Sonia Rampling

New video in the edit! In the meantime - let's talk 'higher ISO'.

We all want the best quality shot possible, and traditionally that meant not shooting with a higher ISO - or that dreaded grain would creep in 😖

These days, we have amazing tools at our fingertips ...

But there's still limits! Dial up the ISO any-old-how and rev up the denoise to compensate, and it's likely you'll run into 'PBS' - Plastic Bird Syndrome 😛

With attention to a few small details, you can still get a great result without a grain or plastic bird in sight!

Here's my tips for getting the most out of High ISO shooting:
www.flyingparrot.au/post/high-iso-bird-photography…

20 hours ago | [YT] | 12

Sonia Rampling

I'm curious - which shooting mode do you use the most for bird photography?

6 days ago | [YT] | 2

Sonia Rampling

Context and story-telling are subtle little tricks you can have up your sleeve to elevate your bird photography.

It doesn't have to be complicated - just look out for opportunities to include a little more into your photo that's relevant to the subject.

Don't include elements that are just adding more clutter, look for something that tells the viewer more about the subject.

Quick example - lone Purple Swamp Hen - sharp and with nice eye contact - but your eye quickly skims over the scene. There's not much to take in and the pose is lacklustre.

Buy throw in the group dynamic and the viewer has reason to linger over the scene, taking in those subtle little details that tell us more about the subject and habitat.

I watched and waited for the birds to line up vertically, adding some nice layers and depth before I took the shot.

Just a few seconds apart - but makes for a much more dynamic photo.

Timing can make all the difference, so keep watching and waiting - and choose your moment for that next level shot.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 0

Sonia Rampling

New video flying out tomorrow!! Hooray!!

Thank you so much for sticking with me through this tumultuous interstate relocation, it is greatly appreciated. It took a lot more out of me than I care to admit - and lots of work ahead renovating the new home and neglected garden - and making it more bird friendly of course!

The good news is I've had plenty of time to think about new video ideas while crunching through mundane moving, cleaning and renovation tasks ... I'm fully inspired to create again and loving my studio - although I have to move it into another space to accommodate my local flock ... but that's another story 😂 ❤️

See you Friday night! 🦜

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 34

Sonia Rampling

Hello! I'm finally emerging from the land of cardboard boxes! Geez, I have to say ... I vastly underestimated how big a job it is moving interstate after 27 years in the one house, and 34 years in the one town 😛

Needless to say, my intention of continuing with video's was laughable under the weight of sorting, moving and unpacking a lifetime's worth of stuff.

And then, the new house was left in a neglected state - not to mention all the unfinished jobs left by the owner-builders. About 8 months of work ahead to get it up to scratch. At times, I did question why I just didn't buy a shiny new house in the estate 😄

Anyhoo, the new studio is freshly painted, and boxes delegated to the recycling bin, so it's time to get back to doing what I love - in between renovation and garden projects!

That unfinished video from 12 weeks ago is still lurking in my editor, so it's time to buy myself a new office chair and roll up the sleeves.

A huge thank you to the kind folk who messaged me wondering if I was ever coming back ... so appreciated 🙏

I have been working with a wonderful group in my mentorship for the last few months - we've been discussing working on a photography project, so I thought I'd knock up a blog post about it, for some light reading until the video is ready:
www.flyingparrot.au/post/the-value-of-a-project-sh…

1 month ago | [YT] | 51

Sonia Rampling

*CHANNEL UPDATE* Hello my birding friends! As some of you know I'm in the midst of relocating to East Gippsland after selling my Pambula property.

Unfortunately I've not managed to find a new home (not one that I like anyway...) so I'm currently moving all my belongings into a storage facility and heading to Mallacoota early June for a couple of months, with my 3 parrots in tow!

Going to wait patiently for that right property with a nice outlook, some studio space and a garden filled with birds. In the meantime it's boxes of chaos piled high haha!

Looking at doing a social meet-up in Mallacoota - if not a full tour - so if you're in the vicinity keep that in mind ... jump onto my mailing list for the next official update.
www.flyingparrot.au/subscribe

I do have a new video in the pipeline, hoping to get that one out over the weekend, it's about a sometimes-neglected setting that deserves a little attention every now and then.

Thanks for your patience, I hope you stick with me over this somewhat rocky transition, I look forward to seeing you soon xx S

4 months ago | [YT] | 81

Sonia Rampling

One of my mentorship students was asking what to do about heat haze, so I thought I'd share some tips of what you can - and can't - do about annoying heat haze, along with my work-around to help you come home with a shot, even in challenging conditions. www.flyingparrot.au/post/heat-haze-and-bird-photog…

5 months ago | [YT] | 34

Sonia Rampling

Oh geez I'm failing somewhat as a YouTuber - it's been all kinds of crazy since getting back from my trip to Indonesia. Sold the house on my return and tomorrow I'm heading interstate to look for a new place to live, and after 27 years under the one roof, it's exciting and kind of terrifying at the same time!

Needless to say, amidst packing, figuring out what the heck is in all those cupboards downstairs, real estate browsing, removalists, conveyancers, storage facilities and wondering if it's possible to live in a van with 3 parrots for 2 months, poor old channel is a little neglected!

Bear with me while I navigate this big shift and find a nice new studio space to work from! I do have a new video in the pipeline which I will finish eventually ... and a backlog of birding adventures to share with you too.

XX S

PS: Did I tell you I'm heading to Japan for a 'bucket list' birding trip with John ‪@MaddoxphotographyNZ‬ Maybe you should come along!
Read more here: www.flyingparrot.au/japan-tour-2027

5 months ago | [YT] | 45

Sonia Rampling

I had the absolute pleasure of spending some time with ‪@RogersBirdingHotspots‬ when he visited the Sapphire Coast recently. Of course we went looking for the Ground Parrot … 🦜 😅

5 months ago | [YT] | 5

Sonia Rampling

Greetings from Pekutatan, Bali! Having a lovely time in the tropics but home in a few days and looking forward to getting back to my channel - I have lots of insights to share and some new tutorials in the pipeline.

Plus a couple of birding adventures to show you what I found birding in Indonesia, which was not without its share of challenges! No guides or tours this time, just roving around on scooter and foot, into local plantations and empty lots, to see what I could see.

I look forward to catching up with you all soon!

White-headed Munia, a fairly common but delightful, small finch.

6 months ago | [YT] | 60