Nikon Z9 WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY in the UK | Alone with Brown Hares + Camera trap build
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Hey Guys,
I'm back with Part 2 from my first trip out to RSPB Havergate Island to photograph the Brown hares. For any of you who follow the channel you'll know Hares are one of my favourite subjects and so this is my idea of heaven, alone on an island surrounded by hares!
In this video I get out with the Long lens (my trusty 300mm 2.8 + Z9) in order to shoot some portraits as well as build a camera trap in the second half. If you have any questions about my gear/camera traps or whatever relating to wildlife photography drop it down in the comments.
Also I'd just like to say thanks for all of those who watch these videos, I know many of you however aren't subscribed... So if you could do me a favour and hit that button its truly appreciated, it also helps when you like and share to get the videos out to more people who will hopefully find them useful!
I'm working on some more content at the moment but I'm always interested to hear what you guys would like to see? Maybe you have a wildlife photography challenge for me? Or something you'd like covered, let me know!
You can find out more about the RSPB and Havergate Island here and they work they are doing for conservation www.rspb.org.u...
A huge thanks to the warden Lyndsey for all the help!
A huge thanks also to Jackery for the explore 1000. It has been an essential on this trip to keep my shoot running, Over the last few months the power pack has been in the car and used constantly for charging and working on the go and for a locations like this when power is limited, the ability to have a huge reserve + solar for keeping things charged is a real life saver when producing media. Jackery have a range of packs for all kinds of use but the Explore 1000 I've found to be a great for my needs uk.jackery.com...
Also the Nikon Z9 as many of you know is now my main camera everyday, it's performing brilliantly and in all honesty I fall a little more in love with it on every shoot! Over the last few weeks on back to back shoots it's been awesome! tidd.ly/2ZTkiEB
If you're picking up any gear and want to help my channel at the same time, ordering through my Links at Wex (below) in the UK really help me out to produce more content. I am now proud to be part of the Wex Ambassador network and will be doing loads more with my favourite camera retailer over the next few years, they give a top quality service and support and having worked with them for many years, they are a great company!
If you want to see more from me, be sure to check out my Instagram @TomMasonPhoto
I have also got round to finally finishing the first stage of my new website so check it out for portfolios, workshops and more! www.tommasonphoto.com Some of the images uploaded I haven't shared before so I hope you enjoy!
As always guys thanks for watching and I'll be in the comments for any questions, Get out there and enjoy your wildlife photography!
In my bag : (UK affiliate links help me fund the channel and cost you nothing)
Lowepro Whistler 450 AW II - (travelled flawlessly on all my flights with ALL the gear below inside!)tidd.ly/ee5e459a
Nikon Monarch HG 8x30's - Simply love these. tidd.ly/3df767b...
Nikon Z9 : tidd.ly/3GOPrcl
D850 + Grip + D5 batteries tidd.ly/5e9ce68e
Nikon Z6 and 24-70S - (All video for the channel now shot on this - love this little camera!) tidd.ly/18f827ed
Nikon 300mm 2.8 VR II (My all time favourite lens) tidd.ly/c3774d0f
Nikon 70-200 FL tidd.ly/50423b68
Nikon 35mm 1.4 G tidd.ly/74102f76
Nikon 20mm 1.8G tidd.ly/792d72d0
Nikon 1.4 TC tidd.ly/51bb49a8
Nikon 2.0 TC tidd.ly/6d38e4fe
Nikon SB-700 tidd.ly/40a57f1a
Spare battery tidd.ly/3c45d8ba
Gitzo Mini Traveller tidd.ly/eda4b0c
Petzl Headlamp amzn.to/2LX80SW
G-tech external drives amzn.to/2Yil63y
Macbook 12" amzn.to/2ZBQ57e
Rocket Blower ( I'd get this one) tidd.ly/8d6a3ab4
I also carry a trusty Gitzo Tripod, either my 4 series systematic or a 2 series traveller!
#NikonZ9 #WildlifePhotography
this place looks incredible, Im glad to see I'm not the only one who takes a whole tonne of kit on every trip!
Really interesting Tom. I can’t see me using a camera trap but I really appreciated getting your perspective on how you chose a location, the field craft side of things, what to look for as signs of habituation etc. all good stuff, thanks !
Great video Tom, as well as the hares pictures.
Thank you!
Great to see you still using the Nikon 300 f2.8. The modern trend from Nikon and Canon to build small light primes with smaller apertures to try and keep cost down is interesting. The 400 f2.8 Z is fantastic but crazy expensive, same with the Sony 400 and 600. I would love a 300 f2.8 in the Z mount. I know the 400 f4.5 is out and looks stunning. So interesting times. Nikon needs a stripped down Z9 with great auto focus in the Z6/7 body and 36 mp sensor that is more affordable.
Nice work again, Tom. I completely get why you are fascinated with hares, they are such interesting animals. Looking forward to what emerges from the camera traps.
Thanks Mark, Yes they are just one animal I truly am obsessed with, I suppose it comes from growing up and having them close to home, they just make me so happy to watch and photograph! I too am looking forward to seeing if I get anything, Ill reset if not and keep trying, maybe through the winter too all being well! Hopefully I'll get some shots eventually :)!
Nicely done Tom ! I was never sure about the ethics of using a better beamer in then UK !
Tom, I'd LOVE a tutorial on building traps. This is something that I think is super interesting and would be beneficial to a lot of us who don't know where to start.
Have you seen my other videos on trapping like camera trap 101? I talk sensors and flashes and all sorts! Might do a full build at some point for those who’d like to learn more!
@@TomMasonPhoto I must have missed it! My apologies! I'll go back and check those out. However, a full-build or semi-full build with some tips and tricks would still be very cool.
