BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN #237

JULY 23, 2007

Visit www.birdsasart.com

ICELAND TRIP REPORT

ON THE ROAD AGAIN…

THE MARK III AS A GENERAL NATURE & LANDSCAPE CAMERA by ROBERT AMORUSO

BOSQUE DEL APACHE NWR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP with Robert Amoruso

THE NIKON ANSWER-MAN

MIII USER’S GUIDE KUDOS

APTATS-1 KUDOS

NYC CITY SEMINAR NEWS

BAA KUDOS

IPT UPDATES (BRAND NEW: San Diego IPT:  JAN 20-23, 2008)

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Photographic theme:  My favorite images from the recent Iceland trip. 

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

Atlantic Puffin flapping, Iceland

Image Copyright 2007:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1Ds Mark II.  ISO 400.  Evaluative metering at zero: 1/500 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode.   Fill flash at -2 stops.      

Everyone fell totally in love with the tame puffins.  After spending a day or two creating portraits I concentrated on behaviors.   Check out the liveBooks puffin gallery at www.birdsasart.org

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ICELAND TRIP REPORT

With very little interest up until almost the last minute, the Iceland trip turned out to be a wonderful party for all involved.   I met six eager folks in Reykjavik on June 14^th, my birthday.  Tyler Campbell, a professional photographer from Maryland, joined us early on the 15^th.  Tyler missed out on some great photography at the city pond but as he was staying on after the trip, he would have a chance there on the way home.    Bob Zarnke and Gil Arden from Canada were relative beginners at the start of the trip but left Iceland as experienced photographers.   Tom Kreulan (a retired cardiologist) and wife Rosie have traveled the world extensively.  Tom was the more experienced photographer of the two.  Ralph Bendjebar, a retired Northwest Airlines pilot will be traveling quite a bit with me over the next year or two.  Rounding out our group of eight was Jim Heupel, retired chief judge of the United States Air Force.

Iceland is an amazingly beautiful country, roughly the size of the state of Ohio.  We drove two vehicles ourselves, a 15 passenger Ford Econliner van, and a Toyota Land Cruiser.  By having two vehicles rather than a bus, our lives were made much easier.  It was easier to get our bags in and out of the vehicles and much easier to get to our photo gear.   We saw some great waterfalls, wonderful glaciers and bays filled with icebergs, varied and beautiful scenery, lots of geological (and geo-thermal) features, lots of sheep, and of course, lots of birds.  All of the members of the group were enthusiastically interested in photographing everything that we saw, alive or not, wings or not.  And I jumped in right alongside them. 

We pretty much traversed the country on the national ring road and were amazed that in the southeastern part of the country the national road was a one lane dirt road.  Just when we were positive that we were totally lost we ran into a road construction crew and were able to confirm that we were indeed on the ring road and indeed headed towards Hofn.  Much of the driving was fairly difficult over very narrow (often one lane) mountain roads that dropped off hundreds if not thousands of feet.  And even on the two lane highways we were constantly in fear of oncoming tractor trailer trucks who were often on our side of the road!  Ralph and Tyler drove the Land Cruiser and Jim and I the van.   We made it from the airport back to the airport without incident (but do see the adventure at the end of this short article…)

The food was—for the most part—outstanding.  But the prices were insane.  A piece of cake after dinner, that will be $20 US please…  Bird-photography-wise we saved the best for last, spending four days on the cliffs at Latrabjarg photographing Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Northern Fulmar, and Black-legged Kittiwake. The puffins were just about tame enough to touch.  Visitors to Iceland are cautioned to expect lousy weather.  We were somewhat cursed, cursed with one sunny blue sky day after another.  With the long days of the sub-arctic summer this meant that we often stayed out to photograph until well after midnight only to set the alarm for 4am to take advantage of the early morning light.  Naps or no naps, this made for a physically grueling trip.  I am planning a fairly short Iceland trip with almost all of the time spent with the puffins at this amazing place.  It will most likely be in mid-late July but I am not sure what year…

