BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN 133
ANNOUNCING THE FIRST BIRDS AS ART/PHOTO-SITE GUIDE
FORT DESOTO SMALL GROUP IN-THE FIELD WORKSHOPS
UPDATE: THE KENYA PHOTO SAFARI, AUGUST 2004
24 REASONS TO JOIN A WARBLER IPT: POINT PELEE & CRANE CREEK
IPT UPDATES
HUNT'S SPECIALS
Photo Theme: recent images from Fort DeSoto and Sarasota
Royal Tern mounting mate, Fort DeSoto Park, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EF 500m f/4 L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and Canon EOS 1Ds digital camera. ISO 250
Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/11.
Minus 1/3 off of your evaluative meter works well for large white subjects against middle blue water when the sun is out. For small in the frame white subjects in blue water, use -2/3 as the meter will not stop down on its own as much as when the subjects are large.
ANNOUNCING THE FIRST BIRDS AS ART PHOTO SITE-GUIDE
I often receive e-mails that read something like this:
Dear Artie,
I think that you are the greatest bird photographer in the world and I once saw your book in Barnes and Nobel and it looked great. I cannot come on any of your IPTs because I need to support my dying grandmother, but I am taking two weeks off from that horrendous chore to come down to Florida this spring to photograph birds. And even if I had the time, I could really not join you on an IPT. They are too expensive. And besides, my Lexus is always forever in the shop and my Jaguar does not have that much trunk space. I will be in the St. Pete Sarasota area this spring. Please tell me exactly where and when to go, what types of birds to expect, what tides and winds would be best for afternoons and mornings at each spot, where to stay, where to eat, and please also let me know which techniques work best at each spot. And if you have a few seconds left after that, please include a few images to show me exactly what types of images I will be able to make.
Thanks in advance--you are the greatest!
Joe Blow
If your schedule or your budget does not allow you to join us on an IPT, we are proud to offer the next best thing: BIRDS AS ART Photo Site-Guides. Why travel to a new spot and waste days trying to find the birds and learn the light and the winds when you can now purchase a BAA Photo Site Guide? Having one is the next best thing to joining an IPT. While we plan a whole series of these guides for the popular locations that I visit often like Bosque, Fort Myers, and San Diego, the Fort DeSoto/Sarasota Site-Guide is now available.
Each S-G (in PDF form) will tell you where and when to go, what to expect, what winds and tides are best for each spot, where to stay and dine, and, in addition, will include active links to a technique article that will help you produce better images during your visit. Each will also include a small collection of images to inspire you,to show you what is possible, and hopefully to get your creative juices flowing. Fort DeSoto and Sarasota are hot right now, and each will be getting better in the weeks (and months for the Sarasota spot) to come.
Send us a check made out to "Arthur Morris" or a Paypal in the amount of $50.00 and your Fort-DeSoto/Sarasota BAA Site-Guide will be on its way to you soon via e-mail. (If you send a check, be sure to include your e-mail address.) Currently, Site-Guides will be sent only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Great Horned Owls, grown chicks in early morning light, Ft. DeSoto Park, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS lens with 2X II TC and EOS 1Ds digital camera. ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1 /80 sec. at f/11.
With Image Stabilization, I was able to stop down to f/11 and still make sharp images at 1/80 sec!
FORT DESOTO SMALL GROUP IN-THE FIELD WORKSHOPS
The April 2 & 3 Small Group In-The-Field Workshops were so successful that I am offering two more on May 1 and May 2. Early May can be spectacular at Fort DeSoto. The Royal and Sandwich Terns and the Laughing Gulls will still be courting, and some of the shorebirds will be molting into breeding plumage before they head north to the arctic.
Here is the day plan: Meet at 6:30 am and photograph until 10:30am. Lunch and photo-sharing at Bob Evans. Break--Instructor Nap Time. Photograph from 4pm till sunset. Kiss goodbye. Participating photographers are invited to send no more than three images from the day for critiquing.
Saturday, May 1, 2004. Fort DeSoto In-The-Field Workshop $300 per person payable in advance. Limit 6. In the event of rain, the workshop will feature and include macro photography and computer slide programs tailored to the individual needs of the group.
Sunday May 2, 2004. Fort DeSoto In-The-Field Workshop $300 per person payable in advance. Limit 6. In the event of rain, the workshop will include macro photography and computer slide programs tailored to the individual needs of the group.
