BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN 159

JANUARY 15, 2005

visit: www.birdsasart.com

SAN DIEGO IPT REPORT

HEADED FOR NANPA TODAY

LaCIE WARNING

"THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY; IT AIN'T JUST BIRDS" WEEKEND SEMINARS

HOMER EAGLE IPT OPENING

LIKE BEARS?

ANNOUNCING THE 2006 SAN DIEGO IPT

IPT UPDATES

Brown Pelican, San Diego, CA

Photo Theme: My favorite images from the San Diego 4-day IPT. As I need to head for the airport in a few minutes, I regret that this Bulletin will not include the usual tech data and captions.

Brown Pelican, San Diego, CA

THE SAN DIEGO 4-DAY IPT REPORT

Thirteen photographers joined Ellen Anon and I in what was supposed to be sunny San Diego. In spite of the relatively poor (and atypical!) weather, the trip was a success. Most of the group lost two half days of photography to the rain (but some of the die-hards--including yours truly--persisted!) We made good use of the down time as Ellen did several extra Photoshop sessions. Everybody loved them and her. There were more Brown Pelicans and Brandt's Cormorants on the cliffs at LaJolla than I had ever seen. All of my duck spots were dependable as usual and we had great opportunities with Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, and Lesser Scaup among others. We had lots to choose from among the Western, Heermans, Ring-billed, and California Gulls, and there were lots of shorebirds as well including Marbled Godwit, Willet, both turnstones, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling, and Western Sandpiper.

We discovered a great new restaurant (thanks Mom!) in Mission Valley: King's Fish House, 825 Camino De La Reina, tel: 619-574-1230 and dined there several times. I can unequivocally recommend the swordfish with capers and the Dungeness crab cakes. And be sure to try the ratatouille--fresh tomatoes, squash, and onions. Be sure to let manager Scott Dyke that you were referred by BIRDS AS ART. For lunch in LaJolla, India Palace offers a superb lunch buffet. I just love walking in at 11:30, grabbing a plate, and sitting down to enjoy healthy, delicious food. There are located at 7514 Girard just past Vons, the big supermarket. Their phone is 858-551-5133. The other LaJolla option is Sammy's Wood Fired Pizza at 565 Pearl Street (858-551-5133). It is sort of a yuppie pizza shop that offers great salads and a varied menu that includes killer pizza. I always get the barbecued chicken pizza (and add pineapple).

While doing an early evening slide program, I accidentally dropped my beloved Toshiba Satellite laptop and smashed the LCD screen. I made a few phone calls and got hooked up with the great folks at CPU Computer Repair in Mira Mesa: 858-362-3169. I brought the unit to them on Monday. Lewis determined which of the five possible screens I had, and ordered it from Toshiba. It arrived Tuesday midday and the repairs were completed that afternoon. I flew home at oh-dark hundred on Wednesday morning. Whew! Locals in need of a great computer repair service joint would be hard-pressed to find such helpful folks.

Wood Duck, drake charging, San Diego, CA

HEADED FOR NANPA TODAY

I fly to Greensboro, NC this afternoon to spend two days relaxing and photographing on the farm of Gary Carter (http://www.garycarterphotos.com/). On Tuesday, the NANPA High School Scholarship students will travel to Gary's farm via bus and I will have the pleasure of working with them there. That afternoon I join them for a bus ride to a raptor rehab center for an afternoon of photography and instruction. After that, we ride the bus to Charlotte, site of the 2005 NANPA Summit On Wednesday we will be setting up the BIRDS AS ART booth. If you are attending, be sure to stop by and say "Hi." (It's still not too late to register: http://www.nanpa.org/conferences/Summit2005/). On Friday morning, I will be presenting my keynote address, "A Bird Photographer's Story," and on Friday night I will be working with the NANPA College Scholarship students discussing the business of nature photography. I fly home on Sunday January 23 and leave the next Sunday for the Homer Eagle IPT. Yikes.

