Unexpected Encounters: A Photography Story

[@EricWoodyVariety59]

Good job. You did the correct thing by staying with the screech owls. Whenever you find any owl you should stay with the subject.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you! I did my best to capture this awesome moment while minimizing the owls stress by concealing myself behind natural camouflage and staying very quiet. It’s a win win for me and the owl! I get to watch more natural behaviours and it doesn’t need to stress about me. Ultimately though, I had to know when to call it quits and leave the owl so that it can truly relax.

[@Adrian.Mueller]

Hey Curtis! I'm always blown away by the quality of what you do. It's crazy how underrated your channel is. That video of the woodpecker is incredible. You did a great job on the sound design! And the owl too, obviously! I've yet to find one in person unfortunately. Your videos are one of my main sources of inspiration when it comes to wildlife photography, so much so that I just uploaded the first video of my own :) If you want and have the time, I'd love some feedback on what I can improve for next time. Love your content, as always. Cheers from Germany.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

I really appreciate your kind words, I'm glad you pointed out the sound design on the woodpecker footage. I used drum kickstand sounds, I wasn't sure if they would be convincing or not haha! I'm always trying out new things. Hopefully in the future I will have a directional mic to record my own wildlife sounds. I will check out your video, cheers!

[@Adrian.Mueller]

@@CurtisSnapshot Ahh, interesting idea! I think the kickstands sound really fitting. It's funny how things can work out in video editing.

[@binsandbirds]

The owl using its wing to help it out of the cavity was so cool to see! Great video - Ben

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Right? Thanks for commenting, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ventureawayvlogs]

Top notch quality, looks so good! The snow sure makes for some beautiful scenery too

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@LetsGoOutdoors]

Just discovered your channel Curtis, great stuff! Cheers from Alberta.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Cheers!

[@mabrno]

Finally! Been looking forward to enjoy some new content from you.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you, I’m glad to be back! As we move into spring I will be posting more regularly again.

[@liveadventureexplore]

That was some awsome owl footage!

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@mariafernandesaraujo7813]

Beautiful thank you ❤

[@CurtisSnapshot]

I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@Deccerz97]

one of my new favourite wildlife vloggers. your videos bring me much happiness and warms my heart alot. thank you for sharing like always

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad my videos bring you happiness.

[@NatureInspiredSnipsnSnaps]

what a thrill, epic footage of the owl, great adventure, enjoyed, glad came across your channel, new sub.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

[@CreatedByGwen]

You could not script that any better 😆 I really loved watching you explore this winter wonderland, so amazing just how much is out there waiting for you to find when you least expect it. It's so different to what we have here 🦘 I really do enjoy watching your adventures.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Winter can get really difficult, sometimes it takes weeks to find something interesting. But knowing moments like this are just around the corner make it all worth it. Plus the snow is undeniably pretty, even if I get a little tired of winter towards the end. 😅 Thank you for commenting!

[@kethhekel]

Looks awesome. As the video progressed and reading your description, I literally have the same exact gear as you, so it's cool to see someone doing what I want to do with the same gear. I need to go on a hike. (Just got into photography and videography)

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thats awesome, good-luck on your adventures and thanks for commenting, I really appreciate it!

[@vandamner]

Truly great screech moment. At first I thought was it a yawn? Do owls yawn? Then it dropped the waste. So cool. Thanks for what you do.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Haha, it’s always so cool to see behaviours like this! I have seen an owl yawn a few times too, after a big stretch from a long nap.

[@joncothranphotography9375]

As a former deer hunter, I have found that deer are better found by being still and letting them come to you. Great video!

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Some patience and planning could have certainly paid off! I guess I was stuck in my old ways, as this strategy worked the very first time I explored these woods 2 years ago. Thanks for commenting, glad you enjoyed!

