Nature Photography Secrets

We have come to one of those times in life where it is no longer workable for us to continue this podcast.  We deeply appreciate your support and presence with us throughout this journey.

We hope that everything you heard gave you the skills to take world class images.  Please keep sharing your work so we can keep people caring about the planet.

This is a thank you and final farewell.

In this episode, Lou and Julie share stories of everyday mistakes they have both made and watch clients repeatedly make.  Learn what they do to overcome repeating those mistakes.

Listen in to discover the secret to staying photography fit and what to do each time you change scenes and subject matter. When you understand in advance what to look out for, you will get better photos every shoot.

Use these easy steps to avoid clipping tails, wings and hooves.  Learn how to play with features on your camera you thought you would never use but might need in a pinch.

Lou and Julie teach you how to think about the use of focus points for different scenarios and how to prep yourself before you take a trip.

In a few easy steps they share how to master manual focus in low contrast situations.  This episode is full of masterful tricks that will take you farther.

In this lively episode, Lou and Julie talk to award winning nature photographer and influencer, Chase Dekker.  Chase has an impressive resume including multiple assignments with Nat Geo.  He studied as a naturalist and discovered his love for the camera.

Chase shares his best practices and tips for always getting the shot in the heat of the action.  He discusses how to recognize patterned behavior, track rapid scene changes and use it to your advantage.  

Enjoy the many stories and the varied environments Chase has shot in to learn what you can do differently to improve and add variety to the images you get.  If you are ever in Monterey, CA, come join us on a whale watch.

www.ChaseDekker.com

Join Lou and Julie for a delightful episode featuring Lou's grandson, Peter Kersey.  At 10-years old, Peter Kersey designed a science project to discover if smaller birds had faster wing beats than larger birds and he won an award!

He learned how to use a camera to stop the motion his eyes could not see.  For his research, Peter Kersey followed Lou's recipe for capturing wing detail by making sure his shutter speeds were high.

Listen in to discover what Peter Kersey learned about small bird photography and how easy it was for him to capture the research images he needed to prove his theory.  His story demonstrates how great photography is child's play.

Make sure to follow Peter Kersey's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rVaGDwUu-A

Have you ever wanted to know what the really good bird photographers know about how to get shots that stand out?  Join Lou and Julie as they welcome Mark Smith, one of the premier bird photographers in the US, to the show.  Mark is known for his incredible shots, slow motion video and tutorials on how to get the ultimate bird photo.

Mark shares his heart-warming stories of tracking bird families and how he witnessed behavior he's never seen before.  He explains his tricks and tips for creating images that stand out. How to use focus points to get more of what you want from a scene and discover how to put yourself in the right place at the right time for capturing dramatic bird action.

If you love photographing birds and want to improve your shots, Mark is the guy who will give you the answers.  This episode is loaded with laughs and lots of useful photographic information. Listen now!

Find Mark here: https://msmithphotos.com

@JulieSteelman

@LouCoetzer

Travel with us: [email protected]

Have you ever wondered how to squeeze every drop out of your time, energy and money on photography trips?  Listen in as Lou and Julie break down how to make sure your trips are filled with high photographic productivity and results you love.

Julie shares her stories of the difference it made traveling with Lou to Tanzania, India and Alaska.  Lou has a particular formula he uses wherever he goes that ensures he gets the best shots, the largest variety of action and minimize interference.  

Lou is a master nature photographer who has built his business on ensuring his clients get the most out of their trips and maximizing their photographic productivity. Traveling with Lou is different because he isn't a photographer adding travel to his business but instead has built his business on successful wildlife action photography.

Traveling with Lou is a game changer for the passionate photographer who wants to get more and you can join us on upcoming trips by visiting CNPsafariscom.com or email [email protected].

One of the great photography myths is to NEVER shoot above 400 ISO.  But Lou and Julie see it differently, given the impressive upgrades in technology.  Do you know if you camera sensor is ISO invariant?  Do you know what ISO invariance means?  

In this technical episode, Lou breaks down the DXO Mark sensor data for your camera system.  Learn what are the optimal settings for your system and how to get every drop of tech out of your camera by understanding the science.

Most people don't understand or have never heard of ISO invariance so they stay stuck shooting only at one ISO, fully ignoring the latests developments in technology and post-production software.  It's quite possible you can be pushing your ISO's so much higher to gain precious shutter speed when necessary.  But are you?

Lou and Julie see far too many photographers buying innovative high-end equipment only to keep using the same settings they did with lower quality gear.  Why?  Because most people don't understand the science behind their system and how to harness that technological power to improve their images.

Listen to this episode and never wonder again about how to get the most out of your camera, the sensor and make optimal lens choices.  Stop limiting the use of that powerful technology you hold in your hands and start improving your results today.

Have you ever wondered how well-known photographers seem to have a signature look to their images?  It's because the lens looks both ways.  What that means is how we are feeling, what we are thinking and what we are seeing all get embedded within the image.

When we are fumbling with our settings, irritated for whatever reason or feeling that sublime excitement at nature giving us an epic show, it shows up in our images.  Lou and Julie have long been on a quest to help photographers be able to capture what they see.

Understanding how the lens looks both ways will help you discover the signature look you want your photos to have.  Julie shares an uncomfortable experience she had with other photographers that impacted the quality of her photos because she let her emotions spill over.

That is why it matters to be skilled at shooting the images that reflect what you are seeing and keep your cool.  Nature tells its own stories in very profound ways and this episode is about how to get out of the way of that and take world class images that showcase your personal view.

For more info on safari's and photography mentorship, email [email protected]

In this short episode, Lou and Julie break down why having a photography mentor makes the biggest difference in being able to capture what you actually see.  How working with someone in your unique style of photography will empower you in ways you could not have imagined. 

Julie talks about her frustration and heart-break of not being able to take home images that reflected the incredible encounters she was having.  Lou and Julie talk about how their  travel relationship evolved into a mentorship program that Lou now offers exclusively.

You will understand what skills and capacities you need to hone to avoid the frustration of missed shots and instead get world class images that feel like the tell the story you experienced. This episode is full of ideas about how to take your images to the next level and what to look for in a mentor should you decide that's an option you want to pursue.

If you feel called, email [email protected] for more information.

Lou and Julie took a break to hone in on and clarify what is the big why for hosting this podcast.  In both of their respective personal journeys, they came to find they were on the same path but did not know it.

Both of them have taken a big leap forward in their own photographic journey and wanted to understand what was happening.  It became clear to both of them that diving in deeper and by hitting reset, they could offer you even more value.

Listen in as they explain they exciting things that have been transpiring behind the scenes.  Lou explains how knowing the big why makes all the difference in learning the proper skills and techniques to actually capturing what you see.

Julie dives into the mystical side of knowing the big why and how it helps you stand out in a crowded world of photographers.  In addition, discover the new focus on conservation as a safari must and how giving back can make your images better.

If you want to learn the spirit behind creating your own unique world class images, you will want to download this episode and share it with others.

Both Lou and Julie are glad to be back at it after doing some soul searching and realignment to bring you the best of what they've got. They appreciate you and would love to hear from you.  DM them both on social media @LouCoetzerSA and @JulieSteelman  You can also reach out to [email protected] to book a trip.