{"id":22695,"date":"2014-09-17T06:31:41","date_gmt":"2014-09-17T10:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=22695"},"modified":"2014-09-17T09:19:41","modified_gmt":"2014-09-17T13:19:41","slug":"difficult-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2014\/09\/17\/difficult-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Difficult Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>EOS-7D Mark II Thanks!<\/h3>\n<p>Thanks a stack to the 15 folks who pre-ordered their EOS 7D Mark II bodies (and lots of accessories) using a BAA affiliate link. If you missed all of yesterday&#8217;s excitement, click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2014\/09\/16\/my-take-on-the-comparative-eos-7d-mark-ii-specs\/\">here<\/a>. And best of luck to Geoffrey Cuff of the Cayman Islands with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1081814-REG\/canon_8404b002_ef_400mm_f_4_do.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\">Canon EF 400mm f\/4 DO IS II USM Lens<\/a>  that he ordered in similar fashion. <\/p>\n<p>Convinced?  Click on the logo-link immediately below to pre-order yours.  This will be one hot-ticket item; the sooner you get your name on the pre-order list, the sooner you will have a 7D II in your hands.  <\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"180\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"150\" 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=180x150&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=6105&#038;link_target=y&#038;sid=\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\"\n><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iFrame.<\/p>\n<p><\/iframe><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>The Streak Continues: 291<\/h3>\n<p>I spent a great deal of time on Tuesday doing additional research on the new EOS-7D Mark II. I will share what I have learned with you here soon.  The rest of the day was made up of meditating, a nice easy swim, healthy eating, a short nap, a 44 minute ice bath, and answering about a zillion e-mails.  All that followed by a rare-for-me 8 full hours of sleep. I will be hard working on editing the first draft of the DPP 4.0 RAW Conversion eGuide that I am doing with Arash Hazeghi.  I am getting very close&#8230;. This blog post, the 291st in a row, was published at about 6:30am from my home in Indian Lake Estates, FL. <\/p>\n<p>As always, I would appreciate your using the BIRDS AS ART B&#038;H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases, using our Amazon logo-link for all of your household purchases, and visiting the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/default.aspx\">BAA Online Store<\/a> for your tripod, tripod head, LensCoat, miscellaneous, accessories, and eGuide purchases as well. Please remember, web orders only. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/marbled-godwit-preening-2-willets-slepping-_q8r4800-fort-desoto-park-st-petersburg-fl.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/marbled-godwit-preening-2-willets-slepping-_q8r4800-fort-desoto-park-st-petersburg-fl.jpg\" alt=\"marbled-godwit-preening-2-willets-slepping-_q8r4800-fort-desoto-park-st-petersburg-fl\" title=\"marbled-godwit-preening-2-willets-slepping-_q8r4800-fort-desoto-park-st-petersburg-fl\" width=800 \/><\/a>    <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was created on the morning of September 16, 2012 at Fort DeSoto Park, Tierra Verde, FL, southwest of St. Petersburg, FL.  I used the hand held <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/754507-USA\/Canon_5124B002_500mm_f_4L_EF_IS.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA5004LISEF2\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA5004LISEF2\" target=\"_blank\">Canon 500mm f\/4L EF IS II lens<\/a>, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/732113-USA\/Canon_4409B002_1_4x_EF_Extender_III.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA14XEF3\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA14XEF3\" target=\"_blank\">Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III<\/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 +2 2\/3 stops off the light grey sky: 1\/1600 sec. at f\/6.3 in Manual mode. <\/p>\n<p>Central Sensor Surround\/AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the gowit&#8217;s face and recompose. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2013\/10\/31\/if-this-doesnt-get-the-point-across-nothing-will\/\">here<\/a> to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image for a larger version. <\/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=2669&#038;link_target=y\" 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>Difficult Questions<\/h3>\n<p>Though I did not process this image until just before my ice bath on Tuesday evening, I have always liked it.  I especially like the soft light. I like how the brown tones of the godwit pick up the brown tones in the distant background.  