Accesories for Wildlife Photography - That Actually Makes a Difference

[@peterbredahldam]

The lens, I use in this video is the Tamron 150-600mm SP; here is my review of it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZutdnyMiJ2ff68

[@JorenVaes]

one of my favorite accessories: a tiny camping chair that is lighter than my tripod. It is very small, but it can help on those cold winter days when I want to wait near a suspected den or popular kingfisher perch, or when I'm in a swampy area and the ground is mostly mud, as it keeps my butt off of the ground. I attach it to my backpack just like my tripod. I haven't used it that often - most of the time just sitting on the ground - but in the times I did, I'm very happy I have it. And it costs just 20 or 30 euros, so compered to a lot of other accessories it is very affordable.

[@peterbredahldam]

Yes, I have one of those as well for the hide. It is easy to carry, foldable, and can be used both for sitting on, or even as a primitive camera rest.

[@d53101]

I have one as well.

[@nigelmadeley7798]

Taking my lead from Simon Barnes ‘Be wild’, I’d suggest that the first accessory should be waterproof trousers. Don’t try lying down without them!

[@peterbredahldam]

Hehe, you're right about that. 😀

[@Aegiir]

Or a foam sleeping mat.

[@tlwe6840]

@@Aegiir or a small waterproof ground sheet. Both great.

[@justoalejandrogonzalez5097]

Another great video. Two in a row!

[@tarjei99]

My ground pod is either my bean bag or my rucksack. Of course at times I use my tripod with the Wimberly head at grund level.

[@peterbredahldam]

A bean bag or your backpack is definitely also a valid option, however I feel that I lose a bit of the flexibility of movement, so I prefer a dedicated groundpod, but have also used the bag option from time to time.

[@tarjei99]

@@peterbredahldam The bean bag dampende vibrations which is very useful.

[@MePrasad]

One of the best videos I have seen which talks about doing your home-work for photography...Great work peter ...Keep coming with such great videos !! You are incredible

[@peterbredahldam]

Wow, thanks! I appreciate your kind works. Keeps me motivated for more videos 🙂

[@JoeyMorse-gh4jx]

I am really impressed with your camera angles and b roll. Overall how you make your videos is very professional. Keep up the great work.

[@peterbredahldam]

Hey Joey. Thanks a lot for the feedback, much appreciated. I try to make the videos as professional as possible, even though it takes much longer. I hope I will be able to keep it up, and hopefully make videos more often as well :-)

[@dougsphoto]

Hi Peter thx for sharing your tips like the ground pod

[@peterbredahldam]

You're welcome, Douglas :-)

[@GiuseppeGessa]

Great tips!! The popup hide and the guille are my favourite for nature photography.

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks for the feedback. Agree, they open up a lot of opportunities for improving your shots.

[@blueplanetwithmycamera]

Great video. I like it. 😉 Thanks

[@WorldOfWild.Manmohan]

Thanks Peter. Indeed, a very informative and useful video. I liked your idea of having a temporary hide. Also liked that way you explained wisely buying accessories that actually improves one's wildlife photography. Loved your video.

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks for your feedback.

[@JJ-ef7lb]

I often just find a dark corner at the crotch of a tree overlooking a nice area and wait! The other day two fallow bucks jumped over a fallen tree about 5 meters from me and just strolled about. Silly me I didn’t even take any photos, just sat there watching them 😂 for me the stalk of the animal is as satisfying as the end result! No ghillie either, just muted earthy tones, and trade craft.

[@jakesdewet3567]

Good video and so good to see someone with real world knowledge giving advice that does not require buying a new global shutter camera, or a $6000 lens.

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks for the feedback. We can get a long way without buying a lot of stuff. Gear still matters, but not until we have mastered a whole lot of other skills, or make use of the accessories that so easily makes up for expensive gear. It it much more important to focus on what I cover in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGm4f3ini6xosLM

[@frankb4793]

Great Tips - Thank You!!

[@peterbredahldam]

You're welcome

[@peterkumble4093]

Very helpful and insightful recommendations, many thanks!

[@peterbredahldam]

You're welcome

[@gregwilsonnaturephotography]

Hey Peter, you put together a great video with lots of valuable information. I use many of the techniques you use as well. I enjoyed the video I subscribed and mashed the like button. Greg

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks, Greg. It means a lot to me work your feedback. And thanks for subscribing.

