FEATURES

• LONG ISLAND TRIP & JBWR/NICKERSON BEACH IPT REPORT
• THE GROUP
• IPT KUDOS
• BOSQUE & SOCORRO SUPER 8 UPDATES
• ALAN MURPHYS “Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography”
• DELKIN LPE6 BATTERY FOR THE CANON EOS 5D & 7D CAMERA BODIES
• POSSE NEWS/TODD GUSTAFSON
• THE BIRDS AS ART BLOG
• HUNT’S SPECIALS
• IPT DATE UPDATES

American Oystercatcher, juvenile on bank of sand bar, Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/160 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. Most of the IPT group was on a very cooperative family of American Oystercatchers actively feeding along the edge of the surf. We had been working them for about 15 minutes; just before one adult gave the alarm call and the group flew off this handsome bird of the year posed on the edge of a sand ridge for a few moments. When photographing black and white birds in relatively constant light it is always best to work in manual mode once you have come up with a good exposure; that way you do not have to worry about how big or small in the frame the subject is or about how much the black or white is influencing the camera’s meter….

LONG ISLAND TRIP & JBWR/NICKERSON BEACH IPT REPORT

I flew to Islip on Friday the 13th (yikes!) but made it safely to my daughter Alissa’s house in Holbrook and then continued on to my Mom’s (same town). I stayed at my Mom’s house through Sunday night before moving to a motel in Freeport. My younger sister Arna and my Mom, soon to be 88 are both fine. My Mom needs a walker (and always will) but is doing great after her very serious hip replacement replacement surgery last summer. Each time that I visit I find that she has gotten a bit stronger.

On Sunday morning (I think…) I photographed at Pike’s Beach in Westhampton with Michael Lotito who would be with me for a private day later on that week. We had fun with the Sanderlings and the turnstones but the beautiful juvenile Willets simply would not cooperate. I had folks on private days on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. These included Mike (above), old friend Dianne Heggie, Dan Greenburg, and two folks who arrived early for the IPT. We had fun and they enjoyed the bagels on Merrick Road after the sessions while we reviewed some of the mornings images. On Friday afternoon we did quite well at the north end of the East Pond with nice light and beautiful reflections. On Monday I had picked up Denise Ippolito at her home in NJ and we had some good times both at Nickerson where she photographs often and at the East Pond where she had never been. She liked it a lot.

I met the group early Saturday evening for nearly three hours of introductory work. It was easy to tell right off the bat that everyone was eager to improve their skills. We did some shorebird ID stuff, I reviewed the images that I had created earlier in the week at the two spots, and we did some Photoshop work. We headed to Nickerson on Sunday morning and the weather turned bad fast. (We had had nice weather all week and not too hot at that.) Before long we had some rain to go along with the strong northeast winds. Everyone however was game and we stuck it out enjoying some good chances with both adult and young Black Skimmers and Common Terns. Since the light was so low we worked on creating some pleasing blurs. That afternoon the tide looked good for the north end of the East Pond at JBWR and once again the rain got us. Along with southeast winds gusting up to 40 mph. But I was able to get the whole group seated in the mud right on top of a mixed flock of shorebirds that included Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher, and a few peeps including adult White-Rumpeds and some adult and juvenile Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. As we sat with our backs to the wind a juvie Pectoral Sandpiper and some Stilt Sandpipers flew in and an adult Semipalmated Plover walked by. There were dozens of peeps feeding in the grassy puddles but they did not join the flock to roost. It was a thrill to me to be so close to so many loverly birds even though the light was dismal at best.

Short-billed Dowitcher, juvenal plumage, East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops set manually yielded a somewhat underexposed RAW file (as I was fighting to keep the ISO down and the shutter speed up). Fill flash at -3 stops with the Better Beamer. To get the bill sharp I would have had to use a much higher ISO and a much slower shutter speed neither of which I was anxious to do). This image was skillfully optimized by Robert O’Toole.

On Monday morning we returned to Nickerson for more skimmers and terns, more wind, and more rain, but there were lots of opps for making good images and lots of opps for learning. That afternoon we headed for the north end of the East Pond but I misread the wind and there were no birds there so we switched tracks and headed for the South Flats. Pickings were slim there as the strong wind switched again this time to the north. Some of us made our way through the mud and muck at the Raunt and on the way back to the cars we had some fun with the Mute Swans. I opted to try and create some flash blurs of the large white swans that were feeding close to shore. After a second great dinner at Danny’s Szechuan Garden on Cross Bay Boulevard it began to pour as we headed back to the motel in Freeport. I am talking armegeddon.

Spotted Sandpiper, worn juvenile, East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops set manually: 1/125 sec. at f/8. Clemens Vanderwerf and I were in deep muck with our 800s (there were four on the trip!) when this bird popped up onto a perfect perch. I whispered to Clemens but he was unable to get on the bird while I fired off six frames.

Mute Swan feeding, East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +2 2/3 stops set manually: 1/8 sec. at f/14. Flash at 1:1 with the Better Beamer. I had to turn off Highlight Tone Priority to get down to ISO 50. Having still to work at f/14 I knew that I would not be overexposing the image even with the flash at full power. Flash blurs like this attempt to combine a motion blurred image from the ambient light with a sharp image from the flash.

We spent all of day three at Nickerson as I knew that the East Pond would be flooded from the heavy rains. The morning was great with terns and skimmers and oystercatchers. The big excitement came when an adult Great Black-backed Gull grabbed a young skimmer, ripped it apart, and consumed it right in front of the group. I am always amazed that folks are so upset when the see predators at work; if they were not successful they would be the ones to perish. I see it as what is. Denise on the other hand was glad that she had gotten a ride back to NJ from her friend Michael Zajac and left early. The group greatly appreciated her in-the-field help. That afternoon we began with an adult and young black-backed posing next to each other and ended with several ridiculously tame oystercatchers feeding along the edge of the surf. They were so tame that I left the 800 on the tripod and grabbed the 400 DO.

Great Black-backed Gull dragging freshly killed skimmer, Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. Fill flash -3 stops with Better Beamer. Once the excitement died down I asked the group how many times they thought that I had moved my tripod while photographing the predation. Most said three to six times. The correct answer was “more than thirty.” I knew that the bird was concentrating on getting its meal so I moved often and freely to try to get into the best position for each image. If you watch a good nature photographer work you will be amazed at how many times they move their rig while photographing the same situation. Many folks stand in the same spot all day.

American Oystercatcher, juvenile in flight, Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops off an oystercatcher walking in the surf: 1/1250 sec. at f/4 set manually. Walking along the edge of the surf hand holding the 400 DO it was easy to get low and frame the image as I wanted it. When this young bird took flight I was able to create a pleasing flight image. Hand holding for flight and action when possible is the way to go.

THE GROUP

Oh what a wonderful group. There were four IPT veterans. Mike Goldhamer a doctor and skilled photographer from San Diego has been all over the globe with me. Myer Bornstein, a physician from Boston with the classic “pahk the cah in Hahvaud Yahd” accent, is active on BPN. He attended a JBWR IPT about a zillion years ago. Dr. Richard Curtain has been on several SW FLA and Bosque IPTs plus a few that I am probably forgetting. He is as soft spoken and gentle as anyone you will ever meet. Clemens Vanderwerf is a Dutchman from Miami who makes a living moving large yachts. You can check out his excellent work here. It will be hard for you to believe that he has been doing bird photography for only six months. He has been on two IPTs and has spent more than a few days learning from James Shadle on the Hooptie Deux as well. He is living proof that with digital, folks who make a commitment to learn can do so quickly and be producing images of high technical and artistic quality in relatively short order.

Newcomer John Snodgrass of Atlanta assured me in advance that he was a happy camper–heck, it was he who prompted the “What Makes a Happy Camper” feature. He was indeed a very happy camper. He was the beginner in the group, was eager to learn, stuck to me like glue, and bowled the group over during the critique session with a killer breaching Humpback Whale image. Lastly but not leastly was Amano Samarpan who traveled from the UK to join me for several days. He is a regular visitor to India and he has done lots of bird photography there and in many different places including Tibet.”

It was the two newcomers who provided the bulk of the entertainment for the IPT . John Snodgrass realized at some point that he had lost his wallet. He–along with those who were car-pooling with him–searched the entire car and ripped the trunk apart. No luck. He remained remarkably calm. He went back to a store or two and eventually headed back to the parking lot near Jamaica Bay in early morning while the group went to Nickerson. When he finally made it to the beach he had a big smile on his face. He had hoped to find the wallet on the ground in the parking lot or perhaps where we had sat on that first afternoon but again, no luck. When he got back to the lot he decided to re-enact everything that he has done that morning. He made believe that he was putting on his yellow skins while leaning against the side of the back of the car. He reached into his pocket for his imaginary wallet, took it out, and placed it behind him in the channel that the trunk closes into. When he turned around there was the wallet exactly where he had placed it about 26 hours before. Everyone had been so busy looking in the trunk that nobody has seen the elusive wallet. You gotta love it.

Amano is about as laid-back a person as exists on the planet. I would say to him, “Amano, you need to be at the car at 5:25 am sharp so that we can leave at 5:30. (He was riding with Denise and me). He would mosey on over from his room at about 5:33 and then take a few minutes putting his gear into the back seat. I was having a bit of a hard time loving what is…. On the second morning I had gotten down on the ground to photograph some skimmers. At about 10am it began to rain fairly hard so we all decided to head for the bagel shop. When I got to the car I realized that my keys were lost. I had placed them in a zippered vest pocket when we left the car early in the morning but Denise had borrowed them so that she could get her flash. When she returned them I stuck them in a pants pocket…. Yikes. So I turned around to walk more than a quarter mile through the sand and rain to the spot where I had gotten on the ground. Amano and Mike were kind enough to join me in the search. (I do not think that the others knew what was going on.) We carefully searched my elephant wallow in the sand without success. Mike and I decided to head down towards the surf where I had been sitting to photograph some Sanderlings. Amano continued to search the disturbed sand. We had barely walked ten yards when Amano called out, “I found them.” “How?” I asked. “I was digging around in the sand with my foot.” Amazing. No $150 cab ride to the Islip airport. No $250 lost key fee from National Car Rental. No lost afternoon for the IPT. “Amano,” I said, “you can be as late as you wish any time. No more rushing on my account.”

