sells for a shopping $1951.95. Who needs the speed when you are on a tripod? The 16-35 f/4 Nikkor sells new for $1096.95 so you can save a pretty penny by grabbing Karen’s lens. artie

Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens

Price Reduced $100.00 on 9 DEC 2020

Karen McCormick is offering a Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens in excellent plus condition for the very low price of $750.00 (was $850.00). The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 Karen via e-mail.

The 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses in all systems are huge favorites with nature and wildlife photographers. They are fast, very sharp, and extremely versatile. All pair well with a 1.4X teleconverter. They are great for bird-scapes, wildlife, large mammals, scenics, sports, low light situations, and lots more. artie

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens and TC-1401 1.4x Teleconverter Kit for Nikon F

Price Reduced $100.00 on 9 DEC 2020

Karen McCormick is offering a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens and TC-1401 1.4x Teleconverter Kit for Nikon F in excellent plus condition for a remarkably low ($400.00 (was $500.00). The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 Karen via e-mail.

Offering an impressively versatile range with a portable form factor, the Nikon F-mount 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM from Sigma is a Contemporary-series telephoto zoom characterized by its sophisticated optics and flexible handling. One FLD element and three SLD elements are used to reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range and a Super Multi-Coating also helps to suppress flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color accuracy when working in strong lighting conditions.

Balancing the optical design, this lens also features a Hyper Sonic Motor, which provides especially fast and quiet autofocus performance as well as full-time manual focus override. An Optical Stabilizer also works to minimize the appearance of camera shake for sharper handheld shooting. Additionally, a removable, rotating tripod collar is included to suit working on a tripod or monopod. B&H

I have seen many excellent sharp images created by folks on IPTs and on BPN. As this kit sells new for $1,289.00 Karen’s offering is a great bargain for a beginning bird photographer using Nikon gear. artie

Back in Stock

Three sold yesterday!

We now have fifteen of the hugely popular Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro tripod heads in stock. Click on the preceding link to learn more about this amazing head, the ballhead that thinks it’s a gimbal head and — thanks to the amazing counter-balanced spring mechanism — works great with any rig from the longest, heaviest super-telephoto lens to a camera-body-mounted wide angle. The latter is possible because of the bi-directional clamp; it is no longer necessary to travel with a gimbal head for long lens photography and a ballhead for scenic photography. And after just a moment’s adjustment, the double ball enables you to ensure that every image you take is on the level.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs approaching 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 can always help out by clicking here 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 overnight 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 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. 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.

125 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on 2 October 2020 at North Beach, Fort DeSoto Park. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 496mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Exposure was determined via Zebra evaluation with ISO on the rear dial as detailed in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide and One Camera Set-up Video. ISO 3200: 1/1000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. ABW at 7:58am on a cloudy dark morning. Upper Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and worked perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: First-winter Willet foraging in the surf

Willets: a Dime a Dozen

Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) is a large, common shorebird that is related to birds in the yellowlegs Tringa tribe. The semipalmata refers to the fact that this species has partial webbed toes. Willet can be found along coastal shorelines almost anywhere in North America and are fairly common inland as well throughout the US and the prairie provinces of Canada.

Note: Recent genetic evidence suggests that Willet falls within the genus Tringa. The American Ornithological Union has recognized willets as Tringa semipalmata rather than Catoptrophorus semipalmatus.

There are two races of Willet, a western race and an eastern race. Willets nest throughout their range and move south in the winter. If you take a walk on a coastal beach it is likely that you will encounter a Willet, even on crowded beaches. They are quite common on the beaches and sandbars at Fort DeSoto, it very rare to encounter them in flocks. There, they are quite tame and easily approached as they forage in the shallows. At times, they swim.

Though they are almost always available subjects, making a really good image of a Willet is a challenge (unless you get them flapping after a bath or in flight when you can see their prominent white wing stripes). My best advice for creating a good Willet image is to get low. With today’s featured image I am pretty sure that I was sitting on the beach. The problem with that strategy is that you have to get up and down often when following the bird. But the results are worth it.

A Wave Can Make or Break an Image

You have heard it here dozens of times before: when you are photographing along the edge of the surf be aware of the position of the breaking waves. Even small waves can have a large impact on the success of an image. Watch them as they break and roll through your frame. If your image has a wave breaking and it intersects your subject’s head or body, it will generally ruin the photo. A wave just above (and/or below) the bird can frame the subject nicely. And a wave breaking right at the feet of the subject (as in Image #1) can be quite lovely.

So, when you are photographing a bird along the edge of the surf be aware of the position of the waves.

Image #1A: RawDigger screen capture for first-winter Willet foraging in the surf

RawDigger Screen Capture

First, note the 11,000 over-exposed (OvExp) pixels in the Green channel. The over-exposed pixels are noted by the rosy red OvExp warning on the brightest strip of the surf. In the RawDigger (RD) e-Guide, you will learn how and why such an over-exposure can be saved easily without any loss of detail. You will learn to use the RD histogram when evaluating exposures. And you will learn to evaluate the Max G values as a way to learn to mega-expose all of your images to the right so that you will minimize noise, maximize image quality, best utilize the dynamic range of your camera’sensor, 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 smooth transitions between tones. And your optimized images will feature rich, accurate color.

Why So Long?

Many folks have been learning to use RawDigger from their pre-publication copies for months. They, and many others might be asking, Why is it taking so long for artie to finish the RawDigger e-Guide?

I was almost finished several months ago when IPT veteran Bart Deamer asked some questions that I could not answer. So Patrick and I got in touch with Iliah Borg, the creator of RawDigger. That opened many cans of worms and after extensive e-mail conversations with Iliah we got a handle on things. This new understanding required a virtual re-write of the guide.

I was pretty much done about six weeks ago when along came the Canon R5. Examining the R5’s CR.3 raw files in RD opened up a new can of worms and triggered more e-mails conversations with Iliah Borg. With his and Patrick’s help, I now have an even deeper understanding of RawDigger. Now I just need to get back to the guide and do the required work.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

There were lots of incisive comments on the Two-part Exercise in Thinking blog post here. Old friend and BAA student, the very skilled and oft-published bird photographer, Cliff Beitel, spotted my SUV in the eye of the B&W vulture image! Note: with the sun coming up in the southeast and the bird angling somewhat toward me there would never be western component to the wind … I will be going back over the two images in that post this week. Promise.

I enjoyed another great session with my loaner Canon gear this morning; I have been implementing various suggestions left in the comments on the two R5/RF 100-500 posts. There are some very smart folks out there; I thank them all for their help. If you own an R5, I cannot urge you enough to carefully go over the Comments (and my responses) in the last few blog posts. Or, you can wait for the BAA Canon EOS-R5 User’s Guide. Folks who purchase an R5 or and R6 and/or any RF lenses using my B&H links or Bedfords should save their e-mail receipts as they will be entitled to a discount.

Be sure to read all the way down to learn about Jim Brandenburg. You owe it to yourself. If COVID has got you feeling down, be sure to explore some of the links on the Brandenburg Gallery Facebook page here.

