What's RUINING Your Bird Photography?! (Part 2)

As beginner bird photographers, there's many things we need to take into consideration to get the most out of our images. In this video series, I go over some of the things that might be ruining your bird photography (and has definitely ruined mine in the past). We go over noise issues, exposure problems, and much more! I hope you enjoy this bird photography tips and tricks video, happy birding!
Check out ‪@RyanMenseWildlife‬ video about Zebras: • Never Overexpose Your ...
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Table of Contents
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Noise Issues
2:21 - Exposure Issues
3:10 - Tips for Exposure
4:41 - How to Enable Zebras
5:13 - Autofocus Area Issues
7:18 - Setting Targets
9:14 - Outro

[@jeetdas3173]

I can't say it enough. Your tips are some of the best. From your huge experience, you just gift us the knowledge that you learnt the hard way. I cant thank you more. I would definitely love to know your approach on how you plan a day in your usual photography life.

[@oarecarerobert3764]

Thank you very much!! I have photography as a hobby for a while, but only a few months ago I brought some gear and I've started to learn. Birds are my favourite subject. Thanks for all your useful Infos.

[@rango1584]

Great stuff, such a clear talk through about the way you do bird photography and sometimes it is these right thing we miss in our way to capture the birds. Great job again does help so much... I'm always eagerly waiting to see photos and videos from you. Cheers!!

[@StefanoIaniro]

So happy to hear, thanks so much!

[@Theshaileshsaraf]

Fantastic video! Finally clears the cobwebs in my mind about focus area small and large/ medium

[@danvollstedt5135]

I agree ... Target photography techniques would be a great video. Camera settings, lens choices, whatever you want to share. Love your stuff!

[@gileselliott]

Such clear and helpful explanations of every point you make, and done with a captivating enthusiasm for your subject. Great video.

[@JOSIANGREENVLOGS]

Hai,Stefano.your narrations are very clear which enchant everyone to see your photography.

[@devendranagpal8972]

Agree totally with the last tip. Going out to shoot everything, I also pretty much did the same taking the macro, wide angle and telephoto lens. Until i realised i was nt getting the best either of macro nor birding

[@yogeephotography4148]

Really nice tips, definitely interested in "targeting specific birds and your technics". Expecting these kind of videos in future!

[@scaryfast33]

Target species YES! I would love to know more tools I can use or places to look for research about birds in my area. Great videos, and I have learned a ton! Hi from Alberta, Canada.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed and thanks for letting me know you're interested in the video!

[@CasperHikes]

Merlin is good also audubon is my go to.

[@Arcwolf17]

Go to Ebird website and search your area. People list birds they saw on their excursions in the ebird app. You can pinpoint where to go for specific birds. ebird.org/region/CA-AB

[@patthompson1253]

Couldn't agree more - Targeting will yield results. Thanks, great video

[@samarth9341]

I just ordered my sigma 100-400. looking forward to learn more! thank you for your tips!

[@glennryan2829]

Would love to see a video on target species. Always learn something new from your videos. You are a great educator!!

[@StefanoIaniro]

So happy to help! And thanks for letting me know 🙂

[@CamillaI]

Just been wildlife shooting in the rain, amazing what you can get with a higher ISO. great tips thanks for sharing Stefano

[@StefanoIaniro]

Glad you enjoyed, thank you 😊

[@suzannehawkins383]

I can use some of these tips tomorrow when I go out. Thank you so much. I got a lot of good info here.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Yay, so happy to help! Good luck tomorrow 🙂

[@kriscu16]

Love this Stefano! Would be interested in that species targeting subject you mentioned. Also, if you are ever back in BC, would love to take a workshop if you're available :)

[@StefanoIaniro]

I wish I had some time to do more photography when I was there this summer! Glad to hear you're interested in that video, thanks for letting me know 🙂

[@jkmnopgmail]

Great videos that offer real, valuable tips about taking it up to the next level(s). Your targeting suggestion is spot-on (target). I have some belted kingfishers near. I love them (and hate them). Getting good shots of them is about as tough as it gets in my book. Two weeks ago I told myself: you need to go out specifically prepared for the very detailed needs of shooting kingfishers. Yesterday I did exactly that. Can't claim 100% success, but made major improvements...and made notes about further refining necessary details for the next shoot. It's a change in my thinking behind what I'm doing which is exactly what you're proposing. Have at it, I say! Keep up the great work (instructional AND artistic).

