Great to see you still using the Nikon 300 f2.8. The modern trend from Nikon and Canon to build small light primes with smaller apertures to try and keep cost down is interesting. The 400 f2.8 Z is fantastic but crazy expensive, same with the Sony 400 and 600. I would love a 300 f2.8 in the Z mount. I know the 400 f4.5 is out and looks stunning. So interesting times. Nikon needs a stripped down Z9 with great auto focus in the Z6/7 body and 36 mp sensor that is more affordable.
Really interesting Tom. I can’t see me using a camera trap but I really appreciated getting your perspective on how you chose a location, the field craft side of things, what to look for as signs of habituation etc. all good stuff, thanks !
Nice work again, Tom. I completely get why you are fascinated with hares, they are such interesting animals. Looking forward to what emerges from the camera traps.
Thanks Mark, Yes they are just one animal I truly am obsessed with, I suppose it comes from growing up and having them close to home, they just make me so happy to watch and photograph! I too am looking forward to seeing if I get anything, Ill reset if not and keep trying, maybe through the winter too all being well! Hopefully I'll get some shots eventually :)!
Nicely done Tom. I've just set my camera trap today for Otters on a small spate river in Wales, i'm crossing my fingers we don't get too much rain or there is a good chance i will lose some of my kit. All part of the fun eh 😲
Tom, I'd LOVE a tutorial on building traps. This is something that I think is super interesting and would be beneficial to a lot of us who don't know where to start.
Have you seen my other videos on trapping like camera trap 101? I talk sensors and flashes and all sorts! Might do a full build at some point for those who’d like to learn more!
@@TomMasonPhoto I must have missed it! My apologies! I'll go back and check those out. However, a full-build or semi-full build with some tips and tricks would still be very cool.
The D850 is still a boss and it’s my second camera on most of my shoots ready as a back up or on a second lens but the Z9 is almost always in my hand! Such an amazing bit of kit - all I hope for now is a Z mount Lower res - high ISO camera to be my new B cam!
Hey Tom, have you ever shot Golden Hares? I think you should come back over to Belfast and to Rathlin Island for a weekend... They have lovely Golden Hares there... And puffins. I attended your talk in Wex camera shop in Belfast a few years ago, I gave you a lift to your hotel after our walk around the nature reserve pond and cemetery...
Hey Stuart! Yes I do remember you giving me a lift! I haven't ever photographed golden hares but that's sounds rather awesome, I do love Ireland and miss the being that side of the water, will certainly have to plan a trip out to that location some time in the next year or so! Sound rather intriguing
Hey Dan, so it depends on the day but for this video I was using the Rode Video Mic NTG + wind shield but I’ve recently got an awesome new Rycote windshield that’s a major upgrade! Also use the Rode lav mics in some situations when I’m doing more talking head but have recently swapped out to a Zoom F2 for more control but then also rig the NTG to the cam for backup. This video was all shot on the Rode NTG before my new windshield and I too was very happy with it for run and gun!
Yes with the flash lifted you get less red eye / of the direct flash look, also using the beamer it throws the light further that allows for coverage on the 300mm even with the TC. I do find the high speed sync on my Nikon flash super handy for this work as well as it allows for much more control over the shutter speed as well. The Kimberley bracket for flash is very well designed and super sturdy and even when I take the camera off the tripod, it keeps things in the right position! Cheers, Tom
Hi Tom, what a treat to get so close, and some corking shots! If I may ask, where was your jacket sourced from? I have a Paramo fleece, but it is increasingly tricky to get hold of their kit these days, I am 5'11" and interested in the top you have, what size is it please. Sorry for all the questions! :)
Yes indeed it’s the Paramo Fuera wind proof smock - I got mine a good few years back now but yes they are hard to find… I might try and grab a spare at the birdfair this year as they are awesome! I might do a video on coats… sounds maybe a little niche but I do have quite a few that I use for wildlife photography and maybe people would find that interesting?
