WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY in the SNOW | on location with brown HARES | Nikon Z9 300mm 2.8 VR II
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- Опубліковано 29 гру 2022
- I'm back!
Inside and out of the cold, I wanted to share a quick behind the scenes video shot a week or so back whilst working out in the snow, developing my portfolio on Brown Hares!
The conditions were simply fantastic, and perfect for adding some images I've long wanted in my portfolio. As I was out firmly focused on stills, I filmed mostly on my iPhone, so sorry if the quality isn't up to the usual standards! As a professional photographer the images will always come first and with these the kind of scenes I'm unlikely to see for a good few years...Well I had to make sure my eyes were firmly focused on the images!
I'm chuffed with some of the results from three, very chilly days laid out in the snow, even if most of the images all came from a 45 minutes of awesome activity! Did you get out in the snow this winter and mange to nail any shots you've been after?
In other news I've just started a new mailing list for my own newsletter, with news, images releases and upcoming workshops, so if you'd like to be the first to find out about what's coming up from me and get wildlife photography tips and field notes into your inbox, you can subscribe now! First email will be out in 2023.
subscribepage.io/TomMasonPhoto
Until then you can also get more info on my work over on my website tommasonphoto.com or drop me a follow on instagram @tommasonphoto
Also my gorgeous new 600mm F4 TC has been delivered and so I'll be back soon with my wildlife photography adventures soon!
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/3df767bbNikon
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 600mm F4 TC Z (My new super tele lens!) tidd.ly/3BJRVIl
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 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 14" amzn.to/3vp8B4y
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
Love these White images with hares .simple not cluttered .Very Nice .👍
Thanks John! It was a wonderful conditions for some simple images!
I liked these images so much Tom, l watched it again!
Very true record, thank you for sharing
love, love, love that last photo of the hare running across the field!
Thank you!!
That last shot was simply wooowww
Thank you! It’s certainly one of my favourites from 2022 and my hare work in general, 3 image pano, handheld with the 300 2.8 and the Z9!
great pics , and great video !
Thank you!
That last shot is superb.
Thank you!
Great video and super set of images captured, Tom. I especially like the last image of the hare running across the field in the middle of the frame.
Glad you enjoyed it, the last shot for me is a personal highlight, it's a 4 image stitch panoramic shot, made whilst madly rolling onto my side to hit the shots as the hare ran through the perfect winter wonderland!
Lovely shot video and wonderful stills!
Thank you!
So there am I all nice and cosy warm indoors when this cold snap hit, all the while bemoaning the fact that the paths are so slippery that I can barely stand upright when I do go out to walk our new puppy, yet there is Tom Mason laying out in a snowy field happy as a pig in ***! photographing Hares and making a video that puts the rest of us indoor photographers to shame (well me anyway). A great video and proof that if you want those epic shots then you have to put yourself out to get them. Brilliant video Tom just loved it.
Cheers Martin! I certainly was in my element out there in the cold, I simply love the cold and rolling around on the floor looking for wildlife! Glad you enjoyed the film and images, for sure you’ve got to get out there if you want the shots! Oh… and enjoy the new puppy!!
thank you for the video Tom
No problem!
3:17 absolutely beautiful
Thank you! It’s taken years to get some of these images I’ve been after and so happy it all finally came together! Thanks for watching!
Lovely video Tom, have a good New Year!
Thank you! Happy new year!
Amazing images of the hares, I can see why you like them so much!
Hello Tom, a great set of photographs from a cold snowy field. I applaud your skill and determination. Thanks for sharing but stay warm and safe.
Thanks Malcolm, luckily I have some great outdoor gear to keep me warm in these kinds of conditions and love the process! Glad you enjoyed the images, cheers, Tom
Wonderful Tom. Thanks for sharing your passion for photographing hares!
Thank you for joining me!
Great video, and great shots! Well done.
Cheers Andy, these are the videos I really love to make! Glad you enjoyed
Superb video Tom, your fieldcraft is always worth watching and you were rewarded with outstanding images. Like many of the previous comments I particularly liked the final image of the running hare framed between the two trees, very different from the more common hare portraits, well done.
Just fabulous! I have just taken delivery of my Z9 so have been watching your videos and learning before I take it out of the box. (Must admit I’m a bit daunted by it but excited to try it out) also wondered, have you tried some fingerless gloves? If you get fine merino or cashmere you can wear them under your mittens and when you take the mittens off you will still keep the majority of your hands toasty 😊
Hey Tracy! So glad you’ve got your Z9 it’s an awesome beast.
Yes I do have some merino wool gloves and use them often but often find in snow I end up getting them wet and then get even colder hands! But for most other applications I usually have them on! Enjoy the Z9 and hope you have some fab shoots with it!!
Great little video! I'm always impressed by the hares' ability to stay warm enough in these conditions whilst we humans must put layers upon layers upon layers to keep ourselves warm enough.
