Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

What’s Up?

We had a good morning in the bay behind the Convention Center on South Padre Island on Tuesday. There were lots of birds and lots of slick sticky slippery mud. On Wednesday morning we headed early to Laguna Atascosa NWR. There were no birds (and no fence-posts) on the highly touted road to the refuge, and no birds and no water on the refuge itself. As it was blessedly foggy, we headed back to the bay for more birds and more mud. Though the birds are not easy to approach, we both got some good stuff. Anita is missing the Fort DeSoto.

Late-afternoon on Wednesday we decided to pay the $12.00 entry fee to get into Isla Blanca Park at the south end of the island and explore the jetty area. Inlets are often great places for bird photography. It turned out to be the best twelve bucks we’d ever spent. There were several hundred Brown Pelicans (and a few Caspian and Royal Terns as well) diving for bait, and we enjoyed some decent sunset color as well.

Today is Thursday 12 November 2020. We will try again in the bay.

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 for an amazingly low $199.95. 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 $249.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $212.49!

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.

Huge Price Drop

Canon EOS-1D X Professional Digital Camera Body/with Extras!

Price dropped $300 on 14 FEB 2020!
Price dropped $400 on 26 JUNE 2020!
Price dropped $200 on 21 AUGUST 2020!
Price dropped $200 on 12 NOVEMBER 2020!

Joe Randle is also offering a used EOS 1D-X camera body in excellent condition for only $1,099.00 (was $2,199.00). The sale includes an extra LP-E4M battery, three Delkin Devices CF1000X UDMA 7 64GB cards, 4 Delkin Devices CF1000X UDMA 7 32 GB cards (all in a nice Pelican CF card case), the interface and stereo AV cables with cable protector, the EOS Digital Solution Disk and Software, instructions Manuals. Insured ground shipping via major courier lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Joe via e-mail or by phone at 1-620.353.8398 (Central time zone).

Two fast, rugged 1D X bodies served as my workhorse cameras for more than four years. I used them to create hundreds of family-jewels-type images. I actually liked the 1D X more than I liked my 1D X IIs … artie

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.

120 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.

This image was created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 19 OCT 2020. Again, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (this one at 600mm) 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 1600: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. The raw file brightness was confirmed as dead-solid perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:49 am on a clear morning with just a hint of moisture in the air. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Royal Tern preening in butter light with bathing Black Skimmer in background

The Unanswered Question

In the Seated Knee-pod versus Lens Hood on the beach (using the articulating rear monitor): Perspectives and Tips. And More Topaz DeNoise AI Auto Tips blog post here, I posted this under the image above:

High Level Shutter Speed Question

Why did I opt to go with a shutter speed of 1/2000 second (along with a relatively high ISO) for each of today’s featured images when I could easily have dropped down to at least 1/1000 second (and cut the ISO by half or more)? The clue is in Image #2.

Alas, not a single reader ventured an answer … Keep reading to learn a ton.

FYI: the image above was by far my favorite of the two featured in the blog post linked to above. I thought it was a very clever juxtaposition and loved the super-low perspective (without having to get sandy and wet)!

As you will see below, I stayed with high shutter speeds so that I could create sharp images of the bathing birds and of the birds taking flight after their baths.

Bathing bird/sun angle/wind direction diagram

Flight Strategy with Northeasterly Winds on Clear Mornings

On the last Fort DeSoto IPT, we had northeasterly winds for all four mornings. South or southeast or east are generally best, but NE is not bad. The lesson that follows was hammered home on that IPT. You are sitting lower left as shown above. The sun is coming over your right shoulder. Just to the left of sun angle is the perfect depth for bathing birds. When you see birds split from the flock to bathe, 9 times out of ten others will bathe in the same small area, the spot where the depth of the water is perfect for a tern, gull, or skimmer bath. After the bath, the birds will almost alway flap in place (as in Image #2), and then take flight right into the wind. By positioning yourself just right of sun angle to the bathing birds, you can photograph single birds in flight right down sun angle as they take flight.

This image was also created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 19 OCT 2020. Again, 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. 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 640: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. ABW at 8:22 am on a clear morning. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Black Skimmer flapping after bath image

Bathing Bird Strategy

When you see a bird dipping its breast in the water, it will flap its wings in place after its is done bathing. Sometimes they might dip and splash as many as 20-30 times while taking a bath. As a photographer, you are praying the whole time to flap. When they do, they will often rise up out of the water a bit before taking flight and heading for the beach (or other firm ground) to preen. SONY’s Center Zone AF-C does usually does a great job with the flapping and the flight. Note that the wind direction will determine the direction that the birds will flap and the direction that they will take flight. If you spot a bird bathing while facing away from the wind, you can be confident that it will turn around and flap into the wind when it is done dipping and splashing.

Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise on the Black Skimmer flapping after bath image at 100%

Topaz DeNoise on the Black Skimmer flapping after bath image

As part of my now-regular workflow, I began with Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto. It is worth the time it takes to run DeNoise even on perfectly sharp, perfectly exposed images as they will be rendered that much cleaner and that much sharper.

This image was also created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 19 OCT 2020. Again, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (this one at 600mm) 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 800: 1/3200 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. ABW at 8:05 am on a clear morning with just a hint of moisture in the air. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #3: Sandwich Tern in Flight

The Payoff

In these situations, the payoff is a decent flight image with the bird angling slightly toward you and right down sun angle. With Image #3, I was a bit unlucky on the placement of the horizon. But I love the sharpness and the wing position.

This image was also created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 19 OCT 2020. Again, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (this one at 594mm) 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 800: 1/4000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. ABW at 8:16 am on a clear morning with just a hint of moisture in the air. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #4: Sandwich Tern in Flight

Same Deal — Even Better!

Another one from the same session but even better. I got luckier with the placement of the horizon and this one is perhaps 1/4 degree off perfect sun angle. Understanding the combined effects of wind direction and sun angle can go a long way toward making you a better flight photographer.

Note: both of the Sandwich Tern images had Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto and
Topaz Sharpen AI//Stabilize (that latter on a selection of the whole bird) applied with great results.

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: 7.

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.

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.

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 :).

Bosque Bad News?

It’s official. Because of the drought, neither crane pool at Bosque del Apache NWR will be filled with water this season. Photography-wise, that is an absolute crippler. Ed KranePool, the southern-most of the two (former) pools — which has been filled in recent years, has been consistently very good to fantastic in the pre-dawn for as large flocks of white geese dropped in to join hundreds of roosting Sandhill Cranes. From 7am to 8am, the cranes and geese took flight heading for the farm fields to feed. Winds with an easterly component usually provided fabulous opportunities. And just before sunset, the crane pool was the place to be as the cranes returned to their evening roost. In addition, there is presently little water on the refuge. If you visit in the next week or so, please let us know what’s going on.

As New Mexico is once again accepting a negative COVID test within 72 hours for entry, Anita and I are undecided as to whether to get tested and see what’s up at the refuge that holds a very special place in my heart.

What’s Up?

