Positioning 101: How Low Can You Go!
Learn how to improve your wildlife images quickly by following my step-by-step demonstration. I explain the gear your need and the technique required to elevate your wildlife images. I hope you enjoy, Cheers, Duade
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/ @duade
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Gear Used In Video - Affiliate Links
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🛒Canon RF200-800 f/9 geni.us/63JQM
🛒Canon R5 geni.us/IshRd
🛒Sirui PH10 Gimbal geni.us/UBEct Code: DUADEPATON for 5% off
🛒Skimmer Ground Pod bit.ly/3F7QHqo
🛒Ninja 5 monitor geni.us/aLZv6J
🛒Prograde Memory Card - use coupon code DUADE for 15% off
👍bit.ly/3uN6WGb *Very High Freight Costs Outside USA*
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My Cameras - Affiliate Links
🛒Olympus OM-1 geni.us/nsv5
🛒Canon R6 Mark II geni.us/Suy1
🛒Canon R7 geni.us/L6TITJ
🛒Canon R6 geni.us/08Ro
🛒Canon R5 geni.us/IshRd
🛒Canon R10 geni.us/AEvjF4
🛒Sony A7IV geni.us/wxaU
🛒DJI Pocket 2 geni.us/gAmY
🛒Insta Go 360 2 geni.us/JkFeNDp
🛒DJI Air2s Drone geni.us/qYhA2A
My Lenses
🛒Olympus 300mm f/4 IS PRO geni.us/Fst6
🛒Olympus 100-400 geni.us/WAsE3i2
🛒Sigma 150-600C geni.us/AxMQ
🛒Canon RF100-400 geni.us/avzOe
🛒Canon RF800 f11 geni.us/yhnjyl
🛒Canon RF100-500 geni.us/wLTrLf
🛒Canon RF35 1.8 geni.us/T3OrIs6
🛒Canon RF24-105 f4 geni.us/o1Dyw7
🛒Canon EF500 F4 IS II geni.us/YMFVl
🛒Canon RF200-800 f/9 geni.us/63JQM
🛒RF1.4x Converter geni.us/SG5AfJW
🛒RF2x Converter geni.us/00e2R
🛒Sony 200-600 geni.us/Yrysuf
Audio - Wireless Mic
🛒Rode Wireless Go 2 geni.us/FhjPXr
Tripod
🛒Ifootage TC7 geni.us/dwhKB6N
🛒Benro CF Tripod (C373T) geni.us/c0RMABZ
🛒Sirui SVM Monopod 15% off bit.ly/3HZgAvl
🛒iFootage C180 Cobra Monopod www.ifootagegear.com/?ref=Dua... Use Code DUADEPATON for 10% off
🛒Sirui AR3204 Tripod geni.us/EvIs Code: DUADEPATON for 5% off
🛒Sirui PH20 Gimbal bit.ly/3ArJykf Code: DUADEPATON for 5% off
🛒Sirui PH10 Gimbal geni.us/UBEct Code: DUADEPATON for 5% off
🛒Flexshooter Pro geni.us/3MZsDX
🛒Skimmer Ground Pod bit.ly/3F7QHqo
🛒Weifeng 6663A Tripod /Ballhead ebay.to/3ArL5W3
Monitor
🛒Ninja 5 monitor geni.us/aLZv6J
Bag Hide
🛒Lenscoat Lenshide store.naturescapes.net/lensco...
Bag
🛒Think Tank Photo Airport Commuter Backpack geni.us/5cu7NQ
Accessories
🛒Prograde CF Express B and SD Cards amzn.to/3NlYPqb
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Join this channel to support me:
/ @duade
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Business enquiries: duade.paton@gmail.com
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👍Follow Me & View My Images
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Website: www.duadepaton.com
🖼️Gallery of my photos: photos.duadepaton.com
🖼️Photos from video:
🖼️Instagram: / duadepaton
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Chapters
00:00 Wildlife Basics #1
00:48 Beginner Mistake
01:32 Wet Weather Gear
02:01 Groundpod & Gimbal
03:23 Black Swan
04:58 White-faced Heron
05:53 Monitor
06:35 Black-fronted Dotterel
07:31 Canon 40D & EF400 5.6
09:01 Get Eye Level
09:49 Little Corellas
10:45 Conclusion
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Music
Pretty Little Liar - Epidemic Sound
Thank you for this. I was missing the good old days with you being on the field whithout gear reviews, just sharing your joy when doing what you love. I believe gear reviews is what "sells" nowadays but I enjoy much more watching your videos when you're outside and taking photos! Cheers!