[@PhilT993]

Wow! You did a really great job with this video. Loved the Palliated and Screech videos. I've noticed way less deer in my local woods, here in Ottawa, since Covid. Maybe because there seems to a lot more people roaming the trails as the "work from home" 🙂 Gongrats on the amazing Eagle shots too. That is a rare sighting around here.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you so much! There has been less deer activity here as-well, ever since my first visit 2 years ago. Some of that is due to subdivision expansion into the woods I was exploring.

[@tylertakesphotos]

Beautiful Footage man! Great Job

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thanks Tyler, I appreciate it!

[@Brodmoor]

I have a pair of GHO’s a mile down the street from me and I’m the only one that knows about them, which gets me so excited

[@CurtisSnapshot]

That’s an awesome feeling! Hopefully you will get to observe some nesting behaviour.

[@Brodmoor]

@@CurtisSnapshot I’ve been with them for about 2 years and unfortunately they never end up having babies 😫 they do have somewhat of a nest but maybe this year they will

[@CurtisSnapshot]

@@Brodmoor awh that’s unfortunate, fingers crossed!

[@andreanefraser9322]

Awesome stuff! I swear I have spent more time looking up in the trees this winter than looking where I am going when I am in the bush... no owls so far though. No deer either ;-)

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Haha that’s been me recently, since getting back from this trip. 🦉 Thanks for commenting, I’m glad you enjoyed.

[@Wildlifevideopicture]

Great video and beautiful film and photos!! //KD

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you!

[@MarcSnow1220]

Amazing, really amazing! Owls are so beautiful, to see and photograph! Great video.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you so much! I cherish every owl encounter, I’ve been very lucky so far this year.

[@randomphotoadventure]

What an awesome video again Curtis. Loved the eagle encounter! I had a very similar experience a few weeks ago and watching your video brought me right back to it! I also hope you get some more time with those owls in the future.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you, really glad you enjoyed the video! I’m home now, so I won’t be seeing this particular owl again… however I may just so happened to have found a mating pair here at home! I’m super excited to see what happens.

[@caseyoingo6440]

New subscriber here from Ontario Canada great channel

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you so much!

[@joeaggio1038]

Stunning so jealous, one day hopefully I would love to come hike photography session with you.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you Joe, I appreciate the comment! You capture some great swan photos, I could learn a thing or two!

[@JoshuaStandingHarvey]

Its great to see you back again, January was a dry spell and i missed your content. I cant wait to see what you produce this year!

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you, glad to be back! I have one more video from collingwood, then I’ve gotta get back on some adventures here at home.

[@outdoorztime2923]

Very nice captures! Did the Screech Owl get anyone else out there to yawn, as it did me? Then came the up-chuck, ew. My wife has that same setup as you, Mr. Curtis. Gotta love the Sony!

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Guilty, the owl made me yawn while editing! Haha. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for commenting!

[@Big-Dave117]

Good to see you again and a nice adventure too, it’s good to see you talk about the not finding anything, when you go out because it does happen, I call it “pot luck’’ because wildlife is wild and you can’t pick what you see, but you can only hope to see what you wanted to see, don’t be a stranger even if you don’t see anything film it post it, its still an adventure to anyone that doesn’t come from your location👌🏻

[@CurtisSnapshot]

You can definitely learn how to increase your chances of seeing a specific animal, but you're so right, it really is a "pot luck"! I'll continue showing this side of wildlife photography, thanks for commenting, really glad you enjoy!

[@Big-Dave117]

@@CurtisSnapshot always enjoy your videos, I live in the uk so their always great to watch to see different species you find that are normal to you but cool to see, also agree with the research aspect but it’s just good to walk out the door with the camera and see what I see or don’t see, the main thing is you get outside on a mission to document wildlife and try and get a cool shot of something you may or may not have seen, that’s the thing I like about it, no expectations wildlife is wild.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

@@Big-Dave117 I couldn’t agree more, that’s my main strategy, just get out there and discover the unexpected. Searching for specific species causes me to miss out on many other animals.

