Wildlife Photography Without an Extreme Telephoto Lens

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I hope you enjoyed this video! I published it over three years ago, or I would have mentioned this at the time, but I'm finally doing photography full-time now. It's been a difficult but rewarding road. If you liked this video, I just published a Patreon page with all of my newest projects, including my composition ebook and online workshops that I'm hosting. Thanks guys. patreon.com/PhotographyLifeBlog

[@ReneJ2011]

Will try the polar bear tip 😅

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Fun story. When I respond to comments, KZbin has a feature that suggests sample replies for me. I don't normally use them, but they looked good this time so I'll include all three. "You should!" "Hope you like it!" "Did it work?"

[@Dunja0712]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel I almost had my coffee run through my nose after reading this conversation hahahaha! :D

[@sinetwo]

"magical moment" awaits 😂

[@TommeeKnocker]

I hear it works for traffic too.

[@malcolmkasner]

Believe it or not, I did this same exact thing threw times in 2023, but with mose and not polar bears, and it was the mose who walked in on me walking around in my natural habitat.

[@plm2ajm]

Spencer, you do an outstanding job of presenting information to your viewers, in part because your take a moment to breathe in between your sentences. The brief pause allows, at least some of us, to absorb the content before you move on. I can't tell you how many videos I have watched, that when I reached the end, I've thought, "What did they say?" Furthermore you have knack for explaining things in a simple, yet not dragged out and boring way. I just discovered your channel while searching for macro photography information and I've already what a number of your other presentations. I'll watch them all over the course of the next few days. Really just want to thank you! I've already learned a lot.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Patrick, I really appreciate hearing that! Glad you found my channel and have learned some things from it so far.

[@briansquibb999]

Loved the light-heartedness of this video. Had me laughing! Thanks, Spencer!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Much appreciated, Brian! I guess it's not as applicable with your Nikon P950, but I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@BojanBojovic]

I recognize your brilliant sense of humor.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I recognize your brilliant opinions.

[@kedardeshmukh8075]

Someone give this guy an award

[@judem4041]

Just a beginner. Like complete beginner. Thank you so much for such sensible, watchable, understandable, comprehensive and approachable content. Kudos.

[@kartikspykar99]

I tried the bear photography tip. I had that magical moment and Now I'm commenting from Heaven 🤡👻

[@johnjacobs6510]

You have a great presentation style. I get so tired of many videos because they seem to want to talk, and talk, and they never get to their points. You have nailed the content to talk balance. The content was also good and interesting. I still like shooting with a super telephoto but I don't walk around with one very often so your tips make sense for grabbing impromptu wildlife shots.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you for saying so, John! I'm happy you liked it.

[@komr323]

Agrees with you. Creativity is always more important than just gears

[@andrewdg90]

Polar bear tip is the best! The kayak works fantastic! I got some great shots of a Loon in Vermont while on a kayak! It came within 10 feet! I stayed as still as possible, moving slowly when necessary. I think it was just curious. Love nature photography.

[@DiyEcoProjects]

2:25 no wait! theres a square crab? hahaha "if you approach them in the right way, they might even start running towards you" lol

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Don't tell too many people about the polar bear tip! We don't want them taking all the good photos.

[@DiyEcoProjects]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel haha! ;)

[@jimcastanzo8736]

Great line! Got me laughing 😂

[@yashik]

hehehe 3:09 was the best... magical moment when aligator and polar bear starts running towards you, I don't think they want to take a selfie :D hehehe but great video :)

[@bigfoot2950]

yes your right,i have a 75 x 300mm canon lens i use on my local wildfowl reserve.i always try to use my budget lens within 50 yards of my subject.however if im using this lens at 300 yards the image is dark and poor while using the 300mm length but you can compensate by getting you subject to top or bottom of your lens view i do it all the time.

[@SusheelChandradhas]

Polar bear tip is on point. ;)

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad you liked that one 😂

[@mt-nv4jd]

At Yellowstone, you can walk right up to a Grizzly, shake his hand and take a selfie with him.

[@forsterl.stewart414]

You 'll need supertelephoto to keep your distance with let's say coastal grizzly. You'll need supertelephoto to photograph nesting Egrets. And the list goes on and on. My largest is a 600mm f4 and there are times I use Tele converters.

[@ebby5358]

Just "getting into" photography. Thank you for easy to understand presentation.

[@odarrien]

Thank you for this. Working with a 70-200 at the moment and your video helps put some things into better perspective with the focal length limitations.

[@lysaburns7364]

Good stuff. Pretty funny. And Kevin from UP!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you! Ah yes, taking a selfie with the mythical Snipe was one of the most grueling things I've ever done as a photographer. I'd make a video about it, but I lost all my footage in a dirigible accident.

