How To Nail The Shot - Costa Rica Edition!

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Steve

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It's another "How To Nail The Shot" video!

The last "Nail The Shot" video was received incredibly well so I decided to do another, this time focusing on Costa Rica (although the tips apply to wildlife anywhere). In this video, we'll look at eight different images from Costa Rica and talk about the challenges each presented, how I handled them, and what settings I used (I went into more detail this time as requested).

I think you'll really enjoy this one - it's packed with a TON of practical, field-tested advice that's sure to help on your next outing (even if that outing isn't in Costa Rica).

 
Awesome as usual - so many great reminders that I forget about as soon as a great opportunity shows up :)

One question regarding shooting the 600 f:4 on tripod - how do you set stabilization? I had left it on mode 1 both on tripod and monopod and I suspect that may have caused some of the sharpness issues I see on some of the action shots. Any advice on that point?
 
Really liked the video. You go fast but it's jam packed with value and the viewer can always switch to 0.75x playback speed. What really resonated for me is that I understood everything except the brand-specific AF modes but even that discussion was informative. So, my take away is that all these technical factors are finally sinking into my pea brain.

Love what you do @Steve !
 
I really enjoyed that. Good discussion of all the myriad factors to consider beyond just the camera in your hands and lots of reminders to keep in mind. Thanks for a great little video Steve.
 
Worthwhile as usual! Loved the Macaw, wondering if you darkened that background further in post to get it so black?
It was mostly like that. I think there was a brighter area on the left that I had to darken a bit to match the rest. The thing is, the bird was just in a lot brighter light than the background. Plus, they were feeding so I had plenty of time to really position myself to get what I wanted, so the background was certainly a huge part of that decision.
 
Awesome as usual - so many great reminders that I forget about as soon as a great opportunity shows up :)

One question regarding shooting the 600 f:4 on tripod - how do you set stabilization? I had left it on mode 1 both on tripod and monopod and I suspect that may have caused some of the sharpness issues I see on some of the action shots. Any advice on that point?
I tend to use mode 3 when I have it turned on while using a tripod. For faster shutter speed, I REALLY try to remember to just shut it off. I do seem to get better results.
 
Wonderful images with commentary and analysis. There's always a better shot to be taken...love that. My own take..."I've never taken a picture that I didn't think could be better". One of my faves from last year of a GHO has a couple of characteristics that I feel make it one of the better shots I've taken (and I've since framed a copy in my office too) but it does have a few white splotches in the background...Ha.
 
Again great video. More on the technique. Steve a few questions (perhaps covered elsewhere, sorry if they are)

1. Is there a base level ISO that you don't think you get any/much IQ if you drop below it?

2. Nikon has Highlight weighted metering. Not quite don't below our the highlights, but similar. Any thoughts on this?

3. Not a question but an observation. A friend who is more interested in collect images of different species that having better quality images of the species he has already shot.

Again thanks for the great video.
 
It's another "How To Nail The Shot" video!

The last "Nail The Shot" video was received incredibly well so I decided to do another, this time focusing on Costa Rica (although the tips apply to wildlife anywhere). In this video, we'll look at eight different images from Costa Rica and talk about the challenges each presented, how I handled them, and what settings I used (I went into more detail this time as requested).

I think you'll really enjoy this one - it's packed with a TON of practical, field-tested advice that's sure to help on your next outing (even if that outing isn't in Costa Rica).

Once again Steve, a great instructional video. Wonderful Videos reinforcing the importance of lighting and how to control it in your photo.
 
@Steve, yet another great video! This just makes me want to go to Costa Rica even more!!

So I have found tracking works really well and from your comments I am guessing you feel the same way. I am curious if you shoot say an Osprey diving into the water would you use zone? And would you use tracking? I will be giving it a go a couple days next week in FL at Sebastian Inlet and will have time to play with it but curious what you found worked best?
 
@Steve I am curious as to the use of a tripod. Do you use it much or handhold more? Did you use a tripod in any of the shots in the video?

I have been handholding the 600GM 90% of the time but just received a Wimberly gimbal head for Christmas and plan on giving that a bit of a try. I can see it being a little less portable but I wonder if the extra stability helps at all.
 
Again great video. More on the technique. Steve a few questions (perhaps covered elsewhere, sorry if they are)

1. Is there a base level ISO that you don't think you get any/much IQ if you drop below it?

2. Nikon has Highlight weighted metering. Not quite don't below our the highlights, but similar. Any thoughts on this?

3. Not a question but an observation. A friend who is more interested in collect images of different species that having better quality images of the species he has already shot.

Again thanks for the great video.

Let's see:

1. Probably somewhere around 400.

2. Sony has it too - I do use it sometimes, but I usually find it faster just to shoot in manual.

3. I have friends like that too. I'm in it for the pretty pictures, some are in it to see how many species they can stick in their catalog, even if the images are lackluster. Whatever makes people happy. :)
 
@Steve, yet another great video! This just makes me want to go to Costa Rica even more!!

So I have found tracking works really well and from your comments I am guessing you feel the same way. I am curious if you shoot say an Osprey diving into the water would you use zone? And would you use tracking? I will be giving it a go a couple days next week in FL at Sebastian Inlet and will have time to play with it but curious what you found worked best?
@Steve I am curious as to the use of a tripod. Do you use it much or handhold more? Did you use a tripod in any of the shots in the video?

I have been handholding the 600GM 90% of the time but just received a Wimberly gimbal head for Christmas and plan on giving that a bit of a try. I can see it being a little less portable but I wonder if the extra stability helps at all.


