{"id":14611,"date":"2013-05-13T19:12:22","date_gmt":"2013-05-13T23:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=14611"},"modified":"2013-06-30T04:34:06","modified_gmt":"2013-06-30T08:34:06","slug":"why-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2013\/05\/13\/why-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Why?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why?<\/h3>\n

I received the e-mail below in reference to the features listed at the top of BAA Bulletin #439, which you can access here<\/a>, from Tim Kaufman, who kindly and ably assisted me on the 2012 Southwest Florida Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). <\/p>\n

Artie, What is it that drives you so much right now? Look at this list you sent! Is it being in the field doing photography? Is it the teaching? Is it the extra money you earn by working hard and doing more and more? Time with the one you love? What would you say is your biggest motivator? You should figure it out and bottle it. Tim<\/em><\/p>\n

The Short Answer<\/h2>\n

The short answer is “All of the above.” <\/p>\n

The Long Answer<\/h2>\n

I love being in the field photographing birds. And flowers. And bears. And wildlife in Africa and in the Galapagos–I will be in both locations this summer. And in Holland, or as John Dupps accurately pointed out, in The Netherlands, I enjoyed trying some street photography. What’s up with that? The principles are the same whatever the subject. And that applies to both the artistic and to a large part, to the technical aspects. <\/p>\n

I take great joy and pride in creating images that make me happy and put smiles on other folk’s faces. When you consider that in bird photography you must get the right exposure, you must attain accurate focus, and you must design a pleasing image. And all of that often needs to be accomplished in less than 2 seconds…. And in addition, I enjoy optimizing my favorite images and sharing my techniques with others. <\/p>\n

And I love to travel. Folks often ask, “Don’t you hate waking up in a hotel 180 days each year?” My reply is a simple one, “If I hated it I would stay home.” <\/p>\n

I love teaching. I especially love teaching those who are truly interested in improving their skills. Every once in a while–it actually seems to be happening less and less recently, I run into someone, usually a guy, who is simply not gonna have another guy tell him what to do. “Move one big step to your left and you will make a better image.” They stand in the same spot as if they were made of cement. Having taught elementary school (for 23 years in NYC) I remember those ah ha moments, those times when the student’s jaw would drop, their eyes would open wide, and a smile appeared on their face where only moments before confusion had reigned. They understood. And those moments occur and are appreciated to this day when I am teaching photography be it in the field or during a seminar. Heck, sometimes I can even sense them online here on the blog or when doing critiques on BPN<\/a>. <\/p>\n

As far as the money goes, we continue to do well despite the recession. Do understand that if I closed up shop tomorrow at BAA, quit doing the blog, quit teaching, and went for a swim in my pool 365 that I would do very, very well on my NYC teacher’s pension and my Social Security check. I do, however, take pride in helping to support the families of two folks very near and dear to me, my right-hand Jim Litzenburg, and my older daughter, Jennifer Morris.<\/p>\n

One question that Tim did not ask is “Why put so much work into the blog?” Adding together the funds that we receive from all the appreciative folks who remember to use our B&H and Amazon affiliate links would come to maybe a buck an hour for my efforts so it is surely not the money that drives me here. What gives? I like being the center of attention. I like sharing. And I like folks having folks say nice things to me. Even a simple “Thank you” juices me up. As I have shared here before, my striving to do well and to gain recognition for my efforts stems from my relationship with WWII veteran Dad, Robert E. Morris, who died in 2001. I only somewhat jokingly say, “The nicest thing he ever said to me was ‘take out the damned garbage.'” It has been several decades of doing my best in an effort to have folks say the nice things about me that my Dad never did. Don’t get me wrong; I realized later in life, after reading a truly great book, Seeing Your Life Through New Eyes: InSights to Freedom from Your Past <\/a>\"\", by Paul Brenner, that my Dad did love me. He just had difficulty letting me know that as I got older. <\/p>\n

And yes, denise is a great friend. I enjoy traveling with her, marveling at her creativity, and being inspired by her artistry. <\/p>\n

All in all I have a blessed life and I plan on continuing living it to the hilt for as long as possible. Thanks for asking Tim. <\/p>\n

Iris Garden Workshop This Week!<\/h3>\n

I will be joining Denise Ippolito as a previously unannounced co-leader on her Iris Garden Flower Photography Workshop this coming Thursday, May 16, at the spectacular Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Upper Montclair, NJ. I will be bringing my 600 II along so if you’d like to learn long lens flower photography techniques this one is perfect for you. I will also have my 180mm macro along. Rain date: May 17. Learn more and register here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Short Notice, Dirt Cheap, In-the-Field Nickerson Beach Photographic Instruction with Arthur Morris. May 15 (am & pm), 2013. (Yes, that is soon.) 6-9:30 am\/4-7:30pm. This one is priced so low that you need to e-mail<\/a><\/center> for the rates. Limit 4\/session. Only a few openings left.<\/h3>\n

If you e-mail, please include all phone numbers. Payment in full due immediately. If you would like to join me please get in touch via e-mail<\/a><\/center>. Breeding American Oystercatcher and Piping Plover (small chicks possible). Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls, Sanderling, and other shorebird species. Early-arriving Least and Common Terns, and breeding plumage Lesser Black-backed Gull likely. Courtship and mating behaviors; flight. Learn digital exposure and creative image design. <\/p>\n

Amazingly, five folks have signed up for various sessions or combinations of sessions. But this still gives you a chance to take advantage of some practically private instruction with me at give-away prices. <\/p>\n

Next Year In Holland<\/h3>\n

Despite a 100-year record cold spring with very few tulip fields in bloom this trip has been a spectacular success. The colors and variety of tulips at Keukenhof simply stun the mind and the senses. Denise and I are planning our Holland trip for next year: the Keukenhof Creative Tulip Photography IPT with a Touch of Holland. If you are a Happy Camper who is interested in joining Denise and me next spring, please shoot me an e-mail<\/a><\/center>. Details will be announced soon. <\/p>\n

We are currently fleshing out the details. The dates will be about the same, in mid April. In addition to the Keukenhof and the flower fields we will do an afternoon of windmills at Kinderdijk, a day in Amsterdam including a morning at the Rijks Museum and an afternoon visit to the Ann Frank House plus some street photography. We will do some street photography and fine dining in the little town of Edam. There will be about 7-9 days of photography in all. Those will include an afternoon option for a day or two of Purple Herons for those with long lenses.<\/p>\n

Note: not surprisingly, early interest has been huge with several folks who want to sign up right now. <\/p>\n

New York City–On Location with Denise Ippolito & Arthur Morris May 25 \u2013 26, 2013, 2-day Workshop-$495<\/h3>\n

Join Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris for a two-day creative workshop in the Big Apple. This exciting adventure through the streets of NYC will begin with an informal get-together at our hotel on the evening of May 24th. This will give us all a chance to get to know each other before we hit the streets in the morning for our first exciting photo shoot. We will explore China Town, Little Italy, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station (tripod permit included) and much more during our two days together. The emphasis will be on street photography, seeing and capturing dynamic images, and expanding your creativity using a variety of in-camera techniques including HDR and Multiple Exposure. <\/p>\n

Please contact me via e-mail<\/a><\/center> for complete details and the itinerary.<\/p>\n

Typos<\/h3>\n

On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail<\/a><\/center> or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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