Today is Saturday, 7 November 2020. We are spending yet another morning at the raptor blind at Laguna Seca Ranch with Gene Gwin. In the afternoon, we will photograph at Estero Llano Grande State Park, also in Hildago County. On Sunday we return to Santa Clara Ranch for a farewell visit. We will spend Monday morning at Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and then head a bit north and spend a few days on South Padre Island.

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 for an amazingly low $199.95. 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 $249.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $212.49!

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.

Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body

James Paula is offering a Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital camera body in excellent plus condition for $1098.00. But for several all scratches on the the (flash) hot shoe, the body would be near-mint. It has about 7200 activations and operates flawlessly. The sale includes the front cap, the strap, the battery & charger, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Jim via e-mail.

Distinguished by its updated sensor design, the Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera from Sony is a well-rounded camera suitable for both photo and video applications in a variety of working situations. Refined for improved speed and low-light performance, the full-frame 24.2MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processor pair to realize an impressive 10 fps continuous shooting rate and improved autofocus performance for faster, more reliable subject tracking along with wide frame coverage. This updated Fast Hybrid AF System employs a combination of 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection areas for quicker acquirement of focus in a variety of lighting conditions, and also maintains focus on subjects more effectively. In addition to speed and AF, the processing improvements also help to realize greater image clarity and reduced noise throughout the sensitivity range from ISO 100-51200, which can further be expanded to ISO 50-204800. Video recording capabilities have also been extended for enhanced quality when recording UHD 4K video with the full width of the full-frame sensor to minimize moiré and aliasing. Additionally, benefitting both stills and video operation, the a7 III utilizes a 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE sensor-shift image stabilization, which is now effective to minimize the appearance of camera shake by up to 5 stops.

Beyond just updates to the imaging system, the a7 III’s body design has also been revised to include a rear 3.0″ 922k-dot touchscreen LCD, which has a tilting design to better support working from high and low angles. A 2.36m-dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF is also featured for bright and clear eye-level monitoring. For greater shooting flexibility, dual SD memory card slots are now featured, and a larger NP-FZ100 battery is also employed to achieve up to approximately 710 shots per charge. Suiting the camera’s use in trying conditions, the magnesium-alloy chassis and weather-sealing also render the a7 III dust- and moisture-resistant. B&H and the manufacturer

This body, which sells new for $1698.00, was the first SONY body to feature a killer AF system. artie

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.

120 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.

This image was created on 5 November 2020 at the Laguna Seca Ranch in Hidalgo County, TX. 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 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:14am on a sunny morning with just a hint of moisture in the air. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Crested Caracara banking

The Laguna Seca Caracara Experience

Gene Gwin, a top-gun fighter pilot, flew McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs and McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles in the US Air Force for 21 years and then worked as a commercial pilot first for America West and then for American Airlines for 15 years. He has owned and operated Laguna Seca Ranch for the past 11 years. He has developed the ranch as a superb destination for local and visiting bird photographers. Early on, he sought and took advice from Alan Murphy and other professionals; as a result, distant backgrounds and smartly designed blinds rule the roost at Laguna Seca. We have spent all four of our mornings photographing Crested Caracaras perched and in flight at the three side-by-side raptor blinds, each at a different level (including one at ground level). You can either stand or sit in each blind to achieve your desired perspective. With limited visitation due to COVID-19, Anita and I have enjoyed complete freedom to move from blind to blind at will.

Each morning we have enjoyed from 40-50 caracaras flying in to partake of a feast of frozen chicken and ground beef deftly served up by Gene. The record for a single day is more than 100 caracaras. Our host is quiet and understated, but has always been quick to share his knowledge of bird behavior and flight patterns. He is quick also to respond to requests to changes in the arrangement of the perches. In short, he is a super-host!

This image, the next frame in the sequence, was of course also created on 5 November 2020 at the Laguna Seca Ranch in Hidalgo County, TX. 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 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:14am on a sunny mooning with just a hint of moisture in the air. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Crested Caracara wings down turning bank

The SONY 200-600/a9 ii Kills for Caracara Flight Photography!

In the pre-dawn light and very early light we have done well on perched birds with the tripod-mounted 600mm f/4GM lens with the a7r IV (with and without the 1.4X teleconverter). Once the sun is up, there has been a ton of great flight photography, most with the handheld 200-600 G lens and the a9 ii. This has been the first chance that I have had to give this combo a thorough flight photography test. I switched from Canon to Nikon in hopes of becoming a better flight photographer and I improved quite a bit. Then I switched from Nikon to SONY in hopes of becoming a better flight photographer and am now confident that I have. Due 100% to the amazing AF and frame-rate capabilities of the a9 ii and the versatility and handhold-ability of the 2-6.

From our first four mornings, I have at least three dozen family jewel-type images as good as the two featured in today’s blog. That despite the fact that the usually brisk (and ideal for flight photography) east wind has been missing in action, replaced by a light breeze from the northwest. With wind-against-sun conditions most of the birds have been landing away from us and away from the light. By studying the flight patterns and trying to anticipate banking birds and birds landing toward us, we have enjoyed great success. Most amazingly, out of more than three thousand flight images, I had only a handful that were not sharply focused on the bird’s eye …

If you would like to visit Laguna Seca click on the preceding link to get in touch with Gene and be sure to mention BIRDS AS ART. My understanding is that the caracara photography is best in the excellent in all but the summer months. Gene will be able to guide you on that. We love the flight photography on Gene’s ranch so much that we are already thinking about stopping by on our way back to Florida!

Click on the screen capture to view the larger version. Image #2A: Topaz Sharpen AI on the Crested Caracara wings down turning bank image at 100%.

Topaz Sharpen AI on the Crested Caracara wings down turning bank image

Though this image was quite clean and noise-free (thanks to the lessons learn via RawDigger) I began as usual by running Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the whole image to clean up the remaining background noise and sharpen things up just a bit. The Auto settings were spot on for this one. Next I selected the whole bird and ran Topaz Sharpen AI. Auto set Stabilize. I left the Sharpen setting and as usual moved the Noise Suppression slider to zero. I compared various options before settling on those noted in the previous sentence.

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: 7.

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.

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.

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?

Anita North and I spent Saturday morning exploring the oilfield roads around High Island, TX. We lucked out by running into a guy named Christian Taylor. He promptly and graciously invited us onto his property. Sandwiched between the Gulf and Anahuac NWR, his large tract of land is filled with numerous ponds filled with numerous birds. As you will see below, we had a good morning. After shooting we headed back to our Anahuac AirBNB, packed up, and headed for Rockport, TX. With wind against sun, we decided to continue on to the Santa Clara Ranch north of Rio Grande City. We had a great day of shooting at two ground-level songbird blinds thanks to our guide, Hector Astorga. Hector, the winner of four Texas Valley Land Fund photo competitions, is a skilled and accomplished photographer along with being a super-nice guy. Photography-wide, Sunday was the most productive day of our trip by far.

Today is Monday 2 November 2020 — can you believe it — November? We will he heading back to the morning songbird blind at 6:15am. Did you remember the time change?

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 for an amazingly low $199.95. 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 $249.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $212.49!

