Photographing Ducks and Waterfowl, 5 Wildlife Tips

[@VinceMaidens]

Nice to hear some honesty about location, exactly agree, some things are sacred and a perfect spot is one. Second tip 4. Thats what she said

[@WildlifeInspired]

oh where'd I get this. here's the GPS good luck..... (36.53158326598538, -116.93116923839412)

[@VinceMaidens]

@@WildlifeInspired Unlike you I will always give directions to Snowy Owl locations. It’ll never be the right one, but you’ll go some place, have a coffee and giggle and say “Oh that Vince, he got me again”.

[@cguerrieri4866]

The perspective is a game changer for me! Thanks for the great education

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

Great tips! Waiting around the corner of a point of cattails helps in terms of pre-focusing at the area where the ducks may swim around the corner and wow!

[@candicehanson9587]

Loving this lecture.

[@scottkeys1530]

Thanks!

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

man, i love that wood duck looking right at you. so cool.

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thanks 👍

[@robverduyn6541]

Great tips, thanks for sharing. Love to see more on your duck techniques. Thanks again

[@scottkeys1530]

Thanks Rob!

[@felixifloresrodriquez3306]

I truly respect your honesty. It means the world to me

[@mark.t.vetphotog]

Great tips and video as always!

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thanks Mark!

[@smkunder1]

Wow, very helpful for sure!

[@scottkeys1530]

thanks

[@fairoaks3049]

Beautiful images, Scott! Thanks for the tips

[@WildlifeInspired]

Appreciate you joining live!

[@tangulaunruh5722]

Great information. We have a lot of ducks here. Love your tips.

[@kennetht66]

Thanks for all the tips love your show.

[@WildlifeInspired]

You are so welcome

[@jamieburning3762]

Another great video Scott.. Thanks for sharing

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thanks!

[@timseward19]

Your multiple examples of what your saying always brings everything together. Another great one.

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thanks as always Tim!

[@mosheovadya]

Beautiful. Great tips. Thank you.

[@krystalmigliore5034]

Very inspiring photos.🦆Very helpful info.💡

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thank you Krystal

[@gregwilsonnaturephotography]

Hey Scott, I agree that one would get the best duck photos if you are up and out there before the quack of dawn. 🦆🦆🦆🦆 Sorry for the wise quack... thank you for tips and beautiful images. Greg

[@WildlifeInspired]

glad you enjoyed

[@Steve-qi7hc]

Another great video, thank you.

[@WildlifeInspired]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lisamarie7527]

All really great tips Scott! Especially number tip number ☝️… patience. Thanks for sharing!

[@WildlifeInspired]

From a woman that knows how to bring it!

[@lisamarie7527]

I really appreciate it! I took everything you taught me on your Patreon very seriously. Thank Scott!

[@charlesdavis6371]

amazing images and truly helpful tips - TY

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thanks!

[@jessewatkins1338]

Thank you for these tips!!! I love waterfowl and photographing them. I appreciate such an in depth video.

[@WildlifeInspired]

thanks for tuning in

[@montananorthern]

Fantastic video Scott. Your work is absolutely amazing!

[@WildlifeInspired]

Many thanks!

[@timloucks4325]

Great timing Scott. I was watching/listening to your video as I culled/edited some Wood Duck photos I'd taken late afternoon yesterday. Yes, they flush easily, more so than any other duck on the pond. Yes, Patience. I'm still working on that part. I found if I shot through gaps between tree limbs & bushes that they didn't get as anxious as they did when seeing me from one of a couple clear viewpoints to the pond. Challenging subjects, but so worth the effort. They tick every crayon in the box. Beautiful birds. Thanks for all the tips. Cheers.

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thanks Tim and thanks for being a subscriber look forward to more comments in the future

[@Calvinmetal]

You should talk to some duck hunters. We would long to share good spots and migration info with photographers. Also I do photography and usually don’t bring a camera because I’m working the birds, calling, managing the group, dog, etc and asking a camera is too much but show motion video and photo of ducks “maple leafing” into the decoys is so so cool. They flip over and twist and turn.

[@Calvinmetal]

Also, a lot of what your talking about is the same stuff we do and think about as waterfowl hunters

[@WildlifeInspired]

If you want to learn how to photograph ducks. Think like a hunter. And much of the gear and accessories overlap as well.

[@sampeep2527]

Wonderful video thank you for your time and effort that you put into these awesome tutorials

[@WildlifeInspired]

thanks!

[@MBDronePhoto]

Is a kayak low enough? Just gorgeous images. The smile on your face describing the moments show your passion.

[@WildlifeInspired]

I have done a kayak, with mirrorless "flip up" screens, its easier to get lower than when I used a DSLR and struggled a bit

[@dennisharris144]

Love the video and LOVE the channel. do you ever use a polarize filter on your long lens for ducks?

