AUGUST 5, 2004
DELKIN 1gb e-FILM PRO-CARDS AVAILABLE WITH $40 REBATE!
IPT UPDATES: SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES!
THIRD BOSQUE IPT ADDED
MONGEESE M-262s IN STOCK
MY MARK II CUSTOM FUNCTIONS
Photo Theme: more hot weather summer photos from Florida
Snail Kite, adult female, Joe Overstreet Landing, Lake Kissimmee, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EOS 1D Mark II digital camera with 600mm f/4 L IS lens & 2X II TC.
ISO 250. Evaluative Metering +1/3 stop: 1/250 sec. at f/8 in Av Mode.
As usual, one image, so many lessons. First, early morning light looks as lovely on digital as it does on film... Second, with static subjects, use One-Shot AF to focus on the bird's eye and then recompose. Third, compositionally, this one works because it is simply the rule of thirds turned on its side; the bird's red eye has been strategically placed in the upper left third of the frame, sort of tucked into the ULC. Fourth, it never hurts to add 1/3 stop of light to your exposure when working with sweet light on clear early mornings or late afternoons. Fifth, even when using IS lenses, you will make sharper images by locking the tripod controls. Here, I tightened both the swing knob and the panning knob on my Wimberley head before making the image. Sixth, keep your tripod low to the ground and in front of you when making your final approach. Lifting your tripod off your shoulder is a sure way to scare off potential avian subjects.
DELKIN 1gb e-FILM PRO-CARDS AVAILABLE WITH $40 REBATE!
Delkin 1gb e-film Pro Compact Flash Cards
$219.98 per card (plus $7.50 shipping & handling per order).
This is the lowest price you will find anywhere!
1 card: $227.48 2 cards: $447.46
3 cards: $667.44 4 cards: $887.42
The flash cards will be sent by US Priority Mail/Signature Confirmation
so you will need to sign for your order.
$40 Manufacturer's Rebate per card! (No per-person limit.)
1-Order and receive your card(s) from BAA
2-Click here: http://www.delkin.com/pdf/rebates/rebate_julyaug2004.pdf
3-Print your rebate coupon(s)
4-Attach the UPC Bar Code Label
5-Include a copy of your sales receipt
6-Mail your rebate to:
Delkin Devices, Inc.
July-Aug 2004 Rebate
13350 Kirkham Way
Poway, CA 92064-7117
Rebate requests must be postmarked no later than September 15, 2004.
Email for additional overseas shipping charges.
We do not accept credit cards over the phone. If you wish to pay by credit card, please visit the web site and click on the Paypal link. Thanks!
Apple snail eggs, Lake Marian, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EOS 1Ds digital camera with 180mm macro lens, 1.4X II TC, and 25mm extension tube.
ISO 250. Evaluative Metering +2/3 stop set manually: 1/40 sec. at f/13. Mirror lock (CF-12-1) w/2 second self-timer (set with "Drive" buttons)
MT 24 Macro Twin Light Flash as fill at -1 1/3 stops with 1:4 ratio.
The bubble gum pink colors and the luminescence of the eggs caught my eye. Jim Urbach turned me on to this egg mass on a log close to the bank. I set in the mud for nearly 40 minutes and got stiff and sore. This, the very first image that I made, we my favorite... I just loved the color contrast with the rough browns of the log, the bright pinks of the eggs, and the patented <smile> BIRDS AS ART O-O-F green background. Using extension tubes and teleconverters with your macro lens greatly expands its range of magnification and versatility.
IPT UPDATES: SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES!
The Bosque Del Apache NWR, NM 2004 IPTs NOV 21-23 IPT (Sold Out) NOV 27-29 IPT (Sold Out) Please e-mail if you would like your name placed on the waiting lists.
NEW!: DEC 3-5, 2004 3-DAY: $869. (Limit 12-9 openings.) See item next below for the formal announcement.
The SW Florida IPTs Post X-mas: DEC 28-30, 2004 3-DAY: $869 (3 Openings) PRESIDENT'S HOLIDAY: FEB 18-22, 2005, 5-DAY: $1399 w/Ellen Anon co-leading) (5 Openings)
The San Diego IPT San Diego IPT: January 6-9, 2005, 4-DAY: $1299 (2 Openings.)