Too right mate,infomercials get old time after time.
Personally I love and appreciate his gear reviews. Not everyone can afford to try out the different lenses. And he still is out in the field, doing what he loves.
Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it, yes, always difficult finding a balance between gear reviews and in field videos. Cheers, Duade
Hopefully they are well made infomercials ;-)
@@ladyethyme I hear you, but how often do you plan on buying new gear? If you've watched a couple dozen gear reviews and know enough about cameras, then you've seen all the reviews that you need. The rest of photography is, well, doing photography! That's what most people are going to want to see. I appreciate how good Duade is at thoroughly reviewing gear, but I'm not buying a new setup from a new brand every month lol.
Short, but very sweet. More like this please Duade.
I absolutely prefer you being out with the camera - explaining your techniques. This video is particularly good - not too long (videos more than 20 minutes I usually postpone) and demonstrating one very important principle. I just got surgery with a new full right knee, so I will not get on the ground in the next few months. Our swans are white, but I found black swans i France that I photographed. They must have been imported by sailors centuries ago, I suspect. Thanks for sharing your easy-to-understand demonstration video. / Per Christensen, Denmark
Get well soon!!!❤
Get well and get a lawn chair and a tripod (or free hand it) and keep shooting. When I broke my tibia years ago, I threw all my gear in a backpack, strapped a lawn chair to it, I'd drive to my local dam, post up in the lawn chair and shoot until I rain out of juice or storage. I couldn't work so it was the only way I kept sain.
Thanks for the feedback and sorry to hear about the knee injury, I hope all is well soon and you are able to get down in the mud with those beautiful White Swans. Cheers, Duade
Quite agree..... what drew me to Duade's videos in the first place were these in the field tutorials. Best part of the channel.
Great bite-sized masterclass:) Looking forward to many more!
More to come!
Love this content. I hope you do many more. You're a great teacher with your simple straight forward approach to the subject.
Thanks James, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Love it! I most enjoy learning while you are out in the field.
I'm happy that you were actually able to get your hands on the elusive 200-800mm.😊
Here in New Zealand these are easy to get within a few days of ordering them
@@noelchignell1048 I've been waiting 4 months now, being told that it may take as many as six months.
Yes, got mine in first batch thankfully, tough to get here also. Cheers, Duade
G'day mate, NZ must be hoarding the worlds supply, pretty sure its sold out here in Australia. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Canon NZ is part of Canon Australia I think so that's a bit weird
That was quite useful to see the beginner vs experienced shot and especially the WHY. When I first started the video and saw the two I didn't even see that one was better than the other until you explained the WHY. Then I immediately saw the difference.
Thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Another Great Video. It really shows what getting at eye level can accomplish. When I first started shooting, I always seemed to be on Embankment or Irrigation Ditch shooting down or shooting up in a tree. I would go home and be extremely disappointed in the shots I took. But now I often will maneuver to get shots at eye level if it can be done and it really does make a world of difference. Cheers and look forward to catching up on more tips and hands-on from someone who delivers such great content. Always appreciate.
Thanks Bruce, yes, its surprising the difference it makes, glad to hear you are enjoying yourself. Cheers, Duade
We get a lot of birds visit our backyard. It's great being able to sit on the veranda with a glass of wine and photograph them at eye level as they sit in a tree less than 10 metres away.
Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. Cheers, Duade
Guilty as charged. So many of my bird images are from that stood steep up angle. Enjoyed this one Duade, always great content, and the raw excitement is so infectious. Brilliant to see. 👏
Thanks mate, glad to hear you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade. Really enjoyed this masterclass video format, learn/reinforce some important techniques and get to enjoy a short trip out with you photographing some of your beautiful Aussie birds. A great addition to the video formats you already do. I really enjoy your gear test videos as well, your testing and opinion/conclusions are very helpful indeed before I/we go out and invest substantial amounts of cash on new gear for bird/wildlife photography. Probably need another video on how to get back up again after getting down as low as I can go! 😊. John
Thanks John, yes, getting up is getting harder and harder the older I get. Yes, I try to have a balance of videos if I can. Cheers, Duade
As a learning photographer I am very excited to follow along with this series! I actually found your channel through your wonderful gear reviews, and I loved your perspective and how detailed you were, as well as your field testing. It helped me to decide on a few major gear upgrades for myself! Now that I have my new gear I'm excited to follow along your masterclass and learn how improve my techniques! Birding and bird photography is such a wonderful hobby and I'm glad I found a community of people who share that passion!
