Photographing Free Range Reindeer with an iPhone

📸 In my latest video, join us on an exhilarating journey as we embark on a photographic adventure like no other! After the unfortunate disaster of my last shoot where I clumsily broke my beloved Nikon Z9, I find myself facing a daunting challenge: capturing the majestic free-range reindeer herd in the UK using nothing but my trusty iPhone. With no other option in sight, armed only with our mobile devices, my daughter-a budding photographer-and I set out to test the limits of smartphone photography.
🦌 As we venture into the rugged terrain where these beautiful creatures roam, we encounter breathtaking landscapes and an atmosphere filled with anticipation. The task ahead seems daunting, but we're determined to make the most of this unique opportunity. With the reindeer freely moving about, every moment becomes a fleeting opportunity to capture their essence in a single frame.
👧🏻 Joined by my daughter, whose passion for photography rivals my own, this journey becomes a bonding experience filled with shared excitement and determination. Together, we navigate the challenges of shooting with limited equipment, constantly adapting to the unpredictable conditions and the elusive nature of our subjects.
📱 Armed with just our iPhones, we push the boundaries of mobile photography, experimenting with different angles, compositions, and techniques to bring out the best in our shots. From close-ups of delicate features to wide shots capturing the vastness of their natural habitat, every click of the shutter brings us closer to our goal.
🌟 Join us as we share our insights, struggles, and triumphs in this captivating behind-the-scenes look at the art of photography. Witness the magic unfold as we strive to capture the spirit of these magnificent creatures in every frame. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or an aspiring enthusiast, there's something for everyone in this unforgettable journey.
Don't miss out on this thrilling adventure-subscribe, hit the notification bell, and join us as we embark on a quest to photograph the enchanting free-range reindeer herd of the UK with nothing but our iPhones! 📱✨

[@samanthabooker151]

A great way of turning your camera disaster around and making it into a family challenge. It’s actually useful to see what can be achieved with the camera that’s always in our pockets. Well done to Charlotte for braving the filming too. I’m voting for photo 2.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Samantha both Charlotte and I really appreciate your comment.
All the very best ☺️

[@alasdairmackenzie905]

Well done Dan for persevering with your iPhone. No 1 gets my vote.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Alasdair I appreciate it 👍🏻

[@DrewWebbWild]

the amount of times I have used the excuse " If only I had my real camera". This is a great video and demonstrates perfectly how to turn a negative into a positive.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Drew I really appreciate that mate 👍🏻

[@sheila4254]

Well done for carrying on Dan. Charlotte is a very talented photographer, she's had a good teacher. my vote is for number 3.
It's a nice walk up there on a nice day, we took a wrong turn on the way back and walked for miles lol.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Sheila, I appreciate it. I can imagine taking a wrong turn is easily done but it’s not a bad place to be lost in.
All the best ☺️

[@johnhughes7062]

Well done Dan on producing another excellent video with your family. Number 1 for me

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much John, very much appreciated mate 👍🏻

[@nickclaytonphotography]

Well done Dan & family for keeping on keeping on! I know how gutted you are about your camera mishap, & good on you for keeping your chin up & carrying on with the plans. Great vlog as always mate, & from the looks of it you only needed a smartphone camera, or a 24-70 on the Z9 at most…
Love to see this kind of vlog with the family competing but pretending not to be! Great stuff bud.
All the best,
Nick

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Nick I really appreciate it mate. We had a fantastic morning with the Reindeer and obviously the healthy competition was great.
All the very best mate 👍🏻

[@KWTImages]

Great blog, and lovely to see the family taking part, Image 2 for me...😊😊

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much, always appreciate your comments 👍🏻

[@fraud1able]

Hi Dan, another great video showcasing the good ole Scottish weather (being from Scotland, hence why I struggle to get out!). Number 1 gets my vote

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much I really appreciate it. The weather has always blessed me on my trips to Scotland so it was only a matter of time 😂
All the best 👍🏻

[@sangliersepromene]

Thanks for sharing a place I'm going this year at the end of May. I vote for number 3.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much, I hope you have a fantastic trip 👍🏻

[@colinwoods4155]

Photo 2 is my favourite.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much 👍🏻

[@philparker97]

I'm glad you were able to carry on. Of course it's not always about the equipment, and sometimes it can be all about the adventure, but in this case you adapted for both...well done! The third shot was a bit obscured by the adverts for other video clips but I suspect you shot No.1 and Charlotte No.2? Both great photos regardless of camera.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Phil, you are absolutely right and sometimes we get so bogged down with gear that we forget about the adventure.
Cheers 👍🏻

[@joncothranphotography9375]

Wonderful images! That was a cool experience. We have a place similar to that in my area who have exotic animals. Thanks for bringing us along!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Jon, always very much appreciated 👍🏻

[@marksymonds8477]

Great video Dan,picture 2

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Mark 👍🏻

[@charlessaycell4794]

Really good shots of the reindeer

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Charles, always appreciate it mate 👍🏻

[@jonpridham7134]

Nice video. Number 1 gets my vote!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Jon

[@user-markparker]

1st image gets my vote.
Fair play to you Dan as I bet that was a bit of a challenge & one you all seemed to enjoy.
Really felt sorry for your daughter though bless her, she got really embarrassed 😂
Looking forward to your next one mate.
Have Nikon given you an estimated time frame for the repairs to be carried out?
Just have a check, but my insurance policy covers damages whilst away & also covers getting temporary replacement equipment to my location, maybe yours does too?