Today is Monday 7 December 2020. It is just past 7:30am. It is dark and drizzly here at ILE. I will be heading out to do some photography as soon as I get dressed. Thanks, Jim!

Most Importantly

As always, if what you read or learn here inspires or convinces you to purchase an R5 or 6, and/or the RF 100-500 lens, and/or the RF Extender 1.4X, please use my B&H affiliate links or get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford to save 3% on your new gear and get it a lot quicker …

Great R5/RF 100-500 News from Bedfords

I spoke to Steve Elkins at Bedford Camera on Thursday and was excited to learn that he will be getting his biggest-yet shipment of Canon R5 bodies and RF 100-500 lenses early next week. You can save 3% on your order by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax (if any is due) total. In addition, by using the code you will get free 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.

If you buy the Canon rig that I am testing you will save a very handsome $212.91. Using any of my affiliate links is the best way to thank me for the work that I do here on the blog.

Back in Stock

We now have eighteen of the hugely popular Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro tripod heads in stock. Click on the preceding link to learn more about this amazing head, the ballhead that thinks it’s a gimbal head and — thanks to the amazing counter-balanced spring mechanism — works great with any rig from the longest, heaviest super-telephoto lens to a camera-body-mounted wide angle. The latter is possible because of the bi-directional clamp; it is no longer necessary to travel with a gimbal head for long lens photography and a ballhead for scenic photography. And after just a moment’s adjustment, the double ball enables you to ensure that every image you take is on the level.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs approaching 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 can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

Topaz Still on Sale!

Right now Topaz is offering price reductions on the Utility Bundle and the Creator Bundle. The former normally sells for $359.96. It is on sale now for $249.95. Click here, scroll all the way down to the sale, and enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%! The Creator Bundle usually sells for #279.97 and is now on sale for $149.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $127.49!

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Great Topaz News!

Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.

Topaz Stuff

As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.

Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.

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 overnight 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 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. 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 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on 15 February 2011 on a Hooptie Deux trip to Alafia Banks in Tampa Bay with Captain James Shadle. I used the tripod/Mongoose-mounted Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens with the 1.4X II TC (now replaced for EF lenses by the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III and the long-defunct EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at about +1/3 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/11. AWB at 8:29am on a sunny morning. Tracking Expand Flexible Spot/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Roseate Spoonbill in mega-breeding plumage preening

Gorgeous!

This is the most gorgeous breeding plumage Roseate Spoonbill I have ever seen. Anywhere. The birds that breed in Texas are, on average, more colorful on the breast than the Florida birds but I have not been there. Yet. I hope to get there early this spring.
The Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens was one of my all-time favorite telephoto lenses.

My favorite AirBNB super-host ordered two prints to decorate my favorite Gulfport AirBNB. This one will be printed on canvas at 24X 24″. The 1D IV was a 16.1 MO 1.3X crop factor body. As this is a fairly large crop, I decided to run the image file through Topaz Gigapixel AI on Auto at 2X before re-sizing it. See below for the amazing results …

Be sure to click on the image to better see the amazing improvement. Topaz Gigapixel AI on Auto at 2X on the Roseate Spoonbill in mega-breeding plumage preening

Topaz Gigapixel AI on the Roseate Spoonbill in mega-breeding plumage image

With this one I was stunned by the results. I am not sure how Gigapixel AI performs its magic; the image is rendered at twice the file size, and amazingly sharper and cleaner. Note the improved sharpness of the eye and the incredible detail at the base of the upper mandible in the after version on the right. Artificial intelligence indeed. This one will make a stunning canvas print.

This image was created on 9 September 2006 near Fort DeSoto. I used the tripod/Mongoose-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens and the long, long-defunct EOS-1D Mark II N. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at about +1/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/6.3. AWB right at sunset with some light clouds on the western horizon. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Great Blue Heron sunset silhouette

Too Long Ago …

I would have sworn that this image was made with a handheld lens, probably the original 100-400. But the EXIF showed that it was made with the first 600 f/4 L IS lens. That one was so heavy that I could not have handheld it even for a few seconds. Ah, the times they are a changing … I do remember being so nervously excited as everything came together that I screwed up the juxtaposition of the subject and the sun. The sun in this image needed to be re-positioned to our right to improve the compositional balance.

Again, be sure to click on the image to better see the amazing improvement. Image #2B: Topaz Sharpen AI on Auto on the Great Blue Heron sunset silhouette at 100%

Topaz Sharpen AI on the Great Blue Heron sunset silhouette image

For this EOS-1D Mark II N (8.2MP) file, I first put it through Topaz Gigapixel AI at 2X. The image was improved, but did not look very sharp. So next I applied Topaz Sharpen AI on Auto. Much better. After being re-sized to 30 X 20″, I uploaded the file to the printer’s website.

The cover image was re-mastered with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI. ABP II

The Art of Bird Photography II (ABP II)

Though published more than a decade ago, the oft-overlooked The Art of Bird Photography II, remains an incredible resource for all bird and nature photographers.

ABP II is the continuation of the How-To classic, “The Art of Bird Photography; The Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques.” One chapter covers all aspects of Digital Photography and includes a section on understanding histograms. It also includes Artie’s (then-current) digital workflow along with tons of great Photoshop tips. Other chapters include “Equipment; What’s New?,” “Advanced Composition and Image Design,” “It Ain’t Just Birds,” “Exposure and Flash Simplified,” and “Advanced Sharpness Techniques & Creating Pleasing Blurs.” The “Practicalities” chapter includes a detailed section on setting up your backyard for bird photography as well as sections on photographing on safari and on the tundra. Each image in the book includes the all technical data and is accompanied by the legendary educational captions that made Artie’s free on-line Bulletins, and now the BAA Blog, so popular. Most chapters include one or more galleries designed to illustrate and reinforce the principles covered in the text. There are two copies of the book on the CD. Open the “Spreads” version to best enjoy the beauty of the images and the layout and design. Open the “Single Pages” version for easy reading.

Note: You can port this CD to an iPad – please e-mail us for instructions

Note: This CD is also available as a digital download – you can see it here.

The front cover of the CD is an image from the same series as Image #2, the Great Blue Heron sunset silhouette. To learn how the foggy GBH image on the back cover was created from a very foggy image, see the blog post I Haven’t the Foggiest blog post from 2013 here. The back cover of ABP II features a wonderful quote from friend and fellow professional Jim Brandenburg, 40 or so words that I will always cherish:

Arthur Morris’s bird photographs have a truly unparalleled elegance. As artist, he shares a rare gift of intimacy in his work, then as teacher, powerfully describes the steps of this most delicate ballet with his shy and elusive feathered partner.

Learn lots more about ABP II and our other educational offerings here.

