EDINBURG, TX, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL

 

Regular readers know that I have been working closely with Lens and Land, an association of Texas ranchers who have opened their properties to visiting photographers in an effort to promote eco-tourism, stave off the developers, protect valuable habitat, and pay for their bird seed!  Lens and Land is sponsoring the Edinburg Nature Photography Festival which runs from April 6-9, 2005.  I will be presenting "A Bird Photographer's Story" as the keynote address on the evening of April 6, and a mini-seminar in two parts ("Why Digital" and "Putting Art in your Nature Photography") on the afternoon of the 7th.

 

More importantly, registrants will have the opportunity to visit several of these amazing properties where photo blinds built adjacent to feeders and water features attract many of the Rio Grande Valley specialty species including Green Jay, Long-billed Thrasher, several oriole species (including Audubon's!), Great Kiskadee, the spectacular Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Olive Sparrow, and Chachalaca.  Usually shy subjects like Northern Bobwhite and Wild Turkey are often easy pickings in South Texas, and in addition, the event is timed perfectly to coincide with spring passerine migration so we should have some great chances on a variety of warblers and sparrows and for the blessed, male Painted Bunting...

 

To see the festival brochure, or to register, visit: http://www.lensandland.com/ENPF/index.html

 

Hope to see you there!

 

 

NIKON GEAR FOR SALE 

 

Burrowing Owl, pair, Cape Coral, FL

Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

 

Canon 600mm f/4 L IS lens with Mark II on Gitzo CF  325 tripod.  ISO 400.  Evaluative metering at zero: 1/1000 sec. at f/4. 

 

To create the juxtaposition image seen here, I used the wide open aperture and focused on the eyes of the front bird.  Be on the look-out for situations like this where--if you position yourself correctly, the rear bird sort of mirrors the front bird.  An option might have been to focus on the rear bird...

 

WHAT WAS TIM BOYER DOING WRONG?

 

In BAA Bulletin 161 (http://www.birdsasart.com/bn161.htm), there was an image of a bird photographer on the ground along with a promise to reveal the four things that he was doing incorrectly in the next Bulletin.  I have twice forgotten to post the answers, so here they are:

 

1-Using either the Panning Ground Pod (http://www.birdsasart.com/accs.html#The%20Walt%20Anderson%20Panning%20Ground%20Pod) or the Skimmer (a new product, to be announced) would have helped produce sharper images (or allowed for a lower ISO setting in the obviously low light situation). 

2-With the flash mounted directly on the camera, red-eye, steel-eye, and flash-eye are almost always problems.  I use the Arca-Swiss flash bracket (http://www.birdsasart.com/accs.html#The%20Wimberley%20Arca-Swiss%20Flash%20Bracket) to reduce the effects of the flash; with the bracket, which is mounted to the P-20 lens plate, there is less chance of red-eye

3-It is best to remove the tripod collar when handholding and not using flash.  This allows for easier lens handling.

4-Placing your left hand farther out on the lens barrel than Tim has done will allow for better support and thus increased sharpness.

 

Tim is to be applauded for getting down onto the hard, wet rocks to achieve an eye-level view of his subjects, a view that produces intimate portraits with lovely out-of-focus foregrounds and backgrounds.

 

Great Blue Heron, Placida, FL.

Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

 

Canon 600 mm f/4 L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and the EOS 1D Mark II on Gitzo CF 1325 tripod.  ISO 400.  Evaluative metering at zero: 1/80 sec. at f/5.6.  Fill flash at -2 stops with Better Beamer.  

 

The Recovery  Room was almost back at the dock when I screamed to Capt. Marian to slow the boat down, and she did.  When working from a moving boat I often rely on AFPS (45 point) so that it is easier to maintain focus.

 

 

 

Brown Pelican from the causeway, Sanibel, FL

Image copyright 2005 Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

 

Canon 300 mm f/4 L IS lens with EOS 20D handheld.  ISO 400. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/1000 sec. at f/8.     

 

Getting low will almost always improve the look of your images.  The combination of the 20D and either the 70-200 f/2.8 or the 300 f/4 L IS lenses are quite effective in many situations. 

 

GALAPAGOS, JULY 2006

 

As the July 2005 Galapagos trip sold out within 14 hours of being announced in a BAA notes last October, I have committed to returning to this world-renowned wildlife photography destination in July 2006. The dates for the trip are July 12-22, 2006.  This includes the travel days.  The cost of the trip is $4299.  If you are serious about joining us, you should call Janie Bullard immediately at 1-888-419-6677.  If she does not answer, leave a message stating, "I wish to send a deposit for the 2006 Galapagos trip with Arthur Morris.  Please save me a spot."  This trip is limited to 14 participants and ten slots are already filled.