How to Photograph Red Kites Gigrin Farm: Part 2
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- Welcome back to the channel. In this highly anticipated second instalment, we take you to the breathtaking Tower Hide at Gigrin Farm, where we continue our journey to capture stunning shots of the majestic Red Kites in action.
Join Pops and me as we delve deeper into the art of photographing these magnificent birds of prey. In the first video, we explored the challenges and techniques of shooting from a low-level hide, and now we're ready to elevate our perspective from the remarkable Tower Hide. Discover the advantages and unique opportunities this elevated position presents, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring world of Red Kite photography.
Pops and me will guide you through the intricacies of composition, exposure, and capturing the perfect moment. Learn how to leverage the height advantage to capture dramatic in-flight shots and breathtaking aerial displays. Witness the stunning dance of these raptors as they swoop and soar just meters away from your lens, filling the sky with their graceful presence.
Whether you're a beginner looking to enhance your photography skills or an experienced shutterbug seeking new insights and inspiration, this video is your gateway to mastering the art of photographing Red Kites from the iconic Tower Hide at Gigrin Farm. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of these majestic birds and unlock the secrets to capturing their power and elegance through your lens.
Don't miss out on this captivating adventure! Hit the play button, grab your camera, and get ready to embark on a thrilling photographic journey with us in this second installment of our Red Kite photography series at Gigrin Farm. Subscribe to our channel to stay tuned for more wildlife photography tips, tricks, and breathtaking encounters with nature's wonders!
Great videos.
I live in Poland and, despite my 72 years of age, I am planning a trip to this fantastic place.
Dan, your and your dad's instructions are invaluable to me as a beginner photographer. Thank you and best regards, Adam
Thanks very much I really enjoyed reading your comment and hope that you have a fantastic and successful trip. All the best 👍🏻
That place looks to be a wonderful place to be for sure! Thanks!
Thanks Jon, it really is a cracking place to photograph red kites 👍🏻
Another well presented video Dan with some excellent shots.
Thanks for your comment and continued support it’s much appreciated 👍🏻
Your videos are just great love them. You stand out to other TH-camrs as you give settings that others can learn on. Keep it going
Thanks very much Richard I really enjoyed reading your comment and appreciate your kind words.
All the best 👍🏻
Fabulous photos Dan - really love your work and find it inspirational.
Clive
Thanks very much Clive I really appreciate that comment 👍🏻
Another sublime vlog
Thank you for your comment and support, I appreciate it 👍🏻
Just awesome Dan and Pops.
Thanks very much it’s really appreciated 👍🏻
Great video. Some cracking shots by both of you.
Thanks for your comment and continued support it’s much appreciated 👍🏻
Another great Video enjoyed it
Thanks very much Sean, appreciate your comment and support 👍🏻
Wow! What a fantastic spot. Liked and subscribed! 👍
Thanks very much John, appreciate the sub 👍🏻
I have just booked the tower hide for April. Can't wait... I will be taking my D850, 600mm F4 and 70-200mm 2.8
Nice one Kenny, I’m sure you are going to have a fantastic time. Let me know how you get on 👍🏻
Another Great Video Dan Keep Them Coming Mate 👏
Cheers Sonny, appreciate it mate 👍🏻
Great video n great images.
Cheers Craig, appreciate it mate 👍🏻
I was so dissapointed early in March when I was due to go to Gigrin, that my itinerary changed and then missed the opportunity to go. However, I really enjoyed watching this video for a number of reasons, firstly of course, seeing the fantastic image s you guys managed to capture, I love the picture Pops took which showed the bird taking whatever it had in its talons with its beak, so tell him from me, that was the best shot :) I must also say that your discussion and tips about tracking one bird, make perfect sense. It was a question I had in mind after watching other videos on Kite feeding, so thanks for that. Its definitely on my itinerary for later this year. Regards
Andy
Thanks Andy, I will certainly pass that onto Pops I know he will appreciate it too.
Glad you enjoyed the video and found it useful, I’m sure you will have a great time when you visit later in the year.
All the very best Andy 👍🏻
Gorgeous images!!
Thanks very much for your comment and support 😊
Great video, I’m off to Gigrin on Saturday, low level hide. You’ve given me a good idea of what to expect and what focal length to us. Thank you both of you. Fingers crossed for a great day
Thanks very much Andy, hope you have a fabulous trip 👍🏻
Great video 👏👏👏👏
Thanks very much Mark 👍🏻
Lovely video, I enjoyed that 👍
Thanks very much Andy, appreciate your comment and continued support 👍🏻
I’ve been binge watching your videos over the last couple of days Dan and have to say they’re some of the best put together vlogs out there, top quality in every aspect, I hope you get what you deserve which is a lot more subscribers! cheers Terry 👍📷🦅
Thanks very much Terry I really appreciate your comment and I’m really pleased you have given me such positive feedback, cheers 👍🏻
On my bucket list, fantastic, informative and great to know I'll need an extra card lol. Topaz was the better by the way :)
Thanks very much, I really appreciate it. Glad you found the information useful 👍🏻
That is some fine camerawork at 9:16 nice work mate
Thanks Tony I really appreciate that 👍🏻
Just found your channe and wow what a cracking 2 days you had think I will definitely be heading there soon,
Cheers Jason appreciate your comment, glad you found the channel 👍🏻
Great video yet again and as a beginer to bird photography your tips will be invaluable, thank you. Just booked that hide for August and hoping for no heathaze, or rain :)
I’m so glad that you are finding the videos helpful.
