Homer Late Registration Discounts
If you are interested in traveling with me to Homer, AK in FEB/MARCH 2023 to photograph bald eagles please let me know.EmailInformation about the late enrollment discount. Several people are about to sign up, so don't hesitate. The first IPT seems to have run out as I wait for the final deposit check.
And from?
Not much, except a lot to do on new used equipment lists. Additionally, below is the announcement of three DeSoto IPTs in Spring 2023. Several trips to San Diego are coming up in 2023/24 and the Galapagos Photo Cruise in July 2024.
Today is Saturday January 28, 2023. I'm so busy I haven't even thought about going to the lake. This blog post took about six hours to prepare (including time spent on used device lists, image adjustments, and the DeSoto IPT announcement) and is now 305 days straight with a new educational post. Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, I hope you're having a great day too.
Please remember to use my B&H or Bedford affiliate programs for all your new equipment purchases.
The plan is to continue posting every day until the streak reaches a year and a day, and then post every other day again.
Remember to use the B&H and Amazon links found on most blog sites and use the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout when you purchase your new Bedfords gear to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy of a free FedEx flight on the second day. Please also consider aBAA IPT. You will be surprised how much you will learn!
Great photo supplies (and essentials like surf shoes!) can be found on Amazon by clicking the Stuff tab in the orange/yellow menu bar at the top. In this regard, it would be extremely helpful if bloggers who spend a lot of money on Amazon like me got into the habit of clicking the Amazon logo link on the right hand side of every blog post when shopping online. . As you can expect, it won't cost you a penny, but you'll appreciate it immensely. And it works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item such as a Delkin memory card or tripod head is available from B&H and/or Bedfords is also available from the BAA online store, that would be great and much appreciated if you decided to make a purchase. decide with us. We cover all prices. Also, remember to use my B&H affiliate links or get 3% back at Bedfords with discount code BIRDSASART at checkout on your larger equipment purchases. This will give you free tours and/or discounts. And he always deserves my great appreciation.
GIT 304L Indoor-Stativ
BAA had been out of production for over two years and sold the last one in December. The good news? We now have two more new tripods in the box. They are ready to ship immediately. Order now to make sure you get one. The 304L was my tripod of choice for over a decade. better get yoursat the momentso as not to disappoint you.
BIRDS AS ART Image Enhancement Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00birdsasart@verizon.netor call Jim at 863-692-0906 and transfer $62.00 to your credit card. Choose one of your best images and upload the raw file using a major file upload service like Hightail or DropBox and email me the link.Email.I will download and save your raw file, assess exposure and sharpness, and modify the image as my own after converting the raw file to Adobe Camera Raw. The best thing is that I will take a screenshot of the whole process and send you the video link for you to download, save and study.
Objetivo Sony FE 600 mm f/4 GM OSS con extras
Blog regular Anthony Ardito offers a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens (USA Warranty) in mint condition for the very low price of $10,498.00. Offer includes rear lens cover, trunk, original front lens cover, lens strap, original product box, and everything included, a nylon waterproof lens camo rain cover Rolanpro Water (a $118.00 value), a CR-X Low Foot (a $122.00 value), and insured ground shipping via Prime Mail to only 48 US addresses. Your item will not ship until it is pay your check, unless other arrangements have been made.
Contact Antonio by emailEmail.
The 600mm f/4 lens has been the ultimate super-telephoto lens for birds, nature, wildlife, and sports for many decades. I never leave home without mine. In short, they are the weapons of mass destruction for nature and sports photographers. Sony 600 GM is the best of all as it is super sharp with 1.4X TC and 2X TC. I even shoot at 1200mm! It is the lightest 600 f/4 ever built. And with the heaviest weight in the rear, it's the most balanced 600 on the market, making it easier to ride than any of its competitors. This lens retails new for $12,998.00 and has sold out almost everywhere. If you've dreamed of a Sony 600mm f/4 for years, get Anthony's nearly new lens now and save $2,500.00 in your pocket.Bis
Lente Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM (Grandmaster)
Anthony Ardito is also offering a Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens (US Warranty) in mint condition for the sale price of $1,698.00.
Sale includes original product packaging and everything that comes with it, including ALC-F82S (82mm) Front Lens Cap, ALC-R1EM Rear Lens Cap, ALC-SH156 Lens Hood, Camera Case lens, all factory-installed accessories and manuals, and secure ground shipping via Prime Mail to less than 48 US addresses. Your item will not ship until your check clears, unless other arrangements.
