March 1st, 2010

Birds As Art Bulletin #318

FEATURES

  • PAUL MCKENZIE E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE
  • FRACTALIUS LINK CORRECTION AND MORE
  • PLUG-IN DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLATION TIPS
  • BREEZEBROWSER PRO v1.9.5 AVAILABLE
  • CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FL WILDLIFE & KAYAK FESTIVAL PROGRAMS/PUT THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR
  • POSSE NEWS: JIM NEIGER
  • POSSE NEWS: ROBERT AMORUSO
  • STEVE FRENO GEAR FOR SALE
  • IPT UPDATES

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Roseate Spoonbill, “Wing Tips Up,” Alafia Banks, Tampa Bay, FL
Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens (handheld) with the Canon EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop off the 30 degrees up from the horizon sky: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 set manually.

I created this image on a Sunday morning trip aboard James Shadle’s pontoon boat, Hooptie Deux this past Sunday. The exposure that I set worked out well for the sunlit areas of white but the shaded underwings were well under-exposed and needed some noise reduction. To see four more of my favorite spoonbill flight images from that morning check out the BPN thread here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?p=454032#post454032. You will find some additional comments on 7D noise. If you come to Florida to photograph any time between now and April and wish to photograph adult spoonbills you need to get out with James Shadle, either for some private days or on one of his workshops; you can contact James here: james@wildflorida.net.

PAUL MCKENZIE E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE

For years regular readers have been hearing me say that nature photographers today are lucky because of the wonderful educational information that is available today. And that much of that info is available from BIRDS AS ART; The original soft cover “The Art of Bird Photography,” the digital continuation, “The Art of Bird Photography II (916 pages on CD only), and our Digital Basics file (a PDF sent via e-mail). Here is an e-mail correspondence that I had the other day with Paul Mckenzie who will be joining me on the first Midway trip:

Hi Paul, It is good to hear from you . Re:

For as long as I can remember, I have had a deep passion for wildlife, both terrestrial and marine. In the late 1990s I began to think about trying to capture some images of wildlife. I bought some decent equipment and read several books on photography prior to a trip to East Africa in 1997. I thought I had a reasonable grasp of what I was doing photographic wise but when I got my slides back from the lab post the trip, I realized I did not. I continued to flounder around for the next year or so and probably confused myself even more by reading further books and manuals by many of the supposed photographic experts of the time. Browsing the web one day, I came across your seminal book ‘The Art of Bird Photography’. After just one reading, much of the fog lifted. After several readings with special attention to the chapter on exposure, the quality of my images improved markedly.

I experienced a similar haze when I made the decision to switch over to digital. Being barely computer literate, I found the whole post-production process daunting. So where did I turn? – Digital Basics by A.Morris.

Thanks for putting a big smile on my face.

What sets you apart from other photographic teachers is your ability to use simple but concise prose accompanied by clear images. I love the way you dumb down the various steps and processes so that simpletons such as myself can fully understand what you are trying to get across. This has been especially useful when it comes to Photoshop skills. I suspect this comes from your previous career as a school teacher.

🙂

I do not necessarily think you are the world’s greatest nature photographer (but you are certainly up there!), but you are hands down the greatest photographic and digital post production teacher out there. I am sure there are thousands and thousands of photographic courses taught around the world each year. ‘The Art of Bird Photography’ and ‘Digital Basics’ should in my opinion be mandatory reading for any course. What’s great is that the skills you cover in both publications are applicable not just to bird and nature photography but to many other genres of photography.

You are most kind.

When I meet newbies, intermediate or even advanced photographers, I nearly always recommend your publications and your image critique web site without reservation.

More than any other photographer, you have been responsible for the development of my own photography. While my photography is constantly evolving and while I still have much to learn, you have unquestionably been the single biggest influence on my progression.

I am glad for that!

I am now beginning to earn a small, but growing, amount of income from my photography. You can view a selection of some of my images on my web site http://www.wildencounters.net (probably easiest to click on ‘Favourites’ and activate the slide show function.

