BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN 273

BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN 273

October 1, 2008

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

NOTE TO ALL BULLETIN SUBSCRIBERS & PORTLAND SEMINAR ATTENDEES

The Hummingbird Guide – How to Photograph Hummingbirds Using High-Speed Multiple Flash by LINDA ROBBINS with Arthur Morris

NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM, WED OCT 15, 2008

HUNT’S SPECIALS

POSSE NEWS

IPT UPDATES

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

We gladly accept credit card orders by phone from 8am till 7pm Eastern Time (8 am till 3pm Fridays and some weekends). 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 all irrelevant text.

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens, 25mm extension tube, 12mm extension tube, and an EOS-1D Mark II N mounted on a tripod. ISO 400.Manual mode: 1/250 sec. at f20. Seven flash set-up.

BAA is proud to announce that “The Hummingbird Guide – How to Photograph Hummingbirds Using High-Speed Multiple Flash” by LINDA ROBBINS with Arthur Morris is finally finished and is available for purchase. See same below.

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

“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 just in: Canon Pro Markets Rep Carl Peers will be joining us with a trunk-load or two of the latest Canon cameras and lenses and a ton of knowledge.

Thanks to Canon USA’s David Carlson for arranging that and to Explorer’s of Light Coordinator Steven Inglima for his support.

WALK-INS WELCOME

Time is growing short. We have 81 folks signed up. Walk-ins are welcome. Do consider joining us for great weekend filled with learning, slide programs, demonstrations, and super door prizes. Saturday: creating great images in the field. Sunday: optimizing your images quickly while making them look great.

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.

Golden light on low mountains, Fort Craig, NM

Canon 70-200 mm f/4 L IS lens on a Mongoose M3.5 with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/100 sec. at f/9.

This is a three frame pano with the sky cropped from the top.

This is the left-most panel. The three images were stitched together with Photoshop CS 3’s Photomerge. I used a variety of Quick Masks plus the Patch Tool and even the Clone Stamp to eliminate the utility poles and the structures. You can learn the basics of Quick Masking and the complete BAA workflow in our Digital Basics PDF via e-mail: ( http://www.birdsasart.com/digitalbasics.htm ). Advanced Quick Masking Techniques are covered in Robert O’Toole’s amazing APTATS 1 (on CD only: http://www.birdsasart.com/aptats.htm). Total time in Photoshop: 45 minutes.

NOTE TO ALL BULLETIN SUBSCRIBERS & PORTLAND SEMINAR ATTENDEES

From the “You gotta love it” category: several of the major e-mail providers (most notably Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo among others) are kicking back e-mails that we send. In addition, lots of you have tight security settings or full inboxes (like Emory Moody…) For more than 15 years I have worked hard to answer each e-mail personally so it can be challenging when I hit reply and the e-mail gets kicked right back to me by this or that Postmaster… If you have sent us an e-mail and not heard back from us, try sending it again and if that fails, do give us a buzz at 863-692-0906.

We sent a confirmation letter to all of those registered to attend the Portland seminar last week and will be following that up with another today, the latter containing the course outline and a printable Note-takers attachment. Several of your have changed your e-mail addresses and in addition, we have had more than a few kicked back to us. Please call (863-692-0906) or e-mail if you have not heard from us twice recently. Thanks!

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens and a Canon EOS-1D Mark II N mounted on a tripod.

ISO 200. Manual mode: 1/250 sec. at f/22. Seven flash set-up

The Hummingbird Guide – How to Photograph Hummingbirds Using High-Speed Multiple Flash by LINDA ROBBINS with Arthur Morris

Linda Robbins began work on this guide in late 2007 and promised that it would be finished by February 1, 2008… As you might guess, it turned out to be a lot more work than Linda envisioned. We now have the first 100 CDs burned and ready to ship, and believe me, the guide was well worth waiting for.

