Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This Just In!

Despite deplorable conditions — wind against a bright sun — at Nickerson Beach Park this morning, Friday 11 AU 2023, I did quite well. There are a zillion black Skimmer chicks and about half a zillion Common Tern chicks. Nearly all of the other photographers there had zero clue as to handle the tough situation.

What is the World Coming To?

For as long as I can remember, I have always had Sports Center or Jeopardy or Chopped running on TIVO as background when I am working on the laptop, that usually in excess of many hours every day for one reason of another. More and more recently, I have found myself turning off the TV and listening to a John Prine mix on you tube. On Saturday, “I Remember Everything” popped up first. I happened to glance at the video. For the next 3:09 I watched and listened, captivated by the words, the sounds, the old photographs, and the old letters and postcards. Can you say heartwarming and poignant? I choked up and cried a bit at times — How I miss you in the morning light, like roses miss the dew. Then I watched it again.

This is the official lyric video for the last recorded song by John Prine before his death on April 7, 2020. The song was written by Prine and his longtime collaborator Pat McLaughlin. And to think that I had never heard of Prine until two years ago. Use the little white search box on the upper right of each blog post and type in John Prine for links to more of his great music.

Your Call?

Please leave a comment letting us know which you feel is the weakest of today’s three featured images. Be sure to let us know why you made your choice. I have a clear favorite as to which one is the worst of the three. I will share that with you here on Sunday.

My Call

In the last blog post, the Lesser Yellowlegs striding and the adult oystercatcher in sweet afternoon light were my two favorites. Why? The background in each image was sublime. And the skimmer chick being brooded did not exactly suck either (though one reader disagreed with me).

What’s Up?

Jim and I became ensnared in an horrific traffic jam on I-4 on the way to the airport on Thursday mornings. Had Maps not suggested an alternative route, I would have miss my flight to Islip for sure.

After a blessedly uneventful flight (my favorite kind), I arrived on time at ISP, picked up a rental car, paid a brief visit to younger daughter Alissa, headed to the Fish Store in Babylon, and then drove to my VRRBO lodgings in Valley Stream.

Today is Friday 11 August 2023. I will likely be at Nickerson early this morning and probably the East Pond this afternoon. If you love shorebirds, terns, and gulls, late summer through fall is a great time to get out into the field and do lots of bird photography. In particular, the southbound plovers, oystercatchers, and sandpipers are usually quite cooperative; the Common Tern chicks on Long Island are fledged and flying, and the skimmer chicks there are getting larger; some are flying. Today is a great day to consider joining me on Long Island — three folks already have, or on a DeSoto IPT. Many IPT veteran John Dupps is joining me for the November IPT; we will probably be sharing an AirBnB in Gulfport!

JBWR/Nickerson Beach Sessions

Nickerson will be rife with Black Skimmer chicks and fledglings and lots of flight photography. Juvenile shorebird photography opportunities at my soul place, the East Pond, JBWR, will peak this coming week (for about three mornings). If you would like to explore the possibility of joining me for an inexpensive In-the-Field Session or two at either or both locations, please get in touch ASAP via e-mail or call or text me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Monday morning at JBW is sold out.

B&H Bild 2023 Expo – 2 Days Of Inspiration, Learning, and Creativity: SEPT 6 & 7, 2023

Registration is Free!

In New York City at The Javits Center
Easily Accessible to anyone in The Tri-State Area
A Celebration of 50 Years of Creativity Through Photo, Video and Audio

Click here to learn more or to register.

More than 100 World Class Speakers
Portfolio Reviews
Photo Walks
Photo & Video Experiences
Tri-State Accessibility
Audio Experience
Contests and Prizes
Learn New Skills
Show Specials on Gear
Network with the Premier Photographers, and Videographers

This image was created on 10 August 2022 during an In-the-Field session at the East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY. Seated on damp mud behind my lowered tripod, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 800. 1/800 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 6:45:38am on a barely sunny morning. Tracking: Expand Spot AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #1: Juvenile Kildeer

Killdeer at JBWR

Adult Killdeer at the East Pond are notoriously shy. Even the juveniles of this species are usually skittish. When working last August with Muhammand Arif, we were blessed to find this relatively tame bird in fresh juvenal plumage. In more than 30 years of photography at the East Pond, I have never gotten close enough to a killdeer photograph one. Note that each feather of the upperparts sports a narrow reddish-brown fringe that gives the bird its warm and evenly patterned look. Most juvenile shorebirds have a similar look.

Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers

Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers was written — by me 🙂 — for naturalists and birders, the text tells you everything you’ve always wanted to know about North America’s sandpipers, godwits, yellowlegs, phalaropes, plovers, avocets, stilts, and oystercatchers. Topics covered include identification and aging, shorebird behavior including their incredible migrations, feeding and diet, mating and breeding strategies, eggs, nests, and young, conservation efforts, and shorebirding tips. Also included are approximately 50 species accounts covering all of the regularly occurring North American shorebird species. With 70 of my images and 26 more by some of the world’s best nature photographers, the book contains the one of the finest collections of shorebird photographs ever published in a single volume.