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.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera Body with Extras!

Price Reduced $100 on 2 NOV 2020!

Stuart Hahn is offering a Canon 5D Mark II in excellent plus condition for $484.00 (was $585.00). The LCDs have been protected with screen protectors since day one. The sale includes everything that came with the camera originally, a RRS L bracket, 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 Stu via e-mail or by phone at 1-916-485-1630 (Pacific time zone).

Stu Hahn was the first-ever seller on the Used Gear Page many years ago when he parted with his Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens, the “old five.” This 5D II body would be ideal for a budding landscape or Urbex photographer, as well as for some looking for a great body to convert to IR. My 5D II was expertly converted by Kolari Vision. It is also a good body for bird and nature photography; I used mine as a back-up for my old 1D Mark IV bodies. It served me very well in that capacity in the Southern Ocean a while back when I foolishly used my two 1D IVs in a driving rainstorm for two hours with the expected result. That 5D II saved the trip for me. Stu’s body is priced to sell. artie

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.

119 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.

This image was created on 31 October 2020 at High Island, TX. I used the Induro GIT 304L/Levered-clamp FlexShooter-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 7:52am on a sunny morning. Tracking Flexible Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Roseate Spoonbills in oilfield pond

The Oilfields

I wanted to create an image showing the birds and the pumping machinery. 840mm turned out to be a good focal length. I chose my perspective carefully to frame the small flock of spoonbills with the oilfield apparatus. There was no need for ISO 1000; I should have been at ISO 400 or 500 with a correspondingly lower shutter speed of 1/800 or 1/1000 second.

This image was created on 31 October 2020 at High Island, 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/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:28am on a clear morning. Upper Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Image #2: Ring-billed Gull — first winter banking

The Strategy

We spotted a mudflat spit filled with gulls and terns. The gulls included laughing, ring-billed, and several Franklin’s. The terns were Forster’s and Caspians. The mudflats were quite slippery so we made our way onto an opposite point of land and sat down behind our lowered tripods. The flock would occasionally take flight giving us good chances as the birds circled around to land. We were a bit off sun angle but the southeast wind had the birds fairly well lit as they landed toward us.

This image was created on 31 October 2020 at High Island, 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: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:42am on a clear morning. Upper Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Image #3: Greater Yellowlegs

The Shorebirds

There was a nice selection of shorebirds on Christian’s property. Those included lots of Willets along with some Least Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, and a few Greater Yellowlegs. The bird in Image #3 landed right in front of us.

This image was created on 31 October 2020 at High Island, 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/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:23am on a clear morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Image #4: Caspian Tern braking to descend

The Caspian Terns!

Being the largest birds in the flock, the Caspian Terns provided the very best flight opportunities. As I have never done very well on this species, they were a special treat for me. With the SONY gear, shooting at 1200mm is routinely successful. On Sunday, the 600 GM/2X TC/a9 ii combination made our day a success.

Click on the screen capture to view the larger version. Image #1A: Topaz DeNoise AI on the Caspian Tern braking to descend image at 100%.

Topaz DeNoise AI on the Caspian Tern braking to descend image at 100%

As part of my now regular workflow, I began with Topaz DeNoise AI on Auto on the whole image to clean up the noise and sharpen it up just a bit. Here, the Auto settings were spot on. Be sure to click on the image to enlarge it and note the complete elimination of noise in the sky.

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: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 7.

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.

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.

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?

On Wednesday morning, we met with blog regular James Saxon. James, who lives in Beaumont, TX, has kindly provided bird photography road trip guidance for Anita and me for the past several weeks. We photographed from our two separate vehicles while socially distancing but had plenty of time to chat. James inspired us to keep photographing despite the occasional rain and put us on some pretty good birds including today’s featured species and a tame young Reddish Egret.

I received this via e-mail from James on Thursday morning:

Thank you and Anita for giving me the opportunity to photograph with you on Wednesday. It was nice to meet Anita and you and share the morning. I do not do a lot of blurs; please find my best from today below. The caracara image was a result of being ready and dumb luck. While you were photographing Cormorants, I drove the road slowly and flushed the caracara and had just enough time to get four images of which the one below was the best — not great but a good story. I processed this as a high key B&W and ran Denoise and Gigapixel (the latter because of the large crop.) The last image of the Whistling Ducks is my favorite image of the day. The one face that is “sharp enough” fit nicely with the rest of the blurred birds in the landing flock. I added a radial filter with a small amount of opacity and centered on the face of the bird in relatively sharp focus. When you told me about adding the blur filter this morning, I tried it with this image and was happy with the result. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks again for everything you do for nature photographers and I hope Anita and you get plenty of hawks. Stay in touch and plan a return visit in the Spring. Safe travels.

Jim

Topaz 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 for an amazingly low $199.95. 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 $249.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $212.49!

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.

119 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.

I-Phone 11 Image Image #1: Anita North photographing from the rear passenger seat with the SONY 600 GM on the tripod

Anita in the Backseat with Big Glass

I know from the get-go that it would be ideal if one of us could photograph off the tripod from the back seat while the other did the same from the driver’s seat. Before we left, I tried setting up an Induro GIT 304L in the backseat and though it was a bit more difficult thank doing so in the front seat, it worked. For our first attempt, at Anahuac NWR, Anita, being considerably smaller than me, volunteered for the back seat. She appreciated my driving and maneuvering skills on the narrow refuge roads. In addition, there is a developed skill in getting close to the birds and in good position for decent backgrounds without scaring them off.

The FlexShooter Heads in a Vehicle

Being able to level the head once parked is a huge advantage for each of the four FlexShooter heads. Since it pretty much impossible to level the tripod platform in a vehicle, heads like the Wimberley and the Mongoose are pretty much useless. As regular readers might recall, I have been able to make some really good flight shots from my vehicle with a FlexShooter head mounted on either the Induro GIT 204 or 304L tripods. To learn how to set your tripod up in the car, see the video here.

This image was created on 28 October 2020 at Anahuac NWR, TX. I used the Induro GIT 304/Levered-clamp FlexShooter-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4xteleconverter, and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 3200. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode. AWB at 10:18am on a cloudy drizzly morning. Tracking Flexible Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger version and see if you can spot the red jighead … Image #2: Neotropic Cormorant/adult

Adult Neotropic Cormorant

A nearly all-black waterbird with a snaky neck, Neotropic Cormorant occurs in sheltered waters of southern U.S. states, the Caribbean, and Latin America. It is very similar to the far more common and widespread Double-crested Cormorant; the two species often flock together. Double-crested is well larger and stockier than neotropic. The white feathers that outline the gular region at the base of the bill on the adults of the latter species are diagnostic. Working slowly and carefully from the vehicle allowed us to closely approach this relatively tame species that is fairly common at Anahuac NWR.

Click on the screen capture to view the larger version. Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise AI on the adult Neotropic Cormorant image at 100%.

Topaz DeNoise AI on the adult Neotropic Cormorant image at 100%

Here, as part of my now regular workflow, I ran Topaz DeNoise AI at Auto on the whole image to clean it up and sharpen it just a bit. As there was not much noise at all, the DeNoise sharpening was more dramatic than the noise reduction.

