When I hear people say, "There are no animals near me", it's more about the lack of 'substantial' animals nearby. These people are just not impressed by squirrels, sparrows, and gulls. They want big game. Little do they know that the critters that they see commonly are also fascinating in their own right.
I've gotten amazing shots of squirrels, chipmunks, Seagulls, and Sparrows and those are the most common animals in my area. There's no excuse, get out there and shoot. :P
Been doing nature, wildlife photography for some 10-15 years and being 71 years old, still don't know what I'm doing. I still shoot positive transparency film using Nikon equipment with lenses ranging from 17mm to 600mm. For the last two years, it has been with the longer reach lenses as I'm unable to do any landscape work with the shorter focal length lenses as I am restricted to the backyard due to health related issues. For now, I have to be satisfied with the quail, birds and rabbits I feed. Beyond that, there are hawks, vultures, coyotes and foxes in the area and visiting my yard. I have to agree with what you said; know your location and surroundings, the behavior of your subject, patience and persistence and learning from your mistakes.
Some great points. I think overcast light is great to work with. Unless it's sunrise or sunset I prefer overcast. I find I get better detail, colour and a more balanced exposure. I guess it's subjective but don't avoid the overcast days!!
Thank you for this informative podcast. I really got a lot out of it. I found it easy to follow and very practical. I agree that the number one tip is patience and persistence. I have found that just lingering a little bit longer at a location can often yield good results.
I'm currently using a Cannon 75-300mm lens and looking for a bit more range. What are your guys thoughts on telephoto extenders vs buying let's say a Sigma 600mm lens?
Tip 6 is really true. I have taken many beautiful pictures of hummingbirds with a humble 55-200m and a yongnuo flash fired with a radioflash on a D5200. I placed the lens at the best aperture and than extracted the most of it.
Thanks!, for wild life is it better using automatic mode versus manual ( until you learn and be comfortable using manual mode)? I am afraid is I keep setting my manual mode the bird will fly away....
First Tony video I saw about how to set up bird "traps" in your backyard. With feeders strategically placed and located near trees, shrubs or even branches you might place in your yard. I added branches to the top of my feeders and many species fly in, land there, look around and I get some good shots. Some days I have 7-10 different species fly in. Just love observing their various personalities and behaviors. Helps to know in advance where the sun is going to be at any time of day and I can control the background as well. Get some shots and then finish lunch.
6:30 is so true. I thought there was nothing interesting around me until I actually just started visiting places. I just looked up local forests and just went there. There's some very small "forests" that aren't bigger than a large farmer's field that can still feature TONS of wild animals. I saw like 1000 birds sitting in trees and there was a wild deer drinking from the creek like 10 meters away from me which I didn't see until I scared it away by riding my bike on my way home. Even recently, I went to another forest and it was deserted. No single animal, except bugs. Until we turned around to get home and on our way back on the exact same path there was suddenly like 100 wild cows just chilling on the paths. I've never seen wild cows in my 30 years of life and now I saw like 100s of them right on front of me, less than 2 miles away from a road I've driven on 100s of times. You could basically pet them, they were not skittish at all, so I could get some very nice shots in with my 90mm prime. I felt no need for a 600mm at all. I had some AMAZING shots with my 90mm prime lens. My wife had the 70-350 and she also had a ton of fun shooting these cows.
Here in Winnipeg, we are fortunate to have a privately owned conservation area called Fort Whyte. We had friends visiting from Australia and one is an avid birder. So I took her to Ft. Whyte and we sat down at a bird feeding station to watch and photograph the seasonal birds. About a half hour into the viewing, a lovely buck and doe walked into the scene. I got a couple of terrific shots of these gorgeous creatures. Even in a fair sized city like Winnipeg, there are hidden gems for we citified wildlife shooters.
Tony do you think that a d90 $200 and tamron 200-400 $160 and a 80-200 2.8d ed $350 is a decent starting point for those looking to get hs burst and a budget of 650
Aloha Chelsea and Tony! I realize this tutorial is from 3 years ago but I felt the need to share my experience. Living in Kona, Hawaii for 16 years gifted me with infinite opportunities to shoot dolphins, whales, sharks, and turtles, which I have to say was a magical experience. Now that I'm back in Seattle, I live on a sweet lake with all kinds of much smaller wildlife, certainly none that would be described as WOW factor subjects. Well, maybe the resident eagles would disagree. LOL But even squirrels, ducks and crows offer lots of photographic opportunities when I pay attention. I'm still learning my way out of AUTO mode and have jumped into Lightroom to up my photography expertise. Your tutorials have helped me so much. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Much appreciated. :)
2:52 "that ppl are gonna love". It's not about what ppl like, it's about what YOU YOURSELF like. Dont strive to please other ppl - strive to please yourself.
I am a wildlife enthusiast...my budget is low....abd my choice is canon 800d and tamron 18-400....can you please tell me about the auto focus speed of this lens...or this combination?
Hi Tony. I have a question for you. When I'm out looking for birds, Should I be walking all the time searching the forest for them or should I just choose a location and wait for the birds to show up? I think Chelseq was suggesting the second option. I noticed that if I'm moving all the time the birds are annoyed and fly away immediately, and if I'm standing still in one location I might be waiting for hours and nothing shows up. Your advice please.
Hope you don't mind me answering your question to Tony. Generally I would walk around initially, until I came to a bird hotspot, where I might hear and/or see a few species. Then I would decide to stay still for a while, and see what will come closer to me. I have often just stood still in a forest, and had birds hopping around my feet. The secret is not to move, and remain quiet. I also might find a patch of light coming through the forest and will stay around here so that if a bird does come along it will have nice light on it. I have been successful with this.
