{"id":33224,"date":"2016-05-21T03:22:12","date_gmt":"2016-05-21T07:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=33224"},"modified":"2016-05-21T07:21:46","modified_gmt":"2016-05-21T11:21:46","slug":"a-big-loss-on-getting-up-early-and-blasting-highlights-and-silhouette-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2016\/05\/21\/a-big-loss-on-getting-up-early-and-blasting-highlights-and-silhouette-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"A Big Loss.  On Getting Up Early.  And Blasting Highlights and Silhouette Tips."},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>What&#8217;s Up<\/h3>\n<p>I spent most of Friday getting lots more done on my 2015 taxes. I enjoyed another nice swim. <\/p>\n<h3>A Big Loss<\/h3>\n<p>I learned on Friday that Michael Reichmann, founder of the highly respected Luminous Landscape website, passed away at age 71 on Wednesday past. I am sending love, strength, and energy to his family and many friends. Though I knew Micheal only through a few brief e-mails, we do have a bit in common. Age. And the fact that our work, our passion, and our very beings were closely connected to our business names: Luminous Landscape for him, BIRDS AS ART for me. <\/p>\n<p><center><noscript><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/servedby.flashtalking.com\/click\/8\/55973;1705289;0;209;0\/?ft_width=728&#038;ft_height=90&#038;url=9277912\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/servedby.flashtalking.com\/imp\/8\/55973;1705289;205;gif;BirdsAsArt;728x90\/?\"><\/a><br \/>\n<\/noscript><br \/>\n<script language=\"Javascript1.1\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\nvar ftClick = \"\";\nvar ftExpTrack_1705289 = \"\";\nvar ftX = \"\";\nvar ftY = \"\";\nvar ftZ = \"\";\nvar ftOBA = 1;\nvar ftContent = \"\";\nvar ftCustom = \"\";\nvar ft728x90_OOBclickTrack = \"\";\nvar ftRandom = Math.random()*1000000;\nvar ftBuildTag1 = \"<scr\";\nvar ftBuildTag2 = \"<\/\";\nvar ftClick_1705289 = ftClick;\nif(typeof(ft_referrer)==\"undefined\"){var ft_referrer=(function(){var r=\"\";if(window==top){r=window.location.href;}else{try{r=window.parent.location.href;}catch(e){}r=(r)?r:document.referrer;}while(encodeURIComponent(r).length>1000){r=r.substring(0,r.length-1);}return r;}());}\nvar ftDomain = (window==top)?\"\":(function(){var d=document.referrer,h=(d)?d.match(\"(?::q\/q\/)+([qw-]+(q.[qw-]+)+)(q\/)?\".replace(\/q\/g,decodeURIComponent(\"%\"+\"5C\")))[1]:\"\";return (h&&h!=location.host)?\"&ft_ifb=1&ft_domain=\"+encodeURIComponent(h):\"\";}());\nvar ftTag = ftBuildTag1 + 'ipt language=\"javascript1.1\" type=\"text\/javascript\" ';\nftTag += 'src=\"http:\/\/servedby.flashtalking.com\/imp\/8\/55973;1705289;201;js;BirdsAsArt;728x90\/?ftx='+ftX+'&fty='+ftY+'&ftadz='+ftZ+'&ftscw='+ftContent+'&ft_custom='+ftCustom+'&ftOBA='+ftOBA+ftDomain+'&ft_referrer='+encodeURIComponent(ft_referrer)+'&cachebuster='+ftRandom+'\" id=\"ftscript_728x90\" name=\"ftscript_728x90\"';\nftTag += '>' + ftBuildTag2 + 'script>';\ndocument.write(ftTag);\n<\/script><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>The Streak<\/h3>\n<p>Today\u2019s blog post marks 197 days in a row with a new educational blog post. I have dozens of new topics to cover; here should be no end in sight until my big South America trip next fall. As always-\u2013and folks have been doing a really great job recently\u2013-please remember to use our B&#038;H links for your major gear purchases. For best results use one of our many product-specific links; after clicking on one of those you can continue shopping with all subsequent purchases invisibly tracked to BAA. Your doing so is always greatly appreciated. Please remember: web orders only. <strong><em>Please remember that if you are shopping for items that we carry in the BAA Online Store (as noted in red at the close of this post below) we would appreciate your business.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/sandbar-at-sunrise-_r7a6813-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-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\/sandbar-at-sunrise-_r7a6813-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl.jpg\" alt=\"sandbar-at-sunrise-_r7a6813-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl\" title=\"sandbar-at-sunrise-_r7a6813-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was created on my last morning at DeSoto after the IPT with the hand held <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1092632-REG\/canon_9524b002_ef_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6l_is.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA1004002LIS\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA1004002LIS\" target=\"_blank\">Canon EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens<\/a> (at 200mm) and the mega mega-pixel <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1119027-REG\/canon_0582c002_eos_5ds_r_dslr.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CAE5DSR\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCAE5DSR\" target=\"_blank\">Canon EOS 5DS R.<\/a> ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1\/160 sec. at f\/11 in Tv mode.  Color temperature: 8000K.  <\/p>\n<p>AF Micro-adjustment via <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=304\">LensAlign\/Focus Tune<\/a>: -2. Tutorial coming soon.  <\/p>\n<p>Center AF point\/AI Servo Expand\/Rear Focus AF on the sandbar and re-compose. 