BIRDS AS ART BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN 211

BIRDS AS ART BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN 211

OCTOBER 4, 2006

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TODD GUSTAFSON’S 2006 KENYA IMAGES

KENYA 2006 PHOTO-SAFARI KUDOS

KENYA 2007 PHOTO-SAFARI

ICELAND 2007

MORE ON AOL

WOOD DUCK FESTIVAL, CLEVELAND, OH, SUNDAY, OCT 8

FINLAND

FORT DESOTO SITE GUIDE UPDATE TOMORROW!

SILVER SALMON CREEK AUGUST 2007: BEARS AND PUFFINS

IPT UPDATES

DELKIN e-FILM PRO COMPACT FLASH CARDS/CRAZY LOW PRICES

Contact us by phone at 863-692-0906 ( 9AM to 9PM Eastern Time Zone) or by e-mail at birdsasart@att.net or birdsasart@verizon.net. The att e-mail address is best from overseas.

We gladly accept credit card orders by phone 8am till 9pm Eastern Time.

You can use the Paypal links on the web site to order anything. Just type in the item(s) and the amount. If using your own Paypal account, please send to either of the e-mail addresses above.

African Lion, black-maned male, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Important Request: if responding to this e-mail, please take the time to delete all images and all irrelevant text.

Photographic Theme: Todd Gustafson’s 2006 Kenya Photo-Safari images

Yellow-billed Oxpeckers & Cape Buffalo, Maasai Mara, Kenya

TODD GUSTAFSON’S 2006 KENYA PHOTO-SAFARI IMAGES

Once again this year Todd proved that he is the best in the world at photographing from the top of a safari van. He is faster, smarter, stronger, and more creative then whoever is standing next to him… Even me. By miles. Time after time Todd sees the image and makes the image while the folks in his van are paddling against the current. And this even when Todd tells folks exactly what the animals are going to do.

I have included my favorites (it was nearly impossible to choose them) in this Bulletin. To see a complete collection of Todd’s remarkable 2006 Kenya images please click here: www.birdsasart.com/todd2006gallery

Click on the large thumbnails to see a full screen version of the image, and then click next to continue in slide show mode. (The gallery was created with a single keystroke in BreezeBrowser Pro.) The EXIF data is in the lower left hand corner of the screen; you may have to scroll down to see it.)

Red & Yellow Barbet, Samburu, Kenya

KENYA 2006 PHOTO-SAFARI KUDOS

Todd and I received the letter below from participant Michael Katz of Miami, FL by e-mail:

Dear Todd and Artie,

Your skill as instructors, your dedication, your caring, and the effort that you put into each and every safari day was both amazing and greatly appreciated by me. I showed up as a complete novice, with no more than an hour’s experience with a Canon Elf. In the span of only a few days I learned how to use my Nikon D2X and my 200-400 VR lens proficiently and with your help was able to produce a large number of excellent (with all modesty…) images that thrilled me and amazed my wife Annie. For your patient and expert instruction on the technical aspects of digital photography, on composition, lighting conditions, and exposure I cannot adequately express my gratitude. Oops, I almost forgot about your teaching me to create sharp images while using my Todd Pod and Wimberley head.

Although I joined this safari largely to accompany my photographically proficient wife (and to carry her third extra camera body…) your instruction and my success has enthused me for both life and for photography; thanks to you two, I really have the bug! As a result of being on this safari, I shall avidly pursue my new love for photography in the coming years. And I have you both to thank for that.

With four vans the size of the group was perfect and the folks were both congenial and helpful. The safari driver guides were professional and the accommodations and food were great. I received a wealth of tips, help and instruction from all of the participants and I would like to thank them here again for all of their help. Lastly, Annie and I made several great new friends and some of those friendships will surely be lifelong ones.

We are both looking forward eagerly to Tanzania 2008 and are glad that you will both be leading that one.

Many thanks,

Michael

Colobus Monkey, Elsemere, Naivasha, Kenya

KENYA SEPT 2007 PHOTO SAFARI ANNOUNCEMENT

Todd and I will be returning to Kenya again in 2007, leaving the US on September 10. We never take more than 15 photographers so that we are limited to five vans, three photographers per van. Period. We already have eight slots filled. Here are the basics:

Kenya 2007 Gustaphoto/BIRDS AS ART Photo-Safari/Sept. 11-27, 2007: 16 days on the ground in Kenya: $9,499.00. A non-refundable $1,000 deposit is required. A second payment of $4,499.00 is due by March 1, 2007, and the final payment of $4000.00 is due June 1, 2007. All deposits and payments should be sent to: Todd Gustafson, 2122 Elmira Ave, Des Plaines, IL 60018. Please make the checks out to “Todd Gustafson.” Thanks <smile>. We cannot guarantee a single supplement at this time but do contact us if you are interested.

