Archive 2020 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

BadAdda2d
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

I have seen some incredible wildlife photos here, and some are handheld. How do you experts get such sharp, handheld shots with long glass? I have heard of monopods, and I have a sturdy tripod, but it's far too unwieldy to rapidly set up, level and shoot a rarely stationary critter.
Any tips you can share with a rookie?

Apr 20, 2020 at 02:57 PM

morris
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

Image stabilization
Separate your feet if standing
Relax
Brace on something if possible
Shoot with one knee down and use the one that's up for support
shoot prone
Keep your shutter speed as high as possible
Drink lots of coffee (Works for me)

Morris

Apr 20, 2020 at 04:12 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

I cheat my way of handholding my gear by using a shoulder stock. I can do it for only about 20 seconds or so. This method is reserved just for the peak of actions. While waiting, I rest the gear on a monopod that can be mounted at a specific part of the shoulder stock. I just grab the gear including the monopod and track the action that way.

However, I prefer a more stable way for using my gear. For that I use a tripod that has a gimbal head. Not as fast as using the shoulder stock in tracking a fast flying bird but for sure steadier. Spread the legs of the tripod all the way for some waterfowl action. Since I am using a mirrorless system, I can flip the screen for composing the scene and tracking the target. If you use a DSLR, you have to lay flat on your belly for that purpose.

What Morris suggested is great except for the coffee part

Apr 20, 2020 at 04:46 PM

Bobg657
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

To some degree it depends on your gear - I shoot Sony's A7R3 and 100-400 with 1.4 TC (560 mm equiv.) handheld daily with no issue, it's light enough that even an old guy can handhold effectively. Now a 600 f4 might be another story!

Do keep your speed up, I generally follow 1/focal length although with stabilization that may not be needed.

Apr 20, 2020 at 04:56 PM

BadAdda2d
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

I'd like to see that shoulder stock setup. Cannot say I've heard of it.
I typically keep my SS at 1/1000 sec or faster. My rig is a Canon 7D2 with 100-400L, and Extender 1.4x III. Even with IS on at this shutter speed, I still get blurry shots. All handheld, standing feet apart, sometimes kneeling. Should my SS be faster? Will a faster SS eliminate the blurry shots?

AGeoJO wrote:
I cheat my way of handholding my gear by using a shoulder stock. I can do it for only about 20 seconds or so. This method is reserved just for the peak of actions. While waiting, I rest the gear on a monopod that can be mounted at a specific part of the shoulder stock. I just grab the gear including the monopod and track the action that way.

What Morris suggested is great except for the coffee part

Apr 21, 2020 at 08:54 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

BadAdda2d wrote:
I'd like to see that shoulder stock setup. Cannot say I've heard of it.
I typically keep my SS at 1/1000 sec or faster. My rig is a Canon 7D2 with 100-400L, and Extender 1.4x III. Even with IS on at this shutter speed, I still get blurry shots. All handheld, standing feet apart, sometimes kneeling. Should my SS be faster? Will a faster SS eliminate the blurry shots?

First off, I do not have any relation whatsoever with this company; I just happened to buy and use their product about a year ago. Prior to this setup, I had the Hawkeye shoulder stock, made out of fiberglass. It worked okay on smaller and lighter gear but not sturdy enough for my taste for a 500mm, let alone a 600mm lens. Hawkeye went out of business though a few years back but you still can get them or bits a pieces on eB*y. My longest lens is a newer, and lighter weight 600mm and it works fine on the metal shoulder stock but I am not sure how well it holds up for the old style, heavier and longer 600mm lens.

Here is the link:

Apr 21, 2020 at 09:20 AM

riokid
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

AgeoJO probably meant Bushhawk

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037JVIVG/?tag=mhlocal-20

Apr 21, 2020 at 11:18 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

riokid wrote:
AgeoJO probably meant Bushhawk

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037JVIVG/?tag=mhlocal-20

Dan, you are absolutely correct! Yes, I meant "Bushhawk". I knew somehow there is a "hawk" in that name

Joshua

Apr 21, 2020 at 11:34 AM

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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Wildlife Handholding Tips

Thanks for the link. I thought it sounded like something similar to a rifle stock, and I wasn't wrong...

Will a faster SS help fix the issue? I use kneeling, prone or braced shooting when I can, but it's not always possible.

Apr 22, 2020 at 09:17 AM


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