Nicely done Tom. I've just set my camera trap today for Otters on a small spate river in Wales, i'm crossing my fingers we don't get too much rain or there is a good chance i will lose some of my kit. All part of the fun eh 😲
Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎
Many thanks!
I still remember when you got your D850. I feel like you finally got a proper successor.
The D850 is still a boss and it’s my second camera on most of my shoots ready as a back up or on a second lens but the Z9 is almost always in my hand! Such an amazing bit of kit - all I hope for now is a Z mount Lower res - high ISO camera to be my new B cam!
Just ordered mine!
You’ll love the Z9 it’s a beast of a camera!
Nice one mate, love them photos at the end especially, I take it the z9 is your new main workhorse?
Yes the Z9 is certainly now my main workhorse, the mixture of speed and high res just make it simply awesome!
Hi Tom great video as always! What is the name of the island please?
RSPB Havergate, it’s a private island that can only be accessed with specific permission and via the RSPBs boat trips on the website
Hey Tom, have you ever shot Golden Hares? I think you should come back over to Belfast and to Rathlin Island for a weekend... They have lovely Golden Hares there... And puffins. I attended your talk in Wex camera shop in Belfast a few years ago, I gave you a lift to your hotel after our walk around the nature reserve pond and cemetery...
Hey Stuart! Yes I do remember you giving me a lift! I haven't ever photographed golden hares but that's sounds rather awesome, I do love Ireland and miss the being that side of the water, will certainly have to plan a trip out to that location some time in the next year or so! Sound rather intriguing
Great stuff, Tom. What mic do you use for vlogging? Sounds great for what is obviously a small run-and-gun setup.
Hey Dan, so it depends on the day but for this video I was using the
Rode Video Mic NTG + wind shield but I’ve recently got an awesome new Rycote windshield that’s a major upgrade! Also use the Rode lav mics in some situations when I’m doing more talking head but have recently swapped out to a Zoom F2 for more control but then also rig the NTG to the cam for backup.
This video was all shot on the Rode NTG before my new windshield and I too was very happy with it for run and gun!
Hi Tom really interested in those flash cases but can’t find anything like it on Amazon, any chance of a link please?
Great shots! Do you find there is a difference with flash in hot shoe compared to how you had it set up?
Yes with the flash lifted you get less red eye / of the direct flash look, also using the beamer it throws the light further that allows for coverage on the 300mm even with the TC. I do find the high speed sync on my Nikon flash super handy for this work as well as it allows for much more control over the shutter speed as well. The Kimberley bracket for flash is very well designed and super sturdy and even when I take the camera off the tripod, it keeps things in the right position! Cheers, Tom
Hi Tom, what a treat to get so close, and some corking shots! If I may ask, where was your jacket sourced from? I have a Paramo fleece, but it is increasingly tricky to get hold of their kit these days, I am 5'11" and interested in the top you have, what size is it please. Sorry for all the questions! :)
Yes indeed it’s the Paramo Fuera wind proof smock - I got mine a good few years back now but yes they are hard to find… I might try and grab a spare at the birdfair this year as they are awesome!
I might do a video on coats… sounds maybe a little niche but I do have quite a few that I use for wildlife photography and maybe people would find that interesting?
@@TomMasonPhoto I certainly would, but I am pretty niche as well! Be interested to hear about wind/waterproofing or lack thereof and also how quiet the material is, their kit does last well, and they really think about the component parts, the fit can be a little hit n miss though...Cheers, Marcus
@@TomMasonPhoto Also trousers/layers etc, anything like that I find interesting
Also interested please.
have you tried new 400mm f4.5
Not yet, but I shall do a video as soon as I get the chance
I really don't understand how you can talk and move like you did so close to the hare's! In Belgium to get that close I need to be in full ghillie, spent hours and can only be one picture on Quite mode with D850, move very slowly and using the quiet mode maybe a few
This is a very very special location, it’s a true amazing place, on some days I was within inches of the Hares and able to shoot wide angle images!!
It’s was certainly a truly special experience for me as someone who loves Brown Hares!
Those hares look in really poor condition Tom. Are they okay?
Hey simon, so as far as I could tell from my time on the island although they look a little pale and ragged, most are good, I agree they didn’t have the same “look” as my like Hertfordshire ones close to home, they fur certainly more ragged. I did find one who was unwell, at the back of the island who barely moved over the whole week, I left him in situ, however the others were rather spritely. One thing that was interesting was a few had white around their mouths but after watching I found some got this after feeding on the salt marsh! Also I suspect genetic diversity isn’t that strong on the island, so probably has a large effect on their look, as all had the similar fur colouring and look, rare compared to most other groups/ populations of hares I’ve photographed
@@TomMasonPhoto I suspect it's down to the inbreeding and a very poor diet. I mentioned this to the RSPB many years ago and your video (which is really good by the way!) shows that they are now in an even poorer condition - their fur looks awful. They really ought to remove them from the island and relocate them to a more suitable habitat where they can have a more varied diet and live a more nomadic lifestyle like mainland hares. Can't see this happening though as, from stories I've heard, the RSPB have a poor reputation for their treatment of mammals 🙁
(I'm referencing the shooting of foxes on their reserves that has been widely reported)
@@simonlittenphotography5341 Its a hard one because the hares do also leave and return to the island - population moves across the water at low tides and some swim, seems mental and I'd love to see that!
The mammal thing is hard, having worked with the RSPB for a long time sometimes mammals are culled for the purposes of conservation - eg supporting and protecting rare nesting species, it's something few conservation organisations speak about but almost all do, its a hard reality of trying to re establish populations - one for debate for sure! Should we manage numbers of predators? I don't have the answers for that!