Jim Brandenburg

Incredibly, I know that there are more than a few folks who have never heard of Jim Brandenburg. Jim (born November 23, 1945) is an environmentalist, nature photographer, filmmaker, and philanthropist based near Ely, Minnesota. His career includes 10 years as a newspaper photojournalist, more than 30 years as a contract photographer for National Geographic, and commissions from such groups as the United States Postal Service and the BBC. Jim Brandenburg is a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Jim is incredibly creative. He is inspirational. He is spiritual. He is philosophical and to me, often seems mystical. He is thoughtful — he seems to consider each word and thought before he verbalizes it. I met him several times many years ago and he was quite kind to me. Most recently, I re-read his monumental Chased by the Light and was re-inspired. If you do not know the story of the epic work, I urge you to check out the video. Watch the video at the preceding link and learn the story of the time when Jim embarrassed a wolf …

I spent well more than an hour this morning “catching up” with Jim. I learned a ton by visiting the Brandenburg Gallery Facebook page here. I learned that Jim, six months older than I am, has not been resting on his laurels. See 93 Days of Spring here. I learned of the completion of Jim’s winter project here.

Typos

Feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :). with love, artie

What’s Up?

The cold front has come and gone. The pool is down more than eight degrees. I have been working hard for several days preparing this blog post, more than a dozen hours in all.

Understand that I have no horse in this race, no ties to SONY or to Canon. Technically, I am Platinum Canon CPS and a Canon Explorer of Light Emeritus (both for life), but at this point neither of those benefit me in any way. As always, I have striven to be completely honest in my evaluation of the R5/RF 100-100 and in comparing it with the SONY 200-600/a9 ii rig. The first two images presented here today — Friday 3 December 2020 were created during my first session with the Canon gear; the Anhinga image was created two days later during my second outing with the Canon gear. All three of the images were converted in the latest version of Capture One Pro 20 which did a fine job. I had close to zero good flight chances in either session so this blog post will not go there.

Speaking of flight, I have run into many folks who use a system that involves using one or two or even three back buttons to activate different AF Methods when photographing flying birds because Face detection + Tracking/AI Servo AF sometimes has a hard time acquiring focus. They acquire focus with one AF method and then switch mid-stream to another method using one or more of the back buttons to focus on the bird (thankfully not at the same time of course) and then press the shutter button to create a series of images. Can you say cockamamie? Remember that I gave up back button focus many years ago after finally realizing that it is always easier to do one thing than it is to do two (or more!) See the excellent exchange of comments in the previous blog post here. That said I have picked up some great tips from the Comments that I will be trying out asap.

Two topics that will be addressed in the future are a comparison of the stabilization systems and the phenomenon known as rolling shutter (that may or may not affect images made when using Electronic Shutter).

I can keep the Canon loaner gear until the end of December though I am hoping to extend the loan till after I get back from San Diego in late January.

Understand that I have used my R5 only with the RF 100-500 lens and almost always with the RF 1.4X teleconverter.

I can say one thing for sure as a result of my playing with the R5 for two whole sessions: if you are married to Canon with a nice collection of EF lenses, you will surely want to purchase either an R5 or its less expensive little cousin, the 20 MP R6. Several folks I know who own Canon EOS-1DX III bodies have retired them and are using an R5 all the time. Weight alone is a fine reason for doing so. As far as I can tell, R5 performance on EF lenses via one of the three adapters is superb on all counts.

I am sure that I will have lots more to say about both systems in the coming month (at least) and equally sure that I will be using both systems. When I need f/4 I will be counting on my SONY 600 GM. And I am sure that I left out something important in this post. As always, feel free to ask questions or leave a comment or opinion below. Most R5 users will surely learn something by revisiting the last blog post here and reading the comments. (I suggest that several times in this blog post for good reasons.

At present, I would say that my chances of ever switching full time back to Canon are less than 1%. But there is a good chance that I will purchase an R5/RF 100-500/1.4X TC rig just for the fun of it (and so I can do a comprehensive User’s Guide) for all of my Canon friends. A single thought keeps visiting the back of my mind; how much fun would it be to head to San Diego or to the Southern Ocean or to any location with lots of tame birds with only a lightweight, do-almost-everything Canon kit?

Confused by what I was seeing with my R5 images in RawDigger, I e-mailed Patrick and Iliah Borg with questions. On Wednesday night I spent more than an hour in a Zoom meeting with Patrick as he explained to me what he had learned from Iliah. We both learned a ton during this meeting. As a result, the publication date of the final RawDigger e-guide has once again been pushed back.

So why all the effort as far as the R5 is concerned? First off, I was intrigued by what I was hearing and wanted to see for myself. And I always like learning new stuff about bird photography. Second, lots of folks wanted to hear what I had to say about the R5/RF100-500 rig.

Most Importantly

As always, if what you read or learn here inspires or convinces you to purchase an R5 or 6, and/or the RF 100-500 lens, and/or the RF Extender 1.4X, please use my B&H affiliate links or get in touch with Steve Elkins at Bedford to save 3% on your new gear and get it a lot quicker …

Great R5/RF 100-500 News from Bedfords

I spoke to Steve Elkins at Bedford Camera on Thursday and was excited to learn that he will be getting his biggest-yet shipment of Canon R5 bodies and RF 100-500 lenses early next week. You can save 3% on your order by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax (if any is due) total. In addition, by using the code you will get free 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.

If you buy the Canon rig that I am testing you will save a very handsome $212.91. Using any of my affiliate links is the best way to thank me for the work that I do here on the blog.

Back in Stock

We now have eighteen of the hugely popular Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro tripod heads in stock. Click on the preceding link to learn more about this amazing head, the ballhead that thinks it’s a gimbal head and — thanks to the amazing counter-balanced spring mechanism — works great with any rig from the longest, heaviest super-telephoto lens to a camera-body-mounted wide angle. The latter is possible because of the bi-directional clamp; it is no longer necessary to travel with a gimbal head for long lens photography and a ballhead for scenic photography. And after just a moment’s adjustment, the double ball enables you to ensure that every image you take is on the level.

Please Remember

With income from IPTs approaching 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 can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

Topaz Still on Sale!

Right now Topaz is offering price reductions on the Utility Bundle and the Creator Bundle. The former normally sells for $359.96. It is on sale now for $249.95. Click here, scroll all the way down to the sale, and enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%! The Creator Bundle usually sells for #279.97 and is now on sale for $149.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $127.49!

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Great Topaz News!

Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.

Topaz Stuff

As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.

Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.

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 overnight 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 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. 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 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on 27 November 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park. I used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens with the Canon Extender RF 1.4x (at 700mm) and the highly touted 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by experience and luck and confirmed as near-perfect by RawDigger: 1/2000 sec. at f/10 (wide open!) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:51am on sunny morning. Face detection + Tracking/AI Servo AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed well. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Great Egret immature landing in early morning light

Picking up the Canon Gear for the First Time

I loved the feel and fit of the R5 from the moment I picked it up. The feel of the body is more like rubber than plastic or metal. The camera felt great in my hand. The first time I held an a9 it felt like a toy. The a9ii with its slightly deeper chassis was somewhat of an improvement.

Advantage to Canon

Weight Comparison

When I picked up the Canon rig for the first time, I was amazed at how small and light it was. The R5/RF 100-500 rig with the tripod collar removed with one battery and a card tips the scale at 4 pounds, 12.8 oz. The SONY 200-600 with the lens foot removed with the a9 ii weighs 6 pounds, 8.1 ounces. With the R5’s poor battery performance (see more on that below), I’d recommend the purchase and use of the Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip with an extra Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery (7.2V, 2130mAh) to be mandatory (unless you are comfortable changing batteries in the field). Most serious folks will probably wish to add a second set of batteries as well. With the addition of the battery grip and a second battery, the Canon rig weighs in very close to 5 pounds, 11.2 ounces thus reducing the weight advantage to less than one pound.