Despite the harsh weather the group was as cheerful as could be and was thus able to take advantage of a wide variety of learning situations while at the same time making some great images. As a tour leader you gotta love that.

Yours truly in the wind, Nickerson Beach, LI, NY Image courtesy of and copyright 2010: Myer Bornstein

This group gave me lots to smile about even with the challenging weather.

IPT KUDOS

An e-mail from John Snodgrass:

Hi Artie, The trip was wonderful in large part because you made it so. You were challenged with weather issues that did not compromise our objectives. I learned a great deal and appreciate the personal instruction time with you. I am not skilled to the degree that everyone else but still felt very much a part of the group. I originally started photography as a way of recording my childrens athletic events and then retired and found it to be a fun and rewarding hobby. My interest in the IPT was to further my skills and therefore my enjoyment. I did both. Thanks a ton. John

And another from Clemens Vanderwerf:

Hi Artie, I just wanted to thank you again for a fun IPT. We had difficult circumstances, but they enhanced the learning experience for sure. I greatly enjoyed your life story slideshow during the last dinner and really appreciated your openness. I learned a lot and we all made some great photos. I am looking forward to seeing you again during the Bosque IPT in November. All the best for now. Regards, Clemens.

Black Skimmer, juvenile with bill open, Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/500 sec. at f/7.1. With this young bird angled slightly away from me a look-back head turn was needed to create a pleasing image. The bird cooperated very nicely. The soft early morning light allowed me to work well off sun angle

BOSQUE & SOCORRO SUPER 8 UPDATES

The word on the street is that there is a better than decent crop of corn coming up at Bosque right now, much of it close to the tour loop road. After the past few dismal seasons that is great news indeed. Gary Rouleau will again be leading a hardy group of “Bosque Open Windows” volunteers to ensure your viewing pleasure this upcoming season. He is the head animal; his gang works like dogs and gets tons done. I founded the program three years ago and hope to be able to get out there to lend a hand this year.

For more than a decade Louise Darnell of the Socorro Super 8 has been providing a great place to stay for visiting photographers with the earliest breakfast in town to go with the clean rooms, good internet services, and wonderful hospitality. In addition Louise has–over the years–generously supported both the NANPA scholarship students and the “Bosque Open Windows” volunteer program by providing complimentary lodging for dozens of students and volunteers. Though it is likely that the Super 8 will be changing hands fairly soon, the motel is and will be open. At present, you can make your reservations anytime by calling 1-575 835 4626. If any place deserves your business, the Socorro Super 8 is it.

There are only three slots left on this year’s Bosque IPT:

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: 3. Co-leaders: Robert OToole, 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. Please see terms and deposit info below in IPT UPDATES.

Common Tern juvenile, Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach, NY 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: 1/200 sec. at f/8. Before the IPT began, we had some sweet early morning light. The young terns are much more skittish than the young skimmers. Here I borrowed some canvas from the frame just before this one and added it to give the bird more room in front. Note the perfect head angle here. For my “Easy as Pie” head angle quiz, check out this thread in BPN’s Eager to Learn Forum here. You will get a good laugh just from reading the thread and if you follow the links you will learn a ton.

ALAN MURPHYS “Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography”

Just about one year ago I attended a slide program done by Alan Murphy. I was so amazed by the songbird set-up tips that he revealed that I urged him to do a CD Guide on the subject. We collaborated on wound up printing 5,000 copies of the CD. In well less than one year that initial printing is almost sold out and the very great likelihood is that there will not be a second printing. We will instead go to a download system. If you would like to have your hands on the actual CD and the beautiful CD cover you need to consider ordering now .

The book is lavishly illustrated not only with Alans killer images but with dozens and dozens of step-by-step photos that will show you exactly how to create your own successful set-ups. The writing is clear and concise and the directions are easy to follow and inclusive. As Alan shows in the book, even if you have only a small backyard, or even just a patio or a balcony, he can help you to create some stunning avian images on a consistent basis.

The professionally designed, packaged, and burned CD will not be available for long. It sells for $50 plus $3.00 shipping and handling to US addresses. Shipping to Canada is $6.00, $8.00 for all foreign orders. Florida residents will need to add 7% sales tax ($3.50) to the cost of the CD only. You can send us a PayPal, call us at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand, or the CD from the BAA On-line Store (with secure credit card data transmission) by clicking here: Alan Murphy’s “Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography. (Note: Shipping charges with BAA On-line Store orders will likely vary by small amounts from those noted above.)

Below are two of Alan’s recent set-up creations.

Painted Bunting, TX Image copyright 2010/Alan Murphy Photography

Snow Bunting, AK Image copyright 2010/Alan Murphy Photography

DELKIN LPE6 BATTERY FOR THE CANON EOS 5D & 7D CAMERA BODIES

The Delkin LPE6 rechargeable lithium-ion battery is designed and manufactured according to original Canon specifications and ratings and is guaranteed to be 100% compatible with Canon LPE6 compliant cameras and chargers. This smart battery communicates exact charge time remaining, the number of shots taken, and battery performance/lifetime for optimal conditioning. It is rated at 1600mAh and 7.2V to provide you with a longer run time between charges, and backed by Delkin’s 2 year warranty.

High quality cells and advanced manufacturing standards produce a battery that will deliver significantly more charge cycles over time and more power per charge. Since Delkins rechargeable batteries are not hindered by a memory effect, you can charge your battery at any given point at any stage in the charge cycle without causing damage to the cells. Order yours now by calling us at 863-692-0906 or sending a PayPal: $59.99 plus $6 shipping to the US, $8 to Canada, and $10 for all foreign orders. All shipping is per order not per battery Smile emoticon

Mute Swan flapping after bath, East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3. Both Canada Goose and Mute Swan are often ignored as potential photographic subjects. Though I am not a fan of introduced species like Mute Swan, I do not hesitate to both photograph them and use them as teaching aids. When you see either species dipping their breasts in the water, get ready to create some dramatic images as they will almost always rise up out of the water and flap for all they are worth.

POSSE NEWS/TODD GUSTAFSON

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

GUSTAFSON PHOTO SAFARI

Costa Rica 10 day Photo Adventure 2010/Leaving the US: November 29, 2010 returning December 8: $4,200.00 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 toed 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 with a great leader. You can experience Costa Rica with Todd on video here.

To request a full color PDF for either Costa Rica or Tanzania send an e-mail to gustaphoto@aol.com. Read a new interview with Todd here. And check out Todd’s impressive promotional video here. Get yourself a copy of Todd’s “A Photographer’s Guide to the Safari Experience” here. If you need any additional info, e-mail Todd at gustaphoto@aol.com or call him on his cell at 1-847-373-5622.

Anhinga, Cano Negro , Costa Rica Image copyright 2010/Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari

Emerald Toucanette, La Paz , Costa Rica Image copyright 2010/Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari

THE BIRDS AS ART BLOG

I do hope that all of you are following the blog and enjoying the Galapagos journal entries. I am up to Day 8/Puerto Ayora: tortoises and landbirds (August 27). Do take a moment to let me know which of the two tortoise head portraits you like best (and why) by checking out the August 28th entry here.

Black Skimmer pre-dawn blur, Nickerson Beach, LI, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 2500. Evaluative metering +2 2/3 stops in Tv Mode: 1/15 sec. at f/5.6. As the group headed down to the beach on our first morning at Nickerson I explained that it always pays to be ready for the most likely situation. As it was just getting light, I explained how I set up in Tv Mode with ISO Safety Shift enabled. We were barely off the wooden walk-way when a flock of skimmers blasted off. Being prepared for the most likely scenario allowed me to create this pleasingly blurred image of the swirling flock.

HUNT’S SPECIALS

When comparison shopping, be sure to contact Gary Farber from Hunt’s for price quotes on digital cameras, Canon and Nikon lenses, software, and printers and inks: call 781-462-2332 to speak to Gary directly or e-mail him at digitalguygary@wbhunt.com.

IPT UPDATES

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: 3. Co-leaders: Robert OToole, Jim Heupel, and multiple BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year honoree Chris Van Rooyen of South Africa ( /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. Please see terms and deposit info below.

SAN DIEGO IPT JAN 19-23, 2011

Slide program on the evening of JAN 18. 5 Full Days: $2399 (Limit 8/Opening 7) Brown Pelicans in spectacular breeding plumage with their bright red bill pouches, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Western, California, and Heerman’s Gulls, Marbled Godwit, and lots, lots more. Please see terms and deposit info below.

SW FLA PRESIDENT’S WEEK IPT: FEB 18-23, 2011

Slide program on the evening of FEB 17. 6 Full Days: 2899. (Limit 10/Openings 8). Escape winter’s icy grip to enjoy a wide array of Florida’s tame birds: herons, egrets, Wood Stork, shorebirds, gulls, terns, skimmers, raptors, and more. Please see terms and deposit info immediately below:

Terms and deposit info

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot fn the above IPTs. 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 is Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that 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: http://www.travelinsure.com/what/selecthigh.asp?3294 . Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Travel insurance protects you against unexpected developments, injuries, or illnesses. 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 forms asap. Your registration will not be complete until we receive your paper work. You can find the forms here: http://www.birdsasart.com/Registration%20and%20Release%20Forms.pdf.

2010 & 2011 Galapagos Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPTs

The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience: July 2010 & July 2011: two weeks on the boat (Limits: 12/Sold out).