Black Turnstone running, San Diego, CA

LaCIE WARNING

Less than nine months ago, for more than $3500, we purchased six LaCie Big Disk 500 gb drives from Zones ( a very reputable company) in hopes of simplifying the back-up system for our digital photographs. To date, five of the six drives have failed, an incredible three of them twice each. I asked the folks at LaCie if they would replace the units rather than repair them, but they refused, opting only to repair them. When I spoke to one of their reps, he told me that the product is a reliable one, that I just had "bad luck." (That was before two of the drives failed on the same day last week jeopardizing one-half of my digital image collection. I am now working with the nice folks at Zone in hopes of either having my money refunded in full or getting Zones credit for our purchase. We are planning on going to some sort of Raid 5 or Raid 10 system (with mirroring) quite soon. Had I not had a third back-up on a Maxtor 300gb external drive, I would have lost about 250 gbs of valuable digital images. Subscribers are warned against purchasing LaCie Big Disks. And considering the quality of that product, and the with the level of customer service that we have received, I would advise that you not purchase any LaCie products. Other who have had problems with any LaCie products are invited to e-mail us at birdsasart@verizon.net.

California Sea Lion, San Diego, CA

THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY; IT AIN'T JUST BIRDS" WEEKEND SEMINARS

The Art of Nature Photography; It Ain't Just Birds!

Weekend Seminars

Sponsored by Canon USA

In conjunction with Photo Road Shows

Atlanta, Georgia, July 30-31, 2005

Dallas, Texas, September 24-25, 2005

Click here for full details: http://www.birdsasart.com/photoroadshow.htm

Brandt's Cormorant, San Diego, CA

HOMER EAGLE IPT OPENING

There is a single slot open on the first Homer Eagle trip: FEB 4-8, 2005. 5-DAY: $1599. If you are seriously interested in joining us, contact co-leader Greg Downing immediately by e-mail at: greg@gdphotography.com.

Lesser Scaup, drake flapping, San Diego, CA

LIKE BEARS?

Then consider joining me on one of the following small group trips:

#1: There is a still a single slot left on the September 10-15, 2005 Bear Boat trip to Katmai National Park. You will need to be in Anchorage on the 10th. The cost of the trip is $5,000. It is an expensive trip but Chuck Heim will safely put you within yards of these amazing creatures. The bears will be fishing for salmon in the streams and there is a fair chance of photographing yearling cubs on this trip. If you are seriously interested in filling the last slot, please make your $500 deposit at NANPA or e-mail us at birdsasart@verizon.net immediately and let us know that you will be sending a deposit check made out to "Arthur Morris" to us at PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855. Please e-mail for additional details.

#2: Following the above trip, I will be leading a small group of photographers to the Silver Salmon Creek Lodge where we photograph the coastal brown bears fishing and clamming at close range and will have lots of great salmon fishing. There should be some young bears, and in most years there are one or more pairs of spring cubs. (And I am hoping that there may be some birds around as well.) We will most likely fly to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge on the morning of September 16, 2005 from Anchorage. We will do either a 7 day/six night trip (leaving on the 22nd) or 6 day/five night (leaving on the 21st) trip. Folks might be able to arrange to stay on a bit longer or arrive a bit earlier than the main group if that works better for them.

The 7 day/6 night package that includes all meals, guide service, lodging, local use of sea kayaks, fish preparation and photo/boat trips is $3320/person. The 6 day/5 night trip would be $2930 pp from Anchorage. Halibut fishing is $50 per person extra but David Coray has told me that the tides would be bad for a halibut trip during the week that we will be there but we may be able to squeeze in one trip at the end of the week. I hope that you can join us. Please e-mail me if you have any additional questions.

#3: I will be leading a second bear boat trip for Alaska Photo-Tours June 25-30 as in #1. Two half-days and four full days on the boat: $5,000.00. You will need to be in Anchorage on June 24^th. We should have lots of point blank opportunities on the Coastal Brown Bears, breeding Bald Eagles, Glaucous-winged Gull chicks, and possibly fox. If you are seriously interested in filling the last slot, please make your $500 deposit at NANPA or e-mail us at birdsasart@verizon.net immediately and let us know that you will be sending a deposit check made out to "Arthur Morris" to us at PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 33855. Please e-mail for additional details.

Brown Pelican, San Diego, CA

ANNOUNCING THE 2006 SAN DIEGO ITP.

I have just scheduled the next San Diego 4-Day IPT: January 5-8, 2006 with the introductory slide program at 7pm on Wednesday, January 4th. Ellen Anon will again be co-leading this trip. This tour sells out far in advance every year so be sure to register early to avoid disappointment.

San Diego 4-Day IPT, JAN 5-8, 2006: $1399. Limit 12.

SPECTACULAR BREEDING PLUMAGE BROWN PELICANS, BRANDT’S CORMORANTS; HEERMAN’S, WESTERN, & CA. GULLS; RING-NECKED & WOOD DUCKS, SHOREBIRDS, AND MORE.

