Wildlife and Adventure Photography

Send us Fan Mail If you’re listening to this podcast, it’s probably safe for me to assume that you want to take great wildlife photographs. So what are the things you need to think about? I’ve tried to run through an almost step-by-step guide based on my own recent experience of photographing wildlife in Zimbabwe, Australia and Finland. Camera: Take the body and lens (possibly plural) that most su...

Send us Fan Mail Kara Sheldon is the ecologist and one of the directors of the Southern Africa Field Conservation Project. SAFCP was formed following the participation of the directors in a local conservation project largely run by Dean and Justine McGregor. I joined it as a ‘guinea pig’ for the first run of a conservation programme that they hope with contribute significantly to local conservatio...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s podcast, I talk to professional guide, Dean McGregor. Dean has a vast knowledge of the flora and fauna of his native Zimbabwe. I first met him in early 2020 and spent as much time as I could learning from him. In this podcast, I talk to Dean about what got him interested in becoming a professional guide, how he goes about guiding clients and what you should expect as a...

Send us Fan Mail A few podcasts ago I spoke about what to think about when buying a camera. However, most of us carry around a smartphone and some of these cameras can outperform pro cameras. So here are some tips to help you to get the most from your smartphone: Keep your lenses clean! When you have your subject where you want it, tap on the subject on the smartphone screen. That tells the camera...

Send us Fan Mail Night photography can be incredibly rewarding, and it's a great way to improve your general photographic skills. So what do you need to think about? Equipment: A DSLR or Mirrorless camera with manual mode. A fast lens A tripod A Remote Shutter Release Extra batteries for cold conditions Camera settings: Use the widest aperture you can Experiment with shutter speed Experiment...

Send us Fan Mail I've spoken about style and creativity in recent podcasts and I realise that some people don't think of themselves as creative and feel they don't have a style at all.  So, my suggestion to you is that you accept that you are creative (possibly not the most creative person you know, but it's there all the same) and that you give yourself permission to try some...

Send us Fan Mail Choosing your next, or possibly first, camera is a big decision. You might have some experience of photography, through either a camera system or your smartphone, or you might be completely new to it. Here are some key considerations: Budget - this will be a big factor for most of us. It will also depend upon your commitment; are you serious about photography, or just trying it ou...

Send us Fan Mail Creating blurry photographs is not necessarily at the top of things you want to achieve during a shoot. However, as with other 'problem' areas, understanding what causes blur can open up a whole range of creative options, and that is the focus of this podcast. The type of blur you have can usually be reduced to one of the following causes: Motion blur: Where either the s...

Send us Fan Mail Do you have a style? Have you even thought about it? Whether we know it or not, we all have a photographic style, and, the chances are that the style you have today is not the same as it was when you started. So, does it really matter?  If you want to develop a particular style, there's a lot of inspiration out there. One of the popular trends at the moment is to shoot photog...

Send us Fan Mail These are some of the most common issues faces many photographers... and what you can do about them: Gear Obsession Lack of Clear Vision Inconsistent Quality Overediting Difficulty Building a Portfolio Fear of Criticism Time Management Financial Challenges Comparisons and Imposter Syndrome  I hope you enjoy the podcast! It's time for another podcast... Thank you for listening. Ple...

Send us Fan Mail What are the most important things to focus on when you are planning a wildlife photography shoot? Here are my suggestions: Research - The better you know your subject, the better the chances that you can create stunning images that create a strong emotional connection with the viewer. Local Guides and Safety - You want to have the best possible experience. Good local guides will...

Send us Fan Mail We love stories. So, if you use a storytelling approach to your photography, you are more likely to create images and sequences of images that engage viewers. There are two aspects to storytelling; the story of each image itself (and I’ve spoken about this in other podcasts), and the story that ties together a sequence of images. A good way to approach this is to think of each sta...

Send us Fan Mail If you've never tried black-and-white photography before, I recommend it as a great way to broaden your creativity. We are used to seeing things in colour, so black and white photography lets us see things differently, perhaps seeing aspects of things around us that we've never appreciated before. These are the things to be conscious of when shooting in black and white:...

