Create beautiful waterfowl photos - anyone can do it - even beginners

[@shahg5524]

Love the presentation style Scott. Another great video 👍

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@kaouan]

Bravo et merci beaucoup🙏 pour tous ces conseils et informations précieuses. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Je suis content que vous ayez trouvé la vidéo utile, merci d'avoir regardé.

[@GM8D79]

Thank you for sharing, nice pictures..

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@trixy2324]

Absolutely brilliant, love your photos can't wait to try this out....thank you👌

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hope you get some great photos Claire. Have fun using it. Thanks for watching.

[@NWind-go9qn]

You are an excellent teacher. Your content makes photography very accessible. Thank you!

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Wow, thank you. I'm so happy to hear that and glad I can be of help. Thanks for watching.

[@terrykellyphotography6171]

Hello Scott, thank you for this eye-opening video. Can't wait to try shooting from this perspective.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks Terry. I hope you enjoy it.

[@terrykellyphotography6171]

@@WalksOnTheWildSide I'm sure I will, thank you!

[@rednusmarbiam6381]

This is a great video I enjoy it alot thank you sir

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you so much.

[@cutwithaknife5718]

Well deserved your 1,000th sub, great tutorial

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you so much 🙌🎉 I’m glad you liked it, and thanks for watching.

[@cutwithaknife5718]

@@WalksOnTheWildSide you’re welcome 😇

[@peterk_hh]

Interesting topic! Often we love our photos, and if we show it to somebody else, they say it's boring. This self reflection seems to be a good idea, will try it ❤

[@stevepersighetti3400]

Brilliant video. Thanks so much.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks you Steve. Glad it was helpful.

[@gotophotoarchive9131]

Great video...🦆

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you. 👍

[@richardtucker6974]

Beautiful images. I’ve got to try this. I live on the south coast so lots of water. Thanks

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Go for it, it's such an easy method to get nice photos. Thanks for watching.

[@jgphotography.7720]

I recognise this spot, my local patch. Another useful tip for waterfowl photography, shoot on a sunny day, much nice water colours that way :)

[@fenlandwildlifeclips]

People always advise getting down low but no one ever explains how to do it if there is grass etc in the way or how to keep clean when you do it, so greatful for your camping mat suggestion, never seen that before.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Glad to be of use, thanks for watching.

[@fenlandwildlifeclips]

@@WalksOnTheWildSide Keep giving us handy tips. Are you on Twitter?

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks - will do. Sorry, I’m not active on Twitter.

[@hen9trout]

Thank you for some really sensible, easy to understand and practical ideas. As a total novice, I shall be looking out for more of your bird photography clips.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi Gavin. I'm glad you found it useful, thanks for watching.

[@edselharrison]

Great content.

[@charlesbane]

Great advice Scott ! I'm new here, just doing a bit of catching up..Thank you ..

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Well, welcome to the channel and thank for looking around.

[@JC.Journey]

Great video. Informative and helpful, thank you. Have a wonderful day!

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks for watching.

[@tomhendron2357]

Truly appreciate your pleasant and practical expertise on photographing wildlife, especially of birds, waterfowl and the like. Wonderful videos that explain in a straight forward manner. Keep up the great work and look forward to your future insights to wildlife photography.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you so much, I'm glad it's useful. Thanks for watching.

[@paulpritam7054]

Very nice video. Can u put a video on back button focus

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks. I'll add that idea to the list. Thanks for watching.

[@raylander6329]

These are awesome videos, Scott; lot to learn from you

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you Ray, glad it’s useful.

[@raylander6329]

Really good video; thank you for the great explanation and images

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks for watching

[@davet3530]

Very well explained Scott, and with good examples. Having a mat is a great idea. I finished up lying on the ground to photograph a Purple Emperor butterfly that was getting minerals from the gravel of a forest path. Oh how those pebbles dug into my chest and arms. The end result was worth it though. Keep up the good work.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi Dave. Glad it was useful. A mat is definitely one of the most useful items you can have. I try to always keep one in the car. I hope you got a nice shot of the butterfly. Thanks for watching.

[@CZOV]

Good man!

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you

[@stans6582]

Excellent video Scott, the low angle pov is amazing,...............if you get the chance and have permission, a floating hide can give you a lot of flexibility......thanks forb posting

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi Stan. That is something I’d love to do. I’ve actually had a go at building my own floating hide. But it was too big to carry very far. I might have to invest in buying a lightweight one. Great suggestion, and thanks for watching.

[@RobNotANumber]

Magic stuff Scott! Thank you!

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks for watching.

[@christianpetersen1782]

Scott, I’m really enjoying your videos and photos. Thank you for all the information you freely share. I have learned a lot from you and subbed. I notice from your videos you use about 600-800mm focal length. How far away (minimum distance) do the small birds have to be? Thanks for a really lovely channel.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi Christian. Sorry for the delay, I've been away and got loads of comments to catch up on. If it's a small tit, finch, wren sized bird is probably about 2.5 - 3m away at 600mm and 3.5 - 4 m at 800mm. I hope that helps.