This image was also created on 10 August 2022 during an In-the-Field session at the East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY. Again, seated on damp mud behind my lowered tripod, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 1250. 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 7:31:22am on a then partly cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #2: Lesser Yellowlegs — juvenile bathing

Bath Time

As do the shallow pools at Fort DeSoto, the shallow waters along the edges of the East Pond attract many species of terns, gulls, and shorebirds anxious to have a nice bath. Once you see a bird dipping its breast into the water and splashing around, there is a 95% that it will flap after its bath. And 95% of the time, the bird will face into the breeze or the wind. Knowing these simple bird photography basics can enable you to come up with some great images that others might be missed. An additional fine point is that the birds will most often choose to bathe in a specific depth. When one bird finishes bathing and flies off, another will often opt to bathe in the exact same spot. Your patience will often be rewarded. Join my on an IPT or an In-the-Field session to learn dozens of professional tips that will help you elevate your came and the quality of your images.

Frame-rate Tip

I have long recommended that no matter what camera body you use for bird photography, that you set your camera to achieve the maximum frame-rate. With the Sony A1, that is an impressive 30-frames per second. I have run across more than a few folks who set their cameras to one of the slower frame-rates so that they can “save card space and reduce their length of their editing (picking their keepers) sessions”. IMHO, this is a very poor strategy, especially when photographing birds in flight and in action. And when bathing. The fastest frame-rate will always give you more photos to choose from than a slower one. And in most cases, a single frame will stand out as clearly best. You never want to increase your chances of missing the shot by using less than the maximum frame-rate.

By using Photo Mechanic to choose your keepers, you can learn to edit a 2,000-image folder in less than 15 minutes. Use this link to purchase your Photo Mechanic license and forward your receipt to me e-mail and request my set-up information and a video tutorial.

This image was created on 11 August 2022 during an In-the-Field session at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. Seated on dry sand behind behind my lowered tripod, I used the Robus RC-5558-3 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod topped by the Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, (at 1200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 4000. 1/1000 sec. at f/8 (wide open). AWB at 7:33:01pm on a sunny afternoon. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face-Eye detection enabled was active at the moment of exposure and performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the larger version. Image #3: Black Skimmer feeding chick

Afternoon Delight

Sunny August afternoons with a breeze from the south or the west are great for photographing the Black Skimmer families. On really hot and really windy afternoons, the adult skimmers spend a lot of time in the air squabbling. Super-telephoto zoom lenses like the Sony 200-600mm G lens are ideal for photographing the midair fights. I will likely visit Nickerson on Friday morning. As I was there for 5 weeks in early summer, I am anxious to see how the nests close to the colony ropes fared. Stay tuned for details, and hopefully, for images.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

Celebrating Forty Years of Bird Photography

In mid-August 1977 I ventured out onto the mudflats at the South end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, New York. Using possibly the world’s worst binoculars, I spotted a large, tall, cinnamon-colored shorebird with a long, slightly upturned bill. The bird’s beak was alabaster-pink with a dusky tip. I was mesmerized. At that time, I had no idea that seeing that single bird would change the remainder of my adult life. I was 31-years old then, and that is exactly what happened. All for the best.

On August 7, 1983, after consulting several friends including and especially Peter Post, I purchased my first telephoto lens, the Canon FD 400mm f/4.5 telephoto lens. I had already owned the Canon AE-1 dSLR body. The next day, with the lens mounted on a cheap Slik tripod with a pan-tilt head, I made my way to the East Pond to create my first bird photographs. (On print film!) I had zero clue as to what I was doing. I remember being stunned that the birds I photographed that day were mere specks in the picture.

Anyhoo, today is August 7, 2023, exactly forty years since the day that I began photographing free and wild birds. The rest as they say, is history. To fill in some of the blanks, read (or re-read) the introduction to The Art of Bird Photography where I wrote, in part, “I shoot simply to make art, to make photographs that please me and inspire others with their beauty.” Not a lot has changed there. It struck me this morning to note that no fewer than seven of the folks that I mentioned in the acknowledgments, have died. Another one of my many blessings has been a long and relatively healthy life, due in great measure to my long-term friendship with Dr. Cliff Oliver of San Diego, CA. Not to mention that since 1994 I have been privileged to earn a living doing the thing that I love to do most: photograph birds and teach others to do that same thing.

The Art of Bird Photography

To celebrate my 40 years of bird photography, the classic The Art of Bird Photography will be on sale for only $20.00 for one week. Yes, the book is dated and, in part, obsolete as it includes chapters on Choosing the Right Equipment and Film Choice. The majority of the book that put me on the map in 1998, is, however, still very relevant for those who would like to improve their bird and nature photography. The info in the Making Good Exposures chapter covers exposure theory that to this day has not been mastered by at least nine out of ten nature shooters. The same could be said about the priceless information in the On Matters of Light chapter. The rest of the basics are also covered: Producing Sharp Images; Designing the Image; Getting Close; and Capturing Action and Behavior. he next week only, you can get a half-price copy of the bird photography bible by clicking here.

