It's Been Great, But Time Goes On ...

[Arthur Morris]

• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
• EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
• ƒ/5.6
• 105mm
• 1/250s
• ISO 1250
• Flash fired
• Sat, 03 June 2017 6:24 PM
• BIRDS AS ART
• Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 16.5 (Macintosh)

BPN was born in my living room at Indian Lake Estates, FL sometime in mid 2007. James Shadle (AKA Captain Froggie) was there along with probably four or five other others, one recently deceased. I put up all the start-up money and kept the site going till now. Jim Neiger was there as well. James, Jim, and I are still friends though we don't see each other much anymore, we talk once in a while.

The first post was on 27 December 2007.

Scrolling through the first few weeks of posts I came across many familiar names. Many friends, some clients, too many now dead, many who went on to succeed professionally -- too many in fact to name. Special thanks to Dan Cadieux for his BPN help in recent years, to all the members over the years, and especially, to all the moderators. Without them, no forum would ever amount to anything. I'd be remiss not to mention Avian Moderator Arash Hazeghi; he too has been a good friend for many years and we have done more than a few guides together. Both Dan and Arash developed into incredibly talented photographers as a result of the countless hours they spent on BPN.

I could not find my first post or my first comment, but I went on to write 32,593 of those. As many of you know, I have basically been an absentee owner for the most part for several years. As I am sure that the active folks have figured out by now that BPN changed owners very recently. When Group Builder offered to purchase BPN, I jumped at the chance. I believe the forum is in excellent hands now.

I will still be around on occasion.

Much love, artie
Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

PS: The baby Tricolored Heron was photographed at Gatorland in 2017 with a 105mm with the Canon 100-400 lens and the EOS 5D Mark IV.

 

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hey Artie, you gave it a great run! BPN has been such a great help now for 16 years (!!). I too have made many friends, and it was a pleasure to help you out behind the scenes for the last few years.

I still remember a critique I did on one of your images very, very early on (January 2008 or so). It was a Brown Pelican. There was a coloured stripe in the background that I thought distracting so I gently but honestly pointed it out. I got teased quite a bit by some friends up here saying to me "Who are you to critique Arthur Morris' image and point out what you think is a flaw lol". Well, two months later I was asked if I was interested in becoming a moderator. Ha! Who had the last laugh eh!

Glad to see the site will keep on going....but it is the founders that you speak of that gave it its charm and "raison d'être". Here's to the next chapter...

 

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks, Dan. Heck, I've always wanted honest critiques as there is no better way to learn to improve. That continues to this day on the BIRDS AS ART Blog. I always would, however, defend my work if I thought that those who commented were off base, taking a shot at me, or worst of all, nitpicking. There was, is, and always be a fine line between paying attention to small details and nitpicking.

Nitpicking: giving too much attention to details that are not important, especially as a way of criticizing.

Much love, and I hope that you and perhaps Randy Stout can make it down to Florida this spring.

artie

 

[ericbowles]

What is nitpicking for some is communicating the difference between very good and excellent for others. For advanced photographers, nitpicking makes a difference. I remember one of my first PPA submissions being nitpicked - but that's the way you get better.

Congratulations on the next step with BPN. Artie - thanks for your contributions and leadership through the years.

 

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks, Eric. I'll disagree in part. I don't mind folks pointing out the tiniest details if their comments help me to improve a photo. But to point out meaningless stuff to inflate their own egos or bring me down a notch does not work for me. "Two points less of MAGNETA." Really?
much love, a

 

[Dave Pastern]

Thanks, Eric. I'll disagree in part. I don't mind folks pointing out the tiniest details if their comments help me to improve a photo. But to point out meaningless stuff to inflate their own egos or bring me down a notch does not work for me. "Two points less of MAGNETA." Really?
much love, a

Nitpicking can be OK, but the tone of the person doing the "nitpicking" can make or break it imho. And there's where it falls down frequently imho.

all the best Artie.

 

[Arthur Morris]

Nitpicking can be OK, but the tone of the person doing the "nitpicking" can make or break it imho. And there's where it falls down frequently imho.

all the best Artie.

Thanks, Dave. I am stubborn. A nit is a nit and by definition, "unimportant."

with love, artie

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Hey Artie BPN has been a great help to me over the years, your guidance helped me considerably, your processing techniques certainly set me on the path of being an addictive bird photographer. Ii owe you a big thank you! I do hope you will continue to make more posts - and maybe some in Macro & Flora!

 

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Artie BPN has been a great helped me over the years, your guidance helped me considerably, your processing techniques certainly set me on the path of being an addictive bird photographer. Ii ow you a big thank you! I do hope you will continue to make more posts - and maybe some in Macro & Flora!

Thank you Jon for your kind words and for your years as a Mod. Please do not forget that you have helped me out a ton with some Photoshop stuff over the years.

with love, artie

ps: will do.

