Lloyd Spitalnik Photography

“Grasspipers”

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:54:19 +0000

After finishing up a very busy 3 weeks, with the Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival and then another shorebird festival at the Meadowlands in New Jersey I finally have time to start posting again. Grasspipers are shorebirds that you find on sod farms and other grassy areas. These two birds were at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. For those of you that don’t know, it is an old air field no longer in use for airplanes but the runways still exist. Wiley Post, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes and “Wrong Way” Corrigan are famous for using Floyd Bennett. There are a few large puddles on one of the runways that gather several shorebirds each year. I’ve seen Baird’s there in years past and this year 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers joined it along with Semipalmated and Least Sandpiper plus many Kildeer.

JBWR Shorebird Festival this weekend

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:52:02 +0000

I thought I’d post some recent images to give you an idea what’s being seen at Jamaica Bay. I hope you enjoy them. Click on each photo for sharper version.

Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival information

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:05:07 +0000

We’ve been working hard getting everything together for the upcoming festival on August 14th and 15th. On the 15th we’re offering a unique opportunity to learn shorebird ID up close and personal. Groups will be limited to 15 people and will be led by Kevin Karlson – co-author of the “Shorebird Guide” and Lloyd Spitalnik. The workshop is $40.00 per person. See below for description.

In the afternoon we’ll be conducting another workshop, this time on photography. Limited to 15 people at $40.00 per person. Again see below for description.If interested contact me at lloyd@lloydspitalnikphotos.com or call between 9am and 1opm any day at 917-301-8744.

Shorebird Identification Workshop: A More Complete Approach (JBAY) (Maximum 15 participants) Meet 8:30am at the Visitor’s Center parking lot

This hands-on workshop emphasizes a more complete approach to shorebird identification using both non-changeable physical impressions and details of plumage and feather patterns. Kevin and Lloyd will explain how to build a solid foundation for shorebird ID using basic impressions of size, shape and body language, and then combine detailed study of plumage and feather patterns to fine tune your ID conclusion. This workshop is suitable for birders of all levels, but sometimes includes advanced tips. Kevin’s book “The Shorebird Guide” will be available for sale and a personal inscription. The small class size allows for personal instruction and one-on-one interaction with both instructors that is not possible with larger workshops.

Outdoor Photography Workshop: Focus on Composition, Portraits and Action (JBAY) Meet 3:30pm at the Fisherman’s parking lot This is the lot just over the bridge as you leave Howard Beach on the east side.

Maximum 15 photographers

Join professional photographers Lloyd Spitalnik and Kevin Karlson on this small, interactive photography workshop to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Topics covered during this short session include basic and artistic composition; approach techniques for shorebirds and open space wildlife subjects; different perspectives of ground level versus elevated photography; and fundamentals of capturing flight and action. This location is one of the best anywhere for getting great backgrounds and portraits of shorebirds, and a good outdoor classroom setting for learning how to shoot flight and action against varied backgrounds. The small group size allows for individual attention by each instructor, and a more personal setting to ask questions and learn the professional tips for getting the perfect shot.

August 14th - 5th Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival agenda

Please note new starting time of 8:30am

8:30am Coffee and Donuts

9:o0am Don Riepe slide show presentation on history of the bay and problems we’re facing.

9:30am Lloyd Spitalnik slide show on “The Shorebirds of Jamaica Bay”

10am – 12:00pm Guided walks to both the East and West Pond.

12pm Break for lunch (bring you own, there are picnic tables or both Howard Beach and Broad Channel have several places to find food and drink.

12:45pm Guided walk on the north end of the East Pond (bring rubber boots or the like.

4pm Kevin Karlson will present Shorebirds by Impression: A Different Approach to Field ID, (60 minutes)

Agenda is subject to change
Suggested donation of $20.00 per person to cover our costs.

