- Improving Flock Flight Image Design
- More Short Notice, Dirt Cheap, In-the-Field Nickerson Beach Photographic Instruction with Arthur Morris
- The Blog is the Bomb!
- Japan in Winter
- Time is Running Out! New York City–On Location with Denise Ippolito & Arthur Morris
- Affiliate Links
- Used Camera Gear
- IPT Highlights
- IPT Info
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This Sanderling flock flight image was created with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM zoom lens (hand held at 145mm) and the Canon EOS-5D Mark III. ISO 400. (Should have been ISO 50.) Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/25 sec. at f/18 in Tv mode. Central sensor/Surround AI Servo/Rear Focus active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. |
Improving Flock Flight Image Design
With the Sanderling flocks blasting off on a regular basis on previous recent Nickerson visits I decided to bring the 70-200 along with a second camera body, the EOS-5D Mark III. The second rig was on ready at a moment’s notice as I had attached the Black Rapid RS-7 Strap. Here’s my first tip for improving flock flight image design: use a zoom lens so that you can frame as desired in the field.
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Improving Flock Flight Image Design
Give the animated GIF a few seconds to play. Note that the image that opens this Bulletins is an imroved version of the optimized image that I used to create the animated GIF. You will need some sharp eyes to notice the differences…..
My second tip for improving flock flight image design is to use the Clone Stamp Tool and the Patch Tool to eliminate birds near the frame-edge or birds that are otherwise upsetting the flow and the compositional balance. In the original image the back end of the flock was perfectly framed. But the birds at the front of the flock destroyed the flow and the compositional balance. It was easy to remove them using the Clone Stamp Tool and the Patch Tool. At times, you will may need to use a Quick Mask or two to cover some of the offending birds.
A Guide to Pleasing Blurs
If you would like to learn more about creating pleasing blurs like the one above–yeah, I know that some of you hate all blurs, but contest judges and artsy folks love them, get yourself a copy of A Guide to Pleasing Blurs, the e-Guide that I co-wrote and co-illustrated with Denise Ippolito. You can learn more about this great guide by clicking here.
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This Sanderling image was created at Nickerson Beach 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 Digital SLR camera. ISO 800. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/9 in Manual Mode. Central sensor (by necessity) Expand/AI Servo/Rear Focus on the front bird’s face and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Since I finally got back to Lens Aligning my gear before heading up to Long Island all of my sharp images have gotten that much sharper. The 600 II/2X III TC combo needed a -4 micro-adjustment. There is lots of great new Lens Align Mark II info coming soon. I will share the image optimization process used to create this image in a future blog post. If you love this image half as much as I do, leave a comment and let us know why. |
More Short Notice, Dirt Cheap, Small Group, In-the-Field Nickerson Beach Photographic Instruction with Arthur Morris. May 27 (am & pm), May 28 (am & pm) and May 29 (am only). All 2013 of course. Morning sessions: 5am sharp-9:30 am. Afternoon sessions: 4pm til whenever. These are priced so low that you need to e-mail for the rates. Limit 5/session.
If you e-mail, please include all phone numbers. Payment in full due immediately via credit card after calling the office on a weekday: 863-221-2372. If you would like to join me, please get in touch via e-mail. Breeding American Oystercatcher (chicks likely) and Piping Plover (chicks possible). Common Tern and Black Skimmer/courtship behaviors. Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. Breeding plumage Sanderling and other shorebird species. Lots of flight photography when the wind is right. Learn digital exposure and creative image design. Learn to create pleasing blurs at 5am.
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This American Oystercatcher was photographed at Nickerson Beach in very early morning light this past Saturday with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero. (Should have been -1/3 stop): 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual Mode. Three sensors left of the central sensor/Surround/AI Servo/Rear Focus active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Since I finally got back to Lens Aligning my gear before heading up to Long Island all of my sharp images have gotten that much sharper. The 600 II/1.4X III TC combo needed a -10 micro-adjustment as it was back-focused. There is lots of great new Lens Align Mark II info coming soon. American Oystercatcher, a much sought-after photographic subject, is actually easy right now at Nickerson…. |
The Blog is the Bomb!
I continue to put in 20+ hours a week towards making the blog informative, timely, and beautiful. Many of the educational features that formerly appeared in BAA Bulletins now grace the BAA Blog. If you are not subscribed, you are missing a ton of great stuff almost daily. You can subscribe to the blog posts by clicking here. If you have a problem subscribing, please contact us via e-mail.
Here are some more links to recent posts of interest:
See if you can figure out the fatal flaw by clicking here. The answer is coming soon.
Learn how I screwed up big time recently by clicking here.
Check out my best ever beach nest image in “Eggs-ZACT-LY!” here.
Learn about the release of the long-awaited “Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender” in the popular blog post here.
You can learn what drives me to work so hard and to excel here.
