{"id":17771,"date":"2014-01-09T11:00:07","date_gmt":"2014-01-09T15:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=17771"},"modified":"2014-08-18T04:09:30","modified_gmt":"2014-08-18T08:09:30","slug":"not-a-snowy-owl-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2014\/01\/09\/not-a-snowy-owl-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Not A Snowy Owl I"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>The Amazing Streak Continues; I Gotta be Nuts. \ud83d\ude42<\/h3>\n<p>Today&#8217;s blog post marks 44 days in a row with a new post, a new record by far that should continue for at least another week or two. Or not. \ud83d\ude42 To show your appreciation, we ask that use our B&#038;H and Amazon affiliate links for all of your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/?BI=6633&amp;KBID=7226 \">B&#038;H<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/?_encoding=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;tag=arthurmorrisb-20\">Amazon<\/a> purchases.  Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/default.aspx\">BIRDS AS ART Online Store<\/a>. We sell only what I use and depend on.  We will not sell you junk.  We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And we are always glad to answer your gear questions via <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a><\/center>.<\/p>\n<p>You can find the following items in the store: <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=13\">Gitzo tripods<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=274\">Mongoose M3.6<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=35\">Wimberley<\/a> heads, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=7\">plates, low feet, and accessories<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=3\">flash brackets<\/a>, <\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=15\">Delkin e-film Pro Compact Flash Cards<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=17\">LensCoat<\/a> products, and our unique line-up of <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=10\">educational materials<\/a> including <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=84\">ABP I &#038; II<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=252\">Digital Basics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=19\">Site and Set-up e-Guides<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=30\">Canon and Nikon Camera Users and AF e-Guides<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=36\">MP-4 Photoshop video tutorials<\/a> among others. <\/p>\n<p>We would of course appreciate you using our B&#038;H and Amazon affiliate links for all of your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/?BI=6633&amp;KBID=7226 \">B&#038;H<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/?_encoding=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;tag=arthurmorrisb-20\">Amazon<\/a> major gear, video, electronic, household, and personal purchases. For the photographic stuff mentioned above we would of course great appreciate your business.  <\/p>\n<p>Thanks and enjoy today&#8217;s blog post!<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/new-york\/black-scoter-drake-and-hen-surf-scoter-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/new-york\/black-scoter-drake-and-hen-surf-scoter-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny.jpg\" alt=\"black-scoter-drake-and-hen-surf-scoter-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny\" title=\"black-scoter-drake-and-hen-surf-scoter-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny\" width=800 \/><\/a>   <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was created at the west jetty at Shinnecock Inlet, Hampton Bays, Long Island, NY with the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=20\">Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=274\">Mongoose M3.6 head<\/a>, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/754508-REG\/Canon_5125B002_EF_600mm_f_4L_IS.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA6004LIFEF2\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA6004LIFEF2\" target=\"_blank\">Canon EF 600mm f\/4L IS II USM lens<\/a>, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/732111-USA\/Canon_4410B002_2x_EF_Extender_III.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA2XEF3\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA2XEF3\" target=\"_blank\">Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter)<\/a>, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/827036-REG\/Canon_5253B002_EOS_1D_X_Digital_SLR.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CAE1DX\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCAE1DX\" target=\"_blank\">Canon EOS-1D X<\/a>.  ISO 800.  Evaluative metering +1\/3 stop: 1\/400 sec. at f\/10 in Av mode.    <\/p>\n<p>Central sensor (by necessity) Expand\/AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the bird&#8217;s neck active at the moment of exposure.  Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2013\/10\/31\/if-this-doesnt-get-the-point-across-nothing-will\/\">here<\/a> if you missed the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial.  Click on the image to see a larger version.<\/p>\n<p><center>Image #1<\/center><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"728\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"90\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/widget\/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=7226&#038;aff_net=1&#038;size=728x90&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=3433&#038;link_target=y&#038;sid=\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iFrame.