Photo Theme: My favorite images made in two days on Gary Carter's farm.
SAN DIEGO SITE GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE
I have worked non-stop since I got back from NANPA preparing the San Diego Site Guide, the third in the series. The Site Guides are the closest thing to joining an IPT that you can experience without actually joining us. And they cost only fifty bucks; a lot less than an IPT! I share everything that I know about the five killer photography spots within 20 minutes of downtown San Diego. Learn where and how and when to photograph the amazing California race of Brown Pelican; Marbled Godwits against bright buff backgrounds; Wood Ducks, Lesser Scaup, and Ring-necked Duck at point blank range; and a variety of stunning gulls (including Heerman's, Western, and California) both perched and in flight. You will learn where to go on what wind and what tides are best for each coastal location. As usual, I have held nothing back. The Fort DeSoto and Bosque Site Guides have received nothing but praise from the more than 200 photographers who were able to visit these sites for the first time as if they had been photographing them for a decade.
The San Diego Site Guide (8936 words, 38 color photographs) is available right now. It will prove most useful to folks visiting in the colder months, but many of the locations are productive in other seasons as well, especially spring. You can send us a Paypal for $50 or call with a credit card number. (If the latter, you will need to give us your e-mail address.) Yes, BAA is finally accepting credit cards over the phone!
Pine Warbler (adult), Gary Carter's Farm, McCleansville, NC
Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 2X II TC and EOS 1D Mark II on Gitzo CF 1325 tripod. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/320 sec. at f/14. Fill flash (with high speed synch) at -2 stops with Better Beamer.
I nearly went berserk with joy when I saw the first of these come to the feeders. I got what I wanted of him on the second day... I was one happy camper. I had no idea that Pine Warbler could look so bright in winter; it was 17 degrees when this image was made.
MY NANPA EXPERIENCE
The NANPA Summit, held in Charlotte, NC, was, as Summits always are, a blur of meeting old friends, making new ones, networking with both other photographers and clients, learning a ton about photography, and--of course--seeing lots of great, great images. As one of the four keynote speakers, I was privileged to present the first ever all-digital revised version of "A Bird Photographer's Story." When I showed the last image, of a pelican flying away, I said, "This is the end of the story for now, but I promise you that it will be continued." The standing ovation that I received from about 600 folks at the end of that show on that Friday morning will be forever etched in my mind as one of the highlights of my career. Thanks again to all who attended.
On Thursday morning, Kevin Adams set the bar high with his fantastic multi-media keynote presentation: "A Newer Voyage to Carolina." After his program I went up to him and said, "I had no idea that you were so talented." On Saturday, National Geographic photographer Tim Laman amazed all with tales of his tree climbing photo work-ethic, and his incredible images of a dizzying variety of spectacular hornbills, most from tropical Asia, will be long remembered. On Saturday night, my friend and colleague Tui (say "twee" not" TOO-ee") De Roy and Florida's black and white large format landscape legend Clyde Butcher were honored, as was John Sexton who presented the last keynote, "Photographic Recollections." John was personable and more than funny as he described both his life and the joyous, educational, and inspirational time that he spent as Ansel Adams' photographic assistant. I was intrigued by his graphic space shuttle images, but what can I say: I am--probably out of ignorance of the media for the most part--not a big fan of black and white landscape photography. My very favorite breakout session was Adam Gibbs' "Establishing Your Photographic Vision." His landscapes, many from western Canada, were beyond spectacular; one after another simply took your breath away. On Friday evening I spoke with the College Scholarship Students about the business of nature photography and ate too much pizza...
Carolina Chickadee, Gary Carter's Farm, McCleansville, NC
Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 2X II TC and EOS 1D Mark II on Gitzo CF 1325 tripod. ISO 320. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/320 sec. at f/14. Fill flash (with high speed synch) at -2 stops with Better Beamer.
With lots of space around the bird this vertical format image would work well as a magazine cover. This was a one-shot wonder as the tiny bird jumped up onto this perch for only an instant. Without prefocusing manually I would not have been able to capture this image as AF with the 2X is too slow unless you help it along...
