Babay Sea Otter Vistek Live and Sony Kudos

In this episode we discuss what it takes to get world class wildlife images and how any nature enthusiast can immediately start taking better photos of their...

Be sure to check-out my Vistek Live interview with Dave Stood from Vistek. This is a much different format than my usual Sony presentations. The event was sponsored by Sony of Canada and Vistek. We had our share of technical difficulties (as is often the case with live events), but I am happy with the results.

Sony Establishes $100 Million COVID-19 Global Relief Fund

Kudos to Sony for reacting quickly and generously to the current COVID-19 disaster. My hope is that many more large corporations will join-in and give back.

Tokyo, Japan - Sony Corporation today announced the establishment of the "Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19," a 100 million US dollar fund to support those around the world affected by the COVID-19 virus.

Through this fund, Sony will provide support in three areas: assistance for those individuals engaged in frontline medical and first responder efforts to fight the virus, support for children and educators who must now work remotely, and support for members of the creative community in the entertainment industry, which has been greatly impacted by the spread of the virus.

In terms of medical support, 10 million U.S. dollars of the fund will be devoted first to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO powered by the UN Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, as well as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist medical workers and others on the frontline of response efforts to the virus. Sony will also work with its external partners to explore ways that it can support activities that prevent the further spread and contribute to treatment of the COVID-19 virus.

In the area of education, where children, who represent the next generation, are losing education opportunities as a result of school closures, Sony will explore ways to leverage its technologies in support of education activities, and cooperate with educators to implement these measures.

Furthermore, in terms of the creative community such as music, pictures, games and animation, together with its group companies engaged in the entertainment industry, Sony will seek ways to support up-and-coming creators, artists and all those in professions supporting the industry, who have been impacted by the cancellation or postponement of concerts and live events, or the shutting down of film and television productions.

Sony also announced that employees will be able to provide their support through a matching gift program that is scheduled to be offered to its approximately 110,000 employees worldwide.

Kenichiro Yoshida, President and CEO, Sony Corporation, said, "Sony extends its condolences to the families of those who have passed away as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, and extends its sympathies to all those who have been impacted. In order to overcome the unprecedented challenges that as a society we now face around the world, we will do all we can as a global company to support the individuals on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19, the children who are our future, and those who have been impacted in the creative community."

Going forward, Sony will work together with its partners and stakeholders to explore ways to further extend these initiatives.

Coastal Brown Bear Cub

Be sure to join me on Tuesday April 7 at 13:00 for a free livestream webinar sponsored by SONY CANADA and VISTEK.

Coastal Brown Bear Mother and Cub Clamming

Here’s mom showing her cub how to clam in Geographic Harbor, Katmai National Park, AK. My planned June Ultimate Alaska Bear Boat Trip is officially now another victim of the CORONAVIRUS COVID-19; it is best everyone stay home and let’s flatten the curve together. Join me in October for fishing bears or next June for mothers and cubs.

Bald Eagle Eaglet

Here’s an older image from my Ultimate Brown Bear by boat WORKSHOP in Katmai, Alaska. The Bald Eagle nests are always a nice distraction from the bears. Some years they are plentiful and easily approached from the comfort of our live aboard ship. We returned to the ship after a successful morning in the rain and the captain treated us with a warm and dry Eagle cruise while the rest of the crew spoiled us with an awesome lunch.

Bald Eagle OLD CRUSTY

I think I will have to call this one OLD CRUSTY; If you take a look closely, there is green staining on the underside of the head and at the base of it’s tail. There is even some green lichen between it’s wings. This might be a senior Eagle. I rejected this one during my first pass, but then reconsidered the second time around; something that doesn’t happen often ;)

Adult Bald Eagle Portrait

Here’s a head shot of an adult Bald Eagle made with the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens. The edge to edge sharpness is as impressive as the Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens.

Immature Bald Eagle Portrait

A portrait of an immature Bald Eagle (1.5 yrs. old basic I plumage; mostly black beak and cere with ochre eyes) with a drop of ice at the end of it’s beak.