If you are a happy camper and would like to have your name(s) placed on a waiting list or either the 2010 or 2011 trip or on the the seriously interested list for the 2012 trip, please e-mail us at birdsasart@att.net

ROBERT O’TOOLE PHOTOGRAPHY HOMER BALD EAGLE IPT WITH ARTHUR MORRIS/BIRDS AS ART

March 18-22, 2011 & March 24-28. 5-FULL DAYS: $3249. Limit: 12 (including the leaders/sold out). Both of these trips sold out with long waiting lists within hours after being announced to the BAA Friends List. The Friends List consists of IPT veterans who fit in the happy camper category. If you have been on an IPT and would like your name added to the BAA Friends List, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net and include a short note.

Semipalmated Sandpiper, worn, molting adult, East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY 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 MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/320 sec. at f/11 set manually. To learn the basics of ageing and identifying the regularly occurring North American shorebird species get a copy of my Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers. It is going out of print after press runs with two different publishers and we have only a few boxes of twenty left.

FEATURES

• THE NEW BPN!
• GUSTAFSON TANZANIA PHOTO SAFARIS
• GALAPAGOS JOURNAL ENTRIES ON THE BLOG!
• HUNT’S SPECIALS
• CANON 400mm f/4 IS DO vs the 500mm f/4L IS DO
• IPT DATE UPDATES

Waved Albatross, courting pair at nest, Punta Suarez, Hood Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

The Canon 800mm f/4L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 set manually. I love trying to create successful juxtaposition images. The cocked head of the o-o-f bird make this one for me.

THE NEW BPN

BirdPhotographers.Net is sporting a new skin (v-Bulletin Version 4.0.4). Check out the new look and the brand new front page here. My article on the 70-200 lenses should by up (with lots of great images) by the time you receive this Bulletin.

Here is some of the latest great stuff:

Head Angle Fine Points: learn the difference between a less than ideal head angle and an award winning head angle here. Be sure to scroll down all the way as there are many photo pairs. Learn as you scroll and then try your hand with the latest offering.

Check out Michael Zajak’s banking juvenile skimmer here in Avian.

Need help with an image? Post it in Eager to Learn.

Check out the winning images in the Out of the Box “Hit me with your best shot” contest here.

To see the world’s longest avian eye lashes take a peek at Hendri Venter’s Southern Ground Hornbill post.

There is tons of great learning going on at Deborah Harrison’s African Sunset post in the Wildlife Forum.

Semipalmated Sandpiper, worn adult, Pike’s Beach, Westhampton Beach, Long Island, NY Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/4L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 640. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/320 sec. at f/8 set manually. I created the image above from the image below. I placed the blue crab craw in what I thought was the ideal position in relation to the horseshoe crab egg nest that the birds were digging up but as you can see below, I failed. In the original below both the bird and the claw are in the center of the frame destroying the compositional balance.

After doing some beach clean-up work I created Quick Masks of both the claw and the bird. I moved each out of the center of the frame to create a pleasingly balanced image. For the Quick Masking and Layer Masking work I used a variety of techniques from Robert O’Toole’s APTATS I and from APTATS II. All of the techniques used for the beach clean-up are described in detail in Digital Basics.)

GUSTAFSON TANZANIA PHOTO SAFARIS

Gustafson Photo Safari 15 day safari Tanzania Safari 2011 Dates: January 28, 2011 Leaving US/February 12 Returning $11,999 double occupancy

Gustafson Photo Safari 10 day Migration Safari Leaving US: February 1, 2011/Returning: February 12 $7,999 double occupancy

Over the years Gustafson Photo Safari has had requests for a shorter safari; a version that fits people’s increasingly busy schedules. We are listening to you!

Following the proven model of our classic 15 day safari GPS is now offering the “Migration Safari”. We have carefully selected 10 days that exemplify what an East African photo safari should be. These days coincide seamlessly with the full length Migration Safari. Fewer days doesn’t translate into fewer photo opportunities! The locations and timing were specifically chosen to minimize travel, thereby maximizing photography time in the field and relaxing time at the beautiful lodges.

Those who choose this safari will transfer directly from Arusha to Ndutu center of the Great Migration’s birthing season. Photo ops abound as we spend 6 nights at the classic Ndutu Lodge. From Ndutu we transfer to Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa ’s premier game parks and a World Heritage Site. Experience 10 days of action packed safari photography in the most dramatic locations at the exact right time of year for only $7,999 double occupancy.

Request the 17 page full color PDF from gustaphoto@aol.com

For more info on HD video visit http://www.youtube.com/gustaphoto#p/u

Todd’s great safari photo guide here: The Photographer’s Guide to the Safari Experience.

GALAPAGOS JOURNAL ENTRIES ON THE BLOG!

I kept a fairly extensive trip journal while cruising on the Beagle. I will be still posting day by day entries for the next month or so. Visit the Galapagos vicariously through my lens by clicking here.

HUNT’S SPECIALS

Visit: http://www.huntsphotoandvideo.com for the latest Hunt’s Specials.

CANON 400mm f/4 IS DO vs the 500mm f/4L IS DO

An e-mail from a subscriber:

Art, I would be grateful if you could help me out on a question I have on two particular Canon Lenses. I have a Sigma 500mm f/4.5 and I am thinking of upgrading to a Canon Lens. The two I have in mind are the 500 f/4L IS and the 400 f/4 IS DO. I know about the difference in the weight of both lenses and the 400 DO, the lighter, one would certainly be beneficial for me but what I am really interested in is the quality of the images. If one created images of the same subject in exactly the same conditions how would the 400 DO with a 1.4 converter compare with the 500 f/4 with regard to the quality of the images? I have seen some shots on your web site taken with the 400 and they are excellent and if in fact they are as good as one would get with the 500 then I cannot see any real benefit in buying the 500, especially when it comes to hand holding and carrying it for long periods of time. I hope that you can help me with this one. Best Regards, Bob

My reply:

Hey Bob, For me, image quality differences for the two prime lenses alone are negligible except possibly when using the 400 DO wide open. In that case at times the noticeable edge goes to the 500. Others would disagree claiming IQ with the 500 far superior. If that were the case I would not be using the 400 DO as much as I do; after all, I create photographs to sell . That said your original question is a stacked one: it is not fair to compare lens A with a 1.4X teleconverter to lens B without. Whenever you add a teleconverter to a telephoto lens the images will be about 14% less sharp than images made with the prime lens alone. That said, today’s super-telephoto lenses are so sharp even wide open that 14% less sharp is still critically and professionally sharp.

When comparing images made with the two prime lenses in question it would, in most cases, require a microscopic examination to see an advantage for the 500.

My images with the 400mm f/4 IS DO look (and are) excellent because:

1. I am a good photographer.
2. I am good with Photoshop.
3. The lens is edge to edge sharp (stopped down one stop) with excellent color rendition.

The above are exactly the same reasons that make my images taken with the 500 look excellent

The big questions involve weight and your style of photography–hand holding vs. tripod.

If you will be hand holding the 400 you will be limited to the 1.4X TC for a max of 560 effective. With the 500, the 2X TC, and a tripod, you are at 1000 effective. This is a huge, huge advantage for the 500mm as the size of the subject in the frame is a function of the square of the focal length: 100 TO 31.36; the 500 used as above will give you an subject more than 300% larger in the frame (at the cost of using both a tripod and excellent sharpness techniques….

Best and later and love and great picture making, artie

Blue-footed Boobies dancing, North Seymour Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS zoom lens (hand held at 108mm) with the EOS-7D. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/640 sec. at f/10 set manually.. Here I went to a smaller than usual aperture in an attempt to render both birds acceptably sharp. This approach worked.

IPT DATE UPDATES

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/Nickerson Beach/Shorebird/Nesting Skimmer Photography-Tour (JBWR/NB IPT): August 22-24, 2010

. Slide program on the evening of August 21. 3-DAY: $1399. Limit: 6/Sold Out. Photograph and learn about migrant shorebirds, nesting skimmers, gulls, terns, and more. Three full days of photographic immersion. Please see terms and deposit info below.

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: 3. 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. Please see terms and deposit info below.

SAN DIEGO IPT JAN 19-23, 2011. Slide program on the evening of JAN 18.

5 Full Days: $2399 (Limit 8/Openings 6) Brown Pelicans in spectacular breeding plumage with their bright red bill pouches, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Western, California, and Heerman’s Gulls, Marbled Godwit, and lots, lots more. Please see terms and deposit info below.

SW FLA PRESIDENT’S WEEK IPT: FEB 18-23, 2011.

Slide program on the evening of FEB 17. 6 Full Days: 2899. (Limit 10/Openings 7). Escape winter’s icy grip to enjoy a wide array of Florida’s tame birds: herons, egrets, Wood Stork, shorebirds, gulls, terns, skimmers, raptors, and more. Please see terms and deposit info immediately below:

Terms and deposit info:

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot in the above IPTs. 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 is Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that 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: http://www.travelinsure.com/what/selecthigh.asp?32940. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Travel insurance protects you against unexpected developments, injuries, or illnesses. 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 forms asap. Your registration will not be complete until we receive your paper work. You can find the forms here: http://www.birdsasart.com/Registration%20and%20Release%20Forms.pdf.

2010 & 2011 Galapagos Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPTs/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience

: July 2010 & July 2011: two weeks on the boat (Limits: 12/both sold out).

If you are a happy camper and would like to have your name(s) placed on a waiting list or either the 2010 or 2011 trip or on the seriously interested list for the 2012 trip, please e-mail us at birdsasart@att.net

ROBERT O’TOOLE PHOTOGRAPHY HOMER BALD EAGLE INSTRUCTIONAL PHOTO-TOUR WITH ARTHUR MORRIS/BIRDS AS ART

. March 18-22, 2011 & March 24-28. 5-FULL DAYS: $3249. Limit: 12 (including the leaders/both sold out). Both of these trips sold out with long waiting lists within hours after being announced to the BAA Friends List. The Friends List consists of IPT veterans who fit in the happy camper category. If you have been on an IPT and would like your name added to the BAA Friends List, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net and include a short note.

