How to photograph birds from a photo blind. My routines step by step. How to, baiting, camera traps and behind the scenes. Open full description for more information.
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Location: Denmark
Date: November 2020 (2 days)
Day: 11°C (52°F)
Night: 2°C (36°F)
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A few questions:
1. What kind of blind are you using?
Home made – I got it from a friend four years ago. I have modified it a bit with a foam floor. It is really heavy so I had to move it to the field with a tractor and put it on some logs to avoid the moisture destroying the wood. I would like to modify it so that I have windows 360.
2. What meat do you use for baiting?
I most often use road kills that I find when I drive around. Sometimes one of the farmers has some bones after slaughtering – I also use that. I prefer road kills though because they are natural and because I move them from the road and avoid further kills of scavengers like craws, ravens and foxes. I have an extra freezer to store these road kills. I am very aware not to bait too often. Usually 5-10 times during one season. I do not want to disturb the natural behaviour of the wildlife by making them used to a feeding spot.
3. What kind of tripod are you using in the blind?
I use a home made ground pod to avoid the legs of a normal tripod. The ground pod is made of steel pipes welded together and painted. I originally made it for photographing shorebirds where pushing the normal tripod through the sand was quite cumbersome. In the snow I use it with a pair of small skis that I can click on. Commercial ground pods are available though.
4. How do you record through your viewfinder?
I use an Atomos Ninja V that I have connected to the camera. I find it rather difficult to use for general wildlife photography because it add both weight and volume. I think it is worth it though since it allows me to sometimes share my view through the camera.
5. What camera and lens are you using and why?
In this video I am using the Nikon 600mm f/4 FL lens on the Nikon Z6 with the FTZ adapter. I like to use this setup in the blind because the low aperture lets me blur both the foreground and the background. Furthermore the combination of the fast lens and the full-frame sensor with relatively few megapixels on the Z6 is a brilliant combination in low light.
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See you out there.
All the best
Morten
48 responses to “BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY FROM BLIND – my routines”
Ok…. josss…. 😄👍👍
Great job many Congrats
Just seen this and I notice your setting son screen were AF-C,H but in M, Manual. I am fairly new to photography and always thought you need to run in or S mode if using AF-C. I can use M as an overall control of the exposure?
Bagus kak, salam dari indonesia ..😉
i just… i really want to enjoy life like you! actually the best out there.
I like it
Oh may goood
Excellent work – THANKs!
Brilliant video and photography
Complimeti….
keureun
Nice
fujifirm?
Wow, another fantastic video. Really appreciated the behind the scenes content.
I are amazing! I love you video! Thanks
Can anyone help me out which lense was that?
Morten your wealth of information is fantastic. So relaxed and I love how you share the settings and how you stage the location.
Great job sir.
Mujjang 🤩
My question, how you can get money from your photos?
If Shoot birds with camera not with gun had a face❤❤❤❤❤
I salute to his hard work and dedication
https://youtu.be/_3oAx6WHRS0
Any student here?
Wao
Great work sir…..😍😍😍
❤️
Sir..,
Is there any chance to assist you. I would like wild photography. But my speciality is i don't have any camera
Passion and perseverance, I love this video!!!😱😱🙏🏻🙏🏻
💐👌👌
What is your Camera and lens setup ?
Wow…perfekt.
( TV) – Мир Природы /The Natural /
My dream in bird photography live
1 time in photography pls
How do you make money by taking pictures of birds
Wow so nice 👍💖👍💖
💗💗💗💗💗💗🦅🦆🦢🦕🕊️🐥🐦
#Gardening_and_Junk_art
Awesome! I held my breath the whole time as if I was there and trying not to scare away the birds ^^ Speaking of scary: what was the thing climbing on your little bird house? Horror 😱😱😉
Gd bro
Hi Morten i just like to watch your video…god bless u
@Morten Hilmer how do you capture your cameras screen
Thank you for your valuable information
Hard work.
I can just watch your videos all day Morten, happy holidays and thankyou!
Really awesome! Love all the information and instruction. Superb!
സുപ്പർ
You did't take the permission from the birds