As a nature photographer, I must admit that when someone mentions going to the beach I frequently don’t have the same seaside scenario in my mind as they do.
For most people, a typical day at the beach involves a good deal of sun tanning, construction of sand castles, and the occasional dip into the ocean. Me? I’m all about hitting the oceanside before the sun peeks above the horizon and the birds have scarcely had a chance to grab their morning coffee.
On my last trip to Florida, I spent a week or so along various areas of the Gulf coast and as I snapped away at assorted shore and wading birds, the thought occurred to me that I should talk about the techniques I use in a video!
So, less than 48 hours later, my wife arrived at the Tampa airport and we started shooting this video. 🙂 The video itself features my ten best tips and tricks for getting great imagery of our feathered friends along the coast.
Heck, even if you’re not heading to the ocean anytime soon, I think you’ll find the information applies to more than just the seashore. We’ll discuss tricks for composition, finding great viewpoints, protecting your gear, timing, autofocus tricks, using waves for knock-out shots, killer tricks for keeping level, how to grab great action, how to catch the “fish flip” (when a bird tosses the fish in the air), as well as essential stuff to have along – and more!
Enjoy – and please remember to share if you like it!
Below are the shots from the video (larger sizes will be in the gallery soon).
~Steve
PS…
If you enjoyed this review, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books, Secrets To Stunning Wildlife Photography and Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System. They’re filled with hundreds of pages of information just like this. Check it out – click here (hey, it’s free to look 🙂 )
Your shots are awesome, Steve! Thank you very much for the very useful and practical video!
Fantastic video. I have watched it so many times. I bought a Nikon d850 and have several lenses. I have a Nikon VR 300mm 2.8 lens to use for this purpose. Cant wait to go to the beach and try it out. I have bought and read both of your books. The books and videos have improved my pictures 1000%. Thanks so much and please keep them coming.
I would like to see one on using the live view to take action shots of animals. Sometimes it is just hard to get my eye behind the viiewfinder.
Steve,
Another great video with lots of wonderful tips to get fantastic shots in difficult environment. I have friends who did not cleaned out their Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and found corroded spots on the legs. I now rinse throughly between the shotots and disassemble and clean the legs in the evening. Some were able to handheld their big telephoto lenses, but I cannot do that for hours on the beach. I have tried monopod bur I nearly dropped the whole rig. Once again, thank you for the tips.
Since I live 30 miles from the beach, I really needed some good ideas for getting better photos while at the beach. Thanks, next time someone sees me at the beach and find me laying on the sand, I’m not dead, just shooting! LOL I have both your books now and almost through reading them. Lots of excellent tips and tricks, and I like that I can have them on my computer to read and see better, but also to keep on my phone to look up info that I can’t remember! Thanks, Steve!
Hi Steve. thanks for sharing your outstanding photos. I’ve read both of your books & love your clear, accurate, yet casual presentation style. I shoot with a nikon d750. I often hang out in a fb site called How to photograph birds. we can always learn something new. I love to share your Secrets to Autofocus. It’s changed everything for me. wonderful stuff. there are allot of new kids on this site who don’t know about Back Button Focus. actually, I’m a lefty so I use the front PV button. anyway. Allot of People use Canon crop cameras for birds.… Read more »
When photographing small shorebirds I mount a ballhead onto a board. I have used a 14×14 piece of plywood but switched to a piece of 1/2″ HDPE plastic material. A 1/4″-20 stainless bolt provides for mounting the ballhead. I use the Kirk BH-1 ballhead that provides enough height above the board for even a telephoto lens.
