BIRDS AS ART BULLETIN 262
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN
INDIAN RIVER PHOTO CLUB PROGRAM WORLDWIDE STREAMING COVERAGE
INDIAN RIVER PHOTO CLUB PROGRAM
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER JOB PERKS
CANON 40D GIG
BPN’s AMAZING SUCCESS
PRODUCT INFO AND UPDATES
2008 GATORLAND PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOP w/Robert J. Amoruso & Robert O’Toole
PORTLAND SEMINAR
IPT UPDATES
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Painted Bunting male on decaying palm stump, Little St. Simons Island, GA
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-40D. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/100 sec. at f/5.6. Fill flash at -1 stop.
All in all I was disappointed with my Little St. Simons Island visit. Painted Buntings were in short supply and the staff of the lodge was not very helpful to photographers. The food, however, was beyond superb. I am still loving the files and color that come out of the 40D.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
I will be leaving this coming Thursday for the Zegrahm’s Wild Britain Cruise and then continuing on to Bonaventure Island with Chris Dodds on the great Gannet trip (which—as predicted—sold out within minutes after being announced in a BAA Notes last week. I will out of the office until Monday, June 23. Please hold off on sending your photography-related questions until my return. Thanks! Jim and Jennifer will be here to help with your mail orders, most equipment questions, and your IPT and Portland Seminar registrations. Be safe, breathe deep, have fun, and make some great images until I get back.
Breeding plumage Cattle Egret, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-40D. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/125 sec. at f/5.6. Fill flash at -2 stops.
Breeding plumage Cattle Egret’s are among my favorite birds with their magenta lores and red/yellow/orange bills. After using the 500 on the first day of the video shoot I stuck totally to the 70-200 handheld with the 40D, often with the 1.4X II TC.
INDIAN RIVER PHOTO CLUB PROGRAM WORLDWIDE STREAMING COVERAGE
Mike Gibbons of the Kight Center for Emerging Technologies on the campus of Indian River Community College has arranged for live video of this Saturday’s Photoshop presentation to be streamed to the internet so that all can “attend.” To view the video click on the following link: http://winvod.ircc.edu/mainv110. The program will begin at 9am Eastern time and run to 1pm with two breaks. Se below for more program information.
Carolina Chickadee, Little St. Simons Island, GA
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS-40D. ISO 1000. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/250 sec. at f/8. Fill flash at -2 stops.
Here I love the pose, the head angle, and the palm leaves in the background. The high ISO performance of the 40D is on par with that of the EOS-1D Mark III.
INDIAN RIVER PHOTO CLUB APPEARANCE
I will be doing a half day Photoshop Seminar in Vero Beach for the Indian River Camera Club on May 24 from 9am to 1pm. We will cover the complete BAA Digital Workflow and share dozens of great Photoshop tips. This event is being generously sponsored by Canon USA/Explorers of Light. For complete details, click here: http://www.irphotoclub.org/files/artie_flyer_08.pdf
We will have a good supply of great mail order products on hand for sale. If you will be attending and would like to purchase a big-ticket item or just make sure that we will have what you want, please e-mail us immediately. It is not too late to register; I hope to see lots of you there.
Roseate Spoonbill fly-by, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 280mm) with the EOS-40D. ISO 1000. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops off the sky: 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. High Speed Synch Manual Flash at 1:1 with the Better Beamer at zero.
Anytime that a spoonbill flew by everyone blasted away at it regardless of the fact that the bird was a mile away, that the bird was flying away, or the light was horrific. In 2 ½ full days of photography I made only this single image. Pushing the shutter button and firing rapidly when you have no chance to make a decent image is a waste of time.
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER JOB PERKS
One of the great joys in my life is meeting so many wonderful folks on our IPTs. Yes, over the years four folks have been banned for life. But the very great majority of folks are sweet, sincere, loving, and eager to learn. Many have become great friends: Wes and Patti Ardoin of Lafayette, LA, Jim Heupel and wife Jackie of Fredericksburg,TX, Lou Newman of Sarasota, FL, Keith and David Kennedy from Racine, WI, Jack Panzeca of Arlington, TX, and Rocky Sharwell of Lakeland, FL among many others. Recently, I heard two amazing tales from IPT friends and wanted to share them with you here.