[@pmgolf5305]

This channel is a Gem .. Yayy !! Hello From Ny !

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad you like it! Hello back from Florida.

[@TimothyGordon]

Your photography is actually fantastic. I love your work.

[@seanc8054]

finally the youtube algorithm has suggested something amazing

[@Oholisfliesandfishing]

Nice presentation, fun too. . I am in pursuit of long lense....so far i am just using vintage 100-300mm...not bad solution for animals that dont run much

[@Suhailkhan53]

One of your best videos.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Much appreciated! I sure had fun making it.

[@TomrerenDK]

dude! this had me laughing so hard! amasing tips as well!

[@anthonosrobertos]

You almost had me with the tips regarding the Polar Bears and Alligators, I was laughing for a while after that one 😂😂

[@AbhishekIyerPhotography]

Really amazing video, it's explained in a practical way. You are the photographer and you're always right ✅

[@Dunja0712]

I loved this video, it's so amusing, and I can tell you had fun filming it! :)

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I really did! Thanks Dunja, glad you liked it 😄

[@marxiewasalittlegirl]

Polar bear and aligators running towards me might be magical moments or last moments

[@Jessijokes]

I love the selfie with the sculpture you slid into the “these are all wildlife photos if you want them to be” 😂

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I was wondering if anyone would notice that!

[@Jessijokes]

@@PhotographyLifeChannelwell it was certainly wild 😂 your humor in the video is great all the way through, informative and then jokes slid in casually enough not to distract from the content but also very funny. Just well done in general 🙂

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you! 😄

[@cjtuba1]

Awesome guide, you're right we don't all have the money for really expensive lenses or actually need them! Cheers, Chris, UK.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sure thing! The right gear helps, but it’s more important to creatively use the kit you’ve already got.

[@thephotoyak]

I have that same lens and use it quite often, and successfully, for wildlife photography. I have a 200-400 VRII as well, but it isn't always convenient to carry that beast around.

[@NWind-go9qn]

Excellent, young man keep it up.

[@Pope_Khajiit]

You're having fun this video and its enjoyable to watch. I've been experimenting with "wildlife photography" on the neighbourhood cats. But they always move the moment the shutter releases!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Cats seem to know by instinct when someone is about to take a picture because I’ve experienced the same thing.

[@Yokeniku]

1:37 Yeah, definitely a boyscout approved wildlife photo. Thanks for the tips man!

[@ohedunnabysayam7534]

That is one of the best video I've seen.You have a great presentation.why aren’t you now giving video to your channel?

[@leftclick2win]

yeah you can get a polar bear or a crocodile to run towards you, sounds good!

[@christiano.1245]

This is awesome! Any recommendations on sizes? I have the 75-300 mm lens but I’m looking to upgrade without selling a kidney. I have some ideas, but I’m not sure what mm size I should look for

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

300mm is long enough for a lot of subjects, but the next big step up for something like small birds happens at about 500mm. For Canon or Nikon shooters, this lens (Sigma 150-600mm C) would be my choice if you don’t want to break the bank - although I can’t speak to breaking your back, it’s a heavy lens! www.amazon.com/Sigma-150-600mm-5-6-3-Contemporary-Nikon/dp/B00THP1A1C

[@wojtekw6040]

Great video, my kind of humor. You got me subscribed Spencer

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thanks, Wojtek! Welcome aboard 😄

[@jarosawpiotr1270]

Spencer...really really good tips !

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

I bought a used RF 800mm F/11 lens for $600 and love it hear in Montana. With my cropped sensor R7, it is effective over 120mm. Great on sunny days especially for spooky deer, elk, bears that are hunted in Montana National Forests.

[@ghumantudeb]

Thanks I have 70-200mm I hope I start now?

[@ImTheShrey]

So walk towards alligator got it!

[@sippinhappiness793]

ur personality is amazing i liked commented and subscribed ...best of luck

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, and welcome to the channel!

[@grafleberwurst1830]

i felt that first minute so hard

[@garywaltongilles]

Enjoyed that thanks, from the UK

[@tamashaasz]

Cool tips spiced up with good humour ....not sure about the polar bear...and tbh don't want to do a trial and error outside of the safety zone of a zoo ;)

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thanks, Tamas! But if someone isn’t willing to be chased down by a wild polar bear, are they really even a photographer at all?

[@BenHeathcote]

The polar bear tip 🤣👌🏻

[@endoplasreh]

Well said. However, I will not be approaching any polar bears slowly anytime soon.

