Water Vole Photography, macro and the Laowa 24mm underwater.

Рет қаралды 5,669

Күн бұрын

Trying to find and photograph the elusive Water Vole.
Recently a good friend of mine told me about a spot he knew of where there was a chance of seeing water voles. I visited it once with no luck but decided to go back several times with the intention of filming them and getting my first truly wild photo of one. Without revealing the ending, it turned out to be very tough but I learnt a lot. For anyone looking to photography them my tip would be that they are super sensitive to noise. So if you can use a silent shutter then do, otherwise try to time your photos perfectly because I found a lot of them to be easily spooked.
I used some extra shots in this video from people that accompanied me on the first trip and the subsequent ones.
Shot Credits:
Jack Mortimer - 00:00 Vole swimming
- 03:07 Pan of pond
- All underwater shots
- 06:34 Pan of pond
- 11:01 Vole swimming
Matt Jarvis - 01:49 Matt and Ben arriving slow motion
Mystery Link: • Top tips on how to fin...
Patreon: / mattgould

Пікірлер: 109

@BenTutton 3 жыл бұрын

Loads of animals get twitchy in wind. Not only does it make it harder for them to hear, it also blows scents about so they can’t use that sense! Even 🐘 get nervous in windy conditions! Loved the little bee sequence and really cool getting to see the voles! Nice work!

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I've always found that but wasn't sure if it was just me finding that or making excuses 😂. Completely forgot about scent being a factor too. Glad you enjoyed the footage. Needs work but the bee behaviour was great fun to film 😊

@meikamartin953 3 жыл бұрын

Loved the entire video but the bee at the beginning was a highlight !

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Martin! Yeah that was just a bit of luck to stumble across that whilst trying to film bees in flight. Sadly I missed the key shot of it landing in the web by literally a second. Still, hoping to do more full sequences in the coming projects and videos so i'm glad you enjoyed it :)

@stevesvids 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic...... told you I'd enjoy it 😀👍 Lovely little critters. You make a good vid buddy... thanks for sharing with us... 😀👍

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Glad it delivered Steve! And thank you for watching and leaving a comment or two :)

@stevesvids 3 жыл бұрын

@@MattGouldphotography Credit where credits due.. 😀👍 catch you on the next one. 👍

@GeoffCooper 3 жыл бұрын

Cool video - glad you got to spot the water voles! That Laowa 24mm seems looks cool too - must be a great way to access the underwater world! I totally agree with the idea that small animals are more jumpy - certainly seems that way - though it could also partly be that we don't get to hear the little movements that tell us to be still and quiet at the key moment...

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Geoff! The Laowa is indeed an excellent piece of kit! And yeah I have come to that conclusion as well when it comes to wind! I guess weather can play a bigger part than we realise :)

@ChrisHunt4497 3 жыл бұрын

Just loved it. Thanks Matt. Always a pleasure to watch your videos. Loved the deer shot too. 👍👍👍👍👍

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant to hear Chris! Thank you so much for watching 😊

@MooseMuncha 3 жыл бұрын

Great video Matt, some of the shots were amazing!

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Moose! Working on the video side of things so chuffed you think so! Just re-watched the ghost hunting video on the Livid Games channel. We need to do more stuff like that as a group :D. Hope you're well :)

@MooseMuncha 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah that ghost hunting video was great! I’d definitely be up for doing more videos like that

@deletedaccount7675 3 жыл бұрын

Great video as always 👍

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Paul! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

@breeze8929 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely loved this one Matt. Your video editing and story telling skills get better and better with each video. Looking forward to the next one.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Andrew! That really means a lot. Gotta keep on improving :D. Thanks for watching and hopefully you will enjoy the next one :)

@itztom3665 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing video and fantastic shot of the water vole. great when persistence, determination and patience pay off. That's why wildlife photography is so unique.Looking forward to your next video now.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ric! Glad you enjoyed it :)

@MattJarvisMedia 3 жыл бұрын

As again, your best one yet. Also, I have to say, with regret, I think your vole shots are better than mine. It's the low=to=the-water, it just looks so much better. Time to go back to LW!