Contact Antonio by emailEmail.
Renowned for its ability to isolate focus, the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is a medium telephoto prime lens featuring a bright and sophisticated design. Perfect for portraits, it also shines for sports close-ups and as a single focal length for landscapes. The Grand Master design prioritizes sharpness and bokeh quality, and the lens also offers fast autofocus capabilities and durable build quality. It's designed to achieve remarkably high resolution and sharpness by correcting a variety of spherical and chromatic aberrations, and its bright f/1.8 maximum aperture benefits working in challenging lighting conditions. The rounded 11-blade aperture contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality when using selective focus techniques.Sony y B&H
This excellent, high-quality medium telephoto lens retails for $2,098.00 new. That's allthe lens of dreamsfor all serious portrait photographers. If you were hoping to find a copy of this lens at a bargain price, get Anthony's practically new lens now and save $400.00 in your pocket.Bis
Lente Sony FE 24-70 mm F2.8 GM
Homer IPT recorder Charlie Curry is offering a mint condition Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens for the very low price of $999.00. Sale includes original packaging, front and back covers, lens hood, case, manuals, and insured ground shipping by Primary Mail to only 48 US addresses. Your item will not ship until your check clears, unless other arrangements have been made.
Contact Charlie viaEmail.
It's a fast and versatile wide-angle zoom lens with advanced G Master optics, a robust physical design, and a bright constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. It is the ideal lens for people who shoot scenic landscapes, sports, and portraits. It is characterized by high resolution and sharpness throughout the entire zoom range by correcting a wide range of spherical and chromatic aberrations.Sony y B&H
Version II of this lens retails for $2,298.00 so you can save a lot by buying Charlie's lens now.Bis
Lente Sony FE 16-35 mm F2.8 GM
Homer IPT recorder Charlie Curry is offering a mint condition Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens for the very low price of $1,498.00. Offer includes front and back covers, sun shade, soft case, and insured shipping via Prime Mail to less than 48 US addresses. Your item will not ship until your check clears, unless other arrangements have been made .
Contact Charlie viaEmail.
Offering G-Master performance in a compact, fast and versatile form, the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM is a wide-angle zoom that covers wide-angle to standard fields of view. It's ideal for a variety of topics, from scenic landscapes to lifestyle and architecture. The lens's advanced optics and bright f/2.8 design combine with a flexible zoom design to work in a variety of shooting conditions. It is designed to achieve remarkably high resolution and sharpness throughout the entire zoom range by correcting for a wide range of chromatic and spherical aberrations.Sony y B&H
This lens retails for $2,198.00 new, so you could save a whopping $700.00 when you buy this lens now.Bis
Lente Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS
Homer IPT registrant Charlie Curry is offering a Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens in excellent condition for the very low price of $548.00. Offer includes front and back covers, sun shade, and insured ground shipping via Prime Mail to up to 48 addresses in the US Your item will not ship until your check clears, unless other arrangements have been made.
Contact Charlie viaEmail.
This lens from Sony meets almost all the wide-angle needs of full-frame E-mount photographers. The flexible wide-angle zoom features a constant f/4 aperture, making it an ideal lens for street photography, landscapes, cityscapes, and other subjects that require a wide field of view and the inherent versatility of a zoom. Based on the ZEISS Tessar optical concept, this lens uses 12 elements in ten groups that help ensure a smaller overall lens size, along with reduced flare, distortion and chromatic aberration. The constant f/4 maximum aperture provides consistent performance throughout the zoom range and also provides better control over focus position when using shallow depths of field. The rounded opening with seven blades creates a pleasant bokeh effect.Sony y B&H
This lens retails for $998.00 new; Save a whopping $450.00 on this lightweight wide angle lens when you purchase Charlie's Vario-Tessar 16-35.Bis
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This image was created on April 28, 2022 at a Fort DeSoto IPT. While standing at full height, I used the handheldLens Sony FE 70-200 mm f/2.8 GM OSS IIandTeleconvertidor Sony FE 2x(in 382 mm), and The One, oSony Alpha 1 mirrorless digital camera.. Shutter priority with thumbwheel exposure compensation. Multimeter -1/3 stop. AUTO ISO setting ISO 1000: 1/2000 sec at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 9:07:14 on a dark and cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection worked well. Click on the image for a high resolution version. Image #1: White heron with bait |
see situation
One of the great benefits of attending an IPT is learning to spot the important stuff. This skill is developed by keeping your eyes open, understanding the relationship between light, sky conditions, and wind direction, understanding that bird behavior is often repetitive, and thinking creatively.