The registration fee includes food, lodging, ground transportation and airport transfers, driver guides, game park entry fees, and our round trip flight from Nairobi to Mara. Not included are the Kenya Visa fee ($50.00 US), personal items, all beverages, driver and staff tips, and phone, fax, e-mail or laundry charges. There is no “no-photographer” rate.

Wildebeest crossing, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Below is our tentative itinerary. Please note that the leaders reserve the right to change the itinerary at any time, even during the safari, when changes are at times necessary to ensure the photographic opportunities of the group are maximized. (All lodgings and meals will be comparable.)

September 10: fly from US.

September 11: Fly Nairobi/ Overnight at the Jacaranda.

Sept 12 Early flight to Mara Serena. Meet drivers there. Check in and lunch. PM game drive overnight at Mara Serena.

Sept 13 AM and PM game drives at Mara Serena.

Sept 14 AM and PM game drives at Mara Serena.

Sept 15 AM game drive Mara Serena. After breakfast, transfer to Keekorok for PM game drive and overnight.

Sept 16 AM and PM game drives Keekorok.

Sept 17 AM game drive. Mid day: fly from Keekorok to Nairobi and transfer to Lake Naivasha. PM boat ride. Overnight at Naivasha CC.

Sept 18 AM Crescent Island. PM Elsemere for Colobus Monkeys/ Overnight at Naivasha CC.

Sept 19. AM Crescent Island. PM Fisherman’s Camp for Fishers Lovebirds / Overnight Naivasha CC

Sept 20 AM photograph on the grounds. Transfer to Lake Baringo CC. PM photograph on the grounds or at the cliffs.

Sept 21 AM Boat ride on Lake Baringo. 3 people per boat-5 boats. PM photograph on the grounds (or drive to Lake Bogoria if the flamingoes are in). Cliff hike optional.

Sept 22 AM Boat ride on Lake Baringo. 3 people per boat-5 boats Transfer to Lake Nakuru for lunch and PM game drive. Overnight Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Sept 23 AM and PM game drives Lake Nakuru. Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Sept 24 AM and PM game drives Lake Nakuru. Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Sept 25 AM and PM game drives Lake Nakuru. Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Sept 26 AM and PM game drives Lake Nakuru. Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Sept 27 AM game drive/transfer to Nairobi. Lunch at Carnivore. We will have 9 day-rooms at the Jacaranda Hotel. Transfer to airport for flight from Nairobi.

Wildebeest leaping while crossing, Maasai Mara, Kenya

ICELAND 2007

I will be going to Iceland in June, 2007. It will be a spectacular trip for both bird and scenic photography. We will be spending many days photographing Atlantic Puffin and other seabirds. We made need to go with a relatively small group. If you are at all interested in joining me either on an IPT or in a small group situation, please contact me immediately by e-mail at birdsasart@att.net

Vulturine Guinea-Fowl, plumage detail, Samburu, Kenya

MORE ON AOL

As I mentioned in the last Bulletin, when we send a Bulletin we are blocked from sending e-mails to AOL addresses for 24-30 hours by AOL. (We are able to receive most—but not all—AOL e-mails during that period, but we are unable to reply…)

It has now been more than two full days since we sent the last Bulletin and we are still being blocked. There is, therefore, a good chance that will be never again be able to reply to e-mails sent from AOL addresses. Notice to AOL users: if you e-mail us and do not receive a reply, please contact us from an alternate e-mail address, or better yet, switch to any other e-mail provider. Anything is better than AOL…

WOOD DUCK FESTIVAL, CLEVELAND, OH, SUNDAY, OCT 8

I will be doing two programs for Cleveland Metroparks Wood Duck Festival this coming Sunday. At 1:30 pm I will present: 1:30pm: Putting Art in Your Nature Photography, and at 3:30pm I am offering BIRDS AS ART on the Road. I will have just a few books and some prints with me for sale; if you will be attending and would like me to bring some product (Lens Pens, beamers, etc.) for you, please e-mail before Thursday. For location and details, please click here: http://www.clemetparks.com/events/Wood%20duck.asp

If you are a subscriber, please drop in and say “Hi.”

Somali Ostriches copulating, Samburu, Kenya

FINLAND

I will be in Finland from October 11-17 to speak at their annual nature photography meeting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and doing a public program in Helsinki on Monday evening. I hope to meet some of our European subscribers there. Here is a link to their magazine: http://www.luontokuva.org/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=2831 If you speak Finnish, there is probably a link to the meeting on that page…

African White Pelican, Maasai Mara, Kenya

FORT DESOTO SITE GUIDE UPDATE TODAY

We should be sending the updated DeSoto/Sarasota Guide this afternoon (WED 4 OCT). If you have a new e-mail address, you will—obviously—have to let us know about it. If you do not receive your update by Thursday morning, please contact us by e-mail. If you have an AOL address, you just might be out of luck unless you can provide us with an alternate e-mail address.