GARY CARTER'S FARM
Gary Carter has a farm, and my oh my, so many great birds. Gary generously hosted several field trip groups of NANPA photographers in his BIG backyard, and I was privileged to be able to work with the High School Scholarships students there on the Tuesday preceding the Summit. I stayed with Gary and his charming wife Janice for three nights, photographing a great variety of wintering birds and helping Gary improve his set-ups. (Just call me the "Backyard Doctor.") The Carters were most gracious hosts to all of their NANPA visitors, but especially to me. Gary is a Corbis photographer so that you know that is his an accomplished photographer. You can arrange to photograph from Gary's blinds on weekends. His place is about 30 minutes from Greensboro, but is worth a plane ride... As great as it was for me last week, my understanding is that it is even better in spring! I shall return. For details, or to schedule a visit, you can e-mail Gary at gwcbirds@triad.rr.com or visit his web site at: http://www.garycarterphotos.com/
Eastern Bluebird (male), Gary Carter's Farm, McCleansville, NC
Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and EOS 1D Mark II on Gitzo CF 1325 tripod. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/60 sec. at f/6.3. Fill flash at -2 stops with Better Beamer.
The Mark II handles noise so well that I do not hesitate working at ISO 800 or even higher when the situation demands it. Gary buys mealworms in bags of 10,000 and is bluebirds eat them just about as fast as he can put them out. Many other species love them as well.
UMBRELLA CLAMP RIG
After Bulletin 159 was published, many folks wrote asking about the umbrella clamp set-up that I used so much when it rained so much in San Diego. (See photo of the set-up in the Bulletin Archives.) The combination of the Bogen Super clamp (without stud) and the Avenger Add-a-Head is relatively heavy, about four pounds or possibly more; mine is on its way to Homer via Fed-X Ground so I am not able to weigh it right now... I hope that it does not get too much use up there! I had tried many methods of attaching an umbrella to my Wimberley head and had no success at all until a Gitzo rep provided the elegant solution. The Add-a-Head will accept a great variety of umbrella shaft diameters and the rig is designed so that it is possible to place the umbrella (not included) in a variety of positions and at a variety of angles. With a medium or large umbrella it is easy to use a flash under the Umbrella Clamp Rig so long as you do not need to point your lens too far upwards. While it is obvious that one should not use the rig during thunder and lightening storms or in high winds, we ask you to exercise common sense when using the Umbrella Rig. By doing so you will assure that you will not be fried by lightening and that your 500mm IS lens and Mark II will not wind up flying up, up, and away like a kite!
We are offering the Umbrella Clamp Rig (UCR) for $66.00 plus $12.00 shipping (by US Priority Mail/Signature Confirmation.) Florida residents need to add 7% sales tax to the cost of the rig only ($4.62). We are placing our order today so they should be in stock by next week. Order today to ensure that you get one from our first shipment. That way, when it rains, you can smile as you head out to photograph birds knowing all the while that your valuable photographic equipment will be safe and dry. (A future Bulletin will include the exact weight, photographs, and tips on using the UCR.)
White-throated Sparrow (adult), Gary Carter's Farm, McCleansville, NC
Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 2X II TC and EOS 1D Mark II on Gitzo CF 1325 tripod. ISO 1250. Evaluative metering +2/3 stops: 1/125 sec. at f/10.
With the dark background here I blew the exposure on this one, but by converting .4 stops darker I was able to save the image. You gotta love digital!
GITZO 1325 CF TRIPODS
Both Greg Downing and I (and hundreds of others) now use only the Gitzo Carbon Fiber 1325 tripod with both our 500mm and 600mm lenses. We recommend the much heavier CF 1548 only for those using Nikon 600s which are not image stabilized... I vehemently recommend against anyone using the 1348 (or similar) CF tripods with big lenses as the diameter of the bottom leg section is pencil thin. I even recommend the CF 1325 for intermediate telephoto lenses (with the Mongoose 262) so that if you ever purchase one of the big guns, you will not need to upgrade.
We are proud to add the CF 1325 to our product line so that folks with brand new super-telephoto lenses can now enjoy one-stop shopping. The Gitzo 1325 CF tripod is available for $506.94 (cheapest US web price that I know of...) plus $25 shipping by US Priority Mail/Insured/Signature Confirmation. Florida residents need to add 7% sales tax to the cost of the tripod only: $35.49. We are placing our order today so they should be in stock by next week.