I’ve thought about a solution like that – I’ve seen something very similar with a Frisbee-type base. My problem is that I often need to adjust my height a touch higher depending not he circumstance, and I can’t do it with that type of rig. Plus, my tripod gets nearly as low 🙂
Hi Steve, I use a Skimmer Pod base with a gimbel that has a good few inches of height adjustment on it . Additionally I have some spacers of various thicknesses made up for more height if needed. I find the skimmer most useful in bird hides that have a shelf below the viewing windows. Regards Pete
Hi Steve, I discovered you on UTube and ordered your book which I highly recommend to anyone that is serious about photography. I have a Nikon D800 and just ordered Nikon D500 for wildlife. I am going to purchase a Nikon 200-500 or Sigma 200-600 do you have any suggestions or preferences?
Hi Mike –
can’t help o that one. I have the 200-500 and it’s a fine lens, so I can recommend it. However, I’ve never used the Sigma so I can’t say one way or another.
FWIW I shoot with the D500 and SIgma 150-600mm Contemporary, and love, love, love the combo for birds. View some of my images here https://www.flickr.com/gp/mitchwasserman/38e0h7
Just discovered you Steve and I certainly agree with all the nice words your followers offer up! It seems like your definitely a prime lens guy, as would be expected for a pro, I guess. However, you have any thoughts on the 80-400 nikkor? I’m considering putting up for a 600 f4 (been learning and practicing on 200-500) but as a second set up, the 80-400. Gear is fun but the less, the better, for me. Seems like a good way to get a lot of focal length in just two lenses? Thanks for all you do (have your wildlife… Read more »
Thanks!
The newer 800-400 is a nice lens and I do own one. I don’t use it very often, but sharpness is good, although at 400mm I think the 200-500 is sharper). What I like about it is the compact size – and yes, I think it would be a good compliment to the 600 F4. I personally prefer the 300 PF + 600 F4 combo, but I do miss shots by not having the zoom. I might spring for the new 200-400 F4 when it comes out but looks like it may be too pricey for me to justify.
Thanks for the quick reply, much appreciated! Would be cool to see a “what’s in my bag video” for you’re typical outing. You know, in your spare time
Not sure how you find the time but it’s awesome that you do. Thanks again!
I just heard the 180-400 f4 w/1.4TC is coming out. I’m hearing anything from $6995 to $12,399
$12,399 is the price. It would actually be great for the pics at the beach (my 600 was often too long), but that price is hard to swallow. You can get a 400 2.8, 500 f4, or even 600 f4 for less.
From what I have read the TC1.4 III works pretty well with your 200-500. 😉
I’ve tried it and it can work well – but I don’t want to be wide open at F8 – too painful.
Great video Steve, I live by the ocean and go there often. This will help me improve my images.
I was following the ISO discussion with Tim, but the “read more” link didn’t work for me (IE browser). I use the D500 mostly with the Tamron 150-600 6.3 and sometimes the Nikon 200-400 f4. For me, it seems that keeping shutter speed up in the 1/2000 plus, wide open, shoots my ISO way up there. What’s a good top ISO for the D500 and where do you compromise if you hit it?
Thanks!
Hi Adi – Part of the trick is the F6.3 Vs an F4 lens – that’s the difference between ISO 3200 and ISO 1200 given the same shutter speed. To answer your question, I try to keep my D500 under ISO 2000, but will go up to 4000 if needed. Dropping the shutter speed is the only way to keep ISO down if the lens is wide open.
Great video Steve. I’m going to be practicing these techniques along with what I’ve learned from your wildlife book and Nikon focus book while on Sanibel Island in March. BTW I switched to BBF a couple of years ago based on your video and absolutely love it. Can’t imagine going back to shutter release focus. Yes, the Sirui W-2204 does include a short center column which allows it to get down to 6.1”. Looking forward to meeting you in Costa Rica in September. Trying to learn as much as i can from you before I get there.
With the shutter speed being so critical, wouldn’t it be advantageous to be in shutter priority and adjust your ISO as needed to get the aperture range desired or do you still believe full manual to be the better alternative while on Auto ISO?
