FEATURES

• THE BIRDS AS ART ON-LINE STORE BACK IN BUSINESS/FREE SHIPPING INFO
• THE BIRDS AS ART BLOG
• PANAMA TRIP FOLLOW-UP/Zorb-It™
• THE JBWR/NICKERSON BEACH IPT/NY TRIP REPORT
• THE ETERNAL LAPTOP QUESTION
• ON THE ROAD AGAIN AGAIN
• POSSE NEWS/ROBERT O’TOOLE
• MIDWEST BIRDING SYMPOSIUM APPEARANCE
• USED CANON GEAR FOR SALE
• BIRDS AS ART FINE ART CANVAS PRINT EDITION/GANNETS IN LOVE/GREAT NEWS

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Beach-goers watching tern and skimmers, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 320. Evaluative metering + 2 2/3 stops : 1/ 30 sec. at f/5. 6. There were so many terns and skimmers on the beach most days that even the beach-goers were stopped in their tracks. I was trying to create some blast-off blurs when I noticed that this group of four folks had stopped to watch the birds. They were perfectly framed by the two distant oystercatchers on the the beach. Fearing that they would move on quickly I went with the slow shutter speed and was happy with the results.

THE BIRDS AS ART ON-LINE STORE IS BACK IN BUSINESS/FREE SHIPPING INFO

We will be offering free shipping on all orders sent to continental United States addresses until the close-of-business on Friday, September 4, 2009. Your shipping charges will be billed and then refunded to your credit card. Your continued patronage is greatly appreciated.

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Common Tern, juvenile on beach with seaweed, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 320. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/ 640 sec. at f/10. Though this looks like a straightforward image, it was anything but. With the light from the right and the breeze coming slightly towards me from the left, it was difficult to avoid shooting up the birds’ butts (much less to find one on sand swept clean by the last tide). This youngster was not quite facing into the wind so I was able to get some light on it. Note the slight but perfect head turn (back into the light). I made only three images of this bird when it flew off for no apparent reason. A split second later a group of ten joggers flew past my right shoulder saying “Excuse us. Sorry.” You gotta love it.

THE BIRDS AS ART BLOG

If you enjoy these BAA Bulletins, you will simply love the BAA Blog. Be sure to check out the recent posts there by clicking here www.birdsasart-blog.com and then scrolling down. You’ll find lots of great info and beautiful images each with our legendary educational captions.

In the August 30 post, “A Great Morning at the Office/Nickerson Beach,” I share with you ten images made on a single morning at the end of my NY visit. It will likely be quite an eye opener for most folks.

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Great Black-backed Gull with prey item: juvenile skimmer, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/7.1. Every morning at the western end of the colony a gull or two would kill a skimmer for breakfast. For the whole story and to see more images of the meal, visit the blog: www.BIRDSASART-blog.com. The blog post includes links to several similar images on BPN. Do you feel sad for the baby skimmers? Follow the links to see how I feel.

PANAMA TRIP FOLLOW-UP/Zorb-It™

At one point on my trip to Panama last year, I had three dead cameras. Dead as in dead. This year I realized that I needed to protect my camera bodies from the stifling humidity. After an on-line search, I found Zorb-It™. I recommended the product to the whole group and many purchased several of the Zorb-It 4X4″ packets here . When not being used, I kept each of my three camera bodies in a one-gallon plastic Zip-loc bag along with one of the 4X4″ packets. Each camera performed flawlessly for the entire trip in spite of the fact that I used my EOS-1D Mark III bodies several times in both heavy drizzle and pouring rain.

I am now storing my camera bodies as described above both to protect them from the high humidity here in Florida and to prevent long term corrosion problems. My big mistake on the Panama trip was not protecting my laptop with Zorb-It™. For the second year in a row my laptop suffered near-fatal humidity problems that were gone once I got back to the US. Yes, it is quite humid in Panama. On my next trip I will switch to Zorb-it Ci™ as it offers protection against the corrosion of sensitive electronic components. (Heck, my cameras and lens are often doused with salt spray.) If you live in a wet place like the Pacific Northwest, anywhere in the Southwest, or if you visit tropical countries with your cameras and laptops, you need to get yourself a few packets of Zorb-It or better yet, of Zorb-it Ci™. Unlike all desiccants, Zorb-It™ never needs to be replaced or artificially regenerated. (As below, Zorb-it Ci™ will need to be replaced every 7-10 years.)