Puzzled

In the mid-1990s, I would run three Bosque del Apache Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs) late each fall. Each would fill with sixteen photographers. My Southwest Florida IPTs would consistently sell out with 12 photographers. Lots as changed since then. Both Bosque and Ding Darling are but shadows of their former selves; in no way, shape, or form, might they still be considered “Crown Jewels of the NWR system. The number of bird photographers has grown exponentially since 1995. The number of folks leading nature photography tours has seemingly grown at an even faster pace. Without going into any detail, it is safe to say that the quality of instruction on most of those trips has declined precipitously. In short, you get what you pay for.

So, what confuses me is the fact that for the past four years the number of folks signing up for and participating in BAA Instructional Photo-Tours has dropped by approximately 90%. The few folks who have attended have been beyond thrilled with the experience, all stating that they never dreamed that there was so much that they did not know and that they were stunned at how much their images improved in just a few days.

I’d love to hear from each and every one of you by e-mail to learn why you have not attended an IPT in recent years. Please click here to send me a short note. Perhaps I might be able to help.

JBWR/Nickerson Beach Sessions

As I am not flying to Ecuador for 2023 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime until 27 August, I made arrangements yesterday to visit Long Island leaving this Thursday (10 AUG) and returning the following Friday (18 AUG). Nickerson should be rife with Black Skimmer chicks and fledglings and lots of flight photography. Juvenile shorebird photography opportunities at my soul place, the East Pond, JBWR, will peak next week (for about three mornings). If you would like to explore the possibility of joining me for an inexpensive In-the-Field Session or two at either or both locations, please get in touch ASAP via e-mail or call or text me on my cell at 863-221-2372.

Via Text from Andrew Schonbek

Thanks for the great DeSoto IPT, Artie. It was an eye-opening experience in many ways. I have lots to work on and practice in the aftermath. Looking forward to learning more in the future. Andrew

Via Text from Stu Goz

Much love and respect to you. On the 3rd DeSoto IPT you shared a million dollars’ worth of insight for pennies.

Via e-mail from Stu Goz

Here’s cliche number one: I don’t write reviews.
Cliche number two: I’m making an exception in this one case.

I hope to see you again soon; your friend.

Stu Goz

All images from SEPT/OCT/NOV at Fort DeSoto. Click on the image to enjoy a larger, sharper high-resolution version. Clockwise from upper left to center: Piping Plover flapping after bath, juvenile Laughing Gull with feather, American Oystercatcher with sea urchins, Willet foraging in surf, American White Pelican juvenile swimming, skimmer/tern/shorebird blast-off blur, American White Pelican in flight, Black-bellied Plover stealing lugworm from Marbled Godwit, Roseate Spoonbill staring.

Fall Bird Photography at Fort DeSoto

Fort DeSoto, located just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for migrant shorebirds, terns, and gulls in fall. There they join hundreds of egrets, herons, and night-herons that winter on the T-shaped peninsula. With any luck at all, we should get to photograph one of Florida’s most desirable shorebird species: Marbled Godwit. Black-bellied Plover and Willet are easy, American Oystercatcher is pretty much guaranteed. Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis are easy as well and we will almost surely come up with a tame Yellow-crowned Night-Heron or two. And there should be some quality Brown Pelican flight photography. In addition, Royal, Sandwich, Forster’s, and Caspian Terns will likely provide us with some good flight opportunities as well. Though not guaranteed, Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork might well be expected. And we will be on the lookout for a migrant passerine fallout in the event of a thunderstorm or two.

On this IPT, all will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button. Everyone will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them, to understand and predict bird behavior, to identify many species of shorebirds, to spot the good situations, to choose the best perspective, to see and understand the light, and to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system. Most importantly, you will surely learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography. And you will learn how and why to work in Manual mode (even if you’re scared of it). The best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever and whenever you photograph.

The Details

There will be a Photoshop/image review session during or after lunch (included) each full day. That will be followed by Instructor Nap Time.

These IPTs will run with only a single registrant (though that is not guaranteed). The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with Gulfport AirBnB/VRBO information. If you register soon and would like to share an AirBnB with me, shoot me an e-mail. Other possibilities including taking a cab to and from the airport to our AirBnB and riding with me for $50/day. This saves you both gas and the cost of a rental car.

A $600 deposit is due when you sign up and is payable by credit card. Balances must be paid by check one month before the trip. Your deposit is non-refundable unless the IPT sells out with six folks, so please check your plans carefully before committing. You can register by calling Jim during weekday business hours at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand, or by sending a check as follows: make the check out to: BIRDS AS ART and send it via US mail here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with detailed instructions, clothing, and gear advice. Please shoot me an e-mail if you plan to register or if you have any questions on lodging.

Up Early, Stay Out Late!

Obviously, folks attending an IPT will be out in the field early and stay late to take advantage of the sweetest light and sunrise and sunset colors (when possible). The good news is that the days are relatively short in early fall. I really love it when I am leaving the beach on a sunny morning after a great session just as a carful or two of well-rested photographers are arriving. On cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip the afternoon session. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will sometimes be on your own as well.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.