Wishing you all the best for your trip in August mate, hope you get some epic shots 👍🏻
Hello Dan
encore une bonne vidéo, et les images fixes sont très belles Bravo
j'ai acheté le z9 😀
merci pour votre commentaire et votre soutien continu. Bonne nouvelle que vous avez acheté un Nikon Z9 j'espère qu'il répondra à vos attentes et que vous obtiendrez de superbes photos avec.
As always a great video with really great shots and cracking advice 10/10 👍🏻
Really appreciate your 10/10 rating. Thanks for your continued support 👍🏻
I love the red kites just a stunning looking raptor / scavinger
They really are Carl, thank you for your comment 👍🏻
Superb images and great presentation. I’m with you Dan on Topaz v LR.
Thanks very much Raymond, appreciate your comment and your agreement on the Topaz V Lightroom debate 👍🏻
Used to go out with my old man as we both had the passion for photography,so enjoyed watching you and ya dad. But my dad died last july and I aint taken a photo since,a spark has gone in a way. I hope to get it back but its just not the same without him around
I’m really sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad. Sharing a passion and a hobby with Pops is an absolute joy and we love every minute we are out together. I can imagine the effect of losing your spark with the passing of your Dad, I hope with time you get back out with your camera and use it to remember all the joy that it brought to you both.
All the best mate 👍🏻
Your first video put me off booking the ground level hide, but now wondering whether to book a spot in the tower or gateway hide!
Thanks for your comment Alex. I can honestly say that having been in both gateway and tower hides, the tower definitely lends itself to those dive shots if that’s what you’re after. Gateway is also great especially for shots of them lower and the buzzards which sit on the grass eating the food!
All the best
Great video as usual Dan, informative and well put together. The images are stunning but I’ll sit on the fence with regards to whether topaz or LR denoise is best! 😂
Thanks for your comment Ian it’s always appreciated. Pops is on the fence too but I’m definitely sticking with Topaz 😂😂😂
We’re here tomorrow so had a second watch of your video Dan for some last min tips 👍🏼 (we are in big tower though)
I hope you have a fabulous time, let me know how you get on. All the best 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography thankyou Dan. Had a cracking time at gigrin and at Skomer the following day last week. I’ll pop some images up on TH-cam so have a look. Cheers mate. James
Cheers mate, I’ll take a look 👍🏻
Awesome video! The images are stunning and sharp. I love it. In the south eastern United States, we have the swallowtail kite and the Mississippi kite. The Mississippi kite is far harder to photograph because it can dive at high speeds and rise up at equally high speeds. Very unpredictable. You and your dad are getting great shots.
Thanks very much Freeman, the swallowtail kite sounds like an awesome raptor and as you say a real challenge to photograph. Appreciate your continued support 👍🏻
Hia Dan & Pops
You forgot to mention which hide you preferred out of the two !! I had a day in the lower hide last year with the kites coming in from behind some of the time to make it more challenging !!
Keep up your great work together as it is really enjoyable viewing !! Sorry Stuart i'm with Dan for now Topaz or DxO wins for me
Thanks for your comment Colin you are right we did forget to mention our favourite. It had to be the Tower Hide, the ability to track the bird and get the dive shot was definitely the advantage and plus of this hide 👍🏻
Another great video with superb images Dan
Many thanks David, appreciate your support 👍🏻
Dan - amazing photos and an excellent video thank you. I'm afraid I just use my Canon bridge camera, so don't aspire to your much better equipment. I am however visiting Gigrin Farm this coming June. I also own a dog so will probably just be in the field overlooking the action.
The best camera is the one in your hand. I’m certain that you will get some fantastic shots with your camera.
Thanks very much for your kind words 👍🏻
Another great video Dan, we love Gigrin. FYI we were last there two years ago( 2021) and the Leucistic Red Kite was there then, amazing bird!
Cheers Chris, appreciate your comment and continued support. Great to hear that the Leucistic bird is clearly thriving if it’s been around for a while 👍🏻
Great stuff guys, a very enjoyable watch! Gigrin has never let me down, being there in the winter can be great fun and offer some unusual photo opportunities. With reference to LR &Topaz de- noise, I’ve never yet come cross a noise reducing software which doesn’t kill fine detail, personally I shoot on the hot exposure side and make adjustments in editing, it more often than not produces the results I’m happy with. Nothing worse than a photo which looks like a crayon rendition rather than a high quality photo. I’ve seen so many ridiculous adverts for some of this noise reducing software, I know many of the endorsements are from photographers who’ve been sponsored or have received the product heavily discounted, at the end of the day one should never lose one’s critical eye if image quality is important ! Looking forward to seeing more of your photo adventures, all the best! 👏😀👍
Cheers Anton and you are absolutely right both do degrade fine detail to some degree. When you shoot to the hot exposure side how do you protect your highlights as I’m always concerned about losing the detail in them?
