Bird Photography Tips and Tricks! Photographing small birds with the Nikon Z6II and 600mm F/4!
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- Опубликовано: 3 авг 2024
- Bird Photography Tips and Tricks! Bird photography can be difficult. These few tips are critical to capturing the fast movement of these small birds. These camera tips and some field craft tricks should help you get better images.
#nikon #Photography #canon #sony
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Photographed with:
Nikon Z6II amzn.to/2SntkFK
Nikon 600mm F/4 amzn.to/3gWpGN8
Nikon 200-400 F/4 amzn.to/3f97Xka
Nikon Z6 amzn.to/3wy1IgC
Wimberley gimbal amzn.to/3s2ABqE
Benro Mach 3 amzn.to/3uobYWE
Memory cards xqd amzn.to/3uygzG7
Thanks for stopping by. Visit me on Instagram:
/ bayou_josh
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This video was not paid for by outside persons or manufacturers.
No gear was supplied to me for this video.
Obsessed with bird photography! Just a love for nature it a good thing.
that is the truth.
All your senses really get in tune………this is so true Josh!! Bird photography is definitely a sensory and spiritual experience!
Absolutely.
I always want to go photograph some birds after watching your videos.
Well you just made my day!
Treasure hunting! You nailed it. I don't use a tripod while birding. I handhold my 500 mm and use a quiet, sneaky demeanor. I use calls but very sparingly. If you hear the bird and know the call, it's always better. I enjoyed your video. I've been a birder in Florida for 6 years but just now learning photography. I bought the Nikon Zf. Thanks!
My love of birds has kept me from learning landscape photography. I spent three Sundays in a row looking for a Hooded Oriole, in recently sighted areas, only to find it outside my bedroom window.
classic 😃
Well done Josh. Always enjoy spending time with you in the field...
I sure appreciate it Jamie.
This was my favorite video that you have done, great stuff and thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it! thank you so much Ted.
Yours videos are helping me a lot because I just get here in USA, I am from the Caribbean and the bird are different and the environment too… thanks a lot for all your amazing and satisfactory pictures and videos of birds…
Great video . I agree, getting out n the forest with the birds is therapy and meditation for me . I love the challenge !
I love the connection to nature that bird photography affords me, birds have been present in my life from an early age and have always brought me joy-I enjoy going into the parks in the city and scouting for them, and it’s a solitary pursuit for me and helps me stay physically fit as I’m out and about daily. Your videos are a treat, thanks for creating and posting-your photos are beautiful.
Thank you for watching. 😀
The way u began the video, that is the same way i felt about Photographing insects and posses similar feeling for bird photography. but the thing is Bird photography isn't cheap. Hoping to pick up long tele in the future and add on Bird photography to my macro work. Keep up the good work.
Bird photography is definitely not cheap! You can say that again. Macro photography is so fun though.
As always, very helpful! I have been doing just fine with my D500/Z6ll and 200-500 for all types of birds , including BIF using the Z6ll
Good to hear. Not doing bad with the Z6II lately either.
Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to try the radial filter trick.
Thanks for watching TC. I hope it helps.
Another great video Josh! Keep ‘em coming!
Thank you Britt
I love the way that you use the radial filter in your post processing to provide directional lighting onto the subject. I have been trying to bring it into my own workflow. . .Bruce.
Thanks Bruce. It is a simple tool that brings beautiful results.
Josh, I hope all is well with you and your family.
I am on a full time corporate job (extremely stressful environment) which includes lots of travel (99.9999% of the time fully booked with no space to sightseeing 😮💨), with 2 young kids, wife and dog... so I am starting my journey with bird photography (with very limited time to dedicate), and it is definitely helping me to release some of the accumulated stress...
Thanks to you, and other few great RUclipsrs, I am learning a lot.
I hope to see new content from you anytime soon. I wish you and your family enjoy the holidays.