If you do not own this Site Guide but would like to learn the ins and outs of Fort DeSoto in preparation for a photographic visit, please click here for additional info: http://www.birdsasart.com/siteguides.htm#the%20Fort%20DeSoto/Sarasota%20Site-Guide

African Elephant at sunset near river, Maasai Mara, Kenya

SILVER SALMON CREEK AUGUST 2007: BEARS AND PUFFINS

Silver Salmon Creek Lodge Bear/Puffin IPT. AUG 8-14, 2007. 5 FULL & 2 HALF-DAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: $4,999. (Absolute limit: 12 photographers: only 6 openings left.) Two co-leaders to be announced.

I spoke to David Coray a lot during the second week of August. He reported that were as many as 19 bears on the flats right in front of the lodge every day either clamming or catching silver salmon. On this IPT there will be lots of opportunities to photograph Coastal Brown Bear (a large race of grizzly) at fairly close range. The bears of Lake Clark National Park are not hunted and are totally comfortable around humans, just as they are in Katmai National Park. In addition to the bears, we will be concentrating on puffins, especially on Horned Puffin (which is the easier of the two western species to photograph on one of two islands near SSCrL). All of the puffin outings will require a boat ride and a bit of climbing. There should be lots of great opportunities to photograph the Horned Puffins in flight. We may try for Tufted Puffin as well but they are much tougher to photograph than the Horned Puffins.   There are lots of opportunities for scenic and macro photography as Lake Clark is a beautiful, biologically diverse area. There will be optional fishing trips for both halibut and silver salmon. I will be doing some fishing. Last year I brought home 50 pounds of salmon. The SSCr guides are expert at preparing your catch for travel and/or shipping. Nobody has to fish if they do not want to, and there will always be a competent photography leader for each of our small groups.

We will be splitting up into two or three groups on a daily basis. While we will do our very best to ensure that you will be able to do exactly what you want to do each day, there may be an occasion or two when that is not possible. We will be in Alaska, so please be aware that we might encounter some lousy weather. You will need to be in Anchorage on the afternoon of August 7, 2007 to ensure that you will make the float plane on the morning of August 8. The cost of a double-occupancy room for the night of August 7^th is included. . You can upgrade to a single room upon payment of a single supplement of approximately $85. (Hotel rooms in Anchorage are extremely expensive in summer.)   It would be best if everyone planned to arrive in Anchorage a day early (on August 6^th) to allow for any travel delays that might cause you to miss the scheduled float plane convoy (9am on August 8^th).   Do note that the float plane trips are dependent on decent flying weather. They are delayed at times. If you choose to stay arrive early, the cost of the August 6^th room is not included.

We will have dinner together at 6pm sharp on the evening of August 7^th.    Please plan to arrive in Anchorage so that you can make this dinner as we will be doing our introductory slide program then. We will be doing many instructional slide programs and will be able to tailor the programs to the needs of the group. In addition, there will be lots of opportunities for image sharing and critiquing. Don’t be shy; critiquing is the very best way to learn how to make better images.    We will be staying in one of the two Silver Salmon Creek lodge buildings (that are just a short walk apart). All of the lodge rooms are double occupancy. There is one room with a king bed that would be ideal for a couple. First couple to make a deposit wins! I am offering a $300 discount for anyone who wishes to stay in one of the two cabins. One cabin is a double, one is a private cabin. Though the cabins are rustic, each has a heater, running water, and electricity. Folks who stay in the cabins will need to make a short walk to the outhouse or to the lodge during the night. They will shower in one of the shared bathrooms in one of the lodge buildings. There is a small possibility that late registrants may need to stay in one of the cabins.

A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required. A second payment of $2,000 will be due December 8, 2006 and the final payment of $1,999 will be due by April 8, 2007. All payments are by check only. Please make your deposit check out to “Arthur Morris” and send it to BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Please include your mailing address, your e-mail address, and your day, home, and cell phone #s.
Six of the twelve slots are already filled.   I do hope that you can join us for what promises to be an amazing trip.   To see my favorite images from last September’s Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, click here: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn185.htm

Spider (sp?) Elsemere, Naivasha, Kenya

IPT UPDATES

Bosque #1: "The Fall Color IPT" NOV 14-16, 2006. 3-DAY: $929. Slide Program on the evening of NOV 13. (Sold Out.) This IPT should feature a better chance for a day or two of the rare south winds that drastically improve flight photography and will definitely feature the brightest fall-color cottonwoods.