I 100% agree with not losing your critical eye as it is often this that sets great photographers apart from the crowd.
Many thanks for your comment and continued support it’s much appreciated 👍🏻
Hat’s off to you both, super shots in less than ideal lighting conditions, great video
Thanks Derek, really appreciate it mate 👍🏻
Great photos lads
I enjoyed both videos
Keep up the good work
Cheers Chris appreciate your comment and continued support 👍🏻
Great shots gentlemen.
Cheers Scott, appreciate it 👍🏻
Another excellent vlog Dan (& Stu). Love some of the shapes you both captured in flight, superb stuff. Some top tips again too, & now for the ‘debate’ bit….
I haven’t used topaz denoise AI, BUT…. I did click on the denoise button in LR at 50% performance and… Sorry Stu, but Dan’s right. It definitely cleans up the image’s digital noise, but it gives it that artificial ’painted’ look & there’s something not quite right with the merge between subject sharpness & separation from background for me. It’s like they’ve smoothed the two together as part of the denoise enhance procedure. I won’t be using it again. Anyway, fantastic vlog & images & a great review of the hide, as well as some great technical info about gear, settings etc. in fact the only thing wrong is the badge on your cameras guys… it should start with a C 😂😂😂
Thanks Nick, your final comment made me chuckle. The ongoing banter between Nikon and Canon users is rife, especially at my camera club and I do enjoy it.
Thanks for your comment and confirmation that I’m right over pops 😂😂😂 I will make sure he knows 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography It’s a debate that will outlive us all I think Dan. But as I am actually NC, perhaps I should have one of each brand 🤔
I’ve thought about it…NOPE! 🤣🤣🤣
@@nickclaytonphotography 😂😂😂
I have loved your 2 videos from Gigrin Farm and if I may I would like to ask a couple of questions. I'm going to go there next month and the lens I will be using is the Sigma 150-600 f5-6.3 contempory. so my wide open is going to be f6.3. Do you use Auto ISO when shooting at the high shutter speeds? Also which hide did you prefer from the ones you used? Keep up the great work you both do and the images are breathtaking. I'm so glad to have found your videos and find them inspiring.
Firstly I’d like to say a big thank you Keith for your kind words they are very much appreciated.
To answer your questions, my first experience at Gigrin was with a Sigma 150-600mm contemporary paired with a Nikon D5600 and I got some great shots. Yes I used auto ISO and kept my shutter speed well above 1/1000.
Of all the hides we’ve used, personally I prefer the tower hides. The reason being that the diving red kite is always our most desired shot and from the elevated angle you get the best of this with nice diffused backgrounds.
Hope you have a fantastic trip, all the very best 😂
Hi thanks for a really inspirational couple of video's I'm a little too far away for Wales, but there is a kite feeding station a couple of hours or so away in Scotland I'm going too and settings wise I have a much better idea of now. I did try with my D850 on some local kites which didn't really work too well ,this time I'm going to use my new Z9 with Nikons 200 500 5.6 .With the Z9 do you use the bird setting in subject detection, and finally have you used the highlight metering mode and what are your thoughts on it thanks.
Thanks Michael appreciate your response and questions.
Firstly with regards to focus settings, my go to is bird recognition as this works in most instances. Secondly if that fails I have wide area small setup on the shutter button (animal recognition on back button) and this is my second go to when animal recognition fails. Finally my get out of jail is single point focus programmed to the front top button, this’ll be the same AF as your D850 and feel very familiar and confident to you.
For metering I predominantly use matrix and adjust using exposure compensation. In certain situations such as Gannets against dark blue sea I use highlight metering as it protects the highlights of a white bird. It really depends on the situation.
Hope this answers your questions 👍🏻
Hi many thanks for your answers to my questions much appreciated my one attempt at photographing the kites locally didn't go well I was using afc with it set to release (a lesson learned sitting by the side of the road for several hours in a small French town waiting for the Tour de France ,the peloton came around a corner I aimed my then D3/ 80 200 at the leading rider nothing happened overwhelmed the focus couldn't decide where to focus and 30 seconds later they were past no pictures taken so now whatever the camera body it's set to release) so when it came to the red kits locally I don't know what went wrong its as though the D850's focusing system couldn't handle the birds as none were in focus, it was a fine sunny day with lots of light, it recently handled rally cars through Kershope forrest in very poor light with no problems at all ,where as the Z9 seems to track birds and have no problems providing great images fully in focus.
Just been to grigin and I will never go back there what rude horrible people I walked out.
Sorry to hear that you had such a poor experience Peter.
Dan your shots on the 500mm are they full frame or cropped?
All shot on full frame sensor with some slight cropping in post edit 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography I was really wondering if a 600mm would be too long?
I think 600mm will give you some fantastic opportunities. The good thing about Gigrin (which they don’t do at other centres) is they put feed out in several locations. Some locations will be quite close for the 600 but will give you some opportunities for tight portraits, however some locations will be perfect for the 600.
Hope the gives you some help 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography really appreciated