I probably spent half an hour with this beauty and it put on quite a show. I was lying on the ground and every time I lifted my foot behind me, it would fluff-up and look directly at me. I had plenty of time to increase my depth of field to f/20 to ensure sharpness from the tip of the beak to beyond the eyes.

Bald Eagle Fishing Panorama

A four image stitched panorama from my recent Bald Eagles Galore Photography Workshop. The activity was slow to start when we arrived just after the top of the tide, but we all still managed to get some awesome Eaglescapes while the water was nice and flat. I grabbed my Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens and started off by lying downhill on my belly at the waters edge to get as low as possible. It didn’t take long for my back to act-up, so I had to settle for sitting as low as possible on my bum.

Bald Eagle flying in snow

I’m hiding-out in the studio in self-isolation and spending time trying to distract myself from the news (bad news). Here’s another Bald Eagle headed straight at me from an EPIC shoot in the light snow. We made so many images in such great conditions! Let me know if you are getting sick of the Eagles……

Long-tailed Duck

Sitting on shore photographing the ducks and gulls at the end of the spit in Homer has always been a favorite pastime during any available downtime during my workshops. There is a pipe that expels effluent from the fish processing plant into the bay that all of the birds come to every 20 minutes or so. Sadly, the plant wasn’t in operation when the light was nice or the water flat this year. Luckily, this Long-tailed Duck flew right into the mass of Eagles during our shoot for 10 seconds one morning; it fluffed-up, spread it’s wings and took off when it realized it’s mistake :)

Getting off the boat and working with super telephoto lenses (Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens, Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @ 1,200mm) for the fishing images really isolates the Eagles from the water surface background. The Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera handles high ISO so well that noise is never a concern IF you expose the image correctly and try not to crop much. This image was shot vertical and is full frame on the width; I cropped off a little top & bottom to make a stronger composition with more visual impact.

Bald Eagle HOOKED ON FISHING

This is one of many thousands of images made from the ultra-low angle at the water’s edge. My March 5-9 workshop window has delivered flat water and golden light with a sprinkle of snow for every workshop for more than 15 years running; it is simply the very best time to be on Kachemak Bay photographing Eagles!

My Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens continues to be the most versatile lens that I have ever used. It’s zippy auto-focus and amazingly sharp results continue to blow my mind.

Coronavirus discount

It seems like the world is in a state of health and wealth panic right now, so I am offering a US$500.00 discount off my March 5-9, 2021 Eagles Galore workshop. This is a limited time offer while space is available only.

Bald Eagle on the run

I’m on the run to my Ultimate Bald Eagles Galore workshop in Homer Alaska, and wanted to leave you with a fun image that shows just how close we get to these majestic beauties! 80% of my participants are repeat clients this year and I am looking forward to seeing them all again. Join me for this trip of a lifetime next March and I promise you will bring home a portfolio full of images that I would be proud to call my own; that’s what keeps me going back! Get as much (or as little) help as you like while taking full advantage of my site and subject knowledge and the logistics are all taken care of.

Osprey with nesting material

An Osprey brings nesting material to it’s nest on Lake Blue Cypress during my Ospreys Galore and so much more workshop. If you are looking for a fun adventure and complete portfolio of Osprey images while learning everything there is to know about bird photography, then join me in Florida this April for my two daily cruises on Lake Blue Cypress aboard a pontoon boat. We will be a small crew with ample room and hundreds of Ospreys to choose from; many with fish, nesting material and babies in their nests at eye level.

Osprey with American Shad in Golden Light

If you want to make images like this while learning all of the intricacies of birds in flight photography (and birds on perches), then join the fun on Lake Blue Cypress in Florida this April. We cruise the sunrise and sunset hours away on a pontoon boat with hundreds of pairs of Ospreys bringing fish back to their babies in Florida’s golden light. Ospreys Galore and so much more promises to fill your Osprey portfolio with amazing action packed images. Read more about Ospreys Galore and so much more HERE.

