I was absolutely blown away by this masterclass. Ellie's photos are amazing. So much more then wildlife/bird photos, they are true pieces of art. The presentation style was very fitting with her photography style too. It was relaxed, while being detailed.
Don't get discouraged by the expensive gear which Ellie uses. Most of her advice is useful with cheaper equipment too, as long as the light is good. And maybe even with worse light, and higher ISOs, if Topaz Denoise is as good as it's rumoured to be. I've seen great shots by people using a Nikon P900, Sony RX10, an Olympus (micro four thirds) camera. And supposedly it's also possible to use flash for bird photography (which I had never thought it would). Jan Wegener has some video(s) about it on his channel.
Great information, but if you can't run to the cost of a high end full frame camera and telephoto there is another way if you have a camera controlable from an app. I use a similar feeder setup in my garden with a Lumix GX9 and a 100 mm full frame equivalent lens mounted on a tripod close to the feeder area. When you remove all of the feeders bar one there will be one or two perches the birds will use before flying to the feeder. Frame the image on one of these (and manually focus for peference) set up the wifi on camera and phone app and then retire to your hide or in my case my kitchen. Then you can watch the action either directly on on your phone app and trigger the shutter when the bird alights. I find that the birds are not put off by the camera close to the feeder and will often use it as a perch. Depth of field will not be as shallow but you should have less problems with shutter speed and iso constraints.
Loved this video but would like to see some of these instructional videos conducted using equipment that Joe Public is more liable to be able to afford
I appreciate that this is how you get the ‘better’ shots. I just can’t bring myself to sit inside a tent for hours - much more enjoyable to walk around and handhold my shots.
I'm a very good m4/3 bird and critter shooter, I enjoyed your video very much, especially your early times story. I was introduced to photography by my Dad, and my Grandmother, however, I went into the technical world and then the Navy for 20 years. It wasn't until after the Navy that I went back to my passion, photography. Cheers!
I am impressed, I will be anxiously waiting for the more good videos. I watch other professional birds photographers but I liked your way of explaing things practically.
Just started with my D500. I became interested in wildlife and bird photography only recently after my first stint with my D500, at the Warwick Castle falconry show. Here to learn more and improve my shots.
Good choice of camera, wildlife photography is a great journey, the more you practice the more you get. Hope the falconry show gave you some good pictures.
@@WexPhotoVideo Indeed. I got some really good shots with that camera. It kind of made me keep hold of my D7000 and challenge myself to redo those shots with my D7000.
Ellie / Wex - this is a delightful video - really enjoyable and full of useful tips for the novice (very) would-be wildlife photographer. Like many, I am sure, I have started to focus on my local wildlife in this past year - almost exactly. Thank you so much for sharing.
Really enjoyed this video. Quite perplexed at the use of such high shutter speed for perched birds though - I think Ellie is set to capture birds as they land. Shooting between 1/125 and 1/320 can be good for perched birds, but then it's not much use for the action shots. Something to consider nonetheless.
@@ellierothnie7318 it works well for robins, dunnocks, jays, tits etc when the light is low and I want to keep ISO down www.flickr.com/photos/163513259@N03/51026876791/in/dateposted-public/. Maybe it's easier because I have a stabilised sensor Olympus. Of course you're well set to freeze unpredictable action with a higher shutter speed.
Brilliant tutorial, very informative. I particularly liked your construction the the bird station, and one thing I often underestimate is the shutter speed required for stationary birds. However you reminded me of the need to keep the shutter speed high, I often try and keep ISO low which often means a shutter speed of 1/800 and therefore blurry shots and a lower keeper rate. Thanks again
Thank you very much for this. I have been doing landscape photography a few years and decided to try wildlife photography. This is one of the more informative videos I have seen and explained a lot particularly on shooting distances between the camera and subject. I will be putting this to the test in my garden and local woods. Look forward to seeing more of your work.
Thanks for the feeder setup tips etc. Some interesting points on camera settings, but a shame you didn't mention white ballance and focal point settings too.
