How I got The Impossible Shot - Gear, Techniques, Bird Photography
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.พ. 2025
- In this behind the scenes video I am sharing how I photographed the osprey from my floating hide in Norway. I am also talking about what gear I brought and about how I take care of my equipment when I have used it in heavy rain.
Link to the video this is all about:
• The Impossible Shot - ...
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📸 EQUIPMENT
An overview of the equipment used in my latest TH-cam video can be found on below link.
Here you will also see a selection of my favorit gear for various activities:
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You are the only person on youtube that I don‘t get bored watching for more than an hour! Loved the insights and thoughts on the baiting part. But what I loved most was Björns snoring in the background 😂😂😂
How very true, I often loose interest if the subject drifts off, Motimer’s videos are full of coffee and useful information 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
This man is special!
I also love Morten's videos, but there are many channels out there which are not recommended to you by the algorithm. Newer channels are hard to pick up, which is a shame. There is good stuff flying under the radar.
Bjorn is a superstar, as far as I'm concerned he can do what he wants hahaha. He's not a youngster now so and he's nearly as famous as his dad ❤❤ Just love that dog!
Thank you for this excellent video, including Bjorn’s snoring and the baiting discussion while having this inspiring pizza and beer!
Bonjour , merci tout d abord. Pour ta bonne humeur ta joie de raconter ta vie et les explications sur le quotidien .
J aime regarder tes vidéos tes photos .
C est super intéressant et merci de me faire découvrir ton quotidien . Bye
My favorite camera content creator - he actually uses his gear.
One of the best videos I’ve seen with respect to wildlife photography. I started out taking photos of birds in2009 and this really resonated with me in 2025. How things have changed! 👏🏽🍻
Mannn that dog made me so happy when I heard him snoring @ minute 20. 😂😂😂😂😂 he was like ‘guys listen to Morten while I nap here”
Your channel has made me come back from my 12 year break in photography. I got so fed up of the saturation of wildlife photographers all claiming their spot and territory as if they owned the animals they were taking pictures of. You respect their environment, and it's a great thing to witness.
I always give a thumbs up when I start a new video because I know Morten's videos are always top quality.
Same here and I know I will watch the whole video. :)
Its been years since I follow your work, I still remember the comments/chat about inreach in your expedition to Svalbard. It is impresive how your work keep leaving me speachless... thanks for share it!
I have been watching a lot of your vids and all I can say is well done. Just a tip from someone that does a lot of aurora photos. I use a vacuum bag when I come in from the cold. Put the camera and lens into a vacuum bag and use a hand pump to suck out the air. Stop condensation getting to the camera when it comes into the warm.
By far my favorite "photography" channel. I put photography in quotations because your channel is much more than a photography channel.
JUST ASTONISHING, MESMERISED.
Great video! What a happy little dog.
These last few weeks have been difficult and depressing for me and I noticed you added a new video, I rushed to watch it because it’s always educational and entertaining and it also helps to forget everything else, even if its just for an hour and seven minutes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and video taping a new episode. Cheers!
Thanks first of all for your opinion, Morten! I share them all. 🙏 Thanks also for your always interesting thoughts and your skills!
Thank you Morten, better a masterpiece once or twice a year than just anything less. You are a GEM!
Even if you made videos of 10hours they would never get boring. Love it. Thank you for letting us be part of your adventures your life
I haven’t even watched it yet but already know it’s going to be a great video. Thanks Morten👍👍
& I was right!😂👍
As usual Morten an excellent video with some great information. It was great to see you tackle the baiting issue. I agree it is not a black and white issue and every case needs to be looked at on its own particular merits. However the one key constant should be the your subject is not harmed either directly or indirectly such as from a change of behaviour. Commercial values should be led by the welfare of the subject. Thanks again keep up the good work.
I'm watching you from Russia. I think your content is very high quality; in our country, many photographers take staged shots with almost tame animals and re-present it as wildlife. You have real wild nature in your video!
It is why you shine bright. Love the video as always.
Superb and Bjorn is a real star
Morten, I'm never bored watching one of your video's!
Can’t believe Bjorn is 13.5 years old he looks amazing ❤ thank you Morten great video it’s amazing to see how much work goes into the photos and videos you make. Can’t think of a better way to end the day than with a beer and homemade pizza.
