Understanding behavior has improved my shots way more than understanding my camera! You can focus more on learning your camera and pushing limits when you aren’t endlessly chasing or looking for a subject/behavior.
Another really great video - thanks! That image of the Waterthrush at 12:00 is exceptional. The composition is so interesting .... if you just made a line drawing of the frame, showing the major elements of water, mossy rock, foreground rock, foreground water, and background ..... even without the bird, the arrangement of the shapes is really wonderful.
In my opinion: If you take a quality photographer - who knows the "rules" and is studied in what makes a quality photo - they stand a much better chance of taking a top quality wildlife photo on day one. A naturalist who has done a many-year exploration of animals in their ecosystems will likely have access to more animals and more opportunities, but not necessarily better quality photos. I think that combining photography and naturalism takes you to a level that is inaccessible to either of the two by themselves (an artistic/accomplished photographer's approach vs a technical/naturalistic approach). To take top-tier photos of an animal in its environment, you really need both. Especially if taking original photos is important to you. imo
It’s 3to1 in favor of understanding wildlife. Or even 5to1. You absolutely can take stunning photos on a crappy/basic/without deep understanding gear. But you won’t advance far enough without knowing behaviours, locations, patterns, feeding preferences, seasonality etc. of wildlife.
Both. Knowing behavior and predicting it is a very good tool but behavior can be fleeting, so you must be locked and loaded with camera techniques! And luck favors the prepared.
I also feel that one needs both. If I understand wildlife and want to photograph a certain species, it is almost guaranteed that you don’t get the shot if you don’t know your gear and the other way round.
Understanding behavior of wildlife should be #1. Photography is just the means to documenting that behavior. Equipment advancements over the last decade has made it more reachable by more people to capture excellent photos without much equipment knowledge. 20 years ago Equipment to perform Wildlife Photography was financially out of reach for the majority of us. Excellent topic Scott
I agree that knowing behavior is more important than technical photography/skill, but I think it is significantly more important...I came to photography with a significant amount of wildlife knowledge. I was raised in a family that maintained it connections to the land (we are Indigenous), that harvested our food and understood the traditional territory of our ancestors around us. I then went on to do two undergrad degrees related to natural resources and finally my career, now retired, was in protected areas management. With all that I would say I struggle more with understanding the birds I photograph, getting to know the 11 Sparrow species (what we have here in Eastern Ontario where I live) to a degree that would be equivalent to knowing a best friend or even your spouse, than the technology available now in my Canon camera and editing software. One last thought. We see behavior as somewhat universal. But like humans each animal has its own unique characteristics. So even knowing what a species might do in a particular situation is no guarantee that the little one in front of you will do what you expect them to do based on the science of behavior. You know Scott, your videos are so thoughtful and thought provoking. I just love when you do these types of discussions.
Photography expertise. That's always going to be required. One can always and easily find out what animals are in your area and enough about their general behaviors to help you get to the right spots at the right time. Photo tours/safaris/etc. will get you to those places/times, but guides cannot take the photograph for you.
Thank you so much for this amazing video! I need some advice: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). Could you explain how to move them to Binance?
Obviously you need both. But I think that for a lot of subjects, especially the easier ones to find and approach, someone with a mediocre knowledge of wildlife but amazing artistic eye will produce better photos than someone with amazing knowledge of animal behavior but little artistic intent behind the images they’re capturing.
If you don't have species knowledge then any photo you get is just dumb luck. Even with the best gear available if you don't know how to get your subject in front of the camera your SOL.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Understanding behavior has improved my shots way more than understanding my camera! You can focus more on learning your camera and pushing limits when you aren’t endlessly chasing or looking for a subject/behavior.
Wildlife first but as you said, both are the best way to get more and better looking images! Looking forward to the other episodes on the topic!
Another really great video - thanks! That image of the Waterthrush at 12:00 is exceptional. The composition is so interesting .... if you just made a line drawing of the frame, showing the major elements of water, mossy rock, foreground rock, foreground water, and background ..... even without the bird, the arrangement of the shapes is really wonderful.
