3 Tricks Every Photographer Needs to Know: I Risked Losing $10,000 in Gear to Prove It

[@sportsshooter2574]

I've done 6 safaris and learn something new today... bring a monopod. On the last Safari I asked the safari tour operator to remove the middle seats ( which they did) so I was on the vehicle's floor for low level angle while shooting. Great video

[@Joe-gl8sr]

Wow amazing shots!! Not a fan of blues in post. I think your winner is in B&W- making it timeless especially if they go extinct since there are only the 25 remaining. Or swap out the sky… with something more natural looking. Such wonderful shots!! Perfection is a must!

[@rudolfappel7236]

I actually liked the picture with half of Kilimanjaro behind the elephant. To me it looked like a perfect composition as the main subject is the Elephant and the background is more dynamic yet giving enough information about the whereabouts. For me the best of all shots shown.

[@captureprojectone8471]

Perfect, leaving March 2024 for a 3 day South Africa safari keep these tips coming. Picking up a used but new R3 tomorrow will be taking the R3, R5, RF 100-500mm, RF 85mm, RF 28-70mm, a monopod, and tripod. Wish me luck this is my first safari

[@gregjaeger596]

You might want to also consider bringing a lens coat beanbag that can be attached to a gimbal head. Have a great Safari.

[@mstrathmore]

Great tip about the monopod. This is the thing that most folks who haven’t shot wildlife in the big national parks often don’t realise until they get there: you don’t control the light, you don’t control the direction, you don’t control the animal’s behaviour and you often only have moments to shoot some behaviour that you may never see again. I’ve seen so much bs about light meters, getting out of the vehicle, getting closer to the animal (mostly you can’t leave the road) and not shooting through heat haze (good luck with that). My advice: always take the quick “insurance shot”, work as smoothly and quickly as possible, and make sure the vehicle’s engine is off if you’re resting your camera on any part of it (even a bean bag). Speaking of bean bags: they’re the best; fly with them empty and buy beans on location (and of course don’t throw the beans away when you leave- that’s food).

[@arkansasoutpost]

If the choice is between getting close to the animal (in Africa where there are animals that can kill you) or getting a substandard photo, I can live with substandard, :)

[@rpizzo68]

Great shots. Coincidentally, I saw a video the other day of a guy going to the exact same place and he was showing that he puts a top handle on the bottom of the monopod to make it easy to hold. Seemed like a good idea. He also velcroed a remote shutter to the handle and turned the camera upright using the tripod collar so he could also use the flip out screen.

[@AndrejsZavadskis]

we payed extra and just step outside the car 😄😄😄

[@SpressoMan]

10:46 That's why I still only rely on a dedicated remote when a shot actually counts (Sony RMT-P1BT). I am floored at the capabilities of camera in-phone apps. When I decided on the A7Rv with Westcott FJ wireless strobes, I thought the phone app was a joke... until I used it. Wow!! But, if I were in that situation, I would hang my career & paycheck (assuming I were a photographer) on the dedicated commander. I love your stuff, Jared: photos AND YT. Keep it up!

[@brandishwar]

I'd expand #1 to say: know your options and try to anticipate your needs. And on that I'd recommend getting a camera cage - specifically SmallRig's but there are some lesser-expensive alternatives as well. That would've allowed you to screw on the monopod without having to turn your camera upside down. Plus it gives you plenty of mount points for other accessories. I have one on my Z5. And it's great being able to attach things to the camera. A detached screen and a remote trigger probably would've helped you as well so you weren't having to mess with the app. But it would've also been more stuff to account for.

[@michaeldavenport6262]

This is really interesting I’ve just starting photography again after I’ve become disabled I enjoy your videos and podcasts thank you

[@rodbotic]

I had a similar situation of wanting a shot where I couldn't walk. A macro of lipstick lichen. So I used a tripod as a boom off trail, and my wife shooting and focusing on the Nikon app. I was stabilizing the tripod and making course adjustments to help arrange the compo.

[@SportPlusDad]

Exactly. I was going to suggest this was a two person operation.