Advantage: Canon

The R5 Story Begins

The Great Egret above was the second bird that I photographed with the R5. Working with a new system is always a challenge as your fingers struggle to find the right button or dial. Or with the zoom direction. You go clockwise with the SONY 200-600 to zoom to the longest focal length. With the Canon 100-500, you go counter-clockwise to get to 500mm. There is no advantage here to either system. That said, as this young Great Egret flew at me right down sun angle, I attempted to zoom out to keep the bird well in the frame but turned the zoom ring the wrong way.

Face detection + Tracking/AI Servo AF

The first bird I photographed with the Canon rig was a small-in-the-frame Little Blue Heron in very low light. I was stunned at first by the performance of the subject/eye detection technology of the R5. I placed the AF point on the eye and recomposed. The AF point stayed glued to the subject’s eye. Animal eye detection with the SONY bodies works well only some of the time but is very inconsistent.

Great Advantage: Canon

Note: the great advantage above goes to Canon only as far as Animal eye detection (with the SONY bodies) is concerned. Note that SONY’s Tracking Flexible Spot does quite well in similar situations though it does not perform as well as Face detection + Tracking with the R5. Furthermore, I recently tried a new SONY Focus Area that out-performs Tracking Flexible Spot. Patrick and I had incorrectly dismissed this Focus Area in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos). While we had not planned on updating the SONY e-guide, this is such an important discovery that we will be sending an update covering the use of this Focus Area on Friday. If you own the guide and do not receive your e-mail update by Saturday, please contact me via e-mail.

While I was stunned by the performance of the subject/eye detection technology of the R5, which placed the AF point on the face of the incoming Great Egret in each image even with the bird relatively large in the frame, I was — at first — less than thrilled with the sharpness. In retrospect, part of the problem there was that I was struggling using brand hew gear and was attempting to zoom wider while panning (not so) smoothly (the wrong way) with the incoming bird. See below to learn how Topaz Sharpen AI saved yet another image; it showed that the problem was motion blur and not inaccurate focus.

You can see the AF point on the LBH image and on one of the landing Great Egret images in the recent blog post here.

Getting the Right Exposure

While you can Enable Exposure Simulation on the R5 and view the histogram in the viewfinder, the R5 offers Zebras only with video. I did OK with the R5 exposures mainly because of my two decades of experience with digital and my vast knowledge of exposure. With SONY, I can teach you how to consistently make perfect or near-perfect exposures in two minutes with ISO on the rear dial. Or, you can learn this technique easily in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos). With the R5, you need to make and then evaluate a test exposure. This wastes valuable time and can easily cause you to miss the shot, especially with flight and action. As far as exposure is concerned, working with a camera body that does not offer Zebras is like being back in the Stone Age.

Huge Advantage: SONY

Dial & Button Set-up, Menu and Customization Options

Fortunately, I was — with Brian Sump’s help — able to re-configure the Canon buttons and dials so that control of ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture was fairly similar to what I have become used to with SONY. As far as the Menu and Customization Options, I feel that the SONY Menus are more intuitive than the R5 Menus and that SONY offers more options for customizing he various buttons and dials.

Advantage: SONY

Lens Speed

The RF 100-500 is f/7.1 at the long end while the SONY 200-600 is f/6.3 at the long end.

Small Advantage: SONY

Focal Length Ranges and Focal Lengths

On the surface, versatility, as determined by the focal length range of each lens alone, is just about even with each of these fine telephoto zooms offering a 400mm spread. (See more below Image #2 on what happens when you add a 1.4x teleconverter …) The focal length advantage (at 600mm) of the SONY 200-600 would seem to go clearly to Sony as compared to the Canon 100-500 at 500mm. There is, however, a fly in the ointment. The SONY lens exhibits considerable focus breathing — the length of the lens does not change when you zoom in or out. This is called internal focusing. When you are working with the SONY 2-6 at less than infinity, the focal length is well less than 600mm. Near the Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD), you are working somewhere in the vicinity of 540mm. As the 100-500 changes its physical length as you zoom, it exhibits less focus breathing than the SONY 200-600. Be sure to see the item on Focus Breathing in the blog post here.

That said, with the size of the bird in the frame being proportional to the square of the focal length, 29 (540 squared) is greater than 25 (5 squared). With distant subjects the math is even more striking with 36 (6 squared) being a lot greater than 25 (5 squared).

Advantage: SONY

Note that for ease of handling and when working on a tripod, I far prefer zoom lenses that focus internally (despite the problems related to focus breathing).

Minimum Focusing Distance

Continuing the close focus tradition of the Canon 100-400 II, the RF 100-500 at 500mm focuses down to 3.94 feet or 1.2 meters offering 0.33X maximum magnification. In comparison, the SONY 200-600 at about 540mm, focuses down to 7.87 feet of 2.4 meters with a maximum magnification of 0.2X. While the MFD of the SONY 200-600 is about half of the MFD of the SONY 600mm f/4 G lens, it pales in comparison to the MFD of the Canon RF 100-500. The latter will prove to be amazingly effective for mega-tight tame bird work, large flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, snakes, frogs, and the like.

Big Advantage: Canon

Note: according to the manufacturer’s specs, the Canon 100-400 II offers 0.31 X magnification at the long end while the SONY 100-400 GM offers 0.35X magnification at 400mm. The magnification is always greatest at the MFD.

Be sure to click on the image to better see the noise reduction on the water background. Image #1A: Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the Great Egret immature landing in early morning light image at 100%

Topaz DeNoise AI on the Great Egret immature landing image

This screen capture dispels the myth that R5 images are pretty much noise free. As expected, you can see what I call “small pixel” noise in the before image on the left. Small pixel noise is a given with high megapixel cameras like the R5 (45 MP). Then note how beautifully Topaz DeNoise AI completely removed the noise from the blue water background. The unsharpness of the face, head, and eye are obvious at 100%. Topaz Sharpen AI to the rescue (as immediately below).

Be sure to click on the image to better see the increased sharpness on the face and the eye. Image #1B: Topaz Sharpen AI on Auto on the on the Great Egret immature landing image at 100%

Topaz Sharpen AI on the Great Egret vertical image

Note that Topaz Sharpen AI on Auto has used the Stabilize mode; this indicates that the unsharpness about the head was primarily caused by motion blur. That said, I believe that the sharpest focus was slightly in front of the eye toward the bill tip. Note that in this case, I left the Noise Suppression slider at (the relatively low value of) 10, as it seemed to further reduce the background noise without doing anything funky to the image. Most of the time I will move that slider to zero when I have already run Topaz DeNoise AI on an image.

Again, Sharpen AI has taken a pretty poor, pretty much unusable image and transformed it into one that would look just fine when published or printed large.