Thanks for the feedback Jessie, I really do appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
I went to a local pond recently and this content was ringing in my ears and I got some pretty good duck photos
Today I got over my ego at "looking silly crawling about on the ground. . ." - and was able to get some of the best shots I've managed so far in my short dabbling in photographing wildlife. Putting the viewer at the level of the subject is so obvious in other photography "genres" that I'm honestly kicking myself for appreciating that the same would apply to wildlife photography. . . .accordingly, I went to TARGET and grabbed a nice "mud ensemble" for my next outing.
That is wonderful to hear, thanks for the feedback and good luck on your next session. Cheers, Duade
Thanks Duade! I've been checking for a new video in the past couple of days. I really enjoy your style of videos - very approachable and conversational, and always with a huge amount of love for what you do. I love these kinds of in-the-field content the most, although I'll also say as a newbie to photography overall, your backlog of product reviews has been invaluable in helping me choose affordable gear for me to start my own journey in wildlife photography. Cheers, and looking forward to the next in this series!
Thanks for the feedback, I really do appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Love the video Duade! I've definitely been using these practices recently with great results albeit not getting quite as dirty laying in the mud - utilizing the flip screen and crouching in the mud instead. -Danylo
Great to hear Danylo, I am working on another one now, Cheers, Duade
Huge fan of the before and after edits
You are the few I believe when say gear doesn't matter for a good click !
Nice one Duade. In advancing years, as has been commented, getting down is just about doable, the problem is getting back up. Crouching is possible but only if a fence, tree etc is nearby to act as a support (the wife is too old now!) One thing you didn't cover is Canon's camera connect app (I guess other makes have their own versions) Never tried it myself but do remember seeing another KZheadr use it to take low-angle shots of elephants while in a 4x4 on safari. Be interesting to know your opinions and that of any other viewers. Cheers
I’m a 61 year old woman. I had an injury last year and told my physical therapist I needed 1 thing. To be able to get down and back up off the ground. She laughed when I told her why! It may not look graceful, but I can finally do it. I do find that getting low is not possible due to the brush and grasses that surround most wetlands. I’m trying to understand and experiment with foreground blur. Honestly I struggle with what is artistic and what just looks like the shot was blocked. Perhaps a video on that! Thanks for being willing to share all your knowledge!
Thanks for sharing, sorry to hear about your injury but happy to hear you can do it. I like foreground blur and is something I am trying to do more of. I think experimenting with these things and even breaking rules is a way to improve and take unique images. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
Duade, thanks for an amazing video as always! Would you be interested in once showing your post-processing routine? What dimensions do you prefer your pics to have, and what do you export settings from lightroom look like. Would love to hear! Thanks!
great reminder of a basic element...
Thanks mate, yes, it makes such a difference, Cheers, Duade
You’ve convinced me that I definitely need to buy that telephoto lens I’ve been wanting. I can’t wait to get out and photograph some birds and other animals. I also can’t wait for the next episode!
Yep. Liked this format of video.
Totally agree on getting down low for birds on land or water. But at age 69, the getting down is not so hard but the getting back up sure is!
Excellent video; A few years ago I understood the principle of bending down to improve the background in a macro photo context. Standing up, the background is green (grass) and at ground level it is yellow (stem and flower), but also it is further away and therefore more blurry (especially in M4/3). Since then I advise beginners to circle around the subject and choose the background before composing a frame. I'm too old to lie on the ground but I use a stool which positions the camera 80cm from the ground which with a very long focal length is sufficient; This tripod-shaped position is also very stable.
Excellent educator! Enjoyed it much…how I wish you were a sports photographer and did these type of videos 😎
I would love to try sports one day, Cheers, Duade
Very much appreciated!!!! These tips are things it's hard to learn unless you have a mentor.....!! Your enthusiasm and humour brightens my day. I love your gear review videos also, because I certainly cannot afford to go out and test all the new toys, and I am not so much a professional that I would even know what to look for. So I appreciate all of your videos !!❤
Thanks for the feedback, yes, always fun to have a balance of videos. Cheers, Duade
Yes, great to see you in field again rather than playing with the new toys!!
Long time street photographer, just getting into wildlife photography now. Love the beginner lessons. Please do more.
More to come!
@@Duade excellent, and hello from Toronto.
Good illustration of the difference camera angle makes
Really enjoyed this video Duade. Was great to see the 40D get a little air time too. Really helps us to remember it's not the gear - it might help, but really we can use what we got in our hands.
So true!
Thanks for another good episode! Good points for taking bird photos portrait style (bird surrounded by blurriness). Kind regards
Thanks Jeffery, yes, that is one way to achieve it for sure. Cheers, Duade
your videos are really helful and your energy and love for photography brings smile on my face :)
Glad you like them!
