Capture Stunning Bird Photos Practically In Your Yard!

[@georgedavall9449]

John Drummond !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful setting and Video! Admire Your work. 👍📷🤝

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks so much.

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

Enjoyed the outing! It's been 29 or 30 years since I was last in the city and that was in a truck, so I've never actually been to Central Park aside from perusing it via maps and images. Living in North Dakota these days makes me shy away from such places anymore but you certainly have little pockets of nature, all the same. I saw all sorts of different potential subjects that would make interesting compositions, in fact (the art exhibit would have made for some reeeally interesting night or dusk images though I'm not sure I'd want to carry my gear at night). You're absolutely correct that we often overlook the more common wildlife, yet such birds and animals still provide for interesting subjects. Thanks for sharing!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks for watching! Central Park is actually pretty great. I did a vlog from there once last year and I'll likely do it again this year.

[@forced_perspective]

Thanks for taking us along dkr the walk. So beautiful. We never imagine all this nature being in NY, all wi thunk about is the tall sky scrapers. I would love to visit upstate new york and the mountains outside the big city some day

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I went to Lake George two years ago. It was great. I definitely need to spend more time in the Adirondacks.

[@georgedavall9449]

James!!!!!!! Nice comment and support!!!

[@luisfigueroa3300]

I left the Bronx 53 years ago. Thanks for taking me out to the gardens to see the birds I never noticed. Pelham Bay was my hangout but being a teenager then I never noticed nature. Again, thanks for the nice walk.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

You're very welcome! Please come back sometime.

[@joevazquez8671]

I also like your videos please make more

[@OrdinaryFilmmaker]

Watching this video while it's overcast and dreary is the perfect start to my day as I enjoy my breakfast. Always a pleaser to watch your videos.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Simon! It's always good to hear from you.

[@WernerBirdNature]

@@JohnDrummondPhoto Hi John, Simon suggested me to watch this video of yours, and it was very enjoyable indeed ! Mostly loved your American Robin, which must be at least twice as large as the red Robin we have in Europe ;-) Your predator at the end made me smile, because we also have our fair share of 'boring city pigeons' who'd like to pose as a Kestrel or alike, hence my wife and I call them "doves-of-prey", and they're unfortunately not as stunning as Jan Wegener's fruit doves. Something I'm wondering about: I understand why you may want to use a polarizer on the 24-105, but I'm wondering why you also use it on the 420-700 ? From Aussies Jan and Duade I learned to avoid any filters, so which benefit do you see ?

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

@@WernerBirdNature I'm glad you enjoyed it. No, I don't use a polarizer on my birding lens. Too much faff. But for landscapes, I polarize all the time. On the rare occasion I use the 100-500 for a distant landscape shot, the filter goes on.

[@WernerBirdNature]

@@JohnDrummondPhoto Aha, thanks for clarifying. I guess you just forgot to remove the 'polarizer' wording where you explain the used settings of the birding shots ;-)

[@georgedavall9449]

Simon !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice comment and support!

[@BrentHall]

Loved the WTS. I've only ever seen one before, in Albuquerque.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Brent. White-throated Sparrows are rare in NM. But here in the Northeast, they're ubiquitous all year round. Thanks for watching!

[@DaveCowellPhotoVideo]

As nature photographers, I think all to often we get obsessed with finding and photographing "cool" birds and all too often walk past the common every day ones...at least I've been that way. The more I do this though, the more I enjoy walks like the one you just took us on. Getting a nice image of an eagle or an owl is great , but getting a great image of a jay or a chickadee brings me just as much, if not more joy...and more regularly. Keep it up!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Dave. More captures would be nice; but just getting out for the walk is often worth it.

[@FQ8]

I’m there all the time as I have a membership as well as walking distance from my home. Another good spot is Van Courtlandt Park also in the Bronx.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I'm also a member of NYBG. I haven't shot in Van Cortlandt. Played golf there a few times, though. I'll check it out! Thanks!

[@iastorgaphotos]

That over from the bridge…👌🏽!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thank you!

[@ernestomoreno-z9t]

Your videos are great and your style and approach are very calming ..I also go into the Everglades and spend full days there photographing birds and critters .

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

The Everglades are a bucket list destination for me. Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelSeneschal]

I find videos like this incredibly enjoyable, more-so than gear-focused ones. They create a sense that I'm joining you on a photo walk, which is just fun to watch. I particularly appreciate the moments where simple joys, like a walk in the park, are celebrated alongside photography. It's a reminder that photography is more about the adventure than capturing perfect shots every time, though you still manage to take some impressive photos. 😊

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks! Much appreciated.

[@gladysklip6984]

Hi John, loved your walk in the park! It's just fun to look around and wait for the right moment. Love the images!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Gladys!

[@thomastuorto9929]

Some decent photos. Nice work putting the vid together. I was there back towards the end of Feb 2020 just before COVID started shutting everything down for the Orchid show. Hoped to get back in late spring/summer or fall but never have. Thanks for the vid.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

You're welcome. The Orchid Show is one of the year's highlights. I've not vlogged it before, but I plan to this year.

[@RichardCookphotography]

Great video. Those Wood ducks are stunning. Well done!👍😀

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thank you, sir!

