In Monday’s blog post, my favorite image was #4, the Snowy Egret fly-by flight shots. Why? I loved the sweet light, the sharpness, the white on blue color motif, and best of all, the wings fully down flight pose. The calling Laughing Gull on the wall was my second pick for the action, the sweet light, and the background color. What I was looking for in the dowitcher ruffling image was a bit more separation between the bill tip and the small breaking wave. Another second would have done it. And, in addition, we would have seen a bit more of the bird’s yellow legs. <\/p>\n
Do understand that I love the dowitcher ruffling image for the position of the feathers and that I love the first image, the juvie little blue hunting, for the soft light and the low, very intimate perspective. Only very rarely do I use images that I do not love on the blog. It’s just that I love some images more than others. <\/p>\n
To learn about the late registration discount for the 2nd DeSoto IPT (Tuesday 11 April through the morning session on 14 April 2023. 3 1\/2 Days: $1899.00 includes three working brunches. Limit six photographers\/Openings: 5), call me at 863-221-2372. If I do not pick up, please shoot me a text. <\/p>\n
After creating today’s two featured images on Monday morning, I set up a road-kill cafe and had lots of vulture action. I spent Tuesday morning on lake Blue Cypress. It was a beautiful morning for a boat ride but the faint breeze from the SW made bird photography — especially flight photography, very difficult once the sun came over the big cloud in the east. <\/p>\n
While re-arranging the rear compartment of my SUV late on Tuesday afternoon, I realized that I had left my monopod on the bank near the canal when shooting the incoming vultures. I headed down to the lake and as you might have expected, found it easily. Stuff always comes back to me. Anyhoo, I took a short ride around, found and photographed the smallest crane chick, and then found and photographed the finally fledged and flying Crested Caracara. I had been watching the chicks in the nest for several weeks. <\/p>\n
Today is Wednesday 5 April 2023. I will be headed down to the lake soon. This blog post took about two hours to prepare including the time spent on the image optimizations. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. <\/p>\n
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
\n| \n | This image was created on 3 April 2023 down by the lake near my home. Standing by the edge of a canal, I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f\/2.8 GM OSS lens<\/a> and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera<\/a>). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1\/2500 sec. at f\/2 (stopped down 1\/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger,<\/a> the raw file brightness was determined to be dead-solid perfect (ho hum). AWB at 8:33:17am on a mostly sunny morning. <\/p>\n Tracking: Expand Zone\/AF-C with Bird Face\/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. <\/p>\n |