FEATURES

• A GUIDE TO CREATIVE FILTERS AND EFFECTS by DENISE IPPOLITO
• BILL THOMPSON II OF BIRD WATCHER’S DIGEST GONE
• BARROW JUNE 2011
• THE BLOG IS THE BOMB!
• KLAMATH FALLS WINTER WINGS APPEARANCE/MID-FEBRUARY 2011
• POSSE NEWS/TODD GUSTAFSON
• IPT UPDATES

A GUIDE TO CREATIVE FILTERS AND EFFECTS (pdf) by DENISE IPPOLITO

BIRDS AS ART books is extremely proud to announce the publication of A Guide to Creative Filter and Effects (pdf) by Denise Ippolito, edited by Arthur Morris. My foreword pretty much says it all:

“Denise Ippolito is about as creative, as hardworking, and as dedicated a photographer as you will ever come to know. And over the past fourteen months I have come to know her quite well. Her creativity is—as you will come to see as you are reading her Filter Guide—totally amazing. She can look at an average image, a simple snapshot, heck, even a bad photograph, and in seconds know exactly how to turn it into a piece of art using this filter or that effect. And then do just that in minutes. And most of the time she is working with the beautiful images of flowers and birds that she is so good at creating.

To quote our mutual friend, Kerry Perkins, one of Denise’s co-moderators on the BPN Out of the Box Forum where she has worked tirelessly helping other to improve their photography for more than two years, “First off, I want to say that the Filter Guide is an amazing work. There is so much information here and so many wonderful images that I am just blown away that you managed to get it all together in one document! Wonderful work Lady D!”

Denise has worked incredibly hard on “A Guide to Creative Filters and Effects” and at the same time, worked incredibly hard at improving her writing skills. I congratulate her here on two jobs well done.” arthur morris/Indian Lake Estates, Florida. January 30, 2011

Here are some of the filters and effects that are detailed in the Filter Guide:

• Topaz Simplify, Clean, & BuzSim Filter
• Flaming Pear Filter (including Swerve, Twist & Vein)
• Fractalius (including Denise’s Soft-Fix preset creation)
• Adding Texture
• NIK Color Efex Pro including Midnight Filter
• Omni Lighting
• Pinch Filter
• Twirl Filter
• Ripple Filter
• Radial Blur
• Find Edges Filter
• Orton Effect
• Blank Canvas Creations!
• The Mixer Brush
• The New Paste Special Option in CS-5
• DAP
• Polar Coordinates and Mini-Worlds
• Holiday Lights Creations
• Snap Art 2 Impasto Filter
• Creating Composites
• Creating Your Own Brush Presets
• Using Blend Modes Creatively
• Using Layer Masks and Inverse Layer Masks Creatively
• Kaleidoscopes
• Combinations of all of the above!

Some of the filters above require a separate purchase. (The Filter Guide includes links to all available free trial downloads so that you can try before you buy.) Many of the filters can be found in various versions of Photoshop (though most folks–including me before I edited this guide–have no clue that they exist and no clue as to how to use them). Each detailed tutorial section is written in a clear, concise, simple, easy to follow style that can be followed even by someone opening up Photoshop for the first time.

You can order your copy of “A Guide to Creative Filter and Effects” for $38 right now by calling 863-692-0906, by sending a PayPal to birdsasart@verizon.net or birdsasart@att.net, or from the BAA On-line Store here.

Orchid Pinched & Twirled Version II Image Copyright 2011/Denise Ippolito Photography

BILL THOMPSON II OF BIRD WATCHER’S DIGEST GONE

I received the e-mail below this morning from Jim Cirigliano, the Managing Editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest, informing folks of the passing of Bill Thompson II (Big Bill to me, Sumbitch to family), who founded BWD with wife Elsa in the living room of their home in Marietta, OH too, too many years ago. Big Bill was a sweet wonderful and funny man. I cannot recall seeing him without a big smile on his face; he was always glad to see you. Bill and Elsa published probably 25 of my photo illustrated articles during the 1990s and helped jump start my career. I shall always be indebted to them and to then Editor Mary Beacom Bowers for their faith in me and for their support. One of the finest compliments that I have ever gotten was when Big Bill said to me, “Your article, “Teaching Children About Birds,” was the best thing we ever published in BWD. I shall always have fond memories of the day that Elaine and I met the Thompsons and Mary Bowers in the backyard of a home that they had rented in Cape May New Jersey one long ago spring….

Here is a big hug for Elsa, sons Billy and Andy, daughter Laura, Billy’s wife Julie–noted avian artist, natural history writer, and dear friend of mine, the rest of the family including all of the grandkids, and the BWD family as well. Please join me in sending any extra love, strength, and energy out to Marietta for the Thompsons.

Dear BWD contributors and friends,
With great sadness, we are e-mailing to inform you of the passing of William H. (Bill) Thompson, Jr., one of the founding publishers of Bird Watcher’s Digest. Bill passed away Tuesday at age 78, surrounded by his family in Marietta, Ohio. Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elsa, and their three children–Bill Thompson, III, Andrew Thompson, and Laura Thompson Fulton–all of whom continue to work at BWD. As you can imagine, the sting of Bill’s passing is especially sharp for those of us who knew him not just as a coworker, but also as a husband, father, and friend. The rest of the BWD family grieves along with the Thompsons at this monumental loss.