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks so much! It is really incredible what you can learn about a subject when you devote time to observing them and studying their behaviour. Good luck with future shoots with them! Hope you get some more great shots

[@DBK1989]

Thanks Stefano... great stuff and love your tips and tricks!!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Glad you enjoyed, thanks!

[@davidtripp4221]

I am definitely interested in a video on how you target specific species. Thanks for the great videos!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Good to know, thank you! 😄

[@saidherrera4364]

Hola muy buenos tips Gracias por compartir tu experiencia!!!

[@arielandcaro6095]

Love it when you mentioned Costa Rica!! Im costarican watching you from here, love your videos!!

[@colmranger]

Love your videos so much keep em coming :)

[@Birbyvideography]

I asked this last video but in case you didnt see it I pasted it here too. I have a few problems: 1) I live in Singapore, and I can pretty much ONLY shoot from my tiny balcony against the sun. So straightaway, nice angles are out the window. Many trees grow really close to my balcony (5th floor) but still...... 2) I have a LUMIX Gx-85, a midrange micro 4/3 camera with a 45-150mm telephoto lens. Its maximum aperture is only 4.0, and when the birds appear its in the everning and not too bright. I struggle to get shutter speeds past 1/320 without serious problems of noise due to high ISO. I tried setting shutter speed priority to 1/1000 just to try, it wasn't too pretty. 3) Focusing on small, super-active birds hiding in a sea of leaves is going to kill me. This day super rare birds came by and I missed my focus on all 7 shots! Manual focus will take too long as they usually fly away in 10-20 seconds. 4) I don't have a tripod. Thanks!

[@gossedejong9248]

excellent, thank you!!

[@mremumerm]

Catching up on videos. Would love to see more of your target process, including how adaptable you make them. Currently not moving and limited in options, like most, so i go for specific ideas which as helped, but what do you do when this is a failure, do you have plan B, do you bail? For example this week after a couple nice snow fall plan was all capturing this, first one went well some cooperating birds- waxwings eating snow and crabapple, but a second outing it was flat, and i didn't have plan B, so i bailed after an hour.

[@danielaargandonalowe9764]

Just an excellent video!!! It was very useful for me, specially noise concerns! :) Pls I am also interested in how you may target species, down here it all comes to seasons, but, with all the agricultural changes it's becoming harder to find species that were once in a same spot. Best wishes from Uruguay.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks so much! I will be releasing that video in the near future 😀

[@philipgowdy]

Excellent information, you have cost me a small fortune being a recent new Sony user but your Videos are very inspiring and always offering up info that only someone actually taking pictures can know... keep up the excellent work..Regard..s and do please stay safe.

[@StefanoIaniro]

So happy to help, thank you! Stay safe as well!

[@faaiqk]

Great video man. Thanks for sharing

[@StefanoIaniro]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks a lot 😊

[@keeblerhunts]

Good points Stefano! Regarding the focus modes - I also use Zone and flex small spot. I use BBF for zone as my 'main' focus setting and then I set up the AEL button on my A9 and A7RIV so if a bird sneaks into tough cover, I slide my thumb to the right and use that single pointer to isolate.

[@StefanoIaniro]

I do the same! But recently my AEL button has been acting up. Sometimes it won't activate the smaller AF point.

[@keeblerhunts]

@@StefanoIaniro That's not good about the AEL button screwing up. I wonder if you back your camera settings up then reset to default?

[@ernreeders1487]

Thanks - I'm learning a lot from you. I like to say that bird shots are given, not taken, but you have to be ready for the gift ;-)

[@catherineroyer4355]

Bravo! Great videos! Thanks from France!!!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Merci beaucoup! 🙂

[@vitorazinheira2195]

Another great video. I do the same . when bird photography just take the 200-600mm lens 1 camera.

[@JuliusToltesi]

Awesome tips. The focus one will help me a lot. My camera always picks up the sticks in front and I don’t realize till I crop in on post. :(

[@StefanoIaniro]

A smaller focus area should help with that! I used to struggle with branches as well 🙂

[@cameronghunterimages]

Great Video, Nikon Z6 only has Zebra's in movie mode! Unfortunately not on stills/Photo mode.

[@williamriach2261]

Target species absolutely, habitat, and behavior. Have you done a video on types of lenses to use for birds?