Well, I must admit that I went to your web site with some trepidation; lots of folks send links to images that are just horrific. I often wonder: “Are they looking at the images in the Bulletins? Do they not see the difference?”

When I started viewing your images I was blown away, totally blown away. So much so that I called Jim over to gasp and marvel at your artistry. Practically every image that I saw in your “Favourites” gallery has BBC potential. The Tahiti leaf is too, too much. I have never seen a photograph like it. How did you come up with that one? The lion cub with the grinning zebra, the jackal with the gazelle fawn, your aerials, the two cheetahs with the Topi, the croc and wildebeest images, and 009, the Laysan Albatross with the o-o-f foliage. Wow! Please stop. You are killing me.

It will be an honor and a privilege to meet you on the upcoming Midway trip but most of all I wanted to thank you for helping my development as a photographer.

YAW but the honor and privilege will be mine. Though we have never met you are surely one of my very best students (if not the very best): your artistic eye and the vast scope of your work is astounding. And like me, you have led a blessed life. I am honored that you call me “teacher.” Thanks a ton for your more than kind words and for the link to your web site.
Later and love, artie

If you would like to learn the basics of bird and nature photography, understand exposure theory, and learn to make your images look great in short order, click here and follow the links for the original soft cover “The Art of Bird Photography,” the digital continuation, “The Art of Bird Photography II (916 pages on CD only), and our Digital Basics file (a PDF sent via e-mail): https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=32.

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Arthur Morris with the Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO and the 800mm f/5.6L IS, Alafia Banks, Tampa Bay, FL
Image courtesy of and copyright 2010/James Shadle, WildFlorida.net
Nikon D700 with 16mm lens. 1/320 SS @ F11. Flash at 0 with the Ray Flash attached.

You gotta love what you are doing! My do-rag is simply the Sun Protection Hood folded up for flight photography; I do this often when the sun is behind me which is almost always Click here and scroll down to learn about the Sun Protection Hood and the BPN visor: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=16. Note: the Mongoose M3.5 heads (seen here)are in very short supply….

FRACTALIUS LINK CORRECTION AND MORE

The link that I gave in the last Bulletin to Jim Caldwell’s “Eagle-Fract” (that shows how easily Fractalius can transform a photograph into a dramatic piece of art) was incorrect; here is the correct link: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56438.

In addition, check out Jackie Schuknecht’s cool “Iris Fract” here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=57989.

And Gerry Sibell’s “Ruby, don’t take your love to town” Fract here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=57980. It shows that creativity always starts at capture! (If you use multiple high speed flash for hummer photography, you will not want to miss this one. If you wish to learn high speed multiple flash hummer photography, check out Linda Robbins’ great guide here: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=55.

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Great Egret, Venice Rookery, FL
Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens (handheld) with the Canon EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2 stops off the pre-dawn sky: 1/40 sec. at f/4 set manually. Flash at -1 stop.

I created this image from a not very pleasing pre-dawn flash blur by starting with Fractalius’s Glow 100 pre-set, my favorite. To learn lots more about Fracting, follow the links in the next feature.

PLUG-IN DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLATION TIPS

The following tutorial, Downloading and Running Fractalius, was prepared by Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris. It is designed for computer dummies like artie. Different operating systems may require slight modifications. On the off chance that you become confused while attempting to follow the directions, please ask a computer-savvy friend for help. We are writing this for the many (more than 220) folks who have purchased Fractalius (Windows only) but are having problems getting it running. This tutorial should work well with other Photoshop plug-ins as well as with Fractalius.

Downloading a Plug-In

Once you have purchased a plug-in or are downloading a free trial version, first click on the Download button. Click OK. HIt “Save as” and then hit OK. The file will begin to download; it often takes several minutes or more, Be patient. When the download is complete, do not close the dialogue box.

Once the download is complete, you will see the downloaded file highlighted at the top of the list. Double-click on the file. A new dialogue box will open. Now double-click on the file name again.

Now click on Install. (With plug-ins other than Fractalius you may need to follow alternate, step by step instructions to complete the installation of one or more programs.)

