Make One Nice Photo Today - Managing Expectations in Wildlife Photography

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[@jasoneldridgephotography]

It is always great to see you out taking photos. It isn't always exciting but it is still entertaining!! Thanks for sharing with us Steve.

[@SteveMattheis]

👍glad you enjoyed it

[@isoawe1888]

Another great video showing what we go through. Spent 10 hours a day , for several days , watching a Sandhill crane nest. Ended up missing hatch, but got shots of 1 hour old chicks. All about patience. I find it therapeutic. 😊

[@SteveMattheis]

Nice work!

[@mikecrowley6485]

Photography and Nature combined can be an unbelievable stress reliever. So you’re totally right about just enjoying the time out in nature and not stressing over getting the perfect photo every time. Great video Steve 👍🏻

[@SteveMattheis]

👍 thanks for watching

[@brucegraner5901]

Wise philosophy for a great place to be mentally and physically.

[@joncothranphotography9375]

Cool shot Steve! Thanks for letting us tag along. The ability to make the "one photo" in that area is a bit more fun. The prospective critters are so great! Keep up the great work!

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@victorguardia8272]

The important thing is to go out breath clean air, enjoy nature and of you are able to shoot a nice photo, that’s a bonus!

[@SteveMattheis]

True 👍

[@themountainwanderer]

Just being in a place like that is a blessing. When you live in or at least close to great nature you tend to take it for granted. I have to keep reminding myself that most people looking at my photos are city dwellers who have to take a considerable trip somewhere to just see a deer.

[@VABrowneMDPhD]

The Tetons are always so beautiful! Snow on the ground with the colorful sandhill cranes against a dark background really made the images come alive! I like the way that you emphasized the importance of the background in choosing your composition.

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks Vaughn!

[@randywendel4671]

I liked that bit of heat wave along the horizon above the snow line.

[@rynoshep1513]

Some thoughts on your “boring video” statement at 7:40ish…Verbalizing your thought processes and seeing someone of your caliber at work is as exciting if not more exciting than cool wildlife interactions. As a beginner, I admittedly use KZbin as a parasocial mentorship since I’ve not found many people locally that can guide me, so the times where we get to see what goes on in your head is always really good for my creativity and building my skills. The sequences of decision-making, throughout the video, but especially with the crane, was more entertaining than videos with large sequences of b-roll in my opinion. I also love your words of wisdom at the end of most videos. Just my thoughts, so take them as you wish, but I found this video really entertaining!

[@SteveMattheis]

Glad to hear this, thanks for watching!

[@montanaguy51]

I saw a few Cranes yesterday up near Seeley Lake (close to Missoula), Montana. I always enjoy watching them. For some reason they are always up that way in the spring.

[@randyschwager84]

Always good to see you! Thanks for taking me along!

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@wildbillgreen]

A great attitude to adopt. ❤

[@Greg-rx4pt]

thank you for the video, they never get old.

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@tonybrinkley5824]

Enjoyed the video and inspiration!

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@kurtkemnitzer]

Great video Steve!

[@SteveMattheis]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@randygoodsell1533]

Top shelf video. Great job

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks!

[@fredstockfisch1930]

I liked your intro.....a very funny resemblance of myself....and yes I laugh at myself LOL. Awesome video as usual Stevo.

[@rerolley]

Nice. I am reminded of a project by Jim Brandenburg that resulted in his book "Chased by the light". He challenged himself to take 1 photo a day for 90 days in a row. He was in northern Minnesota. It proved to be a challenge, but the resulting book was interesting and enjoyable.

[@atropicali]

Thanks for sharing I think the wildlife scene in the video is preferable to watch more than a self talk Thanks

[@SteveMattheis]

Cool, thanks

[@michaelsurratt9593]

In the 90s I worked for a golf company. I played a lot of golf. If you have never played, it can be a frustrating game. Someone that worked there said “it’s that one good shot” (that keeps you coming back). Meaning on those bad days, you are out there screwing up, then you hit that one shot of the day that says “you can do it.” I compare the same to my photography. I am out there, I’ll fire off hundreds of crap photos. My goal is to bring back five photos that I don’t despise. Three that are okay. One that I like. It is that one good shot.

[@annmarie3520]

Nice photo!❤

[@SteveMattheis]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@stanpiper8158]

Nice vid. Nice reminder that one good image is often more than enough reward for getting out and into God's handy work. 👏I enjoyed that.

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@neilcole3406]

If l could make one cracking photo every 3 months, l would be happy!

[@seabreezeof]

Gen AI will solve your bush issue, but its always good to get it wright in camera if possible. Enjoyed your outing, if nothing happens, which can happen at times, it's just great being out there... Recharges the battery so to speak. Keep clicking !!

[@SteveMattheis]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@rm8679]

Sandhill Cranes we have in Florida are not afraid of people. You could have stepped out to the car for the shot without the snow block.

[@SteveMattheis]

They are typically quite skittish here, maybe it’s because it’s mating season?

[@ScrimshawPhotography]

I think at the end of the day I probably take like 10-20 good photos a year. And that's out of thousands. Everybody wants to get those 10/10 banger shots every single day but that's just not how it goes. The really good photos come in split second moments that require the right combination of light, composition, and just plain old luck. You can't force magic to happen in photography.

[@SteveMattheis]

True👍

[@johns6290]

love my 400 tc

[@SteveMattheis]

Same

[@toykellie3]

Where can we purchase the thing you put your camera on in the car? Don’t know what you call it off the top of my head lol.

[@slowlyrusting4044]

Google "Camera Bean Bag Lens Support.".

[@uaebifvideo5472]

Bean bag . Many makers different prices !!

[@connielopez6254]

When did you make this video? It says 3 hrs ago. I was up there on Sunday. I saw Sandhills, bears, and a fox. I saw Otter as well, but there was no ice at Oxbow.

[@rontopp]

Posted , not shot.

[@SteveMattheis]

Filmed it in April (I mention that on the intro title in the video)

[@connielopez6254]

@@SteveMattheis ok thanks, sorry about the confusion. I didn't hear the date. But thank you for replying!

[@andycoleman2708]

You still have a lot of snow!

[@SteveMattheis]

This was filmed in April. And it did snow here yesterday…

[@Greg-rx4pt]

I think that point on Moose Wilson rd was where we saw a mother and calf moose feeding on the side of the hill right below that parking area a couple years ago when I was there.