<\/p>\n<p><\/iframe> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Not A Snowy Owl I<\/h3>\n<p>I landed at Islip on Tuesday about 10 minutes early and was soon picked up by my little sister Arna who picked me up and took me to my Mom&#8217;s house.  Arna lives with Mom. It was bitter cold.  Mom was of course glad to see me.   I had lunch and headed out to the Shinnecock Inlet Jetty.  As I was in a hurry I did not dress properly; no long johns, not lined jeans.  No cold weather face mask.  With the temperature at 10 degrees and wind gusts of 35 mph from the west that did not work out to well&#8230;.  <\/p>\n<p>I photographed this drake Black Scoter while half-hiding behind a large jetty rock.  I converted the RAW file in DPP, pulled the Curve up to lighten it up, ran about a 40% layer of NIK Detail Extractor on the bird only, cleaned up the specular highighs, and applied a Contrast Mask to the face only for quasi-sharpening. Click<a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=359\"> here<\/a> to learn why I do 99.9% of my conversions in Canon&#8217;s Digital Photo Professional. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/new-york\/black-scoter-drake-hen-surf-scoter-elimnated-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny-copy.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/new-york\/black-scoter-drake-hen-surf-scoter-elimnated-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny-copy.jpg\" alt=\"black-scoter-drake-hen-surf-scoter-elimnated-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny-copy\" title=\"black-scoter-drake-hen-surf-scoter-elimnated-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny-copy\" width=800 \/><\/a>   <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was created from the original optimized image above.   See below for details. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Bird Removal<\/h3>\n<p>To eliminate the out-of-focus Surf Scoter I used one of techniques described in detail in <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=277\">APTATS II<\/a>.  The whole thing took less than a minute. Order APTATS II<strong> <em> by phone<\/em><\/strong> and mention this blog post and Jim or Jennifer will be glad to apply a $10 discount. <\/p>\n<h3>The Impossible Bill Color<\/h3>\n<p>In life, the bill of a drake Surf Scoter looks positively bright orange, especially in late afternoon sun. When captured digitally, the bill looks positively bright yellow.  With the first two images I did my best to get the bill color right using various Color Balance and Selective Color tricks but was only able to succeed to some degree&#8230;. The upper and central parts of the bill still look way too yellow.  See the solution immediately below. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/new-york\/black-scoter-drake-acr-conversion-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/new-york\/black-scoter-drake-acr-conversion-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny.jpg\" alt=\"black-scoter-drake-acr-conversion-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny\" title=\"black-scoter-drake-acr-conversion-_y7o1491-shinnecock-inlet-long-island-ny\" width=800 \/><\/a>   <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>The bill color here looks natural to me, pretty much as I saw it in the field&#8230;.  See more below. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Solving the Bill Color Problem<\/h3>\n<p>To solve the bill color problem I converted the RAW file in ACR and adjusted various Yellow and Orange sliders on the HSL tab&#8211;Hue, Saturation, Luminance.  It was the first ACR conversion that I have done in about a year. The blue in this image are not as pleasing or natural as the blues in the DPP-converted image; I should have done some color correction work. <\/p>\n<h3>Image Questions<\/h3>\n<p>Do you like the image with the Surf Scoter or without the Surf Scoter?   If you have any ideas on how to get the bill color right in DPP I would love to hear them.  <\/p>\n<h3>DPP RAW Conversions<\/h3>\n<p>I use DPP to convert all of my Canon RAW files.  To learn why I switched from ACR to DPP for my RAW conversions see our DPP RAW Conversion Guide <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=359\">here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<h3>The San Diego Short-Notice Small Group IPT.  January 15-17, 3-Full Days:  $1049.  Meet and Greet after dinner on your own at 7:30pm on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.  Limit 6\/Openings: 1.<\/h3>\n<p><font color=red><strong><center><strong>There is now a single opening due to a late cancellation.<br \/>\nPlease call or <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a> for late registration discount information.<\/strong><\/center><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n<p>We will get to photograph the California race of Brown Pelican in flight, resting, preening, cleaning their bill pouches, and talking to their neighbors by tossing their bills high in the air.  The afternoon sessions will feature Marbled Godwits, several gull species, and Wood and Ring-necked Ducks. If we have a cloudy morning we will get to photograph Harbor Seals. You will learn to get the right exposure every time, to see the best situation, to think like a pro, to create sharp, pleasing images, and to understand the joint effects of light and wind on the birds.  All in a small group with tons of individual attention. <\/p>\n<p>A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT.  Your balance will be due no later than January 7, 2014.  The balance is alo non-refundable. If the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.<\/p>\n<p>If you are planning to register please shoot me an <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a><\/center>.  <\/p>\n<p>Then please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/ipt-registration-and-release-forms\/\">here<\/a> and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to &#8220;Arthur Morris.&#8221;)  Though we prefer a check, you can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. 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. <\/p>\n<p>If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a><\/center> <\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<h3>Last Year&#8217;s Grand Prize winning image by Lou Coetzer<\/h3>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.birdsasart.com\/baacom\/wp-content\/gallery\/bulletin-2012\/grand-prize-winner-1st-baa-final-w-text.jpg\" class='shutterset'><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"http:\/\/www.birdsasart.com\/baacom\/wp-content\/gallery\/bulletin-2012\/grand-prize-winner-1st-baa-final-w-text.jpg\" alt=\"grand-prize-winner-1st-baa-final-w-text\" title=\"grand-prize-winner-1st-baa-final-w-text\" width=600 \/><\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<h3>Important Contest News<\/h3>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Contest Deadlines Extended!<br \/>\nBIRDS AS ART 2nd International Bird Photography Competition<br \/>\nNew Entry Deadline: January 31, 2014; see additional details below<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p> <\/center><\/p>\n<p>With so many folks signing up at the last minute and with so many folks having trouble uploading their images due to server overload the deadline for entering the contest (registering and paying) has been extended until January 31, 2014 and the deadline for uploading images has been extended until midnight Eastern time on February 10, 2014. Take advantage of this extension to have a crack at the great prizes. <\/p>\n<p>Learn more and enter the BIRDS AS ART 2nd International Bird Photography Competition <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birdsasart.com\/competition\/\">here<\/a>.  Twenty-five great prizes including the $1000 Grand Prize and intense competition.  Bring your best. <\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<h3>Register and Pay<\/h3>\n<p>To register click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birdsasart.com\/c2014\/index.php?action=register\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To learn of payment options, click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birdsasart.com\/competition\/how-to-pay\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&#038;H here!<br \/>\nThis Bulletin took about 12 hours to prepare<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&#038;H or Amazon Affiliate links in this blog post.  Remember, B&#038;H ain&#8217;t just photography!<\/center><\/p>\n<p><A href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/browse\/Canon\/ci\/4759\/N\/4232860731?BI=6633&#038;KW=&#038;KBID=7226&#038;img=12231-CanonEOSLS-728x90.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/images\/affiliateimages\/12231-CanonEOSLS-728x90.jpg\" border=\"0\"><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/affiliates.bhphotovideo.com\/showban.asp?id=7226&#038;img=12231-CanonEOSLS-728x90.jpg\" border=0><\/p>\n<p><<A href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com?BI=6633&#038;KW=&#038;KBID=7226&#038;img=14751-728x90.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/images\/affiliateimages\/14751-728x90.jpg\" border=\"0\"><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/affiliates.bhphotovideo.com\/showban.asp?id=7226&#038;img=14751-728x90.jpg\" border=0><\/p>\n<h3>Amazon<\/h3>\n<p>Everyone buys something from Amazon, be it a big lens or deodorant.  Support the blog by starting your search by starting your search by clicking on the logo-link below.  No purchase is too small to be appreciated; they all add up.  Why make it a habit?   Because I make it a habit of bringing you new images and information on an almost daily basis. <\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/cm?t=arthurmorrisb-20&#038;o=1&#038;p=48&#038;l=ur1&#038;category=amazonhomepage&#038;f=ifr\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" scrolling=\"no\" border=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/center> <\/p>\n<h3>Typos<\/h3>\n<p>In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a> or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors.  Just be right. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<h3>IPT Info<\/h3>\n<p>Many of our great trips are filling up.  See especially info on the South Florida, Holland, and Nickerson Beach IPTs.  Two great leaders ensure that you will receive individual attention, have all of your questions answered, and learn a ton including how to think like a pro, see the situation, and get the right exposure every time.  In addition you will have fun, and make lots of great images. Click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birdsasart.com\/include-pages\/ipt-updates\/\">here<\/a> for IPT details and general information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Amazing Streak Continues; I Gotta be Nuts. \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n<p>Today&#8217;s blog post marks 44 days in a row with a new post, a new record by far that should continue for at least another week or two. Or not. \ud83d\ude42 To show your appreciation, we ask that use our B&#038;H and Amazon affiliate links for [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[586],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-586","odd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17771\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}