Bird Photography's Biggest Miss
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- Опубликовано: 3 ноя 2022
- So many videos about shutter speed, gear, and editing, but what REALLY makes a difference.... LOCATIONS!
The "miss?" valuing the subject and the gear MORE than the locations.
In this video, I talk about the importance of locations and how they fundamentally changed my photography.
Do you agree? Let me know down in the comments.
For those asking for MORE info on HOW TO scout and find locations, you may want to visit here.
RUclips is the free appetizer, the meal is over on Patreon and it's a supersized delicious value combo.
www.patreon.com/wildlifeinspired
Couldn't agree more. For me, Location and Time is everything. Getting enough time out and more importantly, the "right time" out, and go to the right locations, is when my best images are made.
Perfect video! You are doing the right thing, not telling anyone about a nice place. I'm a fisherman and I have my place to myself, otherwise I wouldn't catch any more. Thank you, excellent!
Right on I use that analogy a lot. Someone with an amazing fishing hole that took years to find, isn't going to post a picture of a giant bass and give out the GPS coordinates lol
Absolutely my favorite type of video. I'd love to see one on how you scout locations or choose locations to scout, specifically for waterfowl. I'm having no luck in my area, and being new at this, I assume I'm doing something wrong.
I was wondering about that too…pointers on *how* to find these locations would be great!
There was a Peregrine falcon that came every year for almost 5 years near my location. Once the local newspaper had the "great" idea to make an article about it, and how it breeds there for so long. The very next day that breeding place was packed with photographers with all kind of tripods and long lenses at every hour of the day... long story short: that was the last year the falcon breeded there. It's been now 3 years and he didn't come back. Talk about "sharing..." You make great videos by the way. Suscribed!
It's tough seeing that happen
I completely agree about your views on locations and privacy!
Scott concerning locations and privacy!!! Amen to your attitude as it is absolutely spot on my friend. I never give or share locations as like you say it is a disaster for me and for the wildlife of which I always put first, so I’m with you all the way. Ps I love this type of content 👌 keep up the great work, all the very best for the future. Regards Paul C Bennett Photography from across the pond in the UK 👍
Thanks Paul!
Very useful video Scott. I totally agree with not sharing spots for all the reasons you laid out. Finding locations is hard, so learning about the characteristics of your locations can help narrow things down as we look for our own spots. For those wondering about Scott's Patreon site, I can personally vouch for the usefulness and wealth of information there, especially "behind the scenes". I would love to see more content on finding locations!
It's coming lol
Very educative and inspirational. The perspective on privacy for an Avian Photographer vs a avian conservationist was good. Keep it up.
Scott, what an eye opener video. Thanks for putting it together. I need to get out more.
Totally agree with you approach with keeping things to yourself, I live in the uk and other photographers posting locations on social media just drives me crazy. Great video and love the content from your channel… ps very jealous of all your warblers.
Thank you. I often get push back on location sharing so sometimes I just share my perspective. Not right or wrong just how I see it.
From a beginners perspective, this is a whole different level. Really informative. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
I totally understand and agree with not sharing locations... for all of those reasons you mentioned. Great video and this one really zeroes in on the need to consistently revisiting one location many times in many seasons! thanks for the time and effort to put videos together!
Thanks for watching!
I'm still looking for a video on how to scout locations as a full time student and worker lol cant wait to be photographing full time.
I really liked this video and your perspective made way more sense to me than what I've been doing! Your artistic approach is much more appealing to me than just documenting. I'm new to your channel and I find myself here every day now!
Awesome, thank you!
Love it keep them coming!
Totally agree with keeping locations private. It's just like mushroom hunters who will never, ever tell you where they found all those morels or chanterelles.
or a good fishing hole. you wanna hate them, but you can't blame them
Well done and well said. I think a lot of folks think "you" just walk around taking pictures. While that sometimes works, it takes so much effort to find (good and reliable) locations. While it can be very frustrating finding a location, its so rewarding once you do.