Ospreys Galore Workshop

LIMITED SPACE STILL AVAILABLE April 5-7. Join me at the Crown Jewel of Florida, Lake Blue Cypress: The perfect habitat for the hundreds of Osprey nests that cover the ancient Cypress Trees which pierce the pristine water and surround the lake. We will have tons of opportunities to photograph Ospreys on their nests at (or below) eye level, diving for fish or gathering nesting material. Our trip is timed perfectly to see the parents bring fish to their babies. We will photograph other species of Florida birds and will have constant urges to capture the true beauty, spectacular sunrises and all it illuminates in landscape images of the unspoiled, wild and spectacular setting of Lake Blue Cypress. The included pontoon boat cruises are a photographer’s dream with too many Ospreys and Osprey nests to count!

I recently attended the Osprey safari offered by Chris Dodds, and I was positively thrilled with the excursion. The people in our small group were fantastic.  The environment was magical. The photographic opportunities were amazing and abundant. Every part of the physical expedition was most impressive, but what I was really taken with was the panoply of knowledge Chris demonstrated throughout the trip. Whether identifying various birds dozens of yards away simply by call, or exuding masterful control over the camera, Chris was able to display his expertise and offer assistance when needed. Chris is very amiable and approachable. No matter what skill level a photographer has, Chris always made one feel important with his one on one attention and did so without any air of condescension. It was very much like shooting with great friends with your own personal tutor to turn to if needed. I can honestly say that both my skill level and knowledge base increased from my trip with Chris. Thanks again Chris."

- Geoff Powell Vero Beach | FL | USA

Bald Eagle Keep Calm and Fish On

One of the advantages of having so many years experience in Kachemak Bay in Alaska is knowing where to be when. When there is howling winds making the water rough, it’s hard to make pleasing images; for this image, my trusted Captain maneuvered us into a hidden protected cove where the water was flat. What started out to be a rather gloomy and wet day turned into a smashing success for everyone in my group. Learn more about my Eagles Galore (and so much more) Workshop CLICK HERE.

Bald Eagle with Fish in Golden Light

This 3.5 year old Bald Eagle (Basic III Plumage) put on quite a show for my group during my Bald Eagle Workshop. This image was made a split second before that out of focus wave washed into the front of my Sony 400mm f/2.8 lens; thankfully the lens survived without any damage.

I already have a few folks signed-up for next year’s Bald Eagles Galore and so much more Workshop, so don’t delay your booking for next March.

Bald Eagle portrait in the rain

I was recently asked what the minimum shutter speed I feel comfortable shooting long lenses hand-held. I had to hesitate to answer, as it’s nothing I think about with the high ISO performance of my Sony cameras; It's not like the old film (slide) days when there were severe limits to image quality at higher ISO. I simply use whatever ISO I need to reach the desired shutter speed. So I decided to see if I could still hand-hold a 600mm lens with a 2X extender on it, and just how steady I might still be. Can I still hand-hold at 1/40s and still produce sharp results? Well, as this image demonstrates, yes, but I don’t need to, so I will continue to use my Wimberley head II on my tripod or crank-up the ISO to accommodate higher shutter speeds. There are two risks when trying to use as low an ISO as possible:

1. Don't get a critically sharp image before the subject moves away.

2. Miss unexpected action with inadequate shutter speed.

Pro tips for hand-holding long lenses:

1. Turn on the image stabilizer (camera and lens).

2. Control breathing to minimize movement.

3. Press your supporting arm into your body to form a triangle brace between your hand under the lens, your shoulder, and your torso.

4. Position your legs so they are a little wider than your shoulders.

5. Align your body so it is perpendicular to your subject.

6. Control shutter finger movement; press slowly.
   

Bald Eagles Tandem Flight

Seeing Bald Eagles maneuver during their frequent pursuits is incredible; the speed and agility is simply mind blowing! I absolutely love the distraction of photographing them, particularly in bad weather :) This adult (5+ years with white head and tail) is trying to outmaneuver a juvenile (dark bill and eyes) that is likely it’s offspring.