HUMAN INTEREST STORY #1/HAPPY ENDING #1
Ivan Rothman, a multiple-IPT veteran from Merrick, Long Island, is a medical oncologist and a superbly skilled photographer. He has presented several times at the New England Camera Club Council's annual meeting. I first met Ivan about a decade ago, several years after losing Elaine to breast cancer in 1994. We had lots to talk about. Unfortunately, in 1997, we had even more to talk about when Ivan's wife Dahlia was diagnosed with breast cancer. After putting up a good fight for 6 years, she succumbed in 2003. They had been married for 28 years.
Ivan dated for the next few years but couldn’t find that special person he was looking for. Back in 1995, Ivan and Dahlia had had some marital difficulties and separated for five months. Ivan dated a lovely blonde woman named Debbie. When Ivan and Dahlia reconciled, Ivan said good bye to Debbie. Debbie then met someone and married the following year. She was happy for ten years when she too lost her spouse to lung cancer. After a bit, a friend of Ivan's who knew Debbie suggested that Ivan ask Debbie for a date. Ivan refused saying, "The woman just lost her husband." The friend kept suggesting it and Ivan kept resisting. Finally the friend said, "If you don’t call her I will.” He called Ivan back with Debbie’s phone number saying she’d like to talk. Ivan called and arranged to meet Debbie, as old friends.
Ivan and Debbie met for dinner and the first thing that Debbie said to Ivan was, "I’m not ready to start dating yet, my husband has been gone for only 8 months" Ivan, however, is a persistent man. Debbie and Ivan were married last October. Debbie has already made a photographic trip to Africa with Ivan and it seems that she is interested. When I had the pleasure of meeting her at lunch on the day of the PFLI program that I did recently, she complained that Ivan kept all the long lenses for himself on their trip to Africa...
HUMAN INTEREST STORY/HAPPY ENDING #2
Ron Cantor, a nature photographer and retired dentist from Miami, FL, attended the SW FLA 5-DAY IPT this past March. He was accompanied by his non-photographer wife Margie. Towards the end of the IPT, Margie kindly invited me to a Seder in Miami on April 19, the first night of Passover. I accepted, planning to visit Green Cay Wetlands and do some photography before and after the Seder (which I did). Within minutes of arriving and chatting with several of the other guests, I began to feel like part of the family. I quickly learned that Ron and Margie had four daughters and 8 grandchildren, and that all of the daughters were highly successful professionals in various fields. They have lots to be proud of. Amazingly, there were 30 guests in all at the home of Ron's daughter Jan Hockman.
Margie took me aside and told me that oldest daughter, Sheryl, had married an Israeli, Yekutiel "Tuly" Wultz, and that while Tuly was visiting Tel Aviv, Israel, he was injured in a terrorist bombing that took the life of their 16 year old son, Daniel Cantor Wultz. A suicide bomber walked into a café and young Daniel took the brunt of the explosion, saving his Dad's life. Daniel survived for 27 days but eventually succumbed to his injuries. On what would have been Daniel's 17th birthday his parents established the Daniel Cantor Wultz Foundation to memorialize the values and vision that inspired Daniel. The foundation strives to create a safer world by fighting terrorism through education, service, and sports initiatives. You can learn more or make a donation at: www.dcwfoundation.org. I defy anyone to watch the news video or the tribute to Daniel without tearing up. I was sobbing. The link on the web site to the news video works, but the link to the tribute (which features a wonderful James Taylor song) is not quite right; you can see the video tribute on U-Tube by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_5ZFpeVgOw
By now most folks would be wondering how--despite the fact that some good--the foundation--has come from Daniel's tragic death—that this story could have a happy ending. When I first met Sheryl, she was holding a beautiful, blonde 3-month old baby boy in her arms. By any standards, little Abraham was a very late-in-life baby.
As I was the first to leave the Seder as I had to be up early photographing, I found that my Sequoia was blocked in by another vehicle. I got to utter a few words for the first time, words that I will most likely never say again: "Can you please have someone move the black Maserati?"
This story was fact-checked by and reprinted here with the permission of Sheryl Cantor Wultz.