In 1978, the Thompson family embarked on an incredible journey when Bill and Elsa founded Bird Watcher’s Digest, which was based in the living room of their Marietta home for the first five years. They launched the magazine by sending out 35,000 copies, which garnered about 2,500 – 2,800 initial subscriptions. The first issue was printed in black and white, and featured almost all reprints of bird-watching articles obtained from a clipping service, but immediately the magazine began receiving submissions of original material.

Publishing wasn’t the only project to which Bill dedicated himself. He served as Vice President for Development at Marietta College, and was actively involved with that institution throughout his life. He served on the Marietta Community Foundation’s Board of Governors and Board of Directors for 12 years, and as Chairman of the Board from 1997 – 2001. During this time, he was a champion of Community 20/20, a far-reaching plan to improve the Marietta community. The impact of his work can be seen in the Marietta City Schools District today, as children are served nutritious breakfasts and lunches daily during the school year. Many of these meals are provided free or at reduced cost to children whose families cannot afford to pay the full price.

There will be a memorial service for Bill Thompson, Jr., at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 5, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Marietta, Ohio. Gifts in Bill’s name may be sent to St. Luke’s Church, Marietta College, or the Marietta Community Foundation.

Fonthill Castle Mini-World (with Polar Coordinates) Image Copyright 2011/Denise Ippolito Photography

BARROW JUNE 2011

I discovered this morning that I lost a folder containing more than a dozen names and e-mail addresses of folk interested in making the great trip to Barrow that I made last year. If you were one of those interested or if you are interested in photographing King Eider, Stellar’s Eider, Spectacled Eider, nesting Glaucous Gull, nesting Tundra Swan, nesting Pacific Loon, nesting Oldsquaw, nesting Rock Ptarmigan, nesting Lapland Longspur, and a variety of nesting shorebirds including Semipalmated & Baird’s Sandpipers, Red Phalarope, American Golden-Plover, and Long-billed Dowitcher, please e-mail me on my laptop immediately at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.

Barrow June 2010 Composite Images copyright 2011: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/1250 sec. at f/8. From top left to right and then down: Long-billed Dowitcher, Spectacled Eider on tundra, Red Phalarope female, Rock Ptarmigan male, Spectacled Eider in flight, Dunlin in breeding plumage, Stellar’s Eider drake flapping, King Eider habitat image, King Eider tight portrait of drake.

THE BLOG IS THE BOMB!

I have continued spending a huge chunk of my time making the blog special. Recent efforts of interest include:

Long Lens Depth-of-Field Question and a Teleconverter in the Pacific Tale: read how I managed to roll a 1.4X II TC into the ocean.

and

Two Simple But Great Tim Grey Photoshop Tips & Which Coot Image is Better and Why?: learn the two things that I have been teaching folks to do wrong in Photoshop for years.

Front Yard Snowstorm with Fractalius Soft Fix Preset Image Copyright 2011/Denise Ippolito Photography

KLAMATH FALLS WINTER WINGS APPEARANCE/MID-FEBRUARY 2011

I will be doing one of the keynote presentations at the 2011 Winter Wings Festival (mine on Saturday evening, February 19) and several additional programs as well. As always, my appearance is being generously sponsored by the Canon USA Explorers of Light program (thanks Steve Inglima!) and for this event, also by Leo’s Camera and Pro Photo Supply. I hope to see you there on a rare appearance for me in the Northwest. Click here for more info or to register.

Grand Teton Woods, Topaz Simplify BuzSim Filter Image Copyright 2011/Denise Ippolito Photography

POSSE NEWS: TODD GUSTAFSON

Brazil-Quest for the Jaguar 2011

Leaving the US : September 24, 2011. Returning: October 6. $9,200.00 double occupancy

Jaguar, Pantanal , Brazil Image Copyright 2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari

Travel with Gustafson Photo Safari (GPS) to Brazil ’s Pantanal. Jaguars are the main event, but Brazil offers much more, including pantanal caiman, anaconda, Brazilian tapir, giant anteater and birds, birds, birds!!!. Just a few on the list of easily seen and photographed birds are jabiru stork, toco toucan, black collared hawk, bare-faced curassow, blue-necked piping guan, whistling heron, limpkin and capped heron (to name a few). We will have 10 days of action packed photography in the most dramatic locations at the exact right time of year for only $9,200.00 double occupancy. Photography in 2 locations (from boats and on land) offers a wide variety of habitat and species

Last year this trip sold out in 4 hours!!! Sign up soon and avoid disappointment.

Amazon Kingfisher, Pantanal , Brazil Image Copyright 2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari

Rufescent Tiger Heron, Pantanal , Brazil Image Copyright 2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari

Request the full color PDF for both trips by e-mail to gustaphoto@aol.com. Learn more about Todd here.

And be sure to get a copy of Todd’s great safari photo guide: The Photographer’s Guide to the Safari Experience.