Absolutely!
Thoroughly enjoyed the video and as a long time birder I completely understand your thoughts/views on privacy. I'm just starting to look at photography for birds.
Super !
Eye level is key here in the quality of your images. For me as a novice, that really is the takeaway here. Thank you for that video.
I watch these videos and get jealous. My location is not very bird friendly but as a new photograher at 60 years old I always wish that would of started a lot younger. Great video sir.
Another fantastic video. And I absolutely agree about keeping a site for yourself.
Thanks!
Very interesting video. Thank you Scott for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it
as usual great video, you hit it spot on sharing. keeping birds calm, and at there best is number one great images are always better . thanks again , keep the guest bird photographers coming great stuff..
Glad you enjoyed it
Great content, great tips, great information. I've only been doing bird photography for 5 years, but I learned early on not to divulge certain locations of where I find some birds.
Glad it was helpful!
It's so hard to balance all the aspects in 1 location! I find the places the give me the best eye level photography are usually quieter for bird life but im willing to take that sacrifice.
I was thinking about this topic recently and it made realise that photography is only part of the experience and im willing to go to worse location to be isolated from people. Botanic Gardens can produce beautiful images but isn't an ideal spot for me because the shooting experience isn't great with lots of people around.
Definitely depends on each person and what they value. I also value that time alone
I too am with you 100% on your philosophy about sharing. Well said, thoughtful - thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Yes, I liked this video, Scott. I've been photographing birds for 5 or 6 years and all of it has been done in public parks, NW Refuges, and my own back yard. The NWR is always done from my mobile blind (Tundra). The local parks are done on foot and my back yard is done from a blind. And now that I am old and decrepit I have a "Hollywood Set" on my back porch that I photograph successfully from a folding chair. I've been lucky and never had a problem with other photographers or anyone else intruding on "my spots" at the NWR. Except one time.... a fellow parked near me and was unloading his fishing gear from his car. He saw me sitting in my truck with the camera and came over to ask me what I was doing. No problem except then he wanted to stick around and BS for a while in a friendly way. I finally left and went someplace else. Only time that has happened to me. :))
I love that you are still enjoying it, at the end of the day thats what its all about. I love the idea of a Hollywood home set too
Completely agree with everything. I have spine and heart issues so I had to change my routine and I sit more. I find it to be more productive for better quality images. I also agree with not sharing spots. As soon as somebody knows they tell everyone and it becomes filled with people. Of course when when you don't tell your spot, the haters come out.
Great video!
Thanks Joe
Totally agree with your position on privacy and location discretion. Doubt any seasoned pro would disagree...
Scott - As always, great video.
Glad you enjoyed it
All good points and very true. There are locations I use that are VERY public, but people just don't show up to before 9:00 AM. I'm usually leaving as they are coming in and the birds are through feeding and the people think it's an overrated location because they don't see what they're looking for.
Timing is very true!
Right. You can certainly get people excited about birding and bird photography without telling them specific places you've found. Part of birding is the "hunt" in my opinion.
Thanks for the watch and taking time to comment!
Hey, Scott
I really enjoyed this video. Although I live way out in Washington state, I am from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and make trips back there every year or so. So I am quite familiar with the region that you are photographing in. That familiarity with the area made this video even more meaningful to me, because I can relate to it.
Regarding your "no share whatsoever" policy, I get it. Makes sense. I am a little different, in that I have several very close friends, and we share everything with each other. But it never goes outside the group. But we like to do outings with each other and shoot together a lot. Kinda hard to never share any location info it you're shooting with friends a couple times every week. But if all of your photography is a solo venture, then keeping everything to yourself seems like the best way to go.
Thanks again for a great video!
That also makes sense Tom. For many the social part of this is very real and should be valued.