Click on the image to view a larger version. Image #2B: Topaz Sharpen AI on the distal half of the cormorant’s bill at 50%.

Topaz Sharpen AI on the Distal Half of the Bill

Here, as above, I first ran DeNoise AI on the whole image. Next I selected the distal half of the cormorant’s bil, opened that a in Topaz Sharpen AI, and hit Auto. Then I moved the Sharpness sider up to 69. Notice that the basal part of the bill visible in this screen capture is sharper, but that the bill tip was simply beyond the limited depth of field.

This image was created on 28 October 2020 at Anahuac NWR, TX. I used the Induro GIT 304/Levered-clamp FlexShooter-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4xteleconverter, and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 3200. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/320 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode. AWB at 10:18am on a cloudy drizzly morning. Tracking Flexible Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger version and see if you can spot the red jighead … Image #3: Neotropic Cormorant/immature

Immature Neotropic Cormorant

The young birds of this species are of course similar to the adults in size and structure and are always much smaller than their double-crested cousins. The whitish feathers behind the base of the bill are similar to those on young double-crested; rely instead on the smaller size and the slimmer structure of the young neotropics when separating the two species.

Click on the screen capture to view the larger version. Image #3A: Topaz DeNoise AI on the back of the immature Neotropic Cormorant image at 400%.

Topaz DeNoise AI on the Back of the Immature Neotropic Cormorant image at 400%.

Here I ran Topaz DeNoise AI at Auto on the whole image to clean up the noise in the BLACKs. For the first time ever, I moved the Color Noise Reduction slider from zero to 50. That really helped to eliminate the green and purple splotches from the darkest tones. The more I play with the Topaz AI plug-in settings, the more I learn.

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 woke way-too-early on Friday. — headed for Anahuac, TX that afternoon, but took a 3+ hour detour to head to Grande Isle State Park in southern Louisiana in hopes of finding some decent bird photography. We arrived at about 6:30am in scattered thunder showers. When the rain stopped, we got out of the car only to be assaulted by zillions of large voracious mosquitoes. I am usually blessed by being immune to mosquito bites, but within minutes I had dozens of bites including one on my butt! How does that happen?

I took a scouting walk and did not see any prospects for bird photography, so we never even got our gear out. As we drove off the peninsula headed for Texas, we saw beautiful salt marshes set against a distant background of refineries. We hit lots of traffic on I-10 and then encountered some nasty thunderstorms and more traffic. We made it to our lovely old-ranch AirBNB in Anahuac, TX. Late on Friday afternoon, — with help from blog regular James Saxon — I made a scouting run to nearby Anahuac NWR. The forecast cold front was right on track.

When I walked to the car in the dark on Saturday morning it was cold with a nice 20mph wind from the north. Conditions for a big hawk flight at Smith Point were perfect.

We met Alan Murphy and his friend Bill Carpenter at 6:45am — in the dark as usual, and got set up in the hawk blind in our ghillie suits and ghillie head masks awaiting the onslaught of southbound migrant raptors. By that afternoon, both Alan and Bill agreed that they had never seen so few raptors on a day with perfect conditions. We did have a very few decent chances with Cooper’s Hawk and Northern Harriers, albeit in low light as the forecast clear skies that typically follow a cold front never materialized.

Alan’s usual cleverness continued to amaze me, as did his ability to identify distant raptors that were just specks in the sky to Anita and me. It was most gracious of Alan and Bill to host us for an enjoyable day.

On Saturday night we decided to drive 15 minutes to the town of Anahuac to get take-out burgers from the highly touted Crawfish Place and Bar. There were about sixty folks in the bar enjoying themselves. Anita and I were the only folks wearing masks … It took us 15 minutes to round up a waitress and order our food. We waited outside in the parking lot. Despite our several pleas, it took exactly one hour to get our food. We returned to our AirBNB. The food was delicious. The service? Not so good.

Nikon 500mm PF VR Lenses in Stock at Bedford!

Steve Elkins at Bedfords texted today to let me know that he just received a shipment of Nikon 500mm PF VR lens. If you have been hunting for one, get in touch with Steve and enjoy a handsome 3% discount on this great lens by using the BIRDSASART code at checkout. Steve’s contact info is below.

Topaz 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 for an amazingly low $199.95. 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 $249.99. Using the ARTHUR15 code at checkout brings the price down to $212.49!

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.

117 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.

This image was created at Smith Point near Anahuac, TX on the morning of 24 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 474mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. This relatively high ISO image was intentionally under-exposed about 1 1/3 stops. ISO 2000. Multi-metering at about +1 1/3 stops: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. ABW at 9:26am on a cloudy-dark morning. Center Zone Continuous AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Northern Harrier looking back in flight

Why Intentionally Underexpose?

This relatively high ISO image was intentionally under-exposed to test a premise that I am working on after speaking at length with RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. For a low-light, under-exposed, high ISO image I was pretty pleased with the optimized image.

Fond Memories of Cape May

Being set-up under camo brought back fond and distant memories of photographing at a decoy owl in South Cape May Meadows with friends Kevin Karlson (NJ), Brian K. Wheeler (CO), Ned Harris (southern CA), Richard Crossley (NJ — born in the UK), and Jim Zipp (CT). Funny that three of those mentioned — plus yours truly (Brooklyn, NY) — were all from the NY/NJ/CT region and went on to somewhat notable careers as avian photographers, authors, trip leaders, and/or entrepreneurs of some sort. The fourth, Brian K. Wheeler, was — in the days of film — the world’s very best hawk photographer and the best in the world at focusing manually on raptors in flight. Brian painted the plates for A Field Guide To Hawks: North America (Peterson Field Guide Series Vol 35 by Clark, William S. & Wheeler, Brian K.) and authored or co-authored many other raptor field guides. Dear friend Ned Harris was a retired rocket scientist and a skilled an oft-published raptor photographer. I miss them all and wish them well.

Click on the image to view a larger version. Image #1A: Topaz Sharpen AI on the head of the harrier (selected) at 200%. Image #2: Topaz Sharpen AI in action

Here, I first ran DeNoise AI on the whole image. Next I selected the bird’s face and head and ran Topaz Sharpen AI on Auto. I reduced the Sharpness from 44 to 22 and reduced the Noise Suppression to 0.

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.

This image was created at Smith Point near Anahuac, TX on the cold morning of 24 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 388mm) and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body. Exposure was determined via Zebra evaluation with Exposure Compensation on the rear dial as detailed in The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide and One Camera Set-up Video. Multi-metering at + 2 1/3 stops: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO: 200. ABW at 2:18pm on a variably cloudy-bright afternoon. Center Zone Continuous AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Cooper’s Hawk — immature in flight

The Best Bird of the Day

I saw this bird coming right at us and the owl just a foot above the top of the morning blind. I called out, “bird, low right” and everyone got on it. Hooray.

Why Shutter Priority Mode?