Update: Bogen is out of stock on this tripod. We expect to receive them in early March. Sorry for any inconvenience.
White-breasted Nuthatch, Gary Carter's Farm, McCleansville, NC
Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and EOS 1D Mark II on Gitzo CF 1325 tripod. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/125 sec. at f/5.6. Fill flash (with high speed synch) at -2 stops with Better Beamer.
This was another one-shot wonder, but with "only" the 1.4X TC, AF was right as rain on the spot, focusing almost as fast as the human eye...
BAA MAIL ORDER NOW ACCEPTS CREDIT CARDS!
For the added convenience of our customers BIRDS AS ART mail order is--at long last--accepting Visa and MasterCard orders by phone. To place an order call us at 863-692-0906. Mondays through Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. are best, but you are invited to try your luck at other times. Please do not call before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Eastern Time. You may reserve a spot on the regularly scheduled IPTs that require only a $200 deposit, or, a spot for one of the Weekend "The Art of Nature Photography" Seminars with a credit card phone payment. (Do note that IPT balances must be paid by personal check.) You may also order one of our Site Guides or the Digital Basics File as above. For IPT and seminar reservations and electronic file orders, we will need you to provide your e-mail address accurately.
Downy Woodpecker (female), Gary Carter's Farm, McCleansville, NC
Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 2X II TC and EOS 1D Mark II on Gitzo CF 1325 tripod. ISO 250. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/250 sec. at f/14.
I helped Gary improve his set-ups simply by cleaning up the backgrounds.
THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY; IT AIN'T JUST BIRDS" WEEKEND SEMINARS
The Art of Nature Photography; It Ain't Just Birds!
Weekend Seminars
Sponsored by Canon USA
In conjunction with Photo Road Shows
Atlanta, Georgia, July 30-31, 2005
Dallas, Texas, September 24-25, 2005
Click here for full details: http://www.birdsasart.com/photoroadshow.htm
Fox Sparrow, Gary Carter's Farm, McCleansville, NC
Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with 2X II TC and EOS 1D Mark II on Gitzo CF 1325 tripod. ISO 1600. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/80 sec. at f/8. Flash at -1/3 stop with Better Beamer.
Here, working in the shadow of the blind near dusk, I pretty much went to flash as main light.
LIKE BEARS?
Then consider joining me on one of the following small group trips:
#1: I will be leading a small group of photographers to the Silver Salmon Creek Lodge in Alaska where we photograph the coastal brown bears fishing and clamming at close range and will have lots of great salmon fishing. There should be some young bears, and in most years there are one or more pairs of spring cubs. (And I am hoping that there may be some birds around as well.) We will most likely fly to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge on the morning of
September 16, 2005 from
Anchorage. We will do either a 7 day/six night trip (leaving on the 22nd) or 6 day/five night (leaving on the 21st) trip. Folks might be able to arrange to stay on a bit longer or arrive a bit earlier than the main group if that works better for them. Please contact us via e-mail if you would like to join us.
The 7 day/6 night package that includes all meals, guide service, lodging, local use of sea kayaks, fish preparation and photo/boat trips is $3320/person. The 6 day/5 night trip would be $2930 pp from
Anchorage. Halibut fishing is $50 per person extra but David Coray has informed me that the tides would be bad for a halibut trip during the week that we will be there but we may be able to squeeze in one trip at the end of the week. I hope that you can join us. Please e-mail me if you have any additional questions.
#2: I will be leading a bear boat trip for Alaska Photo-Tours June 25-30. Two half-days and four full days on the boat: $5,000.00. You will need to be in
Anchorage on June 24th. We should have lots of point blank opportunities on the Coastal Brown Bears, breeding Bald Eagles, Glaucous-winged Gull chicks, and possibly fox. If you are seriously interested in joining me for this truly amazing trip, please contact Steve Freno at pacrimpics@gci.net or Jenny Jonak at jenny@jonak.com. (Jenny, who is quite an experienced and talented photographer, will be joining Greg Downing and me on the 2007 Antarctica trip.)
Yours truly & Gary Carter, McCleansville, NC
Image copyright 2005 courtesy of Ellen Anon
I brought a few things with me to NC to make sure that the HS Students were well equipped! The silly look on my face is sheer exhaustion...
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