Both days: $550.
To register, please send a check made out to "Arthur Morris" for the full amount to:
BIRDS AS ART
PO Box 7245
Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855
Brown Pelican in flight, Sarasota, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 1.4 X II TC and EOS 1Ds digital camera. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +1/3 stops off of the sky set manually: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6. Flash as fill at -1 stop.
Sarasota has some great flight photography hotspots!
UPDATE: KENYA PHOTO SAFARI AUGUST 2004
This safari is now sold out <smile>
Royal Tern displaying, Fort DeSoto, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 2X II TC am EOS 1Ds digital camera. ISO 250. Evaluative metering at zero set manually: 1/320 sec. at f/11.
Exposure fine point: With the large white subject in the center of the frame and the soft light, it was not necessary to underexpose here.
24 REASONS TO JOIN A WARBLER IPT: POINT PELEE & CRANE CREEK:
IPT UPDATES
The June 2004 Nome IPT is sold out.
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm, FL IPT: 3-DAY ($829) APR 23-25, 2004 has four openings.
The Point Pelee Warbler IPT: 3-DAY ($829) MAY 9-11, 2004 has six openings.
The Magee Marsh, Toledo, OH Warbler IPT: 3-DAY ($829) MAY 14-16, 2004 is wide open.
Bosque Del Apache NWR, NM. Geese and cranes. 3-day IPTs ($849) NOV 21-23 and NOV 27-29. 2004. Ellen Anon will be co-leading both of these trips with me. (Limit: 14) Astoundingly, both of these IPTs are more than half full.
SW FLA POST X-MAS: DEC 28-30, 2004, 3-DAY: $869 (Limit 12)
SW FLA PRESIDENTS HOLIDAY IPT: FEB 18-22, 2005, 5-DAY: $1399 (Ellen Anon will assist me as co-leader on this IPT and conduct a Photoshop session)
Click here to enjoy the SW-FL IPT Experience.
SAN DIEGO IPT JANUARY 6-9, 2005. 4-DAY: $1299 (Limit: 12) (Ellen Anon will assist me as co-leader on this IPT and conduct a Photoshop session.)
Click here to enjoy the San Diego ITP Experience.
For additional IPT details visit: http://www.birdsasart.com/tours.html
Snowy Egret high stepping it, Fort DeSoto, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and EOS 1Ds digital camera on Panning Ground Pod. ISO 250. Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6.
There are generally lots of wading birds at DeSoto, and I love to get down to their eye level.
Tip--when working on the ground, keep the sand off of your hands. When getting up or down, pull the sleeve of your long-sleeved shirt over the palm of your hand so that you can support yourself without getting any sand on your hands!
HUNT'S SPECIALS
Canon 10D in stock. Call for Birds As Art subscriber price.
Canon Mark II: taking orders but for any new orders now I don't expect product to be available June. Will keep you posted. Free shipping for Birds As Art Subscribers
Canon lenses: 17-40 679.99 100-400 1409.99 24-70 1159.99 28-135 IS 409.99 70-200 IS 1699.99
Ask about new Canon lenses. Ask about Canon long lens including 500 and 600F4 IS
Epson 4000s have started to ship but are in short supply. Call for price and to check on availability.
Ask for prices on Epson 2200, 7600 and 9600 printers and supplies. Free shipping on all orders over $250 on Epson products.
Photo CS upgrade 149.99 Photo CS full version 579.99 Artie's favorite tripod: Gitzo 1325 $489.99
Artie's favorite rolling carry-on: Lowepro Road Runner AW : $369.99
Sensor Swab supplies www.wbhunt.com
The Gitzo Rocket (large blower bulb) www.wbhunt.com
Linhof Profi II Ballhead without plate 63mm base 77 top: $379.99 in stock (Combine this with a C-10 clamp and the Wimberley Sidekick from BIRDS AS ART for the ideal intermediate lens tripod head.
Film specials: Velvia 50: 135 36 $4.29 a roll USA (20 packs) Provia F 100 36: $3.99 a roll USA (20 packs)
Velvia 100 36: $5.49 a roll USA (20 packs)
Fuji mailers: $3.75
Contact Gary Farber by phone at 1-800-221-1830 ext 2332 or by email at filmguygary@aol.com
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 Back issues of relevant Bulletins are archived on the web site at: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn.html