[@e.dargenty6563]

Thanks Peter for a great video! I found it very instructive ! So far I have been shooting mainly landscapes and sport, but I'm interested in having a go with widelife, as I already have the photo gear. Your video inspired me and following your advices I just purchased a cheap Buteo hide. I'll try this spring when wilde life gets more active here in north Europe. Just have to find a spot...first challenge! By the way, I find your voice very clear and your pitch perfect for this kind useful video. The music adds some kind of senerity too.😉👍

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks a lot for your feedback. It means a lot to me. Good luck with the hide. I have plans for sitting in a hide this weekend as well.

[@kerry5586]

Good video. One suggestion: better than binos, as it is much lighter and smaller, is a monocular. I bought the Leica one which is very lightweight and fits easily in a small pocket.

[@peterbredahldam]

Great tip, thanks for sharing.

[@JaredDoyle76]

I use a Leofoto LS-223CEX and FotoPro E-6H low profile gimbal for getting shots at ground level. Much more versatile than a Platypod.

[@peterbredahldam]

That would work as well. It seems flexible and low profile as you mention :-)

[@Wildlifevideopicture]

Very good video and informative, Thank you😊 //KD

[@peterbredahldam]

You're welcome. Thank you for the feedback :-)

[@lloydstuartm.d.5625]

Beautiful video. I never heard of the platypod extreme. Very helpful!

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks for your feedback. I'm still learning about all this video production stuff, so I really appreciate your comment. The Platypod is very handful indeed, and flexible compared to "frying pan" style groundpods, so it is a pleasure to Platypod.

[@andrewrschaffer8123]

Wonderful video!! Great points and beautiful work!

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks for your feedback, Andrew.

[@neilcole3406]

Good advice, so l subscribed!

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks for the sub!

[@andymok7945]

Thanks. I would like a platypod Extreme. I have the leofoto LS365CEX tripod with the PG-1 gimbal. It was the best bang for the price. (Edited) I used the link you provided for the platypod and was shocked. Rather pricey for the material and such. I then decided to check around and that vendor sure is making quite a markup. I see it listed for $149.00 US which is more reasonable than the $340.00 Canadian price from the amazon link. Going on my wish list for next year.

[@peterbredahldam]

Yeah, that seems rather pricey. I’m redirected to the UK site, which says £146 and the US site says $149. Just make sure you get the Platypod Extreme which has a little bigger base

[@vudo2555]

Peter…any reason why you didn’t include a link to the camo net you are using for the camera and you?

[@SNiPER604]

Hi Peter. Thanks for a great video. What is the name of the ghillie blanket you used in the video And where did you buy it?

[@peterbredahldam]

It's a Tragopan bought at their own store.

[@Al60ish]

very interesting video; allow me a suggestion: to make the speech easier to follow, fewer digressions would make it more focused on the topic, less long and easier to follow. That said, I completely agree with you and I understand what you mean when you talk about the beauty of nature

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks @Al60ish I am trying to find out whether a script would help me with fewer digressions and make the videos more consice. I think it will and I haven't found my "final" video style yet. But I am currently heading for shorter videos but hourly more of them. This one was very unscripted. Thanks for the feedback :-)

[@snow3017]

I'm curious why you have the gimbal with the adjustment knobs on the right side. I was always taught to put them on the left so if you have to adjust them while shooting you don't take your hand off the camera / shutter release. What is the benefit of them on the right?

[@peterbredahldam]

Hi, First of all, I'm sorry for the late reply. I use a zoom lens, and I think that the gimbal gets a little in the way if I have to zoom if it is on the left side. But the advice with having it on the right side for a prime lens makes a lot of sense, as you can react faster.

[@MYMOTOLIFE]

Gimbal and camera/lens needs to be balanced so that there’s no need to lock the gimbal. Lenses have a zoom ring or manual focus ring where you need to have access with your left hand. So the gimbal knobs should be on the right side.

[@snow3017]

​@@MYMOTOLIFE I've only used them with my big prime lenses, so this has never been an issue. with my zooms i am always hand holding . nice to get the different perspective.

[@snow3017]

@@peterbredahldam I've only used them with my big prime lenses, so this has never been an issue. with my zooms i am always hand holding . nice to get the different perspective.

[@johnlindseyphotography1704]

Good video mate

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks 👍Much appreciated.