[@temp24Lno5]

Beautiful video, Curtis. Pretty much the same birds as we have in Quebec. Joan

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed the video.

[@iandalziel3541]

Enjoyed the vide.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

I’m glad you enjoyed, thanks for commenting!

[@milala-kw4zy]

Nice Video Thanks❤

[@CurtisSnapshot]

I'm glad you enjoyed, thank you for commenting!

[@russellwebb3672]

Enjoyed that one always good when you find the unexpected. What compass app did you use please?Thanks.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed! That was the compass app that comes with iPhones. Whether or not it’s always accurate, I’m unsure. I’m hoping it was, because I thought it was pretty neat that the tree cavity happened to be pointing south, just like the internet had said.

[@ar.rashidvlog]

nice

[@derek.productions.photos]

I’ve heard that Fairbanks Sudbury has lots of deer

[@CurtisSnapshot]

That would be an awesome trip! I'll keep it in mind. I did have a great new location for deer, and I even got some really good photos when I was out scouting the area. However, hunting season started before I could get back out and film a video there. So the search continues! haha

[@milosmokry]

Very nice video. This year, after testing the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS and Tc 2x with it, I have to say that the aperture f/2.8 or with tc f/5.6 at 600mm helps me a lot in low light conditions. I also had a Sony 200-600mm, but after trying this I decided to go for it straight away. The lens is really expensive, but I was completely blown away by the results and it became my go-to for wildlife. For example, small details and the texture of birds is rendered in detail. I still tested 400gm and 600gm, but the 300 beat them. A big benefit is the weight of 1.4 Kg. What do you think?

[@CurtisSnapshot]

That sounds like a very intriguing combination, I haven’t seen much of the new 300mm f2.8 yet. At some point I plan on adding a wide aperture telephoto lens to my kit, this could be the one!

[@basiljose6233]

Bro..Nice photos.. Do you use any noise reduction software for these photos??

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Pretty much all the photos up until the owl were processed in DXO denoise. The screech owl was very still, allowing me to perfect my settings, keeping the ISO very low. I usually try to include that info with overlays in the video, but this project just took up a lot of time. Thanks for commenting, glad you enjoyed!

[@killahh1]

Love the content. Curious if your gear is waterproof to shoot in those conditions?

[@CurtisSnapshot]

My gear has great weather proofing and it’s held up in conditions like these, as well as heavy rain. I always make sure to dry everything off thoroughly after the adventure. However as my gear ages, I imagine there’s more risk for water damage to occur. Thanks for commenting, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@niechcial]

Hey, I have the FX30 camera and the 70-200GMII f2.8 lens. I lack focal length for wildlife photography. To get a nice picture, I need to get really close, which usually ends in a certain way. I see you have the 200-600. However, I was thinking of buying a 2.0x converter for my 70-200. With an APS-C sensor, I think I'll have similar results to yours with the 200-600mm.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

If I recall that combination can create good results! Olle Nilsson made a video on it a while back. I think he used the 2x and the 70-200 on a full frame camera though. Here’s a link if you want to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqi3ZXttnr17jNEsi=FfLboh4fy8BpULqs

[@niechcial]

@@CurtisSnapshot I think I'll go for that 2.0x. However, I'll need to save up quite a bit of money, so it'll be a while before I buy it. :D Actually, I'm not too concerned about super sharp photos because in case of any issues, I use AI, as he mentioned. Similarly, I use AI for videos if the quality drops. Nonetheless, in Poland, buying a teleconverter is over $600. Quite a lot.

