Bee-eaters,
Hungary, Katmai National Park, AK
Image Copyright
2009: Robert O'Toole Photography
Hungary is known as one of the top tourist destinations in the world
but it also offers some of the most amazing bird photography opportunities on
the planet. Photograph Bee-eaters, Hoopoe, European Rollers, raptors and more
great birds in Hungary with Robert O'Toole. This central European country Based
2 hours south of Budapest we will be visiting 14 established hides–10 within a
radius of 1.2 miles–during this time for Hoopoe (4 nesting pairs in 2010),
bee-eaters, rollers, kestrel–all nesting, displaying, and mating. Bee eaters
spend an enormous time in front of the set ups offering food to their mates:
bees, wasps, butterflies and dragonflies. Some bee eaters have been known to
catch as many as 250 bees per day. Rollers will perch prominently while hunting
and the male will feed the female about every 20 minutes with insects, rodents,
snakes, lizards and frogs of all kinds. There will also be chances to photograph
Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Hawfinch, spoonbill, herons, egrets, Squacco Heron,
White-tailed Eagle, and much more. All of these opportunities
are easily within reach of a 300-500mm lens.
Katmai Alaska Brown Bear Workshop July 24-30, 2011. 7
Days, 6 nights: $5499. Maximum 6 photographers/openings:
4.
This workshop date has
just been added and is just about perfect for awesome action and great weather conditions.
Considering the amount of time that the August Bear Boat with Artie and Robert
workshop took to sell out, contact Robert right away if you would like to join.
2011 will be Robert's sixth year photographing and leading workshops to
photograph Coastal Brown Bears in Katmai.
This trip should offer
opportunities for lots and lots of coastal Brown Bears of various ages including
spring cubs (nursing and playing), eating luscious green grass, and
clamming. Also we should have possible chances to photograph
bears fishing for salmon. Bald Eagles with chicks in the nest
are probable, both puffin species are possible, and likely chances with hauled
out and endangered Steller's Sea Lions. Halibut fishing
(license required) is optional. We will have a morning and afternoon photography
session weather permitting. In the afternoons we will make time for group image
review photography, Photoshop and digital workflow instruction each
day.
Coastal
Brown Bear cubs with sow, Katmai National Park,
AK
Image Copyright
2009: Robert
O'Toole Photography
ALAN MURPHY'S "Guide to
Songbird Set-up Photography"
Just
about 15 months ago I attended a slide program done by Alan Murphy. I
was so amazed by the songbird set-up tips that he revealed that I urged him to
do a CD guide on the subject. We collaborated on the guide and wound up printing
2,000 copies. Well, that initial printing is almost sold out
and the very great likelihood is that there will not be a second printing.
We will instead go to a download system. If you would like to have
your hands on the actual CD and the beautiful CD cover you need
to order now. .
The
book is lavishly illustrated not only with Alan's killer images but with
dozens and dozens of step-by-step photos that will show you exactly how to
create your own successful set-ups. The writing is clear and concise and the
directions are easy to follow and inclusive. As Alan shows in the
book, even if you have only a small backyard, or even just a patio or a balcony,
he can help you to create some stunning avian images on a consistent
basis.
The professionally designed, packaged, and burned CD will
not be available for long. It sells for $50 plus $3.00 shipping and
handling to US addresses. Shipping to Canada is $6.00, $8.00 for all foreign
orders. Florida residents will need to add 7% sales tax ($3.50) to the
cost of the CD only. You can send us a PayPal, call us at 863-692-0906 with a
credit card in hand, or the CD from the BAA On-line Store (with secure credit
card data transmission) by clicking here. (Note:
Shipping charges with BAA On-line Store orders will likely vary by small amounts
from those noted above.)
Golden-cheeked Warbler, Travis
Co, Texas Hill Country
Image Copyright 2009: Alan
Murphy
Nikon 600mm
f/4L VR lens and Nikon D2X. ISO 320.
Evaluative Metering -0.3: 1/400 sec. at
f/6.3.
This full breeding plumage male was feeding on
an Ash Juniper. To get the bird to look back, I gave a high
pitch squeak.
In
this CD book you will learn the tips and tricks that Alan has been using to
create exquisite images of songbirds on beautiful perches for nearly a
decade.
These
include:
- How to
attract a variety of songbirds to your set-ups and get them to land exactly
where you want them to!
- How to
photograph hummingbirds in flight without a flash
- How to get
hummingbirds to land on your perch
- How to create
great set-ups for woodpeckers
- How to keep
plants, leaves, and flowers alive and looking fresh
- How to get
small songbirds to land on delicate perches
- How to get
birds to land on cactus set-ups
- Which type of
bird feeder is best by far and how to use them in your
set-ups
- The secrets
of using suet with your set-ups
- How to work
with fruit and berries
- How to build
and work with water-drip ponds
- How to choose
perches including the do-s and don't-s.
- How to place,
position, and secure perches at your set-up
- How to get
ground birds like quail, roadrunners and meadowlarks up on your stump
set-ups
- How to turn
nest boxes into natural looking tree cavities
- How to create
set-ups for birds that frequent open fields and
grasslands.
- How to
attract elusive kingfishers to your set-up
- How to get
low and in the water to create intimate images of ducks, geese, rails,
grebes, and other waterbirds while remaining safe and dry
- How to set up
for and create images of songbirds in flight
Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher, Galveston Co, Texas.