[@garymeredith2441]

Great video they're John I love watching them it's my first time watching your videos and you do great work , Keep up these great videos . And John you got some beautiful fall colors there from New York I'm from California and we don't get the beautiful fall colors you guys get back there these are beautiful fall colors you did a good job thank you .

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Glad you like them!

[@Mcfryguy5555]

I enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Tom. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@SmilingFox596]

Thanks for taking us on your little hike. Nice images, I really really liked the first one of the leaves. It looked like a painting. Nice work. Have a terrific weekend. Cheers! 📸✌🏻😎👍🏻

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Joe! Same to you.

[@jeffolson4731]

Great shots.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Jeff!

[@briansmall3090]

Good stuff John.............thanks for sharing.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Brian!

[@cara1067]

Enjoyed this very much. Nice seeing a part of the world I'll never actually see. The water shots were unique . The videos charming. Thank you.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks! I do hope you get to visit NYC sometime.

[@marvinspates924]

Very beautiful photos and videos John!!!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks, Marvin!

[@AdsArachnids]

As someone trying to get better at wildlife photography I found this video super inspiring. You've got such a wonderful tone and manner in what you do. Felt like going on a photo walk with a friend. Keep up the great work!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thank you very much!

[@milkeeio]

I really love your videos. The images you capture are awesome and inspiring and make me want to get outdoors in the open air.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thank you very much!

[@martinhippmann]

Great video! I love how you show the raw files as well! I like your compositions. Keep up the good work ✌️

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thank you, sir!

[@anthonytorino6522]

Always looking forward to your videos. Hope the New Year is prosperous.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks! All the best to you, too.

[@paddytakesphotos]

This is a fantastic video. I have gotten into birding and wildlife photography recently. What I like most about the video is that it shows the realities of birding. The other day I went to photograph waxwings only for them to be chased off by a sparrowhawk. I also like how you show how much you crop in your photos. I've been guilty of cropping too much. I really enjoyed this video, well done.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks! The R5's 45 MP allows for a certain amount of cropping. I try not to go below about 50%.

[@natureredux1957]

So why do the better Videos about Birding get the least views. I have always loved watching Wildlife and just recently started on occasion, doing Video and Photos. Birds will always find the local spots, that's the beauty of Flight. The hardest part about birding is affording the proper Long Glass. Great job on the Video. I fortunately get tons of Wildlife in the local neighborhood where I live, the biggest issue seems to be Wildlife landing in the right spots, composition and enough good light.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

True this! Thanks.

[@drew2757]

Great shots and what a spot.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Yes, it is a great spot. Thanks for watching.

[@karlsmith945]

Thank you ,come to Alabama State Parks sometime we have lots of species !

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Maybe one day!

[@DavidSauer-l5n]

First time I’ve seen your channel, really enjoyed it! You captured some very nice bird images tha included beautiful backgrounds! I live in Oregon and like you I walk through parks for bird photography. Also there are a number of wildlife refuges in my area that are excellent for birding! Thank you for the video!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@garyives1218]

Just getting into this stuff. I've found that all the looking upwards kills my neck. I need a stretching and excercise for nature photographers vid.......LOL! Great job on vid.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

LOL thanks! I happen to be a bodybuilder who trains his neck. I don't think it helps for nature photography though. 😉

[@jamesterrance]

"It's always something!" My life story as a new amateur bird photographer.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

LOL

[@ProfessorRevell]

Hey John. Happy New Year. Great video on really my favorite topic: bird watching (particularly on an area I'm not used to). I think I've mentioned to you my background is in biology so I also really enjoy your "art" background view on what you see. Keep up the great work. How about that new canon 200-800? Lots of my friends are raving about that. I'm sticking with my 100-500 for now. Funny, I heard the timer sound go off! (Ive done that at least 100 times):)

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it. Happy New Year!

[@kennethrifkin6178]

Hi John - I just discovered your videos and have watched quite a few in the last couple days. I enjoy them and appreciate your style. I noticed that many (if not most) of your images, whether close-up shots, birds, landscapes, etc., your ISO is set to 100 and rarely, as high as 800. I was wondering why you keep ISO at this level. I use the same canon equipment as you do and find that the noise using the R5 and either of your lenses (ISO as high as 2500) is easily cleared up in post. Thanks for your input.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks for your comments. For landscape, since the subject generally isn't moving, I use ISO 100 for the cleanest possible image. But for wildlife, aperture and shutter speed are way more important. I usually have ISO set to auto and it's commonly 800 or higher. Sometimes, much higher (up to 12800). For the two images of White-throated Sparrows, I used ISO 2000 and 2500. Fortunately, as you mentioned, noise cleanup is pretty easy now.

[@techguyml]

What’s the camera strap and sling you are using? Would love to see a video on it.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Thanks for watching. It's a Blackrapid Curve. I don't think it's worth a whole video, but I'll mention it in the future.

[@billloveless6869]

Where were these photos taken? I'm not from New York, so I'm a bit lost..😅

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

New York Botanical Garden in The Bronx.

[@billloveless6869]

@@JohnDrummondPhoto Thanks.

[@tonyfields6198]

I get lower to the ground and no it’s not gonna smoke him because your camouflage so get back we’re on the bench and then crawl over to the edge and you should be fine