Luckily, the Lake Erie marsh's have such an abundance of prairie, and woodland habitat and large areas of open water, that we have become a mecca for both birders and photographers from around the World. Birds are so accustomed to people, that they go about their normal activities seemingly unbothered. Travel just a few miles away and stealth becomes the order of the day.
interesting!
I think many of these spots don’t have the optimal eye level plant growth that he’s talking about though. The Ottawa National Wildlife Drive is an exception. There are many low plants with birds and nice subject - background separation. What are some of the ideal spots you’re thinking of (if you don’t mind sharing)?
I’m with you Scott on privacy. When I am with birders I also experience a lot of chatting and community discussion. That stuff annoys me as a photographer. I prefer quietness and slow approaches to this craft. I can’t imagine the birds enjoy that level of commotion either. Thanks for the great video!
Thanks for sharing
Wow...I am 100% aligned on every single point you share in this video, so nice to know I'm not alone here :). I've found 'my' spots over the past 10 years...reliable for certain species and great for light and perspective & I would much rather spend my time there with a high chance of a quality shot. I know that exact feeling when you do all you planning & travelling & then find someone in 'your' spot. I must come across as the most anti-social person when I run into other photographers...often they want to chat & yak, but I want to get shooting...I got up early to get the great light, not spend it chit-chatting, lol!! Again, great video and really enjoy all the material you produce on your channel.
I think it can come across that way, just talk to me in crappy light..I'm a good guy lol
Hi Scott, I discovered your channel through my local photography group (Atlanta). I want to thank you for sharing really good information without all the hype. In just a few videos, I have learned an incredible amount from you and managed to understand why I was not progressing in my bird photography. For example, someone preached hyper fast shutter speeds to me. After watching your video I took a more flexible approach with shutter speeds, I went out with a totally different approach and got 50% more keepers!! By the way, that slide of your "first time" photos...that's me right now!
I am fortunate to live in the south where I have a plethora of options and the weather is cooperative. I am an artist, not a technician. My main genre is street photography so for me, it's documenting the scene in an alluring way which is more important. However, I do recognize how challenging bird photography is so I want to learn all I can about the technical piece so I can decide my own style. Not there quite yet. This video reminds me though of how fortunate I am to live where I live and I definitely can take advantage.
Quick comment about gear: I watched your 300mm video, too so that's promising for me because that's the only long lens I have (Nikon 300 PF ED). I am currently using at D750 and shooting mainly in my backyard with some occasional water fowl when I go on hikes. I'm not yet to the point where I can tell if this camera limits me or not but I think sometimes the burst rate keeps me from getting a shot. The only other camera I have is a Fuji x-t30 ii with a 70-300mm. I do prefer mirrorless but heard poor AF performance stories about the z6ii and z7ii, but can't afford a Z9.
In any case, thank you again for the info on habitats and for all you do!
the 750 is great in low light but the slow frame rate is tough! keep working on locations and light, my best advise. When you are ready for the gear upgrade see what option are available next year. The Z9 is a huge jump in price but its an a amazing body, i cant lie.
@@WildlifeInspired thank you for that advice and who knows? Maybe the z9 will come down a little but I have a feeling in March or so of next year we'll see a z8 or something similar. Pointless to speculate but March is my self-imposed deadline for upgrading if Nikon doesn't give me some other options. Meanwhile, fall weather in Georgia is unusually cooperative this year and my backyard is plentiful! Lots of great opportunities. Thanks again!
Love this type of video, and thanks for putting this out! I'm about a year and a half into this hobby and just starting to understand the importance of location from a photographer's standpoint. Oftentimes, I can use a public resource like eBird to find out where the birds are, but that doesn't mean it's a good location for photography. How does the scouting process work for you? How do you determine what makes a location worth scouting in the first place? I'd love to see a vide on the thought process there, if it's not giving away too many secrets!
Check out my Patreon site. I actually do more if that for the subscribers. I try hard to keep that site value added It's month to month subscription but no long term commitment and affordable.