Once your plug-in is installed, restart Photoshop; your plug-in should appear on the drop-down list of Filters. If you have downloaded Fractalius, it will be under the Redfield subheading. (You will need to have an image open in order to open the Fractalius plug-in.)

If–like artie–you are running both CS-3 and CS-4 on the same machine and you wish to have Fractalius available on both, you may need to install Fractalius a second time. Say for example, that the above procedure installed Fractalius into CS-3 (you see Redfield on the Filter drop-down list) but not into CS-4. You will need to find your Download folder. Most folks can do this by clicking on their personal folder (“Denise,” or, in my case, “Arthur Morris”) and then clicking on the Downloads folder. Now click on the Setup Fractalius.exe icon. When the dialogue box opens, select the 32-bit version of CS-4 from the dropdown menu. The 32-bit version will be designated by the following: (x86). When you restart the 32-bit version of CS-4, you will see Redfield in the drop-down filter list. Again, you will need to open an image to access Fractalius.

How to Run the 32-bit Version of CS4

You cannot run Fractalius in 64-bit versions of Photoshop. Most times when you install CS-4, only the 64-bit version is accessible. You will need to create a desktop shortcut so that you can open the 32-bit version of CS-4 when you wish to use Fractalius in CS-4.

To create a desktop shortcut for the 32-bit version of CS-4 click on Start/All Programs. Look for the folder that contains CS-4. Open it. You should see the 64-bit version and right below it, another version designated as follows: (x86). Right click on the (x86) version and select “Create Shortcut.” This will create a shortcut on your desktop for the 32-bit version of CS-4. Move the newly created shortcut icon to a location on your desktop that you will remember. When you wish to open the 32-bit version of Photoshop (as when you want to use Fractalius), click on the new icon. When you want to open the 64-bit version, click on the original CS-4 icon. If you get confused you can try passing your cursor over each icon. One will indicate 64-bit, the other will include (x86); the latter will be the 32-bit version.

Have fun Fracting! To learn more about Fractalius click here: http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/bulletins/birds-as-art-bulletin-315, here: http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/bulletins/birds-as-art-bulletin-316, and here: http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/bulletins/birds-as-art-bulletin-317. To purchase a copy of Fractalius (sorry: Windows only), please use this link: https://www.plimus.com/jsp/buynow.jsp?. To learn more about Denise Ippolito click here: http://deniseippolito.smugmug.com)

Fractalius notes: Fractalius is a Windows only plug-in. You can use Fractalius only on 8-bit images.

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Reddish Egrets, mated pair in breeding plumage, Alafia Banks, Tampa Bay, FL
Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the 1..4X II TC and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/160 sec. at f/11.

Be honest, if you saw this on the back of the camera while photographing on James Shadle’s Hooptie Deux you would surely think of deleting it right then and there, right? If yes, then you do not understand how to get the right exposure while using digital capture. This image was properly “exposed to the right.” I pushed the data as far to the right as possible without getting any flashing highlights. A few recoverable (they pretty much always are) flashing highlights would be even better…

Believe it or not the image below was created from the washed out original image above using simple Levels and Curves adjustments as detailed in Digital Basics: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=32. By exposing to the right you will create larger files with more data, more color information, and less noise. You just have to trust. Do note the significant background clean-up that was done with the Patch Tool and the Spot Healing Brush (again as described in detail in Digital Basics.

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BREEZEBROWSER PRO v1.9.5 AVAILABLE

Great news for BreezeBrowser users and for me: BreezeBrowser Pro v1.9.5 has folder monitoring and support for the following camers: Nikon D3000, Nikon D5000, Nikon D3X, Nikon D3s, Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, Canon EOS-7D, Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, Canon PowerShot G11, Panasonic DMC-FZ38, Panasonic DMC-G1, Panasonic DMC-GH1, Sony DSLR-A330, Pentax K-7, Olympus E-450 and Olympus E-620. Now I can not only edit my day’s images with lightning speed, manage my entire photographic collection, and (if I choose to use BreezeBrowser), conveniently convert both 7D and Mark IV RAW files, but I can view the focus points for my two workhorse cameras as well. To learn more about or to purchase BreezeBrowser please click here: http://www.birdsasart.com/breezebrowser.htm.

