10 Tips for Improving Your Wildlife Photography

[@ArtHeld]

Thanks for putting Ethics first AND last; unfortunately some folks seem to forget that one.

[@Chimboica2011]

Jessica, thank you so much for sharing the video. The tips you share will be with me for a long time. People need reading and education about wild life and nature to respect wildlife and nature.

[@forestchaput]

You are so welcome!

[@Expeditom]

How can this video only have about 2'000 views? It's among the best video on wildlife photography I've seen so far and I love how you put the ethics right at the beginning! Keep it up! Tom

[@forestchaput]

Thank you! We appreciate it! I'll pass this on to Jessica.

[@hebrewhooligan5462]

@@forestchaput So I don't think I get it? I love the video there is a few things I have never thought of, but I do not understand the problem with someone feeding an owl while getting a picture. If its about the mouse she feed to it having health issues I'm thinking it was a pet store buy that is in most ways healthier then the wild. I'm not trying to be rude just don't understand the problem?

[@forestchaput]

@@hebrewhooligan5462 Thanks for seeking to understand! One of the most important reasons not to feed wild animals is that if a wild animal associates food with humans that increases the chances of animal-human interactions/conflicts, and in those instances the animal typically comes to harm, not the human. So, by respecting wild animals as wild, we're keeping them safer (and in some cases, alive). Here's a great article that talks about that a bit more (along with some other points about photographing wildlife ethically): www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/07/ethical-wildlife-photography/

[@RichA7CV41]

Well done, and Jessica, you're talk about ethics hooked me and made me subscribe before I even watched the rest of the video. Showing the two shots you were equally proud of made a wonderful statement that I hope everyone takes to heart. You have my upmost respect!! (oh, and by the way, the rest of the video was awesome, thank you!!) :)

[@forestchaput]

Thank you so much!!!

[@rayyoung7780]

Wow! What a great video. So many who produce videos seem compelled to over explain. You were direct and to the point without a bunch of needless explanation. Thanks.

[@forestchaput]

Thank you!

[@imaloserdude7227]

That was really good, and it made me reflect on a similar event that I witnessed while taking photos at a zoo. A lady in a wheelchair had a kid push her horn button, and the sitting giraffe turned to look at the noise. The lady got excited and kept doing it for the rest of her trip through the zoo, honking the horn so that the animals would look her way. It is amazing how inconsiderate we can be, and how species-centric we can be (as if all of life centers around humans and our interests). I kept hearing the horn in the distance for the next hour as I tried to silently take photos without treating the animals like that. I didn't say anything when the moment happened, more worried about being told off on a day that I was just wanting to enjoy in a climate where anyone can accuse you or racism or sexism or ablism if you call them out on something, so I didn't. But now I realize that she may not have realized just how rude that was to the animals, and how thoughtless, and maybe hearing a different perspective would have helped her see it as I saw it. Or not.

[@ForrestWest]

It's pretty rare to find a wildlife tutorial video these days that doesn't just repeat the same tips about fast shutter speed and taking burst shots and the usual. You have several great compositional tips here about using the lenses that you have and not always zooming in so tightly and working with bad light or conditions. Very good information and fresh tips that will improve our photography. Thank you so much! Be safe and best of luck to you!

[@funnytimes2152]

So at 7:30 what aperture would you generally want to use in this situation? Thanks!

[@seangriffiths7743]

As a new Photographer, this video is the first time I've heard of NANPA. They will likely have a new member because of this awesome video!

[@forestchaput]

Yay! That’s awesome!

[@robwasnj]

I loved the tips about creating environmental shots when you don't have enough reach and also looking for shapes in bad light. I've found myself doing that quite often and sometimes those are the crowd favorites, especially action silhouettes with nice color over water, those often resonate more with people because they create more mood than a straight up bird photo where you can see every feather.

[@JasonVolk]

Thank you Jessica. Your tips really helped me. You're an effective teacher. I love your photos.

[@forestchaput]

You are so welcome!

[@eric159tw]

Observation really matters! I am not a specialist of all animals but sometimes when you stop and just observe, you see interesting things. Thank you for your video, nice work!

[@forestchaput]

Absolutely!

[@gumbynomad]

This was extremely helpful and well presented! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@forestchaput]

You are so welcome!