There is a smattering of information available on line and in various books and publications, but never before has everything that you need to know to get started in this highly specialized field of photography been assembled in one place in a pleasingly designed, easy-to-read format. The guide is comprehensive in its scope; among the topics covered are choosing cameras and lenses, suitable tripods and tripod heads, choosing and purchasing suitable flashes, the needed equipment (flash stands, articulated arms, mini ball heads, etc.), choosing and setting up your feeder(s), how to create your artificial backgrounds, detailed, step-by-step instructions on setting up including flash and background placement, determining the right exposure, an explanation of the flash theory involved in high speed flash hummingbird photography, helpful odds and ends, digital and Photoshop considerations, the best rechargeable batteries and battery chargers, dealing with ants, bees and wasps at the set-up, dealing with the guarding birds that keep all others away from the set-up, the best photographic strategies including focus-acquisition tips, introducing perches to the set-up, and selecting flowers and adding them to the set-up. In addition, Linda writes eloquently on the topic of becoming addicted to high speed flash hummingbird photography (consider yourself fore-warned). Also included is an informative section entitled “About Hummingbirds.” Photographing perched hummers, creating pleasingly blurred images, and using macro lenses for hummingbird head-portraits are dealt with in photo-illustrated gallery format.

The section on needed equipment is especially impressive as Linda does a thorough job of exploring the variously priced options and lets you know exactly what she is using at present. The book is lavishly illustrated with both of our images (most of them, and all of the very best, are Linda’s.)

In truth, I cannot say enough in praise of this great new work. Linda is a skilled photographer and her hummingbird images are among the best you will see anywhere. And Linda is a skilled writer. I enjoyed both editing her words and authoring a section or two for the guide. Your purchase will include periodic free updates via e-mail PDF files.

You can order your copy of “The Hummingbird Guide – How to Photograph Hummingbirds Using High-Speed Multiple Flash” (on CD only) today for $50 plus $3 shipping and handling ($53 total) in the US. Florida residents need to add 7% sales tax: $53.50 plus the $3 shipping and handling ($56.50 total). To Canada the cost is $50 plus $6 shipping ($56 total). For overseas customers the cost will be $50 plus $8 shipping and handling ($58 total). A check made out to “Arthur Morris” and sent to us at BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855 is fine. As is a Paypal payment. Or, call us at 863-692-0906 with credit card in hand.

Whether you are just thinking about getting started in this field or have been doing it for years, there is tons for you to learn from Linda’s great new guide. We are proud to add it to the BIRDS AS ART information-in-digital-form line-up. Even better news for folks who can never envision spending big bucks on a flash set-up and traveling overseas with all that gear: Linda will be leading several high speed flash hummer trips to various South and Central American hotspots. All you need to do is bring a camera, lens, tripod, and tripod head and show up. Linda will have everything else that you need. Two photographers per set-up. For info write Linda at lindaasart@aol.com

Lastly, BAA Mail Order will be carrying most of the specialty items that you need to get started; details to follow.

Canon 500mm f/4 IS lens and a Canon EOS-1D Mark II N mounted on a tripod.

ISO: 400. Manual mode. 1/250 sec at f/22. Seven flash set-up.

NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM, WED OCT 15, 2008

On Wednesday evening, October 15, at 7:30pm, I will be presenting “BIRDS AS ART On the Road” for the Photographers Guild of the Newport Museum of Art in the Ilgenfritz Gallery, the Griswold House. All are invited and the program is free of charge. You can learn more about the group here: http://www.newportphotoguild.org/programs.html

Anyone who mentions the Bulletin gets a Free Hug! (Seriously, check out this heart-warming, feel-good story here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4 and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AdQo1qBy1E&feature=user)

Purple-throated Woodstar, male. Guango Lodge, Ecuador.

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens, 25mm extension tube, 12mm extension tube, and an EOS-1D Mark II N mounted on a tripod. ISO 400.Manual mode: 1/250 sec. at f20.

Seven flash set-up.

HUNT’S SPECIALS

Gary Farber tel: 1-800-221-1830 ext 2332 Fax 800-336-3840 e-mail digitalguygary@wbhunt.com

Attention BIRDS AS ART subscribers: Hunt’s is offering free shipping to all BAA Bulletin subscribers on the items below.