Oh for sure, they just sit there digging around for some food whilst I’m loosing the feeling in my fingers! Was worth it all for the images though, easily some of my favourites of 2022 and it was a year in which I went to the arctic!
@@TomMasonPhoto it's the time spent with the hares and watching them for multiple years. That makes for a great payoff when such a wintery opportunity arises. Have a good 2023!
Loved the last wide angle shot of the hare Tom, looked so natural in its environment!
Thanks Neil! It’s actually not a wide but a pano, crested with the 300mm, I’d had the idea in my head for a long time so was rather over the moon when it worked out!
It certainly worked, a pano,I’m not even going to ask how that works for wildlife! Lol
@@neilcole3406 speed is the key, plus a steady hand whilst being sure to lock focus and keep the focal plane the same as you swing for the extra frames… it takes some getting used to!
Nice one Tom, great video to watch for New Years Eve, I see the 300mm 2.8 is back out?
The 300mm never goes away! It’s my favourite lens and I’m so comfortable with it that I just felt it was the right tool for the conditions! The 600mm however is now here and in the bag and will certainly be used for a lot of shoots into the new year, but I need to get comfortable with it yet to really get the best out of it! As with any new bit of kit you’ve got to learn it
great, thanks! How is the AF speed and tracking on the Z9 with the 300mm?
Very nice Tom !! Well done!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
Happy to see you shooting the 300mm again. Your best work, I’ve seen, was shot with that lens.
It's always been my favourite lens, but with the 600mm in the bag as well now (came through the door last week) I'm excited to get into more telephoto work, although, the 300mm isn't going anywhere, its a truly special lens for me! Thanks for watching, glad you like the images!
Brilliant video Tom! Congrats and getting your shots. Enjoyed watching the whole vid especially the hare images around the 3:30 mark
Thanks a ton! Glad you enjoyed the video, Cheers, Tom
Absolutely beautiful stuff Tom.
Cheers Paul! Hope you got out and made the most of the snow!
Such wonderful images! Great work 👍
Thanks dude!
Well done! So did you manage to capture any images or footage using your new Z 600/4 TC VR S?
I got the 600mm the day after the snow, but I’ve been out and about with it lots over the last few weeks, will have some videos out soon!
Super images, Tom. I must echo Nick Hanson's comment about the shot of the hare running across the field. Something different, and quite outstanding.
Thank you so much! That image is a style I’ve been working on developing for a while, so I’m glad you like it, I think that one will end up in the fine art prints! I always love looking for something a little different. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Tom, big fan from Italy. I recently picked up a z8 and was wanted to pick up a used 300mm f2.8. Iwas wondering how the tracking is with it mounted on your z9 and if you have some experience with the teleconverters .
Thanks and keep up the videos!
So in regards to the 300mm 2.8 VR II, I've found that the tracking and AF works well, if anything its better than on my D850 and older DSLR's. With TC's I've used the 300mm extensively. The 1.4 TC III is superb but I'd not bother with the 2.0 and just use the DX crop in the Z8. Hope that helps! Any more questions, let me know!
@@TomMasonPhoto thanks so much Tom! I really appreciate your help
Great video again Tom. I've just got a 300f2.8 vr2 today. Can I ask what backpack you use for it, ideally the smallest that will take a gripped D850 pr a D5.
So with the 300mm 2.8 VR II and my D850 I often used it with either the Gitzo 30L, great bag as it has some room for extras like food etc, or the Lowepro pro trekker 350 is a really great small bag for taking a minimal setup!
@Tom Mason aw thanks Tom, that's great advice
@@BullitTom no problem!
@Tom Mason the other thing was, do you use a strap on it? I carried it by the tripod foot, but after an hour, it was getting heavy
@@BullitTom I have a strap on the lugs of the lens and is it when I’ll walking a little way but usually carry by the foot, of course if I’m going a fair way I’ll pop it back in the bag for ease!
Stunning shots Tom! Doubt we'll see conditions as good for the rest of the winter, at least not down south. Do you need to fine-tune your 300mm on the Z9? I've heard conflicting stories. Some say you do need to fine-tune, others say you don't
Oh for sure we’d be lucky if we get some more snow but I’ll hold my mitts firmly crossed! In regards to the fine tuning I haven’t done any and mine works great to my eyes (very over perfectionist editing) but maybe if I spent the time fine tuning I could get it even sharper! I might give it a try… but I’ve had no issues! Although the 300mm might get less use for a while as the 600mm Z TC got delivered!
@@TomMasonPhoto Have fun with the 600. I recently picked up a 500 F/4G which was an absolute bargain. Good ones are currently going for around £2500 which is pretty crazy
And Nikon still services them (at least for the moment)
@@SundayRacers The beauty of mirrorless is that focus is always taken right off of the sensor and no AF fine tuning is needed. F mount lenses that needed fine tuning on DSLR's focus perfectly on a Z body using the FTZ adaptor.