Future of Wildlife Photography?

Winder · 08-13-2013, 08:01 AM

Serengeti Lions--Photo Gallery

All images captured with a drone and Canon equipment. A flying drone can cover more territory, get closer, be safer, and is often ignored by wildlife.

Instead of sitting in a blind for hours waiting, you could sit in the comfort and protection of a house or mobile station.

**savoche** · 08-13-2013, 08:07 AM

Maybe, if all you care about is the pictures. For me the main point is to get out into the bush. The photographing is secondary, far less important than the experience of being there.

But then, I don't sell pictures

JinDesu · 08-13-2013, 08:18 AM

Having watched tons of BBC documentaries where they go deep into the jungles and forests to set up amazing and robust systems to capture footages of animals from high to low, morning to night, and near to far - I think drones are only a solution to some locations. The BBC crews used some seriously big equipment for the zoom that they require.

carrrlangas · 08-13-2013, 10:48 AM

I don´t think it´s a replacement for anything but it is amazing!!!

**Rondec** · 08-13-2013, 11:10 AM

Seems like it would be more expensive than the old fashioned way for a lot of animals. Obviously for some scenes/timid animals, this may be the only way to bring back photos of them.

Rupert · 08-13-2013, 12:26 PM - **1 Like**

Magnificent shots, simply stunning!

As for drones, I plan on getting a drone to shoot my squirrels, it is much safer and could possibly save my life. Few realize how dangerous it is out in those "Woods of Otis'" ....a damn scary place. When out there all alone, with hundreds of little beady on you and dead silence, you know any second could be your last.

Regards!

Winder · 08-13-2013, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by Rondec

Seems like it would be more expensive than the old fashioned way for a lot of animals. Obviously for some scenes/timid animals, this may be the only way to bring back photos of them.

The images that actually pay bills though are those types of images. The old fashioned way is fine form hummingbirds and squirrels, but what's the going rate for those pictures these days?

Ocean going drones can go places people can't and can capture the images that can pay the bills.

dane.dawg · 08-13-2013, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by carrrlangas

I don´t think it´s a replacement for anything but it is amazing!!!

+1...

shaolen · 08-17-2013, 03:59 PM

booo canon

**ChrisPlatt** · 08-19-2013, 03:14 PM

Now all we need is robots to sit on the couch and watch the documentaries on TV for us.

Chris

lesmore49 · 08-19-2013, 04:06 PM - **2 Likes**

Wildlife photography to me is like going fishing.

I could go to a pond where fish are raised commercially and easily catch a farm raised Rainbow Trout.

Or I could go to a Canadian Shield lake (90 miles away) with my fly rod and using my personally hand tied flies and perhaps catch a nice wild and wily pike....or maybe not get a thing.

When I go and do winter wildlife photography I would much rather go to local Canadian forests with my K-5 and Sigma 150-500 and K10D and 55-300. I may get a great photo...or not so great photo....or nothing at all.... of a Great Grey Owl or a Snowy Owl.

I'd much rather get my own photo rather than rely on a drone to do it.

Part of fishing and wild life photography is the adventure...or at least it is for me.

But I'm an amateur. I'm sure it's different if you're a professional.

Eventually it will be why bother with drones...just use a top of the line computer generated graphic....who will know.

**gaweidert** · 08-19-2013, 04:22 PM

Some time ago I subscribed to Outdoor Photographer. One of the staff there was a well known nature photographer. One of his biggest money earners was a photograph of a squirrel he took in his backyard.

traderdrew · 09-08-2013, 11:27 AM

I don't see how a flying drone can effectively replace a wildlife photographer. A camera in flight would have a tougher time in lower ambient light. There would be much less time for composition. It might be more effective to use a robot. It is still amazing that someone did that with what they had.

Where do you see he photographed those animals with a drone?

wildman · 09-09-2013, 03:50 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Winder

Future of Wildlife Photography?

I worry about the future of wildlife not the damn gear.

**goatsNdonkey** · 01-23-2016, 09:01 AM

Forgive me for bumping this topic back into the present. Drones are N O I S Y ! Is that really what someone who appreciates natural environments and their inhabitants wants to introduce? Besides, if the drones' motor and prop racket is drowning out the wildlife's audible communication, how will one know where to point the drone's camera? I guess they could be good at getting pictures of the hind ends of wildlife fleeing for their lives.