Hunt’s is currently taking pre-orders from BIRDS AS ART Subscribers for the following new products:

Canon 5D MK II Body with an estimated price of $2699.99. This price has yet to be confirmed. The camera is going to be really hot. Get your orders in early! The Canon Kit will consist of the 5DII plus the 24-105 lens with an estimated price of $3499.99 Note: Hunt’s is anticipating arrival the end of November.

Canon 50D Body is priced at $1399.99. Canon 50D w/28-135 lens is priced at $1599.99. Canon 50D w/18-200 lens is priced at $2099.99. Note: Hunt’s is anticipating arrival the beginning of October.

The Canon G10 is going to replace the G9 and is priced at $499.99. Free shipping is being offered if you order now. Note: Hunt’s is anticipating its arrival in October.

Pre-orders on both the PhotoShop CS 4 Upgrade and Full Version are now being taken.

If you are interested in pre-ordering any of the above products, please contact me or a Hunt’s sales associate at 781-462-2304.

Currently in stock is a very limited supply of the following Canon refurbished products:

XTi Body $389.99

XT w/18-55 lens $349.99

8-55 IS lens $134.00

55-250 IS lens $199.00

75-300 4.5 6 III U $155.00

5D Body $1599.00

40D w/28-135 lens $849.00

24-105 lens LIS $819.00

Other specials include –

Color Munki Calibrator $419.99

Canon 1DS Mark III (Contact me or an associate for special pricing).

All NIK Filters are being sold at 10% off Hunt’s every day price including the Viveza, Silver Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete Edition.

Hunt’s is a full-line Think Tank dealer. Some of the more popular bags Hunt’s is currently selling are the Airport International 2.0, the Airport Security 2.0, and the Airport Acceleration. Please contact us to receive current pricing.

I hope to see many of you in Portland. Gary

Mulie grass and willows, Bosque Del Apache NWR, NM

Canon 24-105mm handheld at 32mm with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/20 sec. at f/22.

The mulie grass looked ethereal the low light of early morning. IS with short zoom lenses lets you create sharp images at very slow shutter speeds. Photoshop time: 3 minutes.

POSSE NEWS

Robert O’Toole at Bosque/Photography & APTATS/Photoshop Workshops

Robert O’Toole BAA-Approved Photography Workshops: Nov 19-21, 2008 & Dec 3-5, 2008. 3-DAY: $999 (Limit 6).

Robert O’Toole BAA-Approved APTATS/Photoshop Workshops. Nov 26 or Nov 28, 2008: 1-DAY: $349. (Limit 8).

E-mail Robert for more information at Robert@RobertOToolePhotography.com or call 310.619.8017. You can learn more about Robert at www.RobertOtoolePhotography.com

Flight School Goes to Bosque with Jim Neiger

Flight School Goes to Bosque BAA-Approved Workshops: NOV 14-17 and NOV 18-21, 2008. 3-DAY: $1000. (Limit 8.)

Fly South with the Birds Workshop with Jim Neiger

Fly South with the Birds Workshop BAA-Approved Workshops: JAN 9-13, 2009 AND JAN 23-27, 2009. $1300 includes boat trips: (Limit 8.)

Contact Jim by e-mail only for now at jimn@cfl.rr.com. Visit his web site at: www.flightschoolphotography.com

Alfred and Fabs AVIANSCAPES WORKSHOPS

Everglades National Park, Jan 16-18, 2009. 3-DAY: $999 (Limit 10).

Everglades National Park, Feb 20-22, 2009. 3-DAY: $999 (Limit 10).

North Everglades, March 13-15, 2009 (Wakodahatchee, Green Cay and Long Key). 3-DAY: $999 (Limit 10).

Visit www.avianscapes.com

Best of Florida Workshops with Captain Jim Neiger and Captain James Shadle

Best of Florida Workshop-1: March 12 -17, 2009: 6-DAY: Limit 4/leader: $1900 includes boat trips.
Best of Florida Workshop-2: March 20-27, 2009: 8-DAY: Limit 4/leader: $2500 includes boat trips.
Best of Florida Workshop-3: April 2-9, 2009: Limit 4/Leader: 8-DAY$2500 includes boat trips.