[@joboyclement1362]

Wow, that's a very good message at the beginning and this is true quality content and experience. Thank you, Ms Jessica Carter of Rocky Mountain School.

[@forestchaput]

Thank you!

[@izzyl.2052]

Enjoyed the video a lot! Great tips! Can’t wait to use them.

[@Bassmunchkin1]

Hi Jessica and many thanks for more excellent newbie tips. Do either of you use binoculars and if so, can you please suggest a great pair for me to purchase. Also if images are sharper if we draw back slightly on telephoto lenses, if I’m using a 100 to 500 is there a percentage that we use as a guide. With this in mind I’m thinking of using a teleconverter, because a 100 to 500 plus a x2 = 1000 focal length. If I come back to say 850 or 900 to make the image sharper, will it make up for the sharpness that I lose by using the teleconverter. Much appreciated

[@sekhar2hyd]

Great tips, thanks for sharing!

[@ashleyzimmerman2986]

Great video. I've watched tons of videos on wildlife photography and this is the best I've seen. Thank you.

[@forestchaput]

Thank you! That’s great to hear. 👍

[@LieslHuddleston]

Great tips! And beautiful photos :) Thank you!

[@Atrusino]

Awesome! I've been casually shooting nature and wildlife for 20 years, but didn't get serious until recently. This is super helpful!

[@forestchaput]

Thank you! We’re glad it was helpful!

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

My lense is a Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary Lens for Sony E-Mount - . What would be the sharpest focal length if my apeture is 6.3?

[@forestchaput]

It looks like f/8 is your best bet on that lens. Here's a full review: www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/sigma/100-400mm-f5-6.3-dg-os-hsm-contemporary/review/

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

@@forestchaput yeh but I was talking about the focal length likei what you were saying in your video. You mention to not zoom.all the way out

[@darshanmehta1449]

Absolutely the best advise I have heard on wildlife photography - very real 👌👏🏽👏🏽

[@forestchaput]

Thank you!

[@erickwhite2568]

Really informative and concise, top notch video

[@forestchaput]

Glad you liked it!

[@norys90]

awesome tips thanks for sharing

[@forestchaput]

Thanks for watching!

[@theghostrider430]

You got me with the ethical part and tip no.2. Nonetheless, every single tip is a bliss. Thanks a ton for sharing these. Absolutely helpful for beginners !

[@forestchaput]

Glad you liked it!

[@justsomesaltyboi8716]

I'm wanting to get into photography and since I hunt, fish, hike, bike, and wander around the woods, I've thought about taking a camera with me. ideally, I'm still looking for that camera that will do both faraway shots and closeup shots of plants, flowers, and fungi. it won't just be images though that I am going to take, there will be some video too! so if I had a camera that can do all of that and at 60fps for 1080p, that would just be the bee's knees. what would you recommend for someone such as myself that wants to get into it, but not strip off an arm and a leg for taking these images of the life I love and the wildlife I enjoy being around? (just so you know, I'm all about ethics and regulations so I would never overtake or do anything that would inadvertently harm the environment at all)

[@forestchaput]

Something like the Canon PowerShot SX70 would be awesome! bhpho.to/3dMaq3j

[@justsomesaltyboi8716]

@@forestchaput i compared the two. The powershot would make for a great emergency backup camera for sure if you are shooting for cash but its only a compact camera instead of a mirrorless. The idea i like about the m50 is that its interchangeable lenses and its got more MP which enables me to have a more rich image. Something that can grow with me and something that gives me versatility to find my niche is extremely beneficial so i can understand and go for what i naturally am good with. (Although to be fair i think nature images of plants and animals being the prime focus and the background blurry would be my niche but i dunno until i try it). I understand how f/ and shutter speed coincide and how you need a smaller f/ to have a more precise focus on something. I need to learn more and id totally want to get my technique down. Who knows, i might take pictures of some people graffiti'ing the side of a building with their permission! :) (of course using a higher f/ to get their work and them all in focus).

[@WCIN]

Can’t get the sharpness graph for Canon 100-400 mk ii

[@inthewoodswithbigfoot3941]

Great stuff! Thanks!

[@forestchaput]

Glad you liked it!

