FEATURES

• TOP TEN TIPS FOR BIRD PHOTOGRAPHERS
• ROBERT O’TOOLE’S APTATS II/Pre-Publication Discount Offer
• DAYTON, OH PROGRAM/SEMINAR: NOV 6/7, 2009
• ALAN MURPHY’S “Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography”
• ADAM JONES SEMINAR
• ONE OF MY CANON EOS-1D MARK III CAMERA BODIES FOR SALE
• CANON 100-400 ZOOM LENS FOR SALE
• THE SAN DIEGO IPT
• POSSE NEWS/JIM NEIGER & CANON GEAR FOR SALE
• WINGED JOURNEY
• IPT UPDATES

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Black Vulture, Indian Lake Estates, FL Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/4 L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/200 sec. at f/10. This image was created from the car with the big lens supported by the BLUBB (BAA Big Lens Ultimate Beanbag): https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=16. See today’s Blog post to learn how I got the killer sweet background: www.birdsasart-blog.com

TOP TEN TIPS FOR BIRD PHOTOGRAPHERS

Here, off the top of my head and in no particular order, are my top ten tips for improving your bird photography.

1. Buy the best equipment that you can afford and learn to use it.
2. Use a sturdy tripod with your longest lens.
3. Using a camera body strap, keep a camera mounted to a shorter intermediate telephoto lens (or a telephoto zoom lens) on your shoulder. This will allow you to be ready almost instantly for flight and action situations and will give you lots of framing flexibility when creating bird-scapes of images of large flocks of birds in flight.
4. Become a better naturalist. The more you know about your subjects the better your images will be. Learning tons about bird behavior and migration will vastly improve your photography.
5. Study and practice. There is a wealth of great info around today that I only wish had been available in 1983. Digital has made learning ten times easier, but you still have to study and practice…. Resources; click here: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=10 and follow the links.
6. Take a photo tour with a good instructor and/or attend a seminar.
7. Move slowly and get low when possible.
8. Work on your Photoshop skills. I see lots of good photographs ruined instead of improved in Photoshop. Resources: ABP II & Digital Basics: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=32 and APTATS: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=54. For CS4: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=258.
9. Look at as many good (and bad) images as possible. Critique each image that you see. Actually writing critiques of the work of others can help you improve by leaps and bounds. Joining and participating on BPN will allow you to do all of the above.
10. Subscribe to BAA Bulletins. Visit the BLOG. Join and participate actively on BPN.

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Boat-tailed Grackle, displaying, Indian Lake Estates, FL Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/4 L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 1/400 sec. at f/10. Here is yet another that was created from my Sequoia with the 800 supported by the BLUBB (BAA Big Lens Ultimate Beanbag): https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=16. For birds on high perches I raise the vehicle window to reduce the angle of inclination to the bird. The original capture is on the left, the optimized file on the right. Here I used the “Composition Correction: Increase Lead Room Without Cropping/Basic” technique described in detail on Robert’s brand new APTATS II CD to move the bird down and back in the frame to improve the composition. All without having to add canvas. Total time to move the bird: less than 30 seconds. Total time in Photoshop mostly to do the Linear Burn on the perch: less than two minutes.

ROBERT O’TOOLE’S APTATS II/Pre-Publication Discount Offer

Robert and I sat at my dining room table for the better part of two full days editing the text for his great new Advanced Photoshop Tips and Techniques Simplified guide, APTATS II. For years I have been stating that I could never learn to use Layer Masks: paint with black to hide, paint with white to restore. It was all too confusing. But with Robert’s explanations and tutoring and my dogged insistence on hammering out text that would be clear, concise, straightforward, and easily understandable I have to say now, “I got it!”

Robert O’Toole’s APTATS II CD (Advanced Photoshop Tips and Techniques Simplified II). We are aiming for late-December, 2009 before the holidays…. Order now; save $5.00. See below for details.