This image was created on 27 November 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park. Again, I used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens with the Canon Extender RF 1.4x (at 700mm) and the highly touted 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by experience and luck and confirmed as near-perfect by RawDigger: 1/1000 sec. at f/11 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:19am on then mostly sunny morning. Face detection + Tracking/AI Servo AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Two Dunlin resting. The front bird is in first winter plumage.

Price Comparison

The Canon rig currently goes for $7,097.00. The SONY 2-6, a9 ii/FE TC 1.4X prices out right now at $7,044.00.

Advantage: let’s call this one a tie

Be sure to click on the image to better see the noise reduction on the out-of-focus Dunlin background. Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the Two Dunlin resting image at 100%

Topaz DeNoise AI on the Two Dunlin resting image

Here again, this screen capture dispels the myth that R5 images are pretty much noise free. As expected, you can see what I call “small pixel” noise in the before image on our left. Small pixel noise is a given with high megapixel cameras like the R5 (45 MP). Then note how beautifully Topaz DeNoise AI completely removed the noise from the out-of-focus Dunlin background.

Note that the increased sharpness in the After image on our right, the crispy eye-skin, and the incredible fine feather detail as well. That brings us to File Size, Image Quality, Sharpness, and Fine Feather Detail (FFD) following Image #3.

This image was created on 29 November 2020 at Lakeland, FL. I used the handheld Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens with the Canon Extender RF 1.4x (at 599mm) and the highly touted 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2500. Exposure determined by experience and luck and confirmed as perfect by RawDigger: 1/1000 sec. at f/11 in Manual mode. AWB at 7:52am on sunny morning. Large Zone AF: Horizontal/AI Servo AF was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #3: Anhinga head portrait in early morning light

The color, image quality, and fine feather details of sharp R5 images are superb. This is a small crop from three sides yet the amount of detail in the eye and the feathers is reminiscent of that in sharp a7r iv images. I was becoming somewhat frustrated with the inability of Face detection + Tracking to acquire and hold focus so I tried Large Zone AF: Horizontal and was very impressed: 28 AF points plastered the bird’s head, face, eye, and the base of the bill.

With the RF 100-500’s f/7.1 aperture at the long end you are at f/10 with the 1.4 TC. I have a habit of stopping down 1/3 stop most of the time. I must admit that working at ISO 2500 in bright sun was a bit strange. This image exhibited plenty of noise that was easily cleaned up in Topaz DeNoise AI. Welcome to the new world of digital photography.

File Size, Image Quality, Sharpness, and Fine Feather Detail (FFD)

File size for the R5 is 45 MP. File size for the a9 ii is 24.2MP

Image quality is very good to excellent with the a9 ii, superb with the R5 (as a result of the R5’s larger files size).

Accurately focused files from the a9 series bodies are sharper as they come out of the camera than R5 files because the R5 has an anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor and the a9 ii does not. Many so-called internet experts have missed this important distinction. Traditional out-of-camera sharpening methods, or — better yet — the non-destructive sharpening provided by Topaz DeNoise AI, render R5 files as very sharp. A9 ii files often appear insanely sharp right out of camera.

FFD detail with properly sharpened R5 images is- as seen in the DeNoise screen capture above (Image #3A) –incredibly superb. a9 ii FFD is excellent.

Advantage: Canon

Canon’s advantage as far in the file size, image quality, sharpness, and FFD category is tempered by the following:

With a 2x application of Topaz Gigapixel AI, image quality and FFD with a9 ii images rivals that of R5 images.

File size for the SONY a7r iv is 61MP. The AF system is excellent but not as good as with either the a9 ii or the R5. I use my a7r iv often for static bird portraits, flowers, and the occasional spider. Image quality and FFD with sharp a7r iv images is astounding.

The Canon Extender RF 1.4x

So far, I have used the RF 1.4X teleconverter for almost every image that I have created with the R5/RF 100-500 combo. AF performance and image quality and sharpness have been superb with the TC in place. The same can be said of the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter with the a9ii/200-600 rig.

Advantage: tie

The Canon Extender RF 1.4x: Design and Size

When I was photographing the Dunlin at DeSoto, there were two birds sleeping about a foot apart; I thought that they might make a nice wide image. But a funny thing happened on the way to zooming out: the RF 100-500mm lens got stuck at the 300mm mark — 420mm with the 1.4X TC in place. At first, I thought that the lens was broken, but then I remembered hearing that with the TC in place the 100-500 would only zoom out to the 300mm setting because the front element of the TC prevented the lens from zooming out fully. So instead of having a 140-700mm zoom with the TC in place, you actually have a 420mm to 700mm zoom. This severely hampers the versatility of this combination. Coming in at 280 to 840mm, the SONY 200-600 with the TC is far more versatile.

The RF 1.4X TC is physically larger and heavier than the Sony FE 1.4X TC. At 7.9 ounces (almost a full half pound), it is 34% heavier than the Sony FE 1.4X TC (5.9 ounces).

Advantage: SONY

Both manufacturers are to be chided for their failure to place red indicators as needed on the camera bodies, lens mounts, and especially on the front and rear teleconverter caps. Having to struggle to mount or get the caps on a TC will often cause you to lose valuable seconds and miss a good shots. I mark all of my caps with an indelible silver Sharpie, but the marks wear off in time and I cannot do that with my Canon stuff as I do not own it … Yet?

Audio Clicks in Electronic Shutter

Both the a9 ii and the R5 are advertised at 20 fps when using the Electronic Shutter. The frame-rate of the R5 might or might not drop when the battery charge is less than 60%. (The literature indicates that the R5 frame-rate does drop when the battery charge is less than 60% and you are working with the Mechanical Shutter, but says nothing about working in Electronic Shutter with reduced battery power.

Two years ago, I had long been accustomed to hearing a sound when the shutter releases. When I first played with a SONY a9 series body, it killed me that the camera was silent when in Electronic Shutter. I could not tell when the camera fired. I learned quickly that there is a Menu Item that allows you to add a click sound when the shutter releases even when in Electronic Shutter. To do that, go to Camera 2 (Purple) and then to screen 11/11. You will see Audio Signals. I set mine to On: e-shutter only so that I hear the click each time that the shutter fires.

The R5 is 100% silent in in Electronic Shutter. A white frame flashes around the edge of the viewfinder with each shutter release. The a9 ii performs similarly except that the box is black and well inside the edge of the viewfinder. I do not like having to rely on this type of aid because doing so keeps you from concentrating on framing and image design …

The first time that I used the R5 I could not tell when the camera fired. As a result, I wound up creating 15 to 25 images each time I pressed the shutter button. I typically shoot in bursts of three. I checked around and learned that you cannot add an audio click when working in Electronic Shutter. For me, this is a big negative.

Advantage: SONY

Frame-Rate

Both the a9 ii and the R5 are advertised at 20 fps when using the Electronic Shutter. The frame-rate of the R5 might or might not drop when the battery charge is less than 60%. (The literature indicates that the R5 frame-rate does drop when the battery charge is less than 60% and you are working with the Mechanical Shutter, but says nothing about working in Electronic Shutter with reduced battery power.

To me, the frame rate of the R5 (in Electronic Shutter) seems much faster to me than the frame rate of the a9 ii. This might be due to one or more of the following:

1- The lack of an audio click.