[@meteor177]

good tips ,i use a 70-300 and get close with camo,

[@TatraScrambler]

Gotta admit, initially I found it slightly off-putting, but now I'm starting to like this quirky Spencer-humor more and more :D Your pre-PL-demerger videos would defenitely benefit from it. Although, I can't imagine Nasim letting you upload them, being such a serious guy that he is.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I am glad to hear it! There will be more like this in future videos. I'm sure Nasim wouldn't have minded, but I wasn't good enough at making videos yet to think about making them funny too :)

[@gainde1137]

200mm are 320mm full-format. Not so bad at f4.

[@mrjiggawatt]

This was a fun video.

[@bananapie2198]

I love your videos. Good photography, helpful tips, clear presentation, and EXCELLENT humor!

[@maricello13]

That was unexpectedly funny 😄

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thanks! It was fun to make, too.

[@Theshortguy09]

should i upgrade my 15-45mm kit lens on my canon m50 mk ii. I started photography in april and really want to take wildlife photography

[@ittybittykittypatiya6150]

I watched several of videos and did n't see any video about telephoto settings. I just bought a FUJIFILM Fujinon XF70-300mmF4-5.6 R LM OIS Weather Resistant Lens. Having trouble setting up a customize settings. Can you please do a how to video?

[@gman0973]

Like your approach, very practical and encouraging to beginners, with a good mix of humor! Well done, keep up the good work.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I'm glad you think so! Will do, more on the way soon.

[@gainde1137]

Would you recommend a 70-200mm kit lens or to start with a bridge camera for more zoom?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I’m not a fan of bridge cameras. Go with a mirrorless or DSLR with interchangeable lenses, and get something like a 55-200, 55-300, or 70-300 to go with it!

[@sarah345]

Good polar bear tips 😆

[@ringperm]

I enjoyed this one, more than I thought I would. Entertaining, and useful. I guess I have to subscribe to find out more.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Seems to me like the only logical thing to do :)

[@ikuma8291]

sooo... technically I could claim that my microscope pics of bacteria are wildlife? awesome

[@RitusWorld71]

Interesting explanation

[@Jessijokes]

💀 he says “some animals will start walking or even running towards you, like an alligator or a polar bear, creating some magical moments” you are hilarious 😂 how have I never seen this before? That’s amazing. On a side note. I was taking a photo of a polar bear at a zoo and my camera shutter sound caught its attention (I know because I was moving around and it kept looking directly at me with a big crowd around), and I found an area with no people near and it walked up to the glass right in front of me, literally looking me right in the eye, and I was so startled I stepped backward off the viewing platform and was saved by a woman rushing over to see where the bear went (she caught me). So yeah, a polar bear sure will walk right up to you 😂

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

That’s wild! They’re pretty amazing animals but yeah, that would startle me too. Glad you enjoyed that bit of the video :)

[@Jessijokes]

@@PhotographyLifeChannelreally good job on writing your content 👏👏👏

[@danielorta8563]

5:00 How do I find this lossless video crop setting? Should it be pretty intuitive? I have a Nikon D3300 and i assume i would j need a nicer camera for that feature :/

[@ahmedm.fathie6124]

Good day Spencer. Here is an unusual question that needs your opinion. Since the Z7 has 45 meg pixels compared to the Z6 24 meg pixels. Will the quality of a picture taken with a z7 Nikon and a 300 mm lens and then enlarged, have more or less same quality and or resolution as a same picture taken with a Z6 and a 600mm lens ? Thank you

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sure thing Ahmed! The Z7 image would have substantially less detail in your example. In good light, the quality would be about the same if you used a 350-450mm lens or so on the Z6 versus 300mm on the Z7. In low light (starting at about ISO 3200), the Z6 actually can put more detail on your subject than the Z7, even if both are at 300mm. Because the Z6 has slightly better high ISO performance of the two cameras.

[@acrapid7845]

Yes, you can get closer, but only in limited number of cases). For other cases you need tele. To understand that you dont need watch KZbin. You just need to go on vacation in wild ones)).

[@Tony-Elliott]

Great video Spencer thanks for the tips

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sure thing, Anthony! Glad you liked it.

[@haiway85]

after watching this i'm gonna be as one with the nature~!!

[@NathanB417]

My first thought was "holy sh!t, is that a puffin?!? Good tips though, you don't always gotta go by the book which is great because I don't even have the book 😅🤷‍♂️

[@ineptxpython3501]

Whta camera are you using here?

[@tompatton2086]

Great tips and a great sense of humor. Liked. And without naming any in particular, there's also software that can bring the subject in closer in post. Not quite the same as a high quality telephoto lens, but also a lot less expensive. 💰

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thanks, Tom, good point! Cropping in general can also take you a long way, especially with a higher resolution sensor. As you say, it's no substitute for getting it right in the field, but it's a good tool to improve your gear's capability a bit.

[@nikaberzina2478]

I dont need 800mm, I need 1200 mm.