APTATS II will include sample images for each tutorial so that you can easily follow along and practice. Dozens and dozens and dozens more screen captures will make your trip through each tutorial both pain-free and mistake-free. After working the sample images you can try each technique on some suitable images of your own. In short order you will own the techniques. Once that happens you will find countless new uses for the techniques. For me the great revelation that I garnered from APTATS II is that using Layer Masks (paint with black to hide, paint with white to restore) and Hide All Layer Masks is actually simple. And if you do make a small error while painting, you can simply hit X and paint to correct your error. (When using a Quick Mask you need to go back in History in order to correct mistakes.)

Here are the tutorials in APTATS II:

• Composition Correction: Increase Lead Room Without Cropping/Basic
• Composition Correction: Increase Lead Room Without Cropping/Intermediate
• Composition Correction: Increase Space Near a Frame Edge/Advanced
• Super-Fast Element Removal: Basic
• Super-Fast Element Removal Plus Composition Improvement
• Gradient Background Blur
• Mask Blending for Mega-Depth-of-Field
• Selective Highlight Detail Enhancement
• Selective Noise Reduction and Sharpening
• Selective Sharpening with Finely Detailed Edges
• Average Blur Color Balance Trick

BIRDS AS ART is currently accepting pre-publication orders for Robert O’Toole’s APTATS II CD (Advanced Photoshop Tips and Techniques Simplified II). Unlike APTATS I, APTATS II will be a professionally designed, packaged, and burned CD. We are striving to have them here at BAA in time to ship them before the holiday season. APTATS II will sell for $30 plus $3.00 shipping and handling to US addresses. Shipping to Canada is $6.00. It is $8.00 for all foreign orders. Florida residents will need to add 7% sales tax ($2.10) on the cost of the CD only.

Now here’s the best news: you can save $5 by pre-ordering your copy of Robert O’Toole’s APTATS II now (only through BAA). You can send us a Paypal, call us at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand, or order APTATS II from the BAA On-line Store (with secure credit card data transmission) by clicking here: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=277.

(Note: Shipping charges with BAA On-line Store orders may vary by small amounts from those noted above.)

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Sandhill Crane, vertical head and neck, Indian Lake Estates, FL Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/4 L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/8. 45-Point AAFPS AI Servo AF (best for vertical head and neck side portraits). Here is still one more made with the help of the BLUBB (BAA Big Lens Ultimate Beanbag): https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=16, this time with the window completely lowered. Again, the original capture is on the left, the optimized file on the right. Even though I correctly used 45-Point, I placed the bird too far forward in the frame for a pleasing composition. This is a common occurrence; using Roberts the “Composition Correction: Increase Lead Room Without Cropping/Basic” technique alone will save me hours of processing time each month. Using the new method allows you to do in 30 seconds what it used to take you two-three minutes to do using Quick Masking techniques. I removed the feather fluff from the tip of the bill by working large and using two Quick Masks as described in APTATS I: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=54. Total time to move the bird: less than 30 seconds. Total time in Photoshop mostly to clean the tip of the bill: less than two minutes.

DAYTON, OH PROGRAM/SEMINAR: NOV 6/7, 2009/NINE SEATS LEFT FOR SATURDAY

FREE FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAM: “LENSES FOR BIRD & NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY/BIRDS AS ART STYLE”

SPONSORED by CANON USA/EXPLORERS OF LIGHT & the FOCUS PHOTO CLUB of DAYTON, OH

See here for details, location, directions, and to register: http://www.focusphotoclub.com/arthurmorris.html

In this practical and educational slide program you we will learn which Canon lenses I use to create a variety of my amazing images, how, why, and when I use each of them, and what I am thinking as I depress the shutter button. Many folks will be surprised to learn that a long lens with a teleconverter is often not the best tool for the job. A selection of books, educational materials, and prints will be available for purchase.

Please note these important basics for the Friday evening program: Date & time: Friday Nov 6th, 2009, 6:30pm. Free with a non-perishable food item for the Dayton Foodbank. Location: Wegerzyn Gardens. Please register here: http://www.focusphotoclub.com/arthurmorris.html

BIRDS AS ART FULL DAY “THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY” SEMINAR.

DAYTON, OH. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009: 9am-5:30pm. (Lunch break noon til 1:30pm)

LOCATION: Cox Arboretum, 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH 45449 (937-434-9006) Limit: 48: 9 seats left.