08-13-2013, 08:01 AM	#1
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	Future of Wildlife Photography? Serengeti Lions--Photo Gallery All images captured with a drone and Canon equipment. A flying drone can cover more territory, get closer, be safer, and is often ignored by wildlife. Instead of sitting in a blind for hours waiting, you could sit in the comfort and protection of a house or mobile station.

08-19-2013, 03:14 PM	#10
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	Now all we need is robots to sit on the couch and watch the documentaries on TV for us. Chris Last edited by ChrisPlatt; 08-22-2013 at 03:42 PM.

09-09-2013, 03:50 PM - 2 Likes	#14
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	Originally posted by Winder Future of Wildlife Photography? I worry about the future of wildlife not the damn gear. Last edited by wildman; 09-15-2013 at 03:15 AM.

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08-13-2013, 08:07 AM	#2
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	Maybe, if all you care about is the pictures. For me the main point is to get out into the bush. The photographing is secondary, far less important than the experience of being there. But then, I don't sell pictures

08-13-2013, 08:18 AM	#3
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Having watched tons of BBC documentaries where they go deep into the jungles and forests to set up amazing and robust systems to capture footages of animals from high to low, morning to night, and near to far - I think drones are only a solution to some locations. The BBC crews used some seriously big equipment for the zoom that they require.

08-13-2013, 10:48 AM	#4
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	I don´t think it´s a replacement for anything but it is amazing!!!

08-13-2013, 11:10 AM	#5
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	Seems like it would be more expensive than the old fashioned way for a lot of animals. Obviously for some scenes/timid animals, this may be the only way to bring back photos of them.

08-13-2013, 12:26 PM - 1 Like	#6
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Magnificent shots, simply stunning! As for drones, I plan on getting a drone to shoot my squirrels, it is much safer and could possibly save my life. Few realize how dangerous it is out in those "Woods of Otis'" ....a damn scary place. When out there all alone, with hundreds of little beady on you and dead silence, you know any second could be your last. Regards!

08-13-2013, 02:20 PM	#7
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617 Original Poster	Originally posted by Rondec Seems like it would be more expensive than the old fashioned way for a lot of animals. Obviously for some scenes/timid animals, this may be the only way to bring back photos of them. The images that actually pay bills though are those types of images. The old fashioned way is fine form hummingbirds and squirrels, but what's the going rate for those pictures these days? Ocean going drones can go places people can't and can capture the images that can pay the bills.

08-13-2013, 03:49 PM	#8
dane.dawg Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,436	Originally posted by carrrlangas I don´t think it´s a replacement for anything but it is amazing!!! +1...

08-17-2013, 03:59 PM	#9
shaolen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 1,047	booo canon

08-19-2013, 04:06 PM - 2 Likes	#11
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,344	Wildlife photography to me is like going fishing. I could go to a pond where fish are raised commercially and easily catch a farm raised Rainbow Trout. Or I could go to a Canadian Shield lake (90 miles away) with my fly rod and using my personally hand tied flies and perhaps catch a nice wild and wily pike....or maybe not get a thing. When I go and do winter wildlife photography I would much rather go to local Canadian forests with my K-5 and Sigma 150-500 and K10D and 55-300. I may get a great photo...or not so great photo....or nothing at all.... of a Great Grey Owl or a Snowy Owl. I'd much rather get my own photo rather than rely on a drone to do it. Part of fishing and wild life photography is the adventure...or at least it is for me. But I'm an amateur. I'm sure it's different if you're a professional. Eventually it will be why bother with drones...just use a top of the line computer generated graphic....who will know.

08-19-2013, 04:22 PM	#12
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,325	Some time ago I subscribed to Outdoor Photographer. One of the staff there was a well known nature photographer. One of his biggest money earners was a photograph of a squirrel he took in his backyard.

09-08-2013, 11:27 AM	#13
traderdrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 640	I don't see how a flying drone can effectively replace a wildlife photographer. A camera in flight would have a tougher time in lower ambient light. There would be much less time for composition. It might be more effective to use a robot. It is still amazing that someone did that with what they had. Where do you see he photographed those animals with a drone?

01-23-2016, 09:01 AM	#15
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,730	Forgive me for bumping this topic back into the present. Drones are N O I S Y ! Is that really what someone who appreciates natural environments and their inhabitants wants to introduce? Besides, if the drones' motor and prop racket is drowning out the wildlife's audible communication, how will one know where to point the drone's camera? I guess they could be good at getting pictures of the hind ends of wildlife fleeing for their lives.