What a lovely little dog you have ❤
What a perspective of thinking Nature...
He is phenomenal....a Nature-sage with supurb photography.....
you gotta love @mortenhilmer one of the few guys who doesn't have to explain himself but he does so anyway. Always an enjoyable adventure.
To be in nature makes me feel beeing part of it and "having the right size", feeling gratefull and full of peace..
Somebody said once to me: you only can protect what you know! So, I agree with you. Your videos can be a little piece making people more aware of the value of nature. Thank you Morten, especialy for the livestreams
Dear Morten, thank you so much for sharing your expertise and experience with your community / your followers. It's so interesting, entertaining and amusing (snoring Björn, cutting Pizza with an axe, how to handle ordinary human needs in nature,...) to listen and watching. To make this videos is a lot of work. So enjoy your coffee, beer, pizza and private time at your cosy home. I'm looking forward to follow your coming adventures. ☕
I don't know what you feed little Bjorn, but he is amazingly spry and active for a little doggie his age. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this video, Morten. Usually 15 minutes is a stretch for me in most photography videos, but you and about three more regular posters always get my undivided attention. Thank you.
Great video, I hope you enjoyed your time here in Norway!
Just incredible, Morton. You are such a great advocate for wildlife, the natural world, photography, and coffee. "See you out there" trooper! 👏👏👏
Loved your video, and especially your little talk at the end. I agree completely with your view of baiting. And then if you could choose between fantastic photo trips with arranged scenes or your own back yard you would chose the latter. I don't really have the choice to go to fantastic places, but also not a big urge, I just love to explore what is happening close to home. A fox, an badger, a deer, a boar, all the birds, the toads and frogs. I have endless entertainment, and love to go out with the camera and just take it in. Getting pictures is secondary to the experience.
Spending an hour with you watching your videos is time well spent. Lovely job as usual, Cheers~Peter
Your closing comments were an echo of my feelings regarding nature and using bait to attract wildlife for photos and videos -- thank you.
Love your style Morten 🎉
Cheers! Best photography 'adventure' videos on the web! Thank you, sir!
Thank you Morten. I really enjoyed your video.
you're exactly right, people need to put things into context, see the big picture. walk the streets of Los Angeles, there are people without homes everywhere, struggling. or do we complain when someone baits a bird with a single fish ? my point is .... there are MANY, MANY other things in this world to be an activist for. putting out bird food to take some photographs is not one of them. the latter brings joy and benefits to this world. and thank you Morten for being such an awesome person
its a problem if endagered species gets in harms way, and off course any species really . Many birds have been poisened by lead after eating bait . So its always good to not do harm when it comes to boht birds , animals and humans .
Thank you Morten! I really appreciate you breaking this down.
Morten says: let’s make a tutorial, and instead of doing what any other TH-cam people, he just says let’s get out there…
Björn get’s all muddy, we see the actual example and technique… I can tell you how much I like your videos!!! Thanks for sharing and “I’ll see you out there”!!!
Totally agree with you. Nice video. Thank you.
Great to see your thoughts behind the curtain on why you choose specific gear.
Thanks!
Great video. I’ve tried that focus pre set a few times to get a Kingfisher diving but haven’t quite got the shot yet. Yet being the operative word. I’m with you on baiting, I don’t see a problem if it’s harmless. The pizza looked great, I’m hungry now! Enjoyed the video so much, appreciate your time.
It was lovely to share a day and pizza with you as you took us through the gear you used, how you use it, why you use what you do in the way that you do. And the big thing underneath it all is about sharing the beauty of the animals in the world and how we can appreciate and look after the environment for them. Cheers!
Thank you, Morten! I really enjoyed this one. Right up till the end. Best I’ve watched in quite a while.
The pizza and your reflections on photography and presevation was an unexpected bonus!
Wonderful!
I am touching 70 years soon, worked hard all my life and having troubles with my back. Like 1km from the center of the little city I live in in Belgium, there is a very small nature reserve. I managed to get the rangers to trust me and let me install a small, hidden hide. Passing my time alone in that hide, observing, filming and photographing the kingfishers beats just bout everything for me. I think I very much understood what you wanted to say there at the end of your great video.