[@nokturnalivory]

Great captures 🎉Thank you for sharing. Excellent tips. So glad you enjoyed the trip

[@JoshuaStandingHarvey]

Great video thank you! I would love a video explaining your organizational system for keeping that many photos organized. I have been taking RAW photos now for about 6 months and already i am a little confused at how the pro's do it

[@Xirpzy]

I keep it simple. Sorted by date and number suffix as identifier (Date_####). Folders for years, months, days. Completely separate folder for edited photos and other file formats. So my raws file structure is always clean and easy to backup. Works well for me but it would be nice to see how others do it.

[@fredbenjamin7072]

Thanks, Jared! This video really resonated with me. The difficulty of getting the shot and creativity employed were very instructive. Awesome!

[@TheHawaiianc]

Hey Jared use to that at car shows to get low shots you can use your iwatch or ear pod to click the shutter if need and have your iPhone mounted to monopod

[@randyschwager2515]

I like the color version vs B&W. Great stuff Jared! As always, helpful advice even though I will never make it to Africa! Thanks for taking me along!

[@bigboi36]

I’ve been using this method from 2016. A monopod, a pocket wizard receiver on my D3, with 16-35mm|4 and a trigger in my right hand. I achieved some of my best shots using for parades and events, concert photography etc. This technique I also used in reverse for drone style shots. My best concert shots with dragged shutter/ rear-sync flash, I could light up a whole event/stage and fans. My shots won’t be repeated. Sealed in time. 🎉

[@JoshuaBloomquist]

Amazing video! That photo you found in your raw files is an absolute masterpiece! The composition of the photo is amazing with that herd of Big Tusker Elephants and Mt.Kilimanjaro. Beautiful!

[@Mosesybanez]

FYI in the canon connect app you can hit the gears setting button up there in the corner and one of the setting is to flip the live view angle of your phone so it will be flipped up right on your phone but the camera will still take the photo upside down so you'll have to flip it in post. But awesome video man love your stuff

[@jzphoto]

Yup, exactly!!! :-D but he probably did not know that.

[@mvp_kryptonite]

It should auto sense really, the camera should detect it’s upside down and the app should ask if you want to correct it imo

[@davidward1224]

Great lesson about revisiting old shoot resources. Also, about the plan ahead, act fast requirements for that kind of shooting. About the shot with the mountain cut off - have you thought about blending it with one of the other shots that includes the whole mountain? Looks like you have some where it would be just a bit more complex than a normal panorama blend.

[@jonguitarman2003]

I know not everyone likes this type of content but I appreciate the out of the box thinking like this. I just got a new Sony and it has the app to control the camera. After seeing this, I’ve definitely been thinking about where and how I can use the app with the camera in more places. It’s definitely really cool! Thanks!

[@ambrosechiu2338]

great shots, absolutely not easy. good work Jared and congratulations.

[@robcoventry574]

I always prefer color. Nicely done. Great “hack” using the monopod and Canon connect the differentiator.

[@littleshaman1803]

Naks sobrang astig! Which means you are so fantastic Jared and I'm learning from you.

[@kevin-haggerty]

Same here. I have all of my raw files set aside a photo shoot two weeks ago when i had a drive fail. its always good to look nack at what I did and see where I am improving also.

[@The-skillschool]

Once again, fantastic tips 👍

[@ralphholmes6387]

Oh!! Sorry I enjoy the Color pic 📸 over the Black & White but both are great 👍

[@Tarets]

Jared: that's why we shoot RAW - to restore these overblown highlights. Also Jared, famously: I don't care about dynamic range.

[@shawnvine4918]

Very cool. Looks like you had a good trip and these great photos. Thanks for sharing this.

[@francisstapp1583]

along with just finding hidden gems in your raw files there are also photos you have taken in the past that may not look the best but an event has changed the importance of that image i know i have some photos of family members that i did not think where that good but when they passed i found out that's the best photo of them.

[@HiethGeorge]

You nailed these and it was all down to that Grip you had on your POLE and the Wrist movement I like the B&W but the color is best !

[@CostaMesaPhotography]

Wonderful video, and terrific backstory! The technique using the monopod is excellent, and kudos to those who suggested it--and kudos to you for HAVING a monopod with you. The photos are really impressive! I'll add one comment... the difference between the RAW and the final image is DRAMATIC, and all edits completely fair...that said, cropping and straightening, while maybe not need this time, would be JUST AS FAIR as the other edits you made...just saying. Still a big fan!