Great video again Josh just what I needed!
thanks man. go get some good shots
Really well done, Josh, and you covered all the bases. I've been doing bird photography as a passionate amateur for 10 years now and I still love every minute of it. Discovered your channel a couple of months ago and I love it. Practical, common sense, laid back, and you foster a sense of community. Thanks for all your work and passion. Keep it going!
I really appreciate it Jonah. It’s been a fun few months making the content and I’m very humbled by the response. Seriously. Thank you.
in my country....exploring chances to photograph rare birds, mainly in the jungles, have been mind-soothing experiences. Love birds and bird photography
It is so soothing to spend time in nature. thank you my friend.
i've never actually thought to use auto iso on bright sunny days! great tips and keep up the good work
Thanks Luke. I hope it helps.
Great advice. Many thanks
GOOD JOB JOSH 👏
I'm not a bird man, but I can appreciate this video, content, and what can be learned from it.
Thanks.
Is this THE Alex Murray?
This is the ghost of Sony present! The A7IV goes for $2500 and has bird eye tracking! Huge for those of us on a budget. Really enjoying your content btw. Feels like a friend talking to me and not some guy talking down to me while teaching 🙌🏼
don't think that hasn't crossed my mind several times. thanks Patrick.
I really enjoy your videos , gotta put the time in, absolutely
thank you my friend.
Well done, josh. You very helpful. Love birds and photographers. Thank! 👌👏❤
Great video again Bayou, lot's of good tips. Love the way you talk so relaxed. Greetings from Norway
Thank you my friend. I appreciate it.
Nice video! Thats really interesting ! Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for watching!
Great info Josh!!!
Keep up the awesome work 👍
Thank you sir. much appreciated.
Great video Josh,only recently discovered you on RUclips your comments and love of bird photography are something that I really look forward to, currently using a d850 but since I've been viewing you're video's I'm seriously thinking of the z6 ll, keep up the good work great and honest comments
Thank you George. I limit talking about gear but I allowed myself to do an arbitrary gear video that will post tomorrow that expands on my D850 love affair. It really was the best picture camera ever. Not so much on video.
Great video! Very helpful. I have learned recently to set my Nikon up for the right light and vivid and to view the images first in NX Studio. Light room strips away so much information that Nikon is so good at.
Interesting. I never thought about that.
Great vid josh! Very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for these tips, will give them a try. I am really enjoying your channel...
Awesome! Thank you!
Love your videos and advices, specially when get in to the wild, and without (whispering) like other wildlife photographers do in the RUclips .. shhshhshh
Thank you so much. I really do appreciate it.
Thanks Bayou for your great video of tips & tricks to bird photography.
My pleasure. thank you for watching.
@8:50 Merling Bird ID has all the calls per species and you can do a custom search. you also have to download your area bird package. its a free app
thank you Hector. I downloaded it today on a couple of other suggestions. I was just used to that dang audiobook.
Great video with some excellent pointers 👌 Especially liked the tip about capturing environmental shots. Some of my best work has been redwinged blackbirds and bluebirds on reeds with a foreground item in blur. Thx again for the excellent video.
thank you for watching my friend.
Well done, Josh. I've honed my RUclips photography viewing down to just a few: you, Steve Perry, Matt Irwin, Hudson Henry, Henry Turner. I also like Jim Nix for ON1 Photo Raw & Luminar. Dave Kelly for Topaz products. As I have been taking photos for 50 years, I've been through it all! From Kodak Instamatic, cheap P&S's, manual 2nd hand SLRs, darkrooms etc My first Nikon was a film 601(?), then D200 to D5000 to D800 to D500 to current Z6ii. I do like BIF photography, but it's tricky as you know. I did contemplate a system change to Sony, but I beat the "Siren's Song" (not watching the Fro & the Connecticut couple helped with that endeavour). Cheers! Jack, Sydney, Australia.
Well dang Jack. That’s high compliments considering I follow all those guys and really look up to them. It’s so fun to experience the evolution of a brand. I’m sure there’s more to come!