This from the manufacturer’s web site:

Zorb-It™ is a unique, patented, double-action™ agent for the positive control of moisture and humidity. It is no mere desiccant. The Zorb-It formulation has been proven effective in the toughest industrial environments around the world. Zorb-It™ now is available to you exclusively through this Worldwide Web Center. Zorb-It™ is unlike the ordinary sugar-packet desiccants you find in leather goods, briefcases, camera and binocular cases, and so on. It is superior. Its granular structure absorbs at least 10 times more moisture from the air inside any enclosure containing your prized possessions and valuables. Additionally, it stabilizes the ambient relative humidity to a near constant level over the long-term. It does not need to be replaced or artificially regenerated.

Zorb-it Ci™ contains an extra granular element that helps prevent corrosion of electronics and electrical contacts, and also the tarnishing of silver. It transfers through its packet membrane a patented micro-thin coating of corrosion inhibiting molecules which attach to metal surfaces. It is never oily or greasy to the touch however. And it aids in electrical conductivity. While Zorb-It™ never needs replacing, Zorb-It Ci™ will need replacement about every 7-10 years,

The Zorb-It™ and Zorb-It Ci™ packets are easy to use. Their granules are contained in a semi-permeable membrane packet material. The packet material allows only water vapor to pass into and out of the packet. Since the granules are very aggressive in their absorption of liquid water and water vapor, the packaging material is designed to protect the granules from contacting liquid water. The handy packets eliminate the need for messy powders or having to dispose of “buckets of liquid” left behind by other types of desiccant products. The double-stick tape on the back of the packets allow for easy installation in many cases and other enclosures.

You can learn lots more about Zorb-it ™ products here.

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Lesser Yellowlegs foraging, East Pond, Jamaica Bay WR, Queens, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/ 640 sec. at f/8. With my two Mark III bodies protected from moisture thanks to Zorb-It packets, they were ready to go when I arrived at JBWR. Though photographic opportunities at The Bay were below average, we still had some good chances. This is a moderately worn juvenile. Don’t know why? Check out my “Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers.” You can order a signed copy here .

THE JBWR/NICKERSON BEACH IPT/NY TRIP REPORT

As most of you know by now, I flew from Panama to Orlando and continued on to NY’s JFK on August 17th. I was able to catch an earlier Jet Blue flight than the one that I had booked and I was in bed a bit after 11pm with the alarm set for 4:30 am the next morning. I met the three JBWR/Nickerson Beach IPT participants at 5:55 am sharp. Each was an IPT veteran. Cece Fabbro has been on two (or more I think…) including a Lake Martin IPT. A photo that she made on that IPT on a foggy morning was honored as the category-winning “In Praise of Plants” image in last years BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. Sandra Rothenberg had a great time on last year’s President’s Week SW FLA IPT and came back for more. Nicki Gwynn-Jones flew from the UK to make one of last year’s Bosque IPTs and crossed the big pond again this summer primarily to enjoy Nickerson Beach. So how does a Brit come to know about Nickerson? Nicki (hey, is it her beach???) is an active member of BirdPhotographers.Net and has commented on so many good Nickerson images that she felt that she just had to visit not only for the birds but to meet some fellow BPNers. This was the first all-female IPT. Though the three ladies got along famously I always felt part of the crew. We had Indian take-out every day and the food was great. And on our last day, Friday, I treated them to lunch at my favorite NY Indian restaurant, Maurya, on Woodhaven Blvd, the one near London Lennies. I told them that the occasion was the “Good Riddance Meal” but in fact it was the “Thanks for Coming” meal. The food was fantastic.

Unfortunately, the photography at the East Pond at JBWR was nowhere as good as the food was; in fact, it was not very good at all. We tried the South Flats on Tuesday and Thursday and despite the ideal tides, there were few birds until about 9:30am on Thursday. Nickerson Beach on the other hand was excellent on each of our six visits. There were hundreds of Common Terns and more than a thousand Black Skimmers. There were decent numbers of young of the year of each species. In addition there were some American Oystercatchers (with a few young smattered about), good numbers of gulls, and some decent flocks of shorebirds. With Hurricane Bill causing havoc out in the Atlantic we had some interesting conditions to say the least. On Sunday those who made it out to the beach had to walk through a four hundred yard long pool that was mid-chest deep…. When I went on Monday, the water was still above mid-thigh.