As amazing as the photography and the land was, the group dynamics were even more wonderful.  Rosie did not like the cliffs or the roads so we teased her mercilessly about them all the time and she was a great sport.  Ralph tried to ruin the whole trip on our first big travel day by announcing that he had left the Mark III camera and his 500mm lens on the bed in the hotel in Reykjavik that was seven hours in our wake.  He concocted several plans for renting a car or flying back to Reykjavik to get his gear, despite the fact that the hotel had denied finding it.  We pulled all the luggage out of the vehicles and searched all but one of the bags as Ralph repeatedly  insisted that he had not put the rig into any type of bag.  After an hour or so of despair Gill decided to look inside the last bag where she found both the lens and the camera resting safely…

Everyone went out of their way to help the next guy or gal, but Jim Heupel needs to be singled out for thanks.  He was our chief navigator; when I had no idea where we were headed, there was Jim in the passenger seat with GPS in hand and computer plugged into the cigarette lighter directing us to our night’s lodging or to this waterfall or that glacier.  On each of our many stops he assisted me in getting the luggage loaded or unloaded, all the while with a big smile on his face.  In addition, he was a most stellar roommate.  Thanks Jim!

As I dropped my group off curbside at the Keflavik airport I breathed a sigh of relief.  No flat tires, no car trouble.  (The van had more than 90,000km on it at the start of the trip…)  All that was left was to drop off the van at the rental car lot.  I came  to a sort of intersection at the end of the terminal building and was searching for a sign indicating car rental return.  To my right, as I recall, was a sort of tall, white, lattice fence that blocked my vision.  It seemed that I had to make a left turn as I had come to a “T” and there did not seem to be a road to the right.  (Boy was I wrong about that!)  I eased into the intersection still a bit unsure of where I was going when a white car zoomed by me at about 60 mph missing the right front of the van by inches…  Just when you think that you have it made in the shade is the time to be most cautious.  I was quite thankful…

I received the following e-mails from various trip participants:

Dear Art,  I want you to know that Rosalie and I had a great time in Iceland.  The country was more than I expected and the bird photography was rewarding.  Having a friendly, compatible group of people along made it even better.  We appreciate your leadership and excellent teaching.  You were helpful in the field as well as at the computer.  You are certainly a leader in bird photography and just watching you work was educational.  Those who missed the trip missed a lot.  We look forward to traveling with you in the future.  Best Regards,  Tom and Rosalie Kreulen

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Hi Artie, I want to thank you enormously for such a great trip to Iceland - it exceeded all my expectations. Thank you for lending us your camera when ours failed. The crew was fantastic and even though we were the least experienced bird photographers they all went to great lengths to help us make better pictures and also learn that it's not the pots!  And from Tyler and Ralph we learned a lot about landscape photography.  Now that we are away from such good photographers some of our own pictures look reasonably good! I've tried to make the puffin and Razorbill pictures "pop" but they still look pretty flat despite of all my manipulations in CS2/3 so I'll send a couple to Robert O'Toole and get the expert adjustments.

It amazes me how much my (and Bob's)  skills have improved - we are now looking for “the picture” as opposed to just looking for those in sharp focus…   What really drives this point home is the difference between the Reykjavik duck pond IMAGES before and after the trip!   Editing all of our pictures is going to take a long time but in doing so we will  gain valuable experience in recognizing the really good images. If you ever plan a trip to the Canadian Maritimes let us know.  Best, Gill (originator of "Artie-Facts")

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Artie,   Thanks again for a truly memorable trip to Iceland. Every part of it was great -- (maybe not the midges at Lake Myvatn ...but the Red-Throated Divers with their chicks made up for it). The photographic opportunities were endless. When you said we'd get even closer to the Puffins ... I had no idea you meant THAT close!!!  After this trip, we can all truly say we have really say we have seen Iceland as few have seen it. Thanks again!  All my best, Jim Heupel

Red-throated Loon (Diver) with chick, Iceland

Image Copyright 2007:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark III.  ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/640 sec. at f/7.1.   