With the variably cloudy to sunny skies, working in Manual was a bit tedious. To make my life simpler, I went to Shutter Priority mode with the shutter speed set to 1/2500 sec. I used the Custom Key to switch the rear dial from ISO to Exposure Compensation and made sure that the ISO was set to Auto. When the sun was covered by a cloud, I went with + 2 1/3 stops as with Image #2 today. When the sun broke through, I dropped that down to 1 2/3 or 1 1/3rd stops of plus EC depending on how bright the sun was. With the birds always in the sky, this solution worked perfectly well. RawDigger confirmed that the raw file for Image #2 was perfect.

Click on the screen capture to view the larger version. Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise AI on the Cooper’s hawk image at 100%.

Topaz DeNoise AI on the Cooper’s Hawk Image at 100%

Here, as part of my now regular workflow, I ran Topaz DeNoise AI at Auto on the whole image to clean it up and sharpen it just a bit. As this was a pretty good image to begin with, the improvement was not dramatic.

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?

It is just before 1pm on Thursday 22 October. After leaving ILE at 4am, we just entered Alabama. We have just 90 miles to go to get to Gulfport, MS, but will be doing some shopping, sight-seeing, and scouting along the way.

Huge thanks to Dave Miner of New Orleans who e-mailed with some solid info about bird photography locations near Gulfport. We followed that up with a nice chat. And to Donna Dewhurst as well.

Canon EOS R5 Bodies Available from Bedfords!

Steve Elkins called to LMK that Bedfords will be getting several Canon R5 in a day or two. Scroll down to contact Steve and to save a handsome 3% on your order.

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.

116 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.

This image was created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 19 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 594mm) 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 1000: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. The raw file brightness was confirmed as dead-solid perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:53 am on a clear morning with just a hint of moisture in the air. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Royal Tern in butter light

Knee-Pod While Seated Perspective

To create Image #1, I was seated on the wet sand with my left knee bent. My left hand was on the zoom ring well out on the lens barrel and facing the sky. My left forearm was resting firmly on my left knee. That is the knee pod-technique that I use quite often. The lens was about 18 inches above the bird shooting down at it just a bit from a distance of twenty feet or so. I would guess that the angle of declination was less than five degrees.

The bird in Image #1 was just about to ruffle its feathers. In retrospect, I wish that I had placed the bird just a bit higher in the frame to give it a bit more space from the feet to the bottom frame-edge. When using Center Zone for images like this, make sure that the AF points are dancing on the bird’s face as you fire the shutter.

Click on the screen capture to view a larger version. Image #1A: Topaz DeNoise AI screen capture for Royal Tern in butter light at 300%

Topaz DeNoise AI Auto Tip

First off, view the image in DeNoise AI at 300 or 400% to see the incredible job that the plug-in does with the noise reduction on the background. At these high magnifications, you may see a bit of edge pixilation as a result of a bit too much sharpening. To eliminate that problem, try reducing the Enhance Sharpening setting by about 1/3 or 1/4. For this image, the Auto setting had Enhance Sharpening at 36; I reduced it to 24. Do note that in addition to the noise reduction DeNoise has sharpened the eye nicely and cleaned up the WHITEs as well.

This image was also created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 19 OCT 2020. Again, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (this one at 600mm) 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 1600: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. The raw file brightness was confirmed as dead-solid perfect by RawDigger. ABW at 7:49 am on a clear morning with just a hint of moisture in the air. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Royal Tern preening in butter light with bathing Black Skimmer in background

Lens Hood on the Beach!

Though I began doing it at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, NY about thirty years ago, lying flat down on wet sand, mud, or muck is never a whole lot of fun. Unless you get great images. And those super-low perspectives are very special. At DeSoto last week, I practiced using the articulating rear Monitor to get super-low perspective images on the beach. Here is what I did:

• 1- With the camera to my eye, determined the correct exposure through the viewfinder as I normally would with SONY by getting a fair amount of Zebras on the tern’s neck.
• 2- Enabled the level on the rear Monitor and set Center Zone AF-C.
• 3- Pulled the articulating rear monitor screen out and up to about 75 degrees.
• 4- Placed the front of the 200-600 lens hood on the beach.
• 5- Held the bottom left side of the camera body about an inch above the sand.
• 6- Gripped the camera normally with my right hand with my index finger on the shutter button. I do not use a vertical grip with my SONY bodies. I noticed just the other day that when holding the cameras that I bend the pinky finger of my right hand and place it under the lower right corner of the camera body. This gives me a bit of extra support and came in especially handy when shooting with the lens hood on the beach as detailed above; it made it easier to level the camera and hold it steady.
• 7- Found the subject, framed and leveled the image, and acquired focus. With a bit of practice, this became easier than I thought it would.
• 8- Pushed the shutter button to make some images.

Note that it may be difficult for some folks with less than perfect near vision (like me) to see the head angle and to level the image perfectly using the level in the Monitor. To help with these concerns try the following:

• 1- Zoom out to frame the image a bit looser than you usually would. This gives you some extra canvas in case you need to level the image a few degrees.
• 2- Fire the shutter button more liberally than you usually would. When you cannot see exactly what is going on, it is better to make more images so that you do not miss anything really good …

Image #2

When I saw the skimmer land and begin to bathe, I immediately zoomed out and realized that the juxtaposition was pretty much perfect. I fired off about a dozen frames before the skimmer jumped up and flapped. In all of the frames but this one, the terns bill was buried in the feathers or its back. To come up with both the perfect preening head angle and a raised crest was quite lucky, especially when you consider that I was not even looking through the viewfinder!

When working low on the beach, you’d best have a paint brush on your person so that you can clean the sand off your gear as needed.

Note: it is much, much easier to frame the image, note the head angle, and follow that action when you are flat on your belly looking through the viewfinder. But it is a lot messier …

High Level Shutter Speed Question

Why did I opt to go with a shutter speed of 1/2000 second (along with a relatively high ISO) for each of today’s featured images when I could easily have dropped down to at least 1/1000 second (and cut the ISO by half or more)? The clue is in Image #2.

Click on the screen capture to view a larger version. Image #2A: Topaz DeNoise AI screen capture for Royal Tern preening in butter light with bathing Black Skimmer in background at 100%.

Topaz DeNoise AI Auto Tip

Even with the view at “only” 100%, it is easy to see the incredible job that the plug-in does with the noise reduction on the background. When I zoomed in to 400% here, I noted some edge artifacting as a result of a bit too much sharpening. After starting with Auto, I reduced the Enhance Sharpening setting from 40 to 30. Again, note that in addition to the noise reduction DeNoise has sharpened the eye nicely and cleaned up the WHITEs as well.

Which Perspective?

Which perspective do you prefer, seated or lens hood on the beach?

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?

After kissing the IPT folks goodbye and yet another great morning at DeSoto, Anita and I headed back to ILE on Monday to begin packing in earnest for the big road trip. We are planning on leaving early on Thursday morning, 22 October 2020. We have an AirBNB in Gulfport, MS for one night followed (amazingly) by three nights at an AirBNB in Anhuac, TX. Then we will be off for Rockport and six nights at two different Rio Grande Valley ranches.