With egrets and egrets catching bait below the pier, knowing exactly where to make the most of this great opportunity was the most important piece of the puzzle. That's where I put the group 🙂
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This image was also created on April 28, 2022 at a Fort DeSoto IPT. While standing at full height, I used the handheldLens Sony FE 70-200 mm f/2.8 GM OSS IIandTeleconvertidor Sony FE 2x(en 364 mm), and The One, oSony Alpha 1 mirrorless digital camera.. Shutter priority with thumbwheel exposure compensation. Multimeter -1/3 stop. AUTO ISO setting ISO 1600: 1/2000 sec at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 9:09:29 am on a dark and cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection worked well. Click on the image for a high resolution version. Image #2: White heron with bait |
Why the priority of roller blinds in this situation?
It was a very difficult situation, since near the pier it was much less light than when the birds flew away. And the hue of the water was darker near the pier. As a result, the two images with the darkest water, images #2 (perfect) and #4 (solid perfect), were excellent exposures. The image with the lightest background, Image #3, was severely underexposed. Photo #1 was right in the middle. In some difficult situations you have to make a compromise decision. And that's true whether you opt for manual mode or an automatic mode as your shutter priority (as I did with the four images featured today).
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This image was also created on April 28, 2022 at a Fort DeSoto IPT. While standing at full height, I used the handheldLens Sony FE 70-200 mm f/2.8 GM OSS IIandTeleconvertidor Sony FE 2x(en 400 mm), and The One, oSony Alpha 1 mirrorless digital camera.. Shutter priority with thumbwheel exposure compensation. Multimeter -1/3 stop. AUTO ISO setting ISO 1000: 1/2000 sec at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 9:10:34 am on a dark and cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection worked well. Click on the image for a high resolution version. Image #3: White heron with bait |
square cultures
As with two of the images featured today (#1 and #3), the photos of the bird flying towards us work very well as square crops. When the bird flies from one side of the frame to the other (images #2 and #4), the 2X3 cuts tend to look much better.
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This image was also created on April 28, 2022 at a Fort DeSoto IPT. While standing at full height, I used the handheldLens Sony FE 70-200 mm f/2.8 GM OSS IIandTeleconvertidor Sony FE 2x(en 320 mm), and The One, oSony Alpha 1 mirrorless digital camera.. Shutter priority with thumbwheel exposure compensation. Multimeter -1/3 stop. AUTO ISO setting ISO 1600: 1/2500 sec at f/5.6 (wide open). AWB at 9:28:11 a.m. m. of a cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection worked well. Click on the image for a high resolution version. Image #4: Snowy Heron attacks baitfish |
Your call?
Which of today's four featured images is your favourite? Because? Which has the most interesting background?
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Fort DeSoto abounds with domesticated birds in the spring, many in full breeding plumage. Click on the composite for a larger version. Clockwise from top left to center: black-headed gull landing on the head of a brown pelican, black-headed gull in flight, red heron sunrise silhouette, gray heron with swordfish, night heron yellow crown with ghost crab, roseate spoonbill, sandpiper in breeding plumage and white morph Reddish heron in magnificent breeding plumage. |
Fort DeSoto Spring 2023 Instructional Photo Tours (IPTs)
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #1: Tuesday March 28 through morning session March 31, 2023. 3½ days: $1,899.00 includes three working lunches. Limit of six photographers.Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #2: Tuesday April 11 through morning session April 14, 2023. 3½ days: $1,899.00 includes three working lunches. Limit of six photographers.
Spring Fort DeSoto IPT #3: Tuesday May 9 through mid-morning session May 12, 2023. 3½ days: $1,899.00 includes three working lunches. Limit of six photographers.
Fort DeSoto, just south of St. Petersburg, FL, is a mecca for terns and gulls, shorebirds, and springtime shorebirds. Many of the birds will be in full breeding plumage. Simply put, DeSoto is the new thing, honey. Migratory birds are plentiful and many are extremely tame. We should have great opportunities with the terns and sandwiches and dark red and white herons. Great egret, white heron, blue heron, tricolor heron and white ibis are also easy and we will almost certainly find a tame great heron or two along with a few American oystercatchers. We will enjoy excellent aerial photos, especially with the brown pelicans.
