Arthur Morris

BIRDS AS ART NOTES

JULY 6, 2009

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LINDA ROBBINS HUMMINGBIRD ADDICTION TRIPS

BEGINNERS WELCOME !

ANNOUNCING THE JBWR/NICKERSON BEACH PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

LINDA ROBBINS HUMMINGBIRD ADDICTION TRIPS

For the past two plus years Linda Robbins has worked very hard to become one of if not the best high speed flash hummingbird photographers around, and in the process, taught me to make some great hummer images. She wrote and published (with a bit of help from me) “The Hummingbird Guide – How to Photograph Hummingbirds Using High-Speed Multiple Flash by Linda Robbins.” Learn more and see some great images here: http://www.birdsasart.com/hummingbirdguide.htm. She is now running her own tours. On some hummingbird trips you are required to bring your own set-up. Ugh! On some hummingbird trips you take turns on a single set-up while sharing with 6-8 other photographers (while the so-called leader is photographing on his very own set-up. How nice.) That means that you get chance every three or four hours if you are lucky.

On Linda’s trips she provides all of the equipment. She routinely travels with 30 flashes, 21 light stands, 400 rechargeable batteries, and with numerous backgrounds, clamps, clips, droppers, and lots more. All that you need to do is show up with your camera (and a back-up), a decent lens from 300-500mm, one flash, some flash cards, and your laptop and you are good to go. With only two photographers per set-up, you will be photographing 100% of the time if your arm or your trigger finger does not give out. (I once created 3,500 images in a single morning at Guango!)

Here is the current schedule:

Guango, Ecuador, NOV 7-13, 2009. (Limit 6: openings 1 ). 3 FULL and 2 HALF-DAYS of photography: $3,000. Non-photographer spouse or friend: $1,000.

Guango, Ecuador, NOV 13-19, 2009. (Limit 6: openings: 3). 3 FULL and 2 HALF-DAYS of photography: $3,000. Non-photographer spouse or friend: $1,000.

Guango, Ecuador, JAN 10-16, 2010. Co-leader: Arthur Morris (Limit 6: openings 4). 3 FULL and 2 HALF-DAYS of photography: $3,000. Non-photographer spouse or friend: $1,000.

Guango, Ecuador, JAN 16-21, 2010. Co-leader: Arthur Morris (Limit 6: Sold Out): 3 FULL and 2 HALF-DAYS of photography: $3,000. Non-photographer spouse or friend: $1,000.

Tandayapa, Ecuador, Extension JAN 22-26, 2010. Co-leader: Arthur Morris . (Limit 6: Sold Out): 3 FULL and 1 HALF-DAYS of photography: $1,600. Non-photographer spouse or friend: $600.

You can see some of Linda’s Guango images here: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn273.htm. You can see some of my Tandayapa hummers here: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn246.htm. If you would like to join Linda for the hummingbird photo experience of lifetime without having to spend thousands of dollars to purchase the needed gear, e-mail her at lindaasart@aol.com or call he on her cell at 941-350-5796. Many spots are already accounted for so do not tarry.

The image above and the first two below, are Linda's. Remarkably, the others were created by Joan and Ted Miller at Guango. They had never photographed at a high speed set-up before and had never attempted to photograph hummers in flight. It's that easy!

BEGINNERS WELCOME!

The images below were created by Joan and Ted Miller on a Linda Robbins Hummingbird Addiction Tour to Guango, Ecuador. They were totally new to both high speed flash photography and to hummingbird photography. All that they did was show up and with Linda's guidance begin making great images. If they can do it you can do it!

ANNOUNCING THE JBWR/NICKERSON BEACH PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Late this summer, I will be returning with a small group to my old haunts--the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge--at the very peak of the juvenile shorebird migration. We will likely spend our last three afternoons at Nickerson Beach photographing a skimmer colony. If you have heard enough already and would like to join me, (everything that I have done at JBWR in the past decade has filled almost instantly), please send me an e-mail stating that you are good to go and please put a check made out to "Arthur Morris" for $1399 in the mail to the address above. I will hold your spot for five days after receiving your e-mail. I will keep a waiting list. To learn more, keep reading.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge/Nickerson Beach/Shorebird/Nesting Skimmer Photography-Tour (JBWR/NB PH -T): August 18-21, 2009 4-DAY: $1399. Limit: 6 Openings 2.

For eight years in the late 70s/early 80s I conducted the International Shorebird Survey at JBWR for the then Manomet Bird Observatory. And it was there on the East Pond, in the summer of 1983, that I began to learn my trade with the old 400mm f/4.5 FD lens.... I remember the first roll of film that I got back; those dots on the slides, were they the birds? In a short time I was on my belly getting within 12 feet of my subjects, often even closer so that I needed an extension tube to focus. And I have been getting down on my belly in the mud for the past 25 years. And loving it. And I know the East Pond better than anyone living.