And y&#8217;all know that I love shorebirds, especially Marbled Godwits. When I saw one just after sunrise on the South Flats of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY probably 36 years ago, I had no idea that that experience would change the remainder of my adult life.  But it did just that. <\/p>\n<p>I was lying flat down in wet sand when I created this image.  A bit later the sun was coming in and out and I had a great time photographing the flying Sandwich, Royal, and Caspian Terns that were landing right in front of me. You gotta love winds with an easterly component in the morning. <\/p>\n<p>#1: Should I have tried to get higher by sitting up? y standing up? Why or why not?<\/p>\n<p>#2: What do you think of the placement of the three birds in the frame?  Would you have done anything differently as far as the image design is concerned?<\/p>\n<p>#3: Why is it<strong> <em>OK<\/em><\/strong> to use rear focus and recompose (which is effectively one-shot AF) when you are lying down but <strong><em>not OK<\/em><\/strong> to use rear focus and recompose (effectively one-shot AF) when you are sitting or standing? (In those cases you are much better off using AI Servo AF and keeping it active at the moment of exposure.) Why? What difference does it make if you are lying down as opposed to sitting or standing?  <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/desoto-fall-card-b.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/desoto-fall-card-b.jpg\" alt=\"desoto-fall-card-b\" title=\"desoto-fall-card-b\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Fort DeSoto in fall is rich with tame birds. All of the images in this card were created at Fort DeSoto in either late September or early October.  I hope that you can join me there this October.  Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>First-ever BIRDS AS ART In-the-Field\/Meetup Workshop Session (ITF\/MWS): $50<\/h3>\n<p>Join me on the afternoon of October 10, 2014 for 3-hours of photographic instruction at Fort DeSoto Park. Beginners are welcome. Lenses of 300mm or longer are recommended but even those with 70-200s should get to make some nice images.  Teleconverters are always a plus.<\/p>\n<p>You will learn the basics of digital exposure and image design, autofocus basics, and how to get close to free and wild birds.  We should get to photograph a variety of wading birds, shorebirds, terns, and gulls.  This inexpensive afternoon workshop is designed to give folks a taste of the level and the quality of instruction that is provided on BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-tours.  I hope to meet you there. <\/p>\n<p>To register please call Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours with a credit card in hand to pay the nominal registration fee. Your registration fee is  non-refundable.  You will receive a short e-mail with instructions, gear advice, and meeting place at least two weeks before the event.  <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/desoto-fall-card-a-layers.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/desoto-fall-card-a-layers.jpg\" alt=\"desoto-fall-card-a-layers\" title=\"desoto-fall-card-a-layers\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Obviously folks attending the IPT will be out in the field early and stay late to take advantage of sunrise and sunset colors. The good news is that the days are relatively short in October.  Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Fort DeSoto Fall IPT\/October 11-13, 2014. 3 FULL DAYs: $1099.  Limit 8.<\/h3>\n<p>Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for migrant shorebirds in fall. There they join hundreds of egrets, herons, night-herons, gulls, and terns who winter on the T-shaped peninsula that serves as their wintering grounds.  With any luck, we should get to photograph two of Florida&#8217;s most desirable shorebird species: Marbled Godwit and the spectacular Long-billed Curlew.  Black-bellied Plover and Willet are easy, American Oystercatcher likely.  Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Tricolored Heron are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two. We should get to do some Brown Pelican flight photography.  And Royal, Sandwich, Forster&#8217;s, and Caspian Terns will likely provide us with some good flight opportunities as well. Though not guaranteed Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork would not be unexpected.  <\/p>\n<p>Folks who sign up for the IPT are welcome to join us on the ITF\/MWS on Friday afternoon as my guest. See above for details on that. <\/p>\n<p>On the IPT you will learn basics and fine points of digital exposure and to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them, to understand and predict bird behavior, to identify many species of shorebirds, to spot the good situations, to choose the best perspective, to see and understand the light, to, and to design pleasing images by mastering your camera&#8217;s AF system.  