I earned my pay as leader by spotting these guys naked eye in a small pond quite far from the road.   Having a camera like the Mark III that can produce virtually noise-free images at the higher ISOs makes things a lot easier when it is near midnight…

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Hey, Artie, So how’s it going?  Enjoyed your BAA Iceland/Mark III Bulletin.  I was fearful of being revealed in an unflattering light, what with the "missing" 500 episode on our first day, but you were kind and didn't mention it.  (Editor’s note: not!)  For this I am grateful, and owing you an act of commensurate reciprocation, most glorious master; although, should you be wishing to mention the afore-mentioned episode in a less than flattering light in a future bulletin, I would be forced to consider revealing to the photography universe the full and horrifying extent of your lack of navigational aptitude. Artie-Fact or Artie-Fiction? You be the judge.

Remember us sitting on the floor at Keflavik and seeing that Eider hen on my computer for the first time? That's when I realized how lucky I was to have gone out that last morning, and how much I'd learned from you, much as I hate to admit it; on future IPTs I'm sticking to you like white on rice, and damn the sleep deprivation.  I'm just getting around to finishing up my first edit, and started playing around with my picks; I'm not as quick as you are, but then, few mere mortals are.  BTW, thanks for a great experience in Iceland. I learned a lot on this trip, and I'm happy with what I brought home, in terms of both pictures and also memories of a beautiful place.  

Common Eider, drake, Iceland

Image Copyright 2007:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D Mark III.  ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/7.1.  Fill flash at -2 stops.    

I have always loved out-of-focus green backgrounds; getting one for this stunning male eider was a big thrill.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN…

After preparing this Bulletin in advance, I left for the Galapagos early on the morning of Wednesday, July 17.  It might surprise some to learn that I am leaving my formerly beloved EOS-1Ds Mark II at home and bringing only EOS 1D Mark III bodies.  FYI I am taking the following lenses:  500 f/4L IS, 400mm f/4 DO, 70-200 f/4L IS, 24-105 IS L, and the 15mm fish eye.  I will also be bringing two 1.4X TCs, one 2X TC, three extension tubes, the Gitzo 3530 LSV CF tripod, and the Mongoose M3.5 action head.  See y’all soon.

White Wagtail (I think…), Iceland

Image Copyright 2007:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens with the 2X II TC and the EOS-1D Mark III.  ISO 400.  Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/300 sec. at f/20. Fill flash at -1 stop with Better Beamer.  

We saw these guys all over Iceland without getting any nice images.  Just before the end of the trip this bird landed right in front of me with bugs for the chicks and posed for five minutes! 

THE MARK III AS A GENERAL NATURE & LANDSCAPE CAMERA by ROBERT AMORUSO

After receiving my Mark III camera I read through the manual and noticed that there were many improved features for general nature and landscape photographers. These include:

1)    The maximum number for Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) was increased from 3 to 7 frames. You can now choose from 2, 3, 5 or 7 frame bracketed sequences.  Being able to create seven images bracketed in third stops is a great convenience.  You can change the number of bracketed images with C. Fn. I-6.  You can also control bracketing cancellation with C.Fn I-4 and bracketing sequencing with C.Fn I-5.

This is also an important feature when shooting images to be combined via High Dynamic Range (HDR).  HDR is the process of combining bracketed images to expand the overall dynamic range (over that available in an individual image). You create a series of bracketed exposures that record the details in the shadows, the mid-tones, and the highlights and then combine them.

