Multiple IPT veteran Eugen Dolan is joining me for a month, arriving on 26 September. Beginning bird photographer Alvin Red Stevens is joining us for a week; he shows up on 12 October. And when he leaves, new friend Mishael Voisin will be with us for a week of photography and learning. Several folks have sworn that they will be joining me at some point but right now, November is wide open. Check out the opportunities below and then change your life by joining me this fall. Feel free to e-mail<\/a> me or to call or text — 863-221-2372 with any questions or concerns. <\/p>\n On Tuesday I completed a third edit of the Sebastian OCT-NOV 2024 folder. It is always fun to discover some really good images that never caught your attention before. Below I share five images that got me excited on my third trip through what was a great month at Sebastian in 2024. Do understand that in 2026 the top Sebastian location, the South Jetty, is scheduled to be closed for major reconstruction next season. That is why I am all in for 2025! <\/p>\n The lakeshore at ILE had been less than inspiring since I got back from Long Island. There are more than a few birds around, but nothing has really gotten me excited lately. <\/p>\n Today is Friday 12 September 2025. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have fun and enjoy the day. <\/p>\n As I have some fabulous new tips and techniques to share, I will soon begin work on the Digital Basics IV Video Series. Covered will be the use of the masking feature in Adobe Camera Raw (thanks to Anita North), the use of the Point Color eye dropper to tame super saturated colors during raw conversions (discovered in tandem with Anita), and a fabulous new Remove Tool trick that makes my favorite Photoshop Tool even more amazing — that one discovered by me \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n If an item \u2014 a Delkin flash card or reader<\/a>, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro<\/a>, or a Wimberley lens plate <\/a> or low foot<\/a> — 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 or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedford 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 Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net<\/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 If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on the Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025),<\/a> in San Diego<\/a> for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), or for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh (March 2026), please e-mail<\/a> for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.<\/p>\n Click on the screen capture to enlarge.<\/p>\n Optimizing the raw files that I create brings me just about as much joy and happiness as being out into the field creating the image. Properly exposed (to the right) raw files should not represent what you saw in nature. Other than the bill cleanup, Image #1, the white morph Reddish Egret, made in sunny conditions, looks quite a bit like the raw file. The raw file for the second image, the gently backlit Great Egret, looks washed out and lifeless and was not at all what I saw in the field. I used perhaps a dozen masks during the conversion in Adobe Camera Raw to bring this image to life. Creating and using ACR masking techniques will be covered in detail in the Digital Basics IV Video Series. Most folks looking at the raw file for the Tricolored Heron image would judge it as well over-exposed. RawDigger showed it to be perfect. A healthy crop from below and from the left the and the adjustments made by moving the sliders under the Light tab in ACR created the image that I had envisioned while standing in a foot of water. The raw files for Images #4 and 5 look totally flat, washed out, and boring. Each was brought to life simply be adjusting the sliders under the Light tab in ACR. And the pelicans on the rocks photo benefitted greatly from both some Color Mixer work and the Average Blur Color Balance trick. <\/p>\n You can of course see the five optimized images by scrolling down. I am most proud of the optimization of the gently backlit Great Egret raw file as getting the background, color, and tonality right was a challenge. We will be doing image review and Photoshop sessions pretty much every day at Sebastian. <\/p>\n This image was created on 31 October 2024 on a Sebastian Inlet Extended IPT. Standing at full height, I used the Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod<\/a>\/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro<\/a>-mounted Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens<\/a> with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter<\/a> and the Sony a-1 (now replaced by the Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera<\/a>). Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 800: 1\/2000 sec. at f\/8 stopped down 1 stop for a bit of extra depth of field) in Manual mode. RawDigger<\/a> showed that the exposure was perfect. AWB at 5:18:35am on a sunny afternoon. <\/p>\n Tracking: Zone\/AF-C with Bird Eye\/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly.<\/p>\nWhat’s Up?<\/h3>\n
Gear Questions and Advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn<\/h3>\n
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\n \n \n \n Photo Mechanic screen capture of today’s 5 featured raw files
\nImage copyright 2025 Arthur Morris\/BIRDS AS ARTToday’s Image Optimizations<\/h3>\n
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\n \n \n \n Image #1: Reddish Egret white morph in the wind
\nImage copyright 2025 Arthur Morris\/BIRDS AS ART