TOP TIP FOR BIRD AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY !

The top tip for bird and wildlife photography to get the best shots and be prepared for your upcoming photography adventures. Filmed in Kodiak Alaska as we capture some Harlequin Ducks and Semi-palmated Plovers.
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WHO I AM.
My name is Scott West and I am a nature and wildlife photographer located in Alaska. I am very lucky to live in a place surrounded by amazing landscapes and even more amazing wildlife.
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Scott

[@WILDALASKA]

All images labeled from me (Scott) in the settings were taken with the Z9 and not the R7. Everything else is correct. Editing the video at 1 AM after a full day of hiking and photographing in Kodiak is not a good combo.

[@Karkawry1970]

My top tip is know everything you can about the habitat and habits of your subjects. This will enable you to position yourself in the right place at the right time, at the best closeness/distance from your subject..

[@WILDALASKA]

Knowing your quarry is very important and is part of the 'practice" ;)

[@ahsukh245]

You are awesome. Thanks so much for your hard work and sharing

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks for watching

[@roberthana8800]

I really enjoyed this video great points.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TomazNMelo-tf9sc]

I like your photos, specially because you include the habitat many times. Thanks for always sharing your experience, tips and gear opinions with the community.

[@WILDALASKA]

Glad you like them!

[@CharlieD954]

Great advice... practicing with your equipment in different scenarios will lead to better results. I have my camera presets and customized button to prepare for quick changes. Keep up the great Alaskan videos...hope to be there again in summertime.

[@WILDALASKA]

Good stuff!

[@RadAlzyoud]

You're totally right. Trying to figure out your camera, lens, process, or technique when you're in the middle of a big event or trip? Not the best move.

[@WILDALASKA]

Absolutely!

[@motivatedoutdoors]

Always enjoy your videos! 😊 I feel like we all are guilty of not practicing enough. Especially when we become more experienced and begin to feel we don't need to practice.

[@WILDALASKA]

Thanks and very true

[@matthewbell1968]

Excellent video and advice Scott thanks. You've got me thinking about getting an R8 as back up to my R7. Jared Polín has just done a video and he backs up what you say about the R8's AF. He puts it ahead of the z9 and z8.......

[@WILDALASKA]

Good camera

[@georgemccormick1247]

Thanks Scott, short post headed out to practice.👀👀

[@WILDALASKA]

🤪

[@eskay2250]

Thanks for video Scott and loved seeing those plovers. Only limiter with my R7 100-400mm combo is lack of weather sealing so tend to avoid damp conditions or rain

[@WILDALASKA]

Don and I use a lens coat rain cover. Here is a link to them. Very very well made and tough. amzn.to/44HWDCu

[@eskay2250]

@@WILDALASKAThanks Scott! I've been using a vinyl waterproof marine bag for when I go out in kayak, but your suggestion looks like a great idea for when I'm out Bush walking

[@mondujar279]

That’s good advice, when I go out I will shoot anything I see, crows sparrows etc to practice and get myself tuned in and make sure the camera settings are correct. Then if I see something good I am ready. Thank goodness I am not using film!!!

[@WILDALASKA]

good method

[@cathco9]

This!!! You are 100% correct, Scott. I need to practice birds in flight. My nemesis. When I'm reviewing images, hindsight is always 20/20. I know what I should have done at the time. So why didn't I? I need to think more when I'm actually shooting. I've mostly shot with my R5. It's the camera I know best with muscle memory. Recently, I decided to shoot with my R7. I'm going to re-watch your tutorial. Thanks for all you do for us. I've learned a lot. -Cathy, NJ.

[@WILDALASKA]

practice with different speed birds also. I get caught out when I shoot a lot of same speed birds and I over lead or under lead the bird too much.

[@jeffolson4731]

I love Harlequin Ducks and yes, they are difficult to get close too. It doesn't usually help, at least not here, that they like rocky shores and rough water. I agree completely about the need to practice. The camera needs to be an extension of you so you don't have to think about what to do. I find that many people seems to think of common birds as being undesirable to photograph. They aren't. Mallards are a pretty duck and if you follow them all year you will see different plumage. They aren't typically that shy so that helps. Heck, crows are common and difficult to photograph well. Practicing on birds that have both black and white helps a lot. You really have to keep an eye on your exposure to keep details in both colors of feathers.

[@WILDALASKA]

I could not agree more. Mallards head coloring is amazing. And yes high contrast birds are a pain. Eagles....ugh give me fits with what head and dark plumage especially in bright sun conditions.

[@davidsherman3462]

I don't know if I asked this before but how do you shot the stills? All manual or all auto ISO or combination of all? thanks

[@WILDALASKA]

Always full manual.. that way I control the exposure and can play with the light more in the images and try to get it right IN camera if I can.

[@yacinesalmi4416]

Absolutely right.... Can I just add, you can add the name of the species with the Exif. Would bé great. Thanks

[@WILDALASKA]

I usually do ad what the species is in the video or images. I was editing this video at 1 am after hiking and shooting here in Kodiak all day. so a few normal things got dropped. for quick reference, harlequin Ducks, Western Sandpipers, and semi palmated plover adults and chicks

[@user-hu5er7ew5v]

How about Zv-E10? I just bought one and whole set filters from Kase store. Want to find more skill!

[@WILDALASKA]

🤷‍♂️

[@PeteCroft1]

Practice makes perfect. Looks like most of your posted shots were from the R7 but you had the Z9 on your 500?

[@lewcehjitl3282]

The canon R7 has a better hit rate than Nikons flagship Z9. So sad.

[@WILDALASKA]

Yes all the shots credited to me (Scott) were with the z9 body and the EF 500 MKII with the fringer adapter. I edited this video at around 1 am after spending about 14 hours hiking, driving, and slogging through the rain and muck here in Kodiak, Alaska. Mistakes were made lol. good catch also

[@WILDALASKA]

@@lewcehjitl3282 depends on the situation really on hit rate. but af acquisition is insane on canons cameras, but in some situations I can hit a subject quicker with the Z9 as its focus method is very different than canons. And other times its the reverse