There will be two programs on Saturday morning. The first will be “Composition and Image Design.” The second will be “Tips on Getting Close.” Each segment will feature well more than a hundred spectacular images and will include the tips, techniques, and ideas that I have learned, developed, and refined over the past 26 plus years. The afternoon session will cover understanding and adjusting histograms in the field, the complete BAA digital workflow (including ACR conversions), and a slew of simple, easy to learn Photoshop tips including the use of the Clone Stamp, the amazing Patch Tool, creating and using Quick Masks for dozens of applications, and the Average Blur Color Balance trick among others. I like to work quickly yet have my images look great. There will be a 30-minute break morning and afternoon. Whether you photograph general nature or just birds, all who attend will leave as better photographers.

(Do note that the Saturday seminar will be a continuation of the free Friday evening program; Saturday registrants are urged to attend Friday night if at all possible.)

The cost of the Saturday Seminar is $159. Members of participating camera clubs may apply a $15 discount. In addition, $15 from each registration fee will be split and donated to the Dayton Foodbank and to Five Rivers Metro Parks. Students under 22 years of age with a valid driver’s license and a student ID may register for $99. With a strict limit of 48 attendees, registration is by phone only: please call 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand. Due to the short notice the registration fee is non-refundable. We will be here pretty much all day every day to process your registration; feel free to call between 7am and 9pm seven days a week.

Register with a friend or a spouse and apply a $15 discount to each reservation. To encourage out of town folks to register, those traveling more than 150 miles or flying to the event, may apply a $50 discount to registration fee.

See you there! A selection of books, CDs, and prints will be available for purchase on Saturday.

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Turkey Vulture, before and after, Indian Lake Estates, FL Image Copyright 2009: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 800m f/4 L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/10. This image was also created from the car with the big lens supported by the BLUBB (BAA Big Lens Ultimate Beanbag): https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=16 The original capture is on the left, the optimized file on the right. Here I used a combination of techniques detailed in APTATS I (https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=54), APTATS II (just announced: see info above), and Digital Basics (https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=252). Total time in Photoshop: less than 4 minutes.

ALAN MURPHY’S “Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography”

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Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male on mulberry Image Copyright 2009: Alan Murphy Photography

For technical details, please see Alan’s BPN post here: http://birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=48312 Alan has spent more than a decade perfecting his set-up techniques.

Alan Murphy’s “Songbird Set-up Photography Guide.” Available December, 2009. We have accepted 500 pre-publication orders for this runaway best seller. We are and will continue to accept pre-orders at the full price.

The book is lavishly illustrated not only with Alan’s killer images but with dozens and dozens of step-by-step photos that will show you exactly how to create your own successful set-ups. The writing is clear and concise and the directions are easy-to-follow and inclusive. As Alan shows in the book, if you have only a small backyard, heck, even just a patio or a balcony, he can help you to create some stunning avian images on a consistent basis.

BIRDS AS ART is currently accepting pre-publication orders for Alan Murphy’s Guide to Songbird Set-Up Photography (SSUP). The professionally designed, packaged, and burned CD will be available some time in December, 2009. It will sell for $50 plus $3.00 shipping and handling to US addresses. Shipping to Canada is $6.00. It is $8.00 for all foreign orders. Florida residents will need to add 7% sales tax ($3.50) on the cost of the CD only. (Note: Shipping charges with BAA On-line Store orders will likely vary by small amounts from those noted above.)

We are still accepting pre-orders for Alan Murphy’s Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography. You can send us a Paypal, call us at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand, or order SSUP from the BAA On-line Store (with secure credit card data transmission) by clicking here: Alan Murphy’s “Guide to Songbird Set-up Photography”.

ADAM JONES SEMINAR

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The Indian River Photo Club is pleased to host Canon Explorer of Light photographer Adam Jones on Nov. 14th, 2009. This full day seminar will be held at the Indian River State College’s Kight Center for Emerging Technologies in Fort Pierce, FL from 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m. On-line registration and payment info is available here: www.irphotoclub.org.

