Advanced Wildlife & Bird Photography: SHARPEST PHOTOS!!

[@ianrosen9450]

Thanks!

[@calabrais]

6:58 "The ISO is more of a gauge" This is an great way to think about it! I've heard ISO doesn't cause the noise, but it doesn't seem intuitive when you see more noise in your images as the ISO increases. However, when I started to get into astrophotography I realized it's TRUE, ISO doesn't cause the noise. I actually get cleaner images with higher ISO's (to a point). In daytime photography the ISO is just an indicator of how much light you are capturing, and low light photos are noisier.

[@speakingconstitution]

Thank you Chelsea & Tony for these timely reminders as we gear up for “the busy season”.

[@silentbirdhunter]

I am retired and on a fixed income here in Montana. I get the sharpest photos when the wildlife are close to me. To accomplish this I park my vehicle and wait with the passenger side window down and I sit in the shadow in the driver's seat. Animals do not know I am there when they gradually appear. Or I use a $50 pop-up blind and sit in a chair and wait for wildlife to appear close (< 30 meters). With close wildlife, even with inexpensive equipment, the background is blurred and the animal does not know I am there so has a natural look, not an alerted look. For birds, I position myself so the bird is flying into the wind (bird in flight photo). For mammals, since they have a keen sense of smell, I position myself upwind so the mammal can not detect my with it's nose.

[@edjbe]

Hello from Brussels. Thank you Chelsea and Tony for this video. Yes please we want more like this. Short, informative enough, a little bit of settings and technique, on the ground to show what it does in real life. Just relevant. Thank you.

[@gewglesux]

lOVE Brussels!!! how is it there still? still beautiful? or did it turn into the UK- still lovely but it's seen better days.

[@nevmedeiros1822]

Wow,Brussels! I love your sprouts.

[@gewglesux]

@@nevmedeiros1822 actually i like them also.

[@jeroenschoondergang5923]

@@gewglesux ?

[@gewglesux]

@@jeroenschoondergang5923 what do you want?

[@andrewkeir2282]

I shoot in Manual mode with Auto ISO. I keep an eye on ISO and adjust it by changing shutter speed and or FStop. Usually I am wide open or one stop closed. I have a Canon R7 with RF100-500. Great video.

[@nafilyounnes2960]

Another tip: Assign a recall button to ss2000 for flying shots and overexpose to 1-2 stops. Im using Aperture priority with Min SS. Faster to change ss with min ss feature rather than rotating the dial for ss.

[@megamastah]

Same here. Av with min SS is fast and painless.

[@jimhenningfeld5896]

Thank you both. I saved this video to my library and will watch it again. I changed my camera settings for moving subjects and tomorrow to see how it works. 😊

[@gfly3]

I loved this video and every one you two have ever done ❤! Going into the archives to rewatch some of the beginning Tony and Chelsea lives! Nostalgia 🥰 Please don’t ever stop !

[@eyoung6943]

Back button focus (on DSLR) really helped me with wildlife photography. That lets me use separate buttons for focus and snapping the image.

[@michaelkaufman9625]

she does a wonderful job speaking and including the most relevant information

[@bijayghising2648]

Hi Tony, Love your channel and following for years. But I can’t watch your video on TV because sometimes video stucks due to 60fps. Any solution?

[@georgewhitaker8219]

This is one your very best videos. I am making notes and will practice these techniques. Thank you for the work you did to make this video. The information is priceless. The presentation was very smooth, professional, and up beat.

[@paulcampbell8986]

Loved this 👍 Clear, practical, specific advice with excellent examples. You do a great job as a team 👏

[@chelseanorthrup8787]

Thank you!

[@Topgunphoto]

Great advice on the working your way down on the shutter Chelsea, I use that same technic when trying to get props in full disk. Depending on how windy it is, I'll start around 1/250 and work my way down to 1/100-1/60

[@jamescarro771]

Thanks for the tricks and tips. You mentioned adjusting shutter speeds but what shutter speed would you recommend turning off Vr Thanks

[@felix.laak0441]

i personaly wouldn't ever turn the Stabilisor off. At high shutter speeds it still helps keep the image in the viewfinder more stable and that makes it easier to track your subject

[@kimsuphan]

Great having a chatty video at a great location. location. I personally prefer manual exposure with auto ISO where I decide both shutter speed and aperture. Normally this means my aperture is as open as possible and I decide the shutter speed. I leave only the iso to the camera.