2)    Mirror lock-up can now be set so that the mirror will not be lowered until the “SET” button is pressed.  When creating a series of seven bracketed exposures the mirror remains raised while all seven images are created.  You then press the “SET” button to lower the mirror. This function is activated by setting C.Fn III-15 set to 2.  When you set mirror lockup to Enable (C.Fn III-15:1) you will need to raise the mirror before making each image in a bracketed sequence. This is a real pain.  With C.Fn III-15: 2 the process is much simpler and faster.

3)    Highlight Tone Priority (C.Fn II-3) is a huge advance as highlight detail is improved substantially.  I have struggled to record the subtle highlight details in the Fragrant Water Lily blossoms that I photograph at Viera Wetlands.  My more recent images created with the MIII reveal the detail that I saw when I looked at the actual flower; this feature leaves me totally amazed. What a marvel!   When using this setting, ISO setting are limited to between 200 and 3200. Canon reports that noise in shadows may increase slightly though I have not noticed it. With white birds, the “pasty” whites that I had learned to accept from my other EOS 1 cameras are now a thing of the past.

4)    ISO performance has significantly increased. Images I created at ISO 400 on my other EOS 1 cameras are easily duplicated at ISO 800 on the Mark III and have less noise. It is particularly obvious in blue skies where I almost always had to do noise reduction for ISO 400 mages from my EOS 1D Mark IIN.  Similar images from the Mark III at ISO 400 and 800 are virtually noise free and the shadows are noticeably less noisy as well.

I had an excellent chance to put the Mark III though its paces while photographing general nature while vacationing at Great Smokey Mountains National Park recently.  Most landscape images were created by making a sequence of bracketed exposures that were later combined using HDR.  Cades Cove is a popular wildlife viewing area for Black Bear (we saw one but it was far off) and White-tailed Dear (we saw many).  

Fragrant Water Lily, Viera Wetlands, FL, Image Copyright 2007: Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images

Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark III.  1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode at ISO 400.

White-tailed Deer, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Cades Cove, TN.  Image Copyright 2007: Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images 

Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens and the EOS-1D Mark III.  Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6 in Av mode at ISO 800. 

Grotto Falls, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, TN.  Image Copyright 2007: Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images

Canon 24 to 105mm f/2.8L IS lens at 28mm and the EOS-1D Mark III.  Evaluative metering +1/2 stop: 1.3 sec. at f/22 in Av mode at ISO 200.. 

BOSQUE DEL APACHE NWR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP with Robert Amoruso

Join award-winning nature photographer Robert Amoruso on November 23, 2007 for a special one-day landscape photography workshop at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Bosque is a great location for avian photography but few realize that many opportunities exist for creating stunning landscape images. Since my first visit in 2004, I spend some of my time at Bosque pursuing landscapes using not only wide angles but the longer focal lengths as well. Telephoto lenses allow you to isolate patterns in that landscape and concentrate on details.  The 23rd is the day before the full moon and with a moonset one hour before sunrise and a moonrise one hour before sunset, additional opportunities exist to create some interesting moonscapes. Bird-scapes will be on the agenda as well.

The workshop includes a morning and an afternoon photography session (with personalized instruction).  There will be a demonstration on how to create both stitched panoramic and high dynamic range (HDR) images.   Between photography sessions you will learn how I process both the panoramic and the HDR images using Photoshop, Photomatix, and Panorama Maker. Participants will also receive a workshop CD with a complete set of notes.

The Landscape workshop is timed to fall between Artie’s second and third Bosque IPT’s. I will be co-leading with Artie on those IPT’s and hope that you can you join me for the landscape workshop.  The cost of the workshop is $275 per person. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required for the workshops. The balance ($175) is due no later than October 23. Should you find—after the October 23 deadline—that you cannot attend, your payment will be refunded only if your spot can be filled. Please e-mail Robert at wildscapeimages@comcast.net for payment options. 

You can learn more about Robert Amoruso and see his work at www.wildscapeimages.com.  You can contact him at 407-808-7417 (cell) or by e-mail at wildscapeimages@comcast.net.

