- Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT Report
- Announcing the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013
- TPPA Convention Keynote
- Swan Island Dahlia Farm Instructional Photo-Tour
- Used Camera Gear Including Some New Items
- Posse News: Robert Amoruso
- Posse News: Jim Neiger
- IPT Info
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This Roseate Spoonbill was gathering material–mangrove leaves and mud–for its nest. It was photographed at Alafia Banks on the recently concluded Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1 2/3 stops as framed: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. This was +1/3 stop off the low blue sky. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF on the closest bird and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. We will get to photograph a great variety of breeding behaviors on the 2nd New Concept IPT, the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT. |
Fort Destoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT Report
The Fort Destoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT was a great success on all counts. Four photographers signed up for the whole thing. Steven Blandin lives in Tampa. He came with his 600 IS II. Mutliple-IPT veteran John Snodgrass flew from Atlanta with his new 600 II. First timer and virtual bird photographer beginner A. Collier Smyth flew in from Pennsylvania with his brand new 600 II. Lastly many-times-over multiple IPT veteran Monte Brown flew in from Indiana with his lowly 800mm f/5.6 L IS. Steven is young and talented and very eager to improve his skills. John has been improving and is about the nicest person you could ever hope to meet. He was constantly helping others. Collier learned and retained more in a 5 day period than anyone I’ve ever taught. On day 1 he felt that he could never even get a flying bird in the frame. By day 5 he was nailing spoonbills in flight with a mangrove background. And all of his images were super sharp. Monte had been away for a while and was eager to get back into the swing and rhythm of long lens photography. I remember one year on the Bear Boat when Monte killed on Bald Eagles in flight with his Canon 100-400.
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This scratching Marbled Godwit image was created at Fort Desoto on the recently concluded Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 1600. Evaluative metering + 1 2/3 stops as framed: 1/640 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. The exposure was confirmed in advance via histogram check. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s neck active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. The toughest thing to do when photographing scratching birds is to get a good head angle. This godwit’s head cooperated very nicely. |
We successfully battled cold and NW winds for the first two days and actually did quite well. (See Impossible Conditions here.) Every day everyone was eager to get out, eager to learn, and eager to put their newly learned skills to the test. We were all on the ground and in the water at Desoto getting cold and wet and sandy. Well, at least Monte and Collier were. John and I fortunately had lightweight chest waders along and wore them religiously. All in all we had good chances with a great many species at Desoto including: Royal, Sandwich, Caspian, and Forster’s Terns, Laughing, Lesser-black Backed, Ring-billed, and Herring Gulls, Black Skimmer, Mottled Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, White Ibis, Great Egret, Reddish Egret, Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, and, on the side trip to Indian Lake Estates, Sandhill Cranes with chicks of varying ages. (See What, No Itinerary? for the full story on that). Yikes, I almost forgot the shorebirds. They included Willet, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, American Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Wilson’s Plover, and lots of tame and beautiful Marbled Godwits. The latter was my spark species, the bird that got me hooked on birding back in 1977. And on the Hooptie trips we enjoyed photographing the spoonbills, the great blues, the ibises, the cormorants, and the pelicans in flight.
As good as the photography and the instruction was, everyone really enjoyed the meals: Ruby Tuesdays, Sea Porch Cafe, Good Times, and Bonefish Grill all shined. Oh yes, and a flounder lunch at my place with steamed broccoli and baked butternut squash.
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This hauled out female Red-breasted Merganser was photographed at Fort Desoto on the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT with the hand held Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera body. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s chin active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. This is a tough bird to get close to. She was sleeping as I approached but kindly woke for a portrait. |
Announcing a 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013/5 DAYS: $2399. Strict limit: six photographers.
Early April can be superb at Alafia Banks. Early April is almost always superb at Fort DeSoto.
Here is the structure and schedule: I will be leading the first three days of this IPT. James Shadle will be leading the last two days. We will do three Hooptie Deux trips, one full day and one morning only trip. The first day and one of the next two full days will be at Fort Desoto where the Laughing Gulls will be in splendid breeding plumage with their full black hoods, their wine-red bills, and white eye crescents. They are one of our most under-appreciated species. The Royal, Sandwich, and Forster’s Terns will also be in breeding plumage. And all of these species will be displaying, courting, and mating. You can also expect a variety of wading birds, especially Reddish Egret, and a variety of shorebirds including Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Dunlin, American Oystercatcher, and many more. And you will need to beat the Willets off with a stick. The additional possibilities are too numerous to mention.