ONE OF MY CANON EOS-1D MARK III CAMERA BODIES FOR SALE

I am offering one of my two Canon EOS-1D Mark III camera bodies for sale for $2400, buyer pays shipping and insurance. The body is in very good to excellent condition and performs perfectly. It is a recent production yellow dot version. As is usual, I price my used stuff to sell quickly. MIII bodies have been selling for between $25 and $2600 over the past week. Call us at 863-692-0906 or e-mail to: birdsasart@att.net. As I was burned for more then $3000 the last time that I sold a MIII we will need to wait until your check clears (unless I know you). 🙂

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Wild Turkey, young tom, Indian Lake Estates, FL 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 +2/3 stop: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6. This image was the camera that is offered for sale above. I got out of the SUV because the turkeys around here are tame and I wanted to reduce the impact of the grasses

CANON 100-400 ZOOM LENS FOR SALE

David McNicholas is offering a used Canon 100 – 400 mm f/4.5 – 5.6 L IS USM lens in excellent shape with the lens case, and lens hood in the original box with the original manual. It is a one-owner lens that has been sitting on the shelf since I started using the 400 mm f/4 IS DO lens. I am asking $1100 for it and will ship it insured at buyer’s expense.

Contact David by email at dmcnicholas@comcast.net or give him a buzz at 239-352-0616 or on his cell: 973-452-4940.

THE SAN DIEGO IPT

Great news: Todd Gustafson will be joining me as co-leader on the San Diego IPT. Check out Todd’s spectacular images from Brazil (including some killer jaguars) here: http://gustafsonphotosafari.net/galleries/brazil2009/index.html

San Diego IPT JAN 13-17, 2010 5 Full Days: $2395 (Limit 8/Openings: 4)

Slide program on the evening of TUE JAN 12. Payment in full is due now. We can accept your $500 deposit via credit card and will await the check for your balance. You may pay your deposit with either a personal check or with a credit card and a phone call (863-692-09060. To complete a valid registration, please fill out and complete the Registration and the Release & Assumption of Risk forms that can be found here: https://www.birdsasart.com/baacom/Registration and Release Forms.pdf If you call with a credit card to register, please be sure to print, sign, and return the Registration and the Release & Assumption of Risk forms within ten days.

The gate at the Cave Store Cliffs has been unlocked for many, many months and my understanding is that the fence has now been removed as well. (Though I am not quite positive on the cause and effect here I do know that Scott Bourne had a show-cause order filed with regards to public access at this location.)

We will get to photograph killer breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with the red bill pouches at close range and in flight. Santee Lakes will yield close-up Wood Ducks and lots more; White Pelicans are likely there. LaJolla Shores Beach will yield Marbled Godwits in beautiful buff reflections and this spot and Coronado will give us chances on a variety of gorgeous gulls and several shorebird species as well. I selected dates that feature perfect tides for both our morning and afternoon coastal locations. And we will have extensive time for image review and Photoshop techniques.

100 Reasons to Register for the San Diego IPT You can view a gallery with my 100 favorite San Diego images here: www.birdsasart.com/sandiego800. Click on the first image to see and then click on next to view the images as a slide show. Scroll down to see the EXIF data for each image (including those above and below). Then send your deposit check 🙂 I do hope that you can join us.

POSSE NEWS/JIM NEIGER & CANON GEAR FOR SALE

Flight School Photography Goes to Bosque Workshop -2

November 14, 2009 thru November 16, 2009. 1 Opening: late registration discount price: $675.

Contact Info: You may contact Jim Neiger of Flight School Photography via phone or email: Cell phone: 407-247-5200. Email: jimn@cfl.rr.com Flight School website: www.flightschoolphotography.com.

Jim has two used Canon camera bodies for sale and will consider a 7D in trade (valuing it at $1600).

1. Canon EOS 1D Mark II N – includes charger, battery, 3 extra batteries, and everything that came with the camera when new. $1800 or best acceptable offer.
2. Canon EOS 10D – includes battery grip, charger, 2 batteries, and everything that came with the camera when new. $225 or best acceptable offer.

Both of the above bodies work perfectly and are in excellent condition and may be returned for full refund within 10 days for any reason. The buyer pays all shipping charges.