CANON 40D GIG
On May 15th and 16th I met Damian Donach of the Canon Digital Learning Center (www.usa.canon.com/dlc), Chuck Westfall, one of Canon USA’s top technical reps, Rhonda Dorsett and young Katherine of the Phoenix Group, and a local video crew at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm (http://www.alligatorfarm.us/) to help create a “Shooter’s Insight” instructional video for the Canon EOS-40D camera body. Regular readers know that I have been working with and learning about the 40D for about a month now. Using two 40Ds extensively during the video shoot and working with Chuck I learned a ton of new stuff about the camera and am loving it even more. Why? Light weight. Small size. Professional feel with the Vertical Battery Grip. Fast and accurate AF with great AI Servo tracking. Integrated Sensor Cleaning system. Superb images files with great color. The 1.6X multiplier factor. Deadly with the 70-200 f/4 L IS lens and the 1.4X II TC. I very well may wind up purchasing one for my very own.
It will be a few months until the video is editing and posted. We shall advise of the posting and provide the direct link in a future Bulletin.
Umbrella Cockatoo (captive), “Peace Brother!, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 208 mm) with the EOS-40D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/320 sec. at f/7.1. High Speed Synch fill flash at 1 1/3 stops.
There are lots of great practice subjects in the shade at the Alligator Farm. I love the palm fronds in the background in this carefully designed image.
BPN’s AMAZING SUCCESS
Only a bit less than four months old, with more than 600 paying members and 4,500 participants, BirdPhotographer’s.Net is a growing and flourishing community. With our dedicated team of owners and moderators showing the way, we have been able to consistently offer “honest critiques done gently.” And by doing so (and leading be example), we have attracted a large number of knowledgeable members who are both skilled photographers and active participants. And most have followed our critiquing lead. We are very proud of our effort so far and hope that you drop by for a visit. Be sure to check out the “Exposure Quiz” link: http://birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12166 that deals with the two images below.
American Alligator (captive) with adult Cattle Egret, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the EOS-40D. ISO 400. Above: handheld at 111mm. Below: handheld at 70mm.
You gotta love zoom lenses! To learn the exposure details for these two images you will need to check out the amazingly informative BPN post here:
http://birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12166
PRODUCT INFO AND UPDATES
YES TO LENS PENS FOR SELF CLEANING CAMERAS
I received the following via e-mail from John Chapman:
Hi Art, I purchased a Lens Pen from you for my Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn. It works perfectly. Can I use the Pen for my latest Canon 40D camera? Regards, John.
Though the sensors of cameras with the Integrated Sensor Cleaning system or other self-cleaning systems stay 1,000 times cleaner than the sensors of cameras without such systems they do upon occasion need to be cleaned, especially before you will be working at small apertures for macro or high speed flash hummingbird photography. As always, the Lens Pen kit along with our exclusive, detailed cleaning instructions is the way to go. You can learn more about the Lens Pen Combo Kit and the needed accessories by clicking here: http://www.birdsasart.com/lenspens.htm and scrolling down.
INVENTORY UPDATES
For the first time in recent memory we have all three of the Gitzo 6X CF tripods in stock including the brand new 3530 LS. Click here for details and prices (1 cent less than B&H): http://www.birdsasart.com/accs.html#GITZO%20GT3530LSV%20TRIPOD%20(Replaces%20the%20CF%201325)
We also have BLUBBS (http://www.birdsasart.com/blubb.htm) and all sizes of the great NEOS overshoes for those wet grass mornings (http://www.birdsasart.com/Neos%20Page.htm). Delkin Sensor Scopes are both in stock and still on sale (http://www.birdsasart.com/delkin.htm#Sensor%20Scope) and we have the super-fast Delkin UDMA e-film Pro Compact Flash cards available at competitive prices.
Tricolored Heron, adult on nest w/crest raised, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 202 mm) with the EOS-40D. ISO 800. Evaluative metering at zero: 1/400 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. High Speed Synch fill flash at -2 stops.
This bird’s nest was in a bush right above the boardwalk. None-the-less, when anyone walked by, she had an attitude and showed it. I love the simple elegance of this image and wish that I had included the entire flower on the right-hand frame edge.