@@TomMasonPhoto I certainly would, but I am pretty niche as well! Be interested to hear about wind/waterproofing or lack thereof and also how quiet the material is, their kit does last well, and they really think about the component parts, the fit can be a little hit n miss though...Cheers, Marcus
Hey simon, so as far as I could tell from my time on the island although they look a little pale and ragged, most are good, I agree they didn’t have the same “look” as my like Hertfordshire ones close to home, they fur certainly more ragged. I did find one who was unwell, at the back of the island who barely moved over the whole week, I left him in situ, however the others were rather spritely. One thing that was interesting was a few had white around their mouths but after watching I found some got this after feeding on the salt marsh! Also I suspect genetic diversity isn’t that strong on the island, so probably has a large effect on their look, as all had the similar fur colouring and look, rare compared to most other groups/ populations of hares I’ve photographed
@@TomMasonPhoto I suspect it's down to the inbreeding and a very poor diet. I mentioned this to the RSPB many years ago and your video (which is really good by the way!) shows that they are now in an even poorer condition - their fur looks awful. They really ought to remove them from the island and relocate them to a more suitable habitat where they can have a more varied diet and live a more nomadic lifestyle like mainland hares. Can't see this happening though as, from stories I've heard, the RSPB have a poor reputation for their treatment of mammals 🙁
@@simonlittenphotography5341 Its a hard one because the hares do also leave and return to the island - population moves across the water at low tides and some swim, seems mental and I'd love to see that! The mammal thing is hard, having worked with the RSPB for a long time sometimes mammals are culled for the purposes of conservation - eg supporting and protecting rare nesting species, it's something few conservation organisations speak about but almost all do, its a hard reality of trying to re establish populations - one for debate for sure! Should we manage numbers of predators? I don't have the answers for that!
I really don't understand how you can talk and move like you did so close to the hare's! In Belgium to get that close I need to be in full ghillie, spent hours and can only be one picture on Quite mode with D850, move very slowly and using the quiet mode maybe a few
This is a very very special location, it’s a true amazing place, on some days I was within inches of the Hares and able to shoot wide angle images!! It’s was certainly a truly special experience for me as someone who loves Brown Hares!
this place looks incredible, Im glad to see I'm not the only one who takes a whole tonne of kit on every trip!
Great to see you still using the Nikon 300 f2.8. The modern trend from Nikon and Canon to build small light primes with smaller apertures to try and keep cost down is interesting. The 400 f2.8 Z is fantastic but crazy expensive, same with the Sony 400 and 600. I would love a 300 f2.8 in the Z mount. I know the 400 f4.5 is out and looks stunning. So interesting times. Nikon needs a stripped down Z9 with great auto focus in the Z6/7 body and 36 mp sensor that is more affordable.
Really interesting Tom. I can’t see me using a camera trap but I really appreciated getting your perspective on how you chose a location, the field craft side of things, what to look for as signs of habituation etc. all good stuff, thanks !
Great video Tom, as well as the hares pictures.
Thank you!
Nice work again, Tom. I completely get why you are fascinated with hares, they are such interesting animals. Looking forward to what emerges from the camera traps.
Thanks Mark, Yes they are just one animal I truly am obsessed with, I suppose it comes from growing up and having them close to home, they just make me so happy to watch and photograph! I too am looking forward to seeing if I get anything, Ill reset if not and keep trying, maybe through the winter too all being well! Hopefully I'll get some shots eventually :)!
Nicely done Tom ! I was never sure about the ethics of using a better beamer in then UK !
Nicely done Tom. I've just set my camera trap today for Otters on a small spate river in Wales, i'm crossing my fingers we don't get too much rain or there is a good chance i will lose some of my kit. All part of the fun eh 😲
Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎
Many thanks!
Tom, I'd LOVE a tutorial on building traps. This is something that I think is super interesting and would be beneficial to a lot of us who don't know where to start.
Have you seen my other videos on trapping like camera trap 101? I talk sensors and flashes and all sorts! Might do a full build at some point for those who’d like to learn more!
@@TomMasonPhoto I must have missed it! My apologies! I'll go back and check those out. However, a full-build or semi-full build with some tips and tricks would still be very cool.
I still remember when you got your D850. I feel like you finally got a proper successor.
The D850 is still a boss and it’s my second camera on most of my shoots ready as a back up or on a second lens but the Z9 is almost always in my hand! Such an amazing bit of kit - all I hope for now is a Z mount Lower res - high ISO camera to be my new B cam!
Nice one mate, love them photos at the end especially, I take it the z9 is your new main workhorse?
Yes the Z9 is certainly now my main workhorse, the mixture of speed and high res just make it simply awesome!
Hey Tom, have you ever shot Golden Hares? I think you should come back over to Belfast and to Rathlin Island for a weekend... They have lovely Golden Hares there... And puffins. I attended your talk in Wex camera shop in Belfast a few years ago, I gave you a lift to your hotel after our walk around the nature reserve pond and cemetery...