[@stephenelderphoto]

I was really surprised at the shutter speeds you were able to use! Very informative 😀

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Yeah, they drift across the water quite slowly and with your elbows on the ground the camera is very stable - so you can get away with quite slow shutter speeds. Thanks for watching.

[@clivewelch1025]

Hello Scott this video came up on my feed so gave it a watch and what a refreshing change it was, hints and tips with no techno Babel brilliant suffice to say I've just subscribed.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you very much. It’s nice to hear that as I try to keep jargon to a minimum. I’m always open to questions and ideas. So ask away if you have any thoughts. Thanks for watching and subscribing.

[@FollowThomas]

Thanks for sharing your experience to become a better bird photographer. 👍🙂

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.

[@geofffield7805]

I just ordered a gimbal head - and then thought "Do I really need it?" I found your videos on using a gimbal with tripod and monopod and now I feel much more confident. Your videos are full of good advice and encouraging tips. I got into bird photography last year through garden birds in lockdown and then a trip to RSPB Bempton Cliffs but I'm now exploring wildlife in the Cotswolds countryside and further afield. Your videos offer good, clear advice and I have to say I'm now hooked on your channel. A big thank you! Keep up the good work.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you so much, that’s really nice to hear. Good luck with your wildlife photography in the Cotswolds - it’s a beautiful area I’ve been to a number of times but I’ve never done any wildlife photography there. I hope you get on well with your gimbal head. I’m sure you’ll wonder how you ever managed without one. All the best.

[@marcuscarrozzo632]

Brilliant video for a newbie like myself. Thank you Scott.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@glennhunt2375]

Hi Scott, like the previous commenter have just come across your channel found this video so clear and straight forward and you have produced some very nice images from that session. Have had a few years at wildlife photography myself but can see this type of presentation being very useful for the beginner. Have subscribed myself. 👍

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you very much. There’s a really good wide range of experience on here and it’s great that we can all share with each other. So if you ever have tips or comments that others would find useful, please drop them in the comments. People seem to really appreciate it. Thanks for watching and subscribing.

[@jaumeclaramuntimas9109]

Thank you for all your advice, Scott. Great stuff indeed! But what about people that wear glasses? Getting your eyes so low and flat is a pain to the neck. Do you recommend using the flipping screen? I don’t like it very much… You can’t get old! 😩

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi. Yes, being down low for a long time can hurt the neck. I make sure that I keep my neck moving in between photographs so that I don't stay in the same position for a long time. I'm not a fan of the flip screen either. One of the benefits of using the eyepiece is that it keep your camera steady. Having two elbows on the ground and the camera pressed against you eye means there are three points of contact, which keep your camera stead like a tripod. I'm not quite sure how the glasses effect you. I know a number of bespectacled photographers who use the eyepiece with their glasses. An alternative is to use something to act as a tripod, such as a Platypod. Then you can sit on a camp stool and look down at the flip screen. As I mentioned, it's much better if you can be flat on the ground, but this would be OK as an alternative.

[@SkylarkFields]

What about us oldies who can't get down low?!! :) Seriously though, very good tips and lovely shots to illustrate what you are saying. Always enjoy your videos. Thank you!

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thank you very much. One option you’ve got if you can’t get down low is to find a man made pond where there’s a bank rising up to the water. Harder to find but I’ve seen these a few times with old gravel pits that have been filled up with water. Take a little fishing stool and you can sit there all day with your camera at water level.

[@SkylarkFields]

@@WalksOnTheWildSide Ah! I know what you mean, yes, that is a good idea, thank you for the suggestion. I shall have to check around for something like that as the birds do look a lot more attractive when you shoot from low down.

[@raylander6329]

Get a skimmer ground pod, about $99 at B&H; and a mirrorless camera with flip screen

[@SkylarkFields]

@@raylander6329 Thank you for your suggestion! :)

[@thescouser8629]

Use of a skimmer plate can be helpful particularly with a heavy lense. Have also found helpful with low level hares and shorebirds

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Good tip. I also use one occasionally - I’ve got the PlatyPod Max version - I think the only video I’ve used it in was the grey seals video, but it is a really useful tool. Thanks for watching.

[@kevins8575]

The problem I run into is when there is a sharp line at the bank which cuts through the bird, often through the neck. Then, raising the camera gives shots that are more pleasing to me.

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi Kevin. I agree, and I prefer it if the far bank doesn't cross the bird's body. As with everything in photography, it's about compromises - bank crosses body vs the water being more in focus. Either way, they're probably not going to be the best shots, but can still be nice nonetheless. Thanks for watching.

[@wingwalker007]

I’d be interested to know what auto focusing (assuming you don’t manually focus) point you use. Again I’m assuming you use a single point focus rather than all the points

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi. It varies. For these types of shots in this video I would use a single focus point. If I was photographing birds in flight I would use expanded spot (as Sony calls it), basically a single point with a group of other points around it. And yes, sometimes manual focus - for example a small bird in a bunch of reeds - the autofocus can latch on to other things, so I would manually focus. Thanks for the question and for watching.

