-
Field Report: Canon
D-30 and Flash
- August Issue of
NPN On-line
- Walt Anderson
Ground-Pod & WildBird
Field
Report: Canon D-30 and Flash
Frequent IPT
participant Matt Hagadorn has published an excellent field
report on his experience with the Canon D-30 (digital camera).
The report is also a wonderful account of the first BIRDS AS
ART/Instructional Photo Tour of Churchill, Manitoba that I led
this past June. I will surely be returning to Churchill in
2003 (and possibly in 2002).
To read
Matt's article and see his fine images, click on:
And do check out his galleries as well.
August Issue of NPN On-line
Be sure to check out "Morris
Magic" by Debbie Smith. Aside from being terribly
flattering, this piece features an account of the Washington
D.C. BIRDS AS ART photography weekend and offers an inside
look at the passion that drives me and the expertise that
has led to my (incredible) success. (If at this point you
feel the urge to send me a letter informing me that my
shameless self promotion sickens you, please instead take a
cold shower or do something constructive with your time.
Thanks and love...)
If you have not visited the
NPN Image Critique Galleries, you are missing some great
images. Of special interest--of course
--is the Avian Gallery
<smile>
Walt Anderson
Ground-Pod
The Walt Anderson ground-pod is now available from BIRDS AS
ART. This elegantly designed ground-pod is not for
everyone, but if you regularly get down on the ground to
photograph shorebirds and gulls at their eye-level, you will
not want to be afield without having this gadget in the big
back pocket of your X-tra Hand Vest. (The ground-pod is
reported to be ideal as well for photographing from atop a
bean bag in either your own car or an African safari
vehicle. Do note that I have not tested the ground-pod for
this purpose yet.)
(This winter plumaged Black-Bellied Plover was photographed on
Sanibel Island at ground-level with the proto-type ground pod,
the Canon EF 600mm f/L IS lens with a 1.4X TC, the Canon EOS
1v body, and Fuji Velvia pushed one stop.)
I have used both the newly released ground-pod as well as the
prototype (that Walt so graciously sent me almost a year ago)
with great success. I have even rinsed it off in salt water
with no ill effects at all.
The ground-pod consists of a 4X8" base plate (with 4 little
rubber-nubbed "feet" at each corner) and a small but sturdy
Arca-Swiss style clamp mounted atop lazy-Susan type base that
makes it is easy to follow running or foraging birds. (The
base itself has four cut-out sections that reduce the weight
of the unit.) The thing that I love most about the ground-pod
is that when I turn the lens to vertical the height of the pod
keeps the camera out of the sand or mud. (This is a big
problem when you simply place the mounting plate and the lens
foot in the sand or mud.) And of course, the ground-pod keeps
most of the sand and mud off of your expensive equipment...
Oooops. I almost forgot to mention: we have only four Walt
Anderson Ground pods left in stock. If you would like one,
please send a check for $204 to PO Box 7245, Indian Lake
Estates, FL 33855 ($199 plus $5 shipping via priority
mail). Florida residents please add 6% sales tax =
$210.94.
Please make checks out to
"Arthur Morris," not to BIRDS AS ART.
Thanks!
To learn more about photographing birds at ground level, be
sure to get a copy of the next issue of WildBird magazine
where that subject will be the topic of my very next column.
To subscribe (only $9.99 for six issues), visit
WildBird
