New "Nail The Shot" Format - Do you like?

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I like the new bite-size format as well. I can remember one example, by time you would get to the 7th or 8th pic, I’ve forgotten the first example (that may however just be my aging brain). What I think you could do, and still keep it short, is compare two similar pics and the differentiators that caused you to change a setting or approach. For visual learners, the pic remains in your mind and prompts a recall when you see something similar.
 
Steve, I much prefer this new short-and-to-the-point format for your Nail The Shot videos.

Reference your additional comment #22: In my opinion a slide (or two!) with the settings and associated explanation would work just as well if not better because over time it would provide a very useful quick reference compendium of methods. I for one retain information far more readily by reading an explanation than listening to the same information.
 
OK, I'm going to try something new today.

In the past, I've published "Nail The Shot" videos with eight photos and covered the field techniques for each. I really like this kind of video because it demonstrates the practical application rather than just theory. However, I think the old format was too long, often pushing 30 minutes.

So, I'm taking a different approach and hope you'll give me your feedback in the comments under the video. Instead of cramming eight shots into a video with explanations for each, I'm only doing one photo in a short-form style video that I think will prove more enjoyable to watch.

So, check out my first attempt at the link below. Just seven minutes and packed with info.

Yep, works for me. Appreciate what you do and especially all of your tutorial type videos. I am anxiously awaiting your Z9 guide!
 
My first post :) Long time listener, first time caller.

Absolutely enjoyed the video, concise and to the point, almost like you're having a conversation w/ someone and giving them the essential details of the process behind the shot, without glazing their eyes over. The decision making taking place (4-inches) behind the camera, before you even take the shot, is very valuable information, and could be a real boon to people trying to get into bird/wildlife shooting or improve their field technique.

If I could add anything, it would be some brief light/weather/environmental information that influenced your setup, such as: where was the sun coming from, wind/breeze or was it still, time of day, 'it was cooler out so I wasn't expecting any distortion rising from the water'. Admittedly, I haven't watched any previous Nail the Shot videos, so perhaps that stuff was included before but cut due to the newer constrained format, I'll have to watch and see for myself :) Just some friendly suggestions, the video(s) would be perfect without adding anything else.
 
My first post :) Long time listener, first time caller.

Absolutely enjoyed the video, concise and to the point, almost like you're having a conversation w/ someone and giving them the essential details of the process behind the shot, without glazing their eyes over. The decision making taking place (4-inches) behind the camera, before you even take the shot, is very valuable information, and could be a real boon to people trying to get into bird/wildlife shooting or improve their field technique.

If I could add anything, it would be some brief light/weather/environmental information that influenced your setup, such as: where was the sun coming from, wind/breeze or was it still, time of day, 'it was cooler out so I wasn't expecting any distortion rising from the water'. Admittedly, I haven't watched any previous Nail the Shot videos, so perhaps that stuff was included before but cut due to the newer constrained format, I'll have to watch and see for myself :) Just some friendly suggestions, the video(s) would be perfect without adding anything else.
Great idea - I'm compiling a list of settings / points about the photo for future NTS videos where I'll include a slide with all the info and talk about the more salient points. The conditions are a great one to add.

And welcome to the forum :)
 
OK, I'm going to try something new today.

In the past, I've published "Nail The Shot" videos with eight photos and covered the field techniques for each. I really like this kind of video because it demonstrates the practical application rather than just theory. However, I think the old format was too long, often pushing 30 minutes.

So, I'm taking a different approach and hope you'll give me your feedback in the comments under the video. Instead of cramming eight shots into a video with explanations for each, I'm only doing one photo in a short-form style video that I think will prove more enjoyable to watch.

So, check out my first attempt at the link below. Just seven minutes and packed with info.

Do you set out with making one of these videos ahead of time or do you just make one when you get a shot? Im only asking because an EVF feed of the bird movement would be cool to see as you explain the difficulties.
 
Do you set out with making one of these videos ahead of time or do you just make one when you get a shot? Im only asking because an EVF feed of the bird movement would be cool to see as you explain the difficulties.
I do them after the fact. The thing is, I shoot a lot and I'm very picky about what I process (I have a limited amount of time). So, I'd have to record all the time and an ATOMOS attached to my gear all the time would be sort of miserable. (that thing is heavy - or at least it makes the rig top-heavy). :)
 
Mostly in your videos you follow the old 3 part college term paper format. You tell me what you are going to tell me, then you tell me, then you tell me what you told me. I don't think you organized this one the same way, so I took a while trying to figure out if I should keep watching since in the early going I wasn't sure what the purpose of the video was.
 