 

[Dave Pastern]

Thanks, Dave. I am stubborn. A nit is a nit and by definition, "unimportant."

with love, artie

I too am stubborn. But I am a baby when it comes to birding photography and have only been at it for 3 years. So, I am all too happy for people to pick apart my images with constructive criticism. I am quite hard on myself personally, because like Eric, I believe it is the best way to hone and improve your skill sets. It doesn't help that I have ASD and ADHD and I am a perfectionist LOL.

 

[ericbowles]

Thanks, Eric. I'll disagree in part. I don't mind folks pointing out the tiniest details if their comments help me to improve a photo. But to point out meaningless stuff to inflate their own egos or bring me down a notch does not work for me. "Two points less of MAGNETA." Really?
much love, a

I completely agree - that's nitpicking to a higher level.

 

[Arthur Morris]

I too am stubborn. But I am a baby when it comes to birding photography and have only been at it for 3 years. So, I am all too happy for people to pick apart my images with constructive criticism. I am quite hard on myself personally, because like Eric, I believe it is the best way to hone and improve your skill sets. It doesn't help that I have ASD and ADHD and I am a perfectionist LOL.

Hi Dave,

I has only been 41 years, one month, and 20 days for me, but I am still learning. Eric and I have been good friends for years. I too love it when folks take apart my images. What gear are you using? Where do you live? Best advice to get better? Start posting on BPN and visit and subscribe to my blog. If you post something on BPN, please feel free to shoot me a link via e-mail.

with love, a

ps: Lots of practice while thinking helps too

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Sir Arthur, first of all I would like to thank you from the heart for being there for me when I needed it most, for your friendship, encouragement, advice, and for your kind words, always. Sincerely hope you will remain active on BPN - you are a legend, and such an inspiration to so many of us.

Affectionately,
xxQueen G

 

[Arthur Morris]

Gabriella,

And you are a kind soul.

with love, artie

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Well Artie, I didn't see that coming and your presence has been sorely missed over the last year.

I've always felt BPN was always a showcase of excellent imagery in all walks and categories/disciplines and a cut above the rest because of the Community and images and was please to have joined all those years ago. Many times you have shared some excellent informative information and I may not have shown my appreciation, but I have been extremly grateful. I very much hope you do swing by and post, not just images but also feedback, occasionally it's good to have a more 'direct' comment, good or bad.

Things have come a long way since joining BPN, not only in terms of Kit, Software, but also IMHO I have learnt so much because of what you started and created.

Artie, I wish you all the very best for the future, and will still view your Blog, you can never stop learning.

Kind regards
Steve

PS L'Chiam

 

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks for your kind words Steve. The older I get, the more things I seem to have to do You have been a great asset on BPN so thanks for that also.

Yes, I guess I am known for my direct, hold no punches comments

much love, artie

ps: I almost commented on the recent beaver image in Wildlife but I held back

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Yes, I guess I am known for my direct, hold no punches comments

Artie, why write 100 words when five will do. There is no time limit Artie to commenting, I'm think you should.

 

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Artie, I may not have been around for a while, but I am still around. I too, learnt a lot on BPN, and I thank you for such a great platform. Way back, it was a privilege to have been asked to become an avian Mod, and I enjoyed the interaction. All the very best for the future.

 

[Brian Sump]

Thanks for everything you've done for BPN and for Avian photography Artie.

BPN has massively shaped me as a wildlife photographer and I am forever grateful!!!

 

[Dave Pastern]

Hi Dave,

I has only been 41 years, one month, and 20 days for me, but I am still learning. Eric and I have been good friends for years. I too love it when folks take apart my images. What gear are you using? Where do you live? Best advice to get better? Start posting on BPN and visit and subscribe to my blog. If you post something on BPN, please feel free to shoot me a link via e-mail.

with love, a

ps: Lots of practice while thinking helps too

Experience is everything in life. I did macro (Insects & Arachnids) for near 15 years. Now my eyes aren't good enough to tell if the subject's eyes are sharp in the viewfinder. So, I moved to birds.

I'm using a R3 - wonderful camera and a game changer for me, coming from an older 1DIIn, 60D and 7DII. I'm enjoying my photography more and getting more keepers. In hindsight, I should have went with the R5, but I had concerns over rolling shutter. I use a mark 1 EF 500mm f4 prime, but I am saving my pennies for a EF 600f4 II. And a R5. I plan to keep the R3 and use it mostly for low light rainforest shooting where light is a premium. It's high ISO performance is the best of any modern camera imho. The R5 will be used for the rest of my birding photography. As I am on a fixed income, and I have a variety of health issues that may eventually preclude me from working, I am not sure when I will have the funds for either "upgrade". I take it 1 day at a time.

I'm based in Brisbane, Australia.

Highlights for me have been seeing both the critically endangered Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters. If you could do a write up on both of them, it may help spread the word about their dire straights and if we can get more voices harassing our minister for conservation to force change to protect both of these beautiful species, even better. Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world, and birds aren't far behind in this sad statistic. Our conservation act is 1 of the worst in the world and despite it being damned in a recent 2021 report, our government refuses to adopt the recommended changes.