This is a great combination of spontaneous, relaxed demeanor and meticulously planned hard work. Not easy! Most of us have no clue how much work all this is. Not so long ago this used to be done by the whole TV crews who had a person appointed for each aspect of the job, like script, direction, camera, audio, editing etc.
I have been photographing red kites and nesting ospreys this week in Wales, in beautiful weather except for one afternoon when I and my camera equipment got thoroughly drenched by heavy rain, so your straightforward methods of drying out camera gear came in very useful. Your videos are always enjoyable to watch and I always learn something from them, especially as your methods come from doing it and not from theory, and your presentation is always free of waffle. Thank you Morten; I look forward to your next video.
Just discovered this channel, what a treat!
Hi All, I’ve purchased a print from mortens website. Couldn’t be happy with it. I’m from Australia and took about three weeks to arrive. Absolutely no issues with packaging. And turned up a lot earlier than anticipated.
Figured I’d let this group know.
Great and informative video Morten. I will watch it again. I'm sure I missed some good info. Beautiful little pond until my Florida brain kicked in....GATORS! Then had to override that thought, he's in Denmark😅As to baiting...mmm I think there are always going to be people out there that don't like it, in any form, but yet we bait our hooks when we fish. So you're making it's life a little easier for a day or 2. Sounds like a good trade off. You're not guaranteed it will take the bait. My opinion is you treat the animals with the utmost respect. Keep doing what you're doing. You're Awesome!
Thank you so much for this video. I learned so much. Give your pup a hug for me. I just said goodbye to my companion of almost 16 years.
Thank you for sharing this video, it's interesting to see the backround of your beautiful pictures and adventures. Bjørn is funny and cute as always. Take care 🙂
As usual, gently, nice, wellspoken and generous :-) Like a smörgåsbord, take what you like. Thanks Morten
As everyone says here, we always enjoy your videos regardless of the content, you speaking your heart is good enough! We appreciate your authenticity and passion for everything you do. I specifically like your moderate view on photographing dynamics, we all need to be less judgmental and more understanding and empathetic when approaching anything in life. You are right nothing is black and white, there are always different elements that make our experiences different. Let’s all enjoy photogrpahy together- with different ideas and the courage to be different!
Congratulations, Morten! As always, amazing shots! You rock!
Thank you for coming to visit Indonesia
Your ethics, morality and true love of nature, alongside your photographic altruisim is inspirational to many.
Slainte Mhath 🍕🍻
Thanks very much for articulating what I feel. If we don't show people what exists in their backyard then how can we expect them to protect it. I've just returned home after a week away - it wasn't a great success photographically but the experience was wonderful and I feel it is the experience that we should be promoting.
Thank you very much for this extremely beautiful video and your wise words at the end. You are speaking from my Heart ❤
I was really looking forward to it. It was good to see you again. 👍
it was a very good story. With all the details and so on. Good very good. Keep make movies like this i love it. thanks
A long video, but a ton of good info and stories. Well done and I appreciate all you do for everyone, including the little dog...
I'm happy to watch his video😍
realest person on the internet. thank you morten
As always it's most engaging & informative to watch your videos! Thank you, Love & blessings to you Morten!
Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing all of the knowledge and skills any budding wildlife photographer could hope for. Your love of and respect for nature is so admirably presented in these video essays that we can not help but be inspired. Sincerity, selflessness and love shines through it all
These are the only videos I can watch all the way through. Good job
Hi Morten congratulations and thank you for sharing how you manage to take your photos (the osprey one is amazing) with us fans, an idol, thank you for everything you do❤
Love it when Bjorn joins you! He reminds me so much of my best friend 🤍
Thank you for addressing the baiting issue. I was finding it hard to find a scenario where "wildlife" isn't managed to some extent. Always good to watch your videos.
Great to see you doing different things. I really enjoy all your videos and the huge amount of preparation and thought behind every production. Also wonderful to see you came over to Borneo - my part of the world. I love my Zf, it has been my entry into Nikon mirrorless and I am not looking back. I am looking very hard at the Z6III now, the low ISO potentials are compelling. Thank you Morten for sharing your life and work.