Hello Rob, in terms of white balance, I dial in depending on the light situation, so for this shoot where there was variable light from showers to winter sun, I was using a WB between 5300-5900K. I also use all AF points so zooming around these all the time, but if focussing on flight I tend to use the centre point or those immediately surrounding the centre. Hope this helps.
Very much so. I've done ok, we have a big garden a I've been feeding them all winter, but we have jays in the local woods, I've got them on trail cam but haven't managed to lure them in for proper photography. Having watched your show I reckon I'm staying too close. Will let you know. :-)
I am very impress by this video. The video itself was gorgeous and well done(the production values were beyond excellent). And Ellie is a very good presenter. Her calm style helps with the presentation. Who wouldn’t want Ellie as a mentor! I learned a lot. Thank you for such an excellent well done video.Looking through the Masterclass Series, I don’t see any other videos which you created. Can you tell me what other videos you have done?
Hello James, for moving subjects I use continuous & AI servo; for wildlife portraits & macro work, I use single shot. Which button you use is completly down to preference, so for example I use the normal shutter button. Hope this helps
Thank you for the video with awesome pictures. You didn't talk much about focusing method though. What do you use ? Center point and recompose ? Other method ? Thank you if you have the time to drop a word on that.
Hello Alan, for flight, I use tend to use the centre point or those immediately surrounding the centre. And for everything else I use all AF points available so zooming around these all the time. Hope this helps.
@@ellierothnie7318 Hi Ellie, Thank you for your time and reply. I tend to use the center point too, and reframe as often changing the auto-focus point takes more time than using center and reframing, and on some older camera, the center point is more efficient than others...
Muito bom seu video, informações claras... Eu não tenho uma 1DX nem uma 500 F4, vou tentar reproduzir com uma EOS R e uma 100-400 f.4.5-5.6 para ver o que consigo ...
Love you vlog so nice to see a female photographer and doing wildlife photography witch i do myself I’ve subscribe to your channel I’ve also have a RUclips channel not much to look at the moment thanks again loved it 😘
Hello Barry, that's a great question. I really like using negative space, it allows your subject to 'breathe', and yes, also always think about the rule of thirds when you're composing your images. However you can break these rules! I will also put the subject in the centre if it's looks symmetrical. Hope this helps :)
Brilliant video Elli! May I ask you which tripod you are using? I feel like the Gitzo Series 5 is a tad to much to carry around. Which series do you use/recommend. Thanks a lot!
Many thanks Felix! I have the Gitzo 3 series with a Wimberley head, mainly for the 500mm, but I also use this with the 300mm, & change to a ballhead for macro work too. It's still quite heavy kit but I get a lot of stability with this tripod, especially when you're mainly shooting in lower light during early morning/or later in the day. And it fits into a suitcase for overseas. I've used this tripod for years in hot equatorial temperatures, right down to minus 35 deg cent & it's never let me down. Depends what camera & lenses you want to support too...
The clarity of your shots is amazing! What are your thoughts for those of us who don't have the money to pay for such expensive lenses and cameras. Is it possible for us to take such grand photos. I do have one that I took of a stellar jay that is quite beautiful, but it really is difficult, as you said, because these little guys are constantly in motion. Thanks so much. Great info.
Hello Andrew, it's the Airport Accelerator by Think Tank. It will take a 500, 300 & couple of camera bodies, plus your cards etc in those zip pockets. Also has a laptop compartment on the front. It's the max size for the overhead locker on flights, never any problem taking this onboard as overhead hand luggage. Hope this helps.
The most important is to spend that much money on your lenses to get that great depth of field. That’s the secret. You can’t do that with an 2000€ equipment. You will always get disappointed .
"And that's it, that's all we're gonna use today" shows equipment more expensive then my two kidneys combined... But beside that, there were some great tips, good video! ;)
Started to watch this until I saw the size of that lens, which is a million miles away from any budget of mine. So I guess I'll just keep on struggling.
i feel a sense of nostalgia and i can not stop crying
I was absolutely blown away by this masterclass. Ellie's photos are amazing. So much more then wildlife/bird photos, they are true pieces of art. The presentation style was very fitting with her photography style too. It was relaxed, while being detailed.