2- A more sensitive shutter button.

3- My possible tendency to be lighter on the shutter button when I can hear the shutter firing.

I might try slowing down the R5 from High Speed Continuous Plus to High Speed Continuous; I need to do some research to see what that does to the frame rate.

Advantage: Canon

Battery Life

As noted above, battery life with the R5 seems poor. On my first day of working with the Canon gear the battery was dead by 9:00am despite that fact that it was not a great session. Battery life with all of the high-end SONY bodies is excellent. I do not use a battery grip (to save weight) and I have had to change a battery in the field only once. Anita North — who shoots a lot more aggressively than I do — always has an extra SONY battery or two with her in the field, and she changes them fairly often.

Big Advantage: SONY

Flash Cards

There is a ton online about the R5 buffer filling with slow-to-read and slow-to-write SONY and SanDisk flash cards. The R5 has slots for both CFexpress Type B and UHS II flash cards. I never thought that I would get used to the small size of the UHS cards, but I have. I was glad to learn that the R5 accepted the Prime SD UHS II cards that I have used with my SONY bodies from Day 1. Better yet, they are super-fast. Despite creating as many as 25 images with a single press of the shutter button, I never filled the R5 buffer. I use both 64 and 128 GB Delkin Power SD UHS II cards.

You can learn why I have been using Delkin cards for the past two decades in the blog post here.

Advantage: Delkin

Power SD UHS II cards

SD UHS II

You can purchase the world’s best SD UHS II cards in the BAA Online Store by clicking here. These are perfect for all of my SONY bodies and more recently, for the Canon R5.

Typos

Feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :). with love, artie

What’s Up?

Not much. It is cloudy here today at ILE and a big cold front will be arriving tonight. I am publishing this just before noon and will be doing my swim right after I hit Publish. I have been doing my slow half-mile (44 lengths) every day since I got back.

I will be sharing a ton with you here very soon by way of a comparison of the R5/100-500 with the SONY 200-600/a9 ii.

Topaz Cyber Monday Sale till midnight tonight!

Click on the logo link above or here to save 68% on the complete Topaz Suite (or the items you need to complete your Suite). The regular price for the Complete Suite is $939.92. On sale till midnight tonight for only $299.99. Enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%!

Topaz Still on Sale!

Right now Topaz is offering price reductions on the Utility Bundle and the Creator Bundle. The former normally sells for $359.96. It is on sale now for $249.95. Click here, scroll all the way down to the sale, and enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%! The Creator Bundle usually sells for $279.97 and is now on sale for $149.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $127.49!

Great Topaz News!

Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.

Topaz Stuff

As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.

Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.

This image was created on 27 November 2020 at Fort DeSoto. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:54am on a sunny morning. Upper Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. Image #1: Great Blue Heron with large needlefish

A Generous Fisherman

A generous fisherman donated his catch — a very large needlefish — to the ecosystem. A typically cooperative Great Blue Heron did the rest. This occurred right after my R5 battery died; my SONY gear performed perfectly to the tune of 45 keepers each carefully framed with the SONY 2-6.

Be sure to click on the image to better see the noise reduction and especially the increase in sharpness. Image #1A: Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the Great Blue Heron with large needlefish image at 100%

Topaz DeNoise AI on the Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron with large needlefish image

This is yet another example of Topaz DeNoise AI improving an image that came out of the camera pretty-much-perfect. Topaz AI on Auto. The converted TIF here was close to being noise-free (thanks to the work I have done with RawDigger) and it was sharp. DeNoise AI completely removed the noise from the sky background and sharpened the image non-destructively as well.

Very Brief Initial R5/RF100-500/1.4X TC Thoughts

I used the loaner Canon gear to create 1408 images at DeSoto on Friday morning. DeSoto was good but not great, though we had an amazing finish to the morning after the R5 battery died (too soon for me). As we were having trouble getting an AirBNB for the night, we decided to head home and do the Great Blue Heron nest in Lakeland this morning, Saturday 28 NOV 2020.

In short, the R5/RF100-500/1.4X TC combo — I used the 100-500 almost exclusively with the 1.4X TC after the sun rose above some clouds — seemed on the surface to be a quite remarkable rig. After looking at the images on the back of the camera yesterday, I was thinking that the chance of my ever owning the loaner gear had risen from well less than 5% to about 34%. But after reviewing the (magnified) images in Photo Mechanic early this morning, my gut feeling is that the chance of my ever owning the Canon loaner gear has dropped to about 15%. I will share more of my thoughts — I have lots of them — as soon as I am able to get DPP4 (Digital Photo Professional 4.13.10 for macOS) installed and running on my MacBook Pro … See my request for help with that below.

This is where I get stuck …

Help Needed Installing DPP4 (Digital Photo Professional 4.13.10 for macOS)

I am running Catalina 10.15.7 on my MacBook Pro. I believe that that is several updates behind. I successfully dowloaded the dppm4.13.10-installer.dmg file several times, first from the Canon Europe site and then from the Canon USA site. When I click on the downward-pointing arrow as instructed, a small box with a blue line that says Extracting Files pops up. As I understand it — thanks to help from blog regular Joe Sobelefsky — a new window with installation instructions should appear automatically. I have gotten to this point a dozen times and nothing happens. I have checked my Applications folder to see if I could find a Canon folder — no success there.

I am not sure if something in my security settings is preventing the installation process from beginning, or if perhaps I need to update Catalina. If you have any suggestions, you can either leave a comment below or contact me via e-mail.

In a phone conversation with Brian Sump yesterday he stated clearly that the R5/.CR3 raw conversions in DPP4 are (but for the ability to lift the shadows) far superior to the conversions in Adobe Camera Raw. I will not be able to share any R5 images with you here on the blog (along with my extensive comments) until I get DPP4 up and running.

I just installed the latest update of RawDigger without a problem … The good news is that RawDigger Version 1.4.2 Release Build 691 (x64) does fine with R5 files.

What’s Up?

Anita North and I drove over to Lakeland early on Wednesday morning to photograph the American White Pelicans. They were there in force, but we quickly spotted a Great Blue Heron nest atop a Cyprus tree and concentrated on the activity there as the male was very active. He brought a stick to the nest about every five minutes for more than an hour before slowing down a bit. It was great fun and Anita really enjoyed watching the pair build their nest as that was a first for her. Be sure not to miss all the lessons in tomorrow’s blog post that will feature two images from this wonderful morning of photography along with Topaz DeNoise and Sharpen AI tips and a neat animated GIF.

Yesterday, I received my loaner Canon R5 and a Canon RF 100-500 lens from B&H. I will be playing with it extensively between now and X-mas (when I have to return it) …

Wild Turkey tom, Indian Lake Estates, FL

Have a Great Thanksgiving!

Today is Thursday 26 November 2020. We will be heading down to the lake early to photograph some of the many vultures down by the lakefront. Anita is preparing a huge traditional feast. Jim will of course be joining us as will daughter Jennifer and her husband Erik. We will enjoy our meal on the pool deck while socially distancing. Personally, I have a ton to be thankful for and make sure to count my blessings every day. Whatever you do today, I hope that you enjoy it to the max.

