A car makes a fantastic blind and often allows you to approach wildlife at a much closer range than you can ever dream of on foot.
However, the excitement many photographers feel when they capture an amazing image is quickly replaced by disappointment when closely examining their photos. Too often, pictures taken from a car don’t display the same level of sharpness as images where no vehicle is involved.
In this video, we’ll cover tons of tips for getting razor-sharp images when you shoot from the car. Most photographers are guilty of at least a few of the mistakes we’ll discuss in this video.
Check it out – seven minutes from now, you’ll know everything you need to get razor-sharp images from your car!
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I’ve had a few people ask about the wrap I’m using on my lens – it’s actually one of those self-adhesive / pressure tapes they use at the hospital. It’s non-sticky, dries fast, and is easily removed. Here’s the link.
PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).
The vehicle is unimaginable solace and confinement from others, which is vital at this point! Such an amusing read.
Much appreciated, Steve! Extraordinary tips! I occasionally shoot from my vehicle and anticipate utilizing your ideas. Delighted to see that you are well en route to recuperation.
Hi Steve, very glad to see you well. My D500 is dead… I like to shoot wildlife and like very much shooting Bird in flight. My F mount lens are Nikkor 500mm FP, 200-500mm, 70-200mm f2.8, Tamron 24-70mm. I have a D810 for landscape photography. I still have my old D7200 for backup. What will be your suggestions for a new camera? Some rumours indicated that Nikon may release 2 DSLR in 2021… Thank yo very much for your help.
Right now the D850 has a nice rebate – could be an option. Another D500 isn’t a bad way to go either – it’s still the best Nikon DX camera ever made. As for new DSLRs, I don’t know. I think at this point we’re really not going to see much, but who knows? I think the biggest problem for Nikon right now is that if they released a new DSLR it would look like they are still living in the past when their mirrorless line is already under tremendous pressure to compete with Sony and Canon. I think that… Read more »
Thank you very much Steve for your recommandations.
Steve – good to see you ! Thanks again for the tips, I especially liked the pipe insulation suggestion. I’m aware of heat distortion but never thought of it in connection with shooting from my auto. Thanks again for your great videos and tips – glad you are feeling better.
thanks for all the tips Steve!
WOW! this really helps. Thanks Steve. Hope you are now fully recovered and doing well. Bless you
As usual some valuable hints! I use the pipe insulation for all sorts of non pipe insulating jobs but I’d never thought to use it for this…thanks!
Great to see you back. Really like that foam window rest idea, much easier to carry than the bag thing full of rice I’ve been using.
Great to see you back! Like that foam on the window, more handy than that bag thing full of rice I’ve beenusing.
One thing I didn’t see mentioned, although it should be common sense, is to shut off the radio. Many cars today leave the 800 watt sound systems on until you shut them off or open the door. Aside from the noise, they create a lot of vibration.
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LOL, yeah, didn’t even occur to me to mention it. Although I suppose if your stereo is loud enough to cause vibrations, you’re probably not going to get close enough for a shot anyway!!!
With speakers in the door and your lens sitting on the window it doesn’t take much. I had proof … but those images were all deleted. 🙂
Thanks, Steve! Great tips! I periodically shoot from my car and look forward to using your suggestions. Glad to see that you are well on your way to recovery.
Thank you!
Thanks for the tips and great presentation. It appears you are well into recovery, glad to see you back in action!
Thanks!
Sony?? Just received my alpha 1 and 100-400 lens. Am struggling through the initial set up for Portraits, Action (bid) and Landscape. Any suggestions for BIF (small and medium)?
Still learning the system myself. With Sony, I typically use Zone AF for BIF but one of the tracking modes for birds that are about to take off.
Absolutely brilliant to see you back in harness Steve and as always so on point with your advice. Be safe and keep getting better my friend.
Thanks – and will do 🙂
Great advice once again Steve. Many thanks. Hope you are on the mend from that nasty COVID!
Thanks – yes, getting better. This was my first full production post-covid video. (The review for the Zii cameras was 95% done when I went into the hospital).
Great advice Steve. Think I’ve wrecked shots shooting from an air con car in Africa. What is your advice on when NOT to use OIS. Such as what is the correct shutter speed to shut it off. I know enough to turn it off when mounted on the tripod but I keep hearing about high shutter speeds and OIS not getting along.
I usually shut mine off (if I remember LOL) between 1/500th and 1/1000th depending on the lens. However, some lenses are OK with it left on at higher speeds (my Nikon 600mm like like that), others aren’t – it really is lens dependent.
VR noticeably slows down the autofocus as the camera VR must first finish with the image stabilization before the autofocus system starts to make adjustments to the lens focus. I can see this happening in the viewfinder with my DSLR cameras.
Hi Steve
Great to see you up and about
Been using that rest for some time now, (saw it in one of your other vids, except mine is a pool noodle)
As you would be aware, is Australia, we drive on the lefthand side of the road and steering wheel is on the R/H side
A L/H drive vehicle here would be ideal 🙂
I have trouble shooting outside the R/H window
……….. Gary
AU
Gary Worrall, Same here, I have much more trouble shooting out of a right hand drive vehicle. Maybe because I’m left eye dominate.
LOL, I have a tough time shooting out the left too when I’m not driving. Just isn’t as good ergonomically.
