In mid-August of this year, I discovered that I could not remove the drop-in filter on my Sony 600mm f/4. It needs to be cleaned every few weeks. So, with some trepidation, I sent the lens to Sony repair in LA in late August. Other than the stuck filter, the lens had been working perfectly. I was pleased to note that Sony picked up the round-trip, overnight Fed Ex shipping charges as part of my Sony Pro Support membership ($100.00/year).
In early September they told me that the filter was stuck because “of sand getting into the unit.” Understandable. They stated that they had cleaned the entire lens as it was “full of sand.” Again understandable. Two weeks later I received another e-mail: they had discovered a problem with the AF system and needed a part that was out of stock. Several weeks after that, they told me that the part had come in, but when they began the repair, they discovered that they needed another part that was of course out of stock. At that point I decided to grab a loaner. While I love the 400mm f/2.8, there are times when I need and depend on the 600, especially at Sebastian Inlet.
On October 23, I got an e-mail stating that the lens would be returned to me in perfect working condition. The first time that I attached an a-1 to the lens it was obvious that the lens was inoperable. The camera could not read the lens; all I saw in the EVF was “f-” instead of the aperture. Unfortunately, I had returned the loaner before checking the lens.
I returned the lens to Sony and grabbed another loaner. I immediately got an e-mail asking if I had taken the lens to the beach as it was again “full of sand.” I wrote back stating that I had not taken the lens into the field and that sand they had found must have been leftover from the first “cleaning.”
The next e-mail said that the unit needed a new motherboard that was, of course, out of stock. On November 22, just about three months to the day that I sent it in, I got my lens back.
The first thing that I did when when testing the lens was shoot it with the 2X. Checking out today’s featured images you will see that the sharpness at 1200mm is spot on; I am very happy with the repairs.
Used Gear Updates
Canon EOS 7D Mark II with Extras
Good friend and many multiple IPT veteran Indranil Sircar is offering a Canon EOS 7D Mark II in excellent plus condition with several extras for a very low $449.00. The shutter count is 31001. The sale includes the Canon Battery Grip BG-E16 (a roughly $69.00 value), two Canon batteries, the original box, the cables and software and manuals, the battery charger, the front body cap, Canon Remote Release RS-80N3 (a roughly $50.00 value) and insured ground shipping via UPS to lower-48 US addresses only.
If you are looking to get started with a Canon dSLR, Indranil’s 7DII is perfect for you. Both Patrick Sparkman and I used and loved the 7D Mark II bodies until about ten years ago when we both committed to using full-frame Canon bodies. We both made some truly great images with it. Two of my three 2016 Nature’s Best honored entries were created with the 7D II, one still, and one video. The 7D Mark II remains one of the greatest-ever values in a digital camera body. artie
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with Extras
Good friend and many multiple IPT veteran Indranil Sircar is offering a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV in excellent plus condition with several extras for a very low $999.00. The sale includes the Canon Battery Grip BG-E20 (a roughly $229.00 value), two Canon batteries, the original box, the cables and software and manuals, the battery charger, the front body cap, and insured ground shipping via UPS to lower-48 US addresses only.
What can I say? The 5D IV was my favorite-ever Canon digital dSLR. I owned and used three of them while my 1DX II and a 1DX III sat on the shelf in my garage. A new 5D Mark IV, with its 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor, sells new for $$2,699. If you have been dreaming of a 5D IV, grab Indranil’s 5D IV right now and save an astounding $1,700.00. artie
Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM Autofocus Telephoto Lens
BAA Record-low Price!
John Nelson is offering a Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM autofocus telephoto lens in excellent condition for a BIRDS AS ART record-low $599.00. The sale includes the soft pouch, the hood, the front and rear lens caps, 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.
Ideal for portraiture, the EF 135mm f/2L USM is a medium telephoto prime and a member of Canon’s L-series of lenses. The long focal length coupled with the f/2 maximum aperture afford a great deal of control over depth of field for isolating subject matter and using selective focus, and the bright aperture also benefits shooting handheld in low-light conditions. In regard to the optical design, the lens uses two ultra-low dispersion elements to control chromatic aberrations and color fringing for high clarity, and a Super Spectra coating has also been applied to suppress flare and ghosting for increased contrast and color accuracy. Complementing the imaging attributes, a ring-type USM is employed to deliver quick and quiet autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus. It is compatible with both the EF 1.4X and EF 2X teleconverters. B&H and Canon.