I firmly believe that happiness is a choice, and though COVID has forced me to change many plans, I am still having fun every day and opting to choose happiness over despair. If you would like to join me, check out The Work of Byron Katie. with love, artie

The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.

The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide

126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.

Purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.

I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back and forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:

• Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
• Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
• The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
• Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
• Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
• Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
• West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
• Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.

Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.

You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store.

What’s Up?

On Friday, we left Lakewood, CO at 3:21am Mountain time, drove for 18 hours and 45 minutes, and checked into a Hampton Inn in Nashville, TN at 11:06pm Central time. We were in a single lane (construction zone) on I-24 about an hour outside of Nashville when traffic stopped suddenly. After a few minutes, I got out of the car and could not see anything but taillights ahead. Seemingly forever. Oops. We might have been there for several hours but after about 20 minutes we were up and running and in a flash the construction zone ended and we were tooling along at 82mph (seven over the speed limit). That was a very insane 1,165 miles.

We left Nashville at 6:15am Central time and was in my driveway at Indian Lake Estates, FL at 8:30 Eastern time. Chalk up another 12 hours and 45 minutes in the car and an additional 747 miles. Unexpectedly for a Saturday, traffic on I-75 around Atlanta was hell. We hit traffic again on I-75 near Ocala, FL.

Anita North did the great bulk of the driving both on the whole trip and on our long journey home. I managed about seven and a half hours on Friday and about another five on Saturday. The totals: 1912 miles and 31 hours (less pit stops and fast food drive-throughs). I got a good night’s sleep in my own bed and will be getting back into the pool this morning. Home sweet home.

As far as COVID, we always practiced social distancing, never ate in a restaurant, and wore masks on our brief shopping tips. Staying in AirBNBs enabled us to prepare our own meals. We did spend a wonderful afternoon and a morning photographing and getting to know BPN-friend Brian Sump (while social distancing). I can now say (and have video proof) that I completed a pass to someone who caught passes from Drew Brees (the latter on a professional level). Details soon.

I was glad to learn today that Used gear page veteran and SONY-e-Guide reviewer Craig Elson recently sold his Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital camera body in near-mint condition for $2300.00 (was $2498.00).

Wanted to Buy

If you have a used SONY 200-600 G lens that you would like to sell, please contact me via e-mail.

Topaz Still on Sale!

Right now Topaz is offering price reductions on the Utility Bundle and the Creator Bundle. The former normally sells for $359.96. It is on sale now for $249.95. Click here, scroll all the way down to the sale, and enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%! The Creator Bundle usually sells for #279.97 and is now on sale for $149.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $127.49!

Please Remember

With income from IPTs approaching 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 can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Great Topaz News!

Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.

Topaz Stuff

As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.

Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.

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.

122 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

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 overnight 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 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. 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 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

New Listings

Nikkor 500mm AF-S F4 ED VR Lens

William Dummitt is offering a Nikkor 500mm AF-S f/4 G ED VR lens in excellent plus condition for an incredibly low $2999.00. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the lens trunk, the original front lens cover, and insured ground shipping via UPS to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact William via e-mail or by phone at 1-314-918-0720 (Eastern time).

The 500mm f/4 super telephoto lenses have been the world’s most popular for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. This Nikon version is super-sharp with and without the TC-14E III (the 1.4X teleconverter). It is relatively small and can be hand held by some folks. It is much easier travel with, focuses closer than, and costs a lot less than the current Nikon 600 VR. The current version of the Nikon 500 VR sells new for $10,296.95 … It might be best to grab William’s lens asap. I loved my Canon 500 II. artie

Sigma 500mm f/4.5 APO EX HSM lens for Nikon mount

William Dummitt is offering a Sigma 500mm f/4.5 APO EX HSM lens for Nikon mount in excellent condition for a very low $899.00. (Artie’s suggested price). The sale includes the rear lens cap, the original soft case and padding, the vinyl lens cover, and insured ground shipping via UPS to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact William via e-mail or by phone at 1-314-918-0720 (Eastern time).

I have seen amazingly sharp images made with this lens both on IPTs and on BPN. artie

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens

William Dummitt is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens in excellent condition for a very low $498.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps, a Tiffen UV/Haze filter, and insured ground shipping via UPS to lower-48 US addresses only.Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact William Dummitt via e-mail at wdummitt@yahoo.com or by phone at 1-314-918-0720 (Eastern Time)

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens

William Dummitt is offering a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens in excellent condition for only $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens caps 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 William via e-mail or by phone at 1-314-918-0720 (Eastern time).

This, the original non-IS version of this hugely popular very sharp macro lens, was Denise Ippolito’s favorite for many years. It is great for flowers and bugs large and small. The tripod collar for this lens requires a separate purchase. This lens, still in production, sells new at B&H for $599.00 (though it is currently on back-order). The IS L version II sells for $1299.00. artie

This image was created at a tiny pond in front of the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm?) and the blazingly fast AF king, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera. ISO 1250. Exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial (as detailed in the Sony Camera User’s e-Guide with one camera Set-up Video). ISO 1250: 1/200 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger confirmed that the RAW file was perfect. AWB at 10:39am in the shade on a variably sunny day. Tracking: Expand Flexible Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly (as did I). Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #1: Black-bellied Whistling Duck head portrait

The Situation (and More)

After one of our many excellent mornings photographing in the bay behind the Convention Center on South Padre Island, Anita and I decided to swing by the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center to check things out. We learned that there is fairly substantial entrance fee ($7.00 for seniors). They open at 8am and close at 5pm. With sunrise in November at about 6:30am and sunset at about 6:15pm, the hours are not meant to attract nature photographers (expect perhaps on cloudy days …) But adjacent to the parking lot was a very small pond surrounded by about a dozen or more whistling ducks. We grabbed our 200-600s and went to work.

We moved slowly into position, got on the ground very slowly, and butt-wiggled closer. I added the 1.4X TC in an effort to create some head portraits. The in-and-out sun and the backgrounds were somewhat problematic. As I have been doing more and more lately, I went with Tracking: Expand Flexible Spot. It has pretty much replaced Tracking Flexible Spot (M) as my go-to AF Area for static subjects. Both of these AF Areas are similar in that they require extensive practice so that you can attain the precise image design that you are looking to create.

We both used the dependable knee-pod technique with my left forearm well out on the lens barrel and squarely resting on the back of my left knee. I was pretty confident that I could create sharp images at 1/200 second. If you take a close look at the DeNoise screen capture below I am pretty sure that you will agree that I was right. The degree of fine feather detail on the duck’s face is astounding considering that the 200-600 G lens ($1998.00) is supposedly inferior to the 600 GM lens ($12998.00). When folks ask Patrick and me whether we see any differences in image quality with the two lenses, we simply answer “No.” While chuckling at bit.