I get what you are saying about your private locations, and I get it. It is like my secret fishing spots. There is also a fine line that I find some photographers cross in regard to spots/location. I once asked for a public trail where I may find birds/wildlife etc, and I was told I cannot ask that, and many told me to remove my post, and really put me down. I get it, but what I asked "was there any public trails I may see wildlife to take photos of? ". I never asked where exactly, so I do not understand why people were upset. All I was looking for was a simple go to this conservation area, and you will find lots of good spots. Nothing exact. But again, we all learned from others. When I get asked, I always recommend one of the local nature trails or conservation areas, but I do not say go to east side at mile marker whatever. It was just like when I did photos at Algonquin park, I picked up the explorer's guild to Algonquin park, and it gave you areas to head to and explorer to see birds, wildlife etc, but it is not the exact location. We all have the secret place, but at some time, we have to pass this on so others can also enjoy it. Keep up the great videos. I other thing. As you said patience is key, as well as time of day and light.
thanks for the feedback !
Hello from Montreal, I love your channel and your photos, I am bird photographer and I recently found a Red fox den with the little ones, I would never share the location and also my birds secret spots, I do it to preserve the location as much as I can 🐦❤️🤗
Fox dens seem to be shared and posted a lot and sometimes worry about that.
I greatly enjoyed this video. My goal now is to find my spot in the areas around me. Lots of work to find the right lights at the right time of day, but seeing this video it makes so much more sense. I personally dont like many people around, i think it affects my confidence I'm more relaxed alone. So right now i wont be sharing 🙃
Thanks for watching C!
Terrific !
No - your not selfish, your playing it right. Some of the nicest things in life need to remain a secret. Go out and find your own, lol. Great video.
Thnask
Good video. I totally agree with you about not sharing locations; some of my favorite spots have been discovered by other people and just absolutely ruined as wildlife habitat and ruined for those of us who treated them gently and quietly photographed the wild inhabitants.
thanks
When you talk about sharing a special location, just show that photo of about 20 plus photographers with tripods all lined up....nuff said.
These are some of my favorite videos. I especially love the examples you show to make your point. Still a fan!!
Thanks Tim, love seeing your name pop up (still)
We all got to have our secret locations Scott!
hope so
Completely agree, telling people will only ruin the location in numerous ways.
Totally agree about need for privacy and keeping some of locations in secret. And I am more birder than photographer and I share on ebird birding locations, but not locations giving opportunities to photograph birds.
Thanks for watching and for the feedback!
Yes to protecting the location !!👍🏼
Species and location information IMHO are paramount in nature photography...
I completely understand the reasons to keep specific spots for yourself. I'm also in PA (northeastern) and I've been doing wildlife Photography for about 2 years now. I'm still trying to find good reliable locations. I understand what to look for in a location, but I'd like to see a video that goes into a little more on scouting out locations. Do you look at a map first and if it looks decent you go check it out? Or do you find an area in person? Do you look for birds first? How long do you watch an area before giving up on it? I'd love to see an "out in the field" video of your scouting and investigation process/method. Thanks for all your helpful videos.
I do a lot of that on Patreon. Literally showing maps and behind the scenes. Take a look at that. Seriously. Its a low cost subscription but since I have paying members I have to keep some of the "good stuff" just for them. Www.Patreon.com/wildlifeinspired
excellent and inspiring
Glad you think so!
Agree on the need for understanding location and its potential.
Thanks !
I fact . . . you ARE sharing . . . with Birds (native inhabitants), and I don't see that as selfish, not at all !
By the way, always enjoy your videos, which I find to be both interesting and inspiring, and not only photo centric - Nice work, thank you Sir
really enjoyed reading that thank you Vic
Do you use a hide, camo clothes, Ghilley suit. A video on stealthness would be great. Thank you.
