EOS D60, Sigma 170-500@500, Keyhaven - Hants, urm... can't remember the rest!
I'm hoping to try my luck with waders over the next few days. The only problem being, the above is my only attempt so far (and he's asleep!) Being a relative novice in this field, any advice on fieldcraft and how to get close enough for a frame-filling image would be gratefully received!
Thanking you all in advance!!
Posted by John Chapman on October 23, 2006 at 4:30 PM
Hi Pete
In my opinion if you want waders filling the frame with the equipment that you have you will have to use a vehicle or a hide. Study your area watch where the Waders feed if it is the sea shore watch the tides. I do not think you will be able to stalk them with your equipment. At a nesting site definitely use a hide and get somebody to walk away and come back for you.
All the Best
http://johnachapman.smugmug.com
Posted by Rob Fisher on October 24, 2006 at 3:26 AM
Pete,
A tactic that I have used, to reasonable success, is to wait for the incoming tide to push feeding birds up the beach closer to my position.
I don't have a lot of experience in photographing waders, so I'm also interested in the replies.
As ever... planning, you will want to find a coastal site frequented by good flocks of birds, but not by dog walkers etc..
Leave your camera at home for the first visits, you want to study the area unemcumbered by your gear... what you need to note is the shooting direction, I find that if you can face roughly north you can get good results, the high tide feeding line and any potential hazards such as the incoming tide cutting you off whilst you are concentrating on your subjects.
Next comes the hard part, co-ordinating the weather with the tides, which means checking tide tables against weather forcast till it all comes together, I prefer to shoot when high tide is around 10.30am to 11.00am.
Arrive early on the day of the shoot, and set yourself up so that you can get decent sized images at the high tide feeding line then wait, the tide will push the birds towards you and as they get closer to the feeding line there will be a feeding frenzy before they go to their high tide roost.
Be prepared to get wet and muddy laying in wait so dress dry and warm.... take with you only what you need as this sort of thing is quite hostile to camera equipment, use a bean bag or a tripod that collapses to ground level to support your gear..
Discussion
4 repliesI'm hoping to try my luck with waders over the next few days. The only problem being, the above is my only attempt so far (and he's asleep!) Being a relative novice in this field, any advice on fieldcraft and how to get close enough for a frame-filling image would be gratefully received!
Thanking you all in advance!!
In my opinion if you want waders filling the frame with the equipment that you have you will have to use a vehicle or a hide. Study your area watch where the Waders feed if it is the sea shore watch the tides. I do not think you will be able to stalk them with your equipment. At a nesting site definitely use a hide and get somebody to walk away and come back for you.
All the Best
http://johnachapman.smugmug.com
A tactic that I have used, to reasonable success, is to wait for the incoming tide to push feeding birds up the beach closer to my position.
I don't have a lot of experience in photographing waders, so I'm also interested in the replies.
Ta,
Rob
As ever... planning, you will want to find a coastal site frequented by good flocks of birds, but not by dog walkers etc..
Leave your camera at home for the first visits, you want to study the area unemcumbered by your gear... what you need to note is the shooting direction, I find that if you can face roughly north you can get good results, the high tide feeding line and any potential hazards such as the incoming tide cutting you off whilst you are concentrating on your subjects.
Next comes the hard part, co-ordinating the weather with the tides, which means checking tide tables against weather forcast till it all comes together, I prefer to shoot when high tide is around 10.30am to 11.00am.
Arrive early on the day of the shoot, and set yourself up so that you can get decent sized images at the high tide feeding line then wait, the tide will push the birds towards you and as they get closer to the feeding line there will be a feeding frenzy before they go to their high tide roost.
Be prepared to get wet and muddy laying in wait so dress dry and warm.... take with you only what you need as this sort of thing is quite hostile to camera equipment, use a bean bag or a tripod that collapses to ground level to support your gear..
Hope this helps
Phil
Cheers,