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This is episode one of eight, where we will take a deeper dive into how to take great wildlife photographs.

We’re going to start with preparation. Good preparation can make all the difference between a successful shoot and a complete disaster.

 Here are the key things you will need to consider:

Research & Planning 

• Selecting locations based on season, wildlife activity, and accessibility
• Checking local regulations and protected areas
• Understand animal behaviour for ethical photography
• Passes and documentation

 Gear & Equipment 

• Camera body, lenses (telephoto for wildlife, wide for landscapes)
• Tripods, monopods, and stabilisers
• Clothing: camo or muted colours, weather-appropriate layers
• Optional: binoculars, field guides, GPS

 Health & Safety 

• Staying hydrated, packing snacks, and a first-aid kit
• Understanding environmental risks: terrain, weather, wildlife encounters
• Letting someone know your location
• Vaccinations
• Insurance (for medical evacuations, etc.)

 Mindset & Patience 

• Be ready to shoot and to wait quietly for hours
• Mentally prepare for unpredictable wildlife
• Maintaining ethical distance and practices

 Your checklist

• Research the location and species
• Pack camera gear and backup gear where possible
• Check the weather and wear appropriate clothing
• Prepare snacks, water, and first aid
• Mental readiness

Next episode:

Next time, we’ll dive into the secrets of getting close to wildlife without disturbing them. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.

 For more information:

Check out my PDF “A Brief Guide to Wildlife Photography” for more ideas.

 Please remember to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE.

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Do you ever feel stuck, endlessly tweaking photos, searching for that 'perfect' look that seems just out of reach? You're not alone. We've all been conditioned to believe in a singular ideal of photographic perfection. But what if I told you that once you understand the truth about the 'perfect shot,' you'll not only take better photos but also find more joy in your photography? Let's discover why.

There are two photography quotes that I particularly like:

Ansel Adams: “There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.”

David Alan Harvey: “Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.”

In this podcast, I’ll talk through why I like these quotes and why being too focused on achieving the perfect shot can backfire and stop you from producing anything.

I’ll also talk you through a few exercises. The first is from my online course “Discovering DSLR and Mirrorless Photography”, where I ask you to look at an image that you regard as ‘perfect’ (or as near as, as makes no difference). And look at specific elements, such as lighting and composition. How has the photographer approached these elements, and what makes them work so well?

I also suggest that you take the ‘imperfection challenge’ (and let me know in the comments if you would like me to create a formal challenge for you):

1. Shoot out of focus
2. Breach the composition rules 
3. Deliberately use the wrong camera settings (i.e. exposure, iso, etc.)
4. Only allow yourself one-take shots (so no ‘chimping’)
5. Use the worst angles you can find.

Ironically, you’re likely to open up a door into a whole new level of creativity… and how you define your perfect shot is likely to change, too. 

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I used to use Circular Quay in Sydney quite regularly, but never noticed the little dolphins in the railing by the ferry terminal. The first part of photographing the “unseen” is to see it! And we covered that to some extent in the last podcast.

If you’ve tried the exercises from the previous podcast, you may well have found that there are a lot of details in your everyday environment that you’ve previously overlooked. And, no doubt, some of them have a beauty all of their own.

This podcast is about finding the beauty and the story in everyday scenes. Be it on your way to work or school, or anywhere else you might go regularly.

The first thing to do is to see your environment with beginner's eyes.  For one thing, it’s a great way to get to know your local environment, and I suggest that you extend that knowledge by thinking about what a tourist to your area might photograph.

Imagine you have to create a tourist brochure of your area. Which 5 photographs would create a compelling story of your area?

Practice looking for the beauty in your area. Here are 5 suggestions, but I’m sure that you can find more:

• While on your morning routine
• Taking a walk around your block
• Visiting a grocery store
• Visiting a waiting room (while being respectful of people’s privacy, of course)
• Shooting your room from different angles (try 5)

One challenge is to find 3 great compositions in your most boring room!

Reflect on how this made you feel.  

And you can share your photographs on my Facebook page: Graham Elliott Photography.

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Have you ever walked past something beautiful without even noticing it?

If you have, you’re not alone, and this is a skill that separates great photographers from the people who take snapshots.

Great photographers really look and see what is there. And it goes beyond simply seeing something. They take  it further and apply the important elements that make up a great photograph:

They’re looking at the light, perhaps how it changes, where it is coming from, lines, emotions and which compositions would bring out the most impactful image.

So does it really matter? In my opinion, it does. Because the more we can get into the habit of really seeing what is there, the more we will see when it matters, those once-in-a-lifetime experiences where the photographs are the only lasting record.

So, to build your observation muscles, I suggest you try the following exercise:

• Firstly, slow down. 
• Look for the light; notice where it falls and how it changes.
• Take a deep breath and let go of distractions. Allow yourself to be fully in the environment and then look around.