Mountains, intentional pan blur, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM  Image Copyright 2006: Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images

Canon 600mm f/4L IS +1.4x and Canon EOS-1D Mark IIN.  Manual, Evaluative Metering, 1/8 sec at f/10, ISO 100

THE NIKON ANSWER-MAN

Award-winning nature photographer James Shadle has graciously agreed to be our Nikon Answer-man.  He will be glad to answer your Nikon-related photography questions and to copy me so that I can learn more about the system.   You may e-mail James at james@wildflorida.net.  You may address him as James, Jim, or Froggie, but since he is on the dark side, he prefers “Darth Vader” (for the Nikon-Qs.) 

James is currently working on two new BAA Site Guides, one for the Everglades and one for the Tampa Bay area.  He knows every nook and cranny in each of these areas… 

Atlantic Puffin with nesting material, Iceland

Image Copyright 2007:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 70-200 mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 280mm) the EOS-1D Mark III.  ISO 1000.  Evaluative metering +2/3 stop:  1/500 sec. at f/5.6 in Manual mode.  Fill flash at -2 stops.  

The tiny 70-200mm f/4L IS lens is my new favorite.  I am glad I listened to my posse as each of them owns this lens and had been raving about it for months.  I relied on it heavily when photographing the various puffin behaviors.   ISO 1000 is not a typo….

MARK III USER’S GUIDE KUDOS

Hi Art: Even though I had not received my new Mark III from Hunts Photo, I purchased your MIII Users Guide. I studied it carefully in anticipation of receipt of the camera. Finally on Friday, after a really sad (but true) story told to Gary at Hunts, the UPS man delivered the camera.  Having read and highlighted various sections of your guide I programmed the camera as you suggested and was making great photographs within hours of getting my hands on it!  Thanks a million for the tips. Keep them coming.  Jack DeWitt, Norwalk, CT

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Art, I just wanted to thank you for putting the MII UG  together.  I can't even begin to express how much it has helped. I just signed up for your seminar in NYC in August and  look forward to meeting you.  Thanks again, Bob Vichko

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Artie, Thanks for the update on the MIII UG. It is the most useful and most timely (having just received my MIII 2 days ago) purchase I have made in years. And at $20.00 it is also the bargain of a lifetime.   There is so much new ground being broken by this complex, high technology instrument, that I can't imagine anyone, except perhaps the technologically elite, wanting to face it alone. Your guide has been invaluable to me the last few days.  Thanks Again  Artie.  I'm feeling the love!  Malcolm Mackenzie.

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You can order your updated copy of the Mark III User’s Guide PDF right now for $20—by e-mail only.  Updates are free.  As is usual Paypal is quite convenient.  You can call us at 863-692-0906 with credit card in hand, or send a check for the correct amount made out to “Arthur Morris” to us as follows: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, 4041 Granada Drive, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855.

Barrow’s Goldeneye flock, Iceland

Image Copyright 2007:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 250mm and the EOS-1D Mark III.  ISO 400.  Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/320 sec. at f/13.     

We were able to create these lovely pattern-type images by photographing from a hill high above the pond.  Had we been down at water level the images would not have been as effective.  Myth:  you need a big lens to make good bird photographs.

APATATS-1 KUDOS

Dear Mr. O'Toole,   I just received your APTATS CD and completed the quick mask object  removal tutorial.  I want to  tell you that this technique is amazing!  I tried something similar many  times in the past with limited to horrible success.  After a few trials I was able to get an image that I love.  Thank you so very much.   I also want to thank you for putting the hard work, effort, and time  into your free Newsletter.  Your efforts have made mine so much more enjoyable.  Sincerely, Jim (Howell)…..