FEATURES

• GALAPAGOS 2012
• HP SAVINGS
• FRACTALIUS TIP
• HOMER BALD EAGLES WITH ROBERT O’TOOLE
• SHOPPER’S GUIDE
• IPT DATE UPDATES

Galapagos Tortoise, yawning teenager, captive, Floreana, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was created with the Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS L zoom lens, the 1.4XII TC (hand held at 280mm), and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/160 sec. at f/6.3. We visited a center where tortoises of various races from the various islands are kept only for educational purposes and for research. As the animals are well fed it was easier to create images of them with their mouthes open than it had been at Peurto Ayora when we were photographing them in the wild. This relative teenager was in its mid-20s..

GALAPAGOS 2012

2012 Galapagos Photo Cruise of a Lifetime/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience. Tentative dates: July 15-August 1, 2012 (July 17- 31, 2012 on the boat): 13 1/2 days of photography plus a last morning panga ride: price: to be determined, but < $12, 999. (Limit 11.)

I am in the final stages of planning the Galapagos 2012 trip. The dates and price are both tentative. The 2011 trip has been sold out for more than a ear. Happy campers only please. If you would like to see the complete itinerary, please e-mail us at birdsasart@att.net. And do see the last Bulletin and the blog for lots of great images and lessons. I am posting my 2010 Galapagos Journal on the blog one landing or one day at a time.

The tentative dates are July 15-August 1, 2012, July 17-31 on the boat. The group will be flying to Quito on their own to arrive on July 15, 2012. There will be a travel insurance day on July 16th. On the morning of July 17 we fly to the Galapagos and board the boat around midday. We leave the boat two weeks later on the morning of July 31 after our last photo session, a short panga ride. We fly back to Quito on that same day, July 31, overnight in Quito, and fly home on the morning of August 1.
Most of you know the main attractions of the two week trips that I have pioneered: a killer itinerary that will visit all the great spots to ensure that you do not miss a thing. The highlights include Tower Island—tons of nesting seabirds at eye and knee level, Punta Espinoza (Marine Iguanas and Flightless Cormorants), Puerto Ayora (tortoises in their natural habitats), Hood Island (Waved Albatross and lots more nesting birds), South Plaza—tropicbirds and Land Iguanas, and North Seymour—nesting frigatebirds and Blue-footed Boobies with chicks in most years. Each of these locations is on a par with Antarctica or East Africa when it comes to spectacular photographic opportunities. And if you make only a one week cruise you will miss at least half of these great locations. With two full weeks we will enjoy a relaxed pace with shorter navigations and lots of time for snorkeling, image sharing, and small group Photoshop instruction. A great photographic leader (that would be me) with 7 years of Galapagos experience teamed with the very best most knowledgeable guide in the entire archipelago. We will be the first group on each island in the morning and the last boat to leave each island each afternoon. If we are blessed with overcast weather we may spend as long as 6 ½ hours on our morning sessions. Jeez, I almost forgot our spectacular and romantic motor sailing ship, the Beagle

Note: some of the walks are strenuous. Though I will be bringing the 800, great images are possible on all landings with a hand held 70-200mm lens.

Included: three nights in the luxury hotel–the Hilton Quito Colon, round trip airfare to and from the Galapagos, all meals on the boat, a killer buffet lunch with the tortoises!, all park fees and related costs, and all transfers. Not included. Your round trip airfare from your home to and from Quito, beverages, phone calls, the $40 airport exit tax, and the $500/person tip for the guide and the crew.

A $5,000 deposit per person is required to hold a spot pending the announcement of final date and cost. At that time you will have one week to let me know if you are in or out. If I do not have nine deposits within a month or so, I may choose to return all deposits without penalty. Leasing the boat requires a commitment of more than $100,000 by yours truly. You will not be asked to print, sign, and return the two forms here until the final dates and cost are announced, along with the payment schedule. Once the dates are announce do know that travel insurance will of course be highly recommended as none of your payments are refundable. You will need to protect yourself in case of an unexpected illness or accident or other unforeseen developments.

If you opt not to make a deposit at this time but would like your name placed on the seriously interested list, please e-mail us at birdsasart@att.net. Couples are advised to register well in advance, as are females who will be traveling on their own. As are anyone who wants and needs to make this amazing trip.

Galapagos Sea Lion, pup biting rear flipper, Gardner Bay, Hood Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was created with the handheld Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS L zoom lens hand held at 185mm with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 1000. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/320 sec. at f/6.3. Gardner Bay is the premier location in the world for photographing these animals. As we were approaching the beach in the panga, one of the participants remarked, “I thought that there were supposed to see a lot of sea lions. By the time the afternoon was complete, we had counted more than 225 sea lions on a relatively short stretch of beach, all of them quite tame. To make this image I lay flat on my belly in the sand..

HP SAVINGS

As a service to BAA Bulletin and Blog subscribers we offer the following contact information: Philip Anthony Alarcon, SMB Inside Sales Representative, Hewlett-Packard Company. Phone: 1-800-277-8988. Philip’s extension is 7717722.

I have been using HP laptops for years and much prefer them for their durability to the Toshibas that I had been using previously. And I just ordered a new office computer from HP as well. (Both with Windows 7 of course.) Once you have picked out an HP machine simply call Philip at the number above and ask for the BIRDS AS ART discount. A 15-25% discount will be applied to your order. In addition, you will receive free shipping. And the worst part of it? I do not make a cent

Blue-footed Booby feeding newly hatched chick. North Seymour Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was created with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/8. The six hours that we spent on North Seymour was one of our best landings. We had lots of chances with frigatebirds–from flying adults to chicks in the nests. And then we spent about three hours photographing several pairs of the always comical Blue-footed Boobies displaying, on eggs, and with chicks. One chick was hatched during our visit. .

FRACTALIUS TIP

Fractalius is compatible with CS-5 (and runs only on Windows platforms). Just download and install it–it takes about 10 seconds in all. It will appear automatically at the bottom of the drop-down Filter menu in Photoshop as Redfield. Click on that and then click on Fractalius. The commands for Glow 100 and for all the presets appear in two sets. Adjust the top set and then you can fine tune with the bottom set of identical controls. They each do exactly the same thing. (Don’t ask me why; I only work here. )

All is done by trial and error with Glow 100 and all the other presets as well. Here is a great way to experiment: when you open the preset and are about to move the first slider, note the value. Then move it all the way to the right and see what it does. Then move it all the way to the left and see what it does–all the while remembering the original value. Then adjust the slider to taste and repeat all the way down with the various sliders. If you love the effect that you wind up with you can save it and give it a name for future use. If you do purchase, please use our link.

Frigatebird species, male in flight with nesting material, North Seymour Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was created with the hand held Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (at 113mm) with the EOS-7D. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6. The 70-200 f/4 IS and the 7D make a great, lightweight combo. And AI Servo AF tracking accuracy with the 7D is superb..

Frigatebird species, male in flight with nesting material, North Seymour Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was created with the hand held Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (at 113mm) with the EOS-7D. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6. Here I tweaked the Glow 100 Fractalius preset to create the image here from the image immediately above. As you work on a separate layer when Fracting, I was able to erase the eye, the bill, the twig, and the red pouch for added impact. .

HOMER BALD EAGLES WITH ROBERT O’TOOLE

March 12-16, 2011 (slide program the evening of March 11) 5-FULL DAYS: $2799. Absolute limit: 5/Openings 4.

Due to popular demand, and to the fact that both of the Homer trips that Robert and I will be co-leading sold out within 36 hours, and lastly, to the fact that I actually am trying to slow down a bit. Robert will be running this trip on his own; you will be in great hands. To save space here I will not give you the big Homer pitch. Briefly Robert is the person who devised a way to bring folks back to Homer to feed and photograph the eagles legally. Experience Homer as it was in the good old days. And do bring your 70-200; the birds are close! I fully expect that this trip will fill within hours of being announced. Registration for this trip will be handled only by BIRDS AS ART. Please call (863-692-2806) first to check on availability and leave a message if there is no answer. You will then be asked to send your non-refundable deposit check for $1,000 made out to “Arthur Morris” and to print, sign, and include the paperwork here. First come, first served.

To learn more, click here. And do check out Robert’s Bald Eagle gallery here

Photographer with Bald Eagles, Homer, AK Image copyright 2008/Robert O’Toole Photography

This image was created by Robert with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS L zoom lens (hand held at 105mm) and the EOS-1Ds MII. ISO 200: 1/2660 sec. at f/2.8. That’s me in the photo with the Canon 300mm f/4L IS lens and flash with the Better Beamer. It could be you! But only if you act quickly..

Photographer with Bald Eagles, Homer, AK Image copyright 2010/Robert O’Toole Photography

This image was created by Robert with the Sigma 150-500mm lens (hand held at 275mm) and the Nikon D-700. ISO 1000: 1/1250 sec. at f/8. Robert created this image on his June Homer trip. Everyone on that trip went home happy. In March there will be hundreds more eagles in March..

SHOPPER’S GUIDE

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our on-line Shopper’s Guide.

Here is a list of the equipment that I used to create the images in this Bulletin:

• Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens
• Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens
• Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens
• Canon 1.4XII Teleconverter
• Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
• Canon EOS-7D

And from the BIRDS AS ART On-line store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Carbon Fiber tripod

Mongoose M3.6

IPT DATE UPDATES

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/Nickerson Beach/Shorebird/Nesting Skimmer Photography-Tour (JBWR/NB IPT): August 22-24, 2010. Slide program on the evening of August 21. 3-DAY: $1399. Limit: 6/Openings 1.

Co-leader: Denise Ippolito. Photograph and learn about migrant shorebirds, nesting skimmers, gulls, terns, and more. Three full days of photographic immersion. Please see terms and deposit info below. Please call for late registration discount info.

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; please see the details below.) Limit: 10/Openings: 3.

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. Please see terms and deposit info below.

San Diego IPT: JAN 19-23, 2011. Slide program on the evening of JAN 18. 5 Full Days: $2399. (Non-refundable deposit: $500; please see the details below.) Limit 8/Openings 6.

Brown Pelicans in spectacular breeding plumage with their bright red bill pouches, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Western, California, and Heerman’s Gulls, Marbled Godwit, and lots, lots more. Please see terms and deposit info below.