I left the JFK Days Inn on Saturday and stayed with my younger sister Arna at her and my Mom’s house. My Mom, who is 86 and will be 87 soon, is in a rehab nursing home recovering from hip replacement replacement surgery, her old new hip being totally replaced by a new new hip. She is doing fairly well and was glad to see me. After having a great morning on Monday (again, see the Blog for the complete story and ten images) it was back to the motel by JFK for my Tuesday morning flight home.

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Semipalmated Sandpiper, fresh juvenile resting, East Pond, Jamaica Bay WR, Queens, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 500. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/ 250 sec. at f/10. On our Thursday visit we had some good chances with young semis and leasts but not until the sweet light was pretty much gone. Nonetheless, I like this image. With the little mound in front of the bird I opted to place the subject closer to the right frame-edge. (Usually with sleeping birds I would have done the opposite). See the chapter on Advanced Composition and Image Design in ABP II (916 pages on CD only) to learn lots more on the topic: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=32.

THE ETERNAL LAPTOP QUESTION

Folks are forever asking, “What laptop should I buy?” The question is actually much more complex than it seems. In this feature, I will let you know exactly which laptop I just bought and why. But first you need to realize a few things. 1-I optimize 99% of my images on my laptop, 60% of those while I am on the road. 2-I need a rugged machine as I beat my laptop up badly (just as I do my photographic equipment). 3-I need a dependable machine as my livelihood depends on having a working computer every day.

In view of number 1 above, I decided to go for my fastest-ever machine. Here is a little history: I used Toshiba laptops for several years. I had the in-home repair contract and wound up having to put an extra room on my home so that the technician could live in. In all seriousness, my Toshiba laptops, they were the popular Satellite models, needed physical repairs on a far too regular basis. On the advice of Robert O’Toole, I purchased an HP Pavilion laptop about 2 1/2 years ago and loved it. I purchased a faster one a bit more than a year ago. I had some problems with my current laptop as mentioned above. These problems were almost surely caused by high humidity. IAC, I decided to check out the current HP Pavilion offerings last week and on Friday past I placed my order.

I selected the upgrades very carefully after consulting Robert O’Toole, John Shaw, and Tim Grey. Here are the details on the HP Pavilion dv7t series laptop:

Item description

HP Pavilion Entertainment dv7t customizable Notebook PC

• Espresso Black
• Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
• Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8800 (2.66 GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
• 8GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 640GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (320GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 4530
• 17.3″ diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP BrightView Infinity Widescreen Display (1600 x 900)
• LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
• [For BrightView Infinity Display] Webcam Only
• Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
• No TV Tuner w/remote control
• HP Color Matching Keyboard
• 50% OFF!! Extra 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• No Modem
• System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
• Microsoft(R) Office Basic 2007
• FREE Upgrade to Norton Internet Security(TM) 2009 – 3 Year Subscription from 2 Year
• HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
• HP 17″ Executive Leather Carrying Case
• HP CalcPad 200 Calculator and Numeric Keypad
• 2-year Accidental Damage Protection Extended Service Plan for Notebook PCs

Grant Total
$2,420.30

Here are the reasons for the important component choices above:

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8800 (2.66 GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB). I was considering upgrading to the fastest chip but Robert, John, and Tim all agreed that I would experience an imperceptible increase in processing speed at a cost of about $300 so I stuck with the 2.66 GHz chip.

Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit). 64-bit will greatly improve processing speeds by allowing your machine to utilize more memory.

8GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm). The more memory you have the faster your processing speeds will be.

640GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (320GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection. The 7200 rpm HDs will always outperform the 5400 rpm drives. All of the folks that I consulted advised against getting the twin 500gb 7200rpm HDs for a variety of reasons. As I transfer image files to our office machine after each trip I do not have a need for huge amounts of storage on my laptop.

Lastly, I needed a new laptop bag; my current bag is in tatters.

Remember, the machine above is best for me. Take what you have learned and, when the time is right, get yourself a laptop that is best for you. This is the least expensive machine I have ever bought but it will surely be far faster than anything that I have ever had the pleasure of using.

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Shorebird, flock in flight (mostly Semipalmated Plovers, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 400m f/4 IS DO lens handheld with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6. I created this image as we walked back to the car with Sandra on the last morning of the IPT. The lesson: always be ready. Too many folks turn their cameras off much too soon….