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Anhinga Feeding chick, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL
Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400: 1/800 sec. at f/8 confirmed by histogram check.

I created this image after 10am at the BPN South Florida Get-To-Gether on February 7 on a bright sunny day. Controlling contrast is far easier with digital than with film (to the point of being amazing). Here I added canvas left (using another image in the sequence as my source) using the Quick Masking techniques from Robert O’Toole’s APTATS I. This image, captured at the absolute peak of the action, had the perfect head angle for the adult.

CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FL WILDLIFE & KAYAK FESTIVAL PROGRAMS/PUT THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR

I will be doing two programs at this event on Saturday April 10, 2010. Details will follow when I get back from Midway. The morning program, “A Bird Photographer’s Story,” is being sponsored by Canon USA/Explorers of Light.

POSSE NEWS/JIM NEIGER

West Coast Flight/July, 2010 Photography Workshops

Join bird photographers Jim Neiger and Doug Brown in July, 2010 for two workshops focusing on birds in flight. Jim pioneered the hand held technique for photographing birds in flight and BirdPhotographers.Net avian moderator Doug Brown has photographed birds extensively along the Southern California coast; he knows all of the best locations. They have teamed up to focus on teaching you how to photograph birds in flight plus a whole lot more. This first of its kind workshop on the west coast is not to be missed! Jim and Doug have selected the area around Huntington Beach, California for its incredible number and variety of birds, not to mention the great weather! In July, Terns will number in the tens of thousands, and there should be no fewer than five different species (Elegant, Forster’s, Caspian, Royal, and Least). Black Skimmers, Pelicans, Egrets, Herons, and Gulls will all be plentiful. There will also be opportunities to photograph more challenging subjects such as raptors, kingfisher,, and shorebirds. The mix of large and small birds flying at a range of speeds from very slow to lightning fast will allow photographers of all experience levels to find subjects that they are comfortable with, while practicing their freshly learned skills. The nonstop action combined with individualized instruction will help you to master the hand held, long lens technique favored by both Jim and Doug. Manual exposure for birds in flight will also be emphasized. There will be a four hour class on the first day, followed by morning and afternoon sessions in the field for each of the next three days. As an added feature, you will have the opportunity to hone your Lightroom and Photoshop skills with Jim and Doug during the free time in between field sessions. Each of the workshops will be limited to twelve participants; with two expert instructors available, everyone will receive plenty of individualized attention both in the field and the classroom.

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Forster’s Tern Flight
Image copyright © 2009 Doug Brown

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Black-necked Stilt
Image copyright © 2009 Doug Brown

Workshop Dates: WCF-1: July 10-13, 2010. WCF-2: July 14-17, 2010.

The cost of each workshop is $1250 per person. Each workshop includes a half day of formal classroom instruction session and a morning and afternoon photography session each day. The photography sessions include personalized instruction. A $625 non-refundable deposit is required. The remaining $625 is due 45 days before the start date of the workshop. If you are unable to attend the workshop after paying the balance, your balance will be refunded only if your spot can be filled on short notice from the waiting list. All workshop payments must be made by check or money order. Credit cards are not accepted. Please make checks payable to Doug Brown and send them to: Doug Brown, 13705 Elena Gallegos Pl. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.

Participant Requirements: Participants should have working knowledge of how to create a properly exposed image, a telephoto lens of 400mm or more (300mm with a teleconverter is acceptable), and be physically capable of holding their camera and lens up to their eye in shooting position for at least 20 seconds. Participants must also have a vehicle to travel to and from the photography locations.

Contact Info: You may contact Jim Neiger of Flight School Photography or Doug Brown via phone or email. Phone: 407-247-5200. Email: jimn@cfl.rr.com. Flight School website: http://www.flightschoolphotography.com.

Doug Brown: Phone: 505-750-7080, Email: DLB@me.com.

