SEPTEMBER 20, 2003
NYC TRIP REPORT
SENSOR CLEANING
SOLUTION?
IPT and SEMINAR
UPDATES
FALL COLOR PHOTO
WEEKEND/DAVID CARDINAL
Note: all of the
images in this Bulletin were made on my NYC
trip!
Semipalmated
Sandpiper, juvenile, Jamaica Bay WR, Queens,
NY
Image copyright
2003 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 1Ds with
500mm f/4 L IS lens and 2X II TC . ISO 250,
Evaluative Metering -2/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at
f/11. AI
Servo AF.
Even though limited to the central sensor only
with this setup, I prefer to use AF rather than
to focus manually because it is simply more
accurate. Coming up with a perfect composition
like this is not always possible when limited to
the central sensor...
NYC TRIP REPORT
August 2002 was
the first August since 1976 that I did not spend
any time at all at the East Pond at Jamaica Bay
Wildlife Refuge so it was great to be back in
the mud once again at the peak of juvenile
shorebird migration. The Bayside Seminar was a
success with about 50 folks in attendance--many
went home with great door prizes which included
lots of Fuji film from both Fuji and Hunts, a
640 Delkin e-film Pro Card, and amazingly, a
brand new Roadrunner AW! Seventeen folks
attended the ITF-Workshops on Monday and Tuesday
while 8 joined me for the IPT (Wednesday through
Friday). It was great to see so many folks
eager to learn to crawl in the mud and muck.
Most of the attendees did so quite
enthusiastically and with style! Brutus
Oostling came all the way from Sweden for the
IPT. Many folks with relatively short lenses
found that with a careful approach that they
were able to get within petting distance of many
of the shorebirds.
IPT participant
Mary Curtis getting down and dirty with her
300mm f/2.8 on the JBWR IPT
Image copyright
2003 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Here are two of
the thank you notes that I received:
#1: Just a quick
note of thanks for an excellent and informative
seminar last Sunday at Bayside, Queens. And
thanks again for a wonderful day in the field on
Monday at Jamaica Bay NWR. I really learned a
lot of things over those 2 days about exposure
and composition. Best, Keith Mangino
#2: I
just can't seem to find the right words to
describe my experience during the JBay
IPT. So how about these... How about
some two-sewer stickball and a Yoo-hoo on the
stoop after that;) Art I had a blast! The
Sunday seminar cleared up the problems I was
having using my 1V's matrix meter.
You filled the IPT not only with photo info,
but also shared your extensive birding
knowledge. I really can't decide which I
appreciated more. I may even be able to get
my family to commit to a birding weekend at
Jamaica Bay, using FOOD as a bribe!!! (AM
Note: as usual, we came up with some great
places to eat including an Indian restaurant
about 20 minutes down Cross Bay that had great
food, especially the goat masala!) It truly
was a pleasure to meet and work with you.
Thanks again, Mike Borkowski PS: Put me on
the waiting list for the next one.
Semipalmated
Plover, juvenile, Jamaica Bay WR, Queens,
NY
Image
copyright 2003 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 1Ds
with 500mm f/4 L IS lens and 2X II TC . ISO
250, Evaluative Metering at 0: 1/800 sec. at
f/8.
AI Servo AF.
This little guy was at the
north end of the East Pond. Brutus and I
photographed him for more than 30 minutes
while we were on our bellies in the
thickest, blackest, ooziest mud I had ever
been in! It was well worth it!
SENSOR CLEANING SOLUTION?
When I
was in Denali, Todd
Gustafson offered to clean the sensor on my
1Ds using the "Wendy's Knife Method." I
said, "Yes," uttered a short prayer, and
then turned away unable to watch. Two
minutes later he handed me back the camera
and lo and behold, nearly all of the dust
spots had been removed. Both Juan Pons and
Henry Domke sent me a link to a site that
described both the method Todd used and
a method that yielded even better results.
Here's the link: http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning
If you decide
to go ahead and try this, be sure to read
all of the instructions carefully several
times. As for me, I will be heading to
Wal-Mart's on Monday to try and find the
recommended spatulas.
