- B&H Event Space Events; Free Seats Still Available!
- BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Barnegat Jetty IPT Late Registration Discount Offer
- Weekend Creative Nature Photography Seminar, Tampa, FL: February 23 & 24, 2013
- The Blog is the Bomb
- Holiday Gift Suggestions
- Used Camera Gear
- EOS-5D Mark III User’s Guide
- EOS-1D X Autofocus Guide
- DPP Conversion Guide
- IPT Info
no images were found |
|
This in-camera Art Vivid HDR image of a group of King Penguins by a stream was created at the Ample Bay Colony, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia with the tripod-mounted Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS EF USM AF Lens and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III digital camera body/promotional offer expires 1/5/13!. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/160 sec. at f/22 in Av mode +/- 2 full stops. Central sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus AF and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger version. When even the remotest possibility of doing some serious land-scape or bird-scape work with a short lens exists, I make sure to have a Wimberley P-5 plate and my Giottos MH 1302-655 Ballhead in my vest. It takes less than two minutes to mount the plate on the camera body, spin off the Mongoose M3.6, and replace it with the tiny ballhead. As this image shows, an 800mm lens is not always the best tool for the job; if you’ll be in the NYC Metropolitan area this coming Wednesday, learn more at my 4pm B&H Event Space event. See below for details. Help Kill a RatIf you would like to help the South Georgia Trust with their most ambitious Rat Eradication project we would be glad to send you a signed 16X24″ traditional print of the image for only $249.95 plus $14.95 shipping to US addresses only. $50 of your purchase price will be donated to the South Georgia Trust. Call Jim weekdays between 9am and 3pm at 863-692-0906 to order your print. Click here for more info and two more images. |
B&H Event Space Events; Free Seats Still Available!
B&H Event Space Events usually sell out very quickly. Skip the promos that follow and register for one or both of the two great programs below by clicking on the appropriate link or links as their are still a few seats open for each:
no images were found |
|
This pleasing blur was created with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens (hand held at 88mm) and the anon EOS 5D Mark III digital camera body/promotional offer expires 1/5/13!. ISO 200. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/15 sec. at f/16 in Manual mode. Central sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see the spectacular larger version. If you’ll be in the NYC Metropolitan area this coming Wednesday, and would like to learn more about creating pleasingly blurred images, join Denise and me at the 1pm B&H Event Space event. See immediately below for details. If not, get yourself a copy of A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly. |
Pleasing Blurs
On Wednesday, December 19, 2012 Denise Ippolito and I will present “Learning to Create Pleasing Blurs” from 1:00 to 3:00PM at the B&H Event Space in the NYC Superstore. They liked the program so much when we did it in August that they invited us back for a reprise. This event is being generously co-sponsored by Manfrotto and Canon USA.
Professional nature photographers Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris co-authored the hugely popular eBook, “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs”. Their program will cover the great variety of techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images, mostly in-camera in the field, and at times, during post-processing. Topics that will be discussed and illustrated include pan blurs, vertical pan blurs, zoom blurs, camera movement blurs including flame and jiggles, flash blurs, subject movement blurs including moving water blurs, long exposure blurs, the need for accurate focusing, managing your ISO settings, in-camera multiple exposures, subject to film plane orientation, the role of neutral density and polarizing filters when creating pleasing blurs, choice of shutter speeds, and how subject to sensor distance affects the degree of blurring.
With the advent of digital photography and the popularity of intentionally blurred images in prestigious nature photography competitions, more and more people are enjoying the challenges and rewards of creating pleasing blurs. Whether you photograph wildlife, flowers, people, street scenes, or landscapes, this is one program that you will not want to miss if you would like to unleash your creativity. Join Denise (www.deniseippolito.com) and Arthur (www.BIRDSASART-blog.com) for two hours of fun and learning.
no images were found |
|
This image of a Royal Tern coming in for a landing was created at Fort DeSoto with the hand held Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II lens, the Canon 1.4x EF tele-extender III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop off the sky: 1/2000 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. Central sensor/Surround/AI Servo Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version. I’ll be talking about hand holding the new, lightweight Canon 500mm f/4L IS II lens at my 4pm program at B&H this coming Wednesday. Click here to learn more about the creation and optimization of this image. |
Choosing & Using Lenses
On Wednesday, December 19, 2012 I will present “Lenses for Bird and Nature Photography/BIRDS AS ART Style from 4:00 to 6:00PM at the B&H Event Space in the NYC Superstore. This event is being generously sponsored by Canon USA.
