100% my philosophy as well.
5 Pro Secrets For Better Wildlife Backgrounds
- Thread starter Steve
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I always enjoy watching your videos Steve, you do a great job!
Thanks so much!
Turberticus
Well-known member
Pitt! I'm located in Pittsburgh.These tips also work for sports photographers. For shooting football, I get the best backgrounds when a player is near the goal line and the nearest fans are 100 yards away behind the opposing goal line. Not a wildlife photographer, but I do take photos of Panthers!
Calson
Well-known member
So often a change of height is the critical factor and that is where not needing a tripod is a big help. Some tripod designs and some leveling platforms lend themselves to altering the height quickly and then re-leveling the head for panning or shooting video.
A tip from a wedding photographer was to select the background first and then position the subjects. This works well for wildlife photography as well. It is also when animals are on the move that I want to be free of a tripod so I can move around quickly.
A tip from a wedding photographer was to select the background first and then position the subjects. This works well for wildlife photography as well. It is also when animals are on the move that I want to be free of a tripod so I can move around quickly.
For me, there are basically two components to a wildlife shot when I'm in the field. The first of courses, the subject and the second is the background. If I can't get both of those to work together, I don't have a worthwhile shot.
While this is great info @Steve and good to know, there are just times you have no choice. Like shooting Bald Eagles nesting. Either building their nests or feeding their young. They are generally at least 600 feet away from you, you can't possibly or legally get closer, and they're right up against background branches, etc. in their nesting tree. However, those of us who like to show folks what they may never in their lifetimes see live, we take what we can get. But, in normal circumstances, your tips are fabulous. And, as always, there are exceptions. Love your videos, love your books. I have learned so much from you, and I recommend you to all my photographer friends.
Cameron T
Well-known member
I agree with you completely.
That said, I think (to me at least, others are welcome to interject) there's more of a "documentary" style, vs trying to get a perfect wall hanger shot. Sometimes there's overlap, but often in my experience there isn't. I have a lot of the former, but only a few of the latter.
Doug Herr
Well-known member
There's also lighting. Some light works, some can be made to work, and sometimes it's just "nope".
Yes. I like to give a "teaching" moment. You would be amazed at how many people have never, ever seen birds in the wild like this. While I have framed a few of my photos (and sold a few) that is not my point. When I saw my first ever Bald Eagle soaring in the sky (before I started photographing them) my heart soared right along with that bird. As John Denver once sang, "You know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an Eagle fly...". This for me is what it's about.
Yup, I forgot about lighting! That's a big one - once it's bad, I'm out.
It sounds crazy to some, but at those times I often put the camera down and just enjoy the animal. I might take a "memory" shot but it will never make it to my portfolio. Most of the time - even if it's something new - I'll only shoot if I think I have potential for a good shot. My wife can attest I've enjoyed countless new and interesting species in poor locations and never raised a lens to them
Ok. I understand. You're in this to make money. I am not. For me, this is educational and recreational. I guess there are advantages for those of us who are not "professionals". I share my photos of my Facebook page, my followers love them. Many say they're delighted to see the birds I show them. They don't get to see them in life. So, putting the camera down and for "me" to just enjoy the moment doesn't give any of them the experience. That's the difference between us. I look at myself as being a teacher. To me, that is a bigger joy than selling a photograph. Just a difference in viewpoint and intent.It sounds crazy to some, but at those times I often put the camera down and just enjoy the animal. I might take a "memory" shot but it will never make it to my portfolio. Most of the time - even if it's something new - I'll only shoot if I think I have potential for a good shot. My wife can attest I've enjoyed countless new and interesting species in poor locations and never raised a lens to them
BlackRockArt
Well-known member
Totally agree. Maybe it's the habit from film camera days, getting down low is more of a challenge; in the digital photography era, the flippy LCD screen makes low-angle shooting so convenient.
Oliver
Yup, we all shoot for different reasons. IMO, whatever makes someone happy with their photos is a winOk. I understand. You're in this to make money. I am not. For me, this is educational and recreational. I guess there are advantages for those of us who are not "professionals". I share my photos of my Facebook page, my followers love them. Many say they're delighted to see the birds I show them. They don't get to see them in life. So, putting the camera down and for "me" to just enjoy the moment doesn't give any of them the experience. That's the difference between us. I look at myself as being a teacher. To me, that is a bigger joy than selling a photograph. Just a difference in viewpoint and intent.
