Been looking at getting the nikon d7100 which you can get for a good price these days and use the rest of the money on the 200-500mm! I do like canon for certain reasons but for what I need I like this set up!
Great video! Although I often shot Raw, for uploading zoo shots to a Facebook album, what are the best creative settings as far as sharpness, contrast, and saturation are concerned? And is standard better than neutral or vivid?
Another serious Tip is to preview study the animals you are going to see to correctly identify them and know their behavior ,the animal you say is a buffalo is a bison. To approach the wild animals to take picture with a wide angle lenss, it´s risky as stupid, you can do it where you took the photos, but in general it´s very dangerous. For the rest I agree with your advice, thank you very much for sharing.
Not to simply criticize your video. But I'm a Contract Photographer and Naturalist. However I believe almost all your information regarding interaction with and especially that of approaching wildlife. Violates most Major NPS Guidelines/Rules/Regulations. Don't take my word for it, ask someone with the NPS at Yellowstone if they would "unofficially" look at your video. And see if they agree with your suggestions? More people are injured by Bison in Yellowstone than any other species. Your video while entertaining was simply reckless. The problem is people see videos like this so they take for granite that what you did and how you did it is, ok. It's not. You should have cited in your video what current NPS Rules are for wildlife viewing of Large Mammals like the Bison. And not to trash your Father, for I'm sure looking at the photographs. It was quite awhile ago. But by todays standards in terms of wildlife interaction. Getting close enough to touch a Big Horn Sheep is completely unacceptable. When Wildlife loose their fear of humans. Then unwanted interactions occur and someone or animal ends up suffering because of it. Do the research, look at the facts. And I am willing to bet you'll have a different opinion about your own behavior.
Whoa…. 1/250 of a sec? I mostly shoot Balds Eagles using a tripod and gimbal head. I keep my shutter set to a minimum of 1/1000 sec at 500mm with an aperture of f/8. I use the same settings hand holding shooting bison at the Nachusa Grasslands too. 1/250 to me sounds way to slow.
I dont get it. Everyone says to get a tripod bit cant we just off set the vibration by shooting with a fast shutter speed? Like 1/500th of a sec or faster? Or is still too slow for a long lens?
nice video, I'd have to add that regardless of how close you can get to wildlife it is important to remember that if you are close enough that the animal changes it behavior (including not eating to look at you) you are too close. I live in Yellowstone and work as a freelance photographer and every day I see someone who is too close to wildlife. Bison kill people far more than bears do but the park only puts a 25 yard restriction on bison. 100 yards for bears is quite a far piece to shoot, even with 600mm.
Yeah, I want to be your dad back then. What a time to do what he did. Euphoria and nostalgia aside, that would have been the golden hour of professional wildlife photography.
In Africa I'll get mauled by a lion… Even if I spend time with em… I know, i know… I'm a duck, I know duck fu, but there are limits :-/ Have to shoot from the duck mobile 🙁
Hi @the Slanted Lens Quick question, what do you guys think about the next combo: Sigma 120-300 F2.8 S + 2.0x converter (giving me a 600 F5.6 equivalent) and using it on a Nikon D7200? Thanks for the tips!
Great video. might have to pickup that lens one day soon. Was recently at Yellowstone and Teton National Park, was a great time. Created my panoramas, got a huge bull elk photograph and then drove and took shots of the beginning Foilage. Was about a week ago. Visi my channel if your interested in seeing my footage. Have a great day. Enjoyed the video.
1.) Similar to the "lost wallet" one, I used to make deer curious in what I am doing. It works perfectly with fawns, and not that much with older, skilled ones, but it is worth of try. You basically keep cutting the distance, very slowly, and as soon they notice you, you act like you are walking away, again, slowly. It is essential to look "suspicious" (in a good sense), and to walk away and then hide, just by going prone, or behind the bush. Then, after some time, start getting closer again. Repeat this, and they will allow you to get closer and closer. At the end, I managed to pet roe deer fawn, and had some success with mature animals. I don't know if it works on other deer species, but at least roe deer are very curious and they want to know what are ou doing.
2.) Believe it or not, but animals check what you are holding in your hands. So it is always good to hide camera (or anything that can resemble weapon) while getting close. Even wooden stick or tripod looks like a rifle from a distance and they will spook. I had tested it few times y myself and also my grand dad tested it.
Using those and other techniques I managed to make some nice shots using 150 mm lens (My grand dad used his old Flexaret Va with 80mm lens with huge success, some of his photos are from extremely close distance). And I do it in true wildlife, no park or reserves or anything like that.