Research the area, check local bird websites, talk to others who've been there, leave your camera at home and get to know the area you are going. Knowledge is king (even over Persistence & Patience!)
george2470 I hope you don't mind a late reply. My answer is, "it depends". I tend to favor the "walk around slowly and keep my eyes and ears open" method. But even that depends on knowing what habitats or areas will likely have certain birds at a given time of year. I only stay and wait in areas I know, from research or experience, are rife with birds. Else, I go to areas that have at least a fair probability of birds and walk around.
Extra tip; When you walk watch your step for step n such. You will be surprised how close you can get to a big bird in a local park and not spook it. Them darn sticks though. CRACK! Add another tip if ya got more!
Tips for birds which are kind of used to humans: Start whistling and slowly get closer. Yesterday a blackbird was really interested in my whistling and was tiling his head to the side while listening to it. Everytime I stopped he went back to eating worms :P
Thank you for another important stepping stone. I like tip #1 Patience and Persistence. I would add a third quality to that, Enthusiasm. Thus you would be practicing PEP (Patience, Enthusiasm and Persistence). You guys rock!
I agree about the getting closer thing, but sometimes we (I for instance) live in areas with shy critters, mostly due to the high hunting pressure in my case. And then, getting closer is always on top of the list but the question remains: What lens under $2500 will give the best compromise of reach and quality (and possibly handle a TC well when it's needed). We don't always need the ideal picture but just the picture (for example to add an observation in a wildlife population database that leaves no doubt for identification).
I went down the road of thinking a big lens (600mm) would be better for bird photography than a smaller lens but most of the decent shots we have got of birds have been taken with a 300mm. It is easier to handle, faster to focus and over-all a much better lens even though it was very cheap compared to the 600.
I seem to be having a issue with your digital book . the pictures are not matching up with the chapters. I would send you a screen shot but it seems I can not send them here. one talks about capturing a beaver but it shows a girl mid section jumping over a sand pit. lol. I did send a screen shot in your Facebook messenger.
I think its unfair to say that you will never get a "very interesting picture" of a zoo animal (Chelsea 14:51). I think zoo's are great places to see different wildlife and get some good and interesting shots, especially for those at a beginner/intermediate level. I have seen some great pictures of zoo animals and some of my zoo shots, I'm particularly proud of. Whilst the animals are not in their natural habitat, the zoo I go to, tries to provide the best they can and the lack of natural habitat becomes less obvious when photographing some animals such as butterflies. Apart from this, thanks for a great video guys.
Ben Delves I agree - many zoos today stress putting the animals in a habitat like their natural habitat. As far as birds go, maybe not, but depending on the animal, I think you can get good photos at a zoo.
I'd like to add my favorite photo from a zoo is in a crowded gorilla enclosure, I took a step back from the crowd and got a shot of a few people in front of the gorilla. Sometimes getting the people in the shot too creates a great story. Here's the link incase you want to see what I'm talking about. 500px.com/photo/195948119/gorilla-and-child-by-john-leo-scott?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=19973565
Ben Delves I totally agree. Zoos are great places to practice wildlife photography, especially if you don't have the time to "find" wildlife close to where you live. I took some great photos during a visit to the zoo earlier this year.
Right - I also really dislike this Nat Geo mindset that any wildlife shot that isn't dramatic in a natural setting isn't worthy of being considered an amazing shot. That's such a subjective and ignorant statement. I've bought prints from artists who shot at the zoo. Plus, seeing an animal birthing to me isn't something that I'd even care to look at on social media, and again, this is being of personal preference and has nothing to do with photography skill or taste.
Absolutely agree with number 1; Patience and Persistence, but I would also add... Dress appropriately! I've seen so many people give up just a short while into a session because they were under dressed. Chittering with the cold does not make for a comfortable experience, and will be more likely to happen if you're stationary, waiting for a shot.
I’m definitely leaning towards micro4/3 camera equipment, just solely based on the reduced size of the equipment compared to full-frame and even APS-C since I do a lot of hiking and do not want to weigh myself down in long distances.
No offence, but if/when you do shoot wildlife, I think you'll see why clear skies and full sunlight are great for animals. A bright red cardinal with clear texture on the feathers beats a muddy red bird every time. :)
I really enjoy your videos and patience to me is very important I love photographing hummingbirds one morning I got up early I was lucky to snap a pic of a feather blowing around a hummingbird flew down and got it and flew back to its perch it’s one of my favorite pictures.
Hi love all your videos, please can you tell me if I’m too old for full camouflage gear,I’m 62 years old,well I I’ve bought full kit for my wildlife photography, I told my wife that it could spice up our love life when I put in on she burst out laughing 😂 I asked her where do you want me she replied as far away as possible,should I ditch the camouflage and stick to landscape what do you think 🤔 keep up the hard work for us .📷👍
The tip about (sun)light is, at least, debatable IMHO: an overcast day can work as a huge softbox and may generally be better in bringing out colors than a harsh sun which tends to give contrasts that may be very hard to handle and cause blown-out parts. Apart from that camera's have improved considerably in the last 10 years or so in handling low-light situations and are way better in terms of noise. As for 'popping' colors: I'd say it's easier to boost colors a bit than to mute big contrasts.