Jack, also check out Duade Paton, a bird photographer here in Australia. Loving this video, useful
No Fro? lmao
You are so good. Keep doing what you like. Your channel is exceptionnel. I' ll watch every video you did. Thank you.
I like the easy going, informative nature of this video.
Glad you liked it! Thank you my friend.
Greetings from India 🙏
Fantastic content. The tips are indeed helpful. Will look forward to watch the next one 👍
Thank You my friend.
Couple of minutes listening to you and when you shared your feeling regarding your love for birds instantly I subscribed. You are my type of person.
New subscriber here, greetings from Costa Rica. 🇨🇷
Isn't it great to find your people. Welcome aboard. Thank you ,
@@BayouJosh Thank you ! 🙌🏻
@@OniSamurai_86 we are dreaming and plotting a trip to Costa Rica. Josh has been there but I never have. I hear the birds are amazingly colorful.
@@buttonlover86 Yes they are! I hope you can come to CR, if you do let's keep in touch. We can plan a tour to some amazing places. 🙌🏻 My photo IG account is: instagram.com/pvfotofx
Great content! Keep up the strong work!
Now i have to study birds! Haha great video 🔥😂
thanks Eddy! they are fun! 😀
Great video Josh, some really helpful tips for newbie bird photographers like myself.
Glad it was helpful!
Beautiful.
Good "tutorial" there, Josh!
Birds can be some dumbnuts sometimes, I know the feeling. But then there are those who do dance on front of you and do anything for the attention, lol.
Keep up the great work bud and say Hi to Katie!! More tree and flower hugs! ;)
Isn't that the truth. thank you so much.
Another great video. Good information. Thank you.
Thank you. I really appreciate it
Hi Josh)) thanks for the tips. The radial filters tool is my favourite to 3d pop the photos. Sometimes in the images like you showed example on, I also apply stretched ray like radial filters pointing out of the bright spot corner of the image and overexpose them (normally under even angle to the center of the bright spot and 3 pcs). It will create clean, flair free, sunstar like rays, in some cases looks very magical and dreamy.
Absolutely! that is a fun tool.
Great video. I absolutely agree with your sentiments regarding auto iso. It’s one less variable to deal with. I normally keep the z7-2 and z6-2 6400 and under for best results. 6400 on the z7-2 is pushing it, honestly 4000 would be ideal.
Absolutely! I keep mine limited to 6400 as well. I just EV comp down as the light gets low and fix in post if I start creeping up near 6400
Great tips, thank you. (that 600 f/4 is a serious commitment)
Thank you my friend. It really is. 😀
Nice video !
brilliant
Just subbed....glad I found your channel. Some really good tips here 👍
Thanks Brother and thanks for stopping by.
Great stuff and good tips! Thanks! I honed in on the auto iso a while back, got the idea from watching a sports photographer. I think you’re the only birder I’ve seen admit to it. I’m going to need to figure out the settings for AF-C on the D850, man it gave more options and symbols I was not familiar with. Thanks again for the info! Oh, I sometimes use the app Merlin Bird ID, it has calls in it too. I called up Turkeys once.
I set up two back buttons for AF on my old D850. the top one was single point AF-c and the toggle just below it was Group mode AF-c. It took some practice but it was super useful. That AF on the D850 is pretty dang good.
Bayou Josh yes, I just learned that I need to click the side button to rotate AF-s to AF-c. Thanks again!
@@christopherherrick703 Yep. There ya go. Awesome.
This is very interesting. Kinda want to try this a bit more. The only birds I’ve shot successfully was some ducks in a local river. I DID get the camera very low and one of the shots, I think, turns out great. It wasn’t until I edited it that I thought it looked good though. But you’ve inspired me to try a little harder.
awesome. keep at it. thank you for watching.
Playing audio is definitely a point of contention. I try to avoid it for nesting birds and I will never play any raptor call personally.