ON THE ROAD AGAIN AGAIN

I leave again on Monday, fly to Anchorage early on Tuesday, and take a float plane to the bear boat of Thursday. I will be back in the office for a few days before heading to the Midwest Birding Symposium on September 16th returning home on the Sunday the 20ieth. I am currently scheduled to be home for about 8 weeks but I doubt that they can keep me caged up that long…. I have several potential trips in mind before heading off to Bosque in mid-November. As always Jim and Jennifer will be here to help you with your mail orders and tour registrations.

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Great Black-backed Gull , fresh juvenile calling, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/ 320 sec. at f/7.1. This handsome young bird was anxious to let the other gulls know that he was next in line at the skimmer carcass. I spent much of my time at Nickerson looking for birds on the clean sand near the ocean. I am not a big fan of 1,000,000 footprints….

POSSE NEWS/ROBERT O’TOOLE

PHOTOSHOP WORKSHOPS

Friday September 11 & Saturday September 12, 2009, Clearwater Florida, $299, limit 8

Advanced APTATS Photoshop techniques will be covered in-depth and will include many all new techniques from the all new APTATS 2 CD. Email me for more information at Robert@RobertOToolePhotography.com or call 310.619.8017.

HUNGARY

This central European country is mainly know as one of the top 15 tourist destinations in the world but it also offers some of the most amazing bird photography opportunities on the planet. This summer I spent 7 days photographing birds and I was so impressed that I immediately made plans to return. Next summer I will be leading 2 small workshop groups there during the very best time of the year. One of our primary targets will be the European Bee-eater. This gorgeous bird feeds and roosts communally making it a bird photographers dream. We will be photographing courting, mating, and birds in flight from blinds close to a nesting colony; long lenses from 300 to 600mm can be used. The timing of the workshop dates will also mean excellent opportunities for nesting European Rollers and Kestrels, perching, displaying, feeding and flying. We will also be spending time photographing many other bird species including shorebirds and wading birds such as the Eurasian Spoonbill.

Hungary Bird Photography workshop 1, May 1-8, 2010 7 DAYS: $3899. Limit 3

Hungary Bird Photography workshop 2, May 8-15, 2010 7 DAYS: $3899. Limit 3

>Bosque del Apache NWR and White Sands NM Photography Workshops

Bosque Photography Workshop #1: December 4-6, 2009 Bosque Del Apache New Mexico 3 days, $999, limit 6.
Bosque Photography Workshop #2: December 7-9, 2009 Bosque Del Apache New Mexico 3 days, $999, limit 6.

With 5 years of experience leading workshops at Bosque I can make sure that you maximize your opportunities in the field by putting you in the right place at the right time. Some of the topics we will cover; flight photography, maximizing sharpness, how to minimize digital noise, lighting, creative imaging, equipment set up, in the field long lens techniques and more. The small group size will allow for plenty of personal attention with 1 on 1 guidance including in the field lectures and demonstrations. I have years of experience with both Nikon and Canon to help you refine and develop your photographic skills and vision . Workshops include one classroom session daily.

White Sands Photography Workshop 1: December 10-11, 2009 White Sands NM, New Mexico 2 days, $599, limit 6 sold out
White Sands Photography Workshop 2: December 12-13, 2009 White Sands NM, New Mexico 2 days, $599, limit 6, 3 spots available

This year I will be leading two special landscape workshops at White Sands NM. We will be entering the park early and leaving later with special permission so that we will enjoy the best light while maximizing the photographic opportunities. The small workshop group size will allow plenty of 1 on 1 guidance. I will help you refine and develop your photographic vision with in-the-field lectures, demonstrations, and personal attention. Workshops include one classroom session daily.

Please follow this link for a more available workshop information: 2009-10 workshop schedule available here

Email me for more information at Robert@RobertOToolePhotography.com or call 310.619.8017.

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European Kestrel with prey, Hungary Image Copyright 2009/Robert O’Toole Photography

Canon 800m f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/ 320 sec. at f/7.1. This handsome young bird was anxious to let the other gulls know that he was next in line at the skimmer carcass. I spent much of my time at Nickerson looking for birds on the clean sand near the ocean. I am not a big fan of 1,000,000 footprints….