Canon EOS-1DX Mark II Digital SLR Camera with Extras!
BAA Record-low Price! Price reduced $200.00 on 25 November 2023
John Nelson is offering a Canon EOS-1DX Mark II dSLR camera in excellent condition for a BIRDS AS ART record low $1399.00 (was $1599.00). The sale includes the original box, one battery, the charger, the front body cap, four (4) 128 128GB CFast memory cards, cfast cards, 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.
The 1DX Mark II is a rugged, fast Canon professional digital camera body. It features an excellent AF system and high quality image files with great dynamic range. When he used Canon, it was the first choice of Arash Hazeghi, the world’s premier photographer of birds in flight.Two iDX II served as my workhorse bodies for several years. And I loved them. artie
This image was created on 24 November 2023 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 2000. 1/500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:31:59am in the shade, gently backlit on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Crested Caracara adult head and neck portrait
The ILE Caracara Situation
A pair of Crested Caracaras is building a nest in the same tree that they used last year. For the past few mornings, the pair has been feeding on the lawn in front of a home on Palmetto Drive along with a dozen or so Cattle Egrets.
Remember that if your super-telephoto lens has a Direct Manual Focus (DMF) switch, you need to set it to Off when you are working on a beanbag so that you do not inadvertently throw off the focus when framing or re-composing. Then you need to remember to turn it back on when you go back to normal use.
The Color Work and the Bill Clean-up
Using the new Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool (L-TAT) makes it child’s play to adjust the Luminance and Saturation of the colors in each and every image. For the extensive bill clean-up, I used a variety of Photoshop tools, but the new Remove Tool was the most valuable. I will include this image in a future Volume I video. The Volume 1/#2 video will be distributed this coming Tuesday.
Be sure also to check out the Eye Doctor work.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool (L-TAT). The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here or at the bottom of this blog post.
You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. If you are a new subscriber to the series you will receive Volume I/#1 no later than tomorrow and Volume I/#2 on Tuesday.
The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
This image was created on 9 November 2023 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1000. 1/500 sec. at f/9 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 8:56:14am on bright sunny morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Black Vulture adult portrait
Looking Quite Regal
This handsome adult Black Vulture posed for a 1200mm head portrait against the white sand of the Indian Lake Estates Beach. The “beach” is actually a sand pit to the left of the pier. Though it cost a pretty penny to build, the birds are the only creatures I have seen using it.
The New Remove Tool
There were about a zillion specks of whitewash on this handsome vulture’s face and several more on its feathers. For the extensive clean-up, I used a special technique with new Remove Tool. I will be including that technique in a future Volume I video. The Volume 1/#2 video will be distributed this coming Tuesday.
This image was created on 24 November 2023 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1000. 1/1250 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be perfect. AWB at 8:51:12am on sunny morning.
Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Turkey Vulture adult and Black Vulture juvenile head portrait juxtaposition
A Comparative Juxtaposition
Tight head shots of both species of vultures when working at 1200mm at ILE are easy peasy. When I saw a TV and a BV perfectly aligned atop a small rise adjacent to the parking circle near the pier, I placed the lens on the BLUBBbefore I began my approach. Then I slowly and carefully drove my vehicle into just the right spot.
The birds remained nicely juxtaposed for about two minutes. I created about two dozen images, kept two slightly different ones, and optimized just the one above.
Car-As-Blind Technique Question
When working from a vehicle, why do you need to place the lens on the BLUBBbefore making a close approach?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Thanks for the many interesting and insightful comments at yesterday’s blog post.
All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK
2024 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs
IPT #1: WED 21 FEB 2024 through the full day on SUN 25 FEB 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 1.
IPT #2: MON 26 FEB 2024 through the full day on FRI 1 MAR 2024. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 1.