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Ha, you are too kind dear Jarvis, thank you 😁. I watched yours back before I released it. Your footage is far better. But I noticed how much further in to the reeds you could see when we first went. I won't be going until early spring next year now I think. It's so much harder now. 😂 But low to the water always helps 😁

@MattJarvisMedia 3 жыл бұрын

@@MattGouldphotography what do you think happens over winter, do they hibernate?

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

You raise a good point. They do not. 😏🤔

@caitlinp3759 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing editing and footage, and I especially love that you took the time to talk about using naturally-made paths and trying to leave the environment as you found it!

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Aw thank you Caitlin! And i'm glad you valued that, it's so important to leave as minimal impact as possible. Thanks for watching :)

@elaineturpin1064 3 жыл бұрын

Great video Matt. That was some weak rain. Try living in Wales... that would have been a nice summers day. (P.S. Yayy the beard has gone :-)))

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Ha, very true Elaine! And yes the beard has gone for good, if you could even call it that :D.

@tonymorrison5023 3 жыл бұрын

loved this video mate.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Tony! Glad you liked it!

@adamsmith6594 3 жыл бұрын

Just brilliant Matt. I've a similar tripod as you and I just flip it up the other way. I've got inbuilt spikes on mine so on ground like that the legs stay solid. I can also dismantle the central pole and flip that. Its only a zomei one but it was bloody well built. The orange red beetle at the start was a common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva). They do have variations on the wing casings. Some have blackish tips some don't. If youre seeing them there should also be some large thighed flower beetles around too and also six spot Burnett moths. Which are just beautiful and poisonous. Matt I think this footage was just fantastic. I'd love this to be a career for me too I do envy you. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do watching. Thank you for sharing.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Adam! Thank you for the lovely message. I knew about the soldier beetles but was unaware of a link between them and the presence of 6 spot burnett moths. Is it a common food plant that's the link? And I would love it to be a career for me too :D. Hence the persistence in releasing videos. So chuffed to hear you enjoy them, thats the aim at the end of the day. Got a good couple lined up that will hopefully be just as enjoyable. Thanks for watching as always :)

@adamsmith6594 3 жыл бұрын

@@MattGouldphotography just going by the habitat Matt. Whenever I find grassland thats running alive with Soldier Beetles it's always rammed with 6 spots. Better on a hot gentle breeze day obviously. Looking forward to the next couple then 😊

@Rudy60426 3 жыл бұрын

A Awesome video , i enjoyed it Matt .

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated Rudy! Glad you enjoyed it!

@Rudy60426 3 жыл бұрын

allaways Matt , keep going and have a great weekend

@amnaturephotography 3 жыл бұрын

Nicely done Matt, not so sure about the wildlife hipster skinny jeans vibes 😂

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Adam! The jeans will be staying though the hipster vibes were unintentional 😂

@samhorne3948 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely fantastic video Matt! I've never seen a vole and I've been going to the WWT Arundel for years but thier population was a lot better I think when you volunteered there. Loved the footage and commitment! Great job Matt 👌

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sam! Yeah if you go there first thing in spring and head to the boardwalk then you will get some sightings 😁👍

@jimflinn8305 3 жыл бұрын

Nice one Matt. Admire your determination and patience

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Jim! Glad you liked it!

@michaelgould2804 3 жыл бұрын

Great one, Matt; especially liked the bees and the underwater sequences. 👌🏻👌🏻 (p.s. I note that you’ve abandoned the Amish look. 😏)

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Mike! The underwater bit was all filmed by Jack. Cracking footage for sure. And yes. I was only keeping it for continuity 😂.

@BuscandoFauna 3 жыл бұрын

Friend, what an impressive video. You told us in a perfect way how was your adventure in the search to be able to photograph a field mouse. Cost but you did it friend, an incredible record. I send you a huge hug from Argentina and I hope you continue to do so by bringing us these videos full of nature that are sorely lacking on this platform. Good weekend.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the lovely message! I will of course continue to try and make videos you all enjoy! Lots more to come! :)

@noelhewitt7434 3 жыл бұрын

Can't wait.. 👍

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Noel! Hope you like it 😁

@burstongreye7090 3 жыл бұрын

Awesomeness as usual and your hat is Gold ,😄 pun intended ..

