BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN #269

AUGUST 22, 2008

 

Inspirational, Educational, & Fun.  Honest critiques done gently:  www.BirdPhotographers.Net

BPN is taking the world of nature photography education by storm.  Join us and see why.

 

Visit www.birdsasart.com

 

FREE PHOTOSHOP LESSON/LINEAR BURN

CANON EOS-40D SETTINGS CORRECTION

DELKIN RECHARGEABLE AA BATTERIES AND UNIVERSAL CHARGER

THE ART OF BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY EARLY-DELIVERY ORDER OPTION

PORTLAND, MAINE: “The Art of Nature Photography; It Ain’t Just Birds” Weekend How-To Seminar

POSSE NEWS 

IPT UPDATES

 

Contact us by phone at 863-692-0906 (Eastern Time Zone) or by e-mail at birdsasart@att.net or @verizon.net.  The att e-mail address is best from overseas.

 

We gladly accept credit card orders by phone 8am till 7pm Eastern Time (8 am till 3pm Fridays).

You can use the PayPal links on the web site to order anything.  Just type in the item(s) and the amount.  If using your own PayPal account, please send to either of the e-mail addresses above.

 

Note:  maximize this e-mail for best formatting. 

 

Important Request: if responding to this e-mail; please take the time to delete all images and irrelevant text.

 

FREE PHOTOSHOP LESSON: LINEAR BURN

 

Having learned pretty much everything that I know about Photoshop from friends, it is rare that I discover something new on my own. To increase the density and detail in highlight areas, you can create a mask by using Select/Color Range/Highlights or Select/Color Range/Sampled Colors, or by creating a Quick Mask.  Once you have the area you want to modify on its own layer, select Linear Burn as the Blending Mode (rather than Multiply which many folks currently use for the same purpose). In most cases, you will need to reduce the opacity to taste. When using Linear Burn, the whites look really, really good with great detail while still remaining white and while avoiding the dreaded muddy/gray look (that sometimes comes when using Multiply as the Blending Mode).

 

 

 

Northern Gannet landing at colony, Bonaventure Island, Quebec

Image Copyright 2008:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART 

 

Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens with the EOS 1-D MIII.  ISO 320.  Evaluative metering -2/3 stop off of the water.  1/1600 sec. at f/7.1.    

 

While I liked making images in the sun on my recent (2nd) trip to Bonaventure with Monsieur Chris Dodds, the subject was too far forward in the frame, the birds in the background were distracting as were the taller yellowish grasses on the cliff edge (left), and lastly, the horizon was way crooked.  I leveled the horizon using one of the several methods detailed in Digital Basics, expanded canvas as described in Digital Basics, and used a variety of tools including Quick Masks, the Patch Tool, and the Clone Stamp (again, all as described in Digital Basics) to clean things up and to add the needed habitat in front of the bird where I had added canvas.

 

Our complete digital workflow, the basics of Quick Masking, and the secrets of using the Patch Tool are among the hundreds of topics covered in our Digital Basics PDF file:  http://www.birdsasart.com/digitalbasics.htm.

 

 

 

Above is the image before selecting the highlights (I used Select/Color Range/Sampled Colors) and before executing the Linear Burn.   Notice that while there is detail in the whites and the yellow head feathers that those areas are exceedingly bright. 

 

 

 

Above is the final optimized image.  Note the increased detail in the whites and the yellow head feathers. 

 

You can see my first BPN post on using Linear Burn here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=17876.  New visitors will be prompted to register. Registration is free.

 

CANON EOS-40D SETTINGS CORRECTION

 

The following appeared in Bulletin 268:

 

“The frame rate of 6.5 frames per second should be more than adequate for most situations, but most cameras are going to seem slow when compared to the blazingly fast frame rate of the Mark III at 10 fps.  The 17-frame RAW buffer means that only very rarely if ever will you hit the wall.   (Make sure that”

 

It should have read:

 

“The frame rate of 6.5 frames per second should be more than adequate for most situations, but most cameras are going to seem slow when compared to the blazingly fast frame rate of the Mark III at 10 fps.  The 17-frame RAW buffer means that only very rarely if ever will you hit the wall.   (Make sure that High ISO speed noise reduction (C Fn II: 2) is off.  If it is on, the size of the buffer is greatly reduced.)” 

 

You can read all about the 40D here:  http://www.birdsasart.com/bn268.htm

 

 

Northern Gannet, sub-adult in flight, Bonaventure Island, Quebec

Image Copyright 2008:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART 

 

Canon 70-200mm f/4 L IS lens (handheld at 189mm) with the EOS-40D.  ISO 400.  Evaluative metering +1 stop.  Fill flash at -1 stop.     