You can order your APTATS-1 PDF (on CD only today for $20 plus $3 shipping and handling ($23 total) in the US.  Florida residents need to add 7% sales tax:  $21.40 plus the $3 shipping and handling ($23.40 total).  To Canada the cost is $20 plus $6 shipping ($26 total).   For overseas customers the cost will be $20 plus $8 shipping and handling ($28 total).  APTATS-1 is being shipped in its final form; it will not be updated.   (We regret that recent US Postal Service increases have forced us to raise the price for shipping CDs from $2 to $3.)  

Paypal is—as always—quite convenient.  Be sure to include your ship-to address.   You can call us at 863-692-0906 with credit card in hand, or send a check for the correct amount made out to “Arthur Morris” to us as follows: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, 4041 Granada Drive, Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855.

Northern Fulmar, Iceland

Image Copyright 2007:  Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens with the 2X II TC and the EOS-1D Mark III.  ISO 400.  Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/640 sec. at f/13. 

Getting up at 4am after getting to sleep after 1am is never easy, but images like this are richly-earned rewards.  The Mark III offers amazingly luscious color and images that reflect what I saw at the moment of capture.  When working at minimum focusing distance it is important to use some extra depth-of-field.

NYC SEMINAR NEWS

Canon Pro-Markets rep Alyssa Cohen will be joining us on Saturday with a few large equipment trunks of great Canon gear (new and old) for you to get your hands on.  Every pro-markets rep that I have worked with at the various seminars has been a wealth of technical knowledge and has been mobbed by eager participants during the breaks.  In addition, we will have a host of great door prizes including stuff from Lowepro, Delkin, Hunt’s, Wimberly, Nature Photographer magazine, Birder’s World, WildBird, and Bird Watcher’s Digest among others.

Registration has been picking up over the past few weeks; we now have more than 100 folks signed up with lots of out-of-towners.  Nature photographers from Texas, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Iowa, Maine, California, South Dakota, Quebec, Canada and the UK joining will be joining the many from the Tri-State area.  Whenever I am within a three hour drive of a workshop given by a colleague I make it a point to attend.  Folks are often curious as to why…  No secret there:  I want to learn more.  Do consider joining us this August.

The Art of Nature Photography; It Ain’t Just Birds!  Weekend How-To Seminar

Queens, New York (near JFK Airport)  August 18-19, 2007 

This seminar is for all nature photographers who want to learn how to make better photographs. If you live within a three hour drive and are not planning on attending, you are either an amazingly talented photographer and Photoshop expert or you need to re-think things <smile>  On Saturday I will describe the methods and techniques that I have developed and used since 1983.  My comments on equipment (including and especially digital equipment), autofocus, light, and on composition and image design, and my tips on getting close to free and wild subjects and creating pleasing blurs will benefit everyone who owns a telephoto lens and wishes to dramatically improve the quality of their images. Since going all-digital in November 2002, I have--in short order--become a digital photography and Photoshop expert.  My approach to optimizing images is to create a master file of excellent quality in the shortest possible time.  I will share our workflow and numerous Digital and Photoshop tips on Sunday.  As more and more folks are using Digital Capture, I am finding on our IPTs that many good to excellent photographers have no clue as to how to use Photoshop to make their images look better.  In fact, many of them make their best images look worse!  My workflow is designed to quickly produce master files of high quality.  I can and will teach you to do just that at this seminar.    

The cost of the weekend seminar is $169.  The cost of either single day is $99.  Members of qualifying camera clubs are invited to apply a $10 discount.  (If you are a member of a camera club or other photography organization please e-mail for details.)  Register with a friend or spouse and take $10 off each registration.  Register in groups of four or more and take $20 off of each registration. Get a group of ten photographers together and apply a $30 discount to each registration.  (Please e-mail for group registration details.)  It is highly recommend that folks purchase the buffet luncheon option ($15/day includes tip and tax) as there are no fast food restaurants nearby. Those purchasing the lunch option will receive their lunch coupon when they check in each morning.)  The cost of the weekend seminar plus the two lunches is $199.