This video was so good. This can be done with cheaper equipment as well. Luckily for me!
Absolutely!
Don't get discouraged by the expensive gear which Ellie uses. Most of her advice is useful with cheaper equipment too, as long as the light is good. And maybe even with worse light, and higher ISOs, if Topaz Denoise is as good as it's rumoured to be. I've seen great shots by people using a Nikon P900, Sony RX10, an Olympus (micro four thirds) camera. And supposedly it's also possible to use flash for bird photography (which I had never thought it would). Jan Wegener has some video(s) about it on his channel.
Ellie's work is breathtaking.
Thank you! She is fantastic.
Great information, but if you can't run to the cost of a high end full frame camera and telephoto there is another way if you have a camera controlable from an app. I use a similar feeder setup in my garden with a Lumix GX9 and a 100 mm full frame equivalent lens mounted on a tripod close to the feeder area. When you remove all of the feeders bar one there will be one or two perches the birds will use before flying to the feeder. Frame the image on one of these (and manually focus for peference) set up the wifi on camera and phone app and then retire to your hide or in my case my kitchen. Then you can watch the action either directly on on your phone app and trigger the shutter when the bird alights. I find that the birds are not put off by the camera close to the feeder and will often use it as a perch. Depth of field will not be as shallow but you should have less problems with shutter speed and iso constraints.
Loved this video but would like to see some of these instructional videos conducted using equipment that Joe Public is more liable to be able to afford
Yes, I agree!
I appreciate that this is how you get the ‘better’ shots.
I just can’t bring myself to sit inside a tent for hours - much more enjoyable to walk around and handhold my shots.
Agree, most of what I photograph isn't hide-based, pop-ups are good kit for some species though
I'm a very good m4/3 bird and critter shooter, I enjoyed your video very much, especially your early times story. I was introduced to photography by my Dad, and my Grandmother, however, I went into the technical world and then the Navy for 20 years. It wasn't until after the Navy that I went back to my passion, photography. Cheers!
Thank you for watching!
Nice lady, good lenses, steady tripod, great pictures. Who are those losers who has given thumbs down for this video.
Haha who knows, thank you for the good feedback Ian
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A most useful video! 😊
An excellent guide to getting started in bird watching and photography. Your gentle refined etiquette and demeanor is refreshing.
I am impressed, I will be anxiously waiting for the more good videos. I watch other professional birds photographers but I liked your way of explaing things practically.
Just started with my D500. I became interested in wildlife and bird photography only recently after my first stint with my D500, at the Warwick Castle falconry show. Here to learn more and improve my shots.
Good choice of camera, wildlife photography is a great journey, the more you practice the more you get. Hope the falconry show gave you some good pictures.
@@WexPhotoVideo Indeed. I got some really good shots with that camera. It kind of made me keep hold of my D7000 and challenge myself to redo those shots with my D7000.
Like others I had been expecting a 12.30 start. Luckily it's possible to rewind to the start. A great presentation thanks.
Thanks Robert, glad you enjoyed
What a visually lovely video and so informative too. The bonus were the images and sounds of the relevant birdcalls. Thank you Ellie
You're welcome Dave, thank you
As a newbie to bird photography your masterclass was really informative and very well put together. I really enjoyed it.
Thank you so much. This was a very valuable master class
You're very welcome!
One of the most informative videos that I've ever seen about photography on RUclips. It just keeps giving. Many thanks Ellie
Hello Stuart, glad you enjoyed it, thank you
Impressive. Super informative. Very well produced.
Thanks Ellie & Wex, a very enjoyable watch.
Thanks Neil
Some good ideas here. I like the concealing feed - I must try this out
I enjoyed your Master Class immensely! I look forward to more of your classes!
Hello Mike, thank you
Thank you for sharing your valuable insights and informative suggestions Ellie.
very informative video! just looked up Ellie's instagram and my mind is blown with her art! what a lovely woman she is!