One exercise you can do right now is to simply take a look around. Notice:

• One source of light
• One colour contrast
• One emotion on a person’s face.

Another exercise is to challenge yourself to notice “5 things today” and keep working those muscles!

And you can share your photographs on my Facebook page: Graham Elliott Photography.

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I often recommend that you practice as often as possible to improve your photography. But what do you do when you hit a mental blank?

One idea I suggest in this podcast is to shoot a series of photos, or a collection. And, to make them more coherent, and to challenge yourself, I suggest you use a Creative Constraint.

So what is a Creative Constraint? Here are some examples:

Technical:

• Shoot only in black and white
• Use only one lens
• Limit yourself to manual focus (or full manual operation)
• Limit yourself to 36 exposures

Time-based:

• Shoot the same scene at the same time each day
• Only shoot for 15 minutes in one location.

Subject or theme:

• Only photograph shadows
• Only photograph one colour
• Only hands or feet

Locations:

• Inside your home
• Within 1km of your home
• Only through windows

If you would like to challenge yourself further, take the 14-day challenge.

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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 suits your needs. And think about ancillary items; storage, battery charger, mains adaptors, USB chargers, cleaning kit, tripod and tripod head. A spray cover, if you have one, can be useful where there is a lot of fine dust and in wet environments.

Clothing: Where layers where appropriate, and think about other items such as sleeping bags if you’ll be spending time outside at night.

And finally… Inspiration!

Look at other photographers' work to get new ideas, and remember to look at what’s around you while you’re there. Is there anything you can use to make the background more interesting, or can you use the light to enhance your subject in some way?

For a more detailed guide, check out my book “A Brief Guide to Wildlife Photography” for more ideas.

It's time for another podcast...

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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 conservation efforts.

The project is located at the Woodlands Community Reserve, located just outside the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

In this podcast, Kara discussed the aims of the project, the importance of conservation and what to expect if you want to get involved.

Find out more about SAFCP and how you can help, here.

You can also find them on social media:

 Instagram. 

Twitter

Facebook 

It's time for another podcast...

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Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!

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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 client of Deans.

Dean is involved with several local groups, including the Southern Africa Field Conservation Project where he applies his knowledge to support their conservation efforts. 

Dean can also be hired directly, and you can contact him at: [email protected] 

You can learn more about SAFCP here: Welcome to SAFCP - Southern Africa Field Conservation Project

It's time for another podcast...

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If you've had value from this podcast, please help me to continue with them. Most people don't, but if you would like to make a small contribution, how about a coffee? You can buy me a coffee here.

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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 where to focus and you should also see a slider control appear. Use this to make the image brighter or darker.

Take a look at the features offered by your particular phone:

• Do you have a manual or pro-mode?
• Can you use high dynamic range (HDR) and what difference does that make to your images?
• Shoot in RAW if that is an option.

Composition

• Use the rule of thirds (this is likely to be there as a grid on your touchscreen).
• Look for leading lines.
• Lighting
• Remember the basic rules of lighting (yes, they will stay the same!).

Stability

• Keep your smartphone steady and think of investing in a small tripod if you want to make regular use of it. These tripods are often small enough to fit in a pocket or small bag.

Other tips:

• Do you have a portrait mode to simulate the effects of a narrow depth of field and bokeh?
• Make the most of the phones’ physical size to get viewpoints that are almost impossible to get using larger cameras.
• Put the camera low down and shoot, or high up. Remember, you may be able to use the volume control keys on the side of the camera to release the shutter.
• Finally, remember that zoom is likely to be digital zoom, so try to shoot without it.

In all, smartphones are very versatile. Are you getting the most from yours?

If not, check out these links:

Download my 10 tips to improve your photography today.

Take a look at my smartphone course.

It's time for another podcast...

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Go from "Auto" to Awesome photos in just one week (click here)!

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Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
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Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!

Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: [email protected]

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If you've had value from this podcast, please help me to continue with them. Most people don't, but if you would like to make a small contribution, how about a coffee? You can buy me a coffee here.

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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 with ISO (to minimise noise)
• Use manual focus

Light and exposure

• Get familiar with your cameras' limits in low light
• Be aware of light pollution and choose your site accordingly
• Experiment with light painting and light trails
• Experiment with bracketing to improve dynamic range (may be used in stacked images in post-processing)

Composition

• Think about how to use foreground objects creatively
• Use the rule of thirds and leading lines

Challenges

• Use noise reduction techniques when shooting and in post-production
• Stabilise your camera to avoid motion blur
• Plan for changes in the weather
• Use heaters or other methods to minimise condensation in the lens

Have fun!

It's time for another podcast...

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Go from "Auto" to Awesome photos in just one week (click here)!

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Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
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Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!

Contact Me
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Coffee?

If you've had value from this podcast, please help me to continue with them. Most people don't, but if you would like to make a small contribution, how about a coffee? You can buy me a coffee here.

Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.

Thank you for listening.