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.  Click on the image to see a larger version.  <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Image #1: Sandbar at dawn<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"468\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"60\" 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=468x60&#038;mode=m&#038;bucket_num=7761&#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>Getting Up Early&#8230;<\/h3>\n<p>Fortunately, I am a morning person. I am usually up and working (or on my way to photograph) between four and five am. The fact is, when I am afield early on some beautiful beach, I am almost always alone at dawn (unless I am leading an IPT group). And that is a big shame for sleep-late nature photographers. Heck, there are times when being in the right place 30 minutes before the time of sunrise is 15 minutes too late. Try getting to bed early and getting out to your favorite beach in time to enjoy the often spectacular sunrise colors. <\/p>\n<p>This image was created at 6:38am, about twelve minutes before the official time of sunrise. When this image was made I was hurting for birds&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3>Image Question<\/h3>\n<p>So exactly where is the alleged Black-bellied Plover in Image #1? <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/black-bellied-plover-ruffling-at-sunrise-_a0i8892-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-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\/black-bellied-plover-ruffling-at-sunrise-_a0i8892-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl.jpg\" alt=\"black-bellied-plover-ruffling-at-sunrise-_a0i8892-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl\" title=\"black-bellied-plover-ruffling-at-sunrise-_a0i8892-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was also created on my last morning at DeSoto after the IPT, this one with the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.outdoorphotogear.com\/search.php?search_query=indurogrand&#038;rfsn=132487.5cf37.9906\">Induro<\/a> GIT 304L\/<a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=274\">Mongoose M3.6<\/a>-mounted <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_Extender_EF_2X_III.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA2XEF3\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA2XEF3\" target=\"_blank\">Canon Extender EF 2X III<\/a>, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1221604-REG\/canon_0931c016_eos_1d_x_mark_ii.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CAE1DX2K\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCAE1DX2K\" target=\"_blank\">Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and Premium Kit with 64GB Card and Reader.<\/a> ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1\/1600 sec. at f\/11 in Av mode. Color temperature: 8100K.   <\/p>\n<p>AF Micro-adjustment via <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=304\">LensAlign\/Focus Tune<\/a>: +4. Tutorial coming soon.  <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Image #2: Black-bellied Plover ruffling in almost blasting highlights: 6:49am.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Center AF point\/AI Servo Expand\/Rear Focus on the plover&#8217;s legs and re-compose. (Learn why below&#8230;) 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. Click on the image to see 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=8050&#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>Tips for Photographing Blasting Highlights <\/h3>\n<p>I first wrote about creating glaring (blasting) highlights silhouettes in Chapter Six of The Art of Bird Photograph II, <em>Exposure and Flash Simplified &#038; Autofocus Essays.<\/em> (I&#8217;m thinking now that I might have made two or three chapters there instead of one&#8230;) With most blasting highlights situations, you need from 1 to 3 stops (or more!) of under-exposure to keep from severely over-exposing the specular highlights. But in Image #2 the sun was just touching the horizon so the highlights were simply not that blasting. <\/p>\n<p>Some folks mentioned diffraction with telephoto lenses in the recent post that dealt with depth-of-field with regards to the large Great Egret chick image. I have never seen diffraction at f\/11 or f\/13 or f\/16.  But I have seen diffraction with long effective focal lengths at tiny apertures, most recently, at f\/57. Lesson?  When working in really bright blasting highlight situations be sure to switch to a lower ISO and a very high shutter speed while striving not to go past f\/11 or so. <\/p>\n<h3>Blasting Highlights AF Tip<\/h3>\n<p>While AF needs contrast to see, too much of a good thing blinds the AF system. If you are trying to focus on a bird in the blasting highlights swath, and AF cannot lock focus, try putting the sensor on the legs; it works extremely well pretty much all the time. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/black-bellied-plover-calling-at-sunrise_a0i8936-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-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\/black-bellied-plover-calling-at-sunrise_a0i8936-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl.jpg\" alt=\"black-bellied-plover-calling-at-sunrise_a0i8936-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl\" title=\"black-bellied-plover-calling-at-sunrise_a0i8936-fort-desoto-park-pinellas-county-fl\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image too was created on my last morning at DeSoto after the IPT, this one with the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.outdoorphotogear.com\/search.php?search_query=indurogrand&#038;rfsn=132487.5cf37.9906\">Induro<\/a> GIT 304L\/<a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=274\">Mongoose M3.6<\/a>-mounted <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_Extender_EF_2X_III.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CA2XEF3\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCA2XEF3\" target=\"_blank\">Canon Extender EF 2X III<\/a>, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1221604-REG\/canon_0931c016_eos_1d_x_mark_ii.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/CAE1DX2K\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xCAE1DX2K\" target=\"_blank\">Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and Premium Kit with 64GB Card and Reader.<\/a> ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1\/400 sec. at f\/11 in Av mode. Color temperature: 8100K.   <\/p>\n<p>AF Micro-adjustment via <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=304\">LensAlign\/Focus Tune<\/a>: +4. Tutorial coming soon.  <\/p>\n<p>Center AF point\/AI Servo Expand\/Rear Focus on the plover&#8217;s head and re-compose. 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. Click on the image to see a larger version.   <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Image #3: Black-bellied Plover in soft backlight: 6:51am.<\/strong><\/h2>\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=8050&#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>Blasting Highlights Too Bright?<\/h3>\n<p>Within a minute of creating Image #2, the sun had gotten much stronger and I could no longer control the over-exposure of the specular highlights. I simply moved a yard or two to my right to place the cooperative plover against a background of soft and sweet yellow water. Remember: the success of each and every image that you create has everything to do with the perspective that you choose, exactly where you place your lens.  <\/p>\n<h3>Just Think&#8230;<\/h3>\n<p>Today&#8217;s three featured images were created in a span of about 13 minutes; what a great way to start my day. <\/p>\n<h3>Your Favorite?<\/h3>\n<p>Which of these three sunrise images is your favorite?  Be sure to let us know why you made your choice. I do have a clear favorite&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3>IPT Similarities<\/h3>\n<p>The Fort DeSoto and the Nickerson Beach IPTs have a lot in common. Lots of birds, lots of sand, and lots of learning. The big difference is that there are lots more flight opportunities at Nickerson: hovering terns, birds landing at the nest, and with luck and the right morning winds, skimmers skimming. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/nickersoncardajuly2016layers.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/nickersoncardajuly2016layers.jpg\" alt=\"nickersoncardajuly2016layers\" title=\"nickersoncardajuly2016layers\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>From upper left clockwise to center: Black Skimmer head portrait, American Oystercatcher dining on surf clam flesh, Common Tern at sunset, Common Tern adult swallowing flatfish, Black Skimmer in flight, newborn Common Tern chick, American Oystercatcher with chick, fresh juvenile Common Tern (with fill flash), and Common Terns copulating. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Nickerson Beach Terns\/Skimmers\/Oystercatchers Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT): July 18-22, 2016. 4 1\/2 DAYS: $1899. Limit 10\/Openings 8.<\/h3>\n<h2><strong>Meet and greet at 3pm on the afternoon of Monday, July 18. Limit 10.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The primary subject species of this IPT will be the nesting Common Terns. The trip is timed so that we will get to photograph tiny chicks as well as fledglings. There will be lots of flight photography including adults flying with baitfish. Creating great images of the chicks being fed is a huge challenge. In addition to the terns we will get to photograph lots of Black Skimmers courting, setting up their nesting territories, and in flight (both singles and large pre-dawn flocks blasting off). Midair battles are guaranteed on sunny afternoons. And with luck, we might even see a few tiny chicks toward the end of the trip. We will also get to photograph the life cycle of American Oystercatcher. This will likely include nests with eggs and tiny chicks, young being fed, and possibly a few fledglings. <\/p>\n<p>Nesting Piping Plover is also possibly. There will be lots of gulls to photograph; most years I am able to find a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying ages in addition to the Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed Gulls. You will learn to identify and age the various gull species. There will likely be some Willets feeding along the surf and with luck we might get to photograph a handsome juvenile or two. In addition to the locally breeding shorebirds, we will likely get to see some southbound migrant arctic-and sub-arctic breeding shorebird species such as Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and