UNEXPECTED Ways To IMPROVE Your Photos (You Probably HAVEN'T TRIED!)

[@GlennBartley]

We hope you all enjoy the show. Thanks for watching and let us know if you found a helpful tip in this episode.

[@gavinrolwes803]

Hey Glenn! have you ever used the canon camera connect app? I'm thinking I'm going to use it to take up close photos and videos of birds and I'm wondering if you have any good tips to get success with it. Thanks a ton for these great videos as well!

[@lorrainegordon7272]

Excellent information. Glenn when in the pond, what tripod do you use?

[@yogeshpuranik80]

Thanks a lot..we wanted it every week...superb info shared here

[@wasil3k]

Like always ! 😁

[@janetteplanck4504]

Loved how you spoke about brightening up the subject and then masking out the blown out whites. Great tip. thank you.

[@Mthompson4545]

Thanks! Hi guys, it’s Mick Thompson. I’m a volunteer photographer for the National Audubon Society (and a judge for their annual photo contest), BirdNote, and many other educational and nonprofit organizations in the U. S. I am always looking for ways to improve both the bird photos I take and the processing afterwards. I have just discovered your channel and wanted to send you some $ to say, Wow! This is exactly what I hope to find on KZbin. So thanks and I’m looking forward to watching your other videos.

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks so much Mick. Glad you’re enjoying the channel. Lots of tips to find here 😀

[@fhmjones]

As usual, a model of effective "youtubing". Engaging in a discussion is some much more effective than just a talking head. And the wisdom you so generously share with us is always so thought-provoking and inspiring. Thanks guys!

[@gordonnorman8259]

Glenn: While watching this episode, I was reminded of a moment on our Brazil t trip a year ago on the Transpantaneira road when we all jumped out of the van and started shooting the abundant bird rather randomly, and you quickly admonished us to "Quit taking BAD photos!". Those words echoed your commentary today and reminded me again that while many of us non-pros focus intensely on what to do for better photos, we often forget about what NOT to do in the process... Thanks for the reminders!

[@GlennBartley]

Hahah....good times on the transpantaneira!!

[@ChrisEller-rm9vg]

With every new Video of this show I learn somthing and I can realate your tips! Thanks!

[@youphototube]

I dream of heat haze in my photos. I love in the UK!

[@larrys6111]

I practice most of your tips already, but it is still very helpful to hear you articulate these techniques so clearly. Unrelatedly, I am super curious what green liquid was in Glenn's glass!

[@jan_wegener]

Haha! I wondered, too

[@Kellysher]

Yes, that green drink was distracting!

[@Bob-oq5du]

Thanks for a great video. I've heard it said, "The better I'm prepared, the luckier I get." I've found this to be very true.

[@jan_wegener]

Definitely true!

[@ericpatdu]

Thank you very much Jan and Glenn. I was surprised and elated to see my photo (Gambel's Quail) selected as photo of the week. I very much agree with all your critiques and it just hammered the comments I have received from fellow photographers before that my photo seems to be on the cool side (magenta cast). I am guessing it is probably my eyesight (color vision) but I will be more cognizant of that going forward. You have also hit the background head on. The vertical lines are actually the ribs of a giant saguaro cactus. You guys are great! More power to both of you!

[@jan_wegener]

It can be your screen as well maybe. What I would usually suggest is at the start of the edit go to the temperature slider and pull it hard in either direction and then back to where it looks nice. That should often give you a decent idea where it should be

[@gailbisson7565]

Another good show! Thank you.

[@roland-heine]

Great video, super tips, excellent show 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@jan_wegener]

Thank you!

[@gavinrolwes803]

Hey Jan! could you possibly make a video about the Cannon Camera Connect app and how it could be used as a bird/wildlife photographer, and some situations that it might be useful in, along with some tips and tricks on how to use it to get great shots?

[@lauralanden7007]

Very helpful tips. I never heard the tip about looking at the eye to distinguish heat haze from missed focus.

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, it can be helpful to see what's going on

[@Kellysher]

I wanted to talk about the getting eye level tip. As a 62 year old, I’m not really able to get in the water with a tripod. I do get low on land as much as I can. Sometimes getting back up isn’t pretty, but I’m not worried about it! There are times that grasses or wildflowers just block the shoreline. I’ve been experimenting with foreground blur, but I honestly don’t know what is good and what just feels like a blocked shot. Maybe a video on intentional foreground blur? I learn a lot from you guys and use your prosets in lightroom. Thanks for doing these!

[@jan_wegener]

Yes in those cases being a bit higher is probably the best way to go With some birds FG blur can look good but with ducks I find it challenging

[@ScottRitchie-bw9ls]

Scott Walker of Walks on the Wildside does good stuff with foreground blur.

[@NU7L]

Excellent as usual, one thing I see a lot is many people do not understand basic photography and how their gear works. They know a lot about birds but not about their gear. I see people out in the field with $5000-$20,000 worth of gear and their photos are terrible. It's because they've never learned the relationships between ISO/Shutter Speed/Aperture/Exposure. and a lot of them just also just shoot JPEG instead of RAW, which makes them miss out on a lot of adjustments in post. It's crucial to go beyond the very basics and actually spend a lot of time experimenting with different settings in controlled conditions to see what works best for you. Also in post, it's helpful to watch the histogram in whatever software you are using to get the exposure closer to where it should be, since most monitors are poorly calibrated, way too bright as you mentioned. The histogram isn't perfect by any means, but it is a helpful tool.