For reservations please call the American Littoral Society at 718-318-9344 or email Don driepe@nyc.rr.com

Tip #8 Photoshop

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:52:40 +0000

This one couldn’t be easier to use. Towards the end of your workflow just before sharpening, go to “Selective Color”. You’ll find it in the layers palette. If in CS3 or earlier you’ll find it hiding under the little half black, half white circle. Same is true for CS4 and CS5 but it’s also in the new adjustment palette. Change the master color to neutral and move the black slider to +2. You’ll get a nice subtle change which should pop you image up. As always, let me know what you think.

An Announcement, Tip #7 and Some Photos

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:59:43 +0000

Don Riepe, Kevin Karlson and I are pleased to announce the 5th Annual Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival will take place on August 14th and 15th in conjunction with the National Park Service, American Littoral Society and NYC Audubon. There will be slide show presentations as well as walks on both the East and West Ponds. If interested, and you should because all past attendees have enjoyed it immensely, please either call American Littoral Society at 718-318-9344 or email Don driepe@nyc.rr.com
We’re asking for a $20.00 donation to cover expenses. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

Tip #7 Due to popular demand I’m going to give tips from time to time. Sometimes you think things you know are pretty basic and then after talking to people in the field you realize they aren’t. In Photoshop, to bring up your contrast to proper levels, go into Levels and hold your alt/opt key and move both the white and black slider located beneath the histogram. When holding the alt/opt key and pressing the little white and black triangle you’ll notice your photo will either turn black or white. Move the slider until you start seeing some color coming back and then move it back very slightly. When finished your image should have some pop to it. As always if you have any questions you can always contact me.

1 + 2 = 3

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:56:08 +0000

This is going to be a short one. Sometimes birds hybridize. The one I’m going to show you is well known. Blue-winged Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler get together to create either Brewster’s Warbler or Lawrence’s Warbler. Here are the males of each species plus a male Brewster’s.

More Migration Photos

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 03:16:32 +0000

During Spring migration, as a photographer, there aren’t enough minutes in the day. Spending countless hours in the field and then more hours culling, choosing and processing the images, it’s hard to find the time to keep this blog updated not to mention my website www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com. It’s past 11pm and I have to get to bed because I’ll be out of the house by 6:30 in the morning. Here’s a selection of photos from the last several days. I hope you enjoy them.

Migration Has Started

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:59:26 +0000

Birds are on the move. This is the time of year that most birders wait for. There was a major flight of northbound migrants on April 30th. Today is May 3rd and there are still plenty of birds around. Central Park here in NYC is one of the prime stopover points for the birds to feed. Not only do they gather here but so do the birders. On any May weekend you’ll find several hundred people scouring the treetops in search of warblers, the “jewels of the forest” along with tanagers, grosbeaks, orioles etc. Here are a few images from the last day or so.

Marine Nature Study Area Ospreys

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:21:13 +0000

Went to the Marine Nature Study Area in Oceanside, Nassau County, NY. It contains a series of boardwalks and paths meandering through a protected saltmarsh. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect upon my arrival but even when it’s slow there are usually some photo ops. The place was really dead but fortunately ospreys had just laid 2 eggs the day before and the nest was being tended to. I went there with my friend John Stahl and we both saw one of the Ospreys approaching the nest with a treat for his mate. Below are a few images I was able to take. I hope you enjoy them. BTW, remember to click on each photo to see the full sized and sharpened image.

Back to Photos

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:37:46 +0000

Several readers of this blog have asked me to go back to showing photos rather than giving tips. That’s what I’m going to do. If any of you have questions about Lightroom or Photoshop, send me a private message and I’ll try to answer them for you. With that out of the way here are some recent images that haven’t even been posted to my website.
On 3/27/2010 I went to Nickerson Beach to try for American Oystercatcher. I had received an email the day before from good friend Joe Senzatimore that they had arrived. John Stahl joined me on this dreary Saturday and we both had a good time photographing one of my favorite shorebirds. Remember to click on each image to see a larger version.