In this episode Matt is joined by renowned wildlife photographer and photo educator expert, Steve Perry (Back Country Gallery). Steve and Matt discuss the aspects of high frame rate and continuous shooting of wildlife interactions… or as some people call it “Spray and Pray”. What is enough? What is too much? When do you stop and what do you do with all of those extra photos? Steve is an absolute expert in this area so don’t miss this show.
NOTE: If you listened to the podcast, but want to see the video we’re referencing, you can scroll to 3:25 in the video below and watch for about a minute. That’s the only visual we reference throughout the podcast.
How to Listen/Watch
You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google. Or you can watch it below.
The podcast is NOT intended to be visual in any way, so all you’re doing is watching the two of us talk and nothing else. But if that’s the way you prefer it, feel free. Personally, podcasts are something I listen to when I have nothing else to do, or to keep me busy while doing something else – so I never watch them.
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PRO TIP: I typically listen to podcasts on my phone while driving or in the gym. And I usually set most podcasts to 1.25x – 1.5x speed to get through it faster.
Since this IS NOT A TRAINING tutorial, and it’s just us talking, I think you can speed us up and get through it faster so feel free to give it a try. I can’t help you find that setting, but again… most podcast apps have it, so poke around. If you can use Lightroom and Photoshop I have no doubt you can figure out how to use a podcast app ?
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
You two, and Rich Seiling! Best small group.
I follow both of you. I think that is a great Idea Matt. How to pick a workshop and prepare for it. Thank you, Steve & Matt
Great podcast from two of my favorite educators. Recently purchased the Z8 e-book from Steve plus, naturally, the firmware update plus other of Steve’s courses and also have purchased several courses from Matt also. BTW, I watched the video version of the podcast.
To me spray and pray happens when I see a subject at the last moment and quickly try to grab some shots with little or no time to compose realizing my focus point is likely not even on the subject, just somewhere close. I find myself in this situation far less often with the z8 at it is so fast I can go for shots that in the past I wouldn’t dream of trying. The video here to me was anything but. The subjects were out int the open and there was plenty of time to grab good focus and keep shooting. These are moments I live for in the field. With my dslrs one could still have gotten good results in this scenario. The AF seemed focused on the godwits and you were far enough away to get a bit of DOF. I did notice that often times the birds were facing away so to keep shooting was essential.
Ihave seen there is a rather large group who do not totally know their camera. They are unaware of its most simple functions
Steve already talks at a “2 pots of coffee speed” already! May not have to hunt for the little gear icon in YouTube to slow him down if you can listen to him sped up!? BTW…Steve’s advice is GOLDEN!
Excellent discussion, appreciate your combined presentation.
Well done.
Thanks for a very interesting conversation and exchange of views. More of these are certainly welcome…
Great discussion with 2 of my favorite wildlife photographers & educators! Matt, you know I have all of your courses and you have taught me a lot in Costa Rica and Florida. Steve, I don’t know what I would’ve done without your Z8 set-up guide. It’s exactly what I needed when I switched to mirrorless and purchased my Z8. I have your Nikon Autofocus Systems, too, but haven’t dove into it yet.. but it will definitely come in handy for my next trip, Brazil!
In your Spray and Pray podcast with Steve Perry you spoke about holding down the shutter. Buffer management was briefly mentioned. Do you reduce your shutter speed to avoid running out of buffer, just shoot through it, try to find times to let up, or something else? I am shooting the Nikon Z8. I get concerned, being afraid that the best shots are going to be just as the buffer fills and there is a glitch in the shooting.
Definitely a valid concern. The only way to know is to practice. Your camera will show you a readout of the photos taken and how quickly the buffer fills. So you have to practice to get a feel for when that will happen. Every camera is different and every memory card you put in that camera will give you different results. It sounds redundant… but practice will help.
Awesome podcast! Steve Perry is not only a superb photographer, but he is also the best teacher I’ve had the pleasure of learning from.
100% agree!