Excellent video, but now I have to stop calling myself a wildlife photographer as I haven't got the time or patience to be a wildlife photographer. I do think you are right in what you say. However, wandering around and taking whatever you can find can be a good way to hone some skills and speed up your reactions, and in some ways is more exciting but with much less predictable results.
Hi Ian. Definitely agree. It’s a great way to practice, I’d never criticise doing that because it’s how we all learn. But I thought it might be interesting for people to see what goes into this - and how important patience is. (And of course, you’re still a wildlife photographer regardless)
I can’t tell you how much I love your videos. I’m learning so much from you. These “in the field” videos are great! Personally, I have no patience, so nature photography is a chance for me to practice patience! God has a sense of humor! Thanks for everything you share. Crack on!
Wow, thank you. I'm so happy to hear that and glad I can be of help. Funny phrase to practice patience - but it is so true. I have to be disciplined enough to turn my phone off - otherwise I end up getting distracted by notifications and missing shots. Thanks for watching.
Another wonderful video. I always find them very helpful. A quick note on the rocks that were too close for you to focus on. I found myself in a similar position with my 400 mm lens. I had the composition I wanted and could not move my position. The branch was about 3 ft too close to focus on. I threw on an extension tube and was then able to focus on that branch. Obviously this would be a very specific situation but thought I would share that tip anyway. Can't wait until your next video. 👍
Thanks, interesting tip. I don't think I've ever used my extension tubes on the long lens. Something worth thinking about from time to time. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching.
Always watch your videos, like the delivery and content. I very much classed myself as a wildlife photographer up until recently. Which is great for some, but I always looked at the results as more of a snap rather than a photo. I spent a few days at Bempton recently and probably only came back with three or four images I was happy with. I use a test of would I print it and put it on the wall.
Hi Shaun. That's a great tip to hang it on your wall. If you still like it a few weeks later, it's probably a good one. I have to admit, Bempton is a place where it's really easy to get snap happy and end up with hundreds of OK photos. But slowing down and thinking things through will mean that, instead, you end up with a some great ones. Thanks for watching.
I love your videos I've learned so much from you. I'm puzzled by your fearless use of hugely high ISO values. Are you taking heroic post-processing measures to reduce noise?
Thanks John. My Sony A9 has pretty good noise performance. But I don’t let ISO stop me. I go for whatever is needed and deal with it in post. This video How I get clean images from high ISO photos ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lT03APtzrdo.html (quite a long one) has all the different techniques I use. Not everything calls for the final technique - I wouldn’t want to do that for everything. But if it’s needed, I do it. Hope this helps. Thanks for the question and for watching.
Excellent presentation of the topic. … And so, I suppose that spending 20 minutes inside Starbucks waiting for a bird to show up outside does not qualify me to be a wildlife bird photographer. 😊
Nothing wrong with that Mike. I’ve photographed many urban birds eating crumbs from coffee shop tables. (You might like to choose better coffee than Starbucks though). Thanks for watching.
It's wonderful to be able to listen to and be taught the secrets of a master, who is kind enough to share! Though I will never rise to the levels you possess of expertise re photography - not where God intended my abilities be focused. Nevertheless, what you are sharing with me will help me in my modest realm of similar endeavors, mon ami, to accomplish so much more than I could before! SMS
Hi Erik. That's very kind of you to say. But wherever you are in your experience of photography there's always room to grow. I certainly have photographers I look up to who are right at the top of their field. I'm glad the video was helpful and thanks for watching.
I am currently in France where i also have a river with those wagtails. I only for know shot the Kingfishers that live along the river but i wanted to do the wagtails too. My ”problem“ is that i could not figure out yet how to position myself fore the light. I shoot mornings (sun from the left, river flows left to right from my position) when the sun hits the wagtail and i get very harsh light with many blown out whites because its to bright. In the midday its above ⬆️ me so basically everything is very bright. At the evening i habe backlit golden like lighting but still get blownout whites on the bird when i use iso100. The river bank is very shallow and i can lay in it with a tripod for my Camera. What would you recommend me to try to habe a nice even lighting at the bird? Backlight, Frontlight or from top, maybe a littel from the side? Buy the way positioning is very easy because he always visits the same tree trunk where he seems to fish or catch insects
It helps if there is some tree cover to block out some of the bright light from above. Two other things you can try. Firstly - expose for the bird. Stick at ISO 100, but increase your shutter speed so there are no blown out highlights. The surroundings might look very dark, but that can be quite nice. The other option is to use some ND filters. These are the ones that I use amzn.to/47URVUH . Thanks for watching
I really enjoy your videos Scott. I recently got a Sony 200-600 mm lens and want to get better with it. Can you give me an approximation of how close you were to those rocks at 600 mm? It seems that you are closer than I think. Thanks.
Great choice, good lens. I was going to guess that I was about 4m away, but then I remembered that raw files contain the focus distance. The raw file says 8m. Honestly I don't think it was as far as that. I'm not sure how accurately the camera can measure focus distance. So it's my estimation from memory vs the raw file???
Hi Steve. Yes a lot of people don’t go to the other side because it looks private. But a good chunk of that side is open access land and part of the national park.
Great explanation and reasoning. Fully agree. I now only really give myself a target or making a calendar for my family each year, so in 365 days, I need 13 photos. So 1 photo on each trip out still gives me a choice.
i always enjoy your walks and how deliberate you are. Like you said that is the difference between taking wildlife photos and being a Wildlife Photographer.