Image Copyright 2009: Alan
Murphy
Nikon 600mm
f/4L VR lens and Nikon D3. ISO
800. Evaluative Metering -0.3: 1/320 sec. at
f/7.
To see how I got this elusive Flycatcher up on my
perch, check out this bird photo tip on my blog.
Belted Kingfisher,
female. Starr Co, South Texas.
Image Copyright 2009: Alan
Murphy
Nikon 600mm f/4L VR
lens and Nikon D3. ISO 1600. Evaluative
Metering -0.3: 1/5000 sec. at
f/7.
During one of my workshops earlier this year, we had fun
shooting this bird as it came repeatedly to my set-up perch. Complete details on
how I do my Kingfisher set-ups can be found in my songbird set-up
eBook.
SOUTH GEORGIA/FALKLANDS
EXPEDITION UPDATE
Many dozen folks have contacted me for
the info on the killer South Georgia/Falklands Expedition that will run October
18 to November 11, 2012. If you missed that feature, see item one here. If you are
seriously interested in this trip it would be best not to tarry AS 22 BAA folks
are already on board at present with lots more in the wings; please e-mail
me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net immediately for details and the sign-up
info. I am good to go. And I hope that you can join
us.
LENS CLENS
I have been using Lens Clens to clean my gear
for about 15 years. Their #1 version is designed for coated
optics. That is all that I use and will be the only Lens Clens
product that we carry. I try to keep a bottle on my desk to clean the
laptop screen, a bottle in my X-tra Hand vest for use in the field, a bottle in
the Think Tank Rolling Bag that holds an amazing amount of my gear
most of the time (including the time that I spend on planes), and a bottle in my
laptop bag and my luggage for emergency use, i.e., when I can't find one of the
other bottles (which is often).
In the field I put a few drops of Lens Clens on the
absorbent cotton that I keep in my vest, clean the front element of the lens
that needs cleaning, and then use a second dry piece of cotton to polish the
surface. If I am cleaning the lenses inside at home, I use an old cotton
undershirt. If I am in a motel I use a dirty cotton
undershirt. I moisten one part of the shirt, clean the front
element, and then use a dry portion of the shirt to polish it.
On rare occasion, I actually do clean the outer surfaces
of camera bodies and my lenses, especially if I have abused them with dirt
or mud. Same deal except that I put more of the Lens Clens fluid on the
the undershirt than I do when cleaning the front elements of the lenses. I
also keep a few Q-tips in my vest. I moisten one end of a Q-tip to clean
the viewfinder. Then I polish it with the dry end. Lastly I break
the cotton off one end, wrap some cotton or a corner of the undershirt
around the shaft, and finish polishing the viewfinder at the same time as I get
into the corners. For the laptop screen its moisten the undershirt
time again.
Not only is the stuff designed to be 100% safe with all the
glass and all the surfaces of your gear, it will get your stuff cleaner
than you have ever seen it since it came out of the box. And it dries in
seconds. (Do not of course be tempted to use it on the sensor of your
camera; that's what Lens
Pens and Sensor
Scopes are for.)
I began to investigate the possibility of adding Lens Clens
to our mail order line-up as it met the two major criteria: I use it all the
time and it works. The final straw was a comment by IPT veteran Myer Bornstein
at Nickerson Beach after I loaned him a few drops (generous fellow that I am
; actually, a few drops is all it
takes). He said something to the effect that the Lens Clens worked about a
hundred times better than the stuff he had been using
Lens Clens product
shot, Indian Lake Estates, FL
Image Copyright 2010: Arthur
Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Canon 24-105mm IS
L lens (hand held at 70mm) with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400.
Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/50 sec. at f/11.
Even with what seems like a nothing image
there are lots of lessons to learn: 1: Be creative, all the time. 2:
Avoid making images indoors if you can do them outdoors. Why? Natural
light is nicer and light levels are higher during the daytime. I took one
of the two cases of Lens Clens out to the driveway.... 3: Know your
gear. With the lens that I was using I knew that sharp at 1/50 sec. with a
bit of extra d-o-f was child's play.
.....
We are pleased to announce that we
have two cases of Lens Clens available as
follows:
One 1 3/4 ounce
bottle: $10.99 plus
$7.00 S&H to all US address via Priority Mail = $17.99
Two 1 3/4 ounce
bottles:
$9.99 each plus $7.00 S&H to all US address via Priority Mail =
$26.98
Three or more 1 3/4 ounce
bottles $8.99
each plus $7.00 S&H to all US address via Priority Mail = you do the math
A bottle or three would be the perfect holiday gift for any
photographer. Please note: shipping charges on orders made through
the on-line store may vary slightly. If it bugs you, please e-mail Jim at
staffBAA@att.net and ask politely for a
refund 
. We will be glad to refund any
over-charges.
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 below.
BOSQUE del APACHE 2011 IPT: "The Complete
Bosque Experience." NOV
19-25, 2011. Slide program on the evening of Friday, NOV 18. 7-FULL
DAYS: $3299. (Non-refundable deposit: $500; see details
below.) (Limit 10/openings 8). Co-leaders: Robert O'Toole & Jim
Heupel. Geese, cranes, ducks, sunrises, sunsets, and
blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with one of (if not the)
world's premier photographic educators at one of his very favorite locations on
the planet. Plus great co-leaders and top-notch Photoshop instruction.
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/Sold Out.) 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.