Camouflage is not that important, but it is advised to wear clothes with some pattern to break human silhouette. I quite often use desert camo outfit (british DPM) in my area (green foliage) and had no problem getting really close to animals.
MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR issue encouraging people to get close to wildlife. Pretend otherwise or not, that's the way to a) disturb the herd and b) get yourself kicked, gored, stomped, or otherwise killed. DO NOT DO IT. I have that Tamron lens, it's fantastic, but otherwise don't believe a thing this guys says.
Great tips, thank you. I really want to get into photography, and animals have always been my passion. I think it is very cool that your dad worked with National Geographic.
I almost get killed by a giraffe, well not really but… she bit me because I petted her, I know Im crazy but the guide told me that was ok so I did and she bit one of my fingers very hard, I almost lose my finger. That was last year, 2015 and I still have the scar, that happens a lot to me because I always have to touch it, no matter what. I use a Nikkor 300mm manual.
Thanks for sharing these great tips. Great photography seems to run in your family!! Just curious, how did you end up shooting Canon? I noticed your dad was a Nikon guy.
#12 Which you SHOULD have known (it would solve your #10 problem) Shoot in Manual mode with AUTO ISO. That way you can set BOTH shutter speed and APerture. Almost all DSLRS in the last 5 years or so have such low noise sensers that you will have no issues if the camera picks 112-100 as the best ISO.
epic video!
Been looking at getting the nikon d7100 which you can get for a good price these days and use the rest of the money on the 200-500mm! I do like canon for certain reasons but for what I need I like this set up!
Great video! Although I often shot Raw, for uploading zoo shots to a Facebook album, what are the best creative settings as far as sharpness, contrast, and saturation are concerned? And is standard better than neutral or vivid?
in which nationalpark was this filmed? where can i see those beautiful bisons with the great landscape?
U and you're father are a legend! Awesome photographer family!
Another serious Tip is to preview study the animals you are going to see to correctly identify them and know their behavior ,the animal you say is a buffalo is a bison. To approach the wild animals to take picture with a wide angle lenss, it´s risky as stupid, you can do it where you took the photos, but in general it´s very dangerous.
For the rest I agree with your advice, thank you very much for sharing.
Thank you so much for these tips! I'm going to Yellowstone and I'm filming for a class project and I have a better sense on what to do now!
these tips are not applicable if filming Australian Tiger Snakes or the Taipan. The shot to die for
That is definitely true about getting up early to get good photos. Don't expect to see many animals when you feel ready to get up lol
Thanks a lot for the tips.
Keep in mind that YNP requires 100 yds from Bears & Wolves, 25 yds from all other animals unless inside a vehicle..
Not to simply criticize your video. But I'm a Contract Photographer and Naturalist. However I believe almost all your information regarding interaction with and especially that of approaching wildlife. Violates most Major NPS Guidelines/Rules/Regulations. Don't take my word for it, ask someone with the NPS at Yellowstone if they would "unofficially" look at your video. And see if they agree with your suggestions? More people are injured by Bison in Yellowstone than any other species. Your video while entertaining was simply reckless. The problem is people see videos like this so they take for granite that what you did and how you did it is, ok. It's not. You should have cited in your video what current NPS Rules are for wildlife viewing of Large Mammals like the Bison. And not to trash your Father, for I'm sure looking at the photographs. It was quite awhile ago. But by todays standards in terms of wildlife interaction. Getting close enough to touch a Big Horn Sheep is completely unacceptable. When Wildlife loose their fear of humans. Then unwanted interactions occur and someone or animal ends up suffering because of it. Do the research, look at the facts. And I am willing to bet you'll have a different opinion about your own behavior.
Whoa…. 1/250 of a sec? I mostly shoot Balds Eagles using a tripod and gimbal head. I keep my shutter set to a minimum of 1/1000 sec at 500mm with an aperture of f/8. I use the same settings hand holding shooting bison at the Nachusa Grasslands too. 1/250 to me sounds way to slow.