In this practical and educational slide program we will learn which Canon lenses—from the 8-15mm fish eye up to the 800mm f/5.6 L IS, that Artie uses to create his amazing images, how, why, and when he uses each of them, and what he is thinking as he depresses the shutter button. Most folks will be surprised to learn that a long lens with a teleconverter is often not the best tool for the job. In addition Artie will comment on exposure and image design.
no images were found |
|
This image of a resting drake Harlequin Duck was created on my last visit to the Barnegat Jetty with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Autofocus lens, the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter), and the unfortunately discontinued EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/30 sec. at f/16 in Manual mode. Central Sensor (by necessity)/AI Servo Rear Focus and recompose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. At point blankk range I went out on a limb for extra depth-of-field. The 800’s 4-stop IS and good sharpness techniques made a sharp image possible at a magnification of nearly 29X! |
We Go With One/Barnegat Jetty IPT Late Registration Discount Offered
BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Barnegat Jetty IPT, Barnegat Light, NJ: 2 1/2 DAYS. Thursday DEC 20 (1:30pm) through Saturday, DEC 22, 2012: $999. Limit 6/Openings: 4. Includes 5 photo-sessions, both lunches, introductory slide program (DEC 20), Photoshop session (DEC 21), and image sharing at lunch DEC 22.
Many folks who run photographic tours take deposits only to cancel the event at the last minute by sending an e-mail to this effect: We are sorry. We are forced to cancel this workshop as we only signed up five participants and we will not make enough money if we run the trip. My policy for the past two decades has been to run BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tours with as few as one participant. Why? If someone arranges to get time off from work, to purchase plane tickets, and to book a hotel room and rent a car, it seems downright unconscionable and disrespectful to cancel.
Right now the Barnegat Jetty IPT that I am co-leading with Denise Ippolito has only two registrants. We are looking forward to working with Bill Wingfield who is flying from Charleston, South Carolina and with David Policansky. Both are meeting us in Manahawkin, NJ this coming Thursday for lunch and our first afternoon photo session. Bill seems like the happiest of campers and I know David fairly well from the blog. Click here and scroll down for additional info and images. And feel free to call me on my cell at 863-221-2372 from 9am to 9pm for late registration discount information. Please leave a message with a callback number if I do not pick up. As my late Dad used to say, “I don’t here such good anymore.”
no images were found |
Weekend Creative Nature Photography Seminar, Tampa, FL: February 23 & 24, 2013: $149
Join Denise Ippolito and me on the weekend of February 23-24 on the outskirts of Tampa, FL for a great weekend of fun and learning. Learn to improve your photography skills, your skill at designing images in the field, your creative vision, and your image optimization skills. Sunday critiquing session–see below for details. Limited to the first 50 registrants. Click here for more info, the complete schedule, terms, and NYC Seminar kudos.
To Register
To register for the seminar you can call Jim or Jennifer between 9am and 3pm weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. You can send a PayPal to us at birdsasart@verizon.net or to birdsasart@att.net. Or you can send a check made out to “Arthur Morris” for the full amount in US dollars to us here: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855; be sure to include a note with your clearly written e-mail address and phone number on it and print the words “Tampa Seminar” on your check. You will receive a confirmation letter approximately 3 weeks before the seminar.
Best Western Brandon Hotel & Conference Center, 9331 East Adamo Drive, Tampa, FL.
no images were found |
|
This image was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Autofocus lens and the Canon EOS-1D X digital SLR . ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop off the low sky: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. See 9 more great cranes in flight images here. |
NIK 15% Discount
As regular readers here know, NIK Color Efex Pro has drastically changed my digital workflow. You can save 15% on all NIK products by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code box at check-out. Then hit Apply to see your savings. You can download a trial copy that will work for 15 days and allow you to create full sized images.
The Blog is the Bomb
I continue to put in 20+ hours a week towards making the blog informative, timely, and beautiful. Most of the educational features that formerly appeared in BAA Bulletins now grace the BAA Blog. If you have a problem subscribing, please contact us via e-mail. You can subscribe to the blog posts by clicking here. If you are not subscribed, you are missing a ton of great stuff almost daily.
Here are some links to recent posts of interest:
Is the Lethal Canon 1D X Unfair to Flying Cranes? : the short answer is a resounding ‘Yes.” Click on the link to learn more and see ten pretty good flight images.
Click here to learn how I helped solve a 1D X mystery.
Learn a new flight photography strategy for Bosque and elsewhere by clicking here.
Learn that the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens with the 2X III TC is a viable blast off combo and see the results here.
Click here for complete specifications and info on all Canon telephoto lenses. Includes weights in lbs and kgs, minimum focusing distance in feet and meters, filter size, and year of introduction. You’ll want to bookmark this one.
If you missed me almost buying the farm, check out “So You Want to Visit the Southern Ocean? Be Careful What You Wish for: Zodiac Misadventure Video.”
Holiday Gift Suggestions
With many of the B&H items below the prices are so low that they cannot be advertised; you need to add the item to your shopping cart in order to see the super-low holiday sale price.