Tony & Chelsea, I have been looking for a used Nikon 400mm 2.8 lens to add to my lens lineup. I shoot with a Nikon D810 so I can crop if necessary or shoot in the 810's cropped sensor mode. Would a 400 be long enough? I do want to shoot some wildlife but also be able to shoot sport events & music concerts also. Your input please :-)
I would rather go with a used 600mm f4 (2007 model), those are roughly at the same price as the 400mm f2.8 (2007 model), both of these lenses work really well with extenders (i would suggest a 1.4 ), making them respectively 840mm and 560mm. But one thing you have to keep in mind, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH MILLIMETRES IN WILDLIFE ...
I agree with much of what you said Tony, although one that sticks out to me as a bit of a generalization is the comment that you wont get a great photo during overcast skys. In my opinion hard direct light can often gives a harsh and overly warm colors to the bird. While direct light does make images sharper, I dont think it is always better. I like a very light cloud cover when thinking about going out to shoot because the light will be good for hours rather than just like 45 min in the morning and evening.
In the UK, there are lots of sites where Raptors are flown for the public to photo, including wildlife parks. So possibly the same in other countries too.
Great video as always! Patience is so important and not having tunnel vision about what you want to see. I went out looking for a Kestrel and found fighting bluebirds. . There's always something interesting if you're looking around and patient. Best of luck to you guys in 2020!
Hi, Tony and Chelsea, I wish you can help me in this. I m a hobbyist canon shooter with small collection of canon lenses and bodies (canon 5dmk4, canon 35mm 1.4, canon 24-70 2.8 II, canon 70-200 2.8 II, canon 85mm 1.2, canon 14mm 2.8, tamron 150-600 G2, canon 100-400 II). I m really into wildlife and bird shots but extremely frustrated by canon lack of innovation. I m saving for a 600mm fast prime. I m in dilemma about what should I purchase? should I switch to nikon ?? or go to sony and mirrorless world?? should i stick with canon?? I want to make a kinda big investment on 600mm.
Hey buddy, there's a reason I didn't choose canon for my system. They have lacked innovation for a few years, Nikon and Sony absolutely killed it this year!! So, imo, I feel next year Canon will make a big comeback next year. They have to or else they will just fall further behind. I would just wait till next year, if anything switch to Sony, you can buy adapters that work great in the mean time. Just my opinion!
i am going to buy the 85mm f/1.4 IS L USM next month when it arrives in my country, and also a 35mm f/1.4 L (classic, old ; to complement the modern optics of 85), . . . but yes, the sharpest & best IQ / DR is attained with Sony, Nikon, Fuji, while the best color-science, ease of use, and best lenses is with Canon. Sony & Fuji lenses are over-priced. Fuji body design may be better than the rest, but again, its bodies are overpriced like its lenses.
That's like saying you own 5 race cars when you're still a teenager in driving school! You're already using expensive pro gear so getting great pictures should not be an issue. However, for birds specifically, you could go with a crop camera or higher res camera (5dsr, a7r, d850) so you don't absolutely need to change systems. Even using an older/cheaper crop camera with the same lenses would give you better results for birding, just due to the pixel density you'd get on the subject.
Canon keeps its bodies deliberately under-powered, behind or backward on feature-set & specs. Nikon D850 IQ is only slightly superior to D810, but the AF points & VF Coverage etc. has seen an improvement ; and 4K, 9 FPS, 10 extra MP, weight increase, all of which is not something I crave in a camera. I wish they made a D850 with 12 MP. It is a dilemma to dump or ditch canon for nikon or sony. Sony A7RIII also has no significant difference in IQ from its predecessor, but AF & mechanical shutter 10FPS & feature/specs wise there's a marked difference. So what to do ? tough ask taking the plunge and jumping ship to other brand !
Those improvements you mentioned mat not be too much compared to their previous version, especially when it comes to the a7r, but if you want a low res, low light monster, they have the A7s. For Max, going from a 5D to a D850 or a7r, etc. for his bird needs, it will be a huge improvement. I'm fine with my D750 and the Sigma 150-600 C, but only because I'm not in the market to spend $10k-$20k on lenses.
great points and think being ready for the unexpected a wild west quick draw shutter finger so many moments just arrive some u get some don't if your going after a specific shot wildlife shot something else can just happen a drop bear lands on your foot .I was looking for a Cassowary worlds most dangerous bird shot and it suddenly appeared i didnt realize rapid backing up while taking was needed
I started with a 300mm lens and then 2 months later bought the 150-600mm sigma and I don't think it's very difficult at all. Maybe it's just my personality type but all it is is better zoom capability and a little more weight. If you can handle more weight you're good.
I agree that it's important to grow into your gear and not upgrade too fast. It's easy to want to get everything and try it all but every single piece of gear requires that you learn how to properly operate it. It can be overwhelming to try to throw it all together at once without knowing what you're doing. Thanks for the tip.
2:02 Although this maybe true people should exercise caution around wildlife as well as observe sensitive areas...IMO nesting etc. Wildlife is unpredictable as you know but more so during mating and birthing seasons. 7:54 Tony nails it. This for me at least is key and that is spending as much time in the field learning animal behavior.
love shooting nature pictures.In Illinois winter means bald eagles my favorite subject. I use a fixed canon 400mm lens and able to handhold it give me that over a bigger lens any day! Love you shows !!
18:30 Chelsea: Right? Tony: Right! Absolutely! .... so what do you mean by that? This is how you become a good husband. Agree to your wife first, ask for explanations later! :P
Can someone tell me a NEF File photo viewer app on Windows 8 ? Northup could u help me out ? A photo viewer which can view every format ? Thanks alot !! If u do 😉
Before you went to your final point, I was just thinking that patience is the most important. This summer hawks have been hanging around a field in back of my house. Someone might think that I would have a ton of great shots of the hawks. Not so fast my friend. If I was already set up and ready to shoot I would have many more shots. But, since I've been shooting for a long time now, I know that by the time I get my camera the opportunity will have passed. So, I just enjoy the moment and let it go by. But, I do have some good photos of the hawks from earlier this year when I was ready and the hawks hung around long enough to get a good shot.