[@Heiko_K]

Hello -- I actually like the coloured version of the shot better since it has more depth. In the BW version the sky right behind the elephant appears brighter than it does through the deep blue appearance of the colour version. To my personal taste I would have given it a bit less vibrance in the blues and greens, but obviously that's just my subjective statement. Take care, Heiko

[@phynx2006]

Your holding, griping and rotating ....... dude you already had a ton of experience for this moment 🤣🤣🤣 I like the color, F1.2 wholly crap that's fast🤔 but dam, those elephant images came out great👍👍😎

[@iransirijillo]

You can stitch another image to the left to fill the frame to perfect your favorite image of the elephant

[@stebobrown2893]

Great video and an amazing experience, I will try this technique out. I am not going on safari but have a lot of times while out shooting wildlife I want to be at ground level and my old bones can't jump up and down off the ground that easy anymore. I tend to like the B&W a bit more than the color. I would have processed the color a bit differently, less contrast and saturation would look more realistic for me. Thanks for sharing a great technique!

[@charlierivera5725]

Awesome wow. I love the B&W but they are all great....... Awesome as always

[@OldJack1960]

Hi Jared, nice one! On a much more mundane level, I'm an old knacker who can get down low (eventually) but who then needs assistance to get back up; it never occurred to me to put the camera on a low-level pod and trigger remotely. Something I'll be testing on a forthcoming trip to darkest Norfolk (England) next week. Many thanks!

[@JET34568]

Yep…that handiwork looked a little strange?!😂 Love the video. So grateful for all of the instruction you’ve shared with us over the years.

[@justicec.bigler3338]

Hey Jared, are you going to do a How To Video for the the upcoming eclipse? With gear and strategy recommendations?

[@gafurphotography6504]

this is awesome, thank you very much for this idea, you are a legend

[@seabreezeof]

I feel your pain brother, this is what makes you want to go again, and try to get that special capture. A vlog for the future >>> Now lets talk about a sure way for a setup to shoot using a mono pod upside down, and not miss that special capture.

[@danidah]

What a dream experience! And well done!

[@nickyekkebus1870]

Damn Jared! I really like the black and white in this case, such a strong picture imo! Learning from your detailed explanations, every time!

[@bbbb6066]

Thank for the video. I made a thing out of a tripod tub that has the camera in the normal position. I also used copper tubs to make adaptors that I can use to get different angles. Like you I never delete pics. Only problem is media changes. I have pics for the 1970ts that are on slides and from the 50ts and 60ts on prints. I have some old box camera pics that I took in the fifties. Question is how to preserve them. Thank you Ben.

[@Bill-NM]

I'd like to see generative fill used on the photo where the mountain is cut off. Be neat to see what it comes up with.

[@ericsmith9777]

Some spectacular images, well done !!!

[@kburke24]

Same exact reason that I save everything and tell people the same. You also don't know how your eye/preference will change over time that something you shot years ago and didn't like at the time that you may love now!

[@TPD605]

Thank you Jared! Definitely filing this one away in case I could use it in the future. I know you do not want to give away your preset settings, but a video on how you edited that photo would be great.

[@markguerin6071]

500th like! I prefer the color shot! Awesome that you also used the R3 for this.

[@arkansasoutpost]

I tend to judge a photo's quality by how how long it makes me look. Those pictures of elephants and Kilimanjaro made me look for a long, long time.

[@waldogarcia2605]

I like the color version but could see the b&w for an article or book. I think a good video would be how to review your shots to see what makes the first or second round of cuts.

[@georgetran1766]

Great photos! I wonder why the tour guide company does not make / build a custom vehicle which has: 1) low one-person flat bed truck which has the level same as the animals' level (or photographers' desire) so photographer can lie flat down on it 2) one opening each side of vehicle which is big enough for the lens so photographers do not have to use monopod to mount equipment upside down with remote controller. I believe photographers are willing to pay couple hundreds of dollars for each day trip. Forgive me if my idea is impractical. Thank you for sharing.