NEW Brazil Pre-Jaguar trip 2011 Leaving the US : September 18, 2011. Joining Jaguar trip: October 24. $3,895.00 double occupancy

This year Gustafson Photo Safari has been invited to a new site in Brazil to photograph the beautiful and endangered maned wolves, “Einstein” monkeys (brown capuchins who use rocks as tools) and huge flocks of hyacinth macaws. We will have opportunities to photograph all of these unique species at close range!

This special pre-jaguar trip is limited to 8 people!

Request the full color PDF for both trips from gustaphoto@aol.com

Costa Rica 2011 Leaving the US : November 28, 2011. Returning: December 7. $3,995.00 double occupancy

Travel with Gustafson Photo Safari (GPS) for their 8th trip to beautiful Costa Rica . Tropical photo subjects abound in diverse habitats that include rainforest, cloud forest, and wetlands. Expert GPS guides put us face to face with 2 and 3 fingered sloth, toucans, and colorful frog species including poison dart frogs and the iconic red-eyed tree frog. Rain forests and wetlands are filled with exotic birds, and the cloud forest is home to the incomparable resplendent Quetzal. Bring your biggest lens and your macro!! Experience 10 days of action packed photography in the most dramatic locations at the exact right time of year for only $3,995.00 double occupancy.

Resplendent Quetzal, Savegre , Costa Rica Image Copyright 2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari

Anhinga and fish, Cano Negro, Costa Rica Image Copyright 2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari

Keel-billed Toucan, La Selva , Costa Rica Image Copyright 2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari

Request the full color PDF for this trip by e-mail to gustaphoto@aol.com. Learn more about Todd here.

And be sure to get a copy of Todd’s great safari photo guide: The Photographer’s Guide to the Safari Experience.

Washington’s Crossing Tree, Multiple Filters & Effects Image Copyright 2011/Denise Ippolito Photography

BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)

Click here for BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) General Information.

Click here for BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) Deposit and Cancellation Policies.

Click here for BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) Registration and Release Forms.

KATMAI BEAR BOAT IPT: July 24-31, 2012 from Kodiak, AK: $6699. Limit 6/Openings 2. Coastal Brown Bears (Grizzlies) Galore!

Coastal Brown Bears at point blank range foraging & clamming with a good chance of copulations; cubs nursing and playing. Likely additional subjects include Horned and Tufted Puffins, nesting Bald Eagle and Black-legged Kittiwake, Steller’s Sea Lion, rafts of Sea Otters and more. Halibut fishing optional.

BOSQUE del APACHE 2012 IPT: “The Complete Bosque Experience.” NOV 21-27, 2012. 7-FULL DAYS: $3399. Introductory Slide program: 6:30 pm on 11/20. Limit: 12/Openings 5.

Tens of thousand of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks including point-blank American Wigeon and Wood Duck, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. 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. Top-notch Photoshop instruction. This will make 18 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for me. Nobody knows the place better than I do. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the light and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home applying what you learned will prove to be invaluable.

SW FLA IPT. FEB 16-21, 2013. Introductory slide program: 7pm on 2/15. 6-FULL DAYS: $2999. Limit: 10/Openings 7.

Co-leaders: TBA. My bread and butter trip; learn the basics and the advanced fine points from the best; escape winter’s icy grip and enjoy tons of tame birds! Subjects will include nesting Great Blue Heron and Great Egret, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Mottled Duck, Brown and White Pelican at point-blank range, Snowy & Reddish Egret, Tricolored Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, wintering shorebirds and plovers, gulls and terns, & Burrowing Owl. All ridiculously tame.

Click here to learn more about this IPT.

GALAPAGOS Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience. July 2-16, 2013 on the boat. 13 FULL and two 1/2 days of photography: $12,749. Limit 13/Openings: 6.

July 2-16, 2013 on the boat. Fly to Quito on June 30. Travel insurance day: July 1. Fly to the archipelago on July 2. Get off the boat on July 16. Spend that afternoon and evening in Puerto Ayora (lunch & dinner on your own). Fly to Quito on July 17. Fly home on the early morning of July 18. $12,749 includes just about everything including all transfers, guide and park fees, all food on the boat, your flights to the archipelago, and four nights in top notch hotels–three in Quito and one on Puerto Ayora. Non-refundable deposit: $5,000. Limit 14 including the leader/Openings: 8

Briefly, my two-week trips are without equal. The world’s best guide, a killer itinerary, a great boat (the Samba), and the best leader with seven Galapagos cruises under his belt. The great spots include Tower Island (including Prince Phillips Steps and Darwin Bay), Hood Island (including Punta Suarez, the world’s only nesting site of Waved Albatross, and Gardner Bay)—each of the preceding are world class wildlife photography designations that rank right up there with Antarctica, Africa, and Midway), Fernandina, Puerto Ayora for the tortoises, Puerto Egas—James Bay, North Seymour, South Plaza, Black Turtle Cove, Floreana, Urbina Bay, and China Hat. Plus tons more. And lots of snorkeling for those who wish to partake. All park fees, meals except as noted above, guide fees, ground transportation, and the flights to and from the Galapagos are included.