[@simplyawesomephoto]

Unfortunately, TNC code does not work at KEH to buy.

[@strght_flxing]

Did they update the KEH code?

[@simplyawesomephoto]

Unfortunately, no. I went with MPB.

[@c.alcazar2584]

Beautiful photos of the Osprey

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Thank you

[@MartinGollery]

The osprey have returned to Lake Tahoe and I need to go check the nests!

[@ucantcme4343]

Enjoyed the video very much I am a long time fan. I have not had much luck with the slower shutter speeds with hand held long lenses am I missing something?

[@Thetravelphotocoach]

This is the best how to improve wildlife video I’ve watched, in fact, what is in here can be applied to all genres of photography. Thanks Tony & Chelsea, that’s C H E L S E A. I love watching your videos and it’s even better when I learn something new. I’m off to set my custom buttons, thanks for that tip Chelsea and I’m going to be keeping an eye on my shutter speed and seeing what I can do to lower it and get sharper images, thanks for that one Tony.

[@chelseanorthrup8787]

Thanks!

[@Cafl_Music]

I was really fortunate when traveling over Christmas last year. I had just gotten the 55-210 Sony kit for my NEX 5N. when walking around looking for things to shoot, I saw a large nest. Not even 5 minutes later a large osprey landed and I rattled off some shots. Because the NEX 5N sucks, I didn't have the best photos, but they were pretty nice, nice enough to put on my wall. Now when I see it, I feel grateful for the cool experience.

[@MichaelTerndrup]

Love this do you have one for sports

[@robertmiller2289]

Thanks again have watched you for years and it's alway informative...Too really appreciate your time and effort.

[@pearldrummer4077]

Fantastic video again. Really helpful with a hint of comedy as well. Love it.

[@allenfutrelle9090]

I love you two! I can count on what you say. Please keep up the great work. We enjoy your diatribe.

[@CamillaI]

Great video Chelsea and Tony. I use the Sony A1 on AFC, High plus, Zone focus, RAW, Manual with AWB and skill for sharp shots. Luck still plays a big role too despite the best equipment 🤔

[@juancadiaz1914]

Thanks for the video. What location were you at?

[@TomCaruso-jf1zq]

Great video! Where was it shot? Where do you find these birds?

[@AndyHPhotography]

Great video and tips guys. After many years of landscape photography I'm getting into Wildlife in prep for a (long overdue) Safari and your insight is very much appreciated

[@DennisMoncla]

I assign the extra button on the lens to high shutter speed wide open for birds flying by while I’m shooting a slow shutter for a perched one.

[@Kellysher]

Maybe this is a newbie comment. I struggle with soft shots in low light. Low light produces more noise. Even cleaned up in Topaz, they look soft. I love to shoot early morning. I have the R5 100-500 and shoot wide open at 7.1. Usually 1/800 is my starting shutter. I’ve thought the issue is the slower aperture on the lens, is that right? What techniques or advice would you give me in this case? I have experimented with pulling back to @420 mm to achieve an aperture of 6.3. My issue is soft shots in low light, and limited gear. Maybe a video on that? Any idea appreciated.

[@kaseyclark2108]

Very useful video. Tips like the exposure compensation differences for white birds and Dark/black birds in different light situations was very useful. Regards, KC

[@LorenzoManera78]

I still not have a "style" because I just started... I have sony a6700 and will come the lens 70 350. For sure is not the same of your super expensive lens of your video 😁 but I think is a good starting point. I will try to use the priority on shutter speed as you described at the beginning and let's see! Thanks for the super useful info!

[@valeriePerez-uk4zd]

Great information as always! thank you!