Your not supposed to notice things like that!😆 attention to detail then pointing out the differences =the best way to get the TV to yourself...or computer, tablet...maybe even the house!LOL 👍👍
I was listening to this with my headphones and wasnt paying attention to the video. When at 6:54 and at 7:00 this sound appeared I was honestly freaked out that something was in my room making that noise. I had to go back in the video to make sure it was in this video and not in my room
Couldn't agree more with the idea of gear being the most important. If you ever travel make sure you get the best guides. It makes the difference. We might know some people. :)
Thanks for your video, wildlife is a topic that is dear to many who are sincere of heart - who in fact speak on behalf of creatures that cannot speak for themselves. As someone from South Africa where the genre is hugely popular, I would say your view count would be higher still if you followed this up with videos on location with more insights in technique, animal knowledge and the artistic. I also think you underestimate the importance of gear in wildlife photography, it is the one genre where fast glass and technique makes a massive difference, especially in bird photography! Not #6!
Tip #5: The zoo is a great place for wildlife, though I take wildlife photos for fun. I have lots of amazing images from the zoo. Also contact local park rangers offices and they are typically more than happy to give some amazing insight into where and when to find the animals.
In Mexico there are about 1,100 species of birds, of which in the Yucatan Peninsula there are more than 500 species. I started birding in 2015, at the same time as photography, and I am one of those who enjoy its 300mm lens. If you like to look at some of the bird species that we have in the Peninsula, on my channel I have some videos with photos, greetings.
No animals, ugh and no bugs. Found a spiderweb but no spider. So the web was the best shot of the day. I surprised myself. Creativity. Always try something new. It could be fun.
Thats why 100-400 or 200-500 are excellent lenses because you can zoom out, find the birds, then zoom in to get closer. The giant ass lenses are also really heavy and hard to wield.
Virginia is a good place to start for a beginner. I mean it has so many animals and they are everywhere. Deer, bear, foxes, rabbits and lots of birds. It's really pretty
anybody know anyway to avoid or scare snakes away? The biggest thing in the way for me is my crippling fear of snakes, and 9/10 times I've gone out they start slithering away once I'm only a few feet away from them and scare the shit out of me, which ussually ends in me abandoning the place (sometimes I'll make it past the first snake, but coming across two or three always ends it for me). I only have garder snakes around my area, I know they are harmless for the most part, but they scare the shit out of me. Maybe I'll just take to wearing tall rubber boots everywhere I go, although that probably won't even help too much.
If you wear rubber boots you won't have much trouble even with venomous snakes. Since you only have garder snakes in your area and you still ned to keep them away, just grab a stick and poke them. They won't jump on you or anything!
this was helpful, I love photographing wildlife, I even made a video about my sighting of a golden eagle in Hinckley, Leicester, UK :)
When I hear people say, "There are no animals near me", it's more about the lack of 'substantial' animals nearby. These people are just not impressed by squirrels, sparrows, and gulls. They want big game. Little do they know that the critters that they see commonly are also fascinating in their own right.
gameshoes exactly. I have even done this but it just takes going into a good spot in the woods and waiting.
Amen. And the small critters are good practice for the big ones.
I recently photographed a gull and Canon liked my post so I think that shows a boring bird can make a good photo
Apart from cats, sparrows and magpies, I have nzver seen any other animal in my city
I've gotten amazing shots of squirrels, chipmunks, Seagulls, and Sparrows and those are the most common animals in my area. There's no excuse, get out there and shoot. :P
Love it that you said go out there and put in the time...there's no quick hack. It's true of every skill I know.
Been doing nature, wildlife photography for some 10-15 years and being 71 years old, still don't know what I'm doing. I still shoot positive transparency film using Nikon equipment with lenses ranging from 17mm to 600mm. For the last two years, it has been with the longer reach lenses as I'm unable to do any landscape work with the shorter focal length lenses as I am restricted to the backyard due to health related issues. For now, I have to be satisfied with the quail, birds and rabbits I feed. Beyond that, there are hawks, vultures, coyotes and foxes in the area and visiting my yard. I have to agree with what you said; know your location and surroundings, the behavior of your subject, patience and persistence and learning from your mistakes.
Some great points. I think overcast light is great to work with. Unless it's sunrise or sunset I prefer overcast. I find I get better detail, colour and a more balanced exposure. I guess it's subjective but don't avoid the overcast days!!
I'm surprised Ebird wasn't mentioned. Fantastic resource for knowing what birds you could see in your area
Excellent oops for my wildlife photography,i watch all your videos,i find them so helpful.Thankyou so much.
A great place to photograph birds is at a zoo, particularly a zoo with a large, walk-through aviary.
I find that cheating i feel its more satisfying getting a picture of an animal in the wild but thats just me.
If you like sad birds.
A long lens keeps you away from the wildlife which doesn't scare them away. A tripod for a largs lens like that is a must.
Thank you both for all you do, this is what the internet was meant to be!
Thank you for this informative podcast. I really got a lot out of it. I found it easy to follow and very practical. I agree that the number one tip is patience and persistence. I have found that just lingering a little bit longer at a location can often yield good results.
