June 14th, 2012

BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN #413

  • Coming Soon: NYC Weekend Seminar Details!
  • The Blog is the Bomb!
  • Cheesemans’ Extended Expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula
  • IPT UPDATES

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Brash ice & iceberg, Cierva Cove, Antarctica. This image was created from a zodiac with the hand held Canon 16-35mm L lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/16 in Av Mode. AI Servo/lowest central sensor/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial.

For a much greater appreciation of this image, click on the photo.

Coming Soon: NYC Weekend Seminar Details!

Denise Ippolito and yours truly will be offering a comprehensive two-day nature photography seminar in Staten Island, NY on the weekend of December 8-9, 2012. See the next Bulletin for complete details on “The Birds and the B’s and the Flowers and the Trees” seminar: 9am – 4:30 pm both days. Out of town folks will want to register early in order to secure lodging and locals will want to sign up soon to ensure being among the 150 folks who will enjoy a weekend packed with learning and fun. The cost of the weekend seminar will be $169. To register call Jim or Jennifer between 9am and 3:00 pm at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand or send a PayPal to us via e-mail. Just for the record book: Saturday: Image Capture; Sunday: Image Processing and Evaluation. Saturday or Sunday only: $99.

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This image was created with the hand held Canon 300mm f/2.8 L IS II lens, 1.4X III TC, and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 in Av mode.

Close encounters with Humpback Whales will be likely on the Cheesemans’ In-depth Expedition to the White Continent. These two were photographed in the Weddell Sea.

The Blog is the Bomb

I continue to put in 20+ hours a week towards making the blog informative, timely, and beautiful. And it has been paying off. The blog alone had 462,178 page views and 3,839,749 hits in March 2012 alone! Most of the educational features that formerly appeared in BAA Bulletins now grace the BAA Blog. If you are not subscribed you are missing a ton of great stuff almost daily. You can subscribe to the blog posts by clicking here. If you have a problem subscribing, please contact us via e-mail. Below are some recent posts of interest.

Learn about quasi-flash as main light techniques for songbirds here.

An interview article here.

See the under the pier NIK magic here.

Learn about dealing with contrast in Tim Grey’s guest blog post here.

BAA 1st International Bird Photography Competition Category winners announced:

Captive Category

Youth Category

Digital Category

Voting Analysis and Related Comments:

Captive Category

Youth Category

Digital Category

Everything that you ever wanted to know about Canon telphoto lenses in a simple, easy to read chart. You will surely want to bookmark this post.

If you’ve been dreaming of making a trip to the Antarctic Continent you will surely want to click here.

Remember, you can subscribe to the blog posts by clicking here.

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The originals for this three-frame stitched panorama were created at Bailey Head, Antarctica with the tripod-mounted Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens (at 115mm) and the EOS-5D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/30 sec. at f/20 in Manual mode.

Central Sensor Rear Focus AI Servo AF on the closest penguin and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial.

For a much greater appreciation of this image, click on the photo.

Extended Expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula

December 30, 2012 to January 17, 2013

This in-depth peak-season expedition features active penguin chicks, huge penguin colonies, incredible icescape scenery, access to ice-sensitive areas, penguins and seals on ice, and large numbers of whales. And there is a good chance that the group will spot an Emperor Penguin or two on an iceberg. With an incredible 10–11 days along the Peninsula, the Cheesemans’ itinerary offers more depth than any other. The comfortable Ortelius has the highest ice-class of any passenger vessel in Antarctica, perfect for exploring must-see places such as Paulet Island and Bailey Head and cruising farther south to the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Circle. Maximum time spent on shore and zodiac cruising make available for unbelievable photographic opportunities. Workshops, photo critiques and personal time with seasoned professional instructors will give you an opportunity to take your skills to new heights.

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This image was created at Bailey Head, Antarctica with the tripod-mounted Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens and the Canon 1.4X III TC (at 280mm) and the EOS-5D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/125 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode.

Central Sensor Rear Focus AI Servo AF on the closest penguin and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial.

There are something like 100,000 pairs of chinstraps on Bailey Head, Deception. Most of them are pretty much un-photographable. Old friend Tom Murphy led the serious photographers right to he very best nest on the side of a gentle slope with the colony in the background. Thanks Tom!

Been Dreaming of Antarctica?

Join this voyage of discovery to an awe-inspiring world of nature, wildlife and science. The CES expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula gives you more time for a vast breadth of landings beyond the realm of normally visited sites that others are forced to either omit or rush through. Sail on the safe and comfortable M/V Ortelius for an unparalleled ten to eleven landing days along the Peninsula. Enjoy extensive exploration of the remote and iceberg-filled Weddell Sea, the many wildlife-rich areas in the northern and western Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands The ship will-depending on sea ice conditions–attempt to push south to the Antarctic Circle. Maximum time on shore will be available for photography, wildlife observation, and hiking the landscapes of the great Antarctic. Our priority is assuring the most in-depth wildlife experience in the Antarctic, an experience made possible by the comprehensive itinerary and a committed expedition staff of Antarctic veterans.

This expedition will be led by Hugh Rose and I just learned while checking the trip link below that my dear friend and Galapagos guide Juan Manuel Salcedo will be on the staff as well; he alone is worth the price of admission as he is a superb naturalist and a well-versed and brilliant young man.

For a complete itinerary, trip details, cabin availability, and expedition costs, click here.

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This Leopard Seal image was created from a zodiac with the hand held tripod-mounted Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens, 2X III teleconverter (at 245mm), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6 in Av mode.

I cruised the brash ice and icebergs at Cierva Cove for about 8 hours and opted to head back to the ship at about 4pm. Others opted to stay out an additional 3 hours! .
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Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris

A great expedition or safari should offer a lot more than remote destinations and remarkable wildlife A trip with CES is a journey woven through foreign lands and seas leading to experiences made possible through the inspiration, organization, and leadership of Cheesemans’ crack staff of educators in a variety of fields. For more than thirty years, Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris has provided unforgettable experiences during in-depth tours to the world’s richest ecosystems. Their itineraries are unique and preparation is thorough, but most importantly, the leadership is exceptional. With broad backgrounds in nature and wildlife, their leaders desire to deepen your understanding of each destination so you can take-away the photographs and memories that allow you to become an ambassador of nature.

Gail and Doug Cheeseman have been leading wildlife safaris to their favorite destinations since 1978. Inspired by his parent’s passion, Ted joined them in leading expeditions and safaris more than 15 years ago. Now the three work together with their staff to offer superlative natural history and photography tours to destinations that include Antarctica, Tanzania, Kenya, Bhutan, Brazil, India, and many more. Doug is a professor emeritus of Ecology and Zoology, Ted holds a Masters in Tropical Conservation Biology, and Gail is a naturalist of the best kind – self-taught through a lifetime in the field. Together, they are a family of truly remarkable ecologists who seek to inspire travelers to enjoy and conserve the Earth’s wild landscapes.

Find out more about Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris at www.cheesemans.com. You can send them an e-mail or call them at 800.527.5330.

You can learn even more about CES and see how hard the staff works in Antarctica by clicking here.

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This Adelie Penguin image was created on Paulet Island with the tripod-mounted Canon 300mm f/2.8 L IS II lens, 1.4X III TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode.

It was typical of the trip; we started with bright sun on Paulet Island and wound up with clouds.

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