This is a long one today, folks, because there is a lot to say about communication and how and why it fails. And I’m going to talk about it in the context of self preservation, or, if you prefer the term, nature conservation. Now, I know it’s not fashionable nowadays, but I try not to pontificate on things I have no experience of. This, as it happens though, is one that I do, although not always with great success. Fortunately, there are lessons to be learned from failure `and I’ve had a chance to learn a lot this way over the years.

If you’re wondering what all this has to do with photography, I’d say everything, really. Photography is the world’s universal language now, the most ubiquitous way of sharing ideas and experiences. So, I think it pays for you and me, as photographers to understand how to connect with the people we want to hear us and for you to learn from some of my mistakes.

Niall and Charlotte moved from Scotland to live in France at the height of the pandemic. In the final episode of this first series you can learn about the creative challenges and opportunities such a move creates.

South Morvan Natura 2000 site.

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Written, presented and produced by Niall Benvie, Food and Photography Retreats Ltd.

Natural sounds recorded in the field by Niall Benvie

Music provided by Epidemic Sound. 

Niall asks why there is a fascination with lifeless planets while life on Earth is so gravely imperiled - and gains an insight into miracles in the process.

Earthrise photograph.

Curiosity Rover images.

Jostein Gaarder’s Maya.

Francis Fukuyama’s End of History.

Elon Musk’s wish to settle Mars.

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Written, presented and produced by Niall Benvie, Food and Photography Retreats Ltd.

Natural sounds recorded in the field by Niall Benvie

Music provided by Epidemic Sound. 

Is “fine art photography” a term bandied around to make generic photography seem more serious - or just a sales ruse. Niall probes this question and describes why most of his own work is certainly not “art” - but some might be.

Art and money laundering.

Tracey Emin’s Crucifixion.

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Written, presented and produced by Niall Benvie, Food and Photography Retreats Ltd.

Natural sounds recorded in the field by Niall Benvie

Music provided by Epidemic Sound. 

You can probably think of many, but this week, Niall describes what he sees at the two fundamentally different types of photograph that arise from a desire either to tell a story or, simply, to describe the appearance of things. It pays to know which you’re making before you release the shutter.

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Written, presented and produced by Niall Benvie, Food and Photography Retreats Ltd.

Natural sounds recorded in the field by Niall Benvie

Music provided by Epidemic Sound. 

In recent years, Niall has made a side-gig of urbex photography. But is this really any surprise for a nature photographer? This episode encourages you to re-evaluate your concept of “nature photography” and appreciate the fragility of culture.

The transcript.

A history of urban exploration.

The law and urbex.

Colour grading templates.

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Written, presented and produced by Niall Benvie, Food and Photography Retreats Ltd.

Natural sounds recorded in the field by Niall Benvie

Music provided by Epidemic Sound. 

As AI technology seeps into more and more corners of our lives, Niall makes the case for nature photography to remain real - and describes hurdles AI just can’t cross.

See Boris Eldagsen’s image.

See Mid journey-created images.

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Written, presented and produced by Niall Benvie, www.foodandphotographyretreats.com

Natural sounds recorded in the field by Niall Benvie

Music provided by Epidemic Sound. 

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