Bosque #2: "The Pre-Thanksgiving IPT" NOV 19-21, 2006. Slide Program on the evening of NOV 18. 3-DAY: $929. (One opening.) This and the next IPT have sold out for the past eight years. If you are interested in attending the Thanksgiving Day luncheon in Las Lunas, please contact us via e-mail. This IPT will feature increasing numbers of geese and cranes with lots of great opportunities.

Bosque #3: "The Post-Thanksgiving IPT" NOV 25-27, 2006. 3-DAY: $929. Slide Program on the evening of NOV 24. (Sold out.) This IPT has sold out for the past eight years as it is scheduled on dates that I consider peak for Bosque. If you are interested in attending the Thanksgiving Day luncheon in Las Lunas, please contact us via e-mail.

Bosque #4: "The Full Moon IPT" DEC 4 (mid-day) through DEC 7 (mid day), 2006. 3-DAY: $929. (Sold out.) Slide Program mid-day on DEC 4. Co-leaders include Manuel Presti, 2005 Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and Robert Amoruso. This IPT includes a half day of photography on the 4th, two full days of photography on the 5th and 6th, and a final half day on December 7th. Limit 14. This IPT has been scheduled to maximize the opportunities to include the rising and setting full (DEC 5) and near-full moon in your images. There will be lots of the usual chances as well, and this time period has provided more than its share of spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the years.

SW FLA Post X-mas IPT: DEC 27-29, 2006. Slide program on the evening of Tuesday, DEC 26. 3 -DAY: $1029. (Limit 14, Openings: 9.) Co-leaders: Robert O’Toole, Alfred Forns, & Robert Amoruso. Sanibel Island, Little Estero Lagoon, Venice Rookery, Cape Coral. Herons, egrets, gulls, terns, skimmers, shorebirds, both pelicans, Osprey, Burrowing Owl, and lots more.

Antarctica, JAN 2007: (Sold out.)

San Diego IPT: FEB 3-6, 2007. 4-FULL DAYS: $1359. Introductory slide program on the evening of Thursday, FEB 2. (Limit 12, Openings: 7.) LaJolla, Shores Beach, Coronado, and Santee Lakes. Brown Pelicans, Heerman’s & Western Gulls, Marbled Godwits & lots more shorebirds, Wood & Ring-necked Ducks & Lesser Scaup. And lots more.

SW FLA President's Holiday IPT: FEB 17-21, 2007. Slide program on the evening Friday, FEB 16, 2007. 5-DAY: $1649. (Limit 14; openings 5.) Co-leaders: Robert O’Toole, Alfred Forns, & Robert Amoruso. Sanibel Island, Little Estero Lagoon, Venice Rookery, Cape Coral. Herons, egrets, gulls, terns, skimmers, shorebirds, both pelicans, Osprey, Burrowing Owl, and lots more.

Fort DeSoto IPT: APR 13-15, 2007. Slide program on the evening of Thursday, APR 12. 3-DAY: $999 (Limit 14: (Sold out.) Co-leaders: Robert O’Toole, Alfred Forns, Robert Amoruso, and Todd Gustafson. Courtship and breeding behaviors of Laughing Gull and Royal and Sandwich Terns. Herons, egrets (including both dark and light phase Reddish Egret), shorebirds (including Long-billed Curlew), gulls, terns, and skimmers among others.

Silver Salmon Creek: August 8-14, 2007. Coastal Brown Bears catching salmon, Horned Puffins, macro, scenics, and fishing (optional): $4999. ( Limit 12: openings:4) Three leaders, two TBA (plus me <smile>.

Zebras watching Cheetah, Maasai Mara, Kenya

DELKIN e-FILM PRO COMPACT FLASH CARDS/CRAZY LOW PRICES

As most of you know, I have used Delkin e-Film Pro Compact Flash Cards for more than 3 ½ years now and have found them to be fast and dependable. I have been using the Delkin 2gb and 4gb cards exclusively now for more than two years and have experienced one card failure, that with a very old 2gb card about 6 months ago. Delkin promptly replaced the card. Do remember that I take tens of thousands of images in a given year. We have joined with Delkin to ensure that we can offer you the great e-Film Pro Cards at very low prices in any quantity that you might need:

1gb Delkin e-film Pro Card: $44.98

2gb Delkin e-film Pro Card: $74.98

4gb Delkin e-film Pro Card: $154.98

8gb Delkin e-film Pro Card: $299.98

African Lion, Maasai Mara, Kenya

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 BAA sponsor as it Delkin Devices. Back issues of all BAA Bulletins can be found in the Bulletin Archives which may be accessed from the home page at www.birdsasart.com