[@digibirder]

Great episode guys! Lots of valuable information.

[@gaucphotography]

Great show and tips… Thanks for including filed craft tips in this episode.

[@jan_wegener]

Thank you!

[@randyschwager84]

Great info! Thanks!

[@cathco9]

Great tips! Thanks Jan and Glenn!

[@jan_wegener]

Glad you liked the show!

[@timhammar5128]

Thanks!

[@jan_wegener]

Thank you!

[@athenageorgiou]

Great episode. 😍

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks :)

[@LarryFasnacht]

Great tips. Some of these I knew, but took me a really long time to figure out on my own. One tip that I haven’t seen anybody else mentionis, I noticed that when I’m editing, if I’m looking at my screen in a completely dark room, which might be your first inclination, I wind up, making the images too dark. So I have set up some lights to shine on the wall behind my monitor at a certain intensity and color so that I don’t under expose the image on the view screen.

[@PeterDeclercq-f4b]

Super great video. Thanks a lot!

[@jan_wegener]

Glad you liked it!

[@wasil3k]

Love You guys, thanks for more tips ! :) I've been waiting for another video :) Maybe next tips on how to prepare and what to do to take photos while walking spontaneously in the forest, beach or meadows :)

[@WernerBirdNature]

Great tips Jan & Glenn ! And if some where not unexpected to me, it's because I'm following you guys for several years now ;-) yet it's always good to reflect about them from time to time because in the heat of the moment the bird action may well distract you from all technical things to take care of.

[@dougcampbell6509]

Excellent tips, man thanks guys!

[@jan_wegener]

Our pleasure!

[@sg3596]

Some great tips. I am just hoping to take one decent pic. Perhaps one day but i will not hold my breath.

[@nerrelloader4226]

Fantastic tips Jan & Glenn, thank you so much. I have to do far more research to find more species that live in my local area, and then be lucky enough to go to those places at the right time. I do think for me, finding a greater variety of birds is the most frustrating as I can't get out as often as I'd like. So your tip of more research is something I'll take on board. Thank you!

[@godfreytanner1557]

Yes great tips and beautiful photos 👌

[@jan_wegener]

Glad you like them!

[@Mntnmama65]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[@sg3596]

Looks like some Bribie and Mt Glorious included.

[@EltonNilsson-v2l]

Great tips

[@jan_wegener]

Glad you think so!

[@avibongo]

Excellent show and appreciate the emphasis on layer adjustments. After selecting the subject and making adjustments I then find out that that the selection shows imperfections (background between feathers..). Still learning the fine tuning process so that I don’t use global adjustment as a lazy crutch.

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, masking and refining the masks is very important. I am just making a Lightroom masterclass and in there it's even more important to make sure the masks are perfect, or the final images will look quite sloppy.

[@lachlangraham1062]

Great tips, especially about eye level.

[@jan_wegener]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jonerikrolf2029]

Excellent discussion guys with very useful tips with thorough explanations. One follow on point: The “getting low” for shots over water in early morning light often presents an atmospheric problem of rising water vapor similar to heat haze. Our eyes and brain can see through the vapor, but the camera sensor mostly sees the fog.

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks for sharing!

[@MS-yk3yu]

Infact I set up my r6-mark2 based on your video. Thanks gor that too😊

[@TinaMcManusNorthShore]

Very helpful. Great episode!

[@jan_wegener]

Glad you think so!

[@David_Quinn_Photography]

I'd love if you guys would take 1 of these videos and talk about a couple budget monitors you'd recommend for photo editing, I have a nice Samsung VA panel I've been using for years but it's not 100% accurate it's for my FPS games but I'd say it gets me 80% of the way there.

[@noelchignell1048]

I've just bought this one which is very reasonably priced and is designed for graphic design:www.asus.com/nz/displays-desktops/monitors/proart/proart-display-pa247cv/

[@andrewbristoe1833]

Great stuff I've delved into Astro telescoping which insane angles 78 to 80 degrees lately and reach close to 4000 mm .Interesting thinking fusion with genres birds against sun with filter or moon backgrounds or planetary reflections on water with the bird .Still working on the fruit doves saw one long time ago elusive .

[@MS-yk3yu]

Excellent video as usual. Keep going. We love it. JW and GB I wanted your input on selecting some canon lenses. I have a used ef100-400 mark2, ef24-70 and rd 200-800. I was planning to sell 100-400 and buy a rf 100-500. What's your advice on that? Please guide me

[@DougGreenberg50]

Near the end of the show while discussing the very lovely photo of the Resplendent quetzal with its endless tail feathers, Glenn alludes to the need for "a different approach." Any tips on what this approach might be?

[@Chris-ti7lz]

Hi Jan, which is you gear right now? Or do you use different ones?