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens
|
no images were found |
Canon Powershot S-100 Point and Shoot
|
no images were found |
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus lens
|
no images were found |
As regular readers know the Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus lenses for both Canon and Nikon mounts offer amazing focal length coverage and are razor sharp when used at f/8. Clemens van der Werf used the Canon mount model with fabulous results on the Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Southern Ocean expedition this past October and Robert O’Toole and Robert Amoruso have has been using the Nikon and Canon mount models (repectively) with great great success for years. Be sure to pick the proper mount lens for your system.
|
no images were found |
Suggested Stocking Stuffers
Shop Amazon
Tim Laman’s Amazing Birds of Paradise book
Lens Clens
|
no images were found |
no images were found |
“The Photographer’s Guide to Attracting Birds”
Used Camera Gear
Mary Dillon
Mary is offering a used Canon (USA) EF 400mm DO-IS f/4.0 (USM) lens for sale for $5,300.00, firm. No taxes or buyers fees plus free shipping to anywhere in USA. The lens, used only twice, is in like-new condition. Purchase includes lens hood, strap, protective cover, manual and storage case – plus tripod collar and Wimberley Arca-Swiss P-20 Lens Plate. (No key for the carrying case but can get from Canon USA if this is a problem.)
Shipping is first business day after funds are received via USPS, Priority with insurance and delivery confirmation. Accepted form of payment: PayPal (which includes credit cards). No money orders or money grams. Serious folks can contact Mary by phone/text at 512-366-0320 (CST) or via e-mail
I used and loved the 400 DO for years. It is a great flight lens, great from any type of watercraft, and, at only 4.28 pounds, makes a great super-telephoto prime for folks who cannot carry either 500mm f/4 L IS lens. It weighs less then 4 pounds with the removable tripod collar removed. Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II: 5.19 pounds–tripod collar not removable. Canon 500mm f/4L IS II lens: 7.04 pounds. Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens: 8.54 pounds. You can check out the weights and specs for all Canon telephoto lenses here.
Denise Ippolito
Denise Ippolito is offering a Canon EOS-1D Mark III in very good condition for $1200.00 and a Canon EOS-5D Full Frame Sensor 12 mp Digital SLR Camera in excellent condition for $800.00. Please contact Denise via e-mail.
Steve Vige
Steve Vige is offering the following used gear for sale:
Canon 70-200 f4L IS lens (price reduced!) in excellent condition includes pouch and original Canon box: $899 buyer pays shipping.
Please contact Steve on his cell at 661-305-0307 or via e-mail. Note: I used this sharp, lightweight lens for about two years and loved it.
Shelly Goldstein/Price Reduction
Multiple IPT-veteran and all around nice guy Sheldon Goldstein is offering the following Canon lenses for sale; each of them has recently been checked and cleaned by Canon Jamesburg. Wire transfers preferred or wait until your check clears. All sales include shipping and insurance.
Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens in excellent condition with LensCoat, the RRS LCF-50 Arca style replacement foot, the original foot with all the screws, and all the original stuff including the lens trunk and leather hood. This one is an absolute steal at $6699.
Contact Shelly by phone at 1-646-423-0392 or via e-mail.
EOS-5D Mark III User’s Guide
With the wreck of my EOS-1D X (see “Wrecked. And Loving It” for complete details), I went to my 5D Mark III as my workhorse camera body. It performed flawlessly surviving some heavy drizzle, sand, grit, and extensive use. I used it almost exclusively for seabird flight photography from the ship. As I have said from the get-go, the 5D Mark III’s new AF system is superb.
You can learn everything about it including my custom case for flight photography, my favorite AF Area Selection Modes, how I use the great HDR and Multiple Exposure Features, and pretty much everything that I know about this great lightweight camera here. I will be updating the guide in January. All updates are free.
Learn more or purchase here.
To thank us for all the free info that we provide on the blog, in Bulletins, and via e-mail, or if your decision to purchase a 5D III was influenced by what you learned here, please use one of our B&H affiliate links immediately below to order and e-mail me a copy of your receipt. The upper logo-link is for the body alone (along with ($154.83 of free items), the lower link for a kit with the body and my B-roll lens, the 24-105mm zoom. (I never leave home without it.)
EOS-1D X Autofocus Guide
Learn the ins and out of this great pro bodies killer AF system including my personalized Case for flight photography here.
DPP Conversion Guide
Right now I am converting all of my Canon images with Digital Photo Professional. And loving the results. Learn about the DPP Conversion Guide and why you might wish to switch here.
Shopper’s Guide
Thanks a stack to all who have used our B&H affiliate links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide.
Shop B&H
Support the BAA Blog. Support the BAA Bulletins. We want and need to keep providing you with the latest free information, photography and Photoshop lessons, and all manner of related information. Show your appreciation by making your purchases immediately after clicking on any of the links above. Remember, B&H ain’t just photography!
And from the BAA On-line Store:
LensCoats. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Realtree AP (All Purpose) Snow pattern.
LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers. I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders 🙂 And you will love them in mega-cold weather….
Gizo GT3532 LS CF Tripod. This one replaces the GT3530LS Tripod and will last you a lifetime. Learn more about this great tripod here.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head. Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Double Bubble Level. You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
The Lens Align Mark II. I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.
BreezeBrowser. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program.
Delkin Flash Cards. I use and depend on Delkin compact Flash Cards and card readers most every day. Learn more about their great 700X and 1000X cards here or about my favorite Delkin card here.
The wide angle penguin shot is over the top and a show stopper. One of the best and unique I have seen from you in a long time. I need to develop this overall view again ! Denise must be coaching you. Take care and stay healthy !