Send us Fan Mail I’m a big believer in ‘ethical photography’. I believe that, as photographers, we are in a great position to record what is happening in our environment and share our stories with others. One of the aspects of photojournalism is to be able to objectively record what is happening and provide a visual record of events.  If conservation is important to you and you want to minimise yo...

Send us Fan Mail What is an event? For the purposes of this podcast, I'm assuming that you are not a professional event photographer. It may be that you have a nice camera and that, in the eyes of your friends, means that you can photograph anything! So, what do you need to think about? In this podcast, I'll talk about: The kinds of cameras to use, lenses and other accessories How to go...

Send us Fan Mail Using Aperture and Shutter Speed modes (however they are identified in your camera) is the best way to indulge your creativity while getting the camera to do a lot of the ‘heavy lifting’ for you. Your choices are Aperture Priority (where Depth of Field is the dominant creative element) and Shutter Speed Priority (where it’s all about movement). But which is best? In this podcast,...

Send us Fan Mail Wildlife photography is one of the most rewarding styles of photography and it has some unique challenges. Before you rush out with your camera to shoot wildlife, there are a few things to consider. I'll cover a few in this podcast: Your subjects are wild and you may not even find them They will often be far away Things can happen quickly, so you must always be ready You will...

Send us Fan Mail Do you use post-processing in your digital photography? For me, post processing is the third step in successful photography (after visualising the final image and taking it). Post-processing can be used to correct errors, change the framing and emphasis of an image and turn an average photograph into something outstanding! Here are seven reasons to use post-processing... If you li...

Send us Fan Mail What’s the one mistake most portrait photographers don’t realize they’re making—and how could fixing it instantly elevate your shots? The most important thing you can do is to connect with your subject(s). Be a person to them before you are a photographer. Ask them about their previous experiences. Find out what is most important to them and what the shoot is for. Be aware of the...

Send us Fan Mail Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Suyash Keshari. Suyash Keshari is an International TV Presenter, Filmmaker, and Wildlife Conservationist. He’s globally recognized for his innovative work in virtual safaris, documentaries, and specializing in high-end guided safaris across India and Africa. He is also the founder of Ameliya Safaris - a brand that specializes in blending l...

Send us Fan Mail If you like shooting landscapes, I've a few suggestions to help you to create images with more impact, and provide you with a more enjoyable experience into the bargain: 1. Plan Ahead 2. Use the Right Equipment 3. Master Camera Settings 4. Compose Thoughtfully 5. Optimize Lighting 6. Use the Right Perspective 7. Incorporate Motion 8. Understand and Control Exposure 9. Post-Pr...

Send us Fan Mail Whether you're planning a commercial shoot for a client, or you're getting ready to travel to photograph wildlife, there are certain steps you should follow. Spending a little extra time at the planning stage can make the shoot itself go much more smoothly. Shane and Graham talk through some of the steps they've used to prepare for their different styles of photogra...

Send us Fan Mail If you've ever taken a photograph, only to find that it's not quite what you had envisages, you may have been making one (or more) of these common mistakes. We'll go through them one by one, and here's the list: Poor composition Incorrect exposure Focus errors Overediting Using the wrong lens Poor lighting Shooting in auto mode Not checking settings Overlooking...

Send us Fan Mail Whether you photograph sports or not, I find it useful to step back from my usual subjects and look at other styles of photography. You never know what ideas you might get! Shooting great sports photographs requires quick reflexes, technical know-how, and the ability to anticipate the action. In this podcast, I’ll talk through the secrets to capturing compelling sports images: Kno...

Send us Fan Mail Great travel photography captures the essence of a place, its culture, landscapes, and people. Here are the secrets to achieving stunning travel photographs: Research Your Destination Travel Light Master Lighting Plan for Composition Capture the Local Culture Tell a Story Include Human Elements Experiment with Perspective Use the Right Settings Embrace Spontaneity Respect Local Cu...