Register for both trips to maximize your travel dollars and enjoy a $1000 discount while you are at it.
This trip features non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits and head shots of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.
In addition, we should see (and possibly get to photograph) Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require some luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when pleasing creating bird-scapes. In most years we have chances for Short-eared and Great Grey Owl, Grey-crowned Rosy Finch, and Moose in and around Homer.
You will enjoy working with the best and most creative boat captain in Homer on his sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck watercraft.
There will be only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader on these trips.
Almost endless small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.
If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If the conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will be in the right spot at the right time. And ad we will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country, landscape and scenic opportunities abound.
Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader and instructor. He is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer.
Homer 2022 Bald Eagle Highlights and Handholding Compositional Tips by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Enjoy and be inspired by just a few Homer Bald Eagle highlight images. Hand holding intermediate telephoto lens will always yield slightly different compositions. Learn more about that topic in this short (3:14) video.
All images from Kachemak Bay in 2022!
What You Will Learn
You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer. But only if that is what you want.
You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes. You will learn to make pleasing blurs and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode when the situation is right. Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight images from tens of thousands of images.
All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK
What’s Included
One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner.
What’s Not Included
Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and a tip for the boat captain.
Please Note
On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour. The leader will pay for the bait.
Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer. In 2023 those included Moose, Great Grey, and Short-eared Owls.
Deposit Information
A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (the latter made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 60 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check (as above).
In Closing
I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of these two trips is to sign up for both of them. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, or two of these great trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.
Via Comment by Bob Eastman
Happy Thanksgiving Sir. Anyone looking for an amazing time, get to Homer with artie. There is so much to see. Not to mention hundreds and hundreds of Bald Eagles so close. To see them up close and personal is truly something to behold; portraits and flight are a given and you name, and it is there.
Always with love b
This image was created on 27 February 2023 on an Instructional Photo-Tour at Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK. I used the handheld Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 223mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 500: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 3:55:18pm on a sunny afternoon.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed well enough. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Bald Eagle starting dive
Headless Birds?
Can an image of a bird be successful if you cannot see its head and its eye (or eyes)? Do you like this one or would it be an insta-delete for you?
Image #2: The Photo Mechanic screen capture for the Glaucous-wing Gull flying in front of the reflection muted sun image
2,961,500 Over-exposed Pixels
Would you delete this one? Why? Or is it possible to successfully optimize an image with nearly 3 million over-exposed pixels (albeit out of 51 million)?
Bright Sun Image Capture Difficulties
Unless the sun is very well muted, including it (or its reflection) in the frame will almost always result in millions of over-exposed pixels. The problem is unavoidable. If you expose so as to avoid over-exposing the sun (or its reflection), everything else — be it sky or water, will be rendered black. No matter how you meter or how you set your exposure, the case is closed.
This image was created on 22 February 2022 on an Instructional Photo-Tour at Kachemak Bay, Homer, AK. I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 559mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure (for images with red sky backgrounds) was determined using Zebra technology with Exposure Compensation on the Thumb Dial. Shutter Priority +1.7 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 320: 1/2000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 6:44:29pm on a mostly sunny afternoon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2A: Glaucous-wing Gull flying in front of the reflection of a somewhat muted sun
Thanks to Ryan Sanderson for correcting my mis-identification
The Optimized Image
Even with the Exposure slider pulled down 2/3 stop, the White slider at -100, and the Highlight Slider set to -100, the reflection of the sun in the water was massively over-exposed. What to do? Replace the over-exposed pixels by any means. The big key was trying Content-Aware Fill. I was shocked at how successful that approach was. After that, it was a matter of using the Clone Stamp Tool, the new Remove Tool, and then smoothing everything with a Layer of Gaussian Blur painted in as needed after the addition of a Hide-all (Black, or Inverse) Layer Mask.
Your Call?
Like it or hate it?
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I got the reference to the song, one of my favorites, immediately. Well done. Making photographic images is increasingly manipulating computers. I still like the physical, mechanical aspects of photography, and miss some of them. I tried to photograph Jupiter last night with my new Canon R7 but I couldn’t find it in the EVF, so I had to use my 7D2 with its beautiful bright OVF.
Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. November 22, 2023 at 6:27am:
Hi David,
Thanks for enjoying my reference to “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” Not sure about your problems finding Jupiter other than to say that the brightness of EVFs is controlled by the exposure settings.
re:
“Making photographic images is increasingly about {sic} manipulating computers.”
With digital, the photographer get to control how his or her images look. With film, that was the job of the lab. I far prefer the former, in fact, for me, processing images is one of the great joys of digital photography.
with love, artie
Furthermore …
I see the raw files that I create simply as digital negatives, to be developed and enhanced as I see fit. With the Turkey Vulture white sky image featured in the previous blog post, by properly exposing far to the right, the blue in the sky was in the raw file, waiting to be enhanced.
As for me, I wish that I had never heard the word “film.”
Your Call?
If you used film and switched to digital as many of us did, which do you prefer, and why?
What’s Up?
After checking the weather for Vero Beach on Monday evening, I got excited. The forecast was calling for 15-20mph winds from the southeast, perfect for Sebastian Inlet. Jim and I woke early and arrived at the State Park at 6:40am. The wind and sun were aligned perfectly. There were dozens of Ospreys in the air fishing. There were two problems. The only birds catching anything were south of the south jetty, backlit and flying away. Crossing the bridge, I found that the birds hunting above the Northwest Pool were fishing but not diving and thus not catching. Though almost everyone photographing at Sebastian has eyes only for Osprey, there are many other birds to photograph. I had a great morning doing flight and action (flapping after bathing) photography; subjects included Royal and Caspian Tern, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, juvenile Herring Gull, first winter Laughing Gull, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Wood Stork, Willet, and Ruddy Turnstone. I considered returning on Wednesday morning but slept in once I saw the forecast for a strong SW wind. Winds from the east and/or the south have been rarer than hen’s teeth on both central Florida coasts this fall.
Today is Thursday 23 November 2023. Enjoy the football and the food and try not to eat too, too much. Though the forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies with a light NW breeze (far less than ideal), I will head down to the lake for a bit.
Wherever you are a whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day.
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. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
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.
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — 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.
Image #1: Ring-billed Gull image by Dave Goldberg
The Photo Mechanic screen capture for today’s featured image
The Raw File
I came across Dave Goldberg’s Ring-billed Gull image in the Avian Forum at Bird Photographers.Net.
You can see Dave’s original post, several excellent comments, and several reposts in the thread here.
Everyone agreed that the image was processed too dark and that that the white balance was off. I asked, and Dave kindly sent me the raw file. The Photo Mechanic histogram above shows significant underexposure. Evaluating the raw file in RawDigger, however, revealed that the exposure was perfect, only 1/3-stop from dead solid prefect.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with my complete digital workflow, Digital Eye Doctor Techniques, and all my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Please note: the Divide and Conquer technique was inadvertently omitted from DB II. It is detailed in a free excerpt in the blog post here.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: most of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here. Today, I convert my Sony raw files in Photoshop with Adobe Camera Raw.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
Image #2: Ring-billed Gull on post. Image courtesy of and copyright 2023: Dave Goldberg.
Image optimization by BIRDS AS ART
Optimizing the Image
I used click White Balance and went to work. I set the sliders in the Colors, Light, and Effect panels as per my DB III workflow. I used my recently developed two-step noise reduction technique and the new Remove Tool for a bit of image clean-up mainly on the wooden post and the bird’s bill. The Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool (L-TAT) did a great job of brightening the background and the gull’s bill. The most difficult part of the image optimization for me was getting rid of the water. I used a series of Quick Masks refined by regular Layer Masks, the Patch Tool, and the Clone Stamp. The background was smoothed with a layer of Gaussian Blur refined by a Hide-All (Inverse or Black) Layer Mask.
Finally, I used Content-Aware crop to level the image and add room above and left.
The Digital Basics III Video Series
The Digital Basics III Video Series
I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.
As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born. You can check out Volume I/#1 here.
You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