Agree. We are definitely cautious. The lazuli we visit seems to be a loner. Only one comes out. If we ever call in a bird and more than one make shows up, we stop. They get territorial. Raptors- no way! We live right by the birds of Pray Conservation area. So tons of raptors around here. We were hiking alongside a cliff once and a falcon started dive bombing us. It was terrifying. Their baby had fallen out of the nest. We did not know until we ran right past it. That falcon swooped so close I could feel the wind of his wings near my head. I was screaming and running and saw the little ball of fluff on the ground at my feet. It was sad. We would never intentionally upset a bird for sure. We love birds.
@@buttonlover86 It is awesome that you guys care so much. I have heard many horror stories of people playing owl calls during nesting season for example. Some people view nature as only a subject to be photographed and the fact that you and Josh are the opposite of that is part of why I love this channel so much. Happy birding!
Katie keeps me from doing it too much.
@@BayouJosh, Katie is a sensible lady 😂 well done Katie 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Enjoyable vids Josh.....just subscribed .
Welcome aboard!
Amazing content man
Thank you so much
Cool video again Josh. I love photographing birds too, have you tried dragonflies, damselflies or butterflies? That can be really rewarding on a smaller scale but the principles are the same. A macro lens is a lot lighter than 600mm though
yes indeed. I love that type of photography as well. thanks John.
I agree with most of your advice, except two things:
1) If you shoot canon DO NOT use continuous autofocus. In canon terminology you are looking for servo autofocus. Continuous has the camera hunting no matter what. It is the equivalent to having the shutter or back button pressed all the time if the camera is on. Kills battery life.
2) The canon R6 has the same autofocus as the R5 for 600 more than a Z6... so it is not just the 5K+ cameras with the feature.
Great video... cheers.
thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it.
Your secondary camera nice pic ..
thank You😀
Great video Josh. When conditions permits, do make a trip to Sarawak State in Malaysia and you can shoot and study the Hornbills. This State has the most varities of Hornbills anywhere else in the world. Magnificent birds! They can prick open a coconut with their powerful beaks, hence why predators will think twice to attack a Hornbill. I have a Z6II myself and I'm still learning the various AF modes in this body. This camera is amazing, only my lack of knowledge in all aspects of photography is my deficit. Watching videos like yours is very educational indeed. Thank you Sir
That would be awesome. the camera is great. It takes beautiful images.
Nikon D850 shooter here not a fan of using auto ISO for stationary birds on a perch. I’m choosing the aperture, the shutter speed and the only setting left for exposure is the ISO and to many times the camera gets it wrong. The exception for me using auto ISO is birds in flight, then I go to it because light changes to fast especially early or late in the day or shade from trees or changing background. Other than the auto ISO I agree with all your points
I hung on to that full manual mentality for a long time. i switched to auto ISO about 2 years ago (birds only, fast moving never landscape or other genres) and I just got more shots. Now I do take control back in even light. especially low light. Typically I just EXP compensate up and down depending on how harsh the light is. I'm all over the place really. that's probably why I don't even trust my own advice sometimes. You get 5 guys in a room and you'll get 5 different ways. Plus it is all situational for me. I sure do love birds though. Thanks brother. 👍
What metering mode are you using? For years I used spot for my wildlife photography but I started to experiment because I wasnt happy with my results all the time. I use matrix most of the time now and if it’s bright and sunny I go to spot with highlights which keeps the whites from blowing out. or sky etc….
@@elcrackodiablo473 the smaller the subject, the tighter the metering I use. Small birds, I typically spot meter. Large animals and close ups of larger birds....matrix metering.
Great video overall. Some excellent general bird photography tips & advice.
However, very little was specifically about the Z6ii...wished you would have gone into more detail about that camera's AF performance driving that big lens as well as other camera specific comments about buffer performance, high ISO performance, etc...
Thank you Chis, Yes...certainly not a camera review. I'm not huge on reviewing gear. I am no subject matter expert on equipment. I've had cheap gear and made decent images and I've made bad images with great gear. invest time in getting close and getting eyelevel with the subject. I use single point AF with all my gear and It works fine. I switch to AF dynamic for birds in flight and that does pretty good also. is it as good as an A1? no but it's also 1/3 the price. thanks for watching.
