Approaching the Scene 

As an inveterate picture snapper who is usually traveling with another person, I find myself less likely to wait and more likely to settle for what I can snap in that second. To think about the time and patience that is an integral part of great wild animal photography gives much more appreciation of the end result that we all admire. It isn't just luck!! It is knowledge of the tools and creatures, patience and perseverance, and an eye for the link between creature, photographer, and viewer. Thank you!

Very useful approach. Cant wait to see more like this.

This is a very helpful format, totally enjoyed it

Thank you. It is more helpful than the final product as just still photos.

I liked this very much. It's almost as great as being there beside you. And the running commentary wouldn't have been possible in real time. Well done!! More please!

Nice work, Jared with some good explanations of your reasoning behind particular shot choices. Yes, by all means, produce more of these types of tutorial videos.

Great idea and great video. Much more informative and educational that just written instruction. Would love to see more of this.

I enjoy watching videos from the field in wildlife photography. Well done Jared. Great information. Thank you.

Ah, great info!

I liked the video. Seeing the video does give me the sense of how to and see the situation evolve into a picture.

LOVE this approach! I am a visual learner and this is very helpful. Thanks!

really useful commentary. Especially the bit about 2 hours! It puts great images into perspective of the time taken to get that one magic moment.

Fantastic video very easy to follow. It makes sense sometimes we rushed our photos and maybe end with a good photo but not one with a great background separating your subject. Liked this type of training.

You have to determine where you want your audience to focus on, what story are you wanting to convey…..for me, the massive antlers in this composition….I love to shoot wildlife….I’ll have to go to this place….nice video.

Excellent! Good to listen to your experience :)

I enjoyed the video and would like to see more videos like this.

Like it very helpful.

I like this approach. Among its strengths is reinforcing the importance of being 'intentionally opportunistic'. Keep them coming.

Great Video Jared

I appreciate your willingness to share your insights and the time and effort it takes. I find the information very beneficial and thought provoking. Thank you.

Excellent way to show your processes. Thank you for the new videos.

Thanks for sharing! Very helpful to share your thoughts and considerations.

Very interesting approach and very useful. I agree with others on some of the distractions but please do more. one other suggestion would be to take the photo you chose and finish with your suggested post edits before hanging on your wall.

This is a wonderful tutorial Jared. Thank you for sharing! I just spent a couple of days photographing the elk in the Smokies. I would love to see more videos similar to this.

Thanks for the details about your shot, I saw several other opportunities in the video, but wasn't focused just on the bull. Your shot resonates as you describe. I vote for more like this.

Excellent idea for these videos Jared. You are still the master of photographic education. Keep up the good work.

Outstanding content and delivery. Please keep producing these. I was not distracted by anything during the presentation. Very high-level stuff. Thanks very much.

Great video Jared. Really enjoyed the "behind the scenes, this is my approach" perspective. Keep them coming !

Very timely video! I'm going out to western Pennsylvania next week to photograph their elk herd, and your video and accompanying articles have been very inspiring and helpful. Hope to get some really good shots!

Very good information--I would appreciate this more without "music" in the background that distracts from what you are saying.

Great, thought provoking episode. I hope to be there in a couple of weeks. It gets soooo crowded but it is worth it. The music was OK but a bit loud. I was not bothered by it. I did enjoy the little "nat" that I thought was on my monitor. I couldn't wipe it off. Do more of these. When I get somewhere like this I am too anxious and start snapping before I process the event. This way could be the best of two worlds: good video and choice of stills.

Placement of the horizon line seems like the critical point in this composition. I think it's perfect being somewhere below the chin so as not to intersect the face. Maybe even better if it ran through the cape, but what do you think?

Yes, that works. Its refreshing to "experience" the technical message rather than analyze it. My only suggestion would be to make the video shorter. I don't think I'm alone in being a little ADD and wanting to get the nourishment of the message in a smaller mouthful.

Nice concept and I'd love to see more of these "in the field" tutorials. I would suggest that the music was too loud, especially at the beginning, and competes with your voice for attention. Ultimately, I have to tune out the music to understand what you are saying which defeats the purpose of having music, IMHO. However, if the music matches the mood of the video in the field, use it instead of constant commentary. But that's the joy of trying to do something new, you are free to make mistakes.

Great video, but try to keep your hands out of the field of view or at least from covering your face! Sorry, but I became fixated on them and had trouble concentrating on what you were saying! Glad to see a new video from you, keep em coming! I'm a lifetime subscriber to the mag and I recommend it every chance I get!

In due respect, I find myself getting lost in the videography rather than the photography value of this video/tutorial. Perhaps more freeze frames (although you did that some) with a better focus on the subject with a photographer eye could be better helpful? I'm not sure if I am making sense. There is such a difference on videgraphy vs photography. Yes, the subject of what is being shot is quite important, but I personally find that if I'm shooting a subject for photography, I take a different look at the subject. Maybe a different approach of explanation with more freeze frames? And I agree with others, no music for photography tutorials as it does distract. Yes for videography though...as long as the music doesn't interfere with your voice.

Since I joined The Journal of Wildlife Photography, my outlook on photography has changed. I have become more involved with the craft and willing to go out and stay out longer and under any condition. Furthermore, I have spent more money on the art, not on gear but on workshop and travel to other locations to photograph wild subjects. This type of video should be part of your portfolio. The content helps us, the viewer, to visualize the reason behind the image, not the technical aspect but the actual feel and how the outcome will touch the viewer.

I love the concept of the video showing what is happening in front of you as well as what is going on in your head and where you are physically positioning yourself. The only thing I could suggest is that there be more of the video of the scene and the animal while you are talking and less of you talking. Even if you freeze the video for a time while you are explaining.

I find practical applications such as this video very helpful. Although I haven't attended one of your workshops, I assume this is an emphasized part of the in-the-field experience. You published this video about a year ago. Out of curiosity, how do the responses compare from then and now?