[@johnlindseyphotography1704]

@@peterbredahldam very welcome. Just found your channel

[@peterbredahldam]

@@johnlindseyphotography1704 Great, hope to see you around in the comment thread in another time 🙂

[@johnlindseyphotography1704]

@@peterbredahldam are you on social media pal?

[@peterbredahldam]

@@johnlindseyphotography1704 You can find me here: facebook.com/PhotographyRawOnline and twitter.com/DamPhotography

[@solar-e-bike-touring-europe]

👍subscribed

[@peterbredahldam]

Thanks, Theo

[@ChrisJHintonphotography]

What camera is that

[@peterbredahldam]

I shoot mainly on a Nikon Z6II, but for many videos I use the Nikon Z6 II for recording, so I use the Nikon D810 for "stand-in" or model.

[@TheBroacher]

When I saw you lying on the ground towards the end of this video my first thought was, 'He obviously doesn't live in tick country.'

[@peterbredahldam]

I do live in tick country, hehe. And they sometimes carry diseases, but with mosquito repellant I don't get them as often. I also check for them after each trip. And by the way, the video was shot in the early spring before ticks are active in Denmark. So you are right at the time of shooting no ticks around 😃

[@MrFirstdance2000]

Q uestion...what are you sitting on? That's one of my biggest difficulties!

[@peterbredahldam]

If I’m in a hide I use a lightweight camping chair. Not too comfortable but it will do the trick :-)

[@MrFirstdance2000]

​@@peterbredahldam I was sitting on my 3 pronged torture chair this morning...I have to find another answer!! Thank you for your reply!

[@Kellysher]

Check out the walkstool. I have both the shorter and taller one, and use the smaller one the most. It’s really portable. Comfortable enough to sit while using my monopod to get action shots of herons and egrets catching fish!

[@syedhussain3857]

What Camera Gear do You use?

[@peterbredahldam]

I use a Nikon Z 6 ii and a D810 as the camera bodies, for the other gear, I have included links in the description.

[@formermpc10]

Skip the overpriced Platypod. Amazon's Decade plate is better and much less co$tly.

[@peterbredahldam]

Haven’t tried it but thanks for the tip :-)

[@e.dargenty6563]

Well mate, I'm not sure if the Decade plate is stable enough if you're using a gimbal head along with a 4 kg 600 mm lens. The Decade is pretty much the same size as the Platypod Ultra and I can tell you that it is definitely not stable enough to handle such heavy gears. The Extreme Platypod is larger and more stable. An alternativ if you are broke is to make one of your own with some plank.👍😉

[@lacayoj]

This is a very well intended video and I sincerely appreciate it, but your voice tone is so monotone that I had a hard time watching it all the way through. Please just add a little bit of suttle background music so that the video is not boring. I say this respectully and I hope you find my opinion usefull.

[@peterbredahldam]

Hi Jamie, Thanks for the feedback and the respectful tone of giving the feedback. Much appreciated. I'm still quite new to creating KZbin videos and still learning. Will add some music in the next videos for sure and test how it works.

[@alangeorgebarstow]

@@peterbredahldam Good afternoon, Peter. I have to say that I disagree. I find your voice very pleasant and soothing, and your skill at explaining what you are doing is excellent. In addition I do not like videos that have loud and intrusive background music, which I find detracts from the enjoyment of the visual spectacle. This video is top-notch in so many ways. You have found a new subscriber. I also have Nikon equipment (in my case a D500 with a Nikkor 200-500 lens) and I use a gimbal head on a Manfrotto tripod (I have an ancient version of the 190, and I know what you mean about those tiresome screw-locks on the legs. My new tripod is an 055). Seeing you using that Platypod Extreme has me wanting one. Many thanks and keep up the good work. 👍🏻

[@peterbredahldam]

@@alangeorgebarstow thanks for the feedback, and much appreciated. Great to hear different opinions about the way I present things. I would hate to "run" in any direction because of just a single opinion, so if it's nice to hear what you think. I what to experiment a bit in the upcoming videos to find a way that is both entertaining and still true to the way I am as a person. I have an idea of wanting to do this a bit differently in the future, so please continue to give me feedback. In video just as in photography, feedback is one of the best ways to learn. Thanks again :-)

[@kerry5586]

@@peterbredahldam Please so not add background music! So many videos are unwatchable because of the background music! Any with background music I just switch off.