{"id":75695,"date":"2021-08-12T10:12:45","date_gmt":"2021-08-12T14:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=75695"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:34:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:34:55","slug":"morning-macro-saved-by-a-shirt-and-beach-nesting-bird-survival-or-the-lack-thereof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2021\/08\/12\/morning-macro-saved-by-a-shirt-and-beach-nesting-bird-survival-or-the-lack-thereof\/","title":{"rendered":"Morning Macro Saved by a Shirt! And Beach Nesting Bird Survival or the Lack Thereof …"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s Up?<\/h3>\n

We did well on Wednesday morning despite the south wind as I came up with a new strategy for photographing the feeding terns on mornings with less than ideal conditions: a south wind and clear skies … Wednesday afternoon was looking good. You cannot get into Nickerson until after 6pm if you are not a Nassau County resident (even though the entry booths close at 5pm). The nearest that I can figure is that non-Nassau County residents might spread COVID between the hours of 5 and 6pm, but that after 6pm studies have shown that Nassau County residents will not spread COVID at the beach. Not to mention that the chances of catching COVID at the beach on a windy day are far less than 0.000000000001% … <\/p>\n

Anyhoo, we got to the beach at 6:00pm sharp to find a strong southwest wind and clear skies. These are perfect conditions for doing battling skimmers in midair. At ten minutes after six, a huge black cloud appeared and blocked out the sun for the rest of the day. We tried to create some pleasing blurs but pretty much failed. <\/p>\n

I was thrilled to learn yesterday that the Homer IPT is a near sell-out. <\/p>\n

Today is Thursday 12 August. Private client Bill Schneider is flying home to Naples, FL this morning. The forecast is for clear skies with southwest winds, i.e., death on bird photography. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. <\/p>\n

Remember that you can find some great photo accessories (and necessities!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange\/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks like me, who spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account. <\/p>\n

This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes 225 consecutive days with a new one. Please remember that if an item \u2014 a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head \u2014 for example, that is available from B&H and\/or Bedfords, and is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to save 3% at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Doing either often earns you free guides and\/or discounts. And doing so always earns my great appreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Click on the composite to view a larger version. <\/p>\n

The Homer 2020 IPTs<\/em> images<\/em>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Homer Bald Eagles Winter 2022<\/h3>\n

The photography on this trip of a lifetime is beyond amazing. You can do the whole trip with either the Canon 100-500 or the SONY 200-600 along with any 70-200mm lens. Flight photography until you cannot raise your arms, creative set-ups, lots of snow we hope (earlier in the season is best for that), and lots of opportunities for point-blank head portraits and talon shots. All in a variety of spectacular settings. This is an expensive (but competitively priced) trip. If you are seriously interested in joining me for the world’s best Homer\/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle trip(s) — mid-FEB thru early MARCH 2022, please contact me immediately via e-mail<\/a> for dates and details. I have found a roommate for all eleven days! The trip is close to a sellout. <\/p>\n

Please Remember<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

With income from IPTs now close to zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times \u2014 I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) \u2014 remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here<\/a> to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.<\/p>\n

New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!<\/h3>\n

You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.<\/p>\n

Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save. <\/p>\n

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Money Saving Reminder<\/h3>\n

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day air shipping, your best bet is to click here<\/a>, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail<\/a> or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day air shipping. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please. <\/p>\n


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Gear Questions and Advice<\/h3>\n

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN<\/a>, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Image #1: 180 macro shaded setup\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Morning Macro Saved by a Shirt!<\/h3>\n

For several decades I have been suggested that the<\/em><\/strong> best way to improve your sunny day macro photography is to shade the subject. Another constant theme in nature photography is that you often need to think out of the box in the field to solve this or that thorny logistical problem. Above you see that I have used a long-sleeved shirt tied to two tripod legs to shade the subject. I’ve had three or four similar shirts. I got them almost two decades ago when filming several episodes of the Canon Photo Safari TV programs. Anyway, the shirt plus a little ingenuity solved the shade problem. (When I tried to shade the subject with my legs, some light was always creeping into the frame …) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This image was created on 11 August 2021 at Nickerson Beach. Standing at full height with the lens pointed almost straight down, I used the Induro GIT304L Grand Series 3 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod<\/a>\/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Mini<\/a>-mounted Canon EF 180mm f\/3.5L Macro USM lens<\/a> with the Metabones Canon EF\/EF-S Lens to Sony E Mount T Smart Adapter (Fifth Generation)<\/a> and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital camera body.<\/a> ISO 400. The exposure was in part determined by Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the rear wheel, and then selected as best from a series of bracketed images after evaluation in RawDigger<\/a>. 1\/125 sec. at f\/11 (stopped down 4 1\/3 stops) in Manual mode. Manual Focus, Focus Magnifier, and Focus Peaking, all as detailed in the SONY Alpha a1 Info and Updates group e-mails. AWB at 8:22am on a clear, sunny morning. <\/p>\n

Be sure to click on the image to view a larger version. <\/p>\n

Image #1A: Black Skimmer chick carcass\n