[@nsanchez32]

Wow, I really like how you explained the 10 steps, that was great, thank you! Also, Do you use the Tamron 150-600mm on Sony A7iii?, if so, how's the AF and tracking subject?

[@forestchaput]

I'm glad you liked it! And I haven't used the Tamron 150-600mm on the Sony A7iii (different mount) so sorry I can't answer that for you. But overall the AF has been great on the A7iii.

[@butchcassidy3562]

Good brief! Thanks.

[@forestchaput]

You’re welcome!

[@constancemahoney502]

Great tips! I especially loved how you presented ethics. What a great example (and unfortunate) but it is such an important topic. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@forestchaput]

Thank you! We're glad you liked it!

[@theworker1070]

This is crazy helpful!!

[@forestchaput]

Glad to hear it!

[@bellyfullofmusic]

Great video... Thanks for the imaging-resource link too!!!

[@forestchaput]

👍

[@Chriskamaras]

Great video. Not many wildlife photographers talk about what is ethical and what isn't.

[@forestchaput]

Thank you!

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

Awesome content guys!! loved that 😉👌x JP

[@forestchaput]

Thank you!

[@Lunafilms12]

Great advice!

[@markjensen663]

Sorry to here about your bad experience at Sax Zim bog. You mentioned loss of sharpness at 200 mm range but failed to mention loss of sharpness you will get using google a teleconverter. In my experience with a high quality lens they are both minimal unless you are pixel peeping or printing very large.

[@rudyreimer302]

Great video! Thank you. 5 out of the 10 were new to me.

[@forestchaput]

Thanks!

[@bassbird]

OMG thats a lot of beautiful photos

[@Thultmark]

Ethics, yes, thanks for bringing it up as a nr1. We should be discreet observers of nature, nothing more. I had a similar personal experience to yours with the owl some years ago when taken on a safari trip in Kenya. Many people’s dream, I know, but this type of artificial thing isn’t mine. On that occasion the multitude of touristy vehicles all jostling for position in front of tigers and other splendid animals turned into a much worse experience than I’d imagined. Like you, those were my proudest shots not even attempted. Thanks again.

[@Chimboica2011]

I agree totally, as I watch Africa Safari, I see three or four trucks surrounding the pack of lions. I just lost interest in the video.

[@matthewlai5555]

Thanks for the tips

[@zackbromley1854]

Those pictures... Wow

[@forestchaput]

Thanks!

[@thomastuorto9929]

Good vid. Really only 8 tips. The most important tip, #7 leads to 8-10 , WHICH IS REALLY 1 TIP.

[@forestchaput]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@matthewlai5555]

love the photos

[@ghlocal1]

Zooms are good but primes are better!

[@forestchaput]

Not always! But yes, most of the time they are :)

[@LabeilleCreative]

Me: Crying in Tamron :( no teleconverter available for my lens

[@forestchaput]

You should be able to use a Canon teleconverter on your Tamron lens :)

[@MaksimIzer]

still trying to figure out what "the shot is a privilege, not a right" means

[@wakeup4332]

how do you not understand that. She means that you should be an impartial observer when photographing wildlife. You must not have actually paid any attention to the video whatsoever. She means that when photographing wildlife you should never try and coax a behavior or situation from an animal. Like her example with the photographer who used a mouse to try and get a shot of the owl hunting the mouse. She brought that mouse with her to the site specifically for it to die in service of her getting a good shot. This is what ethics means.

[@randeezy3914]

If you see photographers doing unethical things ... take a picture of them being unethical and post it online to expose them.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

I will add in a tip. Olympus and Panasonic make amazing wildlife cameras and lenses. You are welcome :)

[@forestchaput]

Super true! That 2x crop factor and built-in stabilization is 👌

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@@forestchaput If I had the cash I would have a dual system setup. Full frame for low light and M43 for daytime :)

[@jonj.j.williamsonphotograp175]

Strange how the fox in your image just happened to be jumping. Looks very baited and unusual behavior to me.

[@forestchaput]

Jon, thanks for your concern! However, I promise you there was no baiting. That's a wild coyote exhibiting natural behavior and I was simply in the right place at the right time and was ready for the pounce (if it happened). It was a privilege to get that image!

[@frostybe3r]

LMAO 'thats not sharp at all' what