Hello Luka, glad you enjoyed it, thank you
Ellie / Wex - this is a delightful video - really enjoyable and full of useful tips for the novice (very) would-be wildlife photographer. Like many, I am sure, I have started to focus on my local wildlife in this past year - almost exactly. Thank you so much for sharing.
That's great news Ian, we have a lot of our door steps for sure. Enjoy your photography :)
Really enjoyed this video. Quite perplexed at the use of such high shutter speed for perched birds though - I think Ellie is set to capture birds as they land. Shooting between 1/125 and 1/320 can be good for perched birds, but then it's not much use for the action shots. Something to consider nonetheless.
Hello, in my experience I use much faster shutter speeds for small birds. If 1/125-1/320 work for you thats fine
@@ellierothnie7318 it works well for robins, dunnocks, jays, tits etc when the light is low and I want to keep ISO down www.flickr.com/photos/163513259@N03/51026876791/in/dateposted-public/. Maybe it's easier because I have a stabilised sensor Olympus. Of course you're well set to freeze unpredictable action with a higher shutter speed.
Wow super images and garden set up
Thank you so much 🙂
Very interesting tutorial, I have just started doing this in our garden...
That's great Andy, wishing you a good project!
Brilliant tutorial, very informative. I particularly liked your construction the the bird station, and one thing I often underestimate is the shutter speed required for stationary birds. However you reminded me of the need to keep the shutter speed high, I often try and keep ISO low which often means a shutter speed of 1/800 and therefore blurry shots and a lower keeper rate. Thanks again
Glad it was helpful Ian, hope you get on well with the smaller birds, I'd love to see the results
Thank you very much for this. I have been doing landscape photography a few years and decided to try wildlife photography. This is one of the more informative videos I have seen and explained a lot particularly on shooting distances between the camera and subject. I will be putting this to the test in my garden and local woods. Look forward to seeing more of your work.
Brilliant Video, Very Helpful and Informative. Beautiful Photographs. Many thanks for sharing.
I may not be follow all instructions but the way you explained is great and informative
Some great tips Ellie, thank you. Who doesn't love a Jay, great intelligent birds but very shy around here.
Like you I love the Jay, pretty shy birds for sure
Very informative your methods thanks for sharing and love it Madam ! 😊
Thank you! :D
Lovely video and great insights for a lot of fun! Thank you Ellie 🙏😃
You're welcome, thank you
Thank you for sharing your memories of your father. My late father was also a photographer, on film cameras. You really reminded me of him.
Really useful video , Great
Thanks for the feeder setup tips etc. Some interesting points on camera settings, but a shame you didn't mention white ballance and focal point settings too.
Hello Rob, in terms of white balance, I dial in depending on the light situation, so for this shoot where there was variable light from showers to winter sun, I was using a WB between 5300-5900K. I also use all AF points so zooming around these all the time, but if focussing on flight I tend to use the centre point or those immediately surrounding the centre. Hope this helps.
@@ellierothnie7318 Thanks for this Ellie. Much appreciated.
Very much so. I've done ok, we have a big garden a I've been feeding them all winter, but we have jays in the local woods, I've got them on trail cam but haven't managed to lure them in for proper photography. Having watched your show I reckon I'm staying too close. Will let you know. :-)
Many thanks Colin, yes they're very nervous birds for sure. Let me know how you get on!
I loved this tutorial. So inspiring. Thank you.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks Ellie and WEX for organising this. I’m using the R5 with 100-500 and 24-105. What would be my best option kit wise for getting 1:1 macro.
Thanks Alan, glad you enjoyed it. I'll hand over to WEX re. the R5 kit as I haven't had a chance to use it yet, hearing very good things about it!
Amazing, informative, therapeutic, relaxing and beautiful. waiting for many more, please.
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you
Hi Ellie I am watching your masterclass for the second time it is excellent I only took up wildlife photography June 2020.
Many thanks Allistair, you'll enjoy it for sure!