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Elegant Tern Head Shake
Image copyright © 2009 Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography

Flight School Goes Loony!/Common Loons with Chicks and More!

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Common Loon with Chicks, Lac Le Jeune, BC, Canada
Image copyright © 2010: Kevin Karlson

Kamloops, BC, Canada – June 21-25, 2010

Join bird photographers Jim Neiger and Kevin Karlson for 5 days of extraordinary bird photography and instruction at beautiful Lac Le Jeune. This beautiful lodge set in the mountains near Kamloops, British Columbia offers unique opportunities to photograph Common Loons with their chicks as well as a wide assortment of other avian subjects around the lodge and surrounding areas. Other photogenic bird species will include Black Tern, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Red-naped Sapsucker and many others. Nearby wildlife refuges and recreation areas will have several pairs of very photographable Red-necked Grebes with chicks in the nest and riding on the parent’s back. Mountain Bluebirds may be found in nest boxes along numerous country roads. Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds are possible at several hummingbird feeders.

Jim has spent the past several years perfecting his techniques for photographing birds in flight using large telephoto lenses hand held. The focus of these workshops will be learning Jim’s hand held, long lens techniques for photographing birds in flight and in action. Kevin Karlson is an accomplished wildlife photographer, author, birder, and professional tour leader who is very familiar with the wildlife at Lac Le Jeune and the surrounding areas.

A large, open-topped pontoon boat allows for group photography of up to 5 photographers for very close approach to Common Loons and their chicks. Wing-flaps, fly-bys, chicks riding on the back of adult loons, and take-offs and landings are some of the photographic chances with these tame loons. Another more intimate option is the availability of several small boats with electric motors. These boats can comfortably hold two photographers with tripods (or not) and allow very close approaches to Common Loons with chicks and the Black Tern colony on the small lake adjacent to the lodge. You will be able to take these boats out on the lake at times of your choosing for a more personal shooting experience. Kayaks are also available for those who want a ‘water level’ shooting perspective. Several feeders are also set up around the lodge for potential songbird photography. Juncos, chickadees, nuthatches and siskins are some of the possible birds. We will set up attractive perches to allow for more natural photos of these and other songbirds. There are several other recreation areas and wildlife refuges, located within a half hour of the lodge, that provide wonderful opportunities to photograph Red-necked Grebe nests with chicks and a large assortment of other waterfowl. Possible ‘chicks and adult female’ photography include Barrow’s Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and Lesser Scaup. Mountain Bluebirds nest in abundance in numerous nest boxes along country road fence lines. We will search for Red-shafted Flicker nests, as well as the cavity nesting Northern 3-toed Woodpecker.

The workshop will begin with a four hour classroom session at 2:00pm on June 21st and end following lunch on June 25th. There will be three and a half days of photography with informal instruction in the field. Participants will also have use of the boats and other resort facilities during their free time. The workshops will be limited to ten participants so that everyone may photograph in comfort and receive personalized instruction.

The workshop includes single occupancy lodging, all meals, use of facilities, and all gratuities at the beautiful Lac Le Jeune Resort. A double occupancy discount of $200 is available on a limited basis. The cost of the workshop is $2100 US dollars per person. A 50% non-refundable deposit of $1050 is required to reserve a spot in the workshop. The remaining $1050 is due 30 days prior to the start of the workshop. For additional info, click here: http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/Workshops/FSP%20LBC%20Workshops%202010/FSP%20LBC%20Workshops%202010.htm.

Jim Neiger, Flight School Photography, Inc. 550 Basin Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34744-4804. Cell : (407) 247-5200. Email: jimn@cfl.rr.com.

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Nesting Black Tern with Chicks, Lac Le Jeune, BC, Canada
Image copyright © 2010: Kevin Karlson

POSSE NEWS/ROBERT AMORUSO (& ROBERT O’TOOLE)

The “ORIGINAL” Gatorland Photographic Instructional Workshops

Field Workshops: March 20-21, 2010 (one space available), April 3-4, 2010 (one space available). Extensive in-the-field instruction at East Central Florida’s best rookery location, Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. Includes two-hour image critique sessions each day of images you created during the workshop. Field instruction includes isolating your subject, understanding light, proper exposure (exposing to the right), using depth of field to your advantage, fill-flash and lots more. CD with lesson plans included – no note taking required. Learn more here: http://www.wildscapeimages.biz/blog/?page_id=132.