We will spend a full day on the Hooptie Deux with James Shadle on either Thursday or Friday depending on the weather. The morning will be at Alafia Banks with spoonbill as the main target species. There will be lots of great flight photography not only with spoonbills, many of which will be in full breeding plumage, but with Brown Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants, Reddish Egret and White Ibis in full breeding plumage, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Turkey and Black Vultures, and lots more. The afternoon Hooptie trip will be at one of several fresh water heronries. James will trailer his customized pontoon boat to the best rookery. Subjects, depending on location, will likely include Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Black-crowned Night-heron, and Double-crested Cormorant. All nesting and in flight. Most but not all of the photography on a boat trip to the Banks with James is done while standing in the water with your tripod. James has lightweight chest waders and surf booties on board for all at no charge. Folks who wish to keep their expensive Gitzo tripods saltwater free often opt to use Drypods. Learn more here.
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This large White Ibis chick–yes, White Ibis, was photographed in its nest at a rookery in Lakeland, FL from the Hooptie Deux with the tripod-mounted Canon 600mm f/4 IS lens (now replaced by the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens), the 2X II TC (now replaced by the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter)), and the EOS-1Ds (now replaced by the Canon EOS-1D X). ISO 400. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/125 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode. Opportunities on the fresh water rookery afternoon will be superb and varied. |
Saturday and Sunday with James will feature a morning on the Hooptie Deux at Alafia Banks and one or more sessions at Honeymoon Island State Park where many dozens of pairs of Osprey are nesting. There will of course be lots of flight photography. Depending on the winds and weather there may be an afternoon session at a Wood Stork rookery or some local beaches that James knows well. All of the above (except for the leader schedule) is of course subject to change depending on the weather including wind and sky conditions as well as local conditions. James has an intimate knowledge of each location and has visited them regularly for many years. We will be staying in St. Petersburg, FL where we will be 30-45 minutes at most from all of our shooting locations.
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This image of a Sandwich Tern in flight was created on the first afternoon of the at Fort Desoto on the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT with the hand held Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero as framed: 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode was a slight underexposure. One sensor below the central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. There will be lots of opportunities to hand hold big glass for flight on the 2nd New Concept IPT: the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux–Roseate Spoonbill Short Notice IPT/April 3-7, 2013. |
All of the above plus practically private access to two of the planet’s premier photographic educators represents a rare opportunity to grow as a nature photographer. A $500 deposit is needed to hold your spot; call Jim or Jennifer asap at 1-863-692-0906. Your deposit may be placed with a credit card. Your payment in full by personal check will then be due along with your completed paperwork both sent via US Mail. Please print, read, and sign the release form here and include it with your check. If you would rather pay in full via personal check, please call or e-mail immediately to save your spot. As always, this IPT will run with only a single registrant. Yeah, I know that it might seem nuts but neither James nor I can live with telling folks who have arranged to take time off from work and made travel plans that we are cancelling a trip because we will not be making enough money to justify running it….
You can learn more about New Concept IPTs by clicking here and scrolling down. Be sure to check out the killer white morph Reddish Egret image there.
EOS-5D Mark III User’s Guide
In the EOS-5D Mark III User’s Guide You can learn everything that I know about the following important topics: 5D III exposure fine points, handling the WHITEs, the top LCD and all camera control buttons, 5D Mark III drive modes, how to manually select an AF sensor, choosing an AF Area Selection Mode, and Menu Item access. Coverage of almost all Menu Items and Custom Functions including: Image Quality, Auto Lighting Optimizer, Highlight Tone Priority, AF Configuration Tool (includes details on the custom Case setting that I use), Acceleration/deceleration tracking, Tracking sensitivity, Lens drive when AF impossible, Orientation linked AF point (I love this feature on the 5D III!), Highlight alert, Histogram display, Auto rotate, Custom Shooting Mode set-up, Safety shift, using the Q button, and setting up rear focus.Plus detailed instructions on how to set up for both in-camera HDR and in-camera multiple exposures.
The guide is–of course–written in my informal, easy-to-follow style. Learn more or purchase here.
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This Brown Pelican image was created at Alafia Banks on the recently concluded Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1 2/3 stops as framed: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. This was +1/3 stop off the low blue sky. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF on the pelican’s eye and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. I am not sure what it was about this pelican sitting in the mangroves but for some reason it looked great; I created lots of horizontal and lots of vericals. |
TPPA Convention & Keynote Presentation
I will be presenting the keynote address at the Texas Professional Photographer’s Association Convention in Arlington, TX on the evening of March 16. My appearance is being generously sponsored by Canon USA/Explorers of Light. I hope that you can make it. Here is additional information on the convention:
Weekend Photo Event: 24 programs and Trade Show only $49: March 15-17, 2013
Attend the event with the best photographic education value in America! For only $49 you can attend your choice of 24 different programs from Landscape Photography, Understanding Exposure, How to enter Print Competition, People Photography, Fashion and Boudoir Photography, Pet photography, How to Get Published, Adobe Lightroom, Nature Photography, Sports Photography, How to Turn your photos to Art and much more! On Saturday evening we have Arthur Morris, one of the nations top bird photographers, doing his “A Bird Photographers Story” program!
