BIRDS AS ART NOTES

OCTOBER 6, 2007

COMING SOON: THE PORTLAND, MAINE “THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY/IT AIN’T JUST BIRDS” WEEKEND SEMINAR

ROBERT AMORUSO BOSQUE LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP

ID CORRECTION

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Photographic theme: A few of my all-time favorite San Diego images.

COMING SOON: THE PORTLAND, MAINE “THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY/IT AIN’T JUST BIRDS” WEEKEND SEMINAR

We are in the early stages of planning a seminar in Portland, Maine on the week of October 4-5. 2008. For those who wish to come a bit early, this event has been timed to coincide with the average peak of fall color. A formal announcement will be coming soon. If you live in the area and would be willing to help publicize the event in any way, please get in touch via e-mail. Thanks!

Cave Shop Cliffs, LaJolla, CA

Canon 24-70mm L zoom lens on ball-head (at 35mm) with EOS 1Ds Mark II.

ISO 1250. Evaluative Metering at zero confirmed via histogram check: 20 seconds at f/18.

This image was created in near-darkness. I was able to focus (with CF-4-3) with the light from the street lamps behind me. Folks who are unaware of the amazing capabilities of digital would surely never have attempted this one… The dreamy water was a result of the very long shutter speed and the big surf. Thanks to Bill Hewitt for the loan of the lens and to Jean Luc Vaillant for the loan of the lens. (Jean Luc's critique images blew everyone away--including and especially me.)

ROBERT AMORUSO BOSQUE LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP

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 Robert’s first visit in 2004, he has spent lots of 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.

Brown Pelican landing before sunrise, LaJolla, CA

Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens with EOS 1Ds Mark II.

ISO 500. Evaluative Metering +1 stop off of water: 1/500 sec. at f/4.

Flash at -1 stop with Better Beamer.

Images created before sunrise often have a significant cyan cast. While optimizing this image I used Hue/Saturation, Color Balance, and Selective Color Adjustments to create a more natural looking image.

ID CORRECTION

The image incorrectly labeled “Pygmy Kingfisher” in the last Bulletin was actually a juvenile Malachite Kingfisher. Thanks to the many eagle-eyed readers who pointed out the error.

Western Gull yawning, LaJolla, CA

Canon 100-400mm IS L zoom lens (handheld at 400mm) with EOS 1Ds Mark II.

ISO 400. Evaluative Metering +1/3 stop set manually: 1/1250 sec. at f/13.

On-line reports that the 100-400 lens is not sharp at the long end are greatly exaggerated... The San Diego IPT present many excellent opps for photographing the gulls of the West Coast.

Heerman’s Gull in flight, Coronado, CA

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS lens (handheld at 150mm) with the 1.4X II TC and the EOS 1Ds Mark II.

ISO 250. Evaluative Metering +2 stops off the sky set manually: 1/1250 sec. at f/7.1. Fill flash at -1 1/3 stops with Better Beamer.

Bringing along a lens with a 70-or 80-200mm focal length is good plan for San Diego as we have many opps to photograph the Brown Pelicans and many of the gulls at close range. We feed the gulls to bring them in close.

Best and love and great picture-making to all,

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 may be accessed from the home page at www.birdsasart.com