And FWIW, I think you're in the majority
Thanks @Steve I think the best thing is for all of us is to enjoy what we do. As an "older" retired lady, I no longer have time to worry about what I do, but to enjoy what I do. Now, if someone could stop my husband from cringing everytime I mention new camera equipment, we'd be grand.Yup, we all shoot for different reasons. IMO, whatever makes someone happy with their photos is a win
And FWIW, I think you're in the majority
Rope him in - that's what I did with my wife and now - no resistance (although, it also helps that it's our living too)Thanks @Steve I think the best thing is for all of us is to enjoy what we do. As an "older" retired lady, I no longer have time to worry about what I do, but to enjoy what I do. Now, if someone could stop my husband from cringing everytime I mention new camera equipment, we'd be grand.
Similar to thisIt sounds crazy to some, but at those times I often put the camera down and just enjoy the animal. I might take a "memory" shot but it will never make it to my portfolio. Most of the time - even if it's something new - I'll only shoot if I think I have potential for a good shot. My wife can attest I've enjoyed countless new and interesting species in poor locations and never raised a lens to them
You give me hope. Most of the time I keep images just because they look nice, but only a few really make me say "wow". I'm always hoping for that wow moment, but enjoy the journey getting there and following, that's part of what I love about photography. If every day needed to have perfection I likely would need another hobby, but the perfectionist in me drives me to improve my abilities. Your video has helped me understand some fundamentals that have been with me since the film days, when digital came around the immediate reference (playback) was helpful but the "spray and pray" mentality began to set in vs. following the fundamentals of what got me into photography. I am now trying to unlearn some of that spray and pray mentality and get back to intentional capture - don't just press that shutter because you hope it will turn out, but be aware of location, lighting, settings et al...
ajrmd
Well-known member
Natural is better for most things and the video was superb. You seemed to be really enjoying making the video and that conveyed the entire time.
I do a lot of citizen science for my Cornel Ornithology Laboratgory E bird checklists and the Macaulay Library. So my objective is an ID shot, if cool wall hanger happen tha is cool and I recently populated a 60 foot art wall at a regional medical center with prints on metal so it does happen from time to time, but it is secondary to my citizen science ID gig. So I frequently photograph birds in situations that are far from "artistic"It sounds crazy to some, but at those times I often put the camera down and just enjoy the animal. I might take a "memory" shot but it will never make it to my portfolio. Most of the time - even if it's something new - I'll only shoot if I think I have potential for a good shot. My wife can attest I've enjoyed countless new and interesting species in poor locations and never raised a lens to them
@Steve great video ... I use all techniques mentioned because they also work for emphasizing the bird I am photographing for ID even in tough situations.If you want to take your wildlife photos to the next level, you gotta start with the background. In this video, I'll show you how to get great backgrounds with any lens (SURPRISE - you don't need a big, fast prime to do it). I'll show you how to strategically leverage your position, distance, and current gear to create backgrounds that'll skyrocket the impact of your photos instantly.
Check out the video below - in less than 8 minutes, you'll be knocking out backgrounds like the pros
(Also, this was inspired by a recent conversation here at the forum).
Of course my primary allies are long focal length lenses my primary lens is a Z800 PF and my occassional "short lens" is a Z180-600.
When it comes to #5 I do not use photo shop but the new masking tools in Light Room Classic let me highlight the bird and help with the back ground with one click. For instance I have a preset the brightens the subject and darkens the background with one click. When I have not adjusted exposure enough for whatever reason that one click can come to the rescue and yet it does not violate even nature photograph contest rules since it just adjusts the light.
I’m there with Patty as well…mine go to the travel blog almost exclusively and viewers get to see things they can see on their own.Yup, we all shoot for different reasons. IMO, whatever makes someone happy with their photos is a win
And FWIW, I think you're in the majority
Again, this really needs to be its own topic and not under this thread. Please create a new topic with these photos and your issue. This is off-topic for this thread and per forum policies I need to delete them.
Also, my suspicion is heat distortion looking at these. I'd like to see closer crops of the affected areas though if you could include those with the new topic.
If you don't know how to post a new topic, go to forum home or new posts and click the post thread button top right. Pick a category and the rest is easy to figure out.
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