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Yes mate! Loving the love for the hat! 😁

@SimonWattsWILDPresentationsUK 3 жыл бұрын

1:11 & 13:49 - tracking of the bee and walk-thro of vole (through narrow focal field and eye sparkle). My personal little bits of bliss Matt. All of it was brilliant though, fab edit throughout. Back to the downtime between MG uploads ;) Si.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Aw thanks Simon that's big praise, really glad you enjoyed it! The bee tracking is almost there but I feel there is still plenty to practice 😁. Hahhah yep, working on reducing the downtime 😅

@AndyGustavsson 3 жыл бұрын

superb intro of the bee in the grass, talking about stepping up the quality! love the shot shot you got of the vole, super crisp and they are quite cute aren´t they? Hoping for a new vid soon, Cheers!

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Andy really appreciate all the positive feedback. Gotta keep pushing for that quality 😁. And hopefully there will be one with you soon 😁

@AndyGustavsson 3 жыл бұрын

@@MattGouldphotography that would be something 😊🙏

@sunroameroverland 3 жыл бұрын

Matt I had the same issue with my tripod, so i took a saw to the center column.. all fixed now!!

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Bradley, yeah I thought about doing that but I really like how the column can come out horizontal for macro photography. I guess I just can't have the best of both worlds :D

@phillcourt4105 3 жыл бұрын

Your theory of not seeing water voles matches up well with my experience too, basically never see them when it's windy but I also find they don't seem to like it when it's flat clam either, I'm guessing because if it's too still any movement them make highlights their location to predators.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Fussy little things really, I agree though, they need at least a touch of wind in order to be the most active

@paulm8157 3 жыл бұрын

Persistence paid off. Well captured. Appreciate your candor in posting the “almost” effort. Impressive deer photo. Cool hat, too. To keep noise down that might disturb vole, do you use electronic shutter?

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

High Paul, thanks for the comment. Yeah noise is an issue with Water Voles for sure. But I use a DSLR so have no electronic shutter option at the moment. For now the pro's outweigh the cons for me so happy to stick with it. Thank you for dropping by and watching :)

@azzamur 3 жыл бұрын

Good video.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it :)

@prestons3400 3 жыл бұрын

Great video

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Preston :)

@simonjpierce 3 жыл бұрын

Great video Matt!

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Simon! Glad you enjoyed it, still waiting on getting myself that fisheye though :D

@simonjpierce 3 жыл бұрын

@@MattGouldphotography Ha - I think I want the Laowa! (Like, for realisies...)

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

@@simonjpierce Ha, so do I to be fair, but I wasn't allowed a go with it... understandably to be fair :D

@benpulletz 3 жыл бұрын

Great video Matt . Your 27, your older than I thought! I met guy other day called Harry Yates think you might know him really nice guy. I would love to do some filming with you guys ! Thanks Ben .

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Hahhaha 27 in November 😁. Yeah Harry is a lovely guy 😊. I haven't really filmed with him yet though. Do you know him well?

@benpulletz 3 жыл бұрын

Matt Gould happy birthday for then. No only met him other day but was chatting him for long time . Then we talked about photograhers that I know and mentioned you cause I said I watch your videos . But Yh need to get car first but driving is expensive! But when I do we should film !