I'm currently using a Cannon 75-300mm lens and looking for a bit more range. What are your guys thoughts on telephoto extenders vs buying let's say a Sigma 600mm lens?
Tip 6 is really true. I have taken many beautiful pictures of hummingbirds with a humble 55-200m and a yongnuo flash fired with a radioflash on a D5200. I placed the lens at the best aperture and than extracted the most of it.
Thanks!, for wild life is it better using automatic mode versus manual ( until you learn and be comfortable using manual mode)? I am afraid is I keep setting my manual mode the bird will fly away....
First Tony video I saw about how to set up bird "traps" in your backyard. With feeders strategically placed and located near trees, shrubs or even branches you might place in your yard. I added branches to the top of my feeders and many species fly in, land there, look around and I get some good shots. Some days I have 7-10 different species fly in. Just love observing their various personalities and behaviors. Helps to know in advance where the sun is going to be at any time of day and I can control the background as well. Get some shots and then finish lunch.
6:30 is so true. I thought there was nothing interesting around me until I actually just started visiting places.
I just looked up local forests and just went there. There's some very small "forests" that aren't bigger than a large farmer's field that can still feature TONS of wild animals. I saw like 1000 birds sitting in trees and there was a wild deer drinking from the creek like 10 meters away from me which I didn't see until I scared it away by riding my bike on my way home.
Even recently, I went to another forest and it was deserted. No single animal, except bugs. Until we turned around to get home and on our way back on the exact same path there was suddenly like 100 wild cows just chilling on the paths. I've never seen wild cows in my 30 years of life and now I saw like 100s of them right on front of me, less than 2 miles away from a road I've driven on 100s of times. You could basically pet them, they were not skittish at all, so I could get some very nice shots in with my 90mm prime.
I felt no need for a 600mm at all. I had some AMAZING shots with my 90mm prime lens. My wife had the 70-350 and she also had a ton of fun shooting these cows.
Here in Winnipeg, we are fortunate to have a privately owned conservation area called Fort Whyte. We had friends visiting from Australia and one is an avid birder. So I took her to Ft. Whyte and we sat down at a bird feeding station to watch and photograph the seasonal birds. About a half hour into the viewing, a lovely buck and doe walked into the scene. I got a couple of terrific shots of these gorgeous creatures. Even in a fair sized city like Winnipeg, there are hidden gems for we citified wildlife shooters.
Tony do you think that a d90 $200 and tamron 200-400 $160 and a 80-200 2.8d ed $350 is a decent starting point for those looking to get hs burst and a budget of 650
Aloha Chelsea and Tony! I realize this tutorial is from 3 years ago but I felt the need to share my experience. Living in Kona, Hawaii for 16 years gifted me with infinite opportunities to shoot dolphins, whales, sharks, and turtles, which I have to say was a magical experience. Now that I'm back in Seattle, I live on a sweet lake with all kinds of much smaller wildlife, certainly none that would be described as WOW factor subjects. Well, maybe the resident eagles would disagree. LOL But even squirrels, ducks and crows offer lots of photographic opportunities when I pay attention. I'm still learning my way out of AUTO mode and have jumped into Lightroom to up my photography expertise. Your tutorials have helped me so much. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Much appreciated. :)
What do you do when you're being chased by an Ostrich in the wild, running at 43 mph, with a 600mm lens on your shoulder?
Put the camera down and run!
Carry the lens and run at 44mph at the opposite direction.
Take the lens off and beat up the Ostrich
Put the lense in a safe place cuz that shits expensive, you will die but at least the lense is ok 😁.
That 600mm is a baseball bat, use it :)
2:52 "that ppl are gonna love". It's not about what ppl like, it's about what YOU YOURSELF like.
Dont strive to please other ppl - strive to please yourself.
i have a 21mm to 1385mm build in lens that can go down to f3.4 but the problem is that it doesnt has a good focussing system
thank you for the awesome tips tony and chelsea
I am a wildlife enthusiast...my budget is low....abd my choice is canon 800d and tamron 18-400....can you please tell me about the auto focus speed of this lens...or this combination?
Hi Tony. I have a question for you. When I'm out looking for birds, Should I be walking all the time searching the forest for them or should I just choose a location and wait for the birds to show up? I think Chelseq was suggesting the second option. I noticed that if I'm moving all the time the birds are annoyed and fly away immediately, and if I'm standing still in one location I might be waiting for hours and nothing shows up. Your advice please.
Hope you don't mind me answering your question to Tony. Generally I would walk around initially, until I came to a bird hotspot, where I might hear and/or see a few species. Then I would decide to stay still for a while, and see what will come closer to me. I have often just stood still in a forest, and had birds hopping around my feet. The secret is not to move, and remain quiet. I also might find a patch of light coming through the forest and will stay around here so that if a bird does come along it will have nice light on it. I have been successful with this.
Listen to what Cheisea says
Research the area, check local bird websites, talk to others who've been there, leave your camera at home and get to know the area you are going. Knowledge is king (even over Persistence & Patience!)
george2470 I hope you don't mind a late reply. My answer is, "it depends". I tend to favor the "walk around slowly and keep my eyes and ears open" method. But even that depends on knowing what habitats or areas will likely have certain birds at a given time of year. I only stay and wait in areas I know, from research or experience, are rife with birds. Else, I go to areas that have at least a fair probability of birds and walk around.
Extra tip; When you walk watch your step for step n such.
You will be surprised how close you can get to a big bird in a local park and not spook it.
Them darn sticks though. CRACK!
Add another tip if ya got more!
Tips for birds which are kind of used to humans: Start whistling and slowly get closer.
