📷 Chasing Moody Wildlife Photos with the Canon R8 + 100-400mm
I took a quick trip to Farmington Lake, New Mexico, armed with my Canon R8 and the trusty 100-400mm lens. The sky was moody and overcast—perfect for that soft, cinematic wildlife vibe.
👉 Watch the full video below for birds, ducks, and some surprisingly close-up nature shots you might not expect from a long telephoto lens.
🧪 Moody Day, Moody Photos
Cloud cover gave us a nice even light with no harsh shadows. Ideal for isolating subjects and dialing in that soft bokeh.
I was shooting with shutter speeds around 1/1250 to freeze any wing flaps or other action, aperture between f/5.6 and f/8 depending on focal length, and manual ISO for quick light adjustments.
🔍 Closer Than You Think
225mm | f8 | 1/1250 | ISO 320
Surprise: this lens focuses down to about 3.5 feet! That let me sneak in some great close-ups of leaves and textures, adding variety beyond just birds.
🎯 The Star of the Day: American Coot
Not a duck, but often mistaken for one. I got some great stills and a rare flight shot that taught me how important fast shutter and quick ISO tweaks are with changing light.
400mm | f8 | 1/1250 | ISO 320
🎬 Why I Love This Setup for Wildlife
Long reach to get close without scaring the critters
Fast enough frames per second for action shots
Close focusing distance for variety
Smooth background separation for moody portraits of nature
Light and easy to carry
Very Sharp for the price
🏁 Final Takeaway
Even when the wildlife is a little sparse, sometimes the best shots come from just being out there, exploring textures and moods with your gear.
If you want a versatile wildlife lens that’s also great for creative close-ups, the 100-400mm on the Canon R8 is a killer combo.
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