The SONY 200-600 + 1.4X TC at 840mm (or not?)

aka Focus Breathing

Focusing to or near infinity with the 200-600 will yield a true 600mm focal length with approximately 12X magnification. But when focusing on nearby subjects, a phenomenon known as focus breathing comes into play. The actual focal length will be considerably less than that indicated on the zoom ring. When you are working close to the Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) you will be at about 540mm when fully zoomed to the long end. At close range with the 1.4X TC in place you will be somewhere around 750mm (rather than the assumed 840mm). Note that the MFD of the 200-600 (7.87 feet) kills the MFD of its far more expensive big brother, the 600mm f/4 GM lens (14.8 feet). So for close work with relatively tame birds you are far better off with the 200-600 than the 600 GM. As long as your sharpness techniques allow you to go with relatively low shutter speeds when needed. Note also the effectiveness of the SONY OSS (Optical Stabilization System) at a focal length three and a half times greater than the reciprocal of the shutter speed — 750 to 200.

Do understand that focus breathing exists with all zoom lenses that focus internally, that is, lenses where the physical length of the lens does not change as you zoom in or out. Those include both the Canon 100-400 II and the Canon RF 100-500mm lenses.

Image #1A: Topaz DeNoise on the Black-bellied Whistling Duck head portrait image at 50%

Topaz DeNoise on the Black-bellied Whistling Duck image

As part of my now-regular workflow, I ran Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the whole image. Be sure to click on the image to enlarge it and note the complete elimination of noise in the background as well as the increased sharpness and the complete lack of any sharpening halos. To me it is pretty amazing that DeNoise can take a pretty much perfect image and make it considerably better.

Take a peek back at Image #1 and note the extensive clean-up of the dirt near the base of the bird’s bill … I used my usual cadre of clean-up tools and techniques– the Patch Tool, The Clone Stamp Tool, Content-Aware Fill, and several small Quick Masks refined with both the Transform command and Regular Layer Masks. All plus tons more as detailed in Digital Basics II.

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.

San Diego 2021 COVID-conscious Brown Pelican IPT

January 12 thru the morning session on January 16, 2021. Four full and one-half day: $2299.00. Deposit: $599.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 6.

Introductory Meet and Greet at 7:00pm on the evening before the IPT begins; MON JAN 11, 2021.

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 with eggs and possibly chicks) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Duck; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, 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 (depending on the current regulations) and California Sea Lions; and Bird of Paradise flowers. 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.

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 the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and the subject of blinkies. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. 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. 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 all of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of 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

This IPT will include five 3 1/2 hour morning photo sessions, four 2 1/2 hour afternoon photo sessions, four lunches, and after-brunch image review and Photoshop sessions. 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.

A $599 deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. 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 immediately after you sign up. Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail. If you cancel due to COVID 19 concerns, all of your payments will be refunded.

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

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).

What’s Up?

We spent our first day near Denver, CO photographing White Pelicans, Green-winged Teal, and Cackling Goose (a small race of Canada goose).

After careful consideration, Anita North and I have – for a variety of reasons — decided to forego the remainder of our planned road trip and head back to Florida soon — we will probably begin heading east this coming Saturday morning. Two of the main factors that influenced our decision were the re-closure of New Mexico (which again is requiring a 14-day quarantine) and the extremely poor photographic conditions at Bosque del Apache NWR. We had planned on a three-week stay in Socorro that would have been the centerpiece of our trip.

Topaz Still on Sale!

Right now Topaz is offering price reductions on the Utility Bundle and the Creator Bundle. The former normally sells for $359.96. It is on sale now for $249.95. Click here, scroll all the way down to the sale, and enter the ARTHUR15 code at checkout to save an additional 15%! The Creator Bundle usually sells for $279.97 and is now on sale for $149.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $127.49!

Please Remember

With income from IPTs approaching 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 can always help out by clicking here if they see fit.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! It is BAA Used Gear Page is the place to sell your used photographic equipment. We will help you to get your gear sold quickly for 20 to 60% or more than what the big guys are offering … Doubt me? Check out the Recent Sales list for the past ten months at the bottom of the page.

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Great Topaz News!

Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plugins) will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.

Topaz Stuff

As I said just a while back and have said often many times before, I should have listened sooner. If you, like me, are new to the Topaz party, please use this link to purchase. Right now I can wholeheartedly recommend both Topaz Sharpen AI and Topaz DeNoise AI. Though I have not yet worked with JPEGtoRAW AI or Gigapixel AI, I have installed both of these plug-ins and look forward to trying them on some I-Phone 11 images fairly soon. If you are thinking like me, consider the Utility Bundle that includes all four plug-ins mentioned above at a money-saving price.

Again, those who purchase Sharpen AI or DeNoise AI using my link, can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. I had a bit of trouble getting the two plug-ins installed and having them appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu. In addition, I will explain how to best learn about the two plug-ins by applying them on a Layer (in Photoshop). I amazed myself yesterday by completing this guide in the car on the way to and from Sebastian. Huge thanks to Anita for doing the driving. Please include a copy of your Topaz order when requesting the guide.

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.

122 sold to rave reviews. The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)

Click here to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video.

Click here to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.

Click here to learn more about the SONY e-Guide.

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 overnight 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 (Eastern time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. 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 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. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

Both images in this Photo Mechanic screen capture were created on 7 November 2020 at the fabulous morning raptor blind at the Laguna Seca Ranch in Hidalgo County, TX. The last image in this 3-frame sequence is today’s featured image (below). I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (all at 448mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:10am on a cloudy-bright morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. Image #1: Crested Caracara landing sequence Screen Capture

The Situation

A mentioned here previously, our first four mornings in the raptor blind at Laguna Seca Ranch were clear and sunny with an unfortunate breeze from the west that had most of the birds landing away from us. The prevailing winds in early November are generally strong from the east. It was foggy and still early on the morning of the seventh. The fog cleared nicely leaving us with the cloudy-bright conditions that I love. But with little wind, most of the birds were coming in too low and were partially obscured by the perch. Many excellent flight images are created by picking out the one bird that does not follow the expected pattern. The bird featured in today’s post flew directly at us at a decent height above the perch. The a9 ii took care of the rest. All three images in the sequence were razor sharp on the bird’s eye.

This image was created on 7 November 2020 at the morning raptor blind at the fabulous Laguna Seca Ranch in Hidalgo County, TX. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 448mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. ISO 2500. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:10am on a cloudy-bright morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. Image #2: Crested Caracara braking to land in full flare

Flight Pose: Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

With landing birds flying right at you this, is the pose I try for with the wings fully flared as the bird is braking hard. In a perfect world, the bird would have been staring right down the lens barrel instead of slightly to my left. When you get the right pose it is a treat with the SONY a9 series bodies that you do not have to worry about whether the image is sharp …

Image Processing Questions

1- Would you have removed the caracara on the ground? Why or why not?

2- Would you attempt to fill in the sky background that merges with two of the primaries of the bird’s right wing (upper left in the frame as we view it)? Why or why not?

Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise on the Crested Caracara braking to land in full flare image at 125%

Topaz DeNoise on the Crested Caracara braking image

As part of my now-regular workflow, I ran Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the whole image. Be sure to click on the image to enlarge it and note the elimination of noise in the background and on the black feathers of the bird’s chest. Note also the increased sharpness and the complete lack of any sharpening halos.

Typos

In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).