Both of today’s featured images are — for different reasons — excellent. Be sure to click on the images to view the larger, sharper, hi-rez versions. Which do you think is the stronger image? Why? I have a clear favorite that I will share with you here on Friday. <\/p>\n
In the previous blog post, I like the color corrected version of Image #2, the tiny oystercatcher which is about to be brooded. Why? For me, sharp, cute, well-made images of newly hatched chicks are priceless. The choice between the rich, sweet, warm light of Image #1 and the cute chick in flat light was a tough one. <\/p>\n
As to the exposure question, the shutter speed for Image #2 was incorrectly shown as 1\/600 second rather than 1\/640 second. Apologies for that typo. <\/p>\n
The technically correct answer is that the exposure for image #2 was only 2 1\/3 stops more than the exposure for Image #1. Why? Because in the strictest terms, exposure is only determined by the shutter speed and the aperture. The ISO is not to be considered as it is an after the fact adjustment. The shutter speed for Image #2 was 1 1\/3 stops slower than for Image #1 — 1\/640 as compared to 1\/1600. And the aperture was one stop wider — f\/6.3 as compared to f\/9. One + 1 1\/3 + 2 1\/3 stops more light. <\/p>\n
Those like me who have a hard time with the technically correct definition, would add in the ISO difference of one full stop — ISO 2500 for the second image as compared to ISP 1250 for the first image and state that Image #2 needed 3 1\/3 stops more light. <\/p>\n
My Long Island visit is coming to an end. On Tuesday morning I walked the beach at low tide carrying only the Sony 70-200mm GM II lens and photographed sand and seaweed patterns. I will share several of those with you here. <\/p>\n
When I was temporarily grounded because my trigger finger surgery incision was healing, there was sunny morning after sunny morning with blues skies and east winds and many sunny afternoons with a west wind. All perfect. Once I got back into action, the weather got pretty lousy. I rarely saw the sun after 16 June. And aside from the cloudy skies, the wind was almost always from the wrong direction. The saving grace was that heavy rains that were forecast for almost every day never materialized. And when it did rain, it was almost always at night. <\/p>\n
As is almost always the case, the vast majority of folks in the field with gear valued at $5000 to $20,000 or more had zero clue as to how to make a good bird photograph. These were the most common and debilitating mistakes:<\/p>\n
1- Standing when photographing birds on the ground.
\n2- Total disregard for sun angle.
\n3- A complete misunderstanding of effects of wind speed and direction on bird photography.
\n4- Zero understanding of bird behavior. <\/p>\n
Many folks showed total disregard for both the nesting birds and for other photographers. And for the last few days, I watched a “professional” leader consistently have his clients in the wrong spot. <\/p>\n
That I had zero folks join an IPT and only two clients during my five week visit leaves me baffled and scratching my head. <\/p>\n
Today is Wednesday 28 June 2023. With partly cloudy skies and a W\/SW wind in the morning, I opted to stay in. I will be visiting younger daughter Alissa this afternoon. Tomorrow I will be having lunch with Helen Hays who recently celebrated fifty years of running the Great Gull Island Tern Project for the American Museum of Natural History. There will be lots more on Helen here soon. Click here<\/a> for a brief peek at the life of this extraordinary woman. Better is the 2012 NY Times article here<\/a>. <\/p>\n I will be heading south to Lorton, Virginia on Friday and on the Auto Train on that afternoon. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too enjoy every day no matter the weather.<\/p>\n If you would like to learn to be a better photographer, consider Joining me on a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour<\/a> (IPT). <\/p>\n The market for editorial sales of natural history images has virtually disappeared. The incomes of the world’s top stock photographers are down by at least 90%. Like me, most depend on income from photo trips, the sale of educational materials, and income from this or that affiliate program. <\/p>\n In 2001, BAA sold the publication rights to images for nearly one-quarter million US dollars. That amount dropped to about $20,000 by 2011, and in 2017, to slightly more than $2,000.00. We’ve stopped counting. IPTs used to fill within days. Now I am happy to go with one or two folks, but I’d much rather have you along. And so it goes. In 2009, I turned to creating educational blog posts, now to the tune of 4056. Yes, 4056 educational blog posts. So, please remember to use either my B&H or Bedfords affiliate links for your major purposes. It does not cost you one cent to do either. <\/p>\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 $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog <\/em><\/strong> or begin their searches with this link<\/a>, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail<\/a> and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.<\/p>\n To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here.<\/a> The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases. <\/p>\n This image was created on 15 June 2023 at Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While seated on dry sand, I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens<\/a> and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. <\/a> ISO 500. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1\/4000 sec. at f\/4 (wide open). RawDigger<\/a> showed the exposure for the raw file to be 1\/6 stop short of perfect. AWB at 5:59:43pm on a sunny afternoon. <\/p>\n Tracking: Zone\/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version.<\/p>\nThe Fact$ of Life<\/h3>\n
B&H<\/h3>\n
B&H Simplified<\/h3>\n
Bedfords Simplified<\/h3>\n
\n
\n \n \n \n Image #1: Black Skimmer in flight — dorsal view<\/strong><\/h2>\n