I was glad to learn (and somewhat amazed) that Patty McCullough sold both Grab Bags; each was actually a great bargain. Only her Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Canon currently remains from what was effectively an estate sale of her late-husband’s photo gear. KW McCullough was a regular both on the blog and on the Used Gear page.

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.

IPT Updates

The Bosque IPT is cancelled because of the recently enacted 14-day quarantine in New Mexico. The businesses in the eco-tourist friendly town of Socorro, NM will take a huge hit; each has my condolences.

I have decided to cancel the Homer Bald Eagle IPTs as well. A negative COVID test within 72 hours of entering Alaska is required. Not so terrible. But there is no outdoor dining in Alaska in winter. And the cabin on the boat will have six or seven folks crowded into a very small area for an hour or two each day. As they say, this move was dictated by an abundance of caution.

At present, the San Diego COVID-conscious IPT is the only scheduled IPT. It will be limited to 4 participants. I hope that you can join us. See below for details.

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.

Price Drops

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR Lens (with extras)

Price Reduced $500.00 on 15 AUG 2020

Sale Pending One Hour after price drop …

BAA friend and skilled photographer Dr. Greg Gulbransen is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens in like-new condition (with extras) for a very handsome $8796.95 (as $9296.95). As the lens was only used six times and Greg take great care of his gear, the front element is immaculate as is the entire lens. This one is a gem. The sale includes the original product box, the lens trunk, the strap, the front cover, the rear lens cap, the original lens foot, a RRS LCF-18 Replacement Foot for NIKON AF-S 500mm & 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lenses (a $120.00 value — installed), 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 Greg via e-mail. Photos are available upon request.

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 Greg ASAP to save #3,000.00; this lens sells new for $12,296.95. artie

Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Canon

Price Reduced $100.00 on 15 AUG 2020

Patty McCulloch is offering a Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC Wide-Angle Lens for Canon in excellent plus condition for a very low $324.00 (was $424.00). The sale includes the original box, the lens pouch the front and rear lens caps, and insured ground shipping to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Patty via e-mail.

This fast Wide-Angle 24mm lens works well with both APS-C & full-frame camera bodies. It yields an 84° view when used with a full-frame 35mm camera, or 57.6° when used with an APS-C camera. It is excellent for landscapes, cramped interiors, street photography and general photography of all kinds. Four low-dispersion (ED) glass elements and two aspheric elements produce sharply defined images with a minimum of flare and ghosting. The lens focuses as close as 9.84″ from the lens allowing for great creativity in the righthand. All focus and exposure functions are manual; there is no AF or auto exposure. artie & B&H

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.

116 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.

This image was created on the second afternoon of the Fort DeSoto COVID-conscious IPT — 16 OCT 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm), and the blazingly fast AF king, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera. Exposure determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation the rear wheel. Multi-metering +2 1/3 stops: 1/13 sec. at f/13 in Shutter Priority mode. Auto ISO > 50. AWB at 6:31pm on hazy afternoon. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. Brown Pelican flight blur

Lucky 13 Again!

While every morning on the recently-concluded DeSoto IPT was great, the afternoons were challenging because of the wind-against-sun conditions. Fifteen to twenty mph northeast winds with higher gusts and sunny skies made most traditional bird photography difficult at best. Remember, however, that wind-against-sun conditions are perfect for silhouette photography. So, for the most part, we headed out late to try for some sunset silhouettes and tern/skimmer/gull flock blurs.

Noting that there was already some color in the sky and that there were some pelicans flying by below the sun and above the horizon, I set up for pleasing blurs in Shutter Priority mode with EC on the rear wheel. I decided to go with the super-slow-for-birds-in-flight (but often lucky) shutter speed of 1/13 second. It paid off once again. Normally, with single birds in flight you will want to go with shutter speeds higher than those used for flock blast-off blurs — 1/30 to even 1/125 sec.

The slower the shutter speed, the fewer keepers you will come up with, but the more chance you will have of creating something very different and very special. The frame before this one and the frame after this one were insta-deletes … But as we saw in a recent blog post, it never hurts to try.

RawDigger partial screen capture for Brown Pelican flight blur

RawDigger Partial Screen Capture

One of the many things that I have learned from using RawDigger in my workflow is that everyone underexposes sunrise and sunset silhouettes. The rosy red in the sky (with the OvExp warning activated) indicates a huge over-exposure. But for creating a silhouette, I wanted the sky blown. The exposure here was so perfect for the situation — I did not need any detail in the sky — that Topaz DeNoise AI was not needed as there was zero noise in the sky and I brought the bird down to detail-less black. A rare image indeed.

Do understand that there is a whole lot more to RawDigger than the OvExp/UnExp check-boxes. I spoke to Patrick Sparkman for almost an hour on Sunday and will work hard to finish the RawDigger guide on the way to Texas …

Note that the wing of the bird below and behind the subject was removed in Photoshop.

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.

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

A Guide to Pleasing Blurs

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

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

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

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: $500.00. Limit: 8 photographers/Openings: 7.

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.

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 “Arthur Morris) to us at 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.

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?

The folks enjoyed another spectacular day on Friday, Day 2 of the COVID-conscious Fort DeSoto IPT. We did lots of spoonbill photography as they finally returned to Hidden Lagoon. I am up early as usual today, Saturday 17 October 2020. We will be on the long line at the Pay Booth by 6:45 to enter at 7:00 when they open. With the recently installed COVID-gate, the spectacular pre-dawn sunrise-color photography at East Beach is a thing of the past. And when they move the clock back on 1 November, things will be even worse; you will not be able to get to the beach until 30 minutes after sunrise. We can hope that they will open earlier after the time change and go back to allowing Beach Parking Pass holders to enter the park at 6:00am, but it is extremely likely that that will not happen. I’d love to be wrong on this one …

The trend over the past two decades is that nature photographers keep getting the short end of the stick. Unfortunately, this is often due often to mis-/over-management…

Today’s blog post again emphasizes the incredible versatility of the SONY 200-600 GM with the a9 ii. Yes, it is on the slow side at f/6.3 wide open, but the focal length range, the fact that it does well with the 1.4X TC (see Image #2 below), and SONY’s incredible AF system (See both Image #1 and Image #2), make it both an extremely useful tool and a bargain for bird and nature photographers who cannot afford $13K for the 600 GM.

At one point I was going to do a comparison of the 2-6 with the Nikon 500 PF but the advantages of the SONY 200-600 are so huge and obvious that I have never gotten around to it … And likely never will.

Bosque Down the Tubes

Thanks to Chris Loffredo for letting me know that New Mexico now has a 14-day mandatory self-quarantine policy in place in lieu of the previously-required “negative COVID test within 72 hours of entering the state”. Visiting New Mexico for any purpose including eco-tourism is now out of the question. Anita and I will need to re-do our travel plans.

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 year at the bottom of the page.

Re-Listings

FlexShooter Pro

Multiple IPT veteran and BAA good friend William Schneider is offering a barely used FlexShooter Pro for a very low $549.00. The sale includes 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. Payment by Zelle is now available or PayPal +4%.

