{"id":85418,"date":"2023-03-07T12:05:38","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T16:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=85418"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:18:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:18:41","slug":"do-you-agree-with-this-premise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2023\/03\/07\/do-you-agree-with-this-premise\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Agree With This Premise?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sony FE 135mm f\/1.8 GM (Grand Master) Lens<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Price reduced $200.00 on 7 March 2023<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

Anthony Ardito is offering a Sony FE 135mm f\/1.8 GM lens (USA warranty) in like-new condition for a ridiculously low $1498.00 (was $1,698.00). The sale includes the original product box and everything that came in it including the ALC-F82S 82mm front lens cap, the ALC-R1EM rear lens cap, the ALC-SH156 lens hood, the lens case, all factory accessories and manuals, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower 48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made. <\/p>\n

Please contact Anthony via e-mail at e-mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prized for its ability to isolate focus, the FE 135mm f\/1.8 GM from Sony is a medium telephoto prime characterized by a bright and sophisticated design. It is perfect for portraiture and also excels at close-range sports shooting and as a unique focal length for landscapes. Its Grand Master design prioritizes both sharpness and bokeh quality and the lens also offers fast autofocus AF capabilities and durable build quality. It is designed to achieve notably high resolution and sharpness through the correction of a wide variety of spherical and chromatic aberrations and its bright f\/1.8 maximum aperture benefits working in difficult lighting conditions. Th rounded 11-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality when employing selective focus techniques.<\/em> Sony & B&H<\/p>\n

This superb, high-end medium telephoto lens sells new for $2,098.00. It is the dream lens<\/em><\/strong> for all serious portrait photographers. If you have been hoping to find a reasonably-priced copy this lens, grab Anthony’s pretty much new one right now and put $400.00 in savings into your pocket.<\/em> artie<\/p>\n

Homer 2024<\/h3>\n

I have my dates for the two February 2024 Homer\/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs. If you would be interested in doing both 5-day trips and driving from Anchorage and Homer and back with me (with a big discount), or are interested in the $500 early-registration discount, please get in touch via e-mail<\/a><\/center>. <\/p>\n

What’s Up?<\/h1>\n

A friend sent me a version of yesterday’s featured image in which he replaced with the eagle’s back with grasses. Though it was a fairly good job, there were telltale mismatches of some of the grass stems. That’ is why I want with the rock idea.<\/p>\n

Both sessions on Day Four of the third and final 2023 Homer IPT were excellent. Just after sunrise, we enjoyed spectacular views of Iliana Volcano. Then, we had great flight photography opportunities at the spectacular Elephant Rock. Everyone tried to make images of an eagle in the arch. Note that the lower quarter of the arch is below water on high tides. After the bone chilling cold of the first two days of the last IPT, summer returned to Homer, AK. During our afternoon session on Monday, most in the group had removed their parkas and gloves. The third IPT is the first ever to experience five sunny days (despite the forecasts of partly to mostly cloudy skies). Thus, Captain Gabe and I had to come up with some new ideas both for the morning and evening sessions. I am proud to say that we did that in spades.<\/p>\n

Today is Tuesday 7 March 2023. The forecast is for sunny all with with light breezes from the east\/northeast. As we are already on overtime, and two folks are flying back to Anchorage today, we will be skipping the afternoon session so that everyone can begin packing for their trips home. Bob Eastman, Monte Brown, and I will be driving up on Wednesday to catch our red-eye flights home. This blog post took more than an hour to prepare and makes three hundred forty-two days in a row with a new educational post written just for you. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.<\/p>\n

Please, please, pretty please remember to use my B&H or Bedford’s affiliate programs for all your new gear purchases. If you use B&H, please be sure to click on any B&H link in the blog to start your search. Or simply start with this link<\/a>. There is always the option of e-mailing me for gear advice and for the correct links. <\/p>\n

The plan is to continue to post every day until the streak reaches one year and one day and then begin posting every other day. <\/p>\n

As above, please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT<\/a>. You will be amazed at how much you will learn! <\/p>\n

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) 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 who, like me, 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

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, 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 earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and\/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.<\/p>\n

Induro GIT 304L Tripod<\/h3>\n

Price reduced $50.00 on 16 FEB 2023<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

Out of production for more than two years, BAA sold its last one in December. The good news? We have two more new-in-the-box tripods. They are now available for only $649.00 (were $699.00). The 304L was my go-to tripod for more than a decade. Best to grab order yours right now by clicking here<\/a> to avoid being disappointed. <\/p>\n

B&H<\/h3>\n

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog <\/em><\/strong> or begin their searches with this link<\/a>, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail<\/a> and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.<\/p>\n

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy <\/h3>\n

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.<\/p>\n

Visit the Bedfords website here<\/a>, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail<\/a>, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592. <\/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 like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex 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 check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists 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 a 1, 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

Important Note<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link on the right side of each blog post page). My affiliate link works fine with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n


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Gear Questions and Advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs 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. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.<\/a> If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This image was created on 6 March 2023 an Instructional Photo-Tour at Kachemak Bay, Homer with the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f\/2.8 GM OSS II lens<\/a> (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.<\/a>. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 400: 1\/4000 sec. at f\/4 (stopped down one-stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:46:02am on a sunny morning. <\/p>\n

Tracking: Zone AF\/C with Bird-Eye\/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. <\/p>\n

Image #1: Adult Bald Eagle flying in front of the natural arch at Elephant Rock, Kachemak Bay, AK\n