SW FLA PRESIDENT’S WEEK IPT: FEB 18-23, 2011. Slide program on the evening of FEB 17. 6 Full Days: 2899. (Non-refundable deposit: $500; please see the details below.) Limit 10/Openings 7.

Escape winter’s icy grip to enjoy a wide array of Florida’s tame birds: herons, egrets, Wood Stork, shorebirds, gulls, terns, skimmers, raptors, and m

Terms and deposit info:

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot fn the above IPTs. 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 is Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that 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. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Travel insurance protects you against unexpected developments, injuries, or illnesses. 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 forms asap. Your registration will not be complete until we receive your paper work. You can find the forms here

2011 Galapagos Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience: July 2011: two weeks on the Beagle (Limit: 12/sold out).

If you are a happy camper and would like to have your name(s) placed on a waiting list for the 2011 trip or on the seriously interested list for the 2012 trip, please e-mail us at birdsasart@att.net

Robert O’Toole, Homer Bald Eagle Instuctional Photo-Tour with Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART. March 18-22, 2011 & March 24-28. 5-FULL DAYS: $3249. Limit: 12 (including the leaders/both sold out)

Both of these trips sold out with long waiting lists within hours after being announced to the BAA Friends List. The Friends List consists of IPT veterans who fit in the happy camper category. If you have been on an IPT and would like your name added to the BAA Friends List, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net and include a short note.

FEATURES

• THE BLOG IS THE BOMB!
• WHAT IS A BAA HAPPY CAMPER?
• SHOPPER’S GUIDE
• FRACTALIUS PLUG-IN REVISITED
• CUSTOMS ADVICE UPDATED
• GALAPAGOS 2012
• CANON 600MM F/4 L IS LENS FOR SALE USED
• LONG ISLAND PRIVATE DAYS
• POSSE NEWS/JIM NEIGER
• POSSE NEWS/ROBERT O’TOOLE
• IPT DATE UPDATES

Brown Noddy & Brown Pelican, Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was created with the handheld Canon 400mm f/4IS DO lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 320. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/4. On the Beagle’s itinerary, our last morning includes a short panga ride at Black Turtle Cove. This year we were blessed with lots of action and gorgeous early morning light. By perching on the pelican’s heads, the noddies hope to snatch a small baitfish that escapes as the pelican squeezes the water from its bill pouch. The pelican’s head was not razor sharp due to movement; I darkened the eye using a Quick Mask and ran a contrast mask on the face and bill pouch. Both of these techniques and dozens more are described in detail in our Digital Basics File PDF.

THE BLOG IS THE BOMB!

To read the almost daily blog posts featuring entries from my Galapagos 2010 Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime Journal click here. Excellent writing, lots of great images, and our legendary BIRDS AS ART educational captions: a lesson with every photograph!

Here is an excerpt from the August 1st post:

Day 4/Afternoon, July 9: Afternoon: Punta Espinoza, Fernandina

We sailed about two hours to Punta Suarez, Fernandina and made a dry landing in bright sun at about 2:30. Richard Owen, who traveled with loverly wife Dot from their home in the UK to join up with friends Jim and Linda White–both IPT veterans– in Chicago, is a tall Brit who claims to be only six foot six (but looked a lot taller to me). He scared the heck out of Dot and the entire group as well when he took a header face down on the lava rock and wound up with his head underwater in the Pacific Ocean. I saw the start of the fall and could only think of a giraffe going down one section at time. What I heard next–many loud thuds and crashes–was even more terrifying than what I had seen.

After it was determined that Richard would indeed survive, Juan tended expertly to the first aid. Richard’s wounds included a gashed chin, a badly scraped knee, and a scraped elbow. Gashed would be more accurate than scraped….. According to Richard the worse damage was to his Nikon D-90 and to his pride. Richard’s demeanor immediately after the fall and during the ensuing days was simply remarkable. He was as smiling and happy afterwards as he was before, never griped for a moment, and encouraged others to poke fun at him by taking the lead himself. All, including me, joined in eagerly I came to calling him “Sir Richard” to honor his remarkable attitude but he said with a straight face that he much preferred “Big Dick.”

Yellow Warbler, male, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC, a 25mm Extension tube, and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/9. After photographing tortoises for several hours on a perfect drizzly morning several in the group along with their somewhat wet leader concentrated on the songbirds. This beautiful male of the Galapagos race spent most of its time foraging on the ground. Here it hopped up on a clean perch and posed for Patrick Sparkman and me for what seemed like ages but was probably about a full minute. I focused on the eye using One-Shot central sensor AF and then recomposed by pointing the lens down. Here’s the rule when creating large in the frame verticals of birds: leave about twice as much room above the bird as below.

WHAT IS A BAA HAPPY CAMPER?

When seeking new clients, I often include the following rejoinder: “happy campers only.”

On Saturday past, I received an e-mail asking about happy camper status.

Here is that communication:

Jim: Hi Artie, I know….don’t send a request if I’m not a happy camper…. I can guess, but please tell me how I can become a happy camper.

AM: You cannot become a happy camper. You are either a happy camper or a bitter and unhappy person. Most folks fit into the former category. I just try to prevent having folks who fit in to the latter category from showing up on IPTs or Photo Cruises, especially the longer ones.

I am looking for folks who are easy to get along with and fun to travel with. And for folks who show up knowing how to operate their cameras. Enthusiastic and eager to learn are plusses. I am looking for folks who gladly follow the rules, who exhibit reasonably good field behavior, and who have a working knowledge of proper field etiquette. On the recently concluded Galapagos trip we had one participant who consistently refused to follow our guide’s instructions, who repeatedly violated National Park Rules, and who regularly and intentionally blocked other photographers in the field and refused to move when asked to do so. And then as one would expect, she could not help but voice her complaints about me, the trip, and the guide while everyone else was enjoying the trip of a lifetime. You gotta love it.

Jim: I am a newsletter subscriber and have purchased a few things from your store.

AM: We appreciate both of those things.

Jim: What do to ensure that I get to register for your Galapagos 2012 Photo-Cruise?

AM: Look in the mirror, and if you are indeed–as I suspect–a happy camper, shoot me an e-mail asking to be placed on the Interested List for the 2012 Galapagos trip. Later and love, artie

Galapagos Tortoise, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/8 sec. at f/22. 2-second self-timer. I am unsure if I used mirror lock when creating this image but I think not. I went to f/22 as d-o-f is most important when working with large-in-the-frame subjects at point blank range, i.e., at or close to the minimum focusing distance of your lens.

SHOPPER’S GUIDE

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our on-line Shopper’s Guide.

Here is a list of the equipment that I used to create the images in this Bulletin:

• Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens
• Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens
• Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens
• Canon 15mm fish eye lens
• Canon 1.4XII Teleconverter
• Canon EF 25mm Extension tube
• Canon EF 12mm Extension tube
• Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

FRACTALIUS PLUG-IN REVISITED

Galapagos Tortoise, scales on leg (B&W & Fractalius filter), Puerto Ayoro, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with two Extension tubes (25mm & 12mm), the 1.4XII teleconverter, and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/40 sec. at f/8. Wanting to fill frame with the pattern, I went for maximum magnification by putting the two tubes on the lens with the teleconverter behind them. Doing so means that you will need to turn AF off, focus manually, and listen for the focus confirmation beep. I created this image with the intent of running a Fractalius Impressions 1 pre-set on it. (I am learning to think Fracting in the field from Denise Ippolito.) The B&W conversion was an afterthought. To learn more about Fractalius check out Denise’s tutorials here. To purchase the plug-in which runs only on PCs, please use this link. To see the original Bulletin feature on Fractalius, click here.

Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Fernandina, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

I sent Denise a copy of the Marine Iguana image that ran in BAA Bulletin 332 and asked her to create a Glow 100 Fract as I need to get the codes to upload the plug in on my new computer. She tried her last pre-set, one based on Impressions 1 and came up with the image above.

Then, starting with the same image she started with Glow 100 on its own Layer, tweaked the settings, and then erased the eye and the tongue using a Layer Mask so that she could go both ways. (If you erase too much without using a Layer Mask you are out of luck.) I like the first one above but I really love this one. Thanks Denise. To learn more about Fractalius check out Denise’s tutorials here. To purchase the plug-in which runs only on PCs, please use this link.

CUSTOMS ADVICE UPDATED

If you will be leaving the country with your photography gear and plan on returning with it, it would behoove you to read the following carefully and to get your schwerve on before you leave Several years ago I was hassled in Miami about my photo gear. The complete story can be found here and here.

If you want to assure not being hassled at customs when returning to the US with your photography gear, it is best to print several copies of this form: 4457.

(Guard this link with your life; it took me weeks to find it. Many of the links on the CBP website for this form are either dead or incorrect.) Next find the Port of Entry office that is closest to you here. Be sure to call ahead and let them know that you are coming. Then bring all of your gear along with the filled out forms to have them signed. Do not plan on registering your gear on the day that you travel; they may be too busy to accommodate you. It is best to register your stuff well in advance of your trip. This goes for double if you will be visiting a major Port of Entry such as Miami or JFK; you might even need an appointment.

Also, everyone is advised to take a look at the Travelers Checklist on the CBP website. Item 5 there states clearly that travelers should bring either receipts or registration paperwork (CBP Form 4457) for any new electronics, such as a camera or a laptop but that those are only suggested if traveling with recently purchased goods. It goes on to say that neither is necessary for goods more than 6 months old. Furthermore, in Tip: Register Items Before You Leave The United States on the CBP website it states “If your laptop computer was made in Japan—for instance—you might have to pay duty on it each time you bring it back into the United States, unless you could prove that you owned it before you left on your trip. Documents that fully describe the item—such as sales receipts, insurance policies, or jeweler’s appraisals—are acceptable forms of proof.”

Thanks to the many readers who e-mailed with the updated information in the paragraph immediately above. And apologies to the one woman who brought her completed 4457 forms to her local post office.

Good luck with your international travels.

