NEW PLANS FOR ME/THE 2011
BOSQUE IPT ANNOUNCEMENT
With my 65th birthday fast approaching this coming Flag Day (June 14th), I
am continuing to make major course changes in my life. The first
major change, made about two years ago, was to begin teaching
fewer IPTs with smaller groups on longer trips. That has
worked out exceedingly well. For 2011, I am scheduling only
one traditional teaching IPT, the 2011 Complete Bosque Experience
IPT (announced below).
So the question is, am I slowing down? The answer is an emphatic
"No." In addition to the upcoming trips to Greece for Dalmatian
Pelicans in late February/early March, Homer, AK for eagles right after that,
a return to Midway in April, and yet another wondrous Galapagos
Photo Cruise in July, I will be traveling to Antarctica at the very end of 2011
(and returning home well into January 2012). I am looking at a trip
to arctic Norway this June. In February/March 2012 Robert O'Toole and
I will be leading a Once in a Lifetime IPT to Japan. In April
2012 I will be in Holland with Peter Kes photographing Black-tailed Godwit
and a wide variety of other birds. We might be bringing two folks at
most as a good deal of the photography is from the car. After the
birds I am planning on leading my first-ever Tulip IPT. So not
only am I planning on expanding my world travels but on expanding subject matter
as well. Life is short, I have my health, and I plan on very much enjoying
each breath.
Yikes, I almost forgot: if you are a very happy camper and are seriously
interested in traveling with me on a killer South Georgia/Falklands trip in
October 2012, please e-mail me at
samandmayasgrandpa@att.net
with "South Georgia/Falklands" cut and pasted into the Subject box. I
already have a roommate on board (multiple bear boat IPT veteran George
Brunt). In addition, highly skilled globe-trotting photographer
Paul McKenzie
committed to the trip the moment he learned of
it.
Sunrise HDR from the Spur Road, Bosque del
Apache NWR, San Antonio, NM
Image copyright 2010: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS
ART
Canon 24-105mm IS L lens (at 24mm) with the EOS-1D
MIV. ISO 400. Five frame bracketed around Evaluative metering -1
stop at f/14. Camera and lens on the Giotto's MH 1302-655
(Tiny) Ballhead. Learn why and how I use this head
here.
This image was
created from four of the five original images with NIK HDR EFEX
Pro. The NIK program is the first HDR program that does what it is
supposed to do: take the details from the highlight areas and blend them with
the revealed detail in the shadow areas. With Photomatix, every image
that comes out of Tone Mapping has blown highlight and underexposed
darks.... That has not happened to me once with NIK HDR EFEX Pro and I
love the natural look that I can get if I want it. In addition, they have
many, many optional pre-sets.
You can save 15%
on all NIK products by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code box at
check-out. Then hit Apply to see
your savings. I have been using and learning and loving COLOR
EFEX and SILVER EFEX also.
THE 2010 BOSQUE SITE GUIDE
UPDATE: A NEW CONCEPT
Since getting back from Bosque, I spent a full 12-hour
day updating and synching the Bosque Site Guide and the 2009 Update. Then,
starting from scratch, I spent two full 12-hour days creating the Bosque
2010 Site Guide Update. This update will be sent to all folks who
have previously purchased the Bosque Site Guide no later than the close of
business on Monday December 13. If you do not receive
your update by then, please e-mail us on Tuesday December 14 and let us
know how you paid.
You can purchase the complete Bosque Site Guide (which
of course will include all updates including the 2010 Update) for $50 by calling
Jim at 863-692-0906 with credit card in hand, by sending us a Paypal
for $50 to birdsasart@att.net, or by clicking here.
When you purchase the complete Bosque Site Guide you will receive free updates
soon after each visit that I make.
Now here is the new concept: the Bosque 2010
Site Guide Update was written as a stand-alone work. If you will be
visiting Bosque this year you can purchase the 2010 Update Only (5779 words and
74 great new images, all with our legendary educational
captions) for only $25. And you will know
where to be on what wind in what light and when. And why. You can
purchase the Bosque 2010 Site Guide Update Only for $25 by calling Jim at
863-692-0906 with credit card in hand, by sending us a Paypal for $25
to birdsasart@att.net, or by clicking
here. You
will be getting the nearly complete Bosque course for half price. It's the
next best thing to being on an IPT.
