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BIRDS AS ART ON-LINE BULLETIN #46 March 31, 2001
- We're Back!
- Film Tips
- New Canon Teleconverters
- Churchill, Manitoba IPT
We're Back!
Nearly a month ago, BIRDS AS ART
experienced an e-mail system disaster. A certain well know
bird photographer was at the root of this disaster. We were
able to use a wonderful data recovery firm in Toronto, ADR,
and we did recover the almost complete distribution list for
BIRDS AS ART On-Line Bulletins. Please forward this Bulletin
to photography friends and groups so that anyone whose e-mail
address was not recovered may re-subscribe by e-mailing
birdsasart@verizon.net. Thanks!
Film Characteristics and Tips
Fuji Film Characteristics
Velvia:
incredibly warm, rich, saturated, vivid colors. Fine grain,
extreme sharpness.
Provia F 100: a
more neutral but still rich color palette, grain virtually absent
even when pushed, extreme sharpness.
Provia F 400. a
neutral color palette, finest grain in a 400 ISO film, good
sharpness.
Film Tips: When
to use your favorite Fuji films:
Fuji Velvia
(pushed one stop at EI 100): whenever possible, especially in soft
light, in warm light, at sunrise and sunset, and when green is a
predominant color.
Fuji Provia F 100
(at normal): in full sun two hours after sunrise or before sunset.
Fuji Provia F 100
(pushed one stop at EI 200, or pushed two stops at EI 320): in
warm light when I need extra shutter speed, or in very low light
(almost always with flash). Note: for the two stop push, rate the
film at EI 320 and then tell the lab to push process it two stops,
else your exposures will be approximately 1/3 stop too dark.
Fuji Provia F 400
(pushed one stop rated at EI 800): in extremely low light when
additional shutter speed is needed.
Yes, I push
nearly every roll of film that I expose.......
New Canon Teleconverters
We have received dozens of
e-mails requesting an evaluation of the new Canon
Series II EF
teleconverters. I will be receiving mine early next week in
Arizona and will let you all know what I think of them in
early May. Here is the information that I received from
Canon Tech Rep Chuck Westfall:
Canon's Extenders EF 1.4x II and
EF 2x II should be in dealers hand's no later than early
April, so you should be able to obtain them soon. Minimum
advertised price will be approx. $450 apiece. In addition
to the improved weather resistance, both new extenders
feature improved anti-reflection coatings on their inner
barrels. The optics of the new 1.4x are the same as the
original, but the 2x has been upgraded for better optical
performance with the current generation of IS super
telephoto lenses. The new 2x also has a recessed rear
element that allows the 1.4x to be stacked behind it without
the need for an intermediate extension tube. Canon Inc. is
not officially recommending this combination, but in our
experience it seems to work and produce reasonably sharp
photos.
I am really looking forward to
field testing the new TCs, especially the 2X with its
improved optics!
Churchill, Manitoba IPT
Ross' Gull, Churchill, Manitoba
There are currently two openings
on the June 15-22 BIRDS AS ART/Instructional Photo-Tour of
Churchill Manitoba ($2199).
Churchill is a difficult place
to photograph, as the weather is changeable and the
shorebird nests are hard to find. But the rewards are
sweet. Photograph arctic nesting birds, at times on the
nest, and almost always in their spectacular breeding
plumages. Species should include Semipalmated Plover and
American Golden-Plover, Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Stilt
Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Arctic Tern, Bonaparte's
Gull, Parasitic Jaeger, and Willow Ptarmigan. Other
possibilities include Common Eider, Oldsquaw, Greater Scaup,
Horned Grebe, Pacific Loon, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin,
Redpoll, Savannah Sparrow, Blackpoll Warbler, and many, many
more. And there is always a chance to photograph North
America's rarest breeding larid: Ross' Gull. On this IPT
only, ground transportation and airport pick-up/drop-off is
included. See the web site for logistical details.
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