Galapagos Shearwater, South Plaza Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image is another image created with the handheld Canon 400mm f/4IS DO lens and the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2 2/3 stops off the white sky: 1/1000 sec. at f/4. Because of itinerary changes forced on the boats by the Galapagos National Park Service I had not been on South Plaza since my first visit. With the Beagle’s killer two week itinerary, my trips include visits to every great photographic location. Here I used 45-point AAFPS to create this vertical original.

GALAPAGOS 2012

If, after or before reading all of the Galapagos journal entries on the blog and checking out the images, you are seriously interested in joining me on the 2012 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime in either June or July, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net . Happy campers only please The trip will be offered first to the BAA Friends List. Patrick and Robin Sparkman who traveled with me this year are seriously considering re-upping for 2012. The 2011 July trip has been sold out for quite some time but there is the possibility of an opening or two so do e-mail if you would like to be #1 on the waiting list for the 2011 trip. I firmly believe that there is no other Galapagos photography trip that even comes close to offering what my two week trips offer.

Landscape pan blur, South Plaza Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/15 sec. at f/25 in Tv Mode. This is one of my very favorite images from the trip. I simply panned the lens while making the exposure. I varied my panning rates and tried to get the green bush in the upper right third. (I succeeded admirably here.) One of the tricks when trying to create pleasing blurs is to make lots and lots of images as the framing can be tricky; each image will be different. For a more traditional landscape image, check out my BPN post “Galapagos Landscape; Here to Learn“. That plus some excellent suggestions for improvement.

CANON 600MM F/4 L IS LENS FOR SALE USED

Brian Small is offering a used Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens for sale. He is the original and only owner. It is in excellent working condition and glass is perfect. It was into Canon’s Irvine, CA facility in May for a “clean & check” service. There are the expected minor wear and tear marks on the paint but nothing drastic. It would rate at about 8 1/2 or 9 on a scale of 10. The lens has always been protected by a LensCoat. The price is $6499 plus shipping costs and includes hard case, the LensCoat, all original straps, caps and paperwork that came with the lens. Insured shipping will be as to the buyer’s preference. PayPal or check/money order will be accepted. A check would have to clear before the lens is shipped. Contact Brian by phone as follows: home/day (310) 440-9443 or cell (310) 849-0306. Or e-mail him at bsmallfoto@aol.com.

He is upgrading to the 800 at least in part because of my recommendation BTW, the lens new is currently selling for $8,050.00 at both Hunt’s and at B&H.

The Beagle at anchor, Bartolome, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

This image was created with the Canon15mm fish eye lens as we approached in a panga. The boat made a wonderful home for our two week voyage. The food was great and the crew pleasant and as helpful as could be.

LONG ISLAND PRIVATE DAYS

Join me for a very muddy afternoon of shorebird photography and in-the-field instruction at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY or for a morning or afternoon at Nickerson Beach–just west of Point Lookout for some great Black Skimmer photography. When: August 16, 18, or 19th. Tuesday and Friday are booked.

Rates: $500 per day includes two three hour photography sessions and one hour of image review/Photoshop. Morning or afternoons: $300. These include a three hour in-the-field session plus an hour of image sharing/Photoshop over lunch or dinner (by necessity).

Two persons, full day: $400 each. Morning or afternoon sessions: $200 per person.

Three persons (the limit), full day: $300 each. Morning or afternoon sessions: $150 per person. Multiple day registrations are welcome.

BAA reserves the right to book up to three folks for all sessions.

Likely subjects are as above. E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net to check on dates and availability. Non-refundable payment in advance is due when you sign up. You will be required to fill out, sign, and return the registration and release forms to complete your registration: http://www.birdsasart.com/Registration%20and%20Release%20Forms.pdf.

POSSE NEWS

JIM NEIGER: 4th Annual Flight School Goes to Bosque Flight School Photography Workshops

With thousands of migratory birds in flight daily at Bosque Del Apache, what better site for Flight School Photography workshops? Previous year’s workshops were a huge success, so once again, Flight School Photography returns to Bosque. We are anticipating improved conditions and even more outstanding photographic opportunities than last year. Flight School Photography will be featuring two workshops in November, 2010. Each will be led by expert bird photographer, Jim Neiger who has perfected techniques for photographing birds in flight using large telephoto lenses, hand held. The focus of these workshops will be learning and practicing Jim’s hand held, long lens techniques for photographing birds in flight and in action.

Dancing Sandhill Cranes, Bosque Del Apache NWR, NM Image copyright © 2008: Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography

The workshops will be held before the Festival of the Cranes and Thanksgiving. They will offer spectacular fall color that offers beautiful backgrounds for your photos and adds majesty to the already spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Going early also means there will be fewer photographers. Each workshop will include 3 hours of classroom instruction on the first morning followed by a welcome lunch and an afternoon photography session. The two remaining days include morning and afternoon photography sessions each lasting three to four hours. The workshops are limited to 6 participants.

Northern Harrier, Bosque Del Apache NWR, NM Image copyright © 2008: Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography

Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in Socorro County, New Mexico along the Rio Grande. A series of canals from the river carry water to various areas of the refuge. These waters are then managed to create numerous shallow ponds and pools. In addition, corn, alfalfa and other crops are grown in the nearby fields, and every year, the farmers leave some of the crops to feed the thousands of migratory birds that flock there. The water, food and shelter create a haven for the thousands of birds that call Bosque del Apache home during the fall and winter. Yearly visitors include Sandhill Cranes, many species of geese and ducks, bald eagles, hawks, and wading birds. In addition, Bosque is home to 377 species of birds throughout the year, so anything is possible.

The thousands of Sandhill Cranes, ducks and geese in flight provide spectacular opportunities for awesome flight images using Jim’s techniques. Jim is known for his consistent production of amazing flight images. A Flight School Photography Workshop is a must for all serious nature photographers.

Snow Geese, Bosque Del Apache NWR, NM Image copyright © 2008: Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography

Workshop FSP-B1: November 10, 2010 thru November 12, 2010: $999.

Workshop FSP-B2: November 14, 2010 thru November 16, 2010: $999.

A $499 non-refundable deposit is required. The remaining $500 is due 15 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.

You may contact Jim Neiger of Flight School Photography via phone or email. Cell phone: 407-247-5200. E-mail: jimn@cfl.rr.com Visit the website: Flight School Photography.

POSSE NEWS

ROBERT O’TOOLE: Bosque del Apache NWR and White Sands National Monument

This year Robert will be leading two photography workshops at Bosque del Apache and one at White Sands. Robert puts in an average of 200+ hours in the field at Bosque per year; you get a workshop leader who will know how to maximize your opportunities in the field.

Bosque Photography Workshop 1: November 29-December 2, 2010: 3.5 days: $999.

Sold out.

White Sands Photography Workshop: December 5-7, 2010 White Sands NM, New Mexico. 2.5 days: $599.

Limit 6, 3 openings.

Bosque Photography Workshop 2: December 8-11, 2010: 3.5 days: $999.

Limit 6, 4 openings.

Please follow the links above for more information. Photography topics will include: When to use manual mode, fine tuning your AF settings, the most effective technique to limit digital noise, fine tuning your flight photography, the most important DSLR settings you need to know, simplifying your camera settings to keep from being overwhelmed, learning to work fast in the field, and more. The workshop includes one classroom session daily.

The White Sands landscape workshop will cover wide angle, normal and short telephoto landscape techniques in depth. We will be entering White Sands NM early and will be leaving later with special permission.

Need help: e-mail Robert@RobertOToolePhotography.com or call Robert’s cell at 310.619.8017.

Sandhill Crane landing blur, Bosque Del Apache NWR, NM Image copyright © 2009: Robert O’Toole Photography

Yucca & dunes, White Sands National Monument, NM Image copyright © 2009: Robert O’Toole Photography

IPT DATE UPDATES

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/Nickerson Beach/Shorebird/Nesting Skimmer Photography-Tour (JBWR/NB IPT): August 22-24, 2010.

Slide program on the evening of August 21. 3-DAY: $1399. Limit: 6/Openings 1. Photograph and learn about migrant shorebirds, nesting skimmers, gulls, terns, and more. Three full days of photographic immersion. Please see terms and deposit info below.

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: 3. Co-leaders: Robert OToole, 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. Please see terms and deposit info below.

SAN DIEGO IPT: JAN 19-23, 2011.

Slide program on the evening of JAN 18. 5 Full Days: $2399 (Limit 8/Openings 6) Brown Pelicans in spectacular breeding plumage with their bright red bill pouches, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Western, California, and Heerman’s Gulls, Marbled Godwit, and lots, lots more. Please see terms and deposit info below.

SW FLA PRESIDENT’S WEEK IPT: FEB 18-23, 2011.

Slide program on the evening of FEB 17. 6 Full Days: 2899. (Limit 10/Openings 7). Escape winter’s icy grip to enjoy a wide array of Florida’s tame birds: herons, egrets, Wood Stork, shorebirds, gulls, terns, skimmers, raptors, and more. Please see terms and deposit info immediately below:

Terms and deposit info

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot fn the above IPTs. 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 is Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that 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: http://www.travelinsure.com/what/selecthigh.asp?32940. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Travel insurance protects you against unexpected developments, injuries, or illnesses. 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 forms asap. Your registration will not be complete until we receive your paper work. You can find the forms here: http://www.birdsasart.com/Registration%20and%20Release%20Forms.pdf.

2011 Galapagos Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPT/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience: July 2011

two weeks on the Beagle (Limit: 12/sold out).

If you are a happy camper and would like to have your name(s) placed on a waiting list for the 2011 trip or on the seriously interested list for the 2012 trip, please e-mail us at birdsasart@att.net.

ROBERT O’TOOLE PHOTOGRAPHY HOMER BALD EAGLE INSTRUCTIONAL PHOTO-TOUR WITH ARTHUR MORRIS/BIRDS AS ART.