I am very impress by this video. The video itself was gorgeous and well done(the production values were beyond excellent). And Ellie is a very good presenter. Her calm style helps with the presentation. Who wouldn’t want Ellie as a mentor! I learned a lot. Thank you for such an excellent well done video.Looking through the Masterclass Series, I don’t see any other videos which you created. Can you tell me what other videos you have done?
I really enjoyed the show Ellie... thanks so very much!
That's great Mark, thanks for tuning in!
Wonderful wildlife photographer!
Thanks so much Neil & glad you enjoyed the video :)
谢谢！做事很用心传递货真价实经验👍👍
Well done Ellie, fingers crossed we will all be travelling soon 🤞
Hello Chas, great to see you here. Yes, fingers crossed for everyone :)
Superb.
Just found this channel. Great video. Very informative. Wow for your camera gear. Thanks.
Hey Lorna - great to have you here :) We have plenty more courses on our channel!
Loved this Masterclass!!! One question: did you use cloudy or auto white balance for your photos?
Wow, the photos!
Hello George, thank you
Really good video, well presented and informative. Some lovely images to back up the teaching as well
Very nice and inspirative video. I wish to see more so nice people like you to walk under our sun.
Great video matt uk
Hello David, thank you
Great video Ellie can you tell me how you focus for perches and flight ? continuous, single, back button or normal shutter button ?
just look it up on RUclips...you can't expect her to be your personal photography teacher.
Hello James, for moving subjects I use continuous & AI servo; for wildlife portraits & macro work, I use single shot. Which button you use is completly down to preference, so for example I use the normal shutter button. Hope this helps
@@ellierothnie7318 Thanks for that Ellie, i'm still getting to know my camera and the help is much appreciated.
Thank you for the video with awesome pictures. You didn't talk much about focusing method though. What do you use ? Center point and recompose ? Other method ? Thank you if you have the time to drop a word on that.
Hello Alan, for flight, I use tend to use the centre point or those immediately surrounding the centre. And for everything else I use all AF points available so zooming around these all the time. Hope this helps.
@@ellierothnie7318 Hi Ellie, Thank you for your time and reply. I tend to use the center point too, and reframe as often changing the auto-focus point takes more time than using center and reframing, and on some older camera, the center point is more efficient than others...
Muito bom seu video, informações claras... Eu não tenho uma 1DX nem uma 500 F4, vou tentar reproduzir com uma EOS R e uma 100-400 f.4.5-5.6 para ver o que consigo ...
Love you vlog so nice to see a female photographer and doing wildlife photography witch i do myself I’ve subscribe to your channel I’ve also have a RUclips channel not much to look at the moment thanks again loved it 😘
ruclips.net/video/y0CqBjcP-kA/видео.html
Really kind Dave, I'd love to see more women out there :)
Wex can you give me a shout when that ten grand chunk of glass drops to the three figure mark? Cheers! 😅 Great tutorial all joking aside!
Haha, we would LOVE this lens at 3.5K. #dreams
@@WexPhotoVideo 😂🙏🏼 we can hope! Chat in ten years!
fery nice masterclass
Amazing pictures....really inspiring
Ellie when it comes to composition would you recommend the use of Negative Space or Rule of Thirds or just go with the more centered shot?
Hello Barry, that's a great question. I really like using negative space, it allows your subject to 'breathe', and yes, also always think about the rule of thirds when you're composing your images. However you can break these rules! I will also put the subject in the centre if it's looks symmetrical. Hope this helps :)
thank you for the video. so do you have the sun right behind you or at a slight angle?
Hello, the winter sun is over my left shoulder for a morning shoot. Hope this helps
Thank you. I loved it.
You're welcome, thank you
Thank you Ellie, informative and inspiring.
Thank you, that's great to hear
Thank you Ellie, very informative and great ideas
Thank you Glenda
Thank you Ellie! 😀
Hey you made it, great!
That's was great, really enjoyed it.
Glad it was enjoyable & thanks
Brilliant video Elli! May I ask you which tripod you are using? I feel like the Gitzo Series 5 is a tad to much to carry around. Which series do you use/recommend.