Yesterday a blackbird was really interested in my whistling and was tiling his head to the side while listening to it. Everytime I stopped he went back to eating worms :P
Watch out for goose shit for sure, if they happen to be in the area..lol
Do you guys have any suggestions for Black Friday/ Cyber Monday for Canon flashs?
Thank you for another important stepping stone. I like tip #1 Patience and Persistence. I would add a third quality to that, Enthusiasm. Thus you would be practicing PEP (Patience, Enthusiasm and Persistence). You guys rock!
I agree about the getting closer thing, but sometimes we (I for instance) live in areas with shy critters, mostly due to the high hunting pressure in my case. And then, getting closer is always on top of the list but the question remains: What lens under $2500 will give the best compromise of reach and quality (and possibly handle a TC well when it's needed). We don't always need the ideal picture but just the picture (for example to add an observation in a wildlife population database that leaves no doubt for identification).
This video came out at a great time, i'm going to the zoo this weekend
+Austen
Awesome! Have fun!
hey you guys are pretty smart. i was impressed. thanks for the video
I went down the road of thinking a big lens (600mm) would be better for bird photography than a smaller lens but most of the decent shots we have got of birds have been taken with a 300mm. It is easier to handle, faster to focus and over-all a much better lens even though it was very cheap compared to the 600.
I seem to be having a issue with your digital book . the pictures are not matching up with the chapters. I would send you a screen shot but it seems I can not send them here. one talks about capturing a beaver but it shows a girl mid section jumping over a sand pit. lol. I did send a screen shot in your Facebook messenger.
I think its unfair to say that you will never get a "very interesting picture" of a zoo animal (Chelsea 14:51). I think zoo's are great places to see different wildlife and get some good and interesting shots, especially for those at a beginner/intermediate level. I have seen some great pictures of zoo animals and some of my zoo shots, I'm particularly proud of. Whilst the animals are not in their natural habitat, the zoo I go to, tries to provide the best they can and the lack of natural habitat becomes less obvious when photographing some animals such as butterflies. Apart from this, thanks for a great video guys.
Ben Delves I agree - many zoos today stress putting the animals in a habitat like their natural habitat. As far as birds go, maybe not, but depending on the animal, I think you can get good photos at a zoo.
I'd like to add my favorite photo from a zoo is in a crowded gorilla enclosure, I took a step back from the crowd and got a shot of a few people in front of the gorilla. Sometimes getting the people in the shot too creates a great story.
Here's the link incase you want to see what I'm talking about.
500px.com/photo/195948119/gorilla-and-child-by-john-leo-scott?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=19973565
Ben Delves I totally agree. Zoos are great places to practice wildlife photography, especially if you don't have the time to "find" wildlife close to where you live. I took some great photos during a visit to the zoo earlier this year.
Right - I also really dislike this Nat Geo mindset that any wildlife shot that isn't dramatic in a natural setting isn't worthy of being considered an amazing shot. That's such a subjective and ignorant statement. I've bought prints from artists who shot at the zoo. Plus, seeing an animal birthing to me isn't something that I'd even care to look at on social media, and again, this is being of personal preference and has nothing to do with photography skill or taste.
Absolutely agree with number 1; Patience and Persistence, but I would also add... Dress appropriately! I've seen so many people give up just a short while into a session because they were under dressed. Chittering with the cold does not make for a comfortable experience, and will be more likely to happen if you're stationary, waiting for a shot.
I’m definitely leaning towards micro4/3 camera equipment, just solely based on the reduced size of the equipment compared to full-frame and even APS-C since I do a lot of hiking and do not want to weigh myself down in long distances.
The difference between picture and a photograph is the story!
Great video. Although I’ve never shot wildlife, I’d take the diffuse light from an overcast day vs. the harsh light from clear skies any day.
No offence, but if/when you do shoot wildlife, I think you'll see why clear skies and full sunlight are great for animals. A bright red cardinal with clear texture on the feathers beats a muddy red bird every time. :)
I really enjoy your videos and patience to me is very important I love photographing hummingbirds one morning I got up early I was lucky to snap a pic of a feather blowing around a hummingbird flew down and got it and flew back to its perch it’s one of my favorite pictures.
sir can you give a tip on buying used lens in amazon or ebay if you were in middle east?
I love how into it Chealsea is
Ted ThePilot I've always said Chelsea wheel house is the podcast. Where Tony is at home on the live show.
Hi love all your videos, please can you tell me if I’m too old for full camouflage gear,I’m 62 years old,well I I’ve bought full kit for my wildlife photography, I told my wife that it could spice up our love life when I put in on she burst out laughing 😂 I asked her where do you want me she replied as far away as possible,should I ditch the camouflage and stick to landscape what do you think 🤔 keep up the hard work for us .📷👍
Great video as always. Can’t wait to finish watching it.
These old videos of yours that I really like. Great tips. 👍
Chelsea is pretty good at the podcast show. She really gets into the subject. Great show!
I started with a 24mm for wildlife and got some good pictures! I cant wait to upgrade to a good telephoto lens!
The tip about (sun)light is, at least, debatable IMHO: an overcast day can work as a huge softbox and may generally be better in bringing out colors than a harsh sun which tends to give contrasts that may be very hard to handle and cause blown-out parts. Apart from that camera's have improved considerably in the last 10 years or so in handling low-light situations and are way better in terms of noise. As for 'popping' colors: I'd say it's easier to boost colors a bit than to mute big contrasts.
Tony & Chelsea, I have been looking for a used Nikon 400mm 2.8 lens to add to my lens lineup. I shoot with a Nikon D810 so I can crop if necessary or shoot in the 810's cropped sensor mode.