March 18-22, 2011 & March 24-28. 5-FULL DAYS: $3249. Limit: 12 (including the leaders/both sold out). Both of these trips sold out with long waiting lists within hours after being announced to the BAA Friends List. The Friends List consists of IPT veterans who fit in the happy camper category. If you have been on an IPT and would like your name added to the BAA Friends List, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net and include a short note.

FEATURES

• HOME FROM ECUADOR
• THE GALAPAGOS TRIP REPORT
• GALAPAGOS JOURNAL ENTRIES ON THE BLOG!
• GALAPAGOS 2012
• CUSTOMS ADVICE
• CANON 600MM F/4 L IS LENS FOR SALE USED
• BAA CAMERA STORE SPONSORS
• THE JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE/NICKERSON BEACH IPT
• LONG ISLAND PRIVATE DAYS
• IPT DATE UPDATES

Waved Albatross, Punta Suarez, Hood Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/7.1 set manually. This bird is performing the bill-clacking display that is part of its intricate courtship dance. A fast shutter speed was needed to freeze the motion. The morning landing on Hood Island was–as expected–one of the great highlights of the 2010 two week Galapagos Photo-Cruise.

HOME FROM ECUADOR

Our wondrous Galapagos Photo-Cruise ended on Tuesday morning, July 20 with a great panga ride at Black Turtle Cove. We flew to Quito later that morning arriving at about 2:30 pm. We enjoyed fine dining at Theatrum and headed to bed for our early morning flights home. I was asleep by 9:30 but unable to sleep well at high altitude I awoke at 1:36 am and was out of bed at 2:06 am Quito time (one hour behind Florida time). I started working on a blog entry that I would post later that day from my home in Indian Lake Estates, Florida.

The earliest departing group of seven headed to the airport at 4:15 am. Most were flying American. I was on Copa (Quito to Panama City, Panama to Orlando); I do my best to stay out of Miami. Check in at Copa took more than forever. After paying the airport departure tax, making my way through customs and security, and grabbing a quick breakfast, I arrived at my gate after boarding had already begun. I slept most of the way to Panama City. The nearly three hour flight to Orlando was uneventful; I slept a bit more, worked on some images, and started a great book.

When I walked into the customs hall in Orlando I was pleasantly surprised to see it virtually empty. Within minutes I was getting my luggage off the carousel, confident that I would be on my way home in minutes. Wrong The customs officers asked me about my job (photo-journalist) and whether I had any “tools of the trade with me.” “Yes officer, about $20,000 worth of photography gear. I have my documentation with me. “Sit over there please.” In about ten minutes another CBP officer arrived and asked me to open my Think Tank rolling bag. I did. He requested to see my cameras. I took the two Mark IV bodies and the 7D body out of their wool hats and showed him. Then I took out my documentation and showed it to him in the form of several form Form 4457s and a copy of my Insurance Policy equipment page with serial numbers. He noted that the cameras were listed only on the insurance policy list and had not been registered as had the lenses and other accessories. I explained that the CBP web site indicated that both a copy of an insurance policy or a copy of the original receipts were–according to the CBP web site–acceptable documentation. He disappeared to see a supervisor for about 25 minutes. When he returned he told me that I was good to go as they saw on their computers that I had previously registered items at CBP Detroit on a trip into Canada in 2009. He did say that they were unable to find any mention of either insurance policy equipment lists or receipts on their web site. When I checked on Friday morning, the information on that had been there in 2009 had been edited out. As near as I can tell, only properly filled out and signed Form 4457s are acceptable as documentation.

The officer was pleasant and helpful but the delay added to an otherwise long travel day. After a stop at Publix for eggplant, broccoli, and chicken I arrived home just after 5pm nearly five hours after I had left the hotel in Quito.

Please see the Customs Advice feature below if you wish to avoid being hassled at customs when you return from an overseas photography trip.

Swallow-tailed Gull landing, Darwin Bay, Tower Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens (handheld) with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +3 stops off the white sky: 1/2000 sec. at f/4. At Darwin Bay I used all three of my telephoto lenses. Both the 400 DO and the 70-200 f/4 L IS were great for photographing the birds that were constantly landing right in front of us during our morning at Darwin Bay, one of the premier wildlife photography destinations on the planet

Above is a JPEG that represents the original capture. Note the canvas and the added primary tips. I used a variety of techniques from Robert O’Toole’s APTATS I and from APTATS II. I worked very large and very slowly with a series of small Quick Masks and a bit of cloning. Note also the brightening and sharpening of the face. (All techniques are described in Digital Basics.)

THE GALAPAGOS TRIP REPORT

Co-leader Denise Ippolito and I were joined in Quito, Ecuador late on July 4th, 2010 by eleven excited photographers. As it turned out, ten were happy campers. Seven folks joined Denise and me for a day of hummingbird photography at Tandayapa. (See the July 4th blog post “Quito Hummers, Galapagos, and BAA Bulletin 330) by scrolling down here. The other five participants enjoyed a Quito city tour. The following morning, we flew to Baltra, took a short bus ride, and boarded the Beagle–the motor sailing yacht that would be our home for the next two weeks.

The trip was truly a blessed one. We had great weather and day after day of fabulous photography and snorkeling. Though I had pitched Juan Salcedo as the world’s very best Galapagos guide the group agreed that he had exceeded their expectations. They were most impressed with the huge amount of knowledge crammed into his brain, not only with his comprehensive knowledge of the Galapagos archipelago but with his comprehensive knowledge of just about any topic that came up for conversation. The great spots delivered as expected and almost all of the landings that would not be at the top of a photographer’s list consistently offered gems of photographic opportunity.

The group dynamics were great and not even the single unhappy camper could spoil things. One participant showed up knowing little about photography, how to operate her gear, or how to download, edit, and process her images. Denise and I worked with her extensively during the first week. By the second week most of the folks in the groups were tired of her behavior in the field where she disregarded both the rules and direct instructions, consistently blocked others by moving to positions in front of them, and consistently refused to get out of the way when asked to do so by others. I will treat the episode as a learning experience and make a few changes in our pre-trip informational packet.

An e-mail that I received from IPT veteran Jim White (who was joined on this trip by his lovely wife Linda) will serve as a fine Trip Report conclusion:

Artie, Metropolitan Touring picked us up at the Colon Hilton as planned and they smiling despite the early hour. (At least our pickup was at a much more civilized time than your 4:14 am one!) We arrived in Chicago with only a minor delay in Miami. We traveled with Kevin and with Richard and Dot until we got swallowed up by the “Passport Control Queue”. Your dinner event was a very fitting ending to a successful Galapagos Photo Adventure and provided a wonderful venue for saying good bye to the individuals in the group.

All in all it was a wonderful way to spend two weeks. The group spanned several generations with folks ages ranging from the mid 40s to the early 70s.! Your effort to make this trip successful was appreciated by all. I believe that you lost the three pounds because of your intense participation in all the events as well as running and taking care of the group! No one among us worked harder than you did to create evocative images and to make the trip as good as possible for everyone.

I am glad to be one of your clients. Every trip, every instructional session, and every communication with you has always directly benefited both my photography and me personally. At my age, I only associate with the best As always, you have my continued support and appreciation. Jim

Lava Gull, head & shoulders, Darwin Bay, Tower Island, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. This species, with only 400 breeding pairs, is the world’s rarest gull. They are seen regularly in many Galapagos locations. The handsomest individuals are almost always on Tower. One or two ride on the ship on most trips by perching on a hoisted panga (Zodiac).

GALAPAGOS JOURNAL ENTRIES ON THE BLOG!

I kept a fairly extensive trip journal while cruising on the Beagle. I will be posting day by day entries pretty much every day for the next two weeks or so. I am off to a good start already. You can check out the July 21st post, Great News & Galapagos Day 1/July 6: Bachas and the July 22 post, Galapagos Day 2/Morning, July 7: Darwin Bay, Tower Island simply by clicking here.

GALAPAGOS 2012

If, after or before reading all of the Galapagos journal entries on the blog and checking out the images, you are seriously interested in joining me on the 2012 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime in either June or July, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net . Happy campers only please The trip will be offered first to the BAA Friends List. Patrick and Robin Sparkman who traveled with me this year are seriously considering re-upping for 2012. The 2011 July trip has been long since sold out. I firmly believe that there is no other Galapagos photography trip that even comes close to offering what my two week trips offer.

CUSTOMS ADVICE

If you will be leaving the country with your photography gear and plan on returning with it would behoove you to read the following carefully and to get your schwerve on before you leave

Several years ago I was hassled in Miami about my photo gear. The complete story can be found here: http://www.birdsasart.com/njuly31.htm and here: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn238.htm.

Much of the info provided there is no longer accurate. And one of the links is bad. Even original receipts may no longer be good as documentation. And as noted above, a copy of your equipment insurance policy is no longer any good. I cannot even find it stated that stuff that is more than six months old does not need documentation.

Therefore be advised that to be absolutely safe you need to print several copies of this form: Form 4457: http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4457.pdf (Guard this link with your life; it took me weeks to find it. Most of the links on the CBP website for this form are either dead or incorrect.) Next find the closest post office to your home here: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/ports/. Be sure to call ahead and let them know that you are coming. Then bring all of your gear along with the filled out forms to have them signed. Also, I advise that everyone read this information carefully: travelers checklist: http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/travelers_checklist.xml.

Good luck with your international travels.

Marine Iguana, Punta Espinoza, Fernandina, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 250. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/400 sec. at f/6.3. When working in bright sunshine, I try to remember to lower my ISO setting. And I make sure to point my shadow right at the subject to attain the most pleasing results.

CANON 600MM F/4 L IS LENS FOR SALE USED

Brian Small has a used Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens for sale. He is the original and only owner. It is in excellent working condition and glass is perfect. It was into Canon’s Irvine, CA facility in May for a “clean & check” service. There are the expected minor wear and tear marks on the paint but nothing drastic. It would rate at about 8 1/2 or 9 on a scale of 10. The lens has always been protected by a LensCoat. The price is $6499 plus shipping costs and includes hard case, the LensCoat, all original straps, caps and paperwork that came with the lens. Insured shipping will be as to the buyer’s preference. PayPal or check/money order will be accepted. A check would have to clear before the lens is shipped. Contact Brian by phone as follows: home/day (310) 440-9443 or cell (310) 849-0306. Or e-mail him at bsmallfoto@aol.com.