Please contact me via e-mail.

I fell in love with the FlexShooter Pro moments after I first mounted it on my Induro tripod. It is a ballhead that acts like a gimbal. Not convinced? See the video here.

Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G Lens & Filter Holder Kit with Landscape Circular Polarizer

Mansoor Assadi is offering a Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G lens in near-mint condition and the NiSi S5 150mm Filter Holder Kit with Landscape Circular Polarizer for Sony 12-24mm lens in new condition for the very low price of $1,163.15.The sale includes the original box, the rear lens cap, the front lens cap, the lens hood, 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 Mansoor via e-mail.

Ultra-wide and versatile, the FE 12-24mm f/4 G Lens from Sony is a flexible zoom lens for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, characterized by its constant f/4 maximum aperture. Benefitting the wide field of view is a sophisticated optical design that incorporates aspherical and low dispersion glass elements to control both spherical and chromatic aberrations for improved sharpness and clarity. A Nano AR Coating has also been applied to individual elements to reduce surface reflections, flare, and ghosting for greater contrast and color fidelity when working in bright, backlit situations.

In addition to the optical attributes, this lens is also distinguished by a Direct Drive SSM autofocus system, which benefits both stills and video application with its quick, quiet, and precise performance. The lens also sports a dust- and moisture-sealed design to support shooting in inclement conditions and a dedicated focus hold button and AF/MF switch. B&H

I loved my Canon ultra-wide-angle 11-24mm lens especially for big skies. This combo sells new at B&H for $2,163.15. Save a very handsome $1,000.00 on the pair. artie

Please Remember

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. 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 will 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.

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 on Sunday 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.

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.

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

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 at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 15 OCT 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 404mm) 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 500: 1/2500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. ABW at 8:10am on a clear morning with just a hint of moisture in the air. Center Zone Continuous AF was active at the moment of exposure and worked well. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Great Egret landing/butter light

Butter Light Landing

Butter light is the sweet yellow light encountered for about 45 minutes after sunrise and then again before sunset on clear days. It is enhanced when there is a bit of moisture in the air.

SONY AF

I continue to love Center Zone for flight photography while SONY e-Guide co-author — the junior author — Patrick Sparkman continues to love and use WIDE for birds in flight and in action. BTW, Patrick owns both the 200-600 OSS lens and the 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens. As do I.

Image #1a: Topaz DeNoise on the Great Egret landing/butter light image at 400%

Topaz DeNoise AI Auto Tip

First note that mid-tones will be technically one-stop under when you are exposing for bright whites and that dark tones will be about 1 2/3 stops under in those situations. That means that even with perfectly exposed images, there will be some visible noise in the mid-and dark tones. Click on the screen capture above and check out the totally effective noise reduction on the background. I began with Auto but felt that the Enhance Sharpness slider value was too high, so I reduced it from 40 to 30. Notice the slight pixilation (only) along the edge of the upper mandible. Perhaps I should have moved the Enhance Sharpness slider down to 20. The lesson here is that while Auto is a great place to begin, there are times when you will want to fine-tune the suggested values.

I now use DeNoise AI on every image that I process.

This image was created at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL on the morning of 3 OCT 2020. While seated, 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 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 1250: 1/1250 sec. at f/9 (wide open) in Manual mode. ABW at 9:57am on a cloudy morning. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C (Continuous) was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Red Knot striding

SONY 200-600 with the a9 ii and the 1.4X TC

The SONY 200-600 with the a9 ii and the 1.4X TC is a viable combination even on less than sunny days. Though at times it even does well with birds in flight (see the blog post here), I try to avoid this combo in a pure flight situation.

Red Knots visit DeSoto in the fall and many remain through May. At all seasons, you need to stay low and crawl or advance on your butt when hoping to get close enough to isolate single birds. Here the former approach worked well. With so much practice I have become more skilled at creating the compositions that I want when using Tracking Flexible Spot (M). But it does take practice. (Practice? Did you say practice? To basketball fans, that is a familiar quote from NBA Hall-of-Famer Alan Iverson).

For the past two mornings I have headed afield with only the 200-600 (with the 1.4X TC in my fanny pack) while leaving the 600 GM and the tripod in the car. Note that when working handheld with the TC in place that I will strive to sit down so that I can use the knee-pod technique; I rest my left forearm on my left knee to maximize stability (and thus, sharpness). As stated here often being able to work with a relatively light (hand-holdable for most) lens without a tripod is an absolute pleasure and in addition, allows you to be far more mobile than when you are dragging around a big lens on a tripod … On Thursday afternoon I went with the 600 GM on the tripod and used it with great success with both TCs. On Friday afternoon, I dragged out the big glass and in retrospect wished that I had taken only the 2-6 …

Image #2a: Topaz DeNoise on the Red Knot striding image at 100%

Topaz DeNoise AI Makes Everything That Much Crisper

While there was pretty much zero noise in this well exposed image, note the additional crispness (check out the eyelashes!) provided by DeNoise AI on Auto. The Preview image on our right simply looks a bit sharper and much cleaner than the Before image on our left.

Again, I now use DeNoise AI on every image that I process.

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?

On Tuesday and Wednesday Anita North and I enjoyed two great early morning sessions with the Mother’s Day crane family. Then we drove over to our AirBNB place in Gulfport. We head out with the group early this morning.

Those who missed the Mother’s Day Miracle Crane Chick V-log video can scroll all the way down and click on the Play Arrow to view it.

The BAA Used Gear Page

The Used Gear page continues to be red hot! The 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 year at the bottom of the page.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera Body with Extras!

Stuart Hahn is offering a Canon 5D Mark II in excellent plus condition for $585.00. The LCDs have been protected with screen protectors since day one. The sale includes everything that came with the camera originally, a RRS L bracket, 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 Stu via e-mail or by phone at 1-916-485-1630 (Pacific time zone).

Stu Hahn was the first-ever seller on the Used Gear Page many years ago when he parted with his Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens, the “old five.” This 5D II body would be ideal for a budding landscape or Urbex photographer, as well as for some looking for a great body to convert to IR. My 5D II was expertly converted by Kolari Vision. It is also a good body for bird and nature photography; I used mine as a back-up for my old 1D Mark IV bodies. It served me very well in that capacity in the Southern Ocean a while back when I foolishly used my two 1D IVs in a driving rainstorm for two hours with the expected result. That 5D II saved the trip for me. Stu’s body is priced to sell. artie

Please Remember

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so will not cost you a single penny and if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save at least $50.00 on all orders greater than $1000.00. 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 will 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.

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 on Sunday 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.

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.

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

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.

SONY e-Guide Discount Program

Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos.

Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save 3% on all orders. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately.