Please contact Jim via email at JimN@cfl.rr.com with questions or offers. All reasonable offers considered.

WINGED JOURNEY

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While speaking at the Midwest Birding Symposium last month I ran into lots of old friends and met some nice new folks as well including young photographer named Bryan Holiday who kindly shared a copy of his annual calendar with me. I later received this e-mail from him:

While birding a few years ago during spring migration, I ran into a lady named Sally. We stood on the famous boardwalk at Magee Marsh on the shore of Lake Erie and watched hundreds of warblers move through the trees just above our heads. It was an incredible day there and we didn’t move from that spot for 2 hours. We just watched the birds and engaged in friendly conversation. Our talking revealed her history as a freelance writer and my interest in bird photography. With our shared passion for the outdoors and artistic interests, we decided we should someday collaborate on a project combining our talents. That idea came to fruition this summer and we are very proud of and excited to announce our calendar of birds for 2010. Winged Journey: A 16 Month Celebration Of Birds is the title of our work and features Sally’s poetry and my bird photography. We have chosen birds from across North America to represent this year and each month contains an image with complimenting verse. In lieu of the traditional legal and religious holidays we have included events that celebrate our connection with the natural world.

Simple things that often go unnoticed, such as full moons, equinoxes and solstices, as well as days honoring wildlife, oceans, and forests are just a few examples of the highlights throughout the month. The calendar is 28 pages and printed on a quality heavyweight matte-finish paper made of 40% recycled material. The design and feel of this calendar is simple, yet elegant. It measures 11×17 when open. We put in a lot of effort to make sure the calendar is not only of the highest quality, but also environmentally friendly. We are also very excited to be supporting the Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Ohio (where Sally and I met) with a portion of our proceeds from the calendar. We look forward to giving them a big check to support the research and educational programs at the Observatory. To learn more about them, please visit www.bsbobird.org. This calendar will make the perfect gift for the nature lover in your family or an excellent holiday gift for anyone you know. To order, please visit our website at www.wingedjourneycalendar.com or feel free to call or email me. They are 14.95 each plus shipping. Be sure to get one for yourself too. Our calendar has a different twist, so if you already have one, you need this one too!

Thanks for supporting us and Black Swamp! For the birds, Bryan (and Sally)

IPT UPDATES

BOSQUE del APACHE 2009 IPT: “The Complete Bosque Experience.” NOV 21-27, 2009

Slide program on the evening of Friday, NOV 20. 7-FULL DAYS: $3199. (Non-refundable deposit: $500; see details below.) Limit: 10/Openings: 1. Co-leaders: Scott Bourne and Robert O’Toole. 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 two great co-leaders and lots of Photoshop instruction.

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

Slide program on the evening of FEB 9. Slide program on the evening of FEB 11. 6-FULL DAYS: $2799. (Non-refundable deposit: $500.) Limit: 10/Openings: 1. Co-leaders: Tim Grey and Alfred and Fabiola Forns.

Imagine having Photoshop guru Tim Grey at your side to answer your Photoshop questions for 6 full days! Escape winter’s icy grip and join me in Florida in the land of ridiculously tame birds. This IPT will visit Little Estero Lagoon which has been fantastic for the past three years (and been getting better each year), the Venice Rookery, several killer Burrowing Owl nests on Cape Coral, and several spots on Sanibel including Blind Pass, the Sanibel Fishing Pier, and the East Gulf beaches (for Snowy Plover). If we have a foggy drizzly morning we may visit Corkscrew Swamp and Sanctuary. We have arranged for morning low tides at Little Estero and a setting full moon for our Saturday visit to the Venice Rookery 🙂 For the first time ever, we will not be visiting Ding Darling NWR as photographic opportunities there have been diminishing steadily for the past decade. As you can see, I am teaching less and less, taking fewer folks, and lengthening the IPTs to allow for a slightly more relaxed pace with repeat visits to the best locations.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot for each of the above IPTs. Deposits may be paid by check, Paypal, or credit card. Payment in full (by check or money order) 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. We regret that we must implement this new policy but we have recently been plagued by last minute cancellations that make it impossible for others to participate and deprive us of essential income.