Just being on the photography front as amateur for just over a year, trying to get familiar with photographic techniques, training myself in following objects, reading the light and being patient. I have been so fortunate that I can afford to buy good equipment, but I keep making the same (basic ?) mistakes. And I cannot find out why. I know the theory, I know a little about photography, but applying this knowledge in the field remains difficult. It feels as if I am banging my head against a glass sealing. For once I will get the training I need. I feel I am prepared to get hammered by a pro.
So I applied for one of Arthur Morris’s Instructional Photographic Tours, the one from President’s Week from 13-17 February. I was among another 9 photographers needing the education, the outing or the company.
| The Group in Action at Estero Lagoon |
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| With the group in the background, a few well behaving birds created a pleasing foreground |
The first morning we went out to the Venice Rookery, a world famous location for breeding ibis, egrets, herons, anhingas and more. The Venice Rookery is not a big venue, perhaps a 10.000m2 location with a pond and an island, part of a local recreation park. The island is the main attraction: packed with birds fighting for a breeding spot and equal noise. Till this date I have been shooting Av mode, reading each situation and dialing -2 to +2 for the different subjects, always in trouble when my subject changes: from a black to a white bird or vice versa. Chef-de-Mission Arthur Morris made it abundantly clear, Manual Mode when light is constant is the way to go. And so I did.
| Great Egret at Venice |
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| One of my first ‘Manual’ exposure images, the results surpassed my expectations |
The light calibration at the given conditions is of course the basis for a perfect exposure. See also as part of my Key-Photographic-Knowledge (KPK) base, the Measuring Light system. This KPK-Base is a summary of all tricks ad tips learned throughout my photographic path, mostly from other photographers. Their credit will be noted.
Next to measuring light, Arthur Morris provided lots of surprising techniques, as with this Turkey Vulture, using flash, the so called ‘flash blur’ image technique.
| Turkey Blurture |
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| Manual Mode, EC+2 off the sky, Flash EC-1. With these light settings, the flash bounced twice in the time the exposure (1/3 seconds) lasted. |
For our visits to Estero Lagoon, we needed to make sure that enough bait was available to attract the birds. So, at Placida where we waited to board a boat trip later that afternoon, I was sent to cast the nets. In one of the casts, this Hermet Crab emerged.
| Hermet Crab |
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| The light was a bit hard, but I got a nice head display as he was trying to escape. |
With the bait catch put on ice, the guests are eagerly waiting for their breakfast …
| Our Guests, waiting to be served |
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| The lens used here was a fish-eye lens, courtesy loan by A. Morris. |
One morning as we approached Estero Lagoon, we had a very nice clear sky and soft red morning light. By setting the in-camera color temp to app. 7000K and setting for a slight overexposing, this sun reflection was created, using the small surf as mirror.
| Sun Reflections at Estero |
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| Aperture Priority Mode, EC+1/3 |
Estero is an amazing place for bird photography. We have had two mornings with amazing morning light: we also spent one afternoon at the condo-lagoon. In the reflection of one condominium, this Reddish Egret game a few moments of his time.
| Reddish Egret |
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Also at this location, we were able to enjoy the now setting sun, accompanied by fast incoming fog-clouds.
| Sun in Fog at Estero |
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It is quite difficult to have no Brown Pelican in an image in SW Florida  |
Finally, when waiting for the Brown Pelicans in Placida, as they were lured with bait for inflight shots, this Great Blue Heron passed at a few meters distance. I managed to get my lens to the widest possible angle (28mm) and got him in frame.
| GBH too close |
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See all images from the Florida IPT at Florida IPT Gallery.