I’ll just have to let the wife drive the 4×4 some times, although she doesn’t like to 🙂
Although driverless vehicle’s may be the future, but their safety record is not good yet
Another well done and useful video! I was pleasantly surprised to see that you have also discovered pipe insulation for the car window support. Although we live in Oregon, my wife and I will be making our 5th trip to Kruger Park in South Africa this September – our favorite place. All photos we take there must be taken from inside our rental car. Over the years we have noticed that we can almost never get sharp photos, even with stationary wildlife, when shooting from the drivers side through the passenger window or visa versa. It seems like some kind… Read more »
Is the exhaust system on one side of the car? Heat coming up might be the problem. Just a guess, I haven’t heard of that before, but I suppose it’s possible.
That was a great video and I will have to give it a go . I never taken photos from the car
As usual, Steve: makes sense, to the point, plenty of ideas, impeccable delivery – what more can we ask? Tks and take good care!
Steve this video helped me get sharper images the the Nikon 500 mm PF … never though about the heat impact.
Thanks again your videos and books are wonderful and extremely helpful.
Steve, I was very impressed with your video about shooting from a car. The issue about heat distortion never occurred to me and may be the answer to some of my “soft” pictures, but more the case it is probably the accumulations of all that you mentioned in the video. My hat is off to you, I have tried shooting out my sun roof when I couldn’t get my car in an advantages position. It was hard to get into a comfortable stance and hold the camera steady. The only reason I even attempted this was to use the car… Read more »
I almost never shoot out of a sunroof since it puts me so much higher than the wildlife. I prefer eye-level shots or as close as possible and a sunroof works against that. Although, it’s gotta make shooing a subject on the passenger side easier LOL!
Suggestions for shooting out the right side from driver’s side or out of the back seat? Shooting from the driver’s seat through the passenger window has been a challenge at times especially if the car is not on the level. I’ve seen others put in a support from the dash to passenger seat, often just a board. Often, I’ll get my wife to drive, I’ll sit in the back so I can shoot out of either window but in many vehicles the back windows do not roll down all the way due to the back wheel wells, so some times… Read more »
Shooting out the passenger side is tough. Someone on the BCG forums had mentioned a board, I might try that. Normally I just contort myself as best I can or if the animal seems amenable, I’ll get out.
As for the roof, I’d still avoid it – especially if the sun is hitting it!
I enjoyed the video, simple things that you usually forget. Pipe insulation a great cheap alternative to a bean bag, great idea. I had to laugh a bit, I live in SC which typically has trenches on each side of the road for handling water /flooding issues so there are few places to pull over without being in a trench. May need a video on how to get out of a trench!
Dear Steve, What tape are you using to cover up your Sony 600 mm F4? It’s clear it is not a cover
like a lens coat (and probably cheaper too). I really like the pattern on it.
Thank you!
You’re gonna laugh – it’s came medical tape – like the kind they use to wrap bandages. It sticks to itself really well and dries fast.
Thank you for your response. Is this the self-adhesive tapes they sell on Amazon?
I would never have thought of the hood of the car producing heat haze. Good tip.
Great tips concerning shooting from a vehicle.
Great tips, as always, Steve. Many thanks
Another point to consider if you are getting out of the car is to shut the car door softly rather than with a loud noise that might scare away the subject. And I wonder if I can get my money back for the bean bag I bought and get some of that pipe insulation? 🙂
That’s a great point and one I completely forgot about.
Another great video Steve. Thanks for the great information.
This is really great, practical information. You’d think it would be sort of common sense but so often in the excitement of the moment common sense goes out the window, so to speak. Thanks, Steve!
Great info on car shooting and do you have a recommendation for the bean bag when the arm rest doesn’t have an opening for the strap to secure the bean bag? Also, are you testing or changing to Sony gear? How was the A1 compared to the Nikon mirrorless or do we need to wait for Z9 for a better comparison?
Great video and always look forward to your information!
Thanks. Anytime I’ve used a bean bag, it’s always just plopped over the edge, never secured, so no idea.
Steve,
My bag allows one to attach a gimbal, use as a regular bean bag and is made by Lenscoat. I guess I will just use it as bean bag. I have used the pipe insulation and even the small pool noodle you mentioned. I might just use a tie down strap that will fit around the door to hold the bag strap is the only possible solution I have come up with once I am on site to shoot. What about the Sony Gear????
Thanks
Mike
Interesting video as always Steve. One point I had was that you recommend getting away from the car if you can. The only issue I see with that is that you lose the car as a ‘blind’ when you expose yourself that way. Yes you avoid heat distortion, but you may also be more likely to scare the animal away than if you use the car as a blind by standing behind it. I loved your pipe insulation tip! I have a beanbag that works well sometimes, but is not as easy to use as that little piece of insulation.… Read more »
That’s why I mentioned the part about dealing with an animal that’s more tolerate 🙂
Some animals will put up with it, some won’t I often start from the car and if I think I can get away with it, I’ll gently get out and see if I can get in a better spot. However, I ONLY do that if I’m pretty confident I won’t cause the animal to flee.
Very useful tips as usual! Thanks Steve.
Sony. You are shooting with a Sony. How are you finding it? How does it compare? / Thanks
Both are good, jury is still out 🙂