richard_mittleman

Anyone familiar with a piece of equipment called a Skidder. It is

made by an individual and is used to mount a tripod head for ground

level shooting.

If you have any info on the person who makes it and where I can

contact him, I'd appreciate it.

Tom,

Please excuse the smart a.. remarks from Andy S. and Stanley The participants on this site usually have a lot more sense, but it takes all kinds.

I for one appreciate what you are trying to do for those of us who want more access to photograph in our own country.

Richard

If you are interested in bird photography contact Jack Jeffrey at jjgg@aloha.net He is the premier bird photographer on the islands and he was very helpful when I went to Hawaii.

Just got back from South Florida. Anhinga Trail was hopping with

activity. Anhingas on nests with chicks in all stages of development.

Coromorant feeding in late afternoon was exciting. Virtually every

bird that went in to fish came out with a winner.

Loxahatchee is DEAD. Don't know why, but very little activity. Lots

of cattle egrets, some in nice breeding plummage, but not much else.

Wakodahatchee was okay, not great.

If you are going soon, head for the Anhinga Trail

I also agree that taking some workshops with professional nature photographers and then applying what you've learned in the field is the best bet. Some specific people with whom to take workshops would be Rod Planck, Jon and Barbara Gerlach and George Lepp. They all have one day seminars which are very affordable and very informative.

The only field work I have done with a professional has been with Arthur Morris, who of course specializes in bird photography, and is a very inspiring person to be around.

I have had occassional lockup problems with the b-1, but what is more troublesome is the "stickiness"which makes it almost worthless for flight shots especially when a perched bird suddenly takes off. I use it with a 600/f4 and i wonder if those of us having the problems are all using the heavier lenses. It seems logical that it would function more smoothly with less weight on the head. Are those of you who are having problems, using it with a 600 and are those who are happy, using it with lighter lenses?

Just to continue on the color in the Tetons. I left on September 29th and things were looking close to peaking in the next day or two. Hurry if you're going

mike,

I use my 600/4 with extension tubes whenever necessary and auto-

focus works just fine.

just want to give mega dittos to Kelly's remarks about how "horrible" it is to hike with the 600/4. It does get uncomfortable after a while, but when it does you just put it down, breathe the fresh air, check out the scenery and then pick it up and continue on.

cindy,

in regard to the comment that the canon manual says that the IS should not be used when the lens is mounted on a tripod, Arthur Morris says this is an error.

He uses the IS while the lens is mounted on the tripod(at least with the 600/4 IS) and says that it makes a substantial difference.

richard

i've been carrying my 600/4 on the b1 for about a year now and man does my shoulder hurt. Actually i stop every 10 minutes to rest.

i have had no problems with the b1 and if you are doing bird photography you have to have the lens mounted on the tripod at all times or you are going to miss a lot of shots.

can someone define "bokeh". is it the same thing that fine wines have?

Any recent updates on birdlife at the Salton Sea?

Has anyone taken a cruise on the sea of cortez(Mexico) for whale and

bird photography?

Was it worthwhile? What ship/tour company did you go with?

Has anyone been to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge the first

part of October? From my search it seems clear that spring is the

best time, but i'll be up that way the first two weeks in October.

Thanks

Arthur Morris is also leading some photo-tours at Bosque del Apache Nov-Dec. You might want to check them out at www.birdsasart.com.

I was in Bosque for four days last January and had some of the most warm, golden light at dusk that i have ever seen. Bosque is known for its beautiful light at that time of year

i used a bogen 3021 with a canon 500/4.5 for quite awhile and was disappointed too often with less than tack sharp images. I thought it was me for quite awhile, but after getting a gitzo 410, there's no question it was the tripod.

I have been invited to the Big Island of Hawaii in March. Any

recommendations for bird photo ops at that time of year would be

appreciated. General wildlife and scenic recommendations also

welcomed. thanks

has anyone taken any trips with robert hitchman(photograph america

newsletter) or heard anything from friends who have taken a trip with

him?

i have been to excellent SEMINARS by Rob Planck and George Lepp, but i

have never attended a WORKSHOP. I now know i won't be attending any by

John Shaw, but has anyone had a worthwhile experience at a workshop

and if so, which?

I went to Kenya 2 years ago with an outfit called Voyagers

International(they are in Ithaca New York and have a web page). I am a

serious amateur photography and had an excellent experience with tnem

even though the safari was not led by a professional photographer.

They promise no more than 6 people in a vehicle that can hold 8. Our

group had 7 people and instead of putting us all in one vehicle, they

kept true to their word and gave us 2 vehicles with 4 people in one

and 3 people in the other. The drivers are excellent, very

knowledgeable about bird identification as well as the big game and

have driven for pros before and so they know what photographers want.

They are at your disposal and if the group you are traveling with

decides that they want to go out early or stay out late, they will

accomodate you.

If you have any other specific questions contact me directly and i'll

be glad to help if i can.

oh well, if you don't ask you'll never know.

anyone have any suggestions for landscape and wildlife(no wisecracks about terrorists) locations in Israel in February-March.

i am very familiar with all of the usual bird spot in south florida in the winter. this year however, i'll be there the last week in may and the 1st week in june. any suggestions at that time of year for locations other than ding darling, corkscrew swamp, venice rookery and everglades?