EXCELLENT! Another example of behavior, is ducks preening and dunking their heads will soon flap their wings...be ready for wing flapping with a fast shutter speed. A bighorn ram will roll his head as he beds down...be ready! Excellent advise to re-visit favorite areas...learn where is optimal background, optimal lighting at sunrise or sunset. 1) be at eye- level or for reflection of waterfowl on water, shoot higher than the duck, 2) catch-light in subject's eye, 3) no distracting elements like a stick behind the bird's head, 4) use eye detection for perched birds, 5) do not use eye detection for birds in flight. 6) Avoid "bird on a stick" photos 7) Avoid bird in flight against the sky...try for incoming bird with a non-sky background. 8) For shorebirds or waterfowl, try using a hide and shooting with camera on the ground pad using the flip screen for boca background.
Great point about returning to favorite sites. I hang out at W. Ashley Greenway and often see the same birds even in the same trees! But, occasionally I get a Bald Eagle or Reddish Egret that make it all worthwhile. In the meantime, i get lots of reps on egrets, grackles, herons, etc. whats your favorite spot in Chas?
Absolutely! You never know what's going to appear or what's going to happen even with the birds you see most everyday. And, of course, different times of the year will bring in new species. Always fun to see what happens! Thanks for watching and thanks for engaging!
The biggest problem in general with wildlife photography is to get close enough. Most of the satisfying photos we can watch on the internet are taken from hides with arranged bait. In the case of birds it's often a matter of paying for a day in a hide rather than betting on random luck in the free (at least in Scandinavia). Usually birds and other wildlife spot us long before we know their presence, and to shorten the natural escape distance without being observed even from a transportable hide takes a lot of patience, read: hours of waiting and aging. At least you know that you'r in the right place with wedding photography.
Thanks for commenting. Agree, getting closer is the most difficult part and also one of the greatest challenges. I, personally, don't believe in using bait to attract wildlife. That does not align with my ethics when it comes to wildlife. I've never used A blind, I use my own homemade solution. I use a small camp outdoor stool with a camo net that I place over myself. I like this because I like feeling connected to nature. I know getting closer to the birds is difficult and can be frustrating at times. No question it takes A LOT of patience, but I hope you find some joy in the process too. I know I do and when I'm persistent, and patient and I catch a great species or moment, it's an amazingly satisfying experience. Best of luck in your pursuit of wildlife!
@@magnoliaphotographysc I also think use of bait is unethical. I am a wildlife photographer here in Montana and I prefer pop-up blinds especially for waterfowl as I can sit in a chair comfortably for hours and I can move. When I used camo netting and an stool, any movement and the wildfowl would swim away and the morning's shoot would be unsuccessful. Another advantage of a pop-up blind is I can set it up the day before so the wildfowl get used to it. Then I sneak in the dark before sunrise, I have one camera on the ground for swimming shots and another camera hand-held for incoming in-flight shots. Since I am in the darkness of the pop-up blind, I get close in-flight shots and close on-the-water shots without disturbing the wildlfowl.
@@RetrieverTrainingAlone a chair can be nice, especially when the situation calls for a lot of patience. Being uncomfortable will wear you down before getting the shot.
EXCELLENT! Another example of behavior, is ducks preening and dunking their heads will soon flap their wings...be ready for wing flapping with a fast shutter speed. A bighorn ram will roll his head as he beds down...be ready!
Excellent advise to re-visit favorite areas...learn where is optimal background, optimal lighting at sunrise or sunset.
1) be at eye- level or for reflection of waterfowl on water, shoot higher than the duck, 2) catch-light in subject's eye, 3) no distracting elements like a stick behind the bird's head, 4) use eye detection for perched birds, 5) do not use eye detection for birds in flight. 6) Avoid "bird on a stick" photos 7) Avoid bird in flight against the sky...try for incoming bird with a non-sky background. 8) For shorebirds or waterfowl, try using a hide and shooting with camera on the ground pad using the flip screen for boca background.
All great points, thanks for sharing!
Great point about returning to favorite sites. I hang out at W. Ashley Greenway and often see the same birds even in the same trees! But, occasionally I get a Bald Eagle or Reddish Egret that make it all worthwhile. In the meantime, i get lots of reps on egrets, grackles, herons, etc. whats your favorite spot in Chas?
Absolutely! You never know what's going to appear or what's going to happen even with the birds you see most everyday. And, of course, different times of the year will bring in new species. Always fun to see what happens! Thanks for watching and thanks for engaging!
The biggest problem in general with wildlife photography is to get close enough. Most of the satisfying photos we can watch on the internet are taken from hides with arranged bait. In the case of birds it's often a matter of paying for a day in a hide rather than betting on random luck in the free (at least in Scandinavia). Usually birds and other wildlife spot us long before we know their presence, and to shorten the natural escape distance without being observed even from a transportable hide takes a lot of patience, read: hours of waiting and aging. At least you know that you'r in the right place with wedding photography.
Thanks for commenting. Agree, getting closer is the most difficult part and also one of the greatest challenges. I, personally, don't believe in using bait to attract wildlife. That does not align with my ethics when it comes to wildlife. I've never used A blind, I use my own homemade solution. I use a small camp outdoor stool with a camo net that I place over myself. I like this because I like feeling connected to nature. I know getting closer to the birds is difficult and can be frustrating at times. No question it takes A LOT of patience, but I hope you find some joy in the process too. I know I do and when I'm persistent, and patient and I catch a great species or moment, it's an amazingly satisfying experience. Best of luck in your pursuit of wildlife!
@@magnoliaphotographysc I also think use of bait is unethical. I am a wildlife photographer here in Montana and I prefer pop-up blinds especially for waterfowl as I can sit in a chair comfortably for hours and I can move. When I used camo netting and an stool, any movement and the wildfowl would swim away and the morning's shoot would be unsuccessful. Another advantage of a pop-up blind is I can set it up the day before so the wildfowl get used to it. Then I sneak in the dark before sunrise, I have one camera on the ground for swimming shots and another camera hand-held for incoming in-flight shots. Since I am in the darkness of the pop-up blind, I get close in-flight shots and close on-the-water shots without disturbing the wildlfowl.
@@RetrieverTrainingAlone a chair can be nice, especially when the situation calls for a lot of patience. Being uncomfortable will wear you down before getting the shot.