{"id":88961,"date":"2024-01-15T04:29:10","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T08:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=88961"},"modified":"2025-03-07T10:30:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T14:30:31","slug":"changing-background-colors-in-the-field-the-skinny-on-the-nikkor-z-800mm-f-6-3-vr-s-lens-and-the-z9-z8-bodies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2024\/01\/15\/changing-background-colors-in-the-field-the-skinny-on-the-nikkor-z-800mm-f-6-3-vr-s-lens-and-the-z9-z8-bodies\/","title":{"rendered":"Changing Background Colors in the Field. The Skinny on the NIKKOR Z 800mm f\/6.3 VR S Lens and the Z9\/Z8 Bodies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Via Text from Sigmon Whitener<\/h3>\n

Sadako and I had a great time with you on the 2 1\/2-DAY DeSoto IPT. And, in just a couple of days, we learned a lot more than we ever expected to.<\/em> <\/p>\n

Your Call?<\/h3>\n

Which of the three background colors do you prefer for a preening white pelican? <\/p>\n

These Just About Sum It Up<\/h3>\n

Keith Solberg: January 13, 2024 at 6:40pm <\/h2>\n

I like the bird\u2019s pose. The rocks are OK, but IMO they might be better if they were roughly the same height. The extra height on the right upsets the image\u2019s balance for me.<\/em><\/p>\n

with love, a<\/p>\n

Arthur Morris\/BIRDS AS ART: January 13, 2024 at 11:11pm<\/h2>\n

Thanks for leaving a comment, Keith. For me, the extra height of the rocks on the right balance\u2019s the image perfectly. And just for the record books, I think that it is a fantastic image. <\/em><\/p>\n

Cliff Beittel: January 14, 2024 at 7:53pm<\/h2>\n

Agree about the height of the rocks on the right\u2013bird seems positioned perfectly against the background. The background has a desert look\u2013like Joshua Tree NP without the trees. Not a negative, just different and interesting.<\/em><\/p>\n

Arthur Morris\/BIRDS AS ART: January 15, 2024 at 7:08am<\/h2>\n

Thanks, Cliff. The ambience under the bridge is not very pleasing :-). <\/p>\n

As I was making that image, I thought, “I am not gonna like those rocks — they are too close to the bird.” I was happy that the super-wide f\/2.8 aperture blurred them so nicely.<\/em><\/p>\n

with love, a<\/p>\n

What’s Up?<\/h3>\n

I learned on Saturday morning that Alaska Airlines had cancelled my nonstop Monday afternoon flight from Orlando to San Diego as the airline was forced to ground many Boeing 737 Max 9 flights after last week’s mid-air cabin panel blowout. (You can learn about the FAA investigation here<\/a>.) I called the airline and looked into new flights for Monday. I went with one where I’d have to leave Orlando more than two hours earlier, layover at DFW for two hours, and arrive in San Diego at about the same times as originally planned. <\/p>\n

But when the Buffalo Bills\/Pittsburgh Steelers game (go Bills!) was moved from Sunday to Monday, I decided that I did not want to miss that game and the Philadelphia Eagles\/Tampa Bay Buccaneers (go Bucs!) as well. So I looked for a flight on Tuesday and found a nonstop from MCO to SAN. I called Alaska on Saturday evening, but with so many cancellations and delays because of the grounded aircraft and the frigid weather and snow, the recording said, “The longest wait time to speak to an agent is five<\/em><\/strong> hours.” I went to bed. <\/p>\n

I woke at 5:30am on Sunday and figured that if I called then, I could quickly change my flight. I got a message stating: “The longest wait time to speak to an agent is six<\/em><\/strong> hours.” With no choice, I plugged my cell phone in and waited on hold. I did get lots of work done making sure that I took the phone with me when I left my office. After two hours twenty minutes, a pleasant agent answered and changed my flights in a very few minutes. I will be flying to San Diego nonstop on Tuesday afternoon. <\/p>\n

I’ve been flying Alaska a lot recently and honestly say that they have fantastic customer service. All of my flights have been pleasant and all of my luggage has arrived on time — knock on wood …<\/p>\n

Today is Monday 15 January 2024. I will continue packing for my 4-week CA trip. Wherever you are and whatever you choose to do, I hope that you too have a great day. <\/p>\n

Please remember to use the B&H 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

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\n
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This image was created at Lakeland, FL on 10 January by Sigmon Whitener on a 2 1\/2-DAY Fort DeSoto private IPT. He used a RWS monopod\/Wimberley MonoGimbal Head<\/a>-mounted Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f\/6.3 VR S Lens<\/a> with the Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera<\/a>. ISO 400: 1\/1250 second at f\/8 in Manual mode. At 8:56:43 on a sunny morning.<\/p>\n

Image optimization and how-to video by Arthur Morris\/BIRDS AS ART <\/p>\n

Image #1: American White Pelican preening
\nImage courtesy of and copyright 2023: Sigmon Whitener
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