Homer, AK, Bald Eagle IPT w/co-leader Greg Downing FEB 4-8 & 9-13, 2005 5-DAY: $1599. 10-DAY: $2999 (both near sell-outs; e-mail for details)
Fort DeSoto/Sarasota IPT: April1-3, 2005 3-DAY: $869 (8 Openings)
St. Augustine Alligator Farm IPT April 28 (aft) thru May 1, 2005. 3 1/2-DAYS: $1049 (Limit 12, 10 openings)
Register early! You snooze, you lose!
Green Heron, adult, Fred's Fish Camp, Lake Marian, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EOS 1D Mark II digital camera with 600mm f/4 L IS lens & 2X II TC.
ISO 250. Evaluative Metering +1/3 stop set manually: 1/160 sec. at f/8.
This bird threw me a great pose as it stared at the Boat-tailed Grackles flying about nearby.
Here again I have used One-Shot AF so that I was able to focus on the bird's eye and then recompose to create a pleasing composition.
THIRD BOSQUE IPT ADDED
Due to popular demand--and the fact that both originally scheduled IPTs sold out months in advance, I am--for the first time ever--scheduling a third Bosque Del Apache IPT as follows:
BOSQUE IPT: 3-DAY DEC 3-5, 2005: $869. (Limit 12, 9 openings.) I will be the only leader on this IPT.
The introductory slide program will be held on the evening of Thursday, Dec 2. Please make your deposit ($200) check out to "Arthur Morris" and send it to the address above. Please make sure to include your e-mail address.
Lotus seed pod w/katydid (in larval stage ?) Joe Overstreet Landing, Lake Kissimmee, FL.
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EOS 1D Mark II digital camera with 600mm f/4L IS lens with 2XII TC.
ISO 250. Evaluative Metering +1/3 stop: 1/500 sec. at f/8. in Av Mode.
I just love, love, love still clear mornings. More folks should think of using long effective focal lengths for their "macro" work because of the extremely narrow angles of view that they provide. These help to eliminate background clutter. Extension tubes may be added as needed. Here again, I added 1/3 stop to the exposure to compensate for the soft early morning light. I lowered the rig to get the perspective that I wanted by releasing the forward-facing leg tab and pulling that leg forward until the tab hit the next stop...
MONGEESE M-262s IN STOCK
After months of back orders and waiting lists, we recently received 32 Mongoose M-262 gimbal type tripod heads. We now have several in stock and expect to have a decent supply on hand in the foreseeable future. While we have had two folks who have had difficulty un-mounting their Mongeese from their tripods, all other users have written expressing their satisfaction with their M-262s when used with intermediate telephoto lenses. The Mongoose M-262 Action Head is available now for $295 plus $9 shipping via US Priority Mail/Signature Confirmation. For full details and product photos, visit: http://www.birdsasart.com/mongoose.htm
Snail Kite w/large apple snail, Red's Fish Camp, Lake Marian, FL
Image copyright 2004 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon EOS 1D Mark II digital camera with 600mm f/4 L IS lens.
ISO 250. Evaluative Metering +1/3 stop set manually: 1/3200 sec. at f/4.
AFPS (all 45 AF points active) worked to perfection. Everything is sharp in spite of the use of the wide open aperture. Folks need to realize that depth-of-filed is in part a function of subject to camera distance. The farther the subject from the plane of the film or the sensor, the greater the D-O-F at a given aperture. The relatively large striped snail had several of us very excited... Can you spot the flaw in this otherwise spectacular image?
See the bitter end for the answer.
MY MARK II CUSTOM FUNCTIONS
We have had many requests in recent weeks as to how I set up my Mark IIs, so here goes: (Note: items not noted are left at the default settings.)
First Menu Panel: Parameters: Standard; Color Matrix: Adobe RGB; Review: On; Review Time: 4 seconds; Noise Reduction: Off; ISO Expansion: On;
Second Menu Panel: Highlight Alert: On (If you do not know how to use the Highlight Alert feature, you need to order our Digital Basics File right now... See the home page for details.) ; Display AF Points: On; Histogram Display: Bright.
Third Menu Panel: Auto Power Off: 30 minutes; Auto Rotate: On
Fourth Menu Panel: LCD Brightness: High; Date/Time: be sure to set this accurately.
Fifth Menu Panel/Custom Functions:
CF-2-1 (shutter release not possible without CF card, i.e.: idiot-proofing.) Quiz: if you do not set CF-2-1, then you must be an __________. (Fill in the blank!)
