How to Photograph Diving Red Kites - Mirrorless & DSLR (Focusing, Camera Settings & Techniques)

[@jamesmcleod4335]

Fantastic video as always!

[@edkaminski6355]

I think that the number 1 technique is to go somewhere that you can see a Red Kite !!!!!!! I have only seen 1 Kite of any kind where I live in Northern Michigan. If there are no Kites, camera and lens don't really matter. Wish I could afford to travel to feed my bird photography addiction!!!! Love your content and delivery style. Cheers.

[@guyjackson4143]

In the states Kites are a different species than in the UK. They are mostly found in the Midwest to southern states and are not flocking birds as their UK kin are. The UK birds are also scavengers, in the states that's primarily the work of vultures.

[@paulbaldwin2290]

Great advice Paul ! Excellent footage and photos absolute credit to you 👏👏👏brilliant filming

[@roylansbrian4722]

Great advice I live in West Yorkshire and we get plenty of Red kites around here.A fantastic bird to see,and photograph.

[@WildlifePhotographerUK]

Great video and images Paul, I was at Gigrin on Tuesday and got some stunning photos, of these amazing birds. 👍

[@nickclaytonphotography]

Helpful & informative vlog, thanks Paul

[@Gazmaz]

Great info thanks we are lucky enough to live on a hill and every day we have red kites flying round us, we have also seen them doing their courting dance.

[@CamillaI]

Love Red Kites a real success story near me ! I had some lovely full frame shots on Salisbury Plain last weekend ! Great video Paul 👍

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Excellent. Yes, they have spread out amazingly.

[@johnlindseyphotography1704]

Great video mate.

[@k00r0sh]

Congratulations on your R6 mate. I sold my r6 , got the r6 ii and r5. Get the 600 mm f11 for more speed and side hand lens. You won't be disappointed.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks for that. I may get that 600mm for a few days and do a review.

[@tintin69rr]

Def on my bucket list to head down to wales and muddy boots cafe near harewood house

[@cerealkiller4248]

Some great images here, very very sharp in lovely light. I have them flying over our garden daily. Tomorrow we were planning to go visit a feeding station so I can get some shots, there are a few in Wales. What lens would you recommend for my R6, I have a 300/2.8, Mk1 500/4 or Mk1 100-400………… Thanks

[@strongandco]

It's always interesting to hear peoples thoughts on photographing these fantastic birds. Something I've found is that is that if you're shooting at a feeding station it's best to wait until the birds have thinned out before you start shooting. Unless there are a couple of birds fighting over food or maybe 3 flying in an interesting formation, having more than one bird in the frame often looks unnatural. (in the initial frenzy the sky and the ground will be packed with birds and it's hard to single just one bird out)

[@ianpawson1356]

I'm going to have to get over to Harewood when we have some settled blue sky, so far whenever I try to get shots it grey and doesn't do the colours justice

[@SkylarkFields]

Fabulous advice. We only get the odd kite in our local area, so now and then we jump in the van and travel a couple of hours to places we are guaranteed to see some. I already use some of your tips but now I am armed with even more thanks to this video. Really enjoyed this one, thank you!

[@sraja1834]

Hello Paul, I have been following your videos, and it has been very informative. It has been very interesting to learn different exposure settings. On a morning clear blue sky. The bird's gets under exposed the blue sky is more prominent. What exposure settings do you suggest.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

It's tricky. I did make a video about shooting birds against the sky where I probably answered that. It depends on the sky and also the strength of sunlight

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

If you found the information here useful, check out this in depth video on Red Kite Photography: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5_CmaGraa54ebM

[@bertswart7551]

Thanks for the info! How close do you get to the birds? Do you still need a lot of cropping?

[@strongandco]

If you go to a feeding station they will get very close to the hides. How much you crop depends on your effective field of view/camera and lens combo. You're best off leaving plenty of space around your subject as the action happens so fast the bird will often be off centre and you want some space around your subject to crop for a pleasing composition.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Most of these images are only cropped a little.

[@markwalton9045]

How are you finding BBF? I’ve tried and tried. On your advice way back,think I will stick with front button focus. Another great video.👍🏾

[@pdel7007]

I thought BBf was a bit unnecessary but trying to get birds in trees and footballers (not in the same shot! ) I have adopted dual BBf like Paul . It might seem fiddly to start but I think it's the way to go

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

It does make sense, however I still find it uncomfortable. It will work for a lot of people, but I'm still trying to decide what's for me!!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Totally understand. So between you and me (and 37K subscribers...) I am using BBF.. but I'm not massively enjoying it. The focus options on my R6 make it a bit trickier to come up with the best solution.. but I'll get there. For now I just do my best to keep the bird sharp!

[@terrybrooks395]

Red Kites aren't Raptors, nice shooting though, thanks for the tips

[@messylaura]

red kites are easy, try british bats, they fly around like ping pong balls in a washing macnine

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Lol.! You're trying to photograph Bats in flight?? Good luck...