Blue Goose, adult wheeling in flight, Bosque del
Apache NWR, San Antonio, NM
Image copyright 2010: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS
ART
Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D MIV. ISO
400: 1/1250 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode.
Both the Complete Bosque Site Guide and the 2010
Update Only will teach you how the wind affects the flight photography of
both the cranes and the geese so that you can wind up in the right place at the
right time and create images like this. Each guide goes into great detail
concerning wind direction and the various locations for flight photography.
To see the original, and to learn to work in Manual mode,
click here.
To learn how to properly expose for the cranes and for the various morphs and
ages of the geese, click here.
All free 
.
HUNT'S SPECIALS
 |
SHOPPER'S GUIDE
Here is the gear that I used to create the images for this
Bulletin:
And from the BAA On-line Store:
If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear
be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure
to check out our complete
Shopper's Guide. You
will learn to find the lowest prices, comparison shop, and help us to keep
offering tons of great free info and images.
Sandhill Cranes above the Chupaderas, Bosque del
Apache NWR, San Antonio, NM
Image copyright 2010: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS
ART
Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with 1.4X II TC and the EOS-1D
MIV. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/400 sec. at
f/8.
As there was not much sky color I converted this to a
bright B&W using NIK SILVER EFEX Pro.
You can save
15% on all NIK products by clicking here and entering BAA in the Promo Code
box at check-out. Then hit Apply to
see your savings.
Fly South with the Birds
2010 Winter Workshops
Ah
Winter in
Florida! Enjoy warm temperatures, dry sunny days, and an abundance of
birds that make Florida their home for the winter. Its the perfect winter
setting for birds and photographers. Flight
School Photography is pleased to announce the fourth year of Fly South with the
Birds winter workshops in central Florida. Your instructor and guide, Jim
Neiger, is intimately familiar with this region and its avian subjects; and he
knows the hotspots like no one else. He is the author of the Central
Florida Site Guide and several articles about the birds of central
Florida. Jim is also well known for his awesome images of birds in flight
obtained by using his own techniques for hand-holding long telephoto
lenses.
Male Snail Kite Landing with
Island Apple Snail
Image copyright © 2010: Jim
Neiger/Flight School Photography
Each of the three Fly South with the Birds winter
workshops will include eight 3 to 4 hour photo sessions: Four photo sessions via
boat and four photo sessions on land. Commonly seen and photographed
subjects include: Snail Kite, Bald Eagle, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Red
Shouldered Hawk, Crested Caracara, Osprey, Sandhill and Whooping Cranes, and
numerous wading birds, songbirds, woodpeckers, ducks, etc.
The 5-Day Winter Workshops will begin with an afternoon
classroom session, where you will learn techniques for hand-holding long
telephoto lenses to photograph birds in flight. You will also learn how to
safely use recorded bird songs to increase your photographic
opportunities. This will be followed by 4 full days in the field. The
group will explore remote and highly productive areas of central Florida and
visit a variety of habitats. The boat sessions will give us access to
some desirable subjects including Snail Kite, the rarest raptor in
North America. Refreshments will be provided during all sessions.
Jims 2007 pontoon boat was purchased and customized
specifically for use during photography workshops. It is roomy, comfortable, and
stable. The boat is equipped with an extremely quiet, four-stroke motor
for silent cruising. It also has a powerful, silent, electric trolling
motor with wireless remote control. This allows Jim to position the boat
precisely and silently. The boat can be configured with no top, with a
half-canopy to provide shelter from sun and rain, or with a half-enclosure that
can completely protect participants from the elements. The boat has
capacity for twelve people, but Jim limits the number of participants to only 5
so that everyone has room to relax and photograph in comfort. Dont miss
this amazing opportunity.
Bald Eagle Returning to Nest with
Prey
Image copyright © 2010: Jim Neiger/Flight School
Photography
FSB-1: January 6-10,
2011
FSB-2: January 20-24, 2011
FSB-3: February 10-14,
2011
Workshop details: The cost of each workshop is
$1500 per person. Each workshop includes a four hour formal classroom
instruction session, the welcome dinner, and morning & afternoon
photography sessions each day. The photography sessions include
personalized instruction in the field. A $750 non-refundable deposit is
required for the workshops. The remaining $750 is due 15 days before the start
date of the workshop. If you are unable to attend the workshop, after
paying the balance, the balance payment will be refunded ONLY if your spot can
be filled, on short notice, from the waiting list. All workshop payments
must be made by check or money order. Credit cards are not accepted.