[@MH7_256]

I’m always a sucker for B&W, but the color version is my pick this time bc it draws you into the scene like being there.

[@JordanBrown-yt9yz]

How did you get through this entire video and no one mentioned the fact that this dude is just casually on a photo safari with “The GOAT” “The Kid” Ken Griffey Jr.? 1:34

[@trish856]

Amazing image - do the presets work in CaptureOne? Love the black and white if blacks on ears adjusted to reduce shadow would be epic.

[@jroar123]

Fantastic Elephant photo and half of the mountain.

[@BirgerVoigt]

Beautiful shot. I like the black and white photo of the big tusker better. The vignetting gives a beautiful effect - almost like in an old movie. I think the colors in the color photo are a bit too saturated.

[@foothills1008]

Where on your website are your galleries located to view your different albums ?

[@angelmusical70]

Beautiful shot, I like it in color.

[@navodhajayathilake8464]

I had that idea for soo long and never tried since I was too scared, I like the B&W more The tusker shots were perfect by the way

[@DLivingston]

MY OH MY!! So cool seeing Ken, even if its very short lived. Huge dan. Lets get a little video with Ken and his journey into photography?

[@missshontay]

I love the elephant photo with color

[@arkansasoutpost]

Sometimes I can't really pick a favorite between color and grayscale versions of a photo, but I think you're right.

[@theresalevans21]

I actually love the color photo over the black and white. And I'm sorry about the comment when you posted on your page about the elephant peeing, but it did look like it. Looks like you had a great time and you did a great job capturing the wildlife.

[@sylvestersim423]

Many thanks to you for sharing such knowledge.. Very good video

[@timothyroe5020]

Jared, how does one know which safari company to use? There are so many.

[@davehandelman2832]

The one handed Master right here 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@rolandrickphotography]

The matter with the taste. That at 8:28 is to me far to iPhone’ish and eye cancer causing too much blues and contrast as well as underexposed at the lower part. Can I have the raw file? I’ll return my edit suggestion to you including the ACR xml file. For free of course 😅. Don’t you also think that would be a great idea to make something like an edit competition between your viewers? Many of us don’t have the possibility to join a photo Safari in Africa - at least I don’t - and get that footage by themselves. Think about it. That would be a lot of fun to compare the different results. - Besides, that image got f’d up by shooting sticking to the compositing rule of third, subject in center and cropping later would have saved the whole Kilimanjaro to the image.

[@RVNmedic]

Really good one Fro. I just got back from Zambia and Rwanda. Wish I would have thought about hanging my camera out like that. Guess I have to go back. Thanks.

[@kennethstuart4896]

Awesome images, great explanation as always. ( Blue )

[@SSGrille]

I also keep every shot from a card backed up. I need to go look and see how many of those are of my foot. There was usually at least one at every event.

[@nsbhagwat]

Fantastic photos, which camera app did you use for remotely triggering the shutter?

[@prosunsport1]

That's why it takes months, years and lifetime to get those incredible wildlife shots, unless u lucky and get a hole in one

[@PrimeResolutionPro]

Take away: SPRAY👏AND👏PRAY👏😅 Epic shots Fro! Great ingenuity, always finding a way to get the shot!

[@TheNewMexicoMan]

Fro, Love your first elephant/Kilimanjaro shot cut off and all! After your final edit, try flipping it horizontal so the eye reads from the empty space into the elephant. Most the world reads left to right and we are wired to read an image that way. Let me know what you think!

[@rolandrickphotography]

😍 I wished I could edit number 3612 to 3619 and 3635 to 3645 as counted and displayed at 9:58 in Library view. The whole trip was for sure an awesome experience.

[@scottywed]

Thanks for explaining how difficult the shot actually was to get. This episode should have been sponsored by Benro.

[@JoshuaPhilips5615]

Did you get to travel to Kenya with Ken Griffy Jr?! Great pics, looks like a great time!

[@patrickryan43]

The colour is on fire 🔥 👌

[@ryansublermedia]

I want to do this some day 😅🙏 incredible photos though. Even though you cut the mountain, I still pick that shot as the winner. The scenery as a whole still kicks butt and you have those amazing colors too!