LOL, for the Osprey, I'd likely use Zone Tracking. Once the tracking box shows up, it doesn't really matter what AF mode you started with. Zone tracking is really good at picking things like Ospreys out of the sky. I would NOT use regular zone in that scenario though - it'll grab the foreground water (LOL, I know form painful experience). Also, you may need to release AF if the Osprey gets in the water for too long - you don't want the camera "stuck" on it. A faster response time can potentially help here, under AF Tracking Sensitivity.

As for tripods, I use 'em all the time - most of the shots in the video were with them and I do use them at the inlet. However, I've also been a regular tripod user for decades :) If you're not comfortable with them, fast-paced flight shots aren't a good place to learn :)

Have fun!
 
LOL, for the Osprey, I'd likely use Zone Tracking. Once the tracking box shows up, it doesn't really matter what AF mode you started with. Zone tracking is really good at picking things like Ospreys out of the sky. I would NOT use regular zone in that scenario though - it'll grab the foreground water (LOL, I know form painful experience). Also, you may need to release AF if the Osprey gets in the water for too long - you don't want the camera "stuck" on it. A faster response time can potentially help here, under AF Tracking Sensitivity.

As for tripods, I use 'em all the time - most of the shots in the video were with them and I do use them at the inlet. However, I've also been a regular tripod user for decades :) If you're not comfortable with them, fast-paced flight shots aren't a good place to learn :)

Have fun!
Thank you so much!
 
Let's see:

3. I have friends like that too. I'm in it for the pretty pictures, some are in it to see how many species they can stick in their catalog, even if the images are lackluster. Whatever makes people happy. :)
That sounds like birders who a life list. Or perhaps going for a big year. Though I have never of that in photography
 
Thanks for another great video @Steve. Your style in producing these videos sets you apart from the YouTube crowd. You exhibit in-depth knowledge and present it in a very practical, common sense way. Even for well experienced wildlife photographers there are useful tidbits and some downright revelations. The biggest benefits I think I get are the incites you bring to changing one's mindset to keep up with the new technology. For example for action shots with the newer sensors you seem to have shifted to heavily favor high ss and not worry so much about ISO. Even though I'm aware of what can be done with the newest sensors plus NR software old habits die hard and I'm always pushing the lower limits of ss. Thanks for the wake up call on that one. And you've really done a great job explaining how/why you've taken advantage of the new AF technology.

Your videos are packed with a lot of information that you go through really fast(I understand trying to keep them short as possible). I hope some of the subtleties aren't lost on people. So many are used to other people's videos etc that just give "how to" information and not the "why I do it this way" that you provide. For example when you explain why you select different AF modes in different situations and why it works for you. In this particular video I noted the following things that you explained that are SO important and hope novices pay attention and don't just look to clone your camera settings:

1) Field craft: explaining how you study the animals behavior in order to anticipate their movements and decide where to set up
2) Anticipating the action: Applying the field craft to anticipate where the animal will be and what it'll be doing and adjusting settings, pre-focusing, selecting AF mode, etc.
3) Being aware of BG: IMO this is one of the hardest/last things for people to learn and pay attention to in the field.
4) Artistic aspects: explaining how you visualize compositions to set up the shot and then explaining the elements of the frames that you select to present and what you think makes the shot a good one

Really great work and much appreciated. People that are really trying to up their game should bookmark this one and re-visit multiple times.
 
Thanks for another great video @Steve. Your style in producing these videos sets you apart from the YouTube crowd. You exhibit in-depth knowledge and present it in a very practical, common sense way. Even for well experienced wildlife photographers there are useful tidbits and some downright revelations. The biggest benefits I think I get are the incites you bring to changing one's mindset to keep up with the new technology. For example for action shots with the newer sensors you seem to have shifted to heavily favor high ss and not worry so much about ISO. Even though I'm aware of what can be done with the newest sensors plus NR software old habits die hard and I'm always pushing the lower limits of ss. Thanks for the wake up call on that one. And you've really done a great job explaining how/why you've taken advantage of the new AF technology.

Your videos are packed with a lot of information that you go through really fast(I understand trying to keep them short as possible). I hope some of the subtleties aren't lost on people. So many are used to other people's videos etc that just give "how to" information and not the "why I do it this way" that you provide. For example when you explain why you select different AF modes in different situations and why it works for you. In this particular video I noted the following things that you explained that are SO important and hope novices pay attention and don't just look to clone your camera settings:

1) Field craft: explaining how you study the animals behavior in order to anticipate their movements and decide where to set up
2) Anticipating the action: Applying the field craft to anticipate where the animal will be and what it'll be doing and adjusting settings, pre-focusing, selecting AF mode, etc.
3) Being aware of BG: IMO this is one of the hardest/last things for people to learn and pay attention to in the field.
4) Artistic aspects: explaining how you visualize compositions to set up the shot and then explaining the elements of the frames that you select to present and what you think makes the shot a good one

Really great work and much appreciated. People that are really trying to up their game should bookmark this one and re-visit multiple times.

Thank you so much! I only wish I could get as many people interested in videos like this as I can gear videos. I think these are far more valuable.
 
Steve, this video is very informative and I have picked up several tips from it. I am an amateur photographer who has a lot more to learn so I look forward to your videos.
BTW, your images are outstanding. I especially liked the white-faced monkey....you really captured a lot of humor in his expression! Thanks for all you do.
 
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