FEATURES

• SAN DIEGO IPT FOLLOW-UP
• ONE IMAGE: MANY LESSONS
• ANNOUNCING THE JANUARY 2011 SAN DIEGO IPT
• FRACTALIUS: IMAGES & TUTORIALS BY DENISE IPPOLITO
• SARASOTA FLORIDA AUDUBON PROGRAM
• BOK TOWER EXHIBIT OPENING
• CANON GEAR FOR SALE
• KUDOS
• IPT UPDATES

SAN DIEGO IPT FOLLOW-UP

Here is a kudos e-mail from Becky Field:

Dear Artie, I can’t thank you enough for encouraging me to participate in your San Diego IPT. I learned so much–including what there is that I still need to learn–if you know what I mean. I have a much better handle on exposure; that was the main thing that I wanted most to get out of the IPT. I was blown away by all the great photo ops that we had and can’t wait to edit my stuff. I can’t imagine how the five days could have been any better. You’ are a great teacher, obviously a world class bird photographer, and a great guy. (Editor’s note: ) I feel very privileged to have been a part of your workshop. By the way, on the topic of fathers, I’ve already ordered from Amazon the book you recommended. (Editor’s note: Seeing Your Life Through New Eyes–not only for father-related issues!) I’ will look into the Gitzo 3530 and the Mongoose 3.5. I do love your BLUBB for shooting out of my car; I do that a lot in Minnesota and Wisconsin. When I use my tripod, I normally don’t walk far with it, for obvious reasons. (Editor’s note: Becky has some back problems.) Keep the bulletins coming! Safe travels. Becky

And here is an e-mail from Becky to the group:

Hello again IPT-ers. I have managed, between weddings, funerals and grandchildren, etc., to get my favorite bird shots (and a few non-bird shots) organized. Here is the link – you will want to push the forward button to move through them quickly, as there are so many I couldn’t delete: http://www.RebeccaFieldPhotography.com/ArthurMorrisIPTSanDiego/.

The IPT was such a special experience for me, and getting to know all of you was an added bonus! By the way, Ben and I were in Washington, D.C. for a wedding last weekend, and we wandered over to the Museum of Natural History and happened upon the current exhibit “The Best of Nature” in which Artie’s Gannets in Love (sharing plant material as part of their breeding ritual) was prominently displayed. It is gorgeous beyond words to see it displayed so large. I’m sure if you Google “The Best of Nature” exhibit you can see all the winning images. It was very inspiring!! I wish you all the best and hope our paths might cross at some point in the future. Meanwhile, happy “shooting”! Becky Field
To make a long story short, I clicked on the link to Becky’s slide show and was blown away by the quality of her images. It is well worth a visit. These are my favorites: #4 (above ) and #s 7, 16, 17, 24, 35, 43, 59, 73, 98 (Wood Duck carrying acorn!), and 108 (flapping shoveler). I sent Becky a short note telling her how proud I am of her work.

ONE IMAGE: MANY LESSONS

ANNOUNCING THE JANUARY 2011 SAN DIEGO IPT

The 2011 San Diego IPT will run in January, 2011. I will announce the exact dates once I can get a look at a tide table. Here are the basics:

San Diego IPT JAN, 2011. 5 Full Days: $2495 (Limit 8/Openings: 6)

Slide program on the evening before the first day of the IPT. A fully refundable $500 deposit now will hold your spot until the dates are announced. Once the dates are announced let me know either way. If you opt in, then your deposit will become non-refundable and you will be asked to complete the registration and release forms. Brown Pelicans, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Western and Heerman’s Gulls, Marbled Godwits, and lots, lots more.

FRACTALIUS: IMAGES & TUTORIAL BY DENISE IPPOLITO

Here is a Fractalius tutorial written by Denise

Fractalius is a Windows only plug-in. It has many options. Here I will cover the Glow 100 look that I used for the GBH image above (Elegant and Sexy) and to create the images below. Glow 100 is my very favorite Fract. filter. First open your image in Photoshop and convert it to 8-bit: Image/Mode/8-bit. Then duplicate the layer: Control J. Then open the plug-in: Filter/Redfield/Fractalius. Select Glow 100 from the drop-down filter menu that is next to the green check. A window with the plug-in program should open. It will look like this:

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Now experiment with the various sliders. Give each of the changes a few seconds to load. By moving the slider from one end of the scale to the other and letting the changes take effect, you can learn what each slider does. The more you play, the better you will get. When you like what you see, hit the green check mark and allow the program to run. Now it is time to make some adjustments and fine-tune your image. The first thing that I do is adjust the opacity of the layer. Each image is different and the opacity % that you use will depend on the look that you want. Next add a Layer Mask to the top layer; paint with black to reveal the original sharper details below or paint with white if you over-do it. I usually use a soft brush at about 95% opacity on the eyes and possibly the bill or part of the bill. (If you are using Elements, simply use the Eraser Tool at a reduced opacity to reveal the sharp detail below.) When you are happy with the look of the Fracting, you can adjust the color and contrast to taste if you wish. Remember: do not sharpen your master file; sharpening should only be done after an image is sized for final use.

Below are three more of Denise’s really cool Fracts.

If you would like to join the Fracting fun, please click on this link to purchase: https://www.plimus.com/jsp/buynow.jsp?contractId=1720292&referrer=birdsasart. The program costs only $39.90. And best of all, it is easy to learn and use. And tons of fun. See you in Out of the Box. Ooops. Almost forgot: if you would like to access another Fractalius tutorial by Denise (“Soft Fix”), click here http://deniseippolito.smugmug.com/Photography/On/9597965_bsEhJ and scroll down. This one covers using the Impression 1 pre-set.