This photography tour is timed to coincide with the peak of the juvenile shorebird migration and with four morning high tides. We will be photographing the following shorebird species in fresh juvenal plumage: Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Stilt Sandpiper. Juvenile Pectoral and Western Sandpipers and several other species are possible. We will also get to photograph worn, molting adult White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, and Short-billed Dowitchers. Not only will you get to photograph these species, you will learn to age and identify them. Getting a copy of my "Shorebirds; Beautiful Beachcombers" and studying it in advance would give you a huge head start. You can order a signed copy here: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=32. On some mornings we may spend a bit of time on the back porch of my friend Denis Macrae's home where we will get to photograph Laughing Gulls in both worn breeding and fresh juvenal plumage. Snowy and Great Egrets and both night-herons are possible there as well .

Most afternoons will be spent at Nickerson Beach just west of Point Lookout, Long Island, NY. For many years running there has been a large successful colony of Black Skimmers at this location. In mid-August we should have lots of fledged young, lots of large chicks, and a smattering of small chicks still in the nest scrapes. The existence of beach nesting birds is of course extremely fragile and in a given year the success of even a dependable colony like Nickerson may vary. There will be lots of adults both in flight and on the ground with fish for their young. American Oystercatcher and a variety of gulls are also possible at Nickerson. Two years ago we were blessed late one afternoon as several thousand Common Terns flew in to roost for the night, the nervous flock taking flight time and time again in front of a lovely setting sun. I will of course adapt to local conditions in an effort to always have the group in the right place at the right time.

I will not have a slide projector or a projection screen on this photography tour. All of the formal teaching will be done on the laptop either during meals or in the motel lobby during midday hours. As we will be getting up very early (sunrise averages about 6:10am), and be staying in the field very late (sunset averages about 7:45 pm), our evenings will be free after dinner. Breakfasts will be on the run and the cost of lunch is included. We will of course have a midday break of about three hours that will include instructor nap time. That will still leave us at least an hour or two for image review and some Photoshop lessons. To get the most out of this trip, experienced photographers should have at least a 500mm f/4 lens and be comfortable using at least their 1.4 teleconverter. The very best images will be created by those who are willing and physically able to get down on the ground and photograph while prone. Sitting behind a lowered tripod is also an option and is especially effective when the birds are actively feeding as it is easier to follow birds in motion while sitting than while prone. Added plusses at JBWR include jet fuel and Canada Goose dung.... <smile>

There will be tons of in-the-field instruction that will include stalking techniques and getting the right exposure via histogram review. You will learn to see and think like a pro. The closer you stay to me and the more questions you ask, the more you will learn. With the extremely small group, the opportunities for learning from a top pro will be unparalleled. Questions are limited to 500 per person per day. We should also get to do some fill flash work. As always, BAA reserves the right to exceed the noted limit by no more than one.

A ride with the leader may be available for $150. If you act quickly, affordable lodging (averaging about $85 per night plus taxes with advance payment) is available as follows:

Days Inn Jamaica-JFK Airport
144-26 153rd Court
Jamaica, NY 11434

718-527-9025

In addition, there are several 4+ star hotels in the area with room averaging $230/night plus taxes.

The last two spots will fill quickly; I look forward to hearing from you soon <smile>

Common Terns, sunset blast-off, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY

Black Skimmer, begging chick, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY

Black Skimmer, fledged chick, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY

Black Skimmer, yawning chick, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY

Black Skimmer, eggs and chick in nest scrape, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY

Black Skimmer, adult with sand eel, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY

Black Skimmer, adult with spearing, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY

Common Tern, fresh juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Least Sandpiper, juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Least Sandpiper, fresh juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Lesser Yellowlegs calling, juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Semipalmated Sandpiper, juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Semipalmated Plover, worn, molting, breeding plumage adult, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Semipalmated Sandpiper, fresh juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Semipalmated Sandpipers, juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Semipalmated Sandpiper, worn, molting, breeding plumage adult, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Short-billed Dowitcher, fresh juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Stilt Sandpiper, fresh juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Western Sandpiper feeding, fresh juvenal plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

White-rumped Sandpiper, worn, molting, breeding plumage adult, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

White-rumped Sandpiper feeding, worn, molting, breeding plumage adult, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Wilson's Phalarope, molting juvenile, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Laughing Gull, adult molting to winter plumage, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Double-crested Cormorant, North Channel Bridge, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY

Best and love and great picture- making to all,

artie

Note: Arthur Morris has been a 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. 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. To unsubscribe please click here: unsubscribe