For more information go to: Best of Florida Workshops

GANNETS GALORE 2009 TRIP ANNOUNCEMENTS with Monsieur Chris Dodds

Gannets Galore/June 7-9, 2009. 3-DAY: CAD$2395.00. Limit: 6/Openings: 5

Gannets Galore/June 11-13, 2009. 3-DAY: CAD$2395.00. Limit: 6/Openings: 3

Gannets Galore/June 15-17, 2009. 3-DAY Leader: Chris Dodds CAD$2395.00. Limit: 6/Openings: 1

Gannets Galore/June 19-21, 2009. Co-leader: Arthur Morris. 3-DAY: CAD$2395.00. Limit: 6/Openings: 4

Gannets Galore/August 17-19, 2009. 3-DAY: CAD$2395.00. Limit: 6/Openings: 6

You can find the complete details (including travel info and unsolicited testimonials) here: http://chrisdoddsphoto.com. To register try Chris at home at 1-450-827-1007 or on his cell: 1- 514-945-6195. Be sure to leave a message if there is no answer and follow that up with an e-mail to chris@chrisdoddsphoto.com.

ROBERT AMORUSO PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOPS

Wichita Mountains P-I-W: NOV 7-9, 2008 with OKC National Memorial add-ons. 4-DAY: $999. (Limit 10).

Experience Central Florida P-I-W: FEB 6-8, 2009. 3-DAY: $899. (Limit 8).

Contact Robert by cell phone at 407-808-7417 or by e-mail at wildscapeimages@comcast.net. Visit Robert’s web site at www.wildscapeimages.com for info on small group/Avian Boat Tours.

American Kestrel at dawn, Bosque Del Apache NWR, NM

Canon 70-200 mm f/4 L IS lens at 200mm on a Mongoose M3.5 with the EOS-1D MIII. Bubble level. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/125 sec. at f/25.

This is a two frame stitched panoramic. I cannot wait to create some of these with the geese and cranes. There are still some Bosque IPT openings (as below). When working on a tripod to create stitched panos I always make sure to level the tripod platform as described in ABP II and use a Bubble Level: http://www.birdsasart.com/accs.html#BUBBLE. Photoshop time: 4 minutes

IPT UPDATES

Bosque IPT #1: NOV 22-25, 2008. Slide program on the evening of NOV 21. 4-DAY: $1799 Limit: 10/2. Co-leader: Robert O’Toole.

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

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: 6.

Co-leaders: Robert O’Toole and Alfred & Fabiola Forns.

SW FLA PRESIDENT'S DAY IPT: FEB 13-17, 2009. Slide program on the evening of FEB 12. 5-DAY: $2249 Limit: 10/Openings: 1. Co-leaders: Robert O’Toole and Scott Bourne.

NEW POST-NANPA 2 ½ DAY BOSQUE IPT. FEB 22-24, 2009. 2 1/2-DAY: $799. Limit: 15/Openings: 7. Best combined with my Sunday morning NANPA Summit program: "Photographing Bosque Del Apache: In-the-Field Strategies and Post Processing Techniques" Sunday FEB 22, 2009. (Registration for the Sunday program only through NANPA.) Photograph Sunday afternoon till sunset and all day Monday and Tuesday.

Bear Boat #1: June 4-10, 2009 (It is advised that you be in Anchorage on the afternoon of June 2nd to be assured of not missing the boat!). This trip will feature an afternoon (and possibly more) of otter photography (weather permitting), Bald Eagles and likely chicks in the nest, and lots and lots of coastal Brown Bears clamming and eating luscious green grass.

Bear Boat #2: Sept 4-10, 2009 (It is advised that you be in Anchorage on the afternoon of the September 2nd to be assured of not missing the boat!). This one is the bears catching salmon trip. In addition, Glaucous-winged and Mew Gulls eating roe are a certainty, and dark phase Northern Fulmars and Black-legged Kittiwakes (including the gorgeous immatures), Harbor Seals, and Stellar’s Sea Lions are likely. Did I mention bears catching salmon? And more bears catching salmon?

The rates for the 2009 trips have increased due to increased fuel costs. Bear Boat #1 (cheaper by $250 as we use the float plane only once): $6749. Bear Boat #2: $6999. Two slots are filled on each trip.

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.