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

@@benpulletz ahhh I see, yeah he's a lovely guy. And sure thing 👍

@SimonWattsWILDPresentationsUK 3 жыл бұрын

Just apple baited a trail-cam for WV's at my local Warwickshire 'hot-spot'. Canal traffic and dog walkers made it my only opportunity with the high foliage and season. Came up trumps though - in a 'best I can do in post with trail-cam footage' kind of way ;) Really looking forward to it Matt. Si.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Ah brilliant! Yeah there are a few camera trap ideas I have for it. Glad you got some success 😊👍. Hope you enjoy the video

@stevesvids 3 жыл бұрын

Thumbs up already... 👍😀

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Ha, great to see Steve, hope you enjoy it :)

@stevesvids 3 жыл бұрын

@@MattGouldphotography are you kidding me... they're always amazing. I've seen a Vole once before in a Cotswold stream. I think he was very used to people being about... given the location. Reminder is set.... the wait is killing me. 😄👍

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

@@stevesvids ah great to hear Steve, glad you like them. Yeah they are pretty tough to see, they are so well hidden. Glad you've seen one before though 😊

@adamsmith6594 3 жыл бұрын

@@MattGouldphotography is this a collaboration with Ben Fitzcosta, Matt. He literally has a watervole vid in the pipeline but has yet to announce it. If not .... we get a double whammy 😃

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

@@adamsmith6594 Hi Adam, nope, completely unrelated 😁. Double wammy coming right up 😁

@cerealkiller4248 3 жыл бұрын

I haven't seen a water vole since the early 80's when I startled one at a local brook. Was this at Ham Wall since you're in Bristol ?? Was hoping to visit there next week, but can't find a holiday cottage in the Somerset/Exmoor area for love nor money 🥺. May do a day trip, as I'm almost directly across the Channel, and it's an amazing place for Hobby sightings. Another good video buddy 👍

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Ahhhh that's a shame it's been so long. Populations are on the rise though from what I hear so hopefully you won't have to wait much longer to see one. And no it wasn't though I have a vague memory of someone saying they had seen them there. But that is by no means solid info 😂. Good luck with your trip if you manage to find a place 😊

@choccyfrolick 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video, loved it. Can you identify the orange insect with 4 wings at the beginning of your video?? I am certain I saw one in a friends garden today, and have no idea what it is.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Hiya! Yeah its a Soldier beetle. I may look into putting identifications in videos in the future. These particular beetles are everywhere at this time of year it seems so it's highly likely :). Thank you for watching!

@choccyfrolick 3 жыл бұрын

@@MattGouldphotography Thanks for the identification. Yesterday was the first time I have ever noticed a soldier beetle, and so I was amazed to see one on your video the same evening!

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

A brilliant coincidence 😁. You won't be able to stop seeing them now 😉. Grassland are where you will see the most. Thank you again for watching 😊

@stephanandersen7643 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video, sometimes when i cant get low enough i use my camera backpack as a beanbag, it works fine.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Stephen, glad you enjoyed the video. And yeah me too, i tend to run into trouble with that if I am looking at a large field of view, turning large amounts on a bag with a long focal length I find to be a bit tricky in terms of noise, movement or stability in general. But I completely agree it's a great cheap way to get a stable shot if the animal is playing ball :D. Thank you for watching!

@doghouseriley4732 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, keep it going. Maybe a new tripod?.......

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Ha, thank you Riley! Nahhhh this is an old workhorse, I plan to keep it going as long as I can (there may or may not be a large amount of denial about its condition involved in that statement)

@Distinctly.Average 3 жыл бұрын

Your tripod can go low to the ground. Either buy the extra short centre column, or you can set the current centre column so it pops out and goes horizontal. Set like that the tripod will go flat to the ground. You do have to double head (put a ball head on and attach your gimbal to that) but it works well.

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Good points Phil, but I will loose stability with the double head and it's more weight. I actually like the long central collum for macro when extended horizontal so I will stick with it for now but thank you for the advice 😊

@Distinctly.Average 3 жыл бұрын

Matt Gould Me too, I like the long column for the same reason.

@dust1415 3 жыл бұрын

saw my first one at Arundel Wetland at Lapwing hide only got two photos

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Nice! That's a great spot 😊

@davidcannon1148 3 жыл бұрын

Which reserve was it Matt

@MattGouldphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Hiya David, I am really sorry but I tend not to put the names of places I visit on here, just to avoid sites being impacted by too many people (especially very small ones like this). Sorry if this seems a bit over the top, but thankfully populations seem to be on the rise last I heard so they should become easier and easier to find with any luck. Thank you for watching!