This is why I like zoom lenses. With them you can take those close-up portraits but you can also just zoom out for a larger field of view to tell the whole story of what is happening in the scene. A couple weeks ago I visited a local zoo where they built a new walkthrough enclosure for hyacinth macaws. I'd estimate that they had about 30 of them flying around in there among the visitors. So there were lots of opportunities for close-ups but with my Z 180-600 being able to zoom out was handy when they started grooming each other or when they were dangling from one of the branches. With a prime that wouldn't be possible. At least not without constantly switching lenses. As for the shutter speed, I recently set my camera to 1/2000s as the default shutter speed in all my custom settings. Really didn't regret that. You can always just go to a longer shutter speed but forgetting to set a fast shutter speed when you really need it does sting a lot... Also, the higher ISO needed for the faster shutter speed really isn't an issue anymore.
Some really good solid advice there Jan. Many of those also took me a few years to work out on my own. To become a better storyteller, you have to try and tell the whole story, not just focus on the main character. The tidbit about shutter speed is what I tell everyone I run into. They always ask me why my images are so sharp. I tell them I typically do not shoot slower 2-3X the focal length; especially hand held. Usually in the 1/1200-1/3200 range and in short burst. The initial image may be blurry, but subsequent shots will be sharper as the lens stabilization kicks in. Especially helpful for micro-blurring in fine feather, eye detail. Noise and grain can be easily fixed, but a blurry image is a non-starter for me. The remote camera trigger is something that interest me, but I typically do not shoot on set ups or blinds. There is a couple scenarios I want to try out with a wide angle lens plopped in the middle of a flock of birds though. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for spending 5 days to get the shots and video so I can also experience this amazing happening. Such beautiful captures. I was staying at Crater Lake Cottages last year, and lucky enough to see a few moments of the father teaching the young male the moves. Truly awesome!! Love your work.
I first read about the Bowerbirds in Jennifer Ackerman's book "The Bird Way" but have yet to see the fruit of their fantastic construction. I'm happy you have branched out of Bird Portraits and into behavior, too. Loved the images.
That shot at 7:19 of the gibberbird inspired me to try some wider shots when I went looking for the Gibberbird! I didn't use a wide angle lens and the bird was still a fair few meters away but I still managed to frame some shots at 300mm, just wide enough to get a sense of where the bird is and it was well worth it. Your bowerbird photo is surreal, nice work. I would love to capture more wide angle shots but that's difficult when you are already struggling to photograph birds with 600mm. So I might need to try remotely controlling my camera at some stage.
Beautiful and informative video mate. And i almost don't need to say it hehehe, but as always, with some stunning photos. All the best to you and yours. Cheers, Bjoern
You could use a power bank. It would work out cheaper than using the camera batteries, in the situation you described. You could even use a second one to power your phone. More gear to carry though.
The more I use pre-capture, the less I feel the need to ever turn it off. Like you said, better to take too many shots than to miss the shot altogether.
Thank you Jan for your interesting and excellent video: Fantastic and outstanding pictures of beautiful birds. I also prefer a higher shutter speed to be sure that the photo is sharp. Therefore is necessary to go up with the ISO. Best wishes Roland
I just spent 3 months driving around Africa and thought 30k shots was a lot, but obviously I need to get more trigger-happy! I totally agree with your advice about not just taking tight shots. Years ago I got some shots where the animals were a bit further away and the background was interesting, and since then I've been trying to get better at landscape photography so that when I do wildlife, I pay more attention to the environment, not just the subject. Many photographers post shot after shot with very strong background blur and tight compositions and I think that makes the images less interesting, especially when viewed in a slide-show.
It’s funny, cause I used to shoot like that a lot, but taking more video has made me steer away from that more, since most videos look very boring of the BG is too blurry
I've often said that i just dont prefer in-flight shots, as they are almost never as pretty as perched shots. But Jan, your In-Flight shots are just beautiful ! That Red Winged Parrot and the Iredescent Dove before it, WoW ! 😮 As far as wider angle, environmental shots, up until recently my choices were, get the bird up close, or get a wider shot, from farther away. Finally, with the 200-800, I can get both, from the same spot 🙂 Which is good, as it's just about now that wider shots (in the right places) have started to become more interesting to me 🙂 Great video as usual Jan 👍 Thank you 🙂
I’m actually the same. “Normal” flight shots bore me quite easily, but I do like the top side banking pose showing every single colour the bird has to offer
Hi Jan, thanks for these behind the scenes insights, with as usual awesome birds ! I wouldn't mind finding a 600/4 and R5ii hidden in the forest, but I doubt to ever be that lucky 😛 And that wouldn't be fair anyways. On one hand I agree with your view on shuttercount, but I fear not everyone agrees. I've been checking some European Camera chains about the resale value for my 2 year old R5 with 220k images .. and they only offer less than 30% of what I paid, even when over 75% of the shots where using ES. I'm not selling it for those peanuts, but it makes it harder to fund the R5ii ..
Hi Jan, I'm on the fence about whether or not to sign up for the "Everything Bundle". Will you be updating the course in the future as LrC, PS, and R5II updates occur? Thank you!
Hi Jan, thx for these tips and your dreamy photos. I've got a few questions: 1. Were you shooting always ES or also EFC to take advantage of the slightly better dynamic range at high ISO ? 2. Why do you have choosen the digital camo for you LensCoat ? 3. What camo were you dressed in ? 4. Why did you put the lens coat only on the hood and at the back of the lens ? Thx in advance. Bst rgds
Hey, I always use ES, first curtain is just too noisy and I don’t like how it shakes the EVF. For the remote trigger in particular no sounds helps a lot. I like the digital camo the best, although I’d prefer something cooler looking. I don’t like the normal camo patterns etc. I also never wear camo myself. I find quite often it can scare the bird more, cause it actually knows something is moving near by, but can’t find out what it is, rather than knowing it’s a human. Of course sometimes you need it, but I don’t use it much at all
And I only put the lens coat on the lens to stop scratching and I have removed it in all places where it gets in the way of shooting. I find it particularly annoying over the focus rings, makes them way too slippery and is not needed imo
What happens after you get the shot you have your mind set on? Such as the rifle bird display. Does it then become hard to find the motivation on improving what you captured. Because I find it's much easier to stay determined when it's the shot you've not yet achieved, but once you get it all the motivation goes away. And even on a great day's shooting, we still have hope of it getting better
Yes, at some stage you know you actually got “the” shot and you maybe be only doubling up on it, although in this case I would’ve liked to get a shot of the male displaying to the female and more videos of the displays, but I had to leave the area
OK.. Your BIF shutter speed advice, could be a game changer for me. I have been using 1/2000 sec... even on small birds... 😢 R7 with RF100-500L.. I shoot Manual with Auto ISO limited to 12800, Can the R7 safely go higher?