If a buffalo charges at me, I'll probably take some shots before I run, no joke x)
I did zigzag lost my wallet technique on humans. They still haven't noticed.
your dad must have had an amazing career…thank you for sharing
I dont get it. Everyone says to get a tripod bit cant we just off set the vibration by shooting with a fast shutter speed? Like 1/500th of a sec or faster? Or is still too slow for a long lens?
nice video, I'd have to add that regardless of how close you can get to wildlife it is important to remember that if you are close enough that the animal changes it behavior (including not eating to look at you) you are too close. I live in Yellowstone and work as a freelance photographer and every day I see someone who is too close to wildlife. Bison kill people far more than bears do but the park only puts a 25 yard restriction on bison. 100 yards for bears is quite a far piece to shoot, even with 600mm.
Yeah, I want to be your dad back then. What a time to do what he did. Euphoria and nostalgia aside, that would have been the golden hour of professional wildlife photography.
good job bro.. you got some great shots.
In Africa I'll get mauled by a lion… Even if I spend time with em… I know, i know… I'm a duck, I know duck fu, but there are limits :-/ Have to shoot from the duck mobile 🙁
Hi @the Slanted Lens Quick question, what do you guys think about the next combo:
Sigma 120-300 F2.8 S + 2.0x converter (giving me a 600 F5.6 equivalent) and using it on a Nikon D7200?
Thanks for the tips!
Your father is the wildlife photography god
plzz give the lense
Very cool video, Thanks for sharing 🙂 Subscribing for sure 😛
Great video. might have to pickup that lens one day soon. Was recently at Yellowstone and Teton National Park, was a great time. Created my panoramas, got a huge bull elk photograph and then drove and took shots of the beginning Foilage. Was about a week ago. Visi my channel if your interested in seeing my footage. Have a great day. Enjoyed the video.
How about the grizzly? Do you apply the lost wallet technique when approaching a grizzly bear? Buffalo is one thing but they aren´t predators
Let me share with you my two "techniques" I use.
1.) Similar to the "lost wallet" one, I used to make deer curious in what I am doing. It works perfectly with fawns, and not that much with older, skilled ones, but it is worth of try. You basically keep cutting the distance, very slowly, and as soon they notice you, you act like you are walking away, again, slowly. It is essential to look "suspicious" (in a good sense), and to walk away and then hide, just by going prone, or behind the bush. Then, after some time, start getting closer again. Repeat this, and they will allow you to get closer and closer. At the end, I managed to pet roe deer fawn, and had some success with mature animals. I don't know if it works on other deer species, but at least roe deer are very curious and they want to know what are ou doing.
2.) Believe it or not, but animals check what you are holding in your hands. So it is always good to hide camera (or anything that can resemble weapon) while getting close. Even wooden stick or tripod looks like a rifle from a distance and they will spook. I had tested it few times y myself and also my grand dad tested it.
Using those and other techniques I managed to make some nice shots using 150 mm lens (My grand dad used his old Flexaret Va with 80mm lens with huge success, some of his photos are from extremely close distance). And I do it in true wildlife, no park or reserves or anything like that.
Camouflage is not that important, but it is advised to wear clothes with some pattern to break human silhouette. I quite often use desert camo outfit (british DPM) in my area (green foliage) and had no problem getting really close to animals.
MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR issue encouraging people to get close to wildlife. Pretend otherwise or not, that's the way to a) disturb the herd and b) get yourself kicked, gored, stomped, or otherwise killed. DO NOT DO IT.
I have that Tamron lens, it's fantastic, but otherwise don't believe a thing this guys says.
If a buffalo charges me, I'm gonna be thinking of running, not worrying about taking photos. XD
Sigma is a well marketed crap ??
Awesome video thanks so much for putting this together!
Best video from the channel!
Great tips, thank you. I really want to get into photography, and animals have always been my passion. I think it is very cool that your dad worked with National Geographic.
I almost get killed by a giraffe, well not really but… she bit me because I petted her, I know Im crazy but the guide told me that was ok so I did and she bit one of my fingers very hard, I almost lose my finger. That was last year, 2015 and I still have the scar, that happens a lot to me because I always have to touch it, no matter what. I use a Nikkor 300mm manual.
Did you ever manage to find your wallet? 🙂
Thanks for sharing these great tips. Great photography seems to run in your family!! Just curious, how did you end up shooting Canon? I noticed your dad was a Nikon guy.
There's a joke in this that involves the phrase "F-Stop" and "charging buffalo". I just know it.
Great video!! Way cool dad!!
#12 Which you SHOULD have known (it would solve your #10 problem) Shoot in Manual mode with AUTO ISO. That way you can set BOTH shutter speed and APerture. Almost all DSLRS in the last 5 years or so have such low noise sensers that you will have no issues if the camera picks 112-100 as the best ISO.