Please make checks payable to Flight School Photography, Inc. and send them to:
Flight School Photography, Inc.,
Jim Neiger, 550 Basin Drive, Kissimmee,
FL 34744
Participants should know how to create a
properly exposed image, should have a telephoto lens of 400mm or more (300mm
with a teleconverter is acceptable), and be physically capable of holding their
camera and lens up to their eye in shooting position for at least 20
seconds. Ground transportation is not
included.
POSSE NEWS: ROBERT
AMORUSO
Merritt Island/Viera Wetlands Photographic Instructional
Workshop
January 13-16, 2011 Three and
one-half days of extensive in-the-field instruction at two of East Central
Floridas best avian photography locations. Classroom sessions include daily
critiques of images you created during the workshop, proper exposure and
compositional techniques along with editing and processing your images. Field
instruction includes isolating your subject, understanding light, proper
exposure (exposing to the right), using depth of field to your advantage and
lots more. The just concluded December MINWR/Viera Wetland PIW was quite
successful with 6 delighted participants.
Two special attractions: On Friday
morning a trip to a scrub habitat sanctuary; home to 4 family groups of
endangered Florida Scrub Jays ranging in size of 6 to 10 jays per group. These
birds are curious by nature and come to you without prompting. At the December
workshop they quickly found us and were fantastic photography subjects amazing
my group and making a memorable impression. We will also visit the Avian
Reconditioning Center for a private up-close and personal photography session
with raptors, a big hit this year on the workshop. CD with lesson plans are
included no note taking required. Learn more here.
Previous Amoruso workshop
participants receive a 10% discount on this workshop.
Florida Scrub Jay created during the December 2010
PIW
Image copyright
2010/Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images
Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens with 1.4x TC
and the Canon 7D. Evaluative metering set manually at 1/1250 sec., f/8, ISO
400.
Barred Owl (captive) created during the December
2010 PIW
Image copyright
2010/Robert Amoruso/Wildscape Images
Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens with 1.4x TC
and the Canon 5D Mark II. Evaluative metering set manually at 1/1000 sec., f/8,
ISO 400. Fill-Flash at -2/3.
St. Augustine Photographic Instructional
Workshop
April 14-17, 2011, Three and one-half
days of extensive field and classroom instruction at the famous St. Augustine
Alligator Farm with Robert Amoruso and Robert OToole. We will be using the
Alligator Farms Educational Center for meetings and equipment storage between
morning and afternoon sessions. Weather is pleasant in mid-April and mating,
nest building, and chicks are all to be expected in the rookery- its one of my
favorite times of the year to be there. Find out more here.
Private Photographic Instructional
Workshops
As good as a group workshop can be, sometimes private one-on-one
instruction is the ticket. My private workshops cater to your individual needs.
We will discuss your objectives In advance of the workshop and how to meet them
in a private setting. Then I design your workshop to meet those goals. My
private workshops generally include areas close to my home as I know them well
but I can travel to other locations in Florida if you have a specific locale in
mind. Learn more here
and here.
POSSE NEWS: TODD
GUSTASFON
INDIA-Quest
for the Tiger 2011 Leaving the US: March
29, 2011. Returning: April 15. $11,999.00
double occupancy
Indian
Tiger, Kanha, India
Image Copyright
2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari
Travel with Gustafson Photo
Safari (GPS) to India. Tigers are the main event, but India offers much
more, including 9th century temples, wild elephants, one horned rhino, ungulates
and great bird photography. Our host is closely tied to Project Tiger
which puts us in great situations for tiger photography. Experience 16
days of action packed photography in the most dramatic locations at the exact
right time of year for only $11,999.00 double occupancy.
Black-necked
Stork, Baradpur, India
Image Copyright
2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari
GPS is also offering a
shorter Tiger Intensive safari for those who cant get away for the
entire 16 day tour.
INDIA-Tigers,
Tigers, Tigers 2011. Dates: Leaving the US:
March 29, 2011. Returning: April 9. $8,999.00
double occupancy.