Sometimes depends i have talked about it in a couple videos but havent dedicated a video to it. Ill put it on the list.
Location is as much important as everything else but some of us like me that can't drive a car yet and the public transport is quite shitty - I can only go whenever I can on foot on my bike. Luckily I live next to mountain and enormous valley/fields but still 😅 Sadly I received the z800 in late september after most birds had gone.
I don’t fault you at all for not sharing. But I’ve never seen a spot get so popular with birders that it makes the birds go away. Even for the super rare sightings where literally hundreds of birders come out of the woodwork, the birds still stick around.
I think this can be true but there are some famous example of landscape locations being destroyed because of the social media sharing impact. For me it only takes one human to ruin my day. I say that half joking. (Half serious).
@@WildlifeInspired yes, fancy and parking is a different matter! There’s a marsh south of me where the local farmers hate the birders just because of the parking.
it's amazing how they return to the same spot and their plumage changes
Privacy 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 people have gotten so mad at me for not location sharing but it just takes one person to ruin that spot.
"Inspiration in Wildlife Together" ... 'as long as you don't set-up beside me'. I feel uncomfortably sorry for anyone who lives in such a congested world.
My home is on 10 hectares; 35 km north of a very small city that is a few hundred km short of the Arctic Circle. My personal park includes passerine and their predators.
800 meters from the door is a bay called Màn Tl’àt. It's major stopover of the Pacific Flyway for both summer and autumn migrations. I am not in want of birds to photograph.
Sometimes it would be nice to know a fellow photographer with whom to share knowledge of this bounty.
very interesting. I don't
mind intimate company, but I do not enjoy masses of people.
'Masses of people' for me is 20.
Yukon's population is about 40,000 total. The area encompasses roughly 480 thousand sq km. We have 4 times more caribou than people. People look at life up here as 'hard'. I look at life in the south as intolerable. Yukon is far out of your local sphere but if ever you want a truly amazing wildlife photo journey... flights are cheap and I'd put you up in the 'croft' above my shop. @@WildlifeInspired
Well Scott, just think how important it is to the songbirds and waterfowl to find a private spot with a lack of pressure by humans. Unfortunately, here in Oregon I've lost my repeating songbirds and hummingbirds due to the fires in CA and S. OR. The only repeats are those from the north or larger waterfowl. Now, I'm using the same privacy ethics with Mushrooms:)) There will come a time when you'll want to find another genre, think about it.
The beauty of photography is that what you find (location/animal) makes your pictures unique. I don't look for other people's spots, I don't share my locations. Find your own! Sharing an area, fair enough but spot? No!
Scott:
I enjoyed your video very much, and appreciate your thoughts and about sharing locations which I understand and FULLY agree with you.
I’ve been a birder since 1974, and photographer also. I mostly, especially now, do nature and landscape photography, occasionally do bird photography. My priority 95% of the time is birding and I don’t want to be burdened carrying a camera.
I’ve learned a lot over the years not only about birds, but birders. Birding is very different than it used to be. In recent years, birders have become very competitive (few will ever admit that). Many locations are now off limits due to birders habit of trespassing or even show up where there are rare birds and lingering for a long time. I believe I can link some of this competitiveness to eBird. I am a big contributor, but have become illusive as to locations and won’t report birds such as rails. I’ve been around other birders and they are in contact with a friend at different location, so if one sees a rare bird or even his first-of-year sighting, then one will rush to the others location. To each his own, I guess, but this seems ridiculous.
There are many stories from landscape photographers where they mentioned a location, only to have a huge number of people visit, possibly overuse the area and most likely have no appreciation of the area as you did finding the location. They didn’t put the effort or time to locate the spot. At this point it is understandable to fell you were used. This has happened many times.
I don’t know if you keeping your locations secret is being selfish or not. That would apply to me also. The bottom line is that both of us put the welfare of the bird first. That is they way it must be. That is more important than sharing info about the bird that can result in its disturbance.