I am so thankfull for your videos. I try to bring my camera out in nature and learn how to shoot these wonderfull creatures, birds etc. Not much luck or knowledge yet, but watching youtube give me inspiration to go out. I also really like the videos with Jostein, he is a true gem as well.
Thank you for amazing experience and for going through the gear and stuff. And the silica gel is a great advice.
Always looking forward to see another video. Cheers from Czech Republic.
I appreciate that you shared your expertise opinions and experiences on nature photography with us,thanks！
Quite possibly the best TH-cam channel there is!
Great video.
I love how your dog went with you to the lake, looking great for her/his age.
Was that who was snoring when you were talking about the lenses? So sweet!
Our pup just turned 14, being active really helps them age well.
Thanks for the revelation about the bait, I suspected that it had to be that way, else it would have been an extraordinary amount of luck! The 180-600 is now even more firmly my next lens. And the pizza oven is also quite appealing.
Absolutely wonderful video, Morten. I enjoyed getting your thoughts through the whole video on many different things, and all while enjoying a glass of wine. You are a wonderful person and a great photographer.
One of your best videos ever! So grateful! Thx Morten!
I really love❤ this kind of videos that really tells a story, showing all tips and expertise directly from the field. Amazing. Thumbs up for Morten. Hi from Colombia.
Nice life ! I love all your video ! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Morton, thank you so much for your video. Your films are a absolute highlight for me. They are so natural and came from deep of your heart. I agree with you that the experience in nature is more important then the foto itself. And a beautiful foto of an animal nearby my home I like in the meantime more then travel around the world to some foto hotspots.
Best wishes Roland
Hi Morton, it was another nice movie. Enjoyed it with a cup of coffee. hopefully see you soon with a new video.
Greetings from the Netherlands
Thank you Morten. I like how you break it into parts by introducing different locations for different topics and this hour flew away so quickly and unnoticible. Silica gel is cool suggestion, I was thinking about rice (what we usually have when doing outdoor trip) . But you could not probably recharge rice quickly ))
Thank you for sharing BTS and techniques for taking care of wet gear. It was wonderful! We get gray rainy winter here in Pacific Northwest, US and can definitely use your tips!
The comment about baiting reminds me of hunters. I personally don’t like hunting, but I have learned some hunters are active conservationist to sustain their hunting ground. If baiting or hunting does more favor than harm to nature, I am not against it.
Tremendous effort and lots of skill, experience, and hard work to capture amazing moments in nature!
Thanks Morten! So happy to see you again! Cheers from Canada.... CB
I am loving Christmas in may! Your videos are always so special!
I did stay to the end and loved the beer and pizza discussion ! I love to just take local images but recently went to Outer Hebrides and was lucky enough to photograph a White Tailed Eagle from a boat tour that put out 1 fish. It’s tough but the experience was amazing and neither of us were harmed - the WTE a got his fish and I got an amazing picture although you still had to take it so only the odds of a sighting increased a little. I love natural photography and try to be ethical and random. the WTE experience will live with me forever but so is a moment with a Blue Tit in a bush 100 yds from my front door 😎👍🏻 great video as always. 😊
Just simply THANK YOU!!! thank you for all the information. Found so much use out of this video.
Love watching your videos about photography whenever you have time to make them, Morten...they are so...wholesome!
Thank you very much! Fantastic content, super helpful and such a pleasure to watch!
Glad to see you again. I appreciate you sharing your perspective on different challenging topics. Good for you.
alwas very nice videos and incredible photos congratulation and thank you
Very nice video Morten! I had a wonderful time with my coffee this morning and watched it to the end, although wildlife photography is not my thing (also because I don´t have time doing it). You have such an interesting way to present your content and a very nice and cozy mood in your videos. Personally I mostly do nature photography without wildlife (because animals are so shy were I live), but I become inspired by your films and plan to visit Josteins farm one day. Greetings from Lillehammer, Norway
Thank you for inspiring, calm, and invigorating storytelling of your photography journey!
Brother, so wonderful to see you again and the subject and the sharing of things as you did. It was so great to once again watch, learn and experience your knowledge. And also to see Björn once more. Thankyou for returning and looking forward to see you out there again soon.