CF-4. I usually set and leave CF-4-0 for most of my photography, but when photographing some static subjects, I set CF-4-3 which transfers AF operation from the shutter button to the star button on the upper right of the camera back. When doing so I make sure that I am in AI Servo AF so that if I need AF to follow action, I can simply hold my thumb down on the star button. Pressing and releasing the star button sets the focus and acts pretty much like One-Shot AF but for the fact that you do not need to keep the shutter button half-way down to maintain focus.
CF-6-0. I always leave CF-6 at the default setting which allows for exposure compensation in 1/3 stop increments.
CF-8-1. This lets me see the ISO that I have set on the top LCD panel and the approximate number of images that will fit onto the card on the back LCD panel.
CF-9-1. This sets the auto-exposure bracketing sequence at 0, -, and + and prevents cancellation of the AEB sequence when a lens or flash card is changed or when the camera is turned on or off.
CF-10-3 This sets maximum brightness for the active AF point, points, or array.
CF-12. CF-12-1 enables the mirror lock-up feature. I set this only when doing macro photography with slow shutter speeds--see the apple snail image above. Mirror lock is best combined with either the use of a cable release or the one of the self timer settings. The former is the best choice in situations where you are waiting for the wind to subside as it lets you release the shutter at the precise instant that you want. Try to remember to reset CF-12 to 0 when you are done with your macro photography. If you do not, you will find yourself pressing the shutter button in an effort to capture a great action shot and wondering why the viewfinder is blacked out but nothing else is happening... (If you have set the self timer, the shutter will release after either 2 or 10 seconds...)
CF-13. CF 13-0 leaves all 45 focusing points available. CF-13-1 and CF-13-2 reduce the number of available AF points from 45 to 11, CF-13-3 reduces the number from 45 to 11. CF-13-0 and CF-13-2 link spot metering to the central AF sensor, while CF-13-1 and CF-13-3 tie spot metering to the active AF point. I always leave CF-13 at the default: CF 13-0 because I like to have all 45 focusing points available when I am manually selecting my active AF senor. (Note: I am almost always working in AI Servo AF when manually selecting an AF point.) Also, when I do spot meter (which I do very, very rarely, I like to use the central sensor as my spot meter.
CF-14-1. Setting CF-14-1 (Average) does two things. First, it turns off Automatic flash reduction. As I almost always use the automatic flash reduction feature with previous camera bodies, I now need to set lower fill flash levels, -1 2/3 for example, rather than -2/3. Second, CF-14-1 averages the flash exposure over the Area AF Ellipse. The background does not affect the flash exposure and this yields more consistent flash exposures.
CF-15-1. This sets 2nd curtain synch. When photographing moving subjects at slow shutter speeds, the blur will be seen behind the subject when using this option.
CF-16-1. This enables Safety Shift when working in Av or Tv modes. If you have selected an aperture or shutter speed that is either too small or too large, this feature will correct your error automatically. It is a shame that this feature is disabled when the flash is turned on.
CF-17-1 This expands AF point activation by one point all around the manually selected focusing point (up to a maximum of 7). In most cases this improves AF function.
CF-18-1 This allows you to switch instantly to a pre-registered focusing point by tapping the button to the left of the star button. I set the central sensor as my pre-registered point and use this feature many times each day. To pre-register the focus point of your choice, first select that point and then press and hold the button to the left of the star button and the FEL button simultaneously.
CF-20-0. I leave this one at the default setting. I have experimented with both the faster and slower settings and have not noted any appreciable differences...
CF-21-0. In theory, this should allow the shutter to be released only when the subject is in sharp focus... I could testify under oath that this is not always the case.
If I have not listed a Custom Function it either means that it does not exist (CF-3, for example), or that I never use it and simply leave it at the default setting. To learn more about the latter options, consult the Instruction Manual for your Mark II.
For a more detailed explanation of all Custom Functions, see E.J Peiker's excellent article on NatureScapes.net by clicking here: http://www.naturescapes.net/072004/ej0704.htm I agree with most but not all of E.J.'s suggested settings.
At present, I have not set any Personal Functions. To learn about doing so, consult your EOS Digital Solution Disk Software Instruction Manual or see E.J.s article here: http://www.naturescapes.net/082004/ej0804.htm
Best and love and great picture making to all,
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 To unsubscribe, click here: mailto:http://birdsasart.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=94ad23bd96f48a1de2ca612b3&id=bdb4a511a0?subject=subscribesubject=unsubscribe. Back issues of relevant Bulletins are archived on the web site at: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn.html
Snail Kite Image Flaw: With the wind from over my right shoulder, and the sun coming over my left shoulder, the near-wing and part of the far wing were unavoidably left in shadow.