[@markhoffman9655]

Zebra setting been available in the live view Micro 4/3 for at least 5-6 years (on my Olympus E-M5 MkII) - in fact you can set the exposure off the entire viewfinder image because it is a live feed that is composed of all the exposure settings in place at the time.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Great to know! And to me, that's one of the best features of mirrorless cameras. You never have to take your eye off the viewfinder.

[@hcp0scratch]

YES, interested in your TARGETING tips! :)

[@Theshaileshsaraf]

Wonderful! Only sad part is I’ve just returned from a wildlife trip and seen this video 🙃Hopefully, I’ll get better photos with your valuable tips & yes, make sense of the 🦓

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thank you! I'm hoping you had a good trip 😁

[@Theshaileshsaraf]

@@StefanoIaniro Very nice. Many Thanks. I'm also a Sony A7 Riii user and have a 100-400mm lens. Would you suggest swapping it for the 200-600 mm from Sony or getting a third party E mount lens of equivalent zoom range?

[@WILLYPSHREDS]

Stefano, love the videos. What's good with that calendar behind you?! Do you know what printing service was used/was that made with a custom template or something? Really love the format, as opposed to calendars with just one big picture.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks! That's actually the Audubon 2020 Songbird calendar I got as a gift! I loved the format, as well. Definitely a great idea!

[@janetogren287]

Great tips!!!, a suggestion-print one of your fantastic images and put it on the wall behind you.

[@chantaljacques7664]

Great tips Stefano!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed 🙂

[@Alsmir]

Great video, can't wait for more.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks

[@billxliu1060]

First time to hear about Zebra stuff photography, interesting, much appreciated.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Happy to help!

[@sharavnankv24]

after a long time watching you .... happy to see you

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks for watching!!

[@coryswift]

Nice calendar xD I have the same one, good ole Audubon

[@StefanoIaniro]

Haha I love it! So nice

[@arwellewis1122]

I would love a target species video. Thank you

[@SolidBlueBlocks]

I just got a fairly cheap telephoto lens, a 400mm tokina. It has a fixed aperture of 8 and only manual focus. The image quality is phenomenal tho. Do you have any tips for manual focus lenses for bird photography?

[@carlostamesg]

Hi from Costa Rica!!! always welcome

[@jamesmathews1640]

Love your videos. I am interested in how you target species and find them.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks so much!

[@julianj7d374]

Awesome video. For the life of me I cannot find where to remove Focus Areas. Cant find Focus Area Limit on my A73 anywhere. Looked online, manual. Isnit even available on the A7iii?

[@JoshuaTaylor-lt8lk]

Great video. I’d like to see targeting species.

[@abelfernandez5648]

Buen vídeo y buena información Stefano. En mi caso para el ruido a isos altos estoy trabajando con el Denoise AI y la verdad es que los resultados son buenos. En cuanto al día a día me gusta trabajar con el punto flexible S, siempre apuntando al ojo. Para vuelos, con cielo despejado puedo usar el enfoque en zona pero por lo general me gusta el punto flexible expandido de seguimiento . Todo ello lo tengo asignado a un botón para cambiar rápidamente de herramienta de trabajo. Un saludo y cuídate.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thank you! I'm using Topaz, as well. Love the software! Glad you enjoyed the video 😃

[@TJPhotography]

hi, can i ask whats your hit ratio on tack sharp images with the Sony a7r iv and 200-600mm combo? I get only 20-30% hit ratio with AF-C + tracking flexible spot, rest misses slightly or fully.

[@SocalBackyardNature]

Thanks for another great video. Really happy you weren't standing in a woods full of mosquitos...

[@StefanoIaniro]

Hahaha, I was definitely less jittery in this episode

[@absolu222]

Yes! I want to see a video about targetting species!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Good to know! Thank you 😁

[@porkchops-tube]

Wow, ‘setting targets’ is so important. I never thought about it too hard, though, always going on general hikes and hoping to strike gold. Now I know though! I’m currently trying to photograph the pink-eared duck at my local wetlands.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Hope you can get some shots of them! Goodluck!!

[@chrisjames9710]

I used to get frustrated with noise at high ISO until I got Topaz DeNoise. Now I push up the ISO without a care in the world.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Yup! I'm always blown away from noise reduction softwares nowadays. I know some people spend thousands to get cameras with better noise performance. To have a software under $100 is pretty amazing.

