{"id":53400,"date":"2018-02-01T04:41:18","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T08:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=53400"},"modified":"2018-01-31T23:42:59","modified_gmt":"2018-02-01T03:42:59","slug":"scratching-perfection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2018\/02\/01\/scratching-perfection\/","title":{"rendered":"Scratching Perfection?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Stuff<\/h3>\n<p>Most of the group woke early and by 5:30am we were in place to photograph setting red full moon eclipse. Patrick Sparkman helped everyone including and especially me with the technical stuff. Despite the high tide and the perfect weather it was the worst ever morning for pelicans. By far. Zero pelicans landed on the cliffs despite that fact that everyone stayed well back and gave the birds lots of room to land &#8230; Heck, there simply were no pelicans. <\/p>\n<p>I took the group out for the Thank You dinner on Tuesday night; on the way there we witnessed but did not get to photograph a mega-mega sunset &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Lee and I are having dinner with Patrick and Robin Sparkman on Wednesday evening. Lee and I fly to Orlando tomorrow. <\/p>\n<p>There are two openings on the spoonbill IPT.  Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2018\/01\/17\/2018-roseate-spoonbill-boat-ipt\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here <\/a>for complete info. If anyone would like to join me shooting spoonbills for 1 1\/2 days, February 19 (full day) and February 20 (morning session only), please get in touch via <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a>. <\/p>\n<h3>The Streak<\/h3>\n<p>Today makes one hundred eighty-five days in a row with a new educational blog post! This one took about 30 minutes to prepare. With all of my upcoming free time (or not &#8230;), the plan right now is to break the current record streak of 480 &#8230; Good health and good internet connections and my continuing insanity willing. <\/p>\n<p><center><A href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/buy\/Photography-Deals\/ci\/18560\/ipp\/48\/N\/4143096970\/view\/GRID?BI=6633&#038;KW=&#038;KBID=7226&#038;img=bestdeals-am.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/images\/affiliateimages\/bestdeals-am.jpg\" border=\"0\"><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/affiliates.bhphotovideo.com\/showban.asp?id=7226&#038;img=bestdeals-am.jpg\" border=0><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>Booking.Com<\/h3>\n<p>Booking.Com came through for me twice again recently with both the DeSoto Fall IPT and next July&#8217;s UK Puffins, Gannets, and Bempton Pre-trip room reservations. And all the rates were great. If you&#8217;d like to give Booking.Com a shot, click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/s\/ea1bab74\">here<\/a> and you will earn a $25 reward. Thanks to the many who have already tried and used this great service. <\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez_banner_container_28_10\" style=\"margin:auto;position:relative;width:300px;height:250px;overflow:hidden;\">\n   <script src=\"https:\/\/ajax.googleapis.com\/ajax\/libs\/webfont\/1\/webfont.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n   <script type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/mer54715.datafeedfile.com\/ez_banner\/?b=28&#038;v=1.0&#038;aff_num=7226&#038;sid=EZBANNER\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>Gear Questions and Advice<\/h3>\n<p>Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of folks whom I see in the field, and on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birdphotographers.net\/forums\/content.php?s=52d51423c223b39bdca1765c6839ffc2\" target=\"_blank\">BPN<\/a>, are&#8211;out of ignorance&#8211;using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads&#8230; Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a>. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and\/or lens choices and decisions.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><center>ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>This image was created on the 2nd San Diego IPT on the morning of January 27 at La Jolla, CA with the hand held <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1175034-REG\/nikon_af_s_nikkor_200_500mm_f_5_6e.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/NI20050056VR\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xNI20050056VR\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f\/5.6E ED VR lens<\/a> (at 380mm) and the mega mega-pixel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1351688-REG\/nikon_d850_dslr_camera_body.html\/BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\/kw\/NID850\/DFF\/d10-v2-t1-xNID850\" target=\"_blank\">Nikon D850 DSLR.<\/a>. ISO 400. Matrix metering : 1\/2000 sec. at f\/6.3 in Manual mode was about -1\/3 stop. AWB at 7:45am in early morning light. <\/p>\n<p>One to the right and one down from center Group (grp)\/Shutter Button AF. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Brown Pelican, Pacific race, scratching<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"468\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"60\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;\" border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/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=7522&#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>Scratching Perfection? <\/h3>\n<p>What did I do right in the field?<\/p>\n<p>What did I do wrong in the field? <\/p>\n<p>What are the good things about this image?<\/p>\n<p>What are the negatives?<\/p>\n<h3>Help Support the Blog<\/h3>\n<p>Please help support my (stupendous) efforts here on the blog by remembering to click on the logo link above each time that you shop Amazon. That would be greatly appreciated. There is no problem using your Prime account; just click on the link and log into your Prime account. With love, artie<\/p>\n<h3>If In Doubt &#8230;<\/h3>\n<p>If in doubt about using the BAA B&#038;H affiliate link correctly, you can always start your search by clicking <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/?BI\/6633\/KBID\/7226\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>. Please note that the tracking is invisible. Web orders only. Please, however, remember to shoot me your receipt via <a href=\"mailto:samandmayasgrandpa@att.net\">e-mail<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><center><A href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/buy\/Nikon\/ci\/9811\/N\/4288586282+4291315846\/view\/GRID?BI=6633&#038;KW=&#038;KBID=7226&#038;img=bh_nikon_14-728x90.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/images\/affiliateimages\/bh_nikon_14-728x90.jpg\" border=\"0\"><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/affiliates.bhphotovideo.com\/showban.asp?id=7226&#038;img=bh_nikon_14-728x90.jpg\" border=0><\/center><\/p>\n<p><center><A href=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/promotion\/12352\/canon-rebates.html?BI=6633&#038;KW=&#038;KBID=7226&#038;img=CanonSaveBig-728x90.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/images\/affiliateimages\/CanonSaveBig-728x90.jpg\" border=\"0\"><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/affiliates.bhphotovideo.com\/showban.asp?id=7226&#038;img=CanonSaveBig-728x90.jpg\" border=0><\/center><\/p>\n<h3>Please Remember to use my Affiliate Links and to Visit the New BAA Online Store \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=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/\">New BIRDS AS ART Online Store<\/a>, especially the <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/mongoose-action-head\/\">Mongoose M3.6 tripod head<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/plates-and-replacement-feet\/wimberley-arca-swiss-style-lens-plates\/\">Wimberley lens plates<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/digital-media\/\">Delkin flash cards and accessories<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/lenscoat-covers\/\">LensCoat stuff<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>As always, 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 please remember that I am 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, and for everything else in the new store, 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 those who will be visiting the <a href=\"http:\/\/birdsasart-shop.com\/\">New BIRDS AS ART Online Store<\/a> 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 :).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stuff <\/p>\n<p>Most of the group woke early and by 5:30am we were in place to photograph setting red full moon eclipse. Patrick Sparkman helped everyone including and especially me with the technical stuff. Despite the high tide and the perfect weather it was the worst ever morning for pelicans. By far. Zero pelicans landed on [&#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":[626],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-626","odd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53400","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=53400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53400\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}