[@tamarawilliams9951]

Hi Walks! I need to find somewhere I can get down on the ground for water fowl. Where I usually spend my time, it is a National Wildlife Refuge and there goal is to protect the birds so there is a sloping embankment that is marsh leading to the water. I am not allowed to step onto that marsh land/foliage. Thus video, as always, provided great tips. Thank you!

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi Tamara. Thanks. I hope you find somewhere you can get to water level - it's very much worth it.

[@peterviragphoto]

Great video Scott! I’m about to upload a bird photography vlog as well haha. Great tips & some beautiful shots mate, love them! Especially that mallard at the end with the blurred wings rising out of the water, spectacular!😍😍😍 Hope you’re having a great weekend! Cheers:)

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks mate. I shall be sure to watch it when I get home later. Have a good one.

[@peterviragphoto]

@@WalksOnTheWildSide No worries😊 Have a good one!

[@cheemy1000]

Were you in Attenborough Nature Reserve during this shoot Scott?

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi Karl, I was indeed.

[@cheemy1000]

@@WalksOnTheWildSide One of my favourite walks. I enjoy your videos, keep up the good work.

[@finyo83]

Would you recommend a right angle viewfinder for getting as low as possible?

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi. Generally, no. Your camera gets a lot of support from having your elbows on the ground with your camera pushed up against your face. You effectively make a tripod out of your body. If you use a right angle viewfinder you lose one of those points of contact - making your camera less stable. However, if you suffer with neck pain, the right angle viewfinder might be a good alternative - you will probably need to increase your shutter speed though for the reduced stability. Another alternative is to use a plate based tripod. For example, I use the PlatyPod Max sometimes. The plate will give you more stability, but you won’t get quite as low. I hope that helps.

[@finyo83]

@@WalksOnTheWildSide thanks!

[@markusbolliger1527]

I am mainly a forest- and landscape photographer, and bird photography is new for me, but I want to try it out, and for my first steps your suggestions, which are the fruit of long experience, are very welcomed! May I ask with which lens you shot these examples from waterfowls? Thank you very much!

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Thanks for your question. I shot these with the Sony 200-600mm. But any lens over 300mm should be fine if your waterfowl are fairly tame and will swim close to you. If they're more afraid of humans, then a lens that gets you close to 600mm will be better. Good look with your waterfowl shots and thanks for watching.

[@markusbolliger1527]

@@WalksOnTheWildSide Thank you very much! Your images look great! As a Nikon- shooter I am waiting für the Nikkor Z 200-600mm, which is scheduled on Nikon's lens roadmap; it should see the light of day in the current year.

[@alessio71r18]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍

[@TatraScrambler]

What magic did you do to make the birds stay (some bait perhaps)? Whenever I approach the shore of a lake, reservoir or a riverbank, all the birds immediately flush and go to the other side of the goddamn river/pond etc. even though I move slowly in zigzags, avoid eye contact etc. If I put up my popup hide it is also mostly given a wide berth by the waterfowl; I have just watched your great green woodpecker video and I cannot stress enough how important fieldcraft is in wildlife/bird photography. Most other wildlife/bird photo channels on YT approach the matter from the rear end so to speak (and hardly ever care to make a similar video) - nearly all of these folks focus exclusively on gear and the technical side of photography; but what on Earth are their advice good for if I cannot get within 100 m of the bird... If would greatly appreciate if someone finally devoted their channel purely to fieldcraft in wildlife photography; after all, pressing the button only comes second; it's getting close to the subject w/o scaring it away that is really important; Thank you for that video!

[@WalksOnTheWildSide]

Hi. No magic or baiting in this case. A lot depends on how habituated the birds are. If you go to a place where the birds are used to coming into contact with humans - perhaps a pond where people regularly walk, or even feed the waterfowl - then you will find it easier. I do occasionally use bait for some species and I talk about this when I do it. But I try not to do it often for a variety of reasons. The waterfowl will move away when I first approach, but if I stay there long enough they come back and start to ignore me. If I stay for a long time (hours), I have sometimes experienced that the birds will get too close to me to even get a photograph ie too close to focus on with a super-telephoto lens. It's also worth remembering that different species have different instincts on how to react and survive perceived threats. Generally ducks are the most trusting, the heron family (herons, egrets, bitterns, cranes etc) are perhaps the least trusting and I often use some kind of hide or camouflage to get close to them. Diving birds like grebes will always seem elusive, but they really aren't. They can swim a long way under water. So they may dive and reappear at the other side of the pond. But if you wait long enough they'll pop up at your side of the pond. Also many species are much less trusting during the mating and breeding seasons. I'm glad you find the fieldcraft elements interesting. I will continue to try and provide a balance of this in videos. Thanks for watching and for you comment.