[@ScottRitchie-bw9ls]

I always enjoy your vids guys. I'm primarily a LR user. It has really improved with selective masking, and removal. It would be great if you could add LR into your editing tweaks, etc.

[@jan_wegener]

I’ll have a LR Masterclass soon, too. And will add some more LR in my videos as well

[@ScottRitchie-bw9ls]

@@jan_wegener Good on ya Jan!

[@MS-yk3yu]

​@@jan_wegener looking forward to this video

[@joelgamble8410]

20:46 tip for getting your display brightness right: in Settings > Displays on Apple silicon MacBook Pros, you can change the Color profile to a Photography or Print setting, which fixes your screen brightness as a quasi-calibrated level. This really helps match it with the expected result! 😊

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JohnDoe1999-lg7mh]

I love photographing birds, but I am limited to only local parks and do the best I can.

[@jan_wegener]

There can be many great shots to be have in local parks!

[@maggnet4829]

You can use your phone instead of the ninja. Get the app Monitor+, a small usb cable and a phone mount for the camera. Just make sure your screen is bright enough for outdoors.

[@jan_wegener]

and then someone calls in the worst possible moment :D

[@maggnet4829]

@jan_wegener For a professional, that's indeed a thing. As a hobby, I think that's a non-issue. However, there are ways to prevent that. E.g. go into airplane mode or use an old phone or a small table if you still have one lying around.

[@garymeredith2441]

Glenard dead on right photos of the birds in the water at water level is always great I've done that myself .

[@PeterLariviere]

Great video again from you both. I always walk away from these videos with more knowledge and at least the tools to take better images (implementation is the problem step!!) Jan another option for a larger screen is using a smart phone. Generally a cost saving over the standalone screen but not something that works on every phone.

[@jan_wegener]

and it's probably easier corrupted or someone calls you :D

[@PeterLariviere]

@jan_wegener I put it my phone on airplane mode when out photographing. Something I was used to doing in the field when I was working in protected areas management.

[@j4kke046]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@adventure9606]

Great tips. Do either of you have bird pets at home and if so what kind. Thanks

[@jan_wegener]

I used to have regent Parrots, Cockatiels and Red-winged Parrots growing up in Germany

[@youphototube]

On my BenQ 32" photo monitor, my screen brightness for Lightroom and Photoshop is at 10% of the maximum. This mimics the look of photo prints and is perfect for editing. It's not so good for watching movies! The ambiente light in the room is quite dark.

[@russandloz]

Great episode especially about recognising heat haze, but more importantly what is that green drink?

[@jan_wegener]

I wondered too when I edited th episode 😂

[@hstein27]

Heat haze has been horrible lately. However, if you do a burst, one may be slightly out of focus. Topaz Photo AI sharpening saved quite a few of these. Low tide happens when it happens, and I wanted oystercatchers eating,. Even though the sun was high, with Topaz I saved a few good shots!

[@jan_wegener]

Glad you could save some shots!

[@wasil3k]

I saw You are using Ninja Atmos, but its pretty expensive, do You know maybe if Atomos Shinobi HDMI 5” or Feelworld FW568 V3 6" is good also ?

[@jan_wegener]

These should be good for viewing, but cannot record

[@wasil3k]

@@jan_wegener thanks !

[@pakshiabhayaranya]

Sometimes I use the full auto and check the settings and replicate the same in manual and fine tune it

[@mark_a_schneider]

Is it just me or does the photo of the two ducks at the 29:30 mark of the video look like a composite image of the same duck?

[@jan_wegener]

I think you’re right. Annoying we missed that. Both ducks have the identical spots on the chest and chest.

[@christophercarlimages9003]

I agree. Maybe the same duck with two wing poses. Easy to do with a solid background

[@heidiwegener7614]

👍👍👍😀

[@davepastern]

Jan & Glenn - can you touch on the Adobe TOS fiasco please? Are you concerned? If you are not, why?

[@jan_wegener]

In the end there’s no good alternative and it seems like it’s mostly related to their cloud.

[@davepastern]

@@jan_wegener yes, that's partly true. I'm hearing great things about ON1, although it's still not as good as Lightroom but it is improving. I've had a play with darktables and what a God awful UI. Affinity is very popular, especially amongst those doing solar imaging (HA). I'm really uncomfortable with these TOS and the TOS are very vague. I am trying to force Adobe's legal team to answer my questions, but instead, customer service just cock block me in a circular loop. I am probably looking at seeing my local magistrate and asking about issuing a notice of intent to Adobe Australia.

[@leevihalme4615]

I disagree a bit about light, I think you can get good photos regardless of time of the day.

[@michaeljohannsen4872]

Hi guys, I love your show but is it possible to change the tweak of the week from a different software? Adobe just showed their ugly face with the recent scandals (spying on us, using online catalogue photos to feed their firefly AI monster, and the challenges one has when they want to quit their subscription, and most amateur photographers, including myself get by not needing all the Adobe features, and subscription solutions - over time - add up to serious costs... Thanks :)

[@jan_wegener]

We can only show what we use daily and that’s Photoshop and Lightroom at the moment

[@sg3596]

Geeze Glen, Jan always looks scruffy. You need a shave mate. LOL