Western Gulls in rain, San Diego, CA

Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

IPT UPDATES

2005 SW FLA President's Holiday IPT: FEB 18-22, 2005, 5-DAY: $1399 w/Ellen Anon co-leading (Sold out with one participant joining us from Finland!)

Homer, AK, Bald Eagle IPTs w/co-leader Greg Downing FEB 4-8 (one opening) & 9-13 (Sold out), 2005. 5-DAY: $1599.

Lake Martin, La, Nesting Spoonbill IPTs 3 -DAY: $899 MAR 19-21, 2005 (Sold Out) May 13-15, 2005 (2 Openings)

Fort DeSoto/Sarasota IPT: April 1-3 3-DAY: $869 (Sold Out)

St. Augustine Alligator Farm IPT April 28 (aft) thru May 1, 2005. 3 1/2-DAYS: $1049 (Sold out)

Bosque IPTs 3 -DAY: $929. All with co-leader Ellen Anon. NOV 15-17, 2005 (Limit 14, 12 openings), NOV 20-22 (Limit 14, 11 openings) & NOV 26-28 (wide open).

SW FLA, Post X-mas IPT. 3 -DAY: $929. DEC 28-30, 2005. (Limit 12)

SW FLA President's Holiday IPT w/co-leader Ellen Anon: $1549. FEB 17-21, 2006. (Limit 14))

San Diego 4-Day IPT: $1399 w/co-leader Ellen Anon. JAN 5-8, 2006 Limit 12.

August 2005 Fly/Drive Kenya Photo-Safari

August 15-31, 2005--16 days on the ground: $8,200/person.

$500 deposit

(Single supplement: $1,700.) Airfare to and from Nairobi, Kenya not included.

14 full and two half days of photography

When comparing the cost of this safari with others please note that we do NOT include travel days to and from Africa...

Limit: five vans of three photographers including the leaders.
Luxury accommodations on a twin-share basis with private facilities.
Full American breakfast daily, 16 lunches and 15 dinners

Transport via 4WD vehicle with fully removable roof-hatch with English speaking driver-guide (maximum 3 passengers per vehicle).
All park entry fees and hotel taxes

Air Transport from Nairobi to Maasai Mara and from Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. (This eliminates a killer drive over horrific roads.)

Complimentary water (1/2 liter per person per day) on Days 2-16.

Price does Not Include:

Passport and visa fees and airport taxes.
Airfares to and from Kenya (usually via Amsterdam).
Beverages, laundry, telephone calls or any other items of a personal nature.
Gratuities to hotel porters, wait staff, room attendants and driver-guides.

(The suggested tip for driver guides is $15 US per person/day.)

To see some spectacular Kenya images click on any of the following links:

http://www.martinplant.com/photo/photos.php or: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn146.htm or: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn147.htm or: http://www.birdsasart.com/n147.htm

Galapagos Cruise, July 2005 (Sold Out)

Nome, Alaska IPT June 10-20, 2006: (Please note the year: 2006 is not a typo!) Sold Out, but please contact me if you are interested in joining us as part of a second group being led by Greg Downing. We will be sharing our talents on this trip and sharing nest sites and other info via GPS. In addition, we will be holding joint critiquing and Photoshop sessions. Long lenses are a necessity.

Antarctica/South Georgia/Falkland Islands Zegrahms Cruise with Arthur Morris and Greg Downing: January 2007. Please e-mail birdsasart@verizon.net for details.

For general IPT info, deposit and registration details, and cancellation policies, please visit: http://www.birdsasart.com/tours.html

If you would like your name placed on the waiting list for one or more trips, please e-mail, indicate the trip or trips that you are interested in, and be sure to include day, evening, and cell phone numbers. We often have late cancellations...

Brown Pelicans (tame) & umbrella rig, San Diego, CA

Best and love and great picture-making to all,
Artie

Note: Arthur Morris has been a Canon contract photographer since 1994 and continues in that role today. Hunt's Photo of Boston, MA is a BIRDS AS ART sponsor, as is Delkin Devices. Do feel free to forward this Bulletin to one or more photographer-friends. Those wishing to subscribe click here: mailto:http://birdsasart.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=94ad23bd96f48a1de2ca612b3&id=bdb4a511a0?subject=subscribe To unsubscribe, click here: mailto:birdsasart@verizon.net?subject=unsubscribe. Back issues of all BAA Bulletins and relevant BAA Notes are archived on the web site at: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn.html