I do a lot of birding locally and adopted a location to study the area year-round at a public location. I do have a few areas (coves) where I see birds regularly but are not known to birders and it will stay that way. I put in many hours and years to learn dome of these locations. As you said birds return to the same locations each year. I don’t want to see others exploit these ‘special’ locations.
A few years ago I met a retired newspaper photographer that decided to take up bird photography. He didn’t know the birds at all, but with his photography and time taken to look up the bird, has learned a lot and his photos are excellent. Even with all my experience, I am learning from his patience. I need to slow down, look a little harder. He puts the bird first which has less effect than my simply watching them. Yet, his photos are excellent. Once I wanted to show him a nest of House Wrens in an upright railroad tie, but he didn’t want to get close and disturb the nest site. If I see him I will share sightings that help his photography. I would not do that with other birders.
Sorry, this is long, but I felt I had to share my thoughts regarding locations, being selfish, etc. I was watching a few landscape photographers on RUclips and your video came up. I enjoy these photographers from the U.K, Norway, and Netherlands. I have seen your photography from somewhere, perhaps it came up on Facebook. Very refreshing to see your video and someone who puts the welfare of the bird first.
I almost forgot. Your subject matter for the video was excellent and well needed. The advice you give about patience, and sometimes taking years to gather the information is a very important part of any photography and always has been overlooked or perhaps not shared by others doing RUclips. Kerry Grim.
I have seen your name, perhaps the same K.G. from Berks/Lehigh area in PA?
Yes…Berks Co.
Fun stuff!
Near the end you said the duck didn’t see you, and you were buried in the reeds.. do you spend a lot of time in the water?
on the edges sometimes in. camo throws and blinds work well for waterfowl
Great photos! I find ebird is not very helpful in finding good spots -- many are good for birders who just want to spot a bird from far, far away, but not so helpful for photographers. So I'm on a hunt to find those private spots.
good luck my friend
I like this video, I learned Scott hates people, ruins his day if they are around, and he hates to walk as his car hides him away from the people he hates. I can't blame him at all, as he gets a nice photo and avoids the horrid people.
you hit all the keys points lol
I find it interesting that you're sizing to 1500px for social media. I have mine currently set at 1080 (thought I had it at 1024 so something may have changed). I may need to consider updating though.
When you find a new location, how long does it take to determine whether it's a good location? I guess I'm a bit of a lazy photographer because if I don't see anything, I'll move on. I expect that some of these locations don't come alive until you've waited for some time, or even on subsequent visits. As much as I enjoy photographing birds, I don't have any go to locations aside from the local wildlife refuges, which really aren't ideal for images that I would really like to get.
It is a process, so I look for areas often after visiting a "good place" and during bad light. Then if it looks promising Ill go back and look for birds when I think they should be there based on habitat, time of year etc. Knowing birds and habitats is really important as well.
Your first photos are the mistakes of beginners. You want to take the number of pictures, not the quality. I'm just starting my journey in wildlife photography. I also make such mistakes. There are a lot of branches and other debris in the frame. I see a bird and I want to take a picture. But only after 6 months I realized that the background of the picture is very important. This is a normal practice. This is more a beginner's mistake and not a shooting location.
I dont share
Takk!
I just recently discover your channel and I'm already a big fan! You absolutely right in your observation that RUclips have a lot of gear and camera technic videos. But your topic is very different and much more valuable 👍
Very kind!!!!
I have a place in a public park that is not known to the public, am I telling anyone, am I hell.
Care to share a process on how to find a location? Why harp so much on the importance of location and not share anything of value beside you very nice work?
This content is all free and I do offer a lot more on patreon. that is a subscription service. Don't be the guy to complain about getting free appetizers and not getting a free meal to go with it. If you need more food, check out the link in the bio. The point of many of my videos is to promote and interest, generate some thought, and share some pics.
Never share a location.
100% Agree.