2008 GATORLAND PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUCATIONAL WORKSHOP w/Robert J. Amoruso & Robert O’Toole. JUNE 18-20, 2008. 3-DAY: $849. (LIMIT: 10)
Join Robert Amoruso and Robert O’Toole for an illuminating learning experience
at Gatorland’s wading bird rookery. We will teach you to create expressive
images of the breeding birds and their chicks.
We will work with you to help move your photography to the next level. Covered
will be proper head and light angle, finding the right background, use of
fill-flash, digital camera exposure, and designing pleasing images in-camera.
Classroom instruction will include editing your images, processing & cropping
your images, creating JPGs for posting, RAW vs. JPG, etc.
New for the 2008 season, Gatorland is offering a Photographer’s Pass with 7:30
AM entry & late staying until dusk. Gatorland (www.gatorland.com)
is located in Kissimmee, FL. The workshop includes 6 full sessions of
in-the-field image creation in the AM and PM and three classroom sessions in the
afternoons in Gatorland’s new state-of-the-art meeting room. The Gatorland
entry fees are not included (multiple pricing options are available, please
inquire with Robert Amoruso).
A flyer is available for download at
www.wildscapeimages.com/extra/2008June-GPIW.pdf and a multiple page in-depth
description of the workshop can be found here:
www.wildscapeimages.com/extra/2008June-GPIW-FAQ.pdf.
For additional information or to schedule a Gatorland Rookery workshop, contact Robert Amoruso at 407-808-7417 or info@wildscapeimages.com.
American Alligators, Image Copyright Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images
Canon 1D Mark IIn, 100-400mm @ 235mm
1/200 sec, f/8,Manual,Evaluative, ISO: 400, Flash exp comp: -2
These alligators were photographed in soft light but I used a -2 FEC setting to add some fill to the shadows. With alligators, less flash is needed as they are frequently wet and excessive flash creates a harsh look to them due to specular highlights.
Great Egret flash flight, Image Copyright Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images
Canon 1D Mark III, 100-400mm @ 130mm
1/500 sec, f/5.6, Manual, Evaluative, ISO: 1000, Manual Flash 1:1
This manual flash exposure of the Great Egret at 1:1 ratio created a nice flash as main light effect with a background of clouds. I set the exposure for ambient light manually in the camera. I then used the flash’s maximum output level to create this image. Wing tip resurrection was performed on this image using Robert O’Toole’s Quick Mask methods (www.aptats.com).
Wood Stork Family, Gatorland, FL
Image copyright 2008: Robert O’toole Photography
NIKON D300, 200-400mm f/4G VR Zoom with 1.4X. ISO 400. Manual Mode 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6. Focal length: 690mm (in 35mm film)
For extra reach I used a Nikon 1.4X teleconverter with the 200-400 to frame the wood stork chicks tightly. The diffused morning light helped me to control the high contrast as this image would have been impossible in full sun.
Cattle Egret Family, Gatorland, FL
Image copyright 2008: Robert O’toole Photography
NIKON D300, 200-400mm f/4G VR Zoom with 1.4X. ISO 400. Manual Mode 1/1250 sec. at f/5.6. Focal length: 450mm (in 35mm film)
The Nikon 200-400 is a great lens well suited for close up subjects in a bird rookery. In some cases the birds can be too close for long lenses so a zoom really works well.
Robert O’Toole will be offering his highly successful “Advanced Photoshop Techniques and Tips Simplified” APTATS Workshop on June 21, 2008.
The day after the Gatorland workshop on June 21st, Robert O’Toole will be offering his highly successful “Advanced Photoshop Techniques and Tips Simplified” or APTATS workshop from 9 AM to 5 PM. APTATS offers unrivaled editing power by eliminating the need and use of traditional repair tools such as Clone Stamp, the Healing brush, and the Patch tool. You can find out more about this workshop at http://www.aptats.com or contact Robert O’Toole by phone, 310.619.8017 or him at robert@robertotoolephotography.com directly to schedule this workshop.
Wood Stork with nesting material, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 98mm) with the EOS-40D. ISO 640. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops off the sky: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1 set manually. High Speed Synch Flash with the Better Beamer at zero.