[@arkansasoutpost]

Reading the comments, I saw some people who think Jared's edits were a little bit gaudy. I think so too, but in this case I think a little bit gaudy is perfect. It's Africa. For most of us it's a strange, faraway land full of bizarre and beautiful animals. A little bit gaudy helps convey that feeling. I think the grayscale versions looked great too, it's just a different kind of feeling. More majestic and remote, or something like that. Does that make sense?

[@ralphholmes6387]

Jared I am going to South Africa on a Safari,in a few months I plan to take 2 R5's a 70-200, 100-500 did you bring a RF 85 mm 1.2 ? "If " the distance is right the 1.2 makes gourgous images, but it not worth lugging there if you think its not the right tool for the job. I really apriciate your time and thoughts. Keep up the great work!

[@ScottBalkum]

Love the "action shot" of the elephant. It is my #1 favorite To pee or not to pee. That was the question.

[@Xirpzy]

I also keep all my raws. 1tb holds many thousands of photos so I would say storage is cheap enough. Even external ssd isnt that expensive nowadays. Its not often that I go through old raws but it has happened that Ive found a gem that I missed previously.

[@b10n1x]

Great shots, but you know that you can flip the live image in the Canon Connect app, right?

[@lynsmith1096]

Good video and shots Jared

[@lewcehjitl3282]

Great shots Jared!

[@JimEmbury]

Nice! Great tips. Thanks for sharing.

[@serenemachine9110]

I like the color shot more too. BTW I love the "I shoot RAW" patch on your vest. I gotta see if you have those in the store. #froknowsdildos

[@adw2010able]

I think the black and white for some of the photos would be nice, but I am a sucker for the colour photos

[@Naqsipsaq]

Love the colored

[@GinoFoto]

Bountiful photos... Why Canon do some things so ***, connecting to smartphone was brisk and easy on 77D and M100, but just is super slow and frustrating on my current R10.

[@nigelpull]

Wonder if a gimbal could be used upside down on the end of a mono-pod?

[@terrygoyan]

Beautiful shots and great tutorial! To my eye the sky in the final edit is too blue with too much vignetting. It’s just personal taste. That being said I would absolutely love to have it in my portfolio! But that’s why I would choose the black and white edit though!

[@DS-nw4eq]

He’s a wild one. I’m super jealous of the safari.

[@garybatch4102]

Jared, awesome work! I don't have Canon Connect, so I'd be the intervalometer spray and pray guy... Imagine trying to get this on film? Uh, no.

[@giacomonovara]

Very nice pics indeed - very well thought. Weird that you use a 85 mm for elephant portrait. I would have never thought to bring it and I would have been wrong. Can you elaborate on this choice? A 70-200 zoom would have probably be more flexible due to the circumstantces or maybe a 50 mm would have made the work easier. Generative fill would add the missing piece of Kilimanjaro but it is a different story.

[@froknowsphoto]

I had 100-300 2.8, 400 2.8 and others including 85. I wanted the look that the 85 gives me. Plus hanging it out of the car was easier with a prime. Zoom is great and all. But quality of primes are amazing.

[@josephtitus5459]

The connect app has a feature where you can rotate the live view.

[@froknowsphoto]

On the fly it was hard to figure this stuff out lol.

[@Mr09260]

Kruger Park in S Africa has 6 Tuskers with Tusks larger than 100 Lbs per side

[@jonnyem.8859]

Jared, often the photos I've "found" after the fact were actually parts of a photo, and only evident after, (the horror!) cropping. As you were showing the best elephant pose, but with only partial Kilimanjaro, I saw the tight composition, possibly square to somewhat vertical, of the perfectly placed elephant with the subtle but noticeably there, mountain. There is no shame in cutting off the right side of the frame, as it does nothing to help the image. What if you had shot with a 120 square format? Go back to that frame and just try it with a square or slightly tallish, with the possible intent of emphasizing the elephant, and having that majestic, part of the mountain in the background as an indicator of place, but not detracting from the main subject; that gloriously lit and posed tusker! (All of Kilimanjaro is not necessary, it is not the main subject, it is not in focus, so only part of is is ok.)