Jungle
Owlet, Bandhavgarh, India
Image Copyright
2010: Todd Gustafson/Gustafson Photo Safari
Request the full color PDF for both
trips by e-mail to gustaphoto@aol.com. Learn more about Todd
here. Do
some tiger tracking here.
And be sure to get a copy of Todd's
great safari photo guide: The Photographers
Guide to the Safari Experience.
IPT UPDATES
SAN DIEGO IPT: JAN 19-23,
2011. Slide program on the
evening of JAN 18. 5 Full Days: $2399 (Limit
8/sold Out). Co-leaders Tim Grey and Todd
Gustafson. Brown Pelicans in spectacular breeding plumage with their
bright red bill pouches, Wood and Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Western,
California, and Heerman's Gulls, Marbled Godwit, and lots, lots more.
Please see terms and deposit info below.
SW FLA IPT: FEB 9-14,
2011. Slide program on the
evening of FEB 8. 6 Full Days: 2899. (Limit 10/openings 2).
Escape winter's icy grip to enjoy a wide array of Florida's tame birds: herons,
egrets, Wood Stork, shorebirds, gulls, terns, skimmers, raptors, and more.
Please see terms and deposit info immediately below.
Terms and deposit
info:
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold a spot on the above
IPTs. Deposits may be paid by check, PayPal, or credit card. Payment in
full (by check or money order only) is due five months before the start of
each trip and is non-refundable unless the IPT sells out. You will be
required to sign a statement of understanding to this effect. Travel
insurance is of course highly recommended.
Travel
Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options.
Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic &
Plus Options is Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons
for your canceling to an infinite list from a sudden work or family obligation
to a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great
policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more
here. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel
insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your
credit card. Travel insurance protects you against unexpected
developments, injuries, or illnesses. We regret that we must implement
this policy but we have been plagued by last minute cancellations that make
it impossible for others to participate and deprive us of essential
income. Please consider your schedule and your work and family obligations
carefully before plunking down your deposit.
Important note: please print, fill out, and sign the registration and
release forms and include them with your deposit check (made out to "Arthur
Morris." ) If you use a credit card to register, please fill out, sign,
and mail the forms asap. Your registration will not be complete until we
receive your paper work. You can find the forms
here.
GREECE/DALMATIAN PELICAN
EXPLORATORY IPT. FEB 27-MAR 5, 2011. 6 1/2+ Full Days of Photography: $2499. (Limit:
6/openings 1). Co-leaders: Arthur Morris, Robert
O'Toole, and Yannis Arvanitis as our bi-lingual guide. Payment in full is
due immediately. Please call to hold a spot pending the arrival of your
check made out to "Arthur Morris." Europeans please e-mail for wire
transfer details. No discounts. For images and complete
information click
here.
If you would like additional info on Lake Kerkini please e-mail me at
samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and
request same.
HOMER BALD EAGLE IPTs WITH ROBERT O'TOOLE,
MARCH 2011: (All three sold out.)
GALAPAGOS 2011
PHOTO-CRUISE OF A LIFETIME IPT/The Complete Galapagos Photographic Experience:
July 3-20, 2011 (July 5-19, 2011 on the boat): 13 1/2 days of photography plus a
last morning panga ride: $12, 499. (Limit 11/sold out.)
If you
would like your name placed on the seriously interested list for the SUMMER 2012
trip, please e-mail me at birdsasart@att.net.
Best and great
picture-making,
artie
Note: Arthur Morris has been a
paid Canon contract photographer, part of the Explorers of Light program, since
1996 and continues in that role today. Hunt's Photo of Boston, MA is a BAA
sponsor as is Delkin Devices.
) spent a fabulous week with BIRDS AS ART at
Bosque del Apache NWR (90 miles south of Albuquerque, NM and 20 miles south of
the eco-tourist friendly town of Socorro). With a great crew of co-leaders
(Robert O'Toole, Denise Ippolito, Jim Heupel, and Peter Kes), the best
conditions at the refuge in recent memory, and lots of clouds and south winds, a
truly great time was had by all. From our first glorious sunrise to our
last action-packed afternoon there was--as always--tons of learning going
on. I was sharp and on my game having the group in
the perfect spot for all but ten minutes over the
course of the seven days. We strive to teach folks what we are thinking
when we move from one location to another. On some mornings we visited
four or five locations during the first two hours. With great photo opps
at each site. 