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Again, Fort DeSoto is teeming with domesticated birds in the spring, most in breeding plumage. Click on the composite for a larger version. Clockwise from top left to center: black-headed gull in flight, yellow-crested heron, copulating walled tern, roseate spoonbill, reflexed great egret, breeding plumage Dowitcher, Red-billed Egret, American Oystercatcher, great tern, white and snowy morphological reddish egret Heron in swamp. |
Other than that!
We were also going to photograph a variety of other shorebirds, including Black-bellied Plover, Palm Plover, Wilson's Plover, Snowy Plover and Plover, Willow Plover, Sandpiper, Rosy-billed Pike, Curlew, and mainly the reddish knot, with many individuals in its beautiful reproduction. plumage. In spring, the T-shaped peninsula and newly formed sandbar, Outback Key, is literally teeming with bird treasures.
If we're lucky, we'll be able to photograph one of Florida's most sought after species: the Roseate Spoonbill. And we will surely get some aerial photos of the brown pelican. Hopefully the black-headed gulls will land on their heads. And while it's not guaranteed, Wood Stork can certainly be expected. And with a storm or two, we're on the lookout for a rush of migrating passerines.
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Yes, Fort DeSoto is teeming with domesticated birds in the spring, most of them in breeding plumage. Click on the composite for a larger version. Clockwise from top left to center: Sandpiper breeding plumage, Dark morpho red heron display, Black-headed gull vertical frontal portrait, Black-headed gull with prey, perched on pelican's head brown, plumage display Gull Breeding Plumage, Common Terns: Preparation for Copulation, Black-headed Gulls copulating, Black-headed Gull Head Portrait, Tern Breeding Plumage Sandwich with Fish and a Rare Treat, Plumage of laundress baby. |
What you will learn at a DeSoto IPT
- 1- The fundamentals and details of the digital exhibition; how to get the correct exposure every time after a single test exposure (or sooner if using SONY equipment).
- 2- How and why to work in manual mode (even if you are afraid).
- 3- How to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
- 4- A lot about the behavior of birds and how you can use this knowledge to create better images.
- 5- To age and identify many species of shorebirds, including various shorebirds, plovers, witchbirds, and possibly yellowlegs.
- 6- Identify good situations and choose the best perspective.
- 7- See, evaluate and understand light.
- 8- To create beautiful images by mastering the AF system of your camera.
- 9- And perhaps most importantly, evaluate the wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography.
- 10- More than you can imagine.
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You have it cute! Fort DeSoto abounds with domesticated birds in the spring, most of them in breeding plumage. Click on the composite for a larger version. Clockwise from top left to center: Roseate Spoonbill, Immature Brown Pelican in flight, Great Blue Heron hybrid, American Oystercatcher feeding, Immature Great Blue Pelican on railing, Morning Heron silhouette, surf with slider and head portrait of great blue heron at bottom. |
Die Details
Morning sessions last two and a half to three hours; Afternoon sessions at two. There is never a fixed schedule in an IPT, we adapt to the conditions. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds we can choose to shoot until noon and skip the afternoon session. This is especially the case when the afternoon weather looks iffy. We may choose to attend a great daycare in north Tampa if conditions warrant.
One Photoshop/Image Review session will take place before and after lunch (included) on each of the three full days. This is followed by the nap time instructor. Each of these IPTs will be done with only one registrant, as I don't want to let anyone down. The best airport is Tampa (TPA). Upon registration, you will receive an email with the accommodation information. Please note that it is always best for IPT staff to stay in the same general area (rather than at home or with a friend some distance away).
The participants of this IPT will be in the field as soon as possible and will stay out late to enjoy the colors of the sunrise and sunset; This is pretty much a staple on almost every BIRDS AS ART photo tour. This often creates unique photo opportunities, opportunities to be missed by those in need of a beauty break and those who need to go home for a proper dinner. I really love it when I leave the beach at 9:30 on a sunny morning after a great shoot, just as a car or two full of well-rested photographers pull up... Let's get wet.
Your deposit of $599 is due now. Credit cards are fine for this. You can apply with a credit card in hand by calling Jim or Jennifer during business hours at 863-692-0906. After paying a deposit, you will receive an email with your bank statement and instructions on how to send your balance check three months before the trip. If you would like to pay in full immediately, you can pick it up at BIRDS AS ART and mail it to the US here: BIRDS AS ART, PO BOX 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. You will receive a confirmation and email. Email with detailed instructions and advice on clothing and equipment two months before the trip. please shoot meEmailIf you want to register or have any questions.
IPT Veterans and couples or friends applying together can applyEmailfor information on discounts.
Typing error
For all blog postsEmailor to leave a comment about typos or errors.