[@lucleroux1819]

Thanks for sharing those tips, I’m quite in line with them. What would you think of a specific mode that would automatically decrease the shutter speed during the burst ? Something that you could tune to start with one pic at 1/4000, 2 at 1/2000,….,10 at 1/125.

[@barneysaunders6278]

Great video, so helpful, an eye opener. Went out to experiment today with lower shutter speeds, huge improvement … thank you. More videos like this and less gear.

[@fly-pedro]

This was very helpful! Not only you make good photos you are also very good video makers👍🏼

[@gavillabarber]

I really like this kind of videos, I have a cannon r10, and I like wildlife photography. What lenses u suggest me to start.

[@markharwood]

Do any cameras offer "shutter bracketing" in continuous shooting mode? That way you could get say 4 shots at varying shutter speeds very quickly

[@Adam-r7j4h]

What is that editing program she used? I am trying to find one But darktable is too complex for me 😭

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Mental that you can seemingly be alone in nature and be around those Ospreys! Try that in the UK!

[@anthonyhershko]

Is it good for aviation photography? P.s. I got the R5, and recently, after updating firmware to 2.0, I started to get blurry images.. I got Sigma 60-600. I really don't know what to do, I wrote to Canon & Sigma, no reply, but Canon, and they said that something like that could happen after updating the firmware, buy an RF lens... I can't..

[@jeffreybarratt7870]

Thank you both a lot .🍺🍷😊

[@amarettodisaronno5488]

Very Informative thank you both 👍

[@Mike-126]

Excellent video!

[@zotlam]

Great video ❤❤

[@richardmorton8792]

Fantastic information given, thank you very much. From Adelaide.

[@bladedog25]

Hello and thank you for the video. It was very inspirational, can you tell me where you guys were in this? I was over in your area two years ago also shooting osprey and I’m looking for places that have more predator birds, can you give me few locations that I can tryin the area, I’m about an hour and a half away from your area

[@michaelbowles420]

Nice tips. I have a question. Is there a teleconverter for tamron 200-500 lens.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Not for Sony

[@michaelbowles420]

@@TonyAndChelsea I use a Nikon D7000

[@andrewbristoe1833]

love a dslr/mirrorless on telescope edition the settings equation triangle is next level the seeing ect settings explanations are so good

[@markrossi5721]

Yes I would like to see y'all do more videos about photographing things in nature, since that's my focus! 😂

[@KingsleyGeorgePouponeau]

Please can you give your start up settings for bird photography...so one can just adjust on camera. I have Sony A7iv. Thanks.

[@calabashdiggeradventures]

Great video! Put a MF/AF hold button on a custom slot on your camera. Will save the day sometime! On my A1 I have the AEL button programmed for MF/AF hold. Bird lands in a tree camera grabs a moving limb press and hold the AEL button adjust the focus and take the shot! BTW I have learned so much from you guys. I have also bought a lot of gear based on what you have said. Thanks for being honest! Avid hobbyist looking to get better.

[@gregboyce360]

It's super annoying when the autofocus does that, and won't let go! Thx for this tip.

[@megamastah]

There is a better way I think. I've got AF-on programmed to focus hold, but AEL programmed for recall custom hold, which enables the DMF mode (on Sony). So press and hold AEL, DMF (AF + MF override) kicks in while peaking display is active, focus area changes to one saved, calibrate the focus via focus ring, press the shutter. Mark Galer has great videos on this (and other topics).

[@mrdev9843]

Interesting thought, lack of light causing noise ! A new way of thinking for me 👍👍

[@natureredux1957]

But it's not just the lack of light, increasing ISO also amplifies that noise. Anyone saying otherwise is wrong.

[@hassanbensober2768]

I think Tony has a video he did on this subject. It was eye opening pun intended....

[@ilanhoward]

With cameras now supporting ISO invariance, why boost the ISO/exposure before taking the picture?

[@gopalbarkur3917]

Rather than scouting with these huge lenses it's better to use a monopod instead. Definitely your hands will tired after a while. With some kind of support you can play with different shutter speeds to keep the ISO low

[@bngr_bngr]

That or lay on the ground to get a better eye view perspective.