[@Karthwarr]

Your photos look better with every video. I’ve always wanted to ask you what your exact focus settings are. I have a A7RIII with the same lens and I always use spot focus and find myself missing too many shots.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you, I really appreciate that! I use a medium tracking zone with bird eye auto focus. Here's a video I made a while back showing you how I have my camera setup. Hopefully it covers everything! The link will skip straight to the focus settings, feel free to start the video from the begging if you would like :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gavFd3yGjseUoacsi=yioQ3dsZUYqri-VV&t=165

[@Karthwarr]

@@CurtisSnapshot much appreciated

[@AlexMcDougallPhotography]

Lovely video what a great area to live, do you get frustrated with the 10 frames per second on the Sony, or do you find it be OK? Thanks.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you so much! I don’t find my self getting frustrated by the slower frames per second. In fact, because I’m shooting in uncompressed raw, the camera is limited to only 6fps. But of course it comes down to the style and preference of the photographer.

[@AlexMcDougallPhotography]

@CurtisSnapshot Hi thanks, I only ask because I'm considering getting the same set up myself, your images are excellent.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

@@AlexMcDougallPhotography it’s an excellent camera, the autofocus feels like cheating. I can only imagine how much has changed in the newer cameras already. But I still think the a7iv is a great bet in 2024. If you have any questions feel free to ask me, other wise just watch some different videos around KZbin and I think you’ll be happy with the purchase!

[@AlexMcDougallPhotography]

@CurtisSnapshot Thanks it seems a bargain in the secondhand market.

[@hakkifidan7546]

Merhaba Curtis, videolar için teşekkürler, keyifle izliyorum. Tripod K&F sanırım. Kafa kısmının ve ayak kısmının modeli nedir? Teşekkürler.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Thank you! Sorry for the late reply, this is the exact tripod I'm currently using: www.kentfaith.com/KF09.083_Trépied%20compact%20léger%20en%20aluminium%2050%20pouces%20TM2515M1%20pour%20Canon,%20appareil%20photo%20Nikon%20DSLR

[@hakkifidan7546]

@@CurtisSnapshot thank you

[@angelo_wsnr]

Hey great video and beautiful shots ! just wondering what drive mode you use and do you shoot compressed raw or uncompressed?

[@CurtisSnapshot]

I have my cameras drive mode set to High+ and uncompressed raw photos. With these settings the camera can only shoot 6fps, so I'm able to take just one photo at a time or hold the shutter down to capture the action. I have played around with compressed raw, as this allows the camera to reach its full potential of 10fps and there doesn't appear to be a loss in quality. However I just really like knowing I'm getting the most out of my photo files with uncompressed. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed!

[@David_Quinn_Photography]

deer are a tough group to capture, the only time I get good photos is when the rut 1st starts, bucks are dumb and walk right in front of you.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Ah, I’ll have to try and come back during the rut then! Thanks for commenting.

[@EricWoodyVariety59]

I'll take Owls all day over deer.

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Haha owls are incredible! I really thought deer were going to be a quick easy subject, Owls on the other hand were the last thing I was expecting to find.

[@UnluckyNewbie]

Hello! Why you use single shuter? Why not silent "spray and pray"? You will have much more good pictures if you will use electronic shutter

[@CurtisSnapshot]

Hi there! The silent shutter is a great tool for situations where it's crucial not to disturb wildlife, such as the owl. However, I tend to avoid using it for smaller, more active bird subjects. These subjects move unpredictably, and the silent shutter, particularly at higher shutter speeds, can introduce noticeable distortion due to the rolling shutter effect. This is why I prefer not to rely on it. Regarding my camera's drive mode, it's set to high+ uncompressed RAW, allowing me to shoot at 6 photos per second. This rate is manageable enough for me to take single shots or burst photos as needed to capture the action. This way I don’t capture too many unnecessary images. Thank you for commenting!

[@Nwbama]

Why don’t you put the camera up to your eye.?

[@CurtisSnapshot]

I use the flip out screen a lot so that I can quickly show the audience what I’m doing and how the camera is working. Otherwise I use it occasionally for awkward angles, where I physically can’t get low enough. The view finder is definitely more effective in most situations! Thanks for commenting!