Good Tips well done, consider Topaz DeNoise for noise reduction in your workflow, it's a big help
thank you so much. I have topaz but realized I can do 99% in Lightroom without having to export an image.
I'm really enjoying your videos. How do you like the Z6 for bird photography.
It really takes beautiful Pictures. I am really starting to get the AF down.
Been a landscape guy for awhile, but decided to add wildlife to the bag. Your video was very helpful - thanks. One gear question since we use the same camera. Is there a "quick setting" anywhere that I am missing on the Z6ii to turn auto-ISO on and off without going into the menu? Looking forward to going through your YT catalogue.
Thanks for watching Steve, Yes, hold the iso button down on the top of the camera and roll the front aperture dial. It will switch from auto to manual.
@@BayouJosh and there it is! Thanks very much
Great video very informative! What tripod set up is that?
Benro Mach 3
@@BayouJosh thank you for the reply, I’m also wondering what that gymbal head or attachment is up top? I’m new to photography and usually only see those for telephoto lenses.
I appreciated your brief segment on bird calls. One of my birding mentors observed that bird calls are much like learning a language, and doing that becomes more difficult after about the age of 12. He was fortunate in that he began birding before that age and was, therefore, very good at ID-ing calls.
I got a Samsung Android (finally) for one purpose: to use the Audubon and E-bird apps to play songs and calls TO the birds; is there an app which enables one to ID a bird by recording calls or songs and then playing them back to the app to ID it? That would be wonderful! I know they have such apps doing this with photos, but what about audio?
I began birding when I was 66 so my ability to ID birds by calls and songs has always been atrocious! I find that even if I know a bird's call, that if I haven't heard it for a while and I hear it again I don't know it for a while until my little gray cells kick in and give me a result.
I keep enjoying your videos as evidenced by the fact that I am a subscriber (and commentor - which is a mixed blessing for you, I know! LOL).
I always appreciate the feedback so keep giving it. I am not sure of an app that hears the call and identifies the bird. A few folks on here turned me onto the Merlin ID app. it has the most extensive song library I've seen to date. several variations of the calls as well.
@@BayouJosh Right - I use Merlin and Audubon. Both are free down-loads and easy enough to use for an old dinosaur like me.
@@fgb3126 Merlin will allow you to ID via sound. You just have to choose it at start page, right under "photo ID." It works incredibly well!
Nice video. Anyway we are not allowed to use bird call in the country we are living in. Thanks for sharing 😊
Oh really. Interesting.
Josh, I'm new to gimbal heads having only recently gotten one. I notice on yours, the camera is the way up to the pivot point versus down near the base where on mine, I have the camera down low. Mine has a dovetailed slot so I can set it up, down, or in between. Can you tell me why you use one over the other?
That gimbal head I use is not the traditional style. It’s the side mount version. The traditional model just wasn’t my favorite.
I normally photograph landscapes but I also think it's nice to try to photograph birds and this weekend I tried to catch a woodpecker but since it is spring here now there is a lot of leaves on the trees and to get the woodpecker in the picture I had to photograph through the foliage which made the camera seek focus on the leaves all the time. Any tips on how to solve it in the best way? Manual focus?
Good question. I use single point in AF-c mode. I find a spot to focus through the leaves. If needed, I will override the AF and manually focus to help the camera figure out what I'm looking for. Really hard to say depending on the circumstance. Bottom line, go with the smallest focal point possible when there is a lot of foliage to shoot through.
@@BayouJosh Thanx for answering. I try that next time.
I’ve heard that overuse of bird calls can lead to species stopping their use of calls
I imagine that is true. I am careful to only use them in places that don't get a lot of pressure. they work fine and the birds go right back to regular life after I leave. I never do it more than a couple of minutes.
Australian birds seem to be mostly songbirds. And less wary of people.