He is upgrading to the 800 at least in part because of my recommendation BTW, the lens new is currently selling for $8,050.00 at both Hunt’s and at B&H.

Sally Lightfoot Crab, Puerto Egas, Santiago, Galapagos Image copyright 2010/Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering – 2 stops off the crab and the black rock without a breaking wave: 1/30 sec. at f/8. This image was inspired by an Andy Rouse image that I saw in his book, Concepts of Nature. I knew that I needed to underexpose to avoid losing detail in the white water of the breaking waves. My very favorite image from this series will run on the blog fairly soon.

BAA CAMERA STORE SPONSORS

BIRDS AS ART has recently added B & H Photo as a sponsor joining Hunt’s whose Gary Farber has been a big supporter for years not only of BAA but of NANPA, the NANPA scholarship students, and many other worthy photographic causes.

Eagle-eyed visitors will have noted that recent Bulletins and blog posts include active links to the B&H web site for most mentioned equipment. I have always urged folks ready to spend many thousands of dollars on a new lens or the latest camera body to comparison shop, to price an item at Hunt’s and to price it at B&H and to be sure to get a complete quote that includes the shipping charges and any tax. Hunt’s does not offer a click-through program similar to that offered by B&H but you can always check their prices at http://www.huntsphotoandvideo.com/. Gary will continue running his great BAA Specials in selected Bulletins. In the last Hunt’s Specials he was selling Canon EOS-1D Mark IV bodies at a lower price than B&H. It always pays to compare.

We ask the following. Once you have comparison shopped, if you decide to order through Hunt’s, please let them know that you were referred by BIRDS AS ART. If you decide to purchase from B&H, please either click on a direct product link like the ones in this Bulletin and the current blog posts, or shop and search using the logo link below. We will soon have the same link on the home page of the BAA Blog and the new BAA website. If the latter, the small percentage of your purchase price helps to fund production of both the BAA Bulletins and blog posts And it is a great way to thank us for 15 years of equipment advice. Your purchase price will be unchanged.

As always, do feel free to e-mail us with equipment questions. We are in a better position to answer them than the folks at any camera store. We just don’t sell cameras and lenses. We do appreciate you continued patronage of the BAA On-Line Store for your tripod, tripod head, photographic accessory, and educational materials purchases.

Clicking on the link above to make all of your B&H purchases helps to fund the production of both BAA Bulletins and the BAA Blog, so thanks!

THE JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE/NICKERSON BEACH IPT

Late this summer, I will again be returning with a small group to my old haunts–the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge–at the very peak of the juvenile shorebird migration. We will spend our afternoons at Nickerson Beach photographing a skimmer colony.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/Nickerson Beach/Shorebird/Nesting Skimmer Photography-Tour (JBWR/NB IPT): August 22-24, 2010.

Slide program on the evening of August 21. 3-DAY: $1399. Room for just one more.

For eight years in the late 70s/early 80s I conducted the International Shorebird Survey at JBWR for the then Manomet Bird Observatory. And it was there on the East Pond, in the summer of 1983, that I began to learn my trade with the old 400mm f/4.5 FD manual focus lens…. I remember the first roll of film that I got back; those dots on the slides, were they the birds? In a short time I was on my belly getting within 12 feet of my subjects, often even closer so that I needed an extension tube to focus. And I have been getting down on my belly in the mud for the past 25 years. And loving it. And I know the East Pond better than anyone living.

This trip is timed to coincide with the peak of the juvenile shorebird migration and with three perfect morning high tides. We will likely get to photograph the following shorebird species in fresh juvenal plumage: Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Stilt Sandpiper. Juvenile Pectoral and Western Sandpipers and several other species are possible. We should also get to photograph worn, molting adult White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, and Short-billed Dowitchers. Not only will you get to photograph these species, you will learn to age and identify them. Getting a copy of my “Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers” and studying it in advance would give you a huge head start. You can order a signed copy here: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=32. On some mornings we may spend a bit of time on the back porch of my friend Denis Macrae’s home where we will get to photograph Laughing Gulls in both worn breeding and fresh juvenal plumage. Snowy and Great Egrets and both night-herons are possible there as well.

Afternoons will be spent at Nickerson Beach just west of Point Lookout, Long Island, NY. For many years running there has been a large successful colony of Black Skimmers at this location. I have gotten reports of lots of skimmer chicks and lots of action both mornings and afternoons so we should have lots of fledged young, lots of large chicks, and possibly a smattering of small chicks still in the nest scrapes in August. The existence of beach nesting birds is of course extremely fragile and in a given year the success of even a dependable colony like Nickerson may vary. There will be lots of adults both in flight and on the ground with fish for their young. American Oystercatcher and a variety of gulls are also possible at Nickerson. Two years ago we were blessed late one afternoon as several thousand Common Terns flew in to roost for the night, the nervous flock taking flight time and time again in front of a lovely setting sun. I will of course adapt to local conditions in an effort to always have the group in the right place at the right time.

I will not have a slide projector or a projection screen on this photography tour. The introductory slide program will be done on the laptop. As we will be getting up very early (sunrise averages about 6:10am), and be staying in the field very late (sunset averages about 7:45 pm), our evenings will be free after dinner. Breakfasts will be on the run and the cost of lunch is included. We will of course have a midday break of three to four hours that will include instructor nap time. That will still leave us at least an hour or two for image review and some Photoshop lessons. To get the most out of this trip, experienced photographers should have at least a 500mm f/4 lens and be comfortable using at least their 1.4 teleconverter. The very best images will be created by those who are willing and physically able to either get down on the ground and photograph while prone or while seated behind their lowered tripods. The latter approach is especially effective when the birds are actively feeding as it is easier to follow birds in motion while you are sitting than while you are prone. Added plusses at JBWR include jet fuel and Canada Goose dung

There will be tons of in-the-field instruction that will include stalking techniques and getting the right exposure via histogram review. You will learn to see and think like a pro. The closer you stay to me and the more questions you ask, the more you will learn. With the extremely small group–six as I type–the opportunities for learning from a top pro will be unparalleled. Questions are limited to 500 per person per day. We will also get to do some fill flash work. As always, BAA reserves the right to exceed the noted limit (6) by no more than one.

LONG ISLAND PRIVATE DAYS

Join me for a very muddy afternoon of shorebird photography and in-the-field instruction at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY or for a morning or afternoon at Nickerson Beach–just west of Point Lookout for some great Black Skimmer photography. When: any weekday/August 16, 18, or 19th. Tuesday and Friday are booked.

Rates: $500 per day includes two three hour photography sessions and one hour of image review/Photoshop. Morning or afternoons: $300. These include a three hour in-the-field session plus an hour of image sharing/Photoshop over lunch or dinner (by necessity).

Two persons, full day: $400 each. Morning or afternoon sessions: $200 per person.

Three persons (the limit), full day: $300 each. Morning or afternoon sessions: $150 per person. Multiple day registrations are welcome.

BAA reserves the right to book up to three folks for all session.

Likely subjects are as above. Call me on my cell phone at 863-221-2372–I should have a new cell phone soon–or send an e-mail to me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net to check on availability and/or to register. Non-refundable payment in advance is due when you sign up. You will be required to fill out, sign, and return the registration and release forms to complete your registration: http://www.birdsasart.com/Registration%20and%20Release%20Forms.pdf.

IPT DATE UPDATES

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/Nickerson Beach/Shorebird/Nesting Skimmer Photography-Tour (JBWR/NB IPT): August 22-24, 2010

Slide program on the evening of August 21. 3-DAY: $1399. Limit: 6/Openings 1. Photograph and learn about migrant shorebirds, nesting skimmers, gulls, terns, and more. Three full days of photographic immersion. Please see terms and deposit info below.

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: 3. Co-leaders: Robert OToole, 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. Please see terms and deposit info below.

San Diego IPT JAN 19-23, 2011. Slide program on the evening of JAN 18

5 Full Days: $2399 (Limit 8/Openings 6) Brown Pelicans in spectacular breeding plumage with their bright red bill pouches, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Western, California, and Heerman’s Gulls, Marbled Godwit, and lots, lots more. Please see terms and deposit info below.

SW FLA President’s Week IPT: FEB 18-23, 2011

Slide program on the evening of FEB 17. 6 Full Days: 2899. (Limit 10/Openings 7). Escape winter’s icy grip to enjoy a wide array of Florida’s tame birds: herons, egrets, Wood Stork, shorebirds, gulls, terns, skimmers, raptors, and more. Please see terms and deposit info immediately below:

Terms and deposit info:

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot fn the above IPTs. 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 is Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that 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: http://www.travelinsure.com/what/selecthigh.asp?32940. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Travel insurance protects you against unexpected developments, injuries, or illnesses. 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 forms asap. Your registration will not be complete until we receive your paper work. You can find the forms here: http://www.birdsasart.com/Registration%20and%20Release%20Forms.pdf.

2010 & 2011 Galapagos Photo Cruise of a Lifetime IPTs/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience: July 2010 & July 2011

Two weeks on the boat (Limits: 12/both sold out).

If you are a happy camper and would like to have your name(s) placed on a waiting list or either the 2010 or 2011 trip or on the seriously interested list for the 2012 trip, please e-mail us at birdsasart@att.net

ROBERT O’TOOLE PHOTOGRAPHY HOMER BALD EAGLE INSTRUCTIONAL PHOTO-TOUR WITH ARTHUR MORRIS/BIRDS AS ART

March 18-22, 2011 & March 24-28. 5-FULL DAYS: $3249. Limit: 12 (including the leaders/both sold out). Both of these trips sold out with long waiting lists within hours after being announced to the BAA Friends List. The Friends List consists of IPT veterans who fit in the happy camper category. If you have been on an IPT and would like your name added to the BAA Friends List, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net and include a short note.