How would you like the chance to have your work published in our award winning, regional photography magazine. You can participate in the Print Competition and get into the Trade Show absolutely FREE! Just announced, win a LexJet trophy and $100 if your entry was printed on LexJet product. We also have several Hands-On programs on Friday March 15 on PhotoShop, Posing, Lighting, How to Market Your Photo Business and more for a small additional cost. You must pre-register for the event at www.tppa.org but you DO NOT have to register for the classes on Saturday and Sunday. You can attend as many or as few as you want! All will take place be at the Arlington Convention Center just 15 minutes from DFW.
Regardless of your skill level, you’ll find something for you! Please join us! Even if you and only attend one day! Learn more here.
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This image of a pair of sleeping American Oystercatchers was created at Fort Desoto on the Fort Desoto/Hooptie Deux Short Notice IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 2x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode confirmed in advance via histogram check. Central sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF on the eye of the nearest bird and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. The 500 makes a great super-telephoto when you are working with relatively tame birds and wish to go light. |
EOS-1D X AF Guide
You can learn exactly how I set up and use this camera’s great new AF system in our EOS-1D X AF Guide. And you can learn about our other camera User’s Guides here.
Used Camera Gear Including Some New Items
Walt Novinger
Walt is offering a used Sigma 300-800 f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS, aka The Sigmonster in like new condition. Used only 4-5 times: $6,000. The sale includes the original shipping box and the original soft lens case. Includes shipping in the continental US. You can call Walt at 1-442.222.4081 or by e-mail. James Shadle used the Nikon mount version of this lens to create many great images. Strong folks can save a bundle as this is a steal at $2,000 below list.
Dr. Steve Bein
Steve is offering a mint condition lightly used Canon 600mm f/4L IS L lens for sale, used only once for $7,000 insured ground shipping included. The purchase includes the lens trunk, a LensCoat, the 4th generation foot, and the original Canon foot all in the original box.
Please contact Steve via e-mail or call him at home at 1-310-838-2346. As a last resort try him on his cell at 1-310-850-6061.
Ramona Boone
Ramona is offering the following used items for sale:
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS lens with its trunk, leather cover, hood, rear lens cap, drop in filter holder, forest green Lens Coat, strap, and 4th generation NP 51 low foot. All in very good condition. Just serviced by Canon: $5900.
Please contact Ramona with any questions: 1-719 231 5874 or via e-mail.
Posse News: Robert Amoruso
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Note: Robert leads trips to two great spots that I used to visit regularly when I lived in Deltona, FL and traveled a lot less than I do now! I will be getting up to Gatorland this spring and hope to make it back to St. Augustine in May or June. I know that Robert knows his stuff because I taught him. 🙂
The ORIGINAL Gatorland Photographic Instructional Workshops for 2013, March 23-24, April 12-14 or May 18-19.
Join Robert at Gatorland’s native avian rookery with unparalleled up-close access to mating and nesting birds in full breeding plumage. Morning and afternoon classroom presentations include “Successful Strategies in Avian Rookery Photography” (a mainstay of my rookery programs), “Manual Exposure” along with image editing and post-processing workflows. The three-day workshop adds indoor sessions on thinking creatively capped by my presentation “How I Create”. In-the-field instruction includes learning to isolate your subject, understanding light, making the proper exposure, using depth-of-field to your advantage, fill-flash, and lots more. Classroom sessions are held onsite at Gatorland. A CD with presentations is included. Prices lower than 2012 so book now as they are filling up. Learn more here.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Semi-Private Photographic Instructional Workshop
Join Robert April 26-28, 2013 for photographic instruction in a semi-private workshop setting at the famous St. Augustine Alligator Farm (SAAF) native avian rookery. This workshop experience is limited to three persons. Morning and afternoon outdoor instruction will be at SAAF with indoor instruction conducted nearby in my private suite. Everything covered at the Gatorland workshops (see above) is included here and enhanced with close one-on-one interaction and personal attention. Learn more here.
Private Photographic Instructional Workshops
As good as a group workshop can be, sometimes private one-on-one instruction is the ticket. My private workshops cater to your individual needs. In advance of the workshop we will discuss your objectives and how they can best be met. Then I design your workshop to meet those goals. These workshops generally include areas close to my home as I know them well but I can travel to other locations in Florida if you have a specific locale in mind.