 

This image was created on the Zodiac ride on the first morning of the Gannets Galore trip that I co-led with Monsieur Chris Dodds.  A full trip report will appear in the next Bulletin.  On our last Zodiac ride Chris created an image of a diving gannet that I think has huge BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year potential.  I hope to share it with you in the next Bulletin when the dates for the 2009 Gannet's Galore trips will be announced.  

 

DELKIN RECHARGEABLE AA BATTERIES AND UNIVERSAL CHARGER

 

As Linda Robbins’ High Speed Flash Hummingbird Guide is (finally) nearing completion, we are beginning to add the products that folks will need.  Here are two great products for folks using either or both BP 511 batteries in their cameras or AA batteries in a single external flash unit for general bird and nature photography.

 

If you use four AA batteries in your flash and discard them after use you get to spend another $8.00 or so for four more quite often.  Switching to rechargeable AA batteries is dozens of times less expensive over the course of a year or two of photography and in addition is much, much kinder to the environment.   Delkin Extended Power Rechargeable AA Batteries are top-rated at 2900mAh.  Delkin understands that purchasing high quality batteries for your equipment is important to you, and therefore, they hold themselves to the highest standards of manufacture, service, and professionalism. Working only with highest grade materials to prevent short circuiting and to maintain a safe and accurate charge, these batteries are crafted with your safety and the safety of your flashes in mind. And all Delkin Power batteries undergo rigorous quality testing before they are sent out to the consumer.  Delkin Extended Power Rechargeable 2900 mAh AA Batteries come with a limited 2 year warranty and are 100% compatible with anything that takes AA batteries.

 

You can save a ton of money by ordering your Delkin Extended Power Rechargeable 2900 mAh AA Batteries right now from BIRDS AS ART.  I have been using these batteries for my hummingbird photography for more than a year and have found them to be both powerful and 100% reliable.

 

Delkin 2900 mAh AA Rechargeable Batteries/four pack:  $14.99 each plus $4.00 shipping per order in the U.S.  (Compatible with all Nickel Metal Hydride AA chargers.)

After having three out of four Ansmann AA battery chargers (two different models) fail within four months of purchase I decided to try the Delkin Universal Charger with AA Battery Plates.   You purchase the charger and two AA battery charging plates and you are able to charge 8 batteries quickly and efficiently.  If you use a Canon camera that uses BP-511 batteries you can purchase two plates for these batteries and charge them two at a time.

Delkin Universal Charger:  $52.99 plus $7.00 shipping to US addresses. 

AA plate (one in a pack): $9.99 each plus free shipping with the purchase of a Delkin Universal Charger.  

BP511 plates (2 in a pack):  $4.99 plus free shipping with the purchase of a Delkin Universal Charger.

 

Side view of the Delkin Universal Charger with two AA Battery Plates charging eight 2900 mAh AA batteries at once.  Below: top view of the same.

 

 

THE ART OF BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY EARLY-DELIVERY ORDER OPTION

 

We will be accepting early-delivery option orders until August 29, 2008.  Those who miss the boat will need to wait until the entire order arrives via slow boat in October. 

 

In October the book will sell for $40 plus shipping ($5.00 to all US addresses/ $12.00 to all foreign addresses).   Those who have been anxious to get a copy (we have seen them selling used on Amazon for several hundred dollars) are invited to order an early delivery-option copy as follows:  $40 for the book plus a $10 early delivery-surcharge (to defray the cost of having several cartons of books Fed-Xed from Singapore) plus the regular shipping charges (as noted above).  Do note that though we will be receiving our advance copies via Fed-X the book that you purchase will be sent book rate to US addresses.  This service normally takes 7-10 days but is sometimes surprisingly faster.  Those in a real hurry can e-mail Jim to inquire about the cost of 2nd day air shipping.

 

Important note:  we are not accepting pre-orders for the books that will arrive here sometime during in October.   We are only accepting early delivery-option orders:  $50 plus shipping as above.  Paypal, check, or credit card by phone (863-692-0906) are all fine. 

 

For complete details on the reprinting of the original ABP please click here: http://www.birdsasart.com/books.html#PHOTO_BOOK

 

 

 

 

 

PORTLAND, MAINE: “The Art of Nature Photography; It Ain’t Just Birds” Weekend How-To Seminar

 

“The Art of Nature Photography; It Ain’t Just Birds” Weekend How-To Seminar in Portland, Maine

October 11-12, 2008

Eastland Park Hotel, 157 High Street, Portland, ME

 

This seminar is for all nature photographers who want to learn how to make better photographs. On Saturday I will describe the methods and techniques that I have used and developed since 1983.  My comments on lenses and digital camera bodies, AF, light, and on composition and image design will be highly informative and educational.  And my tips on getting close to free and wild subjects and creating pleasing blurs will help you become a better photographer.  Everyone with a telephoto lens who wishes to dramatically improve the quality of their images will benefit from attending. 