You need a phone holder to your tripod.
I bet you've dropped your phone...
I drop it all the time Roy! I need all kinds of stuff.
Josh did you shoot this video on the Z6II? That 4k60 is crispy as all hell...
all bird shots on the Z6II, the footage of me is on the regular z6. awesome for video!!!!
Thanks Josh for responding back that’s too cool. I have a z6II and love it for video. Also I love your videos for another reason: validation. I am not anywhere near as good as you are but I found I was already doing some of or even most of (this video) the same things your are suggesting. This is so helpful too me as I had too find most of these things on my own but always feel like “oh I’m sure this isn’t the right way too do it, or this is probably wrong in some way. Yet I’m discovering that yes bird photography isn’t just hard for me it’s hard for most. Thank you. I get frustrated sometimes and disappointed other times. Yet I usually get that 1 or 2 photos if I’m lucky that make it all worth it. Literally out of 400 photos a whole session I can find 1 that makes me so thrilled to be doing this all over again. The auto iso part is spot on, the dynamic area or single point then aim for the eye, I do that. Of course what also makes other people’s videos valuable is the things we can take from their work and technique. That’s like a “the matrix download,” instead of “I know Kung fu”, “ I know birding”. Lol
@@erichramone7812 I am so glad it is helpful. stick with it. the more time you spend out there, the more great images you will get!
@@BayouJosh - What lens did you use for recording video?
@@coastalbay4k I use the 24-70 f/4. I also use a K&F variable filter which is what i think makes the biggest difference.
What was the app or whatever you were playing on the phone? Is that an auto bird call identifier or just a playback?
I use Merlin Bird ID. Yep at fantastic
Lol. Love how the birds do hide. You know when we walk away they come out.
So true
I too am on Auto ISO ALL DAY...no shame...DeNoise AI is must have however!
I really need to look into DeNoise AI some more. I have not given it a fair shot.
@@BayouJosh Today is the last day it is on sale. I used code (youtuber joy of editing) for an extra 15% off.
What kind Camerra use model
I think I was using the Z6ii and 600mm f/4 in that video.
Sounds a lot like fishing.
It really is.
Great tips… Don’t love that you use bird calls, not just because it’s you per se, but that a few million other folks doing this daily puts a lot of potential stress on the species out there… we all need to think about that. At best, it’s nothing. At worst, it’s collective, cumulative damage to wildlife.
I use bird calls all the time to bring birds in close… nothing wrong with that
Agreed 🙂
Gift me the lens
Can't afford to buy
Christmas gift
Sad, so sad. If you had only done it right and used a Canon. If your parents had only raised you right and directed you to avoided Nikons, SONYs, or Pentax, Lumix, Olympus or Leica. Sad OH so sad. (Our gear addictions are only eclipsed by by our devotion to birds.)
😂 right! I wonder if there’s some sort of clinic. Something to break my fan boy addiction to inferior products! 😂
It's a pity you use birdsounds. You didn't tell the most important thing...that if you use sounds birds can react and put energie in finding the sound. Instead of searching for found,taking care of their territory or their young. So please never promote these things cause amateurs don't see that birds get stressed.
Be real. You can’t act as though a $4-6K camera is beyond your means when you are rocking a $13K lens and have done videos about your camera store’s worth of Nikon equipment.
Being real.... that lens is 20 years old and I bought it used on the cheap. I even bought a used z6II. I hope to one day own the newest and best equipment. I am operating with hand-me-downs. Thanks for watching.
Beware of chiding too much as if you are talking to kids. Most of your viewers here are adults. Give us the benefit of the doubt that we do not expect for birds to pose for us or be somewhere on our schedule.
Will do.
Release every couple weeks🤣🤣Good one goes to show they not competent with their product 🤭
you lost me on that one brother.
Oh yeah!!! the sony comment. 😂
Shame on you. Luring in wild birds with a call of any sort... generates stress on the bird. No subscription reward for you.