Fantastic vid. Can’t wait to watch all of it and the subsequent eps!
Thanks, I need to start working on them :-) Cheers, Duade
@@Duade I was up at Narooma with the kids recently. Took the Tamron 150-600 and the RF70-200. Managed to snap some ducks in the park. Lying on the ground and people walking past looking at me like I was bonkers. The Tamron 150-600 is a heavy lens. So, handheld shooting isn't ideal. I have a gymbal (not used yet), but I want to get that platform that you use for ground level shots.
@@mjpt57 Narooma is a lovely spot, I remember getting good coffee there. Yes the ground pod helps, if you are handy you could make your own. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for this reminder on a great technique. As a slight modification for, ahem us older photographers, I sit on my butt and recline and shoot between my legs. Depending on the surface it can be easier to roll up. Posting for a “friend”!
Great video! I really like the short and informative format, but really it’s your enthusiasm that adds that extra touch of enjoyability. It’s contagious and brings us along for the ride!
Awesome, thank you!
Another great video! Thanks Duade!
I was following a heron the other day. Seeing this video reminded me, that I forgot to squat down when I got close enough. Thank you for the reminder. Great video. Thank you.
Glad I could help!
Good stuff. I saw a lot of birds when I visited Australia, but I had no idea there were so many species.
Another great video. I like this short tip format. I just got home from picking up a very lightly used RF 100-400 and RF 800 f/11 for a cracking good price. Your reviews and images really pushed me to get the 100-400 and the same seller just happened to have the 800 as well, so I got a bundle deal. Now, it’s time to get out and shoot some birds! I’ve been on a sort of sabbatical from shooting, so I’m really looking forward to getting out with my new lenses and my R7.
Congrats, two great lenses that will give you options on how you want to shoot and the styles of images you can get. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
I like the format. This is a great tip to start with. It was the first one I learned for wildlife photography. Get at eye level increase the connection with the subject.Can't wait for the next.
Awesome, thank you!
Great video mate. I hope this series continues!
Thanks, will do!
Excellent, Duade. To get these shots, you often need spare trousers in your car. Very informative. Jan, DK 👍
Very true!
Great video. Thanks for the tips. Greetings from the Netherlands
Thank you Duade. Been waiting for this video. I hope there will be a #2 and so forth.
Thanks for the support, I appreciate it, I will be sure to make another one soon, Cheers, Duade
Awesome! Great shots and video.
Another super video - I would really like one in low light as most of my shooting is in the forest - i saw one video when you were walking through the forest but would be good at dusk to see how low you can actually go
Fantastic as always. Thank you for sharing your experience and your knowledge in such a down to earth, positive and true fashion.
My pleasure!
thanks for the tips, just starting out so all advice is very welcome
Yes. Excellent content.
As always, your enthusiasm is infectious.
Thanks I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Great video thanks Duade!
Absolutely more of this, yes please!!!
Thanks, I will be sure to do another one soon. Cheers, Duade
Love it!
Wonderful video! Looking forward to more from you!
Great video and advice Duade. I enjoy these technique videos.
Thank you, very informative ❤
Thanks for reminding me. I have a new ground pod with gimbal sitting on the shelf waiting. Will get out soon and try some low level shots. So enjoy your informative videos.
Thanks, congrats on the gear and good luck out there, Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade, Another nice video. I've been using this technique for years partially from watching some of your earlier videos and using the same ground pod and a gimbal but I now leave the ground pod and gimbal at home as it's too cumbersome and I prefer to either just lie down holding the camera just above the mud in my hands or resting on a foam pad (which I bought from an auto parts supply shop and is actually a mechanic's knee pad). Sometimes I float my camera on the water using 2 kneepads duct taped together as sometimes the bank of the lake is about 20-30cm above the water and I want to get even lower and I crouch over my camera and use the lcd screen to aim. When I do lie down and use the viewfinder I'll lie down at right angles to the camera and turn the camera upside down to get a comfortable angle without straining my neck, this works better if you have a battery grip attached. I don't bother with wet weather gear usually just wear shorts and tee shirt and a sleeveless vest if it's cold or sometimes wetsuit shorts and sleeveless wet suit vest. I also use a flagpole harness with a monopod, which a guy in Florida developed/adapted for bird photography (Ron Bielefeld of Whistling Wings Photography: www.speed-shooter.com ). When I'm using this I usually just kneel down and use the lcd screen to aim as the harness supports the camera cm above the ground or water. Cheers Noel from New Zealand
Thanks for sharing your technique Noel, I agree the ground pod and gimbal do add weight to the setup that is for sure. I found with my big 500mm I just couldnt hand hold for long periods so went with the ground pod setup. That is interesting re the harness, others have mentioned this also. Cheers, Duade
Another great video Duade. Very informative, with some great tips. So helpful for those starting out in photographing birds. Keep up the good work.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks mate. Always a pleasure to be guided by you.
