The Wild Photographer

When you see a professional landscape photo, usually in a gallery, a magazine cover or photobook, there is just something different...it's jumps out to you as "pro level." In today's episode, I do a deep dive into how you can achieve this same look and vibe in your own photography.  Spoiler alert, there is no shortcut.  But, I do have a roadmap. It involves a lot of the "c...

Today we're talking with Rich--a phenomenal photographer, African safari guide, and just great person all-around.  Having had a long, yet still ascending guiding career, he's got a lot of sage advice for seasoned photographers and budding photographers alike. We go over a lot, and there is so much to take away from this conversation.  We get some excellent thoughts on storytelling in pho...

The wide angle lens is a thing of beauty--it's probably the most crucial piece of any photographer's gear bag.  They're a must for landscape photography, but also really excellent at travel and cultural photography, and even wildlife photography if you get the right one.  Plus, they give you a lot of bang for your buck and are often a beginner photographer's first entry into hi...

This episode is full of so many gems!  Today I talk with Arthur Lefo, an extraordinary wildlife photographer out of Denver (and Jackson Hole) whose meteoric rise with photography has been nothing short of inspirational. In this episode, we talk a lot about his strategy, thoughts, and workflow when setting up, taking the photo, and processing the result.  We talk about positioning with wildlife, fo...

It's shocking, demoralizing and just wrong...you nail the shot but then you go back later and look at your "prized" photos and they all have a slight blur to them.  Or worse, they're  really blurry! Either way, I have the explanation and solution for you.  It this episode, I do a deep dive into all the reasons this happens, and specific guidance on how to avoid this in the futu...

Zoom Telephoto lenses are the workhorses of wildlife photography. However, there are many attributes that differ between each "class" of zoom telephoto. Whether you're deciding which telephoto to bring on your next trip or are just wanting to know what to look for in your next purchase, this covers it all. In this episode, we dive into the various components that you should consider...

The blue hour is a fantastic time of day for creating unique scenes out of the ordinary.  That time just after sunset and prior to pure darkness has a special hue to the sky.  Not only is it great to photograph during this time of day, but it's a logical "transition" from sunset photography. Listen for a full digest on how to set up and capture brilliant photography during the blue...

Bear photography is one of the most spectacular forms of wildlife photography on planet earth.  It's also one of the most popular, with summertime Brown Bear photography in places like Alaska and Yellowstone National Park being a yearly ritual for many wildlife photographers. In this episode, I dive into the many strategies and pro tips for bear photography to ensure you get the absolute best...

In this episode I go through all of my camera gear discussing what I have and why I have each piece, whether its a lens, a tripod, an accessory, etc. I've always found this to be a super useful tool in broadening ones horizons with photography and learning from others.  In addition to the things I do have, I mention certain things I do not in order to break out what I view as essential, nice-...

When you're a traveling nature photographer, having a great camera bag is a must.  In this snapshot episode I talk about the components of a great camera bag and give recommendations for my favorite styles for each type of photo adventure. Court's Websites Check out my  photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for my photo and conservation  blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow me...

Extraordinary wildlife, stunning scenery, and a travel vibe that is just plain awesome--African safaris are the best !   Today we dive deep into all things African safari photography including gear advice, trip planning advice, as well as specific photo strategies for wildlife, sunrise, blue hour, and landscape photography (and more) in Africa. I continue with a detailed overview of safari regions...

Today's digital cameras have SO many settings and modes!  This can be overwhelming, but it's actually a good thing once you understand the perfect settings for your photography.  In this episode you'll hear my go-to settings for every time I'm out in our wild world taking wildlife and landscape photos.  If you match my settings I have no doubt you can master your camera and use...

When we see a pro photographer's wildlife portraiture, there is just something special about its look.  It just "looks so professional."  Want to know how this is consistently possible? In this episode, we dive into how pro photographers use their tools and techniques to their advantage to get amazing portraiture of animals and emphasize that sensational contrast of blurred backgrou...

Photography certainly has its fair share of fancy terms and complicated menu systems. This is even more true in this digital age.  However, bracketing is actually one of the more ancestral options within a camera menu, with roots stretching firmly back to film days. Do you need bracketing?  What is it?  Tune in to learn all about it, the various applications, how to use it, and what are the best s...

It's one of the more frequent opportunities we have as nature photographers...to capture an awesome sunset or sunrise.  However, there is a big difference between just documenting it and capturing something extraordinary.  And for those times where these solar displays are just mind-blowing, we tend to get lost in the moment and forget the artistry involved. I've honed these techniques a...

If you are ready to take the leap and move away from using the full auto setting on your camera, I commend you.  And you will be happy you did so, because your photos, and your general creativity, will shine!  In this episode I walk you through the various "next steps" if you are ready to move toward greater creative control.  The best part of this is that you do NOT have to immediately...

Gosh I wish this existed when I was learning photography!  Today I go over 10 different "photo jargon" terms that will help you understand photography better.  This isn't only designed to help you talk the talk, but also to help you better learn from tutorials, photo guides, and fellow photographers that might use these terms around you.  This one is straight to the point--learning...

Drew is on an endless quest to photograph the world's "charismatic megafauna," as he calls it.  But while his portfolio is filled with some of the best bear photography we've ever seen...sparring polar bears in the Canadian Arctic and brown (grizzly) bears fishing for salmon in Alaska are just a couple examples, it doesn't always come easy. Today we host the great Drew Ham...

Composition is king.  It is absolutely critical that your final photo (after editing and whatnot) has great composition or else it's a big miss.  It will miss the opportunity to make a powerful first imrpression--the WOW factor--and also miss on the lasting power of great art. Fortunately, composition is something that can be mastered both in-camera as well as when processing and editing your...

Our first interview is with none other than the Colby Brokvist.  He wears a lot of hats, including premier Expedition Leader in polar regions of the world, conservation biologist, all around outdoorsman and backcountry aficionado.  But what he quickly says what he identifies with perhaps what he enjoys most is being a Travel Photographer . Tune in here and get a glimpse into the brain of one of th...

There's nothing bigger, more exciting, or more monumental than a photo safari to Africa.  Get the low down from Court on key pieces of gear that you may or may not be thinking of to ensure it's the photographic adventure of a lifetime. Court's Websites Check out my  photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for my photo and conservation  blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow m...

Wildlife photography is my jam!  It's one of the most exciting kinds of photography out there. Just being amongst the world's greatest animals is thrilling...capturing them in the camera for a lifetime of memories is even better. As we all strive toward better photos, understanding your camera settings for each type of photography is becoming more and more important. I've distilled...

This is the essence of photography--the balance between aperture and shutter speed. This episode does a deep dive into not only this relationship, but examples of when you want to prioritize big vs. small apertures and long vs. short shutter speeds. In addition, Court explains where and how ISO plays a part, plus recommendations for your camera settings if you shoot on aperture or shutter speed pr...

There are so many species of animals that spend their days in the trees. Good for them, but this can make photographing them VERY challenging. The difficulty comes in when the animal is high above you, forcing you to photograph against a backlit sky. How are you going to fix this? Are you going to NOT photograph that lemur? No! Follow this tips and techniques for getting the shot even in these cha...

Smartphones can give us mixed feelings at times, but one thing is for sure...they've given us the ability to always have a camera with us for any moment and any scene.  I always say that the best camera in the world is the one you have with you , and therefore smartphones are game-changing. While traditional photography rules still apply, these little cameras present novel, creative opportuni...