Would a 400 be long enough? I do want to shoot some wildlife but also be able to shoot sport events & music concerts also. Your input please :-)
I would rather go with a used 600mm f4 (2007 model), those are roughly at the same price as the 400mm f2.8 (2007 model), both of these lenses work really well with extenders (i would suggest a 1.4 ), making them respectively 840mm and 560mm. But one thing you have to keep in mind, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH MILLIMETRES IN WILDLIFE ...
Thanks
I agree with much of what you said Tony, although one that sticks out to me as a bit of a generalization is the comment that you wont get a great photo during overcast skys. In my opinion hard direct light can often gives a harsh and overly warm colors to the bird. While direct light does make images sharper, I dont think it is always better. I like a very light cloud cover when thinking about going out to shoot because the light will be good for hours rather than just like 45 min in the morning and evening.
Excellent channel! I like contemplating nature, explore and calm down...
I have to say it :) Do we need to shoot Raw ?
in my opinion yes... i find it horrible to edit jpegs... could throw up every time i have to do it!😂
Should I shoot jpeg or raw for Wildlife ?
In the UK, there are lots of sites where Raptors are flown for the public to photo, including wildlife parks. So possibly the same in other countries too.
Great tips, love your channel!
Thanks for the tips! I am mainly shooting those Gulls out there to get some practice.
Great video as always! Patience is so important and not having tunnel vision about what you want to see. I went out looking for a Kestrel and found fighting bluebirds. . There's always something interesting if you're looking around and patient. Best of luck to you guys in 2020!
Hi, Tony and Chelsea, I wish you can help me in this. I m a hobbyist canon shooter with small collection of canon lenses and bodies (canon 5dmk4, canon 35mm 1.4, canon 24-70 2.8 II, canon 70-200 2.8 II, canon 85mm 1.2, canon 14mm 2.8, tamron 150-600 G2, canon 100-400 II). I m really into wildlife and bird shots but extremely frustrated by canon lack of innovation. I m saving for a 600mm fast prime. I m in dilemma about what should I purchase? should I switch to nikon ?? or go to sony and mirrorless world?? should i stick with canon?? I want to make a kinda big investment on 600mm.
Hey buddy, there's a reason I didn't choose canon for my system. They have lacked innovation for a few years, Nikon and Sony absolutely killed it this year!! So, imo, I feel next year Canon will make a big comeback next year. They have to or else they will just fall further behind. I would just wait till next year, if anything switch to Sony, you can buy adapters that work great in the mean time. Just my opinion!
i am going to buy the 85mm f/1.4 IS L USM next month when it arrives in my country, and also a 35mm f/1.4 L (classic, old ; to complement the modern optics of 85), . . . but yes, the sharpest & best IQ / DR is attained with Sony, Nikon, Fuji, while the best color-science, ease of use, and best lenses is with Canon. Sony & Fuji lenses are over-priced. Fuji body design may be better than the rest, but again, its bodies are overpriced like its lenses.
That's like saying you own 5 race cars when you're still a teenager in driving school! You're already using expensive pro gear so getting great pictures should not be an issue. However, for birds specifically, you could go with a crop camera or higher res camera (5dsr, a7r, d850) so you don't absolutely need to change systems. Even using an older/cheaper crop camera with the same lenses would give you better results for birding, just due to the pixel density you'd get on the subject.
Canon keeps its bodies deliberately under-powered, behind or backward on feature-set & specs. Nikon D850 IQ is only slightly superior to D810, but the AF points & VF Coverage etc. has seen an improvement ; and 4K, 9 FPS, 10 extra MP, weight increase, all of which is not something I crave in a camera. I wish they made a D850 with 12 MP. It is a dilemma to dump or ditch canon for nikon or sony. Sony A7RIII also has no significant difference in IQ from its predecessor, but AF & mechanical shutter 10FPS & feature/specs wise there's a marked difference. So what to do ? tough ask taking the plunge and jumping ship to other brand !
Those improvements you mentioned mat not be too much compared to their previous version, especially when it comes to the a7r, but if you want a low res, low light monster, they have the A7s. For Max, going from a 5D to a D850 or a7r, etc. for his bird needs, it will be a huge improvement. I'm fine with my D750 and the Sigma 150-600 C, but only because I'm not in the market to spend $10k-$20k on lenses.
can you do a video on telephoto lenses?
great points and think being ready for the unexpected a wild west quick draw shutter finger so many moments just arrive some u get some don't if your going after a specific shot wildlife shot something else can just happen a drop bear lands on your foot .I was looking for a Cassowary worlds most dangerous bird shot and it suddenly appeared i didnt realize rapid backing up while taking was needed
I started with a 300mm lens and then 2 months later bought the 150-600mm sigma and I don't think it's very difficult at all. Maybe it's just my personality type but all it is is better zoom capability and a little more weight. If you can handle more weight you're good.
I want to bye a camera for wild life photography...budget 800-1000$..plz suggest best for value both camera+lens...
Subhadeep Maiti they have a video on cameras in low price range
i enjoy your videos very much, keep on and let the haters hate !
I love how Chelsea said you need to know this shit! Awesome, don't hold back!
I agree that it's important to grow into your gear and not upgrade too fast. It's easy to want to get everything and try it all but every single piece of gear requires that you learn how to properly operate it. It can be overwhelming to try to throw it all together at once without knowing what you're doing. Thanks for the tip.
whats the black lens???????? please.