maybe even Red Knot. <\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/nicerksoncardjuly2016blayers-1.jpg\" class='shutterset'><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ngg-singlepic ngg-center\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-content\/gallery\/general\/nicerksoncardjuly2016blayers-1.jpg\" alt=\"nicerksoncardjuly2016blayers-1\" title=\"nicerksoncardjuly2016blayers-1\" width=800 \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>From upper left clockwise to center: Black Skimmers with tiny chick, Common Tern landing with baitfish for young, fledged Common Tern chick in dunes, American Oystercatchers\/display flight, adult Common Tern with pipefish for chick, Common Tern fledgling in soft light, American Oystercatcher on nest with eggs, American Oystercatcher 3-egg clutch, battling Black Skimmers. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>The IPT Logistics<\/h3>\n<p>The tour will begin with a meet and greet on the afternoon of Monday, July 18, 2016. That will be followed by our first shooting session at the beach. From Tuesday through and including all of Friday we will have two photography sessions daily. Our morning sessions will start very early so that we are on the beach well before sunrise. We usually photograph for about four hours. Then we will enjoy a group brunch. We will always have a midday break that will include a nap for me. That followed by our daily afternoon classroom sessions that will include image review, workflow and Photoshop, and a review\/critique of five of your trip images. Folks are always invited to bring their laptops to brunch for image sharing. I always have mine with me but heck, I am a big show-off. Afternoon in-the-field sessions generally run from 5pm through sunset. <\/p>\n<p>Breakfasts are grab what you can. Four brunches are included. Dinners (if at all) will be on your own as we will often get back to the hotel at about 9pm. There is a fridge in every room and a supermarket within walking distance of the hotel so nobody should starve. You will learn a ton during the nine shooting sessions, the four in-classroom sessions, and even at lunch. Early morning and late afternoon parking is free. If we want to head back to the beach early we will need to arrange tight carpools and share the $30\/vehicle parking fee. Non-photographer spouses, friends, or companions are welcome for $100\/day, $450 for the whole IPT.   <\/p>\n<p>Save a space by calling Jim or Jen at the office at 863-692-0906 and arranging to leave your deposit of $599&#8211;credit cards are accepted for deposits only. Your balance will be due on April 18, 2016. I hope that you can join me for what will be an exciting and educational IPT. <\/p>\n<h3>Please Remember to use our Affiliate Links \ud83d\ude42<\/h3>\n<p>To show your appreciation for my continuing efforts here, we ask, as always, that you get in the habit of using my B&#038;H affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your photo and electronics 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>, especially the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=274\">Mongoose M3.6 tripod heads<\/a>, Induro tripods and ballheads, Wimberley <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=35\">heads<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=8\">plates<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/category.aspx?catid=17\">LensCoats and accessories<\/a>, and the like. We sell only what I have used, have tested, and can 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>. <\/p>\n<p>I would of course appreciate your using our B&#038;H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. <font color=red><strong>For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. <\/strong><\/font> Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and visiting the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/default.aspx\">BAA Online<\/a> store as well.   <\/p>\n<p>I would of course appreciate your using our B&#038;H affiliate links for all of your major gear, video, and electronic purchases. <font color=red><strong>For the photographic stuff mentioned in the paragraph above we, meaning BAA, would of course greatly appreciate your business. <\/strong><\/font> Here is a huge thank you to the many who have been using our links on a regular basis and visiting the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.birdsasart.com\/shop\/default.aspx\">BAA Online<\/a> store as well. <\/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>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 or errors. Just be right \ud83d\ude42  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s Up <\/p>\n<p>I spent most of Friday getting lots more done on my 2015 taxes. I enjoyed another nice swim. <\/p>\n<p> A Big Loss <\/p>\n<p>I learned on Friday that Michael Reichmann, founder of the highly respected Luminous Landscape website, passed away at age 71 on Wednesday past. I am sending love, strength, and energy to [&#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":[599],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-599","odd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33224","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=33224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33224\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}