116 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 10 MAY 2020 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the Induro GIT 304/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 1.4xteleconverter, and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body. ISO 800. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/640 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. This image was created before I began working with RawDigger and the RAW file was 1/3-stop too dark. AWB at 12:43pm on a cloudy day. Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C (Continuous) was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. Click the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Sandhill Crane chick with adult

The Mother’s Day Miracle

This is one of the two Sandhill Crane chicks that hatched this past May, one on the 9th, one on the 10th. One of them has survived to this day, the other perished as a small colt. For the whole story, scroll down to view the Mother’s Day Miracle Crane Chick V-log video.

This image was also created on 14 OCT 2020 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and the 61-MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless digital camera body.. ISO 1600. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. RawDigger showed this as a perfect exposure. AWB at 8:01am on an almost completely sunny morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed superbly. Image #2: Sandhill Crane colt jumping

The Fledged Colt Jumping

This is the surviving Mother’s Day chick as a large colt jumping. Both the adult and young cranes often jump into the air seemingly just to have fun. At times, the adults will display to each other with a series of jumps and bows. This bird, five months and a very few days old, is finally developing a halfway decent pink crown. The transformation from tiny chick to a fledged, flying bird is truly some sort of miracle. It has been a real privilege for me getting to know this family intimately this summer and early fall.

Your Favorite?

Which of today’s two images do you think is the strongest? Please let us know why you made your choice. I have a clear favorite …

SONY 200-600 Versatility

Zooming out to 200mm here allowed me to (almost) get the whole bird in the frame. Though it is slower than the 600 GM (f/6.3 to f/4), it focuses a lot closer — Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) is 7.87′ (2.4 m) which translates to .2X maximum magnification for the 2-6 as compared to an MFD of 14.8′ (4.51 meters) and 0.14X magnification with the 600 GM. Not to mention that you can purchase the 200-600 for $11,000 less than the 600 f/4.

Note that for birds in fight the a7r iv struggles as compared to the a9 ii. That said, it did just fine with the jumping colt image.

Click on the screen capture to see a larger version. DeNoise 100% view Screen Capture for today’s featured image

DeNoise AI: Now Part of my Workflow

With my RawDigger learning now firmly in place, I am able to create very good to perfect exposures on a consistent basis even with birds. With flowers, I will shoot six to as many as ten exposures and then pick the best one in RawDigger. Since that is obviously not feasible with birds and wildlife, the RawDigger e-Guide is designed to teach you to correlate the blinkies, histograms, or Zebras on your camera body with what you are seeing in RawDigger. Anyhoo, with a perfect exposure on the bird there was pretty much zero noise on the subject. Click on the screen capture above to see how DeNoise AI completely eliminated the noise in the grass on this ISO 1600 image.

Click on the screen capture to see a larger version. Photo Mechanic Screen Capture for Image #2

The Image Optimization

By comparing the original image capture above with the optimized image, you can see that I spent a good fifteen minutes with the original in Photoshop. After converting the Raw file in Capture One, I ran DeNoise AI on Auto. Then I expanded canvas left, right, and below. Then I leveled the image and repaired the barely clipped wing tips using techniques from APTATS I & II. Last was to clean up the strip of grass at the bottom and the far shoreline. I used a series of Quick Masks, each refined by a regular Layer Mask. Then, working large, I scrolled from side to side eliminating any obvious repeating patterns with Patch Tool, the Spot Healing Brush, and very rarely, with the Clone Stamp Tool.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II). You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.

The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)

The techniques mentioned above and tons more (with the exception of Capture One RAW Conversions) — 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. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my MacBook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.

Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: all of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.

You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About two years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One Pro 12 and continue to do so today.

To purchase Capture One, please use this link. Then you can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here.

You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair. Folks can learn sophisticated sharpening and (NeatImage) Noise Reduction techniques in The Professional Post Processing Guide by Arash Hazeghi and edited by yours truly. Please use this link to purchase NeatImage.

Mother’s Day Miracle Crane Chick V-log

For Those Who Missed It

Click on the play triangle above to spend a good part of Sunday, May 10 with me as I photographed a one-day old Sandhill Crane chick and observed its tiny, helpless, just-hatched nest-mate. I need to emphasize that the cloudy weather that day was the biggest blessing of all. Had it been a clear sunny day, photography would have been nearly impossible. Watch the video to learn how I was able to deal with all the clutter thanks to the giant soft-box of a sky. Along the way, you will pick up dozens of great bird and nature photography tips.

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?

Sebastian was not very good on Saturday morning. There were lots of Ospreys fishing on the wrong side of the jetty and the wrong side of the light and flying away from us into the wind. On Sunday morning we photographed the largest Green Lynx Spider I have ever seen a few blocks from my home.

I forgot to mention that on Friday past, Anita and I mounted the Thule Cargo Carrier on top of my X5. It was easier than I thought it would be. Our trip is becoming more and more of a reality. We head to DeSoto on Wednesday for the first-ever COVID-Conscious Small Group IPT with three participants.

We get back to ILE a week from today and hope to set sail for San Diego (via the slow southern route) on the early morning of Thursday 22 OCT.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR Camera with CFexpress Card and Reader Bundle

BAA Record-low Price!

Howard Mortman is offering a Canon EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR Camera with CFexpress Card and Reader Bundle in like-new condition for the BAA record-low price of $5,199.00. The camera has less than 4,000 actuations. The sale includes the original boxes and everything that came in them (including the strap and the front lens cap) 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 Howard via e-mail or by phone or text at 1-914-475-0840 (Eastern time zone).

The 1DX III is Canon’s top-of-the-line professional digital camera body. It feature’s Canon’s best-ever dSLR AF system. It is fast and rugged. BAA friend and many multiple IPT veteran Clemens Van der Werf absolutely loves his and killed with it in Homer even during blizzards! The camera sells new right now at B&H for $6,499.00; grab Howard’s camera today and save a very handsome $1300.00 on the as-good-as-new body! artie

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

Howard Mortman is offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens in excellent condition for $1350.00. The sale includes a B+W haze filter, the front and rear lens cap, the original lens foot and a low-profile Kirk lens foot, the zippered lens case, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Howard via e-mail or by phone or text at 1-914-475-0840 (Eastern time zone).

This incredibly versatile zoom lens — with its amazing .98 meter close focus — was my favorite Canon telephoto zoom lens ever. By far. artie

TX Coast Help Needed

If you live along the Texas Coast or visit regularly to photograph birds, I would love to hear from you via e-mail.

I am hoping to learn about some of the best spots between Galveston and Corpus Christi. We will be there for about a week probably arriving on 24 or 25 OCT. We are interested in photographing both land and water birds, while realizing that the latter are much easier and more dependable.

If you can share some knowledge on any of the items below, we would most appreciative. And perhaps we could get together for a photo session as a thank you.

1- Any good locations in Galveston Bay or on Galveston Island.
2- Bolivar Flats — best times and tides.
3- Is Aransas NWR good in late October? I was there once in the spring and never took one image …
4- Any productive locations in and around Rockport.
5- Any good locations in and around Corpus Christi or Corpus Christi Bay or Mustang Island.
6- Can Padre Island be good for migrant landlords in fall? If yes, where?

If you know of any dependable spots as above, we would love to hear from you. E-mail is best.

thanks with love, artie and Anita

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 :).