Thanks Tom
# 1 Understanding Wildlife Behavior
In my opinion: If you take a quality photographer - who knows the "rules" and is studied in what makes a quality photo - they stand a much better chance of taking a top quality wildlife photo on day one. A naturalist who has done a many-year exploration of animals in their ecosystems will likely have access to more animals and more opportunities, but not necessarily better quality photos. I think that combining photography and naturalism takes you to a level that is inaccessible to either of the two by themselves (an artistic/accomplished photographer's approach vs a technical/naturalistic approach). To take top-tier photos of an animal in its environment, you really need both. Especially if taking original photos is important to you. imo
I find a lot of knowledge and inspiration in your videos 👍
Thank you! I'm glad you're finding them helpful.
Understanding behavior has helped me get my best shots.
It’s 3to1 in favor of understanding wildlife. Or even 5to1. You absolutely can take stunning photos on a crappy/basic/without deep understanding gear. But you won’t advance far enough without knowing behaviours, locations, patterns, feeding preferences, seasonality etc. of wildlife.
Your videos are really amazing. Love it. it is very inspiring and Eye opening. ❤❤
Thank you!
I think both are important pieces of the puzzle. But one of my shortcomings is trying to overcome poor field craft with focal length.
Both. Knowing behavior and predicting it is a very good tool but behavior can be fleeting, so you must be locked and loaded with camera techniques! And luck favors the prepared.
I also feel that one needs both. If I understand wildlife and want to photograph a certain species, it is almost guaranteed that you don’t get the shot if you don’t know your gear and the other way round.
Understanding behavior of wildlife should be #1. Photography is just the means to documenting that behavior. Equipment advancements over the last decade has made it more reachable by more people to capture excellent photos without much equipment knowledge. 20 years ago Equipment to perform Wildlife Photography was financially out of reach for the majority of us. Excellent topic Scott
Thanks!
100% both needed, but I agree if it was the subject expertise it will garner more images than just photographic knowledge...combo however, magic.
I agree that knowing behavior is more important than technical photography/skill, but I think it is significantly more important...I came to photography with a significant amount of wildlife knowledge. I was raised in a family that maintained it connections to the land (we are Indigenous), that harvested our food and understood the traditional territory of our ancestors around us. I then went on to do two undergrad degrees related to natural resources and finally my career, now retired, was in protected areas management. With all that I would say I struggle more with understanding the birds I photograph, getting to know the 11 Sparrow species (what we have here in Eastern Ontario where I live) to a degree that would be equivalent to knowing a best friend or even your spouse, than the technology available now in my Canon camera and editing software.
One last thought. We see behavior as somewhat universal. But like humans each animal has its own unique characteristics. So even knowing what a species might do in a particular situation is no guarantee that the little one in front of you will do what you expect them to do based on the science of behavior.
You know Scott, your videos are so thoughtful and thought provoking. I just love when you do these types of discussions.
Thanks !
Understanding wildlife behavior and habitats.
Photography expertise. That's always going to be required. One can always and easily find out what animals are in your area and enough about their general behaviors to help you get to the right spots at the right time. Photo tours/safaris/etc. will get you to those places/times, but guides cannot take the photograph for you.
Thank you so much for this amazing video! I need some advice: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). Could you explain how to move them to Binance?
Obviously you need both. But I think that for a lot of subjects, especially the easier ones to find and approach, someone with a mediocre knowledge of wildlife but amazing artistic eye will produce better photos than someone with amazing knowledge of animal behavior but little artistic intent behind the images they’re capturing.
You might be right
@@WildlifeInspired I forgot to say, great video! Especially with the different examples
I have lived my 40 + years in wildlife photography by being a better Naturalist.
Behaviour. Obviously you need some semblance of gear, basic level. But behavior allows one to predect where, when and unique behaviour..
Wildlife
Wildlife.
Photography
If you don't have species knowledge then any photo you get is just dumb luck. Even with the best gear available if you don't know how to get your subject in front of the camera your SOL.