Field and Classroom May 14-16, 2010 : three full days covering everything the field workshop does plus extensive classroom instruction in image editing and optimization and presentations on photographic technique concentrating on rookery photography. Learn more here: http://www.wildscapeimages.biz/blog/?page_id=15.

(Note from artie: when I was at Gatorland last week, the place was rocking! See the February 22 blog entry here: http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/02/22/gatorland-rocking-now-and-getting-better-each-day).

Canon 50D, Canon 70-200mm + 1.4x TC. 1/30 sec, f/5.6, Manual, Evaluative, ISO 250, Flash Compensation +3.

Understanding the correct flash technique with birds in flight is key to making images like this.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 600mm + 1.4x TC. 1/200 sec, f/5.6, Manual, Evaluative, ISO 800.

The light and reflections seen in this image last only a few minutes at Gatorland. Knowing where to be and when at Gatorland, I can show you how to create images like this. The blue color cast was intentionally left in during image processing

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Great Egret in flight – Gatorland, Image Copyright 2009: Robert Amoruso

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American Alligator, Gatorland, Image Copyright 2009: Robert Amoruso

St. Augustine Photographic Instructional Workshop

April 15-18, 2010: three and one-half days of extensive field and classroom instruction at the famous St. Augustine Alligator Farm with Robert Amoruso and Robert O’Toole. We will be using the Alligator Farm’s Education Center for meetings and equipment storage between morning and afternoon sessions. Weather is pleasant in mid-April and coincides with a point in time at the rookery when nesting, chicks, mating and nest building are all occurring; it is one of my favorite times of the year to be there. Learn more here: http://www.wildscapeimages.biz/blog/?page_id=8.

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 600mm + 2X TC. 1/1000 sec, f/8, Manual, Matrix-Metering, ISO 1000, Flash Compensation +1

Proper exposure in dappled light combined with fill-flash helped to create this image. Let me show you how.

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Great Egret Chick, SAAF. Image Copyright 2009: Robert Amoruso

Robert Amoruso has several openings on his July 21 to 27, 2010 Coastal Brown Bear/Lake Clark National Park/Silver Salmon Creek Lodge trip. Please e-mail Robert for additional info or to learn about his Private Photographic Instructional Workshops.

Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images. 407-808-7417 (cell). E-mail: wildscapeimages@att.net. Images: www.wildscapeimages.com. Workshop info: http://www.wildscapeimages.biz/blog.

STEVE FRENO GEAR FOR SALE

My old Anchorage pal Steve Freno is offering the following used Nikon camera gear and accessories listed below for sale. To purchase or for additional details please contact Steve by e-mail at stevefreno@gmail.com or, if by phone, please e-mail your phone number to him and include a good time to call. Otherwise, you can call: the office: 901-752-3060 or the cell: 901-481-9972. All of the listed gear was recently inherited due to the passing of a close friend of Steve’s. It is priced to sell and includes insured FedEx 2-day Express shipping in the domestic US (after your check clears). For PayPal, please add 2.5%. If you do your banking with BofA , a transfer of funds from account to account can be arranged. With the exception of the AF-S 600mm F/4G lens (as noted) all gear is in almost perfect condition. The Gitzo Tripod (GT3530 LSV Carbon Fiber) is still in the box and appears to have never been used. The ballheads also appear to be new. The original boxes for the camera gear are not available.