I don’t like shutter priority 🙂 The reason is that I like control of my F/stop. In fact, I’d rather shoot aperture priority and open up than to shoot shutter priority (that always gives you the fastest available shutter speed at your given ISO). The first part of the problem is that shutter priority can “run out” of F/stops is the light is falling. If I set 1/3200th at sunset and the proper F/stop is F4 at my chosen ISO, then all is well. However, if the light falls and get a stop darker, the camera can’t keep opening up… Read more »
Excellent answer! Thank you!
What Auto ISO range would you suggest setting the camera for the 1/1000 shutter speed you said you’d recommend for a Sunrise and Sunset shoot? Forgive my curiosity, I don’t recall you mentioning it in your video or discussion. I’m using a D750 …
Hi Tim –
I have mine range set from 64 (base) up to 6400 – although I keep an eye on it – I prefer to keep the D850 under 3200, really, under 2000 if I can.
Steve great video, just returned from a month on the Sea of Cortez…Puerto Penasco, SON, MEX, wish I had seen the video before the trip. I noticed the birds are most active around low tide, small fish get trapped between the sand bars…good feeding grounds. Pelicans are usually the first birds in those areas. Thanks
Wow! I had NO idea I could get a virtual horizon through the view finder on my D7200! Thanks so much for the tip!
Great advice and beautiful images! Thank you. On the choice of tripod, I use the waterproofed Sirui W2204 that helps keep sand and muck muck out of the joints…but it’s always a good plan to rinse off salt etc afterwards
Just checked it out – looks pretty cool as my Gitzo likes to fill up with water LOL. However, it also looks like it has a center column. I typically don’t like those because they prevent the tripod from going really low. This one says it’s a split column to help in that dept – does your get all the way flat on the groud?
More great tips Steve. Especially liked assigning the sub selector to virtual horizon. Already took your tip about assigning a button (in my case the Pv) to toggle on and off Group area mode and single point
Another great video! The shot of the diving pelican (?) was just awesome, I can’t find the words to describe how good it is….
Thanks 🙂 Took a few tries to get one that wasn’t facing the wrong way!
Hey Steve, it was wonderful meeting and sharing a couple hours at Circle B Bar Reserve. Great tips and information in your video. Was it Ft. De Soto?
Great hanging out and yes, quite a few of these were from Fort Desoto, some from the Ft Meyers area too.
Sure looked like it. I would also add one more thing and that is to check your tides. Low tide can be a wonderful thing. I love going out to Ft. DeSoto at low tide and shooting the reddish egret doing the “drunken sailor dance!” Great tips, Steve and thank you!!
Great tips Steve.
Another excellent vid Steve. Thanks for the lessons.
Yes, the bird in the 3rd image is the black bellied plover, displaying its winter plumage, The bird looks totally different in the summer. Steve lookup what it looks like with summer plumage, you will be surprised!
Thanks – I just checked and yes, it really does have quite the wardrobe! I don’t feel so bad now LOL!
Third bird is a Black-bellied Plover.
Awesome – thank you!! That bird has a lot of different “looks” as it turns out!
You’re welcome. I just watched the video, really great tips. Excellent photos too!
Hi Steve, As always , great video and valuable tips, can’t wait for your next video already! I have one request, when you get a chance, can you make a tip video for the Nikon VR use, especially when to use VR for Bird in Flight. I have read quite a bit about VR use but not much out there, other than Thom Hogan. has a great article on it. May be you can answer this, do use the VR on long tele, 500MM/600MM with the shutter speed of 1/1500 sec and up for BIF? Hopefully you will consider this… Read more »
I may do a video or article on this. Personally, I usually shut off VR somewhere between 1/500th and 1/1000 with my big glass. I have found that my old 500mm, 600mm G, and current 600mmE all seem fine at just about any shutter speed. Occassinly I’ll see a small drop in acuity, but for the most part, they seem not to mind higher shutter speeds. However, that’s not the case for every lens. My 200-500 and 300 PF really don’t like any shutter speed north of 1/500th and will often show a loss of acuity at those higher speeds.… Read more »