 

Since going all-digital in November 2002, I have—with the help of many wonderful friends—become a Photoshop expert.  My approach to optimizing images is to create master files of excellent quality in the shortest possible time.  I will share our workflow and numerous Digital and Photoshop tips on Sunday.  As more and more folks are using Digital Capture, I am finding on our IPTs that many good to excellent photographers have no clue as to how to use Photoshop to make their images look better.  In fact, many of them make their best images look worse!  I can and will teach you to do just that at this seminar.  

 

Do consider taking advantage of the opportunity to spend two days learning from one of the premier nature photography educators on the planet by joining me for this great weekend.  The October 11-12 dates were carefully chosen to coincide roughly with the average peak of fall color in southern Maine.  The likelihood is that if you are coming from out of town and would like to photograph the fall color the best bet (taking global warming and the trends in recent years) would be to schedule your photography in the days following the seminar.  Every year, however, is different, and this is nature photography so there are no guarantees, but chances are, whether you photograph just before or just after the seminar you should have many chances to create some great images.  Best bet: come a few days early and stay on for a few days…  (Hint:  hope for a pre-dawn rainstorm followed by the sun breaking through in the east while grayish-black storm clouds fill the western sky…)

 

The seminar will be held at the Eastland Park Hotel.   Folks staying at least two nights in the hotel will receive a free Lens Pen Combo Kit at the seminar.  As fall color time is peak season in southern Maine, hotel rates are high anywhere in the region.  We were able to negotiate a rate of $159 for folks registering early.  Once the block of rooms is gone, higher rates will apply.  The doors will open on both days at 8 am and the programs will begin at 9 am sharp.  There will be tons of great door prizes (including Delkin e-film Pro compact flash cards and some great stuff from Lowepro and Wimberley).  I hope that you will be able to join me for what will be an incredibly educational and fun-filled weekend.  (If anyone would like to help us set up or to hang out, be there at 7:00am.)

 

The cost of the weekend seminar will be $169.  The cost of either single day will be $99.  Members of qualifying camera clubs are invited to apply a $10 discount.  (If you are a member of a camera club or other photography organization please e-mail us before registering to learn how your group can become a qualifying club).  Register with a friend or a spouse and take $10 off each registration.  Register in groups of four or more and take $20 off of each registration.   Register in a group of ten or more and take $30 off each registration.  It is highly recommend that folks purchase the buffet luncheon option ($15/day includes tip and tax).  Those purchasing the lunch option will receive their lunch coupon when they check in each morning.)  The cost of the weekend seminar plus the two lunches is $199.

 

There are three ways to register:

 

1- Send a check for the full amount made out to "Arthur Morris" to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855.

2- Call us with a credit card at 863-692-0906.

3- Send us a Paypal (using either any link on our site or your Paypal account) to us at birdsasart@att.net.)

 

In all cases, we will need your e-mail address, your mailing address, and your daytime and evening phone numbers.  

 

Here is our Cancellation Policy:  If for any reason you need to withdraw, please notify us ASAP. Once we receive your e-mail, your phone call, or written notice of your cancellation the following fees apply: cancel before July 10, 2008 and your fee will be refunded less a $20.00 cancellation fee; cancel by August 10, 2008 and your fee will be refunded less a $50.00 cancellation fee; cancel after September 10, 2008 and there will be no refund. 

 

 

Pierced Rock to Bonaventure Island, Sunrise Pano, Quebec

Image Copyright 2008:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART 

 

Canon 24-105 mm IS L zoom lens handheld at 92mm with the EOS 1-D MIII.  ISO 1600.  Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/25 sec. at f4.     

 

One of the many topics that will be covered during the weekend will be how to create stitched panoramic images.  It's a snap!  And remember, it ain't just birds!

 

 IPT UPDATES 

Bosque IPT #1:  NOV 22-25, 2008.  Slide program on the evening of NOV 21.  4-DAY:  $1799  Limit: 10/SOLD OUT

Bosque IPT #2:  NOV 29-DEC 2, 2008.  Slide program on the evening of NOV 28. 4-DAY:  $1799  Limit: 10/Openings: 2

SW FLA POST X-MAS IPT: DEC 27-29 or 30, 2008.  Slide program on the evening of DEC 26.   4-DAY: $1799   (3-DAY OPTION:  $1349)  Limit: 10/Openings: 4

SW FLA PRESIDENT'S DAY IPT: FEB 13-17, 2009.  Slide program on the evening of FEB 12.   5-DAY: $2249   Limit: 10/Openings: 3 

 

Best and love and great picture-making to all,

artie

Note: Arthur Morris has been a Canon contract photographer since 1996 and continues in that role today.  Hunt's Photo of Boston, MA is a BAA sponsor as is Delkin Devices.  Back issues of all BAA Bulletins can be found in the Bulletin Archives which may be accessed from the home page at www.birdsasart.com.  To unsubscribe click here: unsubscribe.