2:02 Although this maybe true people should exercise caution around wildlife as well as observe sensitive areas...IMO nesting etc. Wildlife is unpredictable as you know but more so during mating and birthing seasons. 7:54 Tony nails it. This for me at least is key and that is spending as much time in the field learning animal behavior.
I like the motion title with sound for National Audubon Society at 6:53.
You, guys, just like wildlife photography! :) Keep it on!
love shooting nature pictures.In Illinois winter means bald eagles my favorite subject. I use a fixed canon 400mm lens and able to handhold it give me that over a bigger lens any day! Love you shows !!
18:30
Chelsea: Right?
Tony: Right! Absolutely! .... so what do you mean by that?
This is how you become a good husband. Agree to your wife first, ask for explanations later! :P
Lollll I almost missed that part
thats how you stay married
I really like the videos and I send a big hug from são paulo - Brazil.
Aye yo, could you guys make an overview guide for the Canon SL2/200D cheers :DD
Can someone tell me a NEF File photo viewer app on Windows 8 ? Northup could u help me out ? A photo viewer which can view every format ? Thanks alot !! If u do 😉
FastRawViewer by LibRaw Their website is FastRawViewer.com
Before you went to your final point, I was just thinking that patience is the most important. This summer hawks have been hanging around a field in back of my house. Someone might think that I would have a ton of great shots of the hawks. Not so fast my friend. If I was already set up and ready to shoot I would have many more shots. But, since I've been shooting for a long time now, I know that by the time I get my camera the opportunity will have passed. So, I just enjoy the moment and let it go by. But, I do have some good photos of the hawks from earlier this year when I was ready and the hawks hung around long enough to get a good shot.
19:48 Chealsea Your watch is on your other hand. :D
Your not supposed to notice things like that!😆 attention to detail then pointing out the differences =the best way to get the TV to yourself...or computer, tablet...maybe even the house!LOL 👍👍
You two are great I need to watch more! Thanks I always learn a lot. Also nice to see Ct people like me. Not many of us anymore.
I was listening to this with my headphones and wasnt paying attention to the video. When at 6:54 and at 7:00 this sound appeared I was honestly freaked out that something was in my room making that noise. I had to go back in the video to make sure it was in this video and not in my room
Sir, can you please make Tutorial video on NIKON D7500. It will be really helpful. Thank you. Hoping for a reply.
informative and appreciated. thanks for the effort and the sharing. thumbs up.
Raw or jpeg for wildlife?
Hahaha, Tony as red as a tomato when Chelsea swore, you prude!
Awesome eagle shot,good job!
Couldn't agree more with the idea of gear being the most important. If you ever travel make sure you get the best guides. It makes the difference.
We might know some people. :)
Thanks for your video, wildlife is a topic that is dear to many who are sincere of heart - who in fact speak on behalf of creatures that cannot speak for themselves.
As someone from South Africa where the genre is hugely popular, I would say your view count would be higher still if you followed this up with videos on location with more insights in technique, animal knowledge and the artistic.
I also think you underestimate the importance of gear in wildlife photography, it is the one genre where fast glass and technique makes a massive difference, especially in bird photography! Not #6!
Planning a trip to Ethiopia with a friend of mine who's originally from there, pretty excited to go on my first trip to that amazing continent.
Tip #5:
The zoo is a great place for wildlife, though I take wildlife photos for fun.
I have lots of amazing images from the zoo.
Also contact local park rangers offices and they are typically more than happy to give some amazing insight into where and when to find the animals.
I love the passion! 😀🌶
In Mexico there are about 1,100 species of birds, of which in the Yucatan Peninsula there are more than 500 species. I started birding in 2015, at the same time as photography, and I am one of those who enjoy its 300mm lens. If you like to look at some of the bird species that we have in the Peninsula, on my channel I have some videos with photos, greetings.
No animals, ugh and no bugs. Found a spiderweb but no spider. So the web was the best shot of the day. I surprised myself. Creativity. Always try something new. It could be fun.
Thats why 100-400 or 200-500 are excellent lenses because you can zoom out, find the birds, then zoom in to get closer. The giant ass lenses are also really heavy and hard to wield.
Time of day is very important with bird photography especially. Go out early 📸
I was literally watching your other wildlife photography video when this popped up 😱😁
I see more wildlife on a daily basis in WV than I did when I lived in South Africa.
Just got my first nikon zoom lenses it's a 110$ 70-300 mm lenses only cost 110 great starter lense
Shoot there a typo sorry about that
Virginia is a good place to start for a beginner. I mean it has so many animals and they are everywhere. Deer, bear, foxes, rabbits and lots of birds. It's really pretty
i love my 25-600 mm lens on my bridge for this kind of picture.
Chelsea, you are soo much like Gina linetti from Brooklyn nine nine. Keep it up, we love you.
Wait... did someone say something about Squarespace or somethin'?
3x squarespace in 1 video? I'm getting tired of this commercial.
anybody know anyway to avoid or scare snakes away? The biggest thing in the way for me is my crippling fear of snakes, and 9/10 times I've gone out they start slithering away once I'm only a few feet away from them and scare the shit out of me, which ussually ends in me abandoning the place (sometimes I'll make it past the first snake, but coming across two or three always ends it for me). I only have garder snakes around my area, I know they are harmless for the most part, but they scare the shit out of me. Maybe I'll just take to wearing tall rubber boots everywhere I go, although that probably won't even help too much.
If you wear rubber boots you won't have much trouble even with venomous snakes. Since you only have garder snakes in your area and you still ned to keep them away, just grab a stick and poke them. They won't jump on you or anything!
Nice tips