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 high quality lenses due to relative affordability.

In this episode I dive into everything that makes up this category of lens, including zoom range and ideal focal lengths, aperture ratings, overall quality, focus motor, image stabilization, and even prime lenses and ultrawides.

If you're thinking about upgrading or simply wanting to know more about the abilities and flexibility you have with your wide angle lens, this is a packed episode full of photography goodness.

My top pick for a wide angle lens: 24-105mm f/4
Canon
Nikon
Sony

Other considerations
Canon 24-70 f/2.8
Sony 24-70 f/2.8
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8

Rokinon Page
Canon Page

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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, following the light, and his intuitive way to edit photos using mostly gradients and brushes.  And we get some fantastic ideas and techniques for the best bear photography!

Again, this episode is chock full of amazing photography advice, thoughts and inspiration.  Give it a listen and come away with some new tools and techniques for really mastering the art of wildlife photography from someone who has embraced the digital age and is absolutely crushing it.

Show Notes and Where to Find Arthur:

Arthur's Instagram Handle: @arthurlefo

Arthur's Personal Website: www.arthurlefo.com

Arthur's Company: Think Wild

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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 future.  I talk a good bit about shutter speed, but also explain how ISO, aperture, focusing mechanisms and even lens quality can play a major role.

This is a big one, but oh so worth the listen--it may be a total game-changer for your wildlife photography.

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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 when picking out a lens for wildlife photography, including max telephoto length, range, build quality, image quality, and aperture. I specifically go over the pros and cons of different features and which ones are the most important and dealing with various conditions for wildlife photography.

Canon 100-500mm
Tamron 150-600mm
Nikon 200-500mm
Canon Super Telephoto 300mm f/2.8

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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 hour.

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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 photos during your bear photography adventure.  While most of my examples speak about Brown Bears, you'll quickly realize that these tips are very generalizable for all bear photography, be it Polar Bears, Black Bears, or any of the 8 species of bears found around the world.

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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-to-have, and can-do-without.

Although I call out specific brands and models, this definitely isn't meant to be salesy at all.  It's really just a way for you to understand the what and why behind my lifelong quest to assemble the perfect nature, wildlife and landscape photography setup and all the gear that comes with it.

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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 Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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, discussing the merits and specifics of East Africa and Southern Africa photo safaris, getting down to the country level.

And finally, we discuss what a typical day looks like on the best African safaris to help you plan and prep for your extraordinary photo adventure.

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

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 these perfect (and easy) settings to capture the best photos each and every time.

Court's Websites

• Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
• Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
• View Court's personal and recommended camera gear

Sponsors and Promo Codes:

• MBP.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
• ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design.
• BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25)
• ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
• Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version
• LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off