Loving your contents. So much to learn. Thanka Duade for sharing your knowledge.
I appreciate that!
Sensational video, Duade! I look forward to more in the future!
Thanks Dean, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Learn a lot but also enjoy your videos👍
Love it dude good job
Morning Duade, I hope you're well. Steep angle shots? Guilty as charged. I have been working on it though. I prefer these 'how to -basic skills' videos because despite the equipment used the processes are, for the most part, the same. Thanks for the great video and keep up the good work. All the best.
Thanks Brian, glad you enjoyed the video, yes, I am still guilty of a few tree shots, there are of course always exceptions to the rules. Cheers, Duade
Awesome!!
You are a wonderfull person... thank you!
I'm not quite sure why exactly, but I really enjoy watching when you shoot with older gear.
Glad to hear, I may have to do another video soon with old gear, Cheers, Duade
Great content, thanks.
Simple and effective!
Although I am not a wildlife photographer, I do love taking pictures of wildlife and sometimes it is these simple things that set simple pictures appart from the rest. Thanks for doing this video. I will try to work on the tips you gave the next time I take pictures of wildlife.
Good luck, Cheers, Duade
@@Duade thanks
Excellent advice!!
Thanks Duade. Great class!
Glad you liked it!
An excellent video on perspective, Duade. A useful demonstration of the differences. Thank you.
My pleasure Jim, glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
Getting so low if you're looking through the viewfinder is a real strain on the neck . Always go the monitor. Great video..
Great little tutorial! Thanks to you I have got my DIY groundpod and it makes a world of difference! :)
Great to hear mate, I would love to see your DIY version, feel free to email me at duade.paton@gmail.com Cheers, Duade
I really enjoy this type of content, Duade! I sure hope you'll bring more of it in the future. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this video! This is the kind of videos that drew me to your channel. I appreciate the new gear reviews, but the how to videos are my favorite. I also enjoy seeing you use the older gear and the results. Great bird images and videos!
Thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Great lesson.
Great stuff, as usual, Duade. 👍
Thanks mate, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Thanks!
Thanks for the support, I really appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Thank you
This is the type of format that I like and can put into practice. Thanks
I don't necessarily agree that eye level is better as so much as it is different type of shot. Also a simple lawn chair might be a better option for most older photographers. That and a Tripod. Your Black Fronted Dotterel is very similar to our American Plover. They look and run around almost the exact same way. Now that even Panasonic is bringing RAW Pre Capture to it's sub $2000 FF cameras, hopefully this will soon be standard across the board. A proper Pro level stacked sensor cropped camera would be a Great new Option for most Canon Wildlife shooters. That along with allowing the Sigma 500mm 5.6 for it's users.
These are great
Another great inspirational vid. Thanks.
My pleasure Rob, glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
@@Duade You're welcome. I must get around to making a frisbee mount like yours. :)
Yes, it's great teaching material for new photographers and a good sanity check for the more experienced. Nice to have he subject rather than too techy based content some others tend to focus on, keep em rollin'.
Really good to see this, I find it so frustrating to see some folk here in Shetland with cameras on fully extended tripods taking pictures of Puffins on the ground - which are only around 10” high.
Back to basics. Always a good idea! Thanks Duade
Thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade
I used the lens for the last two weeks and I love it❤😂🎉
I always learn something from your videos, very refreshing 😊 By the way, I acquired a ground pod for quite sometime now, right after I saw it in one of your videos. However, please do not recommend a fried pan lightly, my wife would be happy to let me buy 10 pods. In a way, this idea may even cause an uproar when trying to turn an expensive pan to the pod 😁 Looking forward to your next videos 🎉
soo nice...thx...i would love to see more :)
I am very glad you back.. I have miied hearing from you.
awesome Corella shots ! Thks a lot for sharing the tips
Glad you like them!
Great video! Thanks Duade! I was wondering what brand of wet weather gear you use. I didn't see it in the gear links. Thanks for all the great content you make!
Thanks Scott, both are no name brands that I got from a local outdoor store. Boots are Muck Boots. Cheers, Duade
Thank you Duade for all of your photography tips, you've really helped me improve my photography
Great master class and much better to see than lots of gear reviews.