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Are you still shooting everything through the viewfinder? You might be missing out. In this video, I break down how I use the rear LCD screen for 40–50% of my wildlife photography and why it has completely changed the way I approach low-angle and creative compositions. Shooting from the LCD isn’t just about convenience. It’s about unlocking perspectives that are impossible or uncomfortable through the viewfinder. Whether you’re photographing birds at ground level, wildlife from a boat, animals in trees, or trying to shoot over obstacles, the rear LCD gives you angles that simply aren’t practical otherwise. But there’s a catch. There’s a steep learning curve. In this video I walk you through: • The best autofocus settings for LCD shooting • Why subject detection and full-frame AF areas make this easier • Nikon Auto Area AF, Sony Wide AF, Canon tracking modes, Nikon 3D tracking • Back button focus vs shutter release focus with the LCD • Why image stabilization helps even at fast shutter speeds • How to find your subject quickly without “searching” • The rifle barrel alignment trick • Why you should start at your widest focal length • Teleconverter disengage and reengage strategy • How to compose looser to avoid clipping • Pre-focusing shortcuts • Using Pre-Capture for action moments • Practical shooting techniques for wildlife and birds If you’ve ever tried using the rear screen and felt frustrated, this video will shorten your learning curve dramatically. Whether you shoot Nikon, Sony, or Canon mirrorless cameras, these techniques apply across brands. Once you get comfortable with LCD shooting, you’ll open up a whole new world of creative wildlife photography angles that most photographers never even attempt. If this helps, hit like and subscribe for more wildlife photography field techniques, autofocus tips, and real-world shooting strategies. Linktree: https://backcountrygallery.com/linktree/ #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #MirrorlessPhotography #NikonZ9 #SonyAlpha #CanonR5 #RearLCD #PhotographyTips #AutofocusTips #SubjectDetection #BackButtonFocus #PreCapture #LowAnglePhotography #NaturePhotography #PhotographyEducation

Most people are taught to focus on the eyes in wildlife photography. Almost nobody talks about the ears. But ear position is one of the strongest emotional cues in an animal photo. Ears forward makes a subject feel curious, alert, and connected to the viewer. Ears pinned back usually read as stress, irritation, or defensiveness. And everything in between can either add character or make the subject feel disengaged, depending on the rest of the body language. If you want stronger wildlife portraits, do not just watch the eyes. Watch the ears too. This one small change can dramatically improve the emotional impact of your images.

If you want better wildlife photos, it’s rarely about buying new gear. The biggest improvements come from building better habits in the field. In this video, I break down 10 habits that instantly improve wildlife photography, whether you’re photographing birds, mammals, or anything in between. These aren’t tricks, presets, or camera hacks. They’re field-proven wildlife photography habits that raise your baseline and make you more consistent every time you lift the camera. We’ll cover things like: • A habit you should do with your settings every time • Leveraging the rear LCD for more impact • How to get more emotional wildlife photos • What to look for and avoid in backgrounds before pressing the shutter • How to catch peak moments • When to shoot environmental wildlife images - and when not to • Using backlight and rim light for dramatic wildlife photos • Moving beyond field-guide style images • Leveraging underused camera features for wildlife photography • Spending more time in the field to build real photographic skill These are the same habits I use in real wildlife photography situations and teach in my workshops. You don’t need to master all ten at once. If you commit to even a few of these wildlife photography field habits, you’ll start seeing better results almost immediately. Whether you’re looking to jumpstart your wildlife photography this year or you just feel like you’ve hit a plateau, these habits will help you shoot more intentionally, anticipate better moments, and come home with stronger images. New to wildlife photography or looking to improve bird photography, animal photography, or nature photography? These habits apply across all genres of wildlife work. #wildlifephotography #wildlifephotographytips #wildlifephotographer #birdphotography #naturephotography #photographyhabits #photographytips #naturephotographer #animalphotography #wildlifephotos Other videos: Backgrounds: https://youtu.be/4_KH-j0KO9c Histograms: https://youtu.be/KLyxfJmaoz8 Pre-Capture : https://youtu.be/3zBW8kI0rVY Linktree: https://backcountrygallery.com/linktree/

Pre-Capture might be the most misunderstood feature in modern wildlife photography. Many photographers turn it on, use it once for birds taking off, and never touch it again. That’s a huge mistake. In this in-depth, brand-agnostic guide, I break down exactly how Pre-Capture works, when to use it, when to turn it off, and how to set it up so it actually helps instead of wrecking your buffer and filling your cards with junk frames. We’ll cover: What Pre-Capture really is and how it works in the buffer When Pre-Capture makes sense for wildlife photography Why you should NOT leave Pre-Capture on all the time Pre-Capture recording time and why 0.3 seconds is the sweet spot Autofocus modes and AF areas that work best with Pre-Capture Subject Detection pros and cons for fast action Real-world field techniques for birds, mammals, and unpredictable wildlife behavior Battery life, buffer limits, and memory card considerations Common Pre-Capture FAQs photographers always ask If you’re only using Pre-Capture for birds taking off, you’re missing most of its power. From fish tosses and wing stretches to split-second animal behavior, this feature can completely change how you approach fast wildlife moments. This video applies to Sony, Nikon, Canon, OM System, and other mirrorless cameras that offer Pre-Capture or Pre-Shutter Capture features. If you found this helpful, hit like, subscribe, and check out my wildlife photography books and setup guides designed to help you get more keepers in the field. More info, books, and videos: https://backcountrygallery.com/linktree/ Select Animations by Brandon Harwood

I stayed in a sudden downpour photographing a reddish egret and seriously questioned my life choices. Shot at Fort De Soto Beach in Florida during a passing storm. I dropped to a slow shutter speed to show the rain and ended up completely soaked, along with my camera. Would you have stayed? wildlife photography bird photography reddish egret behind the shot nature photography photography in rain camera gear in rain sony a9 iii sony wildlife photography wildlife photographer story field photography