Nikon Zoom Telephoto AF Zoom 200-400mm f/4 G-AFS ED-IF VR (Vibration Reduction). Includes original padded carry case. Purchase price: $6299.95. Selling price: $5000

Nikon Telephoto AF-S 600mm f/4G ED Autofocus Lens w. Silent Wave Motor (non-VR model). *Lens has a broken tightening screw. It is useable. Replacement is $950 which was considered in the selling price.* Includes original carry case. Purchase price: $9,000.00. Selling price: $5300.00

Nikon AF-S Zoom 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR Lens. Purchase price: $1999.99. Selling price: $1450.00

Nikon D300 SLR Digital Camera (Includes Magic Lantern Guide, no original manual). MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Grip. Purchase price: $2,059.90. Selling price: $1250.00

Nikon D200 SLR Digital Camera (no original manual). MB-D200 Multi-Power Battery Grip. Purchase price: $1,878.95. Selling price: $700.00

Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom AF Lens. Purchased for: $1,029.95. Selling price: $500

Tokina AT-X PRO 28-70mm 1:2.6-2.8 (Nikon mount). Selling price – $300

Gitzo ‘ GT3530 LSV Carbon Fiber Tripod ‘ Appears to be brand new, still in box/bag. No signs or wear or use. See GT3530 LS for specs. Purchase price: $724.95. Selling price: $600.00

Really Right Stuff BH-55 LR : Full size ballhead with lever release. Purchase price: $455. Selling price: $355.

Arca-Swiss Monoball B1 with snap collar (looks brand new). Selling price: $375

Arca-Swiss Monoball B1G (looks brand new). Selling price – $300

Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (handheld at 185m) with the EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3.

I created this image on Ron Mayberry’s boat on an outing with Denise Ippolito and dear friend and IPT veteran Lou Newman. Lou and Ron will be on the 2nd Midway trip. I had just given my 400 DO to Denise when this amazing fight broke out. She was too tight and I was perfect. You gotta love being lucky.

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Great Egrets fighting above rookery, Rookery Island, Sarasota Bay, FL
Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

IPT UPDATES

MIDWAY ATOLL IPTs: Two trips, early March, 2010 (from Oahu, HI) 7-FULL DAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: $6395 ALL INCLUSIVE FROM OAHU. (Sold Out.)

San Diego IPT JAN, 2011. DATES TBA. 5 Full Days: $2499 (Limit 8/Openings 6)

I will announce the dates once I get a look at a tide table. Slide program on the evening before the first day of the IPT. A fully refundable $500 deposit now will hold your spot until the dates are announced. Once the dates are announced let me know either way. If you opt in, then your deposit will become non-refundable and you will be asked to complete the registration and release forms. Brown Pelicans, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Western and Heerman’s Gulls, Marbled Godwits, and lots, lots more.

SW FLA PRESIDENT’S WEEK IPT: 2011 DATES TBA: $2899

If you would like your name placed on the interested list for this IPT, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net.

BOSQUE del APACHE 2010 IPT: ‘The Complete Bosque Experience.’ NOV 20-26, 2010

Slide program on the evening of Friday, NOV 19. 7-FULL DAYS: $3199. (Non-refundable deposit: $500; see details below.) Limit: 10/Openings; 7. Co-leaders: Robert O’Toole, Jim Heupel., and multiple BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year honoree Chris Van Rooyen of South Africa (http://www.wildlifephotography.co.za). Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Plus great co-leaders and top-notch Photoshop instruction.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot for this IPT. Deposits may be paid by check, PayPal, or credit card. Payment in full (by check or money order only) is due four months before the start of each trip and is non-refundable unless the IPT sells out. You will be required to sign a statement of understanding to this effect. Travel insurance is of course highly recommended. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options, you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage, which expands the list of reasons for your canceling to an infinite list, from a sudden work or family obligation to a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check of running your credit card. We regret that we must implement this new policy but we have been plagued by last minute cancellations that make it impossible for others to participate and deprive us of essential income.

Important note: please print, fill out, and sign the registration and release forms and include them with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.” ) If you use a credit card to register, please fill out, sign, and mail the two forms asap. Your registration will not be complete until we receive your paper work. You can find the forms here: Registration and Release Form.

2 comments to Birds As Art Bulletin #318

  • avatar hobbs

    Help! so i saw this bird the other day and I’m trying to figure out what it was. It was: Large, choc brown, with lots of white spots on its wing tips maybe its tail too. Let me know if you know what it might be!