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much I really appreciate it. My daughter was embarrassed bless her 😂😂😂
We are just waiting on replacement parts from Nikon so hopefully won’t be too much longer 👍🏻

[@seanjonesphotos]

Cracking video once again Dan. I’m going with image 3 🙌🏼

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Sean, all the best 👍🏻

[@allanlocke5420]

number one photo for me !!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much 👍🏻

[@badgerlandcouk]

Excellent photos all round - my slight personal preference was #1. I'd highly recommend anyone and everyone to visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd - the visitor centre is great, but the trip to the mountainside is well worth the short-ish walk too.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much I appreciate that. Totally agree with you that it’s a fantastic experience and place to visit 👍🏻

[@user-tz2qe9mi9b]

Great video, well done for soldiering on with getting photo opportunities, as they say the best camera is the one you have with you at the time and you have all used them to get some great shots. Numer 2 for me.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much, a saying I have used many times before and totally agree with.
All the best 👍🏻

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Really great that Dan, something abit different but just as challenging. Be interesting to see whose image wins? 😃

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Ian, very much appreciated 👍🏻

[@lyndachilds6587]

Great. Love them all but going for 1

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Lynda 👍🏻

[@malcolmdillaway8274]

Thanks for carrying on with your trip and sharing your experience, hope you get the camera sorted. Photo number 3 gets my vote.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Malcolm, really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@durhamsnapper9426]

Number 3 for me .

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you 👍🏻

[@TheMadtandemer]

Great video, we visited last year and my Fuji xt3 didn't survive the rain so wish I had just used the phone. I think 2 is my favourite.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much and sorry to hear about your camera! I guess it’s one of the good things about using the phone, they are pretty robust 👍🏻

[@SwanSycorax]

A very enjoyable video, thanks Dan & your family. some great shots in there, especially when the phone is right down low at eye level. I regularly use my iPhone (12 MAX Pro) to compliment what I take on my Nikons especially those "to-camera" bits when both Nikons have telephotos mounted. I use the FlimicPro app which shoots 10bit RAW video which gives noticeably better rendering compared to Apple's native camera app.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Brian, appreciated 👍🏻 Very interested in the filmic pro app you mentioned and something I will look into.
All the best 👍🏻

[@SwanSycorax]

@@danwillis_photography I was at the Woods Mill (Sussex Wildlife Trust) Nature Reserve this morning - a very grey day, and 80% of my footage was taken using the iPhone with Filmic Pro. Hope to put something together later this week which will use some of that footage plus clips and stills from my Z9 & Z8. Watch this space.

[@philipwatson2443]

full credit to you Dan for carrying on...... the 3rd pic gets my vote

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Philip 👍🏻

[@derekclark4762]

Looked like a nice trek with the family, enjoyed the the video as always, the full animal was my favourite, thanks Dan.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Derek, always appreciate it 👍🏻

[@michaelphibes8386]

I'll take a vote on the 2nd pic Dan. Looks like you had a fantastic day out with the family. Great video.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Michael, really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@GeoffCooper]

I vote for photo 1 but I must say that on the PC photo 3 gets covered by the 'end screen' things so I wasn't really able to see it properly... I met the reindeer herd up on the Braeriach plateau a few years ago and they were obviously very used to people because they came to have a good nose at my rucksack in the hope I'd brought them something tasty!!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Geoff, I imagine seeing the herd up in the mountains would be a magical experience.
Appreciate your comment as always mate 👍🏻

[@andywilson3381]

Lovely video Dan, just goes to show what you can do with limited resources
The first picture gets my vote 👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Andy, really appreciate it mate 👍🏻

[@jeanlouis83]

hello Dan, sorry for this delay but I saw the videos as I went and I was able to get an idea, the 1 of the average photos due to the lack of light but the inventory of your equipment was interesting, do you have a 12 volt charger for the Z9 battery, the 2 of the images much better and I will remember from the 3 the hare jumping which is fantastic, for today don't do any more contests, you lost to Pops and today against Charlotte, for your case sorry

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Jean Louis, I don’t have a 12 volt charger for my Z9 just the standard charger that came with the camera.
I’ve not lost this competition to my daughter yet…… plus it’s only for fun 😂
All the best 👍🏻

[@stefangoldensteinwildlife9929]

so many reindeer.Wow. Greets Stefan

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Stefan 👍🏻

[@ysteinbjrkelund8449]

hey, if you want to look for wild reindeer, come to Norway.🙂

[@danwillis_photography]

I would love to go to Norway, definitely a bucket list destination for me 👍🏻

[@keithsurey4513]

photo 2 for me

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Keith 👍🏻