[@WildlifeInspired]

I do not. they require drop in filters.. might be a fun experiment hmmmm

[@PhillipJ]

Great video and tips…thanks Scott, you and your images have inspired me to rethink the game!

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thanks!

[@vongtaynhanaikptt6066]

Very good vídeo, thanks for sharing my dear friend.

[@WildlifeInspired]

Appreciate!

[@WildlifeInspired]

Hope you enjoyed the tips, leave a comment if you think it was helpful

[@sgrphotography]

Yes Patience.. and I often add 10 minutes extra time

[@WildlifeInspired]

Good plan. leaving now + 10 I like it.

[@apumountainguides]

Excellent tips✨️🍺

[@nicolasbrunicardi7248]

Great tips and gorgeous pics, Scott! Dusk or dawn which do you prefer for waterfowl? Have you noticed any behavioral differences when it comes to dusk or dawn?

[@WildlifeInspired]

I pick based on location and light and sometimes if I think other people might be around (fisherman, kayaks, boats etc) I think if you get in before sunrise ducks MIGHT be more tolerant but ducks are ducks. Ya never know!

[@TomReichner]

My hat is especially off to you if you are getting these close up portraits of wild ducks with a full frame body, and without any cropping. If you are getting close enough to fill the frame to this extent, on a regular basis, without cropping into the image at all, then that is a hallmark of exceptional fieldcraft! As for myself, the only way I can get ducks that big in the frame is to crop a little ... or maybe more than a little, on some occasions.

[@WildlifeInspired]

I definitely crop down, and they are not always close! but there are a few spots (again location) that are pretty ideal.

[@TomReichner]

@@WildlifeInspired Oh, wow! Thanks for disclosing that. As I watched more and more of your videos, I kept thinking that I have been doing things all wrong because I can't fill the frame anywhere near as well as you do in the pics you show in your videos. And I use an 800mm lens! The fact that you are cropping to get those results makes me feel better about what I am doing myself when I photograph birds.

[@pistonslapuk]

Location really is the key.

[@WildlifeInspired]

yes!

[@davebelcherguitar]

Another wonderful video, Scott! Thanks! Two quick questions: 1. Since you're down in the mud and muckety muck often, do you wear specific clothes? Like waterproof or goretex? 2. When you're positioning yourself in the tall marsh grass and next to edges of ponds, do you sometimes encounter snakes?

[@WildlifeInspired]

snakes in this area arent a major concern, usually i see little frogs. The "dangerous" snakes here are more in the remote hilly areas (Timber Rattlers, Copperheads). Muck gear is waterproof, waders, or some combo, often with a thin yoga mat (that helps a lot)

[@davebelcherguitar]

@@WildlifeInspired Awesome, thanks! I'm smack dab in the middle of North Carolina and copperheads are everywhere. One of my favorite spots for waterfowl has a dam of large rocks along the shores of the water so my main concern is laying on top of potential copperhead habitat. Another spot joins woodland and shoreline and so snakes are much more frequent there.

[@WildlifeInspired]

oh ya thats a different ball game down there... not sure if waders would make you feel more secure... im not snake expert but thick neoprene cant be easy to get through. maybe a wider mat to lay on could help also... but if one slithers up near your face or hands..... youre on your own.

[@davebelcherguitar]

@@WildlifeInspired Haha! I won't hold you responsible. 😆 Great tip about the yoga mat specifically...definitely getting one asap. Have you ever tried a floating blind?

[@SomeonewithaSony]

Hey Scott, great video. Wondering about the advantage to getting to the location before sunrise…is it because ducks won’t see you in the dark? Are they sleeping? Or is it just to give them enough time to come back after being flushed (so you don’t miss the good light)? And how come the ducks never seem bothered by that loud couple out for a casual stroll in the park, but anybody with a camera - they’re gonzo.

[@WildlifeInspired]

all of the above they seem more tolerant before dawn (not always) and if they are pushed away they will often come back or new ones will come back in before the good light. LOL about the loud couple

[@rgs455atw]

Yup, that is my biggest challenge is patience.

[@WildlifeInspired]

struggle is real

[@frankfurter7260]

How many of these ducks are you allowed to keep? I like roast duck in the winter. 😋

[@jarrett2213]

You ever get in a wetsuit into the water with a floating camera blind?

[@WildlifeInspired]

yes used to do it much more than now, requires the right location.

[@arupkumarchanda3302]

Water is more stable. We couldnt see like this in India dont knw why. its about water or climate? 🧐

[@WildlifeInspired]

Im not sure what you mean about water or climate... there is often atmospheric distortion on the surface of the water in cold or warm temps