Mostly in your videos you follow the old 3 part college term paper format. You tell me what you are going to tell me, then you tell me, then you tell me what you told me. I don't think you organized this one the same way, so I took a while trying to figure out if I should keep watching since in the early going I wasn't sure what the purpose of the video was.
It might be good to add a very brief intro next time (although, this time I had to talk about what I was thing to do). Good idea though - I think it would help. One thing that's tough with YT vides is keeping the viewer watching once you have them and if they know something good is coming, that helps. Thanks!
 
Steve, I very much liked this new format.
And this presentation was especially helpful to me. I do a lot of beach shooting, and I'm getting too old to comfortably just lie down and then lift my "arthritic" neck up to see through the viewfinder. So I've been using this technique of holding the camera low and using the LCD screen. And Auto AF with subject detection is so helpful. Thank you for the great tip of first manually focusing to get subject detection to work better.
One thing that is sometimes helpful to me is to have a low Walkstool to sit on, so that I can be comfortable getting my camera close to the ground.
 
Hi, Steve.

I like all of your videos, in part, because you are succinct and hold my interest.

Although in this new format, I felt as though you were rushing to make it as short as possible. A few more strategic pauses, especially after what you think are key points, would allow the viewer to more closely examine the photo, and mull over what you said so that they could get the information more firmly fixed in their mind/memory. This would make it more likely that the viewer might be able to better apply the information in the future.


Rather than going for the shortest/fastest video you can make on a given topic, why not make your goal to have these be solid "10-minute" videos? (This one was 7:16".) I think a 10-minute one would make a nice compromise between your longer format videos and this short one. You wouldn't seem quite so rushed, viewers would have a few extra seconds to let things sink in, and you would still achieve your goal of having shorter videos.

Thanks for continuing to give us helpful and informative videos, Steve. :)
 
OK, I'm going to try something new today.

In the past, I've published "Nail The Shot" videos with eight photos and covered the field techniques for each. I really like this kind of video because it demonstrates the practical application rather than just theory. However, I think the old format was too long, often pushing 30 minutes.

So, I'm taking a different approach and hope you'll give me your feedback in the comments under the video. Instead of cramming eight shots into a video with explanations for each, I'm only doing one photo in a short-form style video that I think will prove more enjoyable to watch.

So, check out my first attempt at the link below. Just seven minutes and packed with info.

I have to say Steve, that I like this short approach a bit better. it is less time consuming when i have a busy day... which is most days! LOL
 
OK, I'm going to try something new today.

In the past, I've published "Nail The Shot" videos with eight photos and covered the field techniques for each. I really like this kind of video because it demonstrates the practical application rather than just theory. However, I think the old format was too long, often pushing 30 minutes.

So, I'm taking a different approach and hope you'll give me your feedback in the comments under the video. Instead of cramming eight shots into a video with explanations for each, I'm only doing one photo in a short-form style video that I think will prove more enjoyable to watch.

So, check out my first attempt at the link below. Just seven minutes and packed with info.

I think you have struck on the perfect balance of video length. I like this way much better than trying to ingest too much info at one time. Keep it like this.
 
A thumbs up from me too. Two short ones are better than one long one and shorter intervals between their uploading on youtube will also likely satisfy the enigmatic algorithms in terms of attracting more viewers.
This one is doing better for the same period than the longer NTS videos. Although, you can't beat gear videos for views - technique videos are seldom even close.
 
Yes, I have seen a number of youtubers say that - gear videos are the crowd pullers. It makes you wonder what people do with all of the gear when they have it if they are not interested in the technique videos!
The funny thing is, everyone will tell you they think technique is more important than gear, but the numbers seem to say the opposite :)
 
Even though I no longer shoot Nikon, I was able to apply the lessons in the video to another manufacturer's camera. This is the key feature of "How I got the shot" series.

I loved it.

BTW: Why didn't you scoot back and use precapture to catch the bird's antics?

Tom
 
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