[@anindaguha3979]

I have a Nikon d7200, however struggling to get better pictures instead of on my Samsung galaxy s9 plus. Can you please help in sharing all your videos in a chronological order that may help? Also do you recommend to buy any additional lights and screen apart from the flashlight?

[@williambare5295]

Hey, Spencer. Thanks for the video. I really enjoyed it. This is my first time seeing your videos, and so I am wondering where you are shooting from. I am in Virginia, but I grew up in Florida (near Tampa). Everything in your video from the palmetto trees to the egret, the heron, the anhinga, the lizard, the fiddler crab, to... well basically EVERYTHING took me right back to my childhood. I so enjoyed seeing those photos! Where were you?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

That’s awesome! You’re right, almost all of those are in Florida. Pretty close to Cocoa Beach.

[@JackHumphrey]

I tried your tip on a polar bear and you were right! Got some great shots of the inside of his mouth that came out great. Had to wait for him to pass the sd card to see what I captured but it was worth it!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Finally someone who listens to me, congrats on the great photos! I’m sure they’ll earn enough to pay for any medical bills you may have incurred while taking them.

[@edusk8pwr]

Nice! Jaja subscribed.

[@jayco10125]

what about a 50mm?

[@letni9506]

I bought a 1440mm bridge camera and i still can't get near enough to a kestrel :) You don't need extreme reach for wildlife but for birds i couldn't really do with less than 600mm and even then i'd probably have to crop.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Fair enough! Some animals are much harder than others to photograph without a supertelephoto. Really depends on what you're trying to capture.

[@sirdk1234]

Im uhh... not sure I want a polar bear running towards me.

[@PhilNEvo]

Didn't know the sherminator got into photography xD

[@sushantkeny8010]

You're awesome 😆

[@FookFish]

3:15 lmao

[@GlennVanderbeke]

Haha enjoyed thé vid 🤘🏻

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad you liked it, thanks, Glenn!

[@juniltoriba1763]

Bro🙌

[@navinu2700]

ok hold up for a second did i saw a spongebob looking as crab?

[@charlesfisher2134]

You need to do a lot more videos you're good on camera and very funny😅

[@jeremymaitre8146]

Micro 4/3 users have relatively cheap high quality supertelephoto lens :p

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

An underrated system for wildlife photography for sure!

[@EmoEmu]

Alligator macro photography.

Nice video, Like 185 and Greetigns from Italy :)

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, Perì! Hello back from sunny Florida.

[@ericerickson6537]

You forgot a do crop on a full frame camera

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

For sure, especially with the newer ultra-high resolution sensors, you can crop about 1.5x without ruining the photo. It's akin to just using an aps-c sensor in terms of image quality, at that point.

[@ivanroslyakov5855]

24mm for the crab?! sure it was arround 70mm or more...

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Nope, it was a 24mm prime lens! I did use it on an aps-c sensor camera, so 35mm equivalent. That crab let me get super close.

[@rickbooher8224]

Also going to zoos provide and up close photos of wild life and you don't need a super telephoto lens. I got some great shots with only a 135 mm lens. And if you got a zoom up to 300m large aperture you can blurring out a lot of the background identifying it as a capture animal in a zoo. I have also got some great picture through a chain link and using a right focus upon the animal limiting focus upon the foreground they came out as if there was no chain link fence at all. Sometime it is by accident but with digital camera you can check the picture right away so you can try again. Sometimes that is trial and error at first but you can get better at it, the more you do it.

[@balintk.9373]

Zoo...WILDlife....umm, huh?

[@divyarajthakor4863]

It is not a magical moment when a giant crocodile is running towards you!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sounds pretty magical to me. A very graceful last thing to see in your life.

[@jlina]

Comment! Thanks for the five tips! Bought a used fz-50 today just to try to fill my frame and I don't even like small sensor cameras :)

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sure thing! That's a nice camera, smaller sensor or not. Sometimes you just need a supertelephoto.

[@basukisugito3275]

"My heron" is so sky, if I am closer than 50 meter he fly away.

[@jackkraken3888]

03:22 Where did he go? How is that possible? Harvey Dent, can we trust him?

[@zygmuntziokowski7877]

FYI - I can't turn on NOTIFICATION due to "COPPA". I am not sure how to change that.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

That's odd. It should let you turn on the notification unless I set the video to "made for kids," which I never do. Maybe try unsubscribing and resubscribing to my channel, and see if the bell icon reappears properly?

[@zygmuntziokowski7877]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel Thanks! That seem to work.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

@@zygmuntziokowski7877 Great!

[@garybrown9719]

Tip one bs tip 2 ok Tip 3 👍

[@charlesfisher2134]

😂 Good job