[@stevelink3]

T&C, thanks again for the excellent and informative video! One tip at least for Nikon Z users...If you set up a button to alternate between FX and DX, it's quick and easy to get that little extra 1.5x reach "on the fly"...excuse the pun. ;-)

[@ed12888]

What is your opinion on ibis when shooting at high shutter speeds?

[@davidligon6088]

If you have a Sony, I find Zebras very useful for making sure egrets, and birds with high contrast are not blown out. Be careful, though, as I find dark birds against a bright sky sometimes need to be a priority over blowing out the sky just a bit.

[@ilovebouguereau]

Thank you! Very helpful. I was always blaming high ISO for noise. It makes so much sense for me now knowing how it’s the lack of appropriate light that causes it!!!

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JeffGoldberg561]

Good info! I tend to keep my shutter speed at 1/2000 when it isn't needed, that will change.

[@wellingtoncrescent2480]

Perhaps I'm not clear, but noise is augmented when the sensor gain is increased with a poor signal to noise ratio (SNR). But don't higher ISO and your "match exposure" command both increase the gain applied to the sensor output? I would therefore expect them to have a similar effect on noise with a poor SNR. Pardon me if this is naive.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah adjusting raw exposure in post is exactly like raising the ISO, unless you pass the high gain switch on a dual gain sensor.

[@chantzcutts]

Thanks for a great video. The shutter speed detail was very helpful. Excellent timing as I am headed to the Florida Everglades and Keys next week. Hook ‘Em from Texas!

[@RMNgozi]

Great video guys. Informative as usual.

[@t.a.maclure5946]

More like this please...;) Love the outdoors, living in S. Fl. lots of birds here so why not shoot 'em? ;) Slowly getting into bird photography, appreciate the insights!

[@robertgiguere875]

Your book is great and I watch all your videos. Most of us can’t afford $5,000+ lenses that you use! Could you Please review the TT artisan 500mm lense. At $369 this lense is well within the finances of most amateurs.

[@josephparks4270]

Great vid. Would love more.

[@bumpinggoose6644]

For finding a bird species and their locations eBird is great

[@bngr_bngr]

It would have been helpful to use inexpensive lens to photograph wildlife. How about using a DSLR crop camera with a used lens?

[@IRFAN-po5sz]

Camera and lens used to film this please ?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Sony a7S III + 24 f/1.4 GM and 35 f/1.4 GM

[@buggersofoz]

Great video content-wise, but it looms like a raw VLog footage on my phone (Samsung A52) and it only briefly switches to fully graded, nice-looking video during the screen rotation from vertical to horizontal and vice versa. Looks like a compatibility issue with KZbin and HDR videos on non-HDR screens...

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Hmm, weird. Definitely an app issue.

[@trc295]

Great advice and tips

[@mangoldm]

I love how Chelsea talks to the camera like she’s talking to a bestie. 😎

[@chelseanorthrup8787]

I mean, I know enough of you to know who I’m talking to 😊

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always, I am having an awesome time taking photos of all the Ospreys in my area of Long Beach Ny 🐦👍

[@t.a.maclure5946]

Suggestion, ya'll could do a segment on, "Just getting started with bird photography." What to look for in budget gear, lenses etc...

[@chelseanorthrup8787]

Yes! We do have budget wildlife gear videos but we can do techniques as well

[@mwran]

What cameras have a slot so I can put in a WD_BLACK 2TB SN770M M.2 2230 NVMe SSD?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

No wildlife camera accepts that

[@tomegan4060]

Nice video. Great tips. More videos like this

[@TrueCA7777]

You know what would be an interesting feature for a camera? A modifier button like CTRL or ALT on your keyboard. so you can for example set the normal shutter speed on your front dial, and the modified one on your back dial. Then when a bird sits around you can shoot away at your 1/400th of a second and as soon as it lifts of you just press your modifier button and the shutter button at the same time, and shoot at 1/200th of a second. no fiddling around with dials.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

I'd love that! I wish it could detect the amount of subject motion and pick the shutter based on that. Then you could just dial up or down the acceptable motion blur.