Do know that
all digital camera manufacturers vehemently
warn users not to attempt to clean the
sensors on their digital cameras, but
sending your camera in twice a week is to be
cleaned is simply not an option. If you do
it yourself, you will be doing so at your
own risk. I will let everyone know how I do
ASAP. In the meantime, thanks to Juan and
Henry, to the others who responded, and most
of all, to Nicholas R. who put the whole
thing together and who freely shares his
experiences with all digital photographers.
His method looks like the real thing, and
might indeed by the solution to a very
persistent problem that up until now has
plagued digital photographers.
Semipalmated Sandpiper, juvenile, Jamaica
Bay WR, Queens, NY
Image
copyright 2003 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon
1D with 400mm f/5.6 L lens. ISO 400,
Evaluative Metering -1/3 stop: 1/1600 sec.
at f/8. AI
Servo AF.
I led the group on a
shorebird flight-photography walk never
dreaming that I could make an image even
half this good... These guys are tiny and
fast.
IPT and SEMINAR UPDATES
The first Bosque IPT (23-25 NOV) has 6 slots
open, the second has been sold out for
months. All are invited to the Thanksgiving
Day Brunch at the historic ValVerde Steakhouse
at 12:30 that Thursday. Best to let me know
via e-mail that you will be coming.
The Post X-mas SW FLA 3-DAY IPT has only 2
openings. The 5-DAY SW FLA IPT (FEB 25-29) and
the 3-DAY FORT DESOTO/SARASOTA IPT (MAR 26-28)
are both wide open, as is the 3-DAY ST.
AUGUSTINE ALLIGATOR FARM IPT (APR 23-25).
The 3-DAY SAN DIEGO IPT (JAN 9-11) has room
for seven more folks who would like to
photograph the spectacular breeding plumage
pelicans, wood ducks, and Heerman's Gulls.
Note: if you are interested in joining me to
learn about warbler
photography at either
Magee Marsh near Toledo,
OH or at Pt. Pelee National Park in Ontario,
please get in touch by e-mail.
I will be scheduling
those two 3-DAY IPTs in the very near future.
For details and
general information on all BAA/IPTS click
here:
For information on the Los Angeles Seminar and
In-the-Field Workshops (NOV 1-4) visit:
http://www.birdsasart.com/laphotoweekend.htm
Herring
Gulls, squabbling juveniles, Jamaica Bay WR,
Queens, NY
Image
copyright 2003 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 10D
with 300mm f/4 L IS lens. ISO 200,
evaluative metering at zero (set manually):
1/1000 sec. at f/5.6.
AI Servo AF.
As the tide got for later and
later each day on the IPT, we struggled to
come up with subjects. A loaf of Wonder
Bread and a short drive to the North Channel
Bridge solved that problem on Thursday. And
yes boys and girls, the 10D can focus well
enough for flight and action... As we were
photographing these birds against both sky
and water backgrounds, I chose to set the
exposure manually so that it would not be
necessary to be enter compensation each time
that the background changed... Whenever you
face a situation where changing backgrounds
create metering problems (but the light is
constant), determine your best exposure and
then switch to manual mode.
FALL COLOR PHOTO
WEEKEND
Moose
Peterson's friend David Cardinal is
hosting a Fall Color Seminar & Day
Photo Shoot on October 10th and 11th
in Paradise on Michigan's Upper
Peninsula. On Friday evening will
cover general landscape photography
with plenty of tips on making the most
of fall color. Saturday morning the
group will photograph at local scenic
hotspots. At lunch they'll review
the day and compare notes. There is an
optional session for digital shooters
on Saturday afternoon.
BAA Bulletin
subscribers who sign up will receive
an autographed copy of "The D-1
Generation which David co-authored
with Moose. Be sure to mention BAA
Bulletins to receive your copy). To
learn more about David, visit: http://www.cardinalphoto.com/
For additional
workshop info, click here: http://www.cardinalphoto.com/events/
Best
and great picture making to all,
Artie
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=subscribesubject=subscribe If you received this bulletin in error, or would like your name removed from the subscriber list click here birdsasart@verizon.net?subject=unsubscribe Back issues of relevant Bulletins are archived on the web site at: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn.html