Learn more here.
Robert is an Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART approved photographic instructor. Learn more about Robert and check out his images here. You can contact him with questions via e-mail or call him on his cell: 407-808-7417.
Posse News: Jim Neiger
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Bald Eagle/midair squabble. Image courtesy of and copyright 2012: Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography |
Alaska Bald Eagles Workshops, Haines, Alaska: October/November, 2013
Flight School Photography introduces a newly developed workshop to take place at the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines, Alaska. Each fall, hundreds of Bald Eagles gather along the Chilkat river to feed on spawned out salmon that are accessible due to the open running water. A natural phenomenon in the area warms the water in the river and prevents it from freezing. More than three thousand Bald Eagles congregate here each fall to feed on the Salmon in the shallow open water streams flowing thru the river valley. Towering snow covered mountains surround the river valley providing magnificent backgrounds for our Bald Eagle images. The Eagles soar over the valley and swoop down to attack each other as they battle for their share of the Salmon from the river. We will have front row seats for this spectacular show. If you like Bald Eagles in action and gorgeous scenery, this is a workshop that should not be missed. While our focus will be on photographing the Bald Eagles, we will also have opportunities to photograph the magnificent scenery and other wildlife. Possibilities include bear, moose, and other species of birds.
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Incoming Bald Eagle. Image courtesy of and copyright 2012: Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography |
Two workshops will take place during the fall of 2013. The workshops will be conducted by expert bird photographer, Jim Neiger. Jim has perfected unique techniques for photographing birds in flight using large telephoto lenses, hand held. The focus of the workshops will be to learn Jim’s hand held, long lens techniques for photographing birds in flight and in other action. Jim is known for his consistent production of amazing flight images and images of the most desirable subjects. His Flight School Photography Workshops are a must for any serious nature photographer.
Each workshop will last 6-days and will include a four hour classroom session and 5 days of photography in the field. The workshops will be limited to six participants so that everyone may receive personalized instruction in the field.
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Bald Eagle top shot. Image courtesy of and copyright 2012: Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography |
Workshop Dates:
Workshop AK-1: October 27th – November 1st, 2013
Workshop AK-2: November 3rd – November 8th, 2013
Workshop Itinerary:
Day 1 (afternoon/evening ): Arrive in Juneau, Alaska which is the base location for the classroom portion of the workshop. There will be a four hour classroom session from 2:00pm to 6:00pm in the hotel meeting room. The classroom instruction will focus on using hand held techniques for photographing birds in flight to prepare participants for the subsequent photography sessions.
Day 2: Morning ferry ride to Haines, Alaska where we will check in to our hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the small town and getting ready for the in the field portion of the workshop.
Days 3-5: In the field photography sessions in the Bald Eagle Preserve.
Day 6: We will spend the day photographing in the preserve followed by an evening ferry ride back to Juneau.
Workshop Cost and payment:
The cost of each workshop is $2200 per person or attend both workshops for $3900 per person. Each workshop includes a four hour formal classroom instruction session and 4 full day photography sessions. The photography sessions include personalized instruction in the field. Discounted lodging is available, but is not included in the workshop fee. A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a spot in a workshop. The remaining $1200 is due 30 days before the start date of the workshop. If you are unable to attend the workshop, after paying the balance, the balance payment 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.
Contact Info
For additional information, contact Jim by phone at 407-247-5200 or via e-mail.
Website
Visit Jim’s website here.
Click here for more info and more photos.
Seriously Huge B&H Savings on Nikon and Canon Gear
Nikon
For the first time in many years NIKON is going to be deeply discounting many legacy pro lenses individually for the next 2 weeks only with discounts up to $350. There are also many amazing deals on NIKON Buy together and Save packages as well. Click here to save.
Nikon DSLRS Bundles with Lenses & Flash: Save up to $750. Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.
Canon Lenses & Speedlites: Save Up to $300
Click here to save. Make sure to add each item to your shopping cart to see the absolute lowest price.
Canon Buy Together & Save: Save Up to $400
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Typos
On all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or leave a comment regarding any typos, wrong words, misspellings, omissions, or grammatical errors. Just be right. 🙂
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Hi Arthur,
Just a quick question about your Brown Pelican (in the mangroves) image. How come the evaluative metering comes up with -1 2/3 stops as framed? As the scene doesn’t look to average to much darker than a midtone to my eyes, so was surprised by the large negative reading, despite small white patches on the neck.
Apologies for yet another exposure question, just keen to learn!
PS. Love the White Ibis chick photo.