And you will learn learn how and why to work in Manual mode (even if you&#8217;re scared of it).  <\/p>\n<p>At lunch (included) we will review my images&#8211;folks learn a ton watching me edit&#8211;why keep this one and delete that one.  If you opt to bring your laptop, we will take a look at five of your best images from the morning session.  We will process a few of my images in Photoshop after converting them in DPP.  That followed by Instructor Nap Time. <\/p>\n<p>If you decide to register and are traveling to attend this IPT, please make your reservations at the Beachcomber Beach Resort, 6200 Gulf Blvd, St. Petersburg (St. Pete Beach), FL 33706 (727-367-1902) as soon as possible as rooms for the weekend days are scarce:  ARR: 10 OCT\/DEP 14 OCT.  I stayed there on my last DeSoto visit and was quite happy with it. Lodging is tough in Florida at this season&#8230;.  The best airport is Tampa (TPA). It is always best if IPT folks stay in the same hotel so if you are interested it would be a good idea to register now and make your hotel reservations as well.  We can, however, coordinate easily with local folks who opt to stay at home either by cell phone or e-mail. <\/p>\n<p>Because of the relatively late date, payment is full is due upon registration either by check or credit card.  If the former, please <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a><\/center> us immediately so that we can save you a spot. If the latter, please call Jim or Jennifer during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand to register . Your registration fee is non-refundable unless the IPT sells out with eight so please check your plans carefully before committing.  You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, gear advice, and first morning meeting place about one month before this IPT. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/florida\/fort-desoto-card.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/florida\/fort-desoto-card.jpg\" alt=\"fort-desoto-card\" title=\"fort-desoto-card\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>BAA Site Guides are the next best thing to being on an IPT.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Fort DeSoto Site Guide<\/h3>\n<p>Can&#8217;t make the IPT?  Get yourself a copy of the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=74\">Fort DeSoto Site Guide<\/a>. Learn the best spots, where to be when in what season in what weather.  Learn the best wind directions for the various locations.  BAA Site Guides are the next best thing to being on an IPT.  You can see all of them <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=19\">here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<h3>Facebook<\/h3>\n<p>Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right.  Tanks a stack!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&#038;H here!<\/strong><\/h3>\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!<\/p>\n<p>    <center> <strong>&#8230;..<\/strong><\/center><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"825\" height=\"400\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/images\/affiliateimages\/BirdsAsArt\/index.html\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"margin-left:-10px; margin-top:-10px;\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Amazon.com<\/h3>\n<p>Those who prefer to support BAA by shopping with Amazon may use this link: <\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/cm?t=arthurmorrisb-20&#038;o=1&#038;p=9&#038;l=ur1&#038;category=amazonhomepage&#038;f=ifr&#038;linkID=JIBVXBCFKIBE72GU\" width=\"180\" height=\"150\" scrolling=\"no\" border=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>Amazon Canada<\/h3>\n<p>Many kind folks from north of the border, ay, have e-mailed stating that they would love to help us out by using one of our affiliate links but that living in Canada and doing so presents numerous problems.  Now, they can help us out by using our Amazon Canada affiliate link by starting their searches by clicking <a href=\"http:\/\/amazon.ca\/?_encoding=UTF8&#038;camp=15121&#038;creative=330641&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;tag=amb07-20\">here<\/a>.   Many thanks to those who have written.  <\/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><\/center> or to leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors.  Just be right. \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EOS-7D Mark II Thanks! <\/p>\n<p>Thanks a stack to the 15 folks who pre-ordered their EOS 7D Mark II bodies (and lots of accessories) using a BAA affiliate link. If you missed all of yesterday&#8217;s excitement, click here. And best of luck to Geoffrey Cuff of the Cayman Islands with the Canon EF 400mm f\/4 DO [&#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-22695","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\/22695","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=22695"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22695\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}