Denise, who lives on the Jersey shore, offers individual and small group photographic and Photoshop instruction; you can learn more here: (http://deniseippolito.smugmug.com/).

SARASOTA FLORIDA AUDUBON PROGRAM

Thanks to generous sponsorship support from Canon USA/Explorers of Light I will be presenting “A Bird Photographer’s Story” at the February 8, 2010 meeting of the Sarasota Audubon Society.

The meeting, which starts at 7pm, will be held at the First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 1031 South Euclid, Sarasota (Take US 41 to Bahia Vista. Go east on Bahia Vista to Euclid–the YMCA is on northeast corner–then north on Euclid to the church.) Meetings are free and open to the public.

BOK TOWER EXHIBIT OPENING

More than 100 folks attended the exhibit opening and we sold three large canvas prints. A good time and some good food was had by all. After the opening party I presented a 75 minute slide lecture entitled “A Bird Photographer’s Story.” I was so, so funny that I should have been on Letterman. Pirjo Restina did a great job hanging the 34 prints and Canon’s generous sponsorship of the exhibit was greatly appreciated. The exhibit will hang until the end of March so if you are passing through Lake Wales be sure to stop by.

CANON GEAR FOR SALE

Colin Haase is offering the following used Canon gear for sale:

Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens w/tripod collar (non IS): $385.00 (good condition)
Canon EF 200mm f/1.8 L lens w/tripod collar: $3100.00 (excellent condition/never used since overhauled by Canon)
Canon EF300 f/4L IS: $875.00 (like new)
Canon 300 2.8 AF-L (non-IS) lens: $1750.00 (excellent condition)
Canon 70-300 DO IS 4.5/5.6: $750.00 (like new)

To arrange for purchase or for additional details contact Colin by e-mail at colinhaase@sbcglobal.net. (If you would like to speak to him, please e-mail for phone number and a good time to call him at 630-269-2242.)

KUDOS

By e-mail from BPN member Brian Hix,

Hi Artie, I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much I appreciate BPN as a resource for those who want to learn to improve their photography. Over the past three years have gradually ramped up my gear and increased the amount of time that I spend in the field . The advice I have received on BPN not only in my own posts, but while reading the critiques images posted by others has helped me very much to improve over the past year and take my photography to the next level. Your BAA bulletins are something I look forward to reading more than any magazine I subscribe to and I am getting to the point where I can probably recite word for word many of the paragraphs in both ABP (soft cover) and in ABP II. It’s nice to have these resources available, especially since taking off a week to attend a workshop with my career and family obligations is not practical at this time.

I have many hobbies in my life (probably too many) and all come with some type of community attached to them; the the nature photography world, however, and bird photography in particular have the nicest, most helpful people I have come across. Thanks again for being a passionate leader and teacher in that community. It inspires me to leave a legacy like the one that you have created. Have a great 2010. Regards, Bryan Hix

IPT UPDATES

SW FLA PRESIDENT’S WEEK IPT: FEB 10-15, 2010.

Slide program on the evening of FEB 9. 6-FULL DAYS: $2799. Limit 12/ Sold out. Co-leaders: Tim Grey and Alfred and Fabiola Forns. If you would like your name placed on the interested list for this IPT in 2011, please e-mail.

MIDWAY ATOLL IPTs: Two trips, early March, 2010 (from Oahu, HI) 7-FULL DAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: $6395 ALL INCLUSIVE FROM OAHU.

There may be a single opening on either or both of these trips. Please e-mail or see the complete information including registration information click here: http://www.photosafaris.com/photography-trips-2010/midway-photo-tour/. (This second BAA trip was added by popular demand.)

BOSQUE del APACHE 2010 IPT: “The Complete Bosque Experience.” NOV 20-26, 2010.

Slide program on the evening of Friday, NOV 19. 7-FULL DAYS: $3199. (Non-refundable deposit: $500; see details below.) Limit 12/ Openings: 9. Co-leaders: Robert O’Toole, Jim Heupel., and multiple BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year honoree Chris Van Rooyen of South Africa (http://www.wildlifephotography.co.za/). Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the) world’s premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on the planet. Plus great co-leaders and top-notch Photoshop instruction.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot for this IPT. Deposits may be paid by check, PayPal, or credit card. Payment in full (by check or money order only) is due four months before the start of each trip and is non-refundable unless the IPT sells out. You will be required to sign a statement of understanding to this effect. Travel insurance is of course highly recommended. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options, you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage, which expands the list of reasons for your canceling to an infinite list, from a sudden work or family obligation to a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check of running your credit card. We regret that we must implement this new policy but we have been plagued by last minute cancellations that make it impossible for others to participate and deprive us of essential income.

Important note: please print, fill out, and sign the registration and release forms and include them with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.” ) If you use a credit card to register, please fill out, sign, and mail the two forms asap. Your registration will not be complete until we receive your paper work. You can find the forms here: Registration and Release Form.

San Diego IPT JAN, 2011. 5 Full Days: $2495 (Limit 8/Openings: 6).

Slide program on the evening before the first day of the IPT. A fully refundable $500 deposit now will hold your spot until the dates are announced. Once the dates are announced let me know either way. If you opt in, then your deposit will become non-refundable and you will be asked to complete the registration and release forms. Brown Pelicans, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Western and Heerman’s Gulls, Marbled Godwits, and lots, lots more.