[@JMichel-PaniK]

It actually exists :) I use the "Custom hold" feature and assign this setting to the focus button of the lens. The focus area, shutter speed, aperture exposure comp. can be set to override the current settings. So, let say I've set the camera for still bird, I use the back button focus and if I need to switch for a bird in flight, I use the lens focus button instead.

[@TrueCA7777]

@@JMichel-PaniK what brand of camera?

[@JMichel-PaniK]

@@TrueCA7777 Sony

[@CockpitScenes]

Very helpful.

[@JasonOverHere]

I've gotta ask...is the video being shot on an R5?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Sony a7S III

[@JasonOverHere]

@@TonyAndChelsea Cheers

[@shawnvine4918]

Thanks, guys

[@impactnazz]

Where to stand to stopping down the lens for sharper quality images…

[@mikeinmontana8875]

That old man of yours...handing you a loaded camera. Stop that Tony! That's a rigged deal~ Good vid as usual you two.

[@MrMaheshprabahath]

I think during sunrise and sunset we can get good images

[@zulfika_]

first of all, make sure that you have good camera and long lenses

[@taeisundercover]

just want to comment how "stunning" the video quality is

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Thank you!

[@chippie779]

Trouble is you guys always use expensive lenses not everyone can afford a f4 why don't you use a 600mm 6.3 and show us your photos

[@chelseanorthrup8787]

We have entire videos on budget wildlife gear and show the results

[@MrHajdi]

​@@chelseanorthrup8787, great video and great videos also on the gear, including budget! I do agree, it would be awesome to see you guys using budget gear to its full potential, though. Maybe a video from dirt cheap (like a 70-300 DX) to something like a Tamron 150-500 to highlight the difference and make it easier for viewers to decide for or against upgrading.

[@DennisMoncla]

They have made more comparison videos for budget lenses than probably any other channel! And I’m pretty sure she is walking around with the Sony 200-600 in this video. Which is 6.3! (It’s all I shoot with and I have a bird photography show in the Art Museum of Southeast Texas right now. 12k f4 lenses are not necessary)

[@ConcealedWeapon]

I was thinking the same. "You don't need expensive gear to improve your photography"... while carrying a 10k dollars lens.

[@nroose]

Really wish I could add a name to my 1, 2, 3.

[@Peterogen]

❤❤

[@estycki]

Yes the animals like to play mind games with us, some reverse psychology is necessary

[@martinestrada7636]

I watched you all for awhile but then your videos started to get horrible all ads for products

[@jessejonker498]

I thought, you guys are sweet!!

[@dannd715]

Saying “it’s not all about buying the biggest most expensive gear” while holding the biggest most expensive gear 🤦🏻‍♂️ This would have been a much better representation of the common photographer if you used a budget friendly camera and lens. Like a 70-300mm f3.5-6.4

[@ralphblach2952]

Tony, but at f/9 you have probably entered into difraction limited photography. with a 45 megapixel camera. So your image quality is lower than it would be at f/8. This is science.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Well it's not going to be much difference, but also that only applies on the focal plane and with 3-dimensional animals it'll still generally improve overall sharpness. But you do want to make sure it doesn't get into f16 or f22.

[@ralphblach2952]

@@TonyAndChelsea I agree that it will not make much of a difference, but I dont by expensive glass to stop down to f/9. I do want to say you and Chelsea do a very good job on your channel.

[@gspeed0689]

⚠T

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Haha I hate final cut

[@dj_laundry_list]

I'm more into buying expensive gear using your affiliate links, then bragging about it online and telling other people they're wrong about everything

[@DieHardEddieEdwards]

Obviously Final Cut betrayed you guys after your KEH advertisement.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Ugh PITA!! Why would it do that without even telling me?? It should just fail.

[@hassanbensober2768]

Go away! Start your own site and tell the community that you can do it without any sponsors. Also why do you watch everybody has sponsors...

[@DieHardEddieEdwards]

@@hassanbensober2768 You’re just being loud and wrong. Theres a missing file/broken link right after the advertisement. That’s what I meant by Final Cut betraying them.