The beauty of flash flight is that once you have the technique down you can crank out one great image after another. As this was my first chance to do lots of flight photography with the 40D, I was thrilled with the AF performance; initial focus acquisition was fast even when I used the 1.4X TC and the tracking was superbly accurate. Did I make any unsharp on the eye flight images? Of course: can you say “operator error”?
PORTLAND,
“The
Art of Nature Photography; It Ain’t Just Birds” Weekend How-To Seminar
in
Eastland Park
Hotel,
This seminar is for all nature photographers who want to learn how to make better photographs. On Saturday I will describe the methods and techniques that I have used and developed since 1983. My comments on lenses and digital camera bodies, AF, light, and on composition and image design will be highly informative and educational. And my tips on getting close to free and wild subjects and creating pleasing blurs will help you become a better photographer. Everyone with a telephoto lens who wishes to dramatically improve the quality of their images will benefit from attending.
Since going all-digital in November 2002, I have—with the help of many wonderful friends—become a Photoshop expert. My approach to optimizing images is to create master files 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! I can and will teach you to do just that at this seminar.
Do consider taking advantage
of the opportunity to spend two days learning from one of the premier nature
photography educators on the planet by joining me for this great weekend. The
October 11-12 dates were carefully chosen to
coincide roughly with the average peak of fall color in southern
The seminar will be held at
the Eastland Park Hotel. Folks staying at least two nights in the hotel will
receive a free Lens Pen Combo Kit at the seminar. As fall color time is peak
season in southern
The cost of the weekend seminar will be $169. The cost of either single day will be $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 us before registering to learn how your group can become a qualifying club). Register with a friend or a spouse and take $10 off each registration. Register in groups of four or more and take $20 off of each registration. Register in a group of ten or more and take $30 off each registration. It is highly recommend that folks purchase the buffet luncheon option ($15/day includes tip and tax). 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.
There are three ways to register:
1- Send a check for the full
amount made out to "Arthur Morris" to
2- Call us with a credit card at 863-692-0906.
3- Send us a Paypal (using either any link on our site or your Paypal account) to us at birdsasart@att.net.)
In all cases, we will need your e-mail address, your mailing address, and your daytime and evening phone numbers.
Here is our Cancellation
Policy: If for any reason you need to withdraw, please notify us ASAP. Once
we receive your e-mail, your phone call, or written notice of your
cancellation the following fees apply: cancel before
Tidal pool on deserted beach, Little St. Simons Island, GA
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 100-400mm IS L lens (at 100mm on the Mongoose M3.5) with the EOS-40D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 1/3 stops: 2.5 seconds at f/11.
I borrowed a 100-400 to create this image as I had forgotten the tripod collar for the 70-20omm f/4 L IS lens that hung from my shoulder. I wanted to use a very slow shutter speed to blur the surface of the pool.
And remember, it ain't just birds!
IPT UPDATES
Bosque IPT
#1:
Bosque IPT #2: NOV 29-DEC 2, 2008. Slide program on the evening of NOV 28. 4-DAY: $1799 Limit: 10/Openings: 3
SW FLA
PRESIDENT'S DAY IPT:
Breeding plumage Cattle Egret in flight, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
Image copyright 2008: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with the 1.4X II TC (handheld at 176 mm) with the EOS-40D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops off the sky: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6 set manually. High Speed Synch Flash with the Better Beamer at +1/3 stop.
Zoom lenses rule when doing flash flight at the Alligator Farm because the birds are often flying by at close range. I love the cocked head on this one. Most folks do not realize it but St. Augustine can be great right through mid-July (for those who can stand the heat). I like using ETTL for flash flight at the farm in low light conditions; if you use Manual flash at 1:1 (as you do when it is sunny) then there is a good chance that birds flying right by you will be over-exposed by the flash… (This is a very fine point.)
…..
Best
and love and great picture-
artie
Note: Arthur Morris has been a
Canon contract photographer since 1996 and
continues in that role today. Hunt's Photo of Boston, MA is a BAA sponsor as is
Delkin Devices. Back issues of all BAA Bulletins can be found in the Bulletin
Archives which