Hey Stuart! Yes I do remember you giving me a lift! I haven't ever photographed golden hares but that's sounds rather awesome, I do love Ireland and miss the being that side of the water, will certainly have to plan a trip out to that location some time in the next year or so! Sound rather intriguing
Great stuff, Tom. What mic do you use for vlogging? Sounds great for what is obviously a small run-and-gun setup.
Hey Dan, so it depends on the day but for this video I was using the
Rode Video Mic NTG + wind shield but I’ve recently got an awesome new Rycote windshield that’s a major upgrade! Also use the Rode lav mics in some situations when I’m doing more talking head but have recently swapped out to a Zoom F2 for more control but then also rig the NTG to the cam for backup.
This video was all shot on the Rode NTG before my new windshield and I too was very happy with it for run and gun!
Hi Tom really interested in those flash cases but can’t find anything like it on Amazon, any chance of a link please?
Hi Tom great video as always! What is the name of the island please?
RSPB Havergate, it’s a private island that can only be accessed with specific permission and via the RSPBs boat trips on the website
Great shots! Do you find there is a difference with flash in hot shoe compared to how you had it set up?
Yes with the flash lifted you get less red eye / of the direct flash look, also using the beamer it throws the light further that allows for coverage on the 300mm even with the TC. I do find the high speed sync on my Nikon flash super handy for this work as well as it allows for much more control over the shutter speed as well. The Kimberley bracket for flash is very well designed and super sturdy and even when I take the camera off the tripod, it keeps things in the right position! Cheers, Tom
Hi Tom, what a treat to get so close, and some corking shots! If I may ask, where was your jacket sourced from? I have a Paramo fleece, but it is increasingly tricky to get hold of their kit these days, I am 5'11" and interested in the top you have, what size is it please. Sorry for all the questions! :)
Yes indeed it’s the Paramo Fuera wind proof smock - I got mine a good few years back now but yes they are hard to find… I might try and grab a spare at the birdfair this year as they are awesome!
I might do a video on coats… sounds maybe a little niche but I do have quite a few that I use for wildlife photography and maybe people would find that interesting?
@@TomMasonPhoto I certainly would, but I am pretty niche as well! Be interested to hear about wind/waterproofing or lack thereof and also how quiet the material is, their kit does last well, and they really think about the component parts, the fit can be a little hit n miss though...Cheers, Marcus
@@TomMasonPhoto Also trousers/layers etc, anything like that I find interesting
Also interested please.
have you tried new 400mm f4.5
Not yet, but I shall do a video as soon as I get the chance
Those hares look in really poor condition Tom. Are they okay?
Hey simon, so as far as I could tell from my time on the island although they look a little pale and ragged, most are good, I agree they didn’t have the same “look” as my like Hertfordshire ones close to home, they fur certainly more ragged. I did find one who was unwell, at the back of the island who barely moved over the whole week, I left him in situ, however the others were rather spritely. One thing that was interesting was a few had white around their mouths but after watching I found some got this after feeding on the salt marsh! Also I suspect genetic diversity isn’t that strong on the island, so probably has a large effect on their look, as all had the similar fur colouring and look, rare compared to most other groups/ populations of hares I’ve photographed
@@TomMasonPhoto I suspect it's down to the inbreeding and a very poor diet. I mentioned this to the RSPB many years ago and your video (which is really good by the way!) shows that they are now in an even poorer condition - their fur looks awful. They really ought to remove them from the island and relocate them to a more suitable habitat where they can have a more varied diet and live a more nomadic lifestyle like mainland hares. Can't see this happening though as, from stories I've heard, the RSPB have a poor reputation for their treatment of mammals 🙁
(I'm referencing the shooting of foxes on their reserves that has been widely reported)
@@simonlittenphotography5341 Its a hard one because the hares do also leave and return to the island - population moves across the water at low tides and some swim, seems mental and I'd love to see that!
The mammal thing is hard, having worked with the RSPB for a long time sometimes mammals are culled for the purposes of conservation - eg supporting and protecting rare nesting species, it's something few conservation organisations speak about but almost all do, its a hard reality of trying to re establish populations - one for debate for sure! Should we manage numbers of predators? I don't have the answers for that!
I really don't understand how you can talk and move like you did so close to the hare's! In Belgium to get that close I need to be in full ghillie, spent hours and can only be one picture on Quite mode with D850, move very slowly and using the quiet mode maybe a few
This is a very very special location, it’s a true amazing place, on some days I was within inches of the Hares and able to shoot wide angle images!!
It’s was certainly a truly special experience for me as someone who loves Brown Hares!