Thanks a lot!
Many thanks Felix! I have the Gitzo 3 series with a Wimberley head, mainly for the 500mm, but I also use this with the 300mm, & change to a ballhead for macro work too. It's still quite heavy kit but I get a lot of stability with this tripod, especially when you're mainly shooting in lower light during early morning/or later in the day. And it fits into a suitcase for overseas. I've used this tripod for years in hot equatorial temperatures, right down to minus 35 deg cent & it's never let me down. Depends what camera & lenses you want to support too...
@@ellierothnie7318 Great! That‘s the answer I‘ve been looking for!:-)
The clarity of your shots is amazing! What are your thoughts for those of us who don't have the money to pay for such expensive lenses and cameras. Is it possible for us to take such grand photos. I do have one that I took of a stellar jay that is quite beautiful, but it really is difficult, as you said, because these little guys are constantly in motion. Thanks so much. Great info.
Which lense are you using for these wonderful shots of song birds
Hello, I normally use a 500mm lens, that's just my preference really
I love watching photography feeds. I really want to start Photography. But could not afford camera. They so expensive.
Very informative and inspirational. Easy to watch, yet full of great content.
Excellent information thank madam 🙏🙏🙏
You're welcome Jamesha
. Very informative re kit and some great tips. Thank you
You're welcome Keith, thanks for watching it!
Easy to understand & very informative content. Thank you.
good video
You're welcome Stu, thank you
Very interesting and informative. Some great tips. Thankyou.
You're very welcome Tracey, thank you
Thank you so much its very lovely video , and you are very lovely
You're very welcome, and thank you :)
Thank you for a lovely, inspirational video Ellie. Some very beautiful shots, particularly the jay. We’re the pelican shots taken at Lake Kerkini?
That was really useful and insightful, thank you guys.
You're welcome Tal, thanks for watching!
That was excellent thank you.
Thanks Colin, glad you enjoyed it
great video im looking for a new camera bag what is the one you show in video
Hello Andrew, it's the Airport Accelerator by Think Tank. It will take a 500, 300 & couple of camera bodies, plus your cards etc in those zip pockets. Also has a laptop compartment on the front. It's the max size for the overhead locker on flights, never any problem taking this onboard as overhead hand luggage. Hope this helps.
@@ellierothnie7318 brilliant thanks for reply will look into buying one
Thank you very much for sharing🙏
Thank you, interesting and informative.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed
The most important is to spend that much money on your lenses to get that great depth of field. That’s the secret. You can’t do that with an 2000€ equipment. You will always get disappointed .
i have a 70-300mm lens and its much smaller. is that just because its Nikon or does have something to do with the maximum zoom
I'll start saving then lol only £26000 to go
Thank you very much
Thanks Andrea!
Great video and beautiful photos! Often with "tech and tips" videos the photos aren't all that great. Your collection is beyond superb!
/Rasmus
Could use tie straps instead of screwing into the tree 🙂
Hello, yes you could, just make sure it's quite stable and doesn't slip when the birds land on it. Hope this helps :)
Yeah looks a lot like my garden!
good video thanks
Many thanks Craig
"And that's it, that's all we're gonna use today" shows equipment more expensive then my two kidneys combined...
But beside that, there were some great tips, good video! ;)
There was nowhere she said you have to get the same gears as she does 🤷🏻♂️
Great vdeo, thanks
Sort of wondering why either a cable or remote release wasn't used.
Thank your great
Great video. Beautifully done. And a lovely lady who is also an amazing photographer? If I wasn’t married . . . Oh wait, I’m not married.
Haha thank you! :)
@@ellierothnie7318 meant with sincerity. The video made a strong impression on me.
Started to watch this until I saw the size of that lens, which is a million miles away from any budget of mine. So I guess I'll just keep on struggling.
Hello, what lens do you use at the moment? You could try getting a little closer & this might work for you
You can go for a zoom in the 100/150/200-400/500/600most companies make them and they much cheaper and lighter