[@hcp0scratch]

TY!!!!

[@drshawnie]

yes please do expound upon targeting!

[@NelsonSerrano]

I also stopped using the histogram and better use zebras to expose, since it is a mirrorless one, the screen is all the time showing the result that I am going to obtain. Another point is the lenses, I usually carry 2, one for landscapes and another telephoto for animals, I avoid changing lenses as much as possible when I'm out in the open

[@StefanoIaniro]

Definitely! And it's much quicker to use zebras than having to look over at the histogram

[@CasperHikes]

Didn't ever think to use zebra in wildlife. I use it for macro all the time. Good to know hahaha

[@StefanoIaniro]

Hahah, I originally only used it for video but realized it's great for any type of shooting

[@alyamaut]

Great¡¡¡🤘🏽

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks!

[@MrDSA]

sir keep doing it

[@adityabarigali]

Stefano , im using a similar setup as yours , do you find the eye af giving you much more positive hits when combined with medium spot ? Or is it hit or miss ? This is regarding smaller birds like warblers and songbirds .

[@adityabarigali]

And a follow up question, when using hand held , ibis on + lens stabilisation on ? Some of my photos have jitter in them even at 1/2500s.

[@pranithemanth]

more!!

[@dwightsmith7703]

I was wondering if you use uncompressed or compressed for the raw ? im also using a A7riv and the 200-600 lens.

[@StefanoIaniro]

For my a7RIV I used compressed 🙂

[@SimonWantling]

Nice video. Shame about the lockdown again. Tough times. Take care.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks, Simon! Luckily it appears we are still able to go out to parks, trails, etc as long as we're not gathering. I was scared I'd be stuck at home 😅

[@SimonWantling]

@@StefanoIaniro it's about the same here in the UK. Local restrictions but still able to get out and about. All the best.

[@georgereed1568]

Lockdown sucks I'm just watching a huge fall out of rare birds happening on the East coast- im on the west coast UK 🙈. But I've turned on my Zebras that killed 2 mins 😄 of good old twitching depression.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Haha oh geez stay strong! That must be painful!

[@mohamedanwar5683]

it's lovely

[@vimalneha]

Perfect advice. You are second person after Tony to mention that it is not ISO, rather light that makes grain.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Glad you enjoyed 🙂

[@robertsovich9254]

I have eye issues . I get good and bad shots I use a Nikon d 5600 yep noise issue

[@ninoliberatore1491]

yes i would love for you to make that video also

[@itaylorm]

Target Species big YES

[@Slewis71119]

Do you use Auto ISO?

[@DTweedleD]

Would love to see a what’s ruining your wildlife videography ! Especially how you get footage so sharp and in focus? I have the 200-600 and find it often misses focus and just hunts rather than tracking/locking on, always disappointing after a day of birding. Any advice would be very much appreciated as an aspiring wildlife videographer

[@StefanoIaniro]

Hey! That's a great idea. If your camera is missing focus/hunting while shooting video, it's usually because there may be other things competing with your subject in the frame. I'll adjust my AF area accordingly (the busier the scene, the smaller the af area). I'll also use crop mode and clear image zoom to confirm my subject is actually in focus before beginning to track it. If your AF is a bit off to begin with, it may have a harder time locking on and tracking your subject. Also when it comes to video, it's usually best to use manual focus as much as possible unless your subject is constantly moving around and you feel it'll be too difficult to track focus manually. Hope this helps!

[@DTweedleD]

Stefano Ianiro Wildlife Thankyou man really appreciate it! Keep up the good work

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thank you!

[@patr5991]

I use a Nikon but whatever you use, you likely have equivalent focus settings. For birds flying or moving around a lot, I use continuous autofocus with a smallish focus area selected. A small area but not the smallest pinpoint one. Then use back button focus. I set my camera for that about a year ago and would never use the half down focus on the shutter button again. Once you have pressed the back button focus and the focus point has the bird. Let go as it will continue to hunt unless you release . At this point focus is locked and you can just keep shooting as the bird is flying or moving and it should keep focusing and tracking the bird. Try and keep the focus square on the bird as it moves. My instinct is to keep refocusing and holding the focus button. But you shouldn't and don't need to. Got some good shots of a red tailed hawk in flight and some snow geese and sand hill cranes this past week using that method.