Learn what I think of the new Photoshop Creative Cloud marketing strategy here and see the previous days post to see the Adobe announcement and more. Note: you can easily visit the prior (left) or following (right) blog post by clicking on the link-arrows left and right of the title of the blog post you are reading. The link-arrows are at the top of the page in blue.
Enjoy some scenic photography composition lessons in Variety.
Click here it you missed the news about the EOS-5D Mark III Firmware Update that allows AF at f/8.
“Best-ever Hand Holding Tip” is one of my most popular blog posts ever.
Spending to much time at the computer, behind the wheel, watching TV? Back hurt? Click here for some simple health tips.
If you’ve never heard of UrbEx Photography, click here.
To learn why there is never a detailed itinerary on a BAA Instructional Photo-Tour click here.
Like flowers or photography? Check out Depth-of-Field Lesson.
Learn why I love my 5D Mark III here.
You can find complete Canon telephoto lens specs here; be sure to bookmark this page for quick reference. The cart now includes data for the new Canon 200-400.
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Japan in Winter FEB 12-26/27, 2014. Snow Monkey, Red-crowned Crane, Stellers and White-tailed Sea Eagles, and Whooper Swan: $12,999. Limit: 7/Openings: 1
This previously unannounced trip is a nearly sold out from the BAA Friends List. We have assembled a great group of 6 very happy campers and have room for one more. Three great leaders: Arthur Morris, Denise Ippolito, and multiple BBC and Nature’s Best honoree Paul Mckenzie,
Included: all lodging including Tokyo hotel, all breakfasts and dinners, ground transport and transfers, four eagle boat trips (ice conditions permitting), all entrance fees, and in-country flights. Not included: international flights, alcoholic beverages, lunches, bottled water, and snacks.
Do know that every major photographic competition awards several prizes to images made in Japan in winter…. Seriously interested Happy Campers are invited to e-mail for the complete itinerary.
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This 5-frame in-camera multiple exposure was created at the Rijks Museum, in Amsterdam, Holland with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM zoom lens (hand held at 125mm) and the Canon EOS-5D Mark III. ISO 800. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/2000 sec. at f/3.5 in Av mode. Central sensor/Surround AI Servo/Rear Focus. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. Street photography is great fun. You can learn a ton about photography by joining Denise and me in New York City this coming weekend. See immediately below for details. Learn how I set up my 5D Mark III for Multiple Exposures (and tons more) in the 5D MIII User’s Guide. And check out Denise’s great “Creative Multiple Exposures MP4 Tutorial Video.” It is only $4 and covers a variety of techniques. |
Time is Running Out! New York City–On Location with Denise Ippolito & Arthur Morris May 25 – 26, 2013, 2-day Workshop-$495
Join Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris for a two-day creative workshop in the Big Apple. This exciting adventure through the streets of NYC will begin with an informal get-together at our hotel on the evening of May 24th. This will give us all a chance to get to know each other before we hit the streets in the morning for our first exciting photo shoot. We will explore China Town, Little Italy, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station (tripod permit included) and much more during our two days together. The emphasis will be on street photography, seeing and capturing dynamic images, and expanding your creativity using a variety of in-camera techniques including HDR and Multiple Exposure. 5D Mark III users are most welcome.
Please contact me via e-mail for complete details and the itinerary.
Affiliate Links
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop B&H here!
Regular readers well know that I spend an inordinate amount of time each week preparing blog posts and the BAA Online Bulletins in order to bring you the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information and to share with you my favorite new images. I have long resisted efforts to charge a fee for each. Please Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of our B&H or Amazon Affiliate links below or on the product-specifics links in each post. in this blog post. Both B&H and Amazon offer world class service and the lowest prices you will find anywhere. And using one of our links will not cost you a penny more. When shopping at B&H be sure to place an item in your cart to see the often too-low-to show actual price. In many cases B&H is forbidden by the manufacturer from publicizing their lowest price!
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins: Shop Amazon here!
Used Camera Gear
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.
Brent Bridges
$150 Price Drop; this one is a steal!
Brent is offering a used Canon EF 100-400mm f4/.5-5.6L IS USM with the Canon tripod mount ring B (W), the Canon ET-83C Lens Hood , the Canon LZ1324 lens case and the owner’s manual. Everything in excellent condition with a few very light scratches on the Lens Hood. Price reduced: $800. Seller pays shipping and insurance. Please call Brent at 770-565-5012 or contact him via e-mail.
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. 🙂
IPT Highlights
There is a single opening on the Nickerson Beach Baby Beach Nesting birds trip. See immediately below for details and more.
Hi Artie,
Would it be possible to put the date the images were taken on the posts in future? It would be particularly useful on moulting birds, young birds, etc.
Appreciate it if possible;-)
Best
Alan
Usually you will have a pretty good idea. If you need a date for a specific image feel free to e-mail. Otherwise it would be just one more thing to remember….