Abandoning My iPhone Snobbery To Film Canada Geese
- Stuart F. James
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Viewing photographs online often reveals images from exotic locations featuring unique wildlife. These pictures ignite our imagination, taking us to various parts of the world filled with remarkable sights and experiences. Yet, at times, these extraordinary sights and experiences can be discovered right in our own backyard. Welcome to the wild world of suburban wildlife.
At times, the simplest aspects of life can bring us immense happiness. Suburban wildlife varies from the mundane to the remarkable. There are numerous animals, insects, and birds that are quite familiar. We often encounter sparrows, bluebirds, blue jays, robins, bees, and many other creatures that we might not notice. Yet, if you observe more closely, you'll discover some incredible things right in your neighborhood.
Consider Canada geese as an example. These geese flourish in suburban environments. As demonstrated in the video in this post, whether they are by a bustling roadside or on a sizable pond, Canada geese are a frequent sight in many areas.
It's frequently the ordinary that uncovers the extraordinary. By observing what we typically anticipate, we discover great entertainment. These instances are easily captured in photos and videos.
This post features a video of two Canada geese situated beside a bustling highway in Tennessee. Despite the heavy traffic, these geese remain undisturbed and harmoniously blend into their environment. It illustrates the delightful presence of suburban wildlife.
These two geese were filmed with an iPhone camera.
In today's tech-driven world, anyone can capture a video or photo with their smartphone. I observed Canada geese near a busy highway, just beyond my backyard, close to a retaining pond. Although I didn't have my Sony camera, I did have my iPhone 17 Pro Max. I decided to use the iPhone 17 Pro Max to film the two geese. The video was recorded in 4K at 60 frames per second, with no adjustments to exposure, frame rate, or 4K settings. I wanted to see what I could capture. Additionally, I filmed the geese handheld to test the iPhone's stability.
At times, I feel like I'm a smartphone snob, viewing it as an annoying piece of technology, especially when people lift their phones high, obstructing others' views, or snap pictures indiscriminately. Yet, this experience showed me that this technology can enable anyone to capture interesting or enjoyable moments, such as these two geese preparing to take off.
The iPhone performed well, and its stability during handheld filming is impressive.
Using smartphone technology to take videos or photos teaches us that we can capture moments in time, wildlife, people, places, and events with a camera that's always at hand. We can create meaningful memories directly from our pockets.
I used Final Cut Pro on a Mac Studio to edit this video. I left the exposure and stability untouched. Beginning with the raw footage, I processed it to feature some still photography I had previously taken of the beautiful Canada geese.
The still images were taken with a Sony A7R V camera paired with a Sony E-Mount 200–600 mm lens. Photographing the geese was a delightful experience. My passion for observing suburban wildlife motivated me to take these photos. I think that by closely observing wildlife and its movements, one can capture remarkable moments that showcase its details, beauty, and expressions through digital photography. Recording the geese with an iPhone video inspired me to merge photos taken with a Sony camera with smartphone videos, creating a unique blend.
I used my iPhone to shoot a video "straight from my pocket." With no modifications or professional smartphone gear, the iPhone recorded a pleasant video, capturing joyful moments. Furthermore, while editing the video, I considered incorporating still photography to emphasize the geese's natural beauty.
I think the takeaway is that, whether you're using a smartphone or other gear, you should seize opportunities whenever possible. Aim to think creatively and challenge yourself by utilizing a range of tools.
I am not a professional videographer at all. I created this video just for fun to explore my capabilities, filming the geese with my smartphone. It gave me the opportunity to think creatively, merging videography with still photography.
The world is brimming with marvels. Take every chance to explore them. I intend to delve deeper into the iPhone's features to capture every moment possible using my Sony and my smartphone.
Stuart F. James
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