[@nrocha2466]

That’s an issue with your camera body and lense combo.. the A7riv is known to have front or back focus issues with the 200-600, where the A9 and now A1 do not have this issue

[@kevins8575]

How does reducing ISO by using a bright background improve the exposure of the subject? A bright background decreases the exposure of the subject, increasing noise in the subject area.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Not reducing ISO, keep the same ISO/Settings but find an angle with a brighter background. The exposure on the subject shouldn’t change, unless you manually adjust the settings or are using one of the Auto modes

[@dct1960]

I think you should go to Costa Rica for 4 months not 3! It is where I want to be also. Good luck and great videos. Regards, David

[@adityashankert]

canon rp dont have zebra thing. I am still relying on histogram

[@jamesmcleod4335]

Dude I have got to get the story behind that Robin howling at the moon. Like, what were you even doing with your camera that late and how on Earth did you manage to spot the Robin????

[@nicholasbedworth8872]

Stephan, fantastic video as always. Say, in my opinion, the background music is way too loud. It's quite distracting and frankly irritating. For a few seconds introduction and bridge to the presentation, that fine. But it serves no purpose after that and makes it hard to listen... Otherwise excellent information and I put it all to good use with my A7R3, 100 400 GM and TC. Migration season here in the Himalayas.

[@ulisesgonzalezzuniga7550]

Come to CR. I can give you a tour!

[@StefanoIaniro]

That would be awesome! 😁

[@ulisesgonzalezzuniga7550]

@@StefanoIaniro ever photographed a quetzal? That's next on my list!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Goodluck! I haven't spent much time in their range so I've never seen one before!

[@ulisesgonzalezzuniga7550]

@@StefanoIaniro let's look for one in Monteverde whenever you come to Costa Rica ⛰️

[@StefanoIaniro]

Check out Part 1 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIeVfWB3eax0isk Check out Part 3 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJnPaoqenqekrck Hope you’re all doing well! Sorry for the lack of uploads lately, I’ve been doing 84-hour work weeks for the past 2 months! My field season is done, so I’m back to uploading regularly :) Happy Birding!

[@cindyskidgel383]

I get an error 404 when I click on the link to the first part. I love the tips here! Stay safe (and sane) and congrats on your photo getting on the cover of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2021 calendar!

[@StefanoIaniro]

@@cindyskidgel383 Thanks for letting me know, I just updated it! And thanks so much! Where did you happen to hear about it? 🙂

[@cindyskidgel383]

@@StefanoIaniro I got the calendar in the mail! I'm a new member. Recognized your shot instantly! I have a shot with a grackle with his head pointing to the sky too; I didn't realize it was specific male grackle behavior. I am excited that I'm still only 3 years into birding and bird photography, so there's a multitude to learn about both! I shouldn't get bored any time soon. Looking forward to more on your channel. Be well!

[@manot8273]

Underexposed image at 1000 iso will have more grains than properly exposed image at 2000 iso. Never think to do it in post always expose correctly in camera no matter what iso you have to use.

[@atropicali]

S U P E R tips Stefano

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thank you! 🙂

[@mcrist139]

have you ever tried lock on af? if yes why doesnt it work for you

[@StefanoIaniro]

Lock-on AF works great when you can actually lock onto your subject. But if you have trouble locking on initially it can be really frustrating. And since I'm usually in situations where I have elements that can confuse the AF, I found I could better predict how the regular Zone AF would react, better than I could with the Lock-on. I just updated the firmware on both my cameras, so maybe I can revisit Lock-on AF and see if its improved.

[@JohnMesseder]

Oops, I missed a click, so deleted my question, but the rest of my comment -- keep it up. I truly hope you're getting a good cut of the advertising.

[@sha1661]

hi, as a bird photgrapher. can i know how do you make money?

[@user-uv4li4pi6q]

كنت اتمنى ان الفيديو مترجم للغة العربية

[@vedantdeokule]

Target species yes a thousand times !!!!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thanks for letting me know 😀

[@Marss13z]

What's ruining it? It's the darn birds. Just when you get a really tough shot framed and you're just about to trigger, they're gone.

[@cowboy6591]

Once you mention ZEBRAS, er go us medium priced crop sensor camera owners, we don't have zebras, so this discombobulates the value of the video like a fart in church every time this happens.

[@deb8183]

You lost me on zebras. Slow down a little.thank you