MIDWEST BIRDING SYMPOSIUM APPEARANCE

At 3:30pm on Friday, September 18th, 2009 I will be presenting Digital Bird Photography Basics at the Midwest Birding Symposium in Lakeside, OH. The festival runs from September 16-20. For complete information including registration info—there are many great speakers, programs, and field trips–visit: https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/mwb/main.php . In addition, I will be leading an informal photo walk on Saturday morning from 7:30 to 9:30 am. There is a fabulous line-up of great speakers at this event. If you will be attending and would like for me to bring you a mail order item to save shipping, please let me know immediately. I hope to see many of you there.

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Ring-billed Gull, juvenile, running-on-water lift-off, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/ 500 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode. A series of late afternoon high tide formed a large tidal pool that the birds really enjoyed.

BIRDS AS ART FINE ART CANVAS PRINT EDITION/GANNETS IN LOVE

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Great news: I just learned that this image will be one of eighteen honored images in this year’s National Wildlife Federation’s contest. More great news: I just learned that this image is in the finals of the Nature’s Best contest.

BIRDS AS ART proudly announces the limited sale of another classic Arthur Morris image, “Gannets in Love.”

This endearing image was created at Bonaventure Island, Perce, Quebec, Canada. The thick gallery wrap (1 ½ inches) canvas is hand-made in the US under the supervision of the artist and is available only through BIRDS AS ART.

This is the second in a series of Arthur Morris’ digitally signed, numbered, limited edition gallery-wrapped canvas prints. The canvas is stretched over custom-made wood supports. The canvas has no frame and appears to float on the wall. There’s no need for a frame for stability since the structure is inside the art. These fine canvas limited edition prints are covered with a rear black dust cover. The hanging wire is neatly attached and a courtesy package with two clear bump-ons, a nickel plated hanger and nail are included.

This edition will be limited to 100 pieces of any size. Once the final print is sold the edition will be permanently closed making each Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART print a valuable collectible. Each 16 x 24 inch print is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

The first fifty prints will sell for only $349 plus $20 shipping and handling to all US addresses. Once 50 prints are sold, the price will rise to $424. The last five prints will sell for $499. (Please e-mail for prices on other sizes and for framing options.)

Prints ordered before September 30, 2009 may apply a $50 discount. These prints are in stock and ready to ship now.

Shipping and handling to Canada will require an additional $35 handling fee. (Canadian orders may be subject to Customs delays and duties and require payment via personal check or money order in US funds.)

Each image will be professionally packed to avoid damage during transit. All fees are due and payable in advance in US funds. (We cannot be responsible for delays at customs.)

Payment may be by check or money order mailed to Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855, by Paypal to birdsasart@att.net, or by credit card. Please call 863-692-0906 for credit card orders.

We offer a 100% money back guarantee. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied we will gladly accept a return for exchange or refund provided that the item is returned within seven days of receipt and is in saleable condition. We refund only the purchase price plus the shipping and handling. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. This guarantee does not include prints that you damage or that are damaged in shipping. If your print is damaged in shipping, please let us know and we will arrange to have a replacement sent. Please allow 14 days for your check to clear.

We are 100% positive that ”Gannets in Love” will join “Fire in the Mist” and become a treasured collector’s item; thank you for your support of my work.

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USED CANON GEAR FOR SALE

Canon EOS-5D in mint condition. Includes extra batteries and the Really Right Stuff quick release L plate and the vertical battery grip: $1450.

Canon 24-105 f/4.0 IS zoom lens: $900.

Canon 28-70 F/2.8 L zoom lens: $950.

Canon 90 F/2.8 Tilt/Shift lens: $900.

Lens Baby Control Freak: $200

All of the above in excellent condition.

Contact Phillip Berryhill by email: pberryhill@mac.com or at 1-505-850-3933. E-mail is greatly preferred.

(Please do not contact BIRDS AS ART as we do not have any additonal information on this gear.)

Do you have some gear to sell? Write for our Items for Sale guidelines. Why pay 20% elsewhere when you can sell your stuff quickly via the Bulletin for just a 5% brokerage fee?

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Black Skimmer over surf, intentional blur, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 400m f/4L DO lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 200. Evaluative metering +2 stops: 1/ 60 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. I liked arriving early and staying late so that I could create intentionally blurred images of the birds in flight.

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Skimmers, terns, and the storm-tossed Atlantic, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 24-105mm IS L lens (handheld at 58mm) with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/ 50 sec. at f/14. As always when creating bird-scapes, I used One-Shot AF, focused on the closest tern, and recomposed. With the foreground and background of equal interest placing the horizon line near the center of the frame was A-OK.