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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.

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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 

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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

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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.

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Support the show

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

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

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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 new ideas!

A great way to develop your style and begin your creative journey is to do a challenge. In this podcast, I talk about four:

The Neighbourhood Walk: Limit yourself to going no further than 2km or 1 mile from your home and shoot a series of photographs that tell the story of that area. The purpose of this challenge is to work on your observation skills. What have you overlooked when you've been in this area in the past?

The Urban Exploration: Document a landmark or hidden 'gem'. How can you use composition to create images that tell its story? That might include its' location, fine details or anything else that makes it notable. Again, you're working on observation, composition and communicating what you feel when you are there (mood).

The Travel Series: Limit yourself to 10 (or 12, or 36 images... not 500!) to tell the story of your trip. This works the same 'muscles' as the previous challenges.

One location for one day: Show how an area or subject changes throughout the day. This challenge is concerned with understanding light; how it varies during the day and how you can use it to create a certain look and feel.

And, of course, you can combine these challenges to make them more interesting.

Important note: Please be sure to be aware of local laws about photographing people in public and make sure you follow them.

Why not sign up for my 14-day Challenge? You'll get one email everyday for 14 days, each with a different photography challenge. Sign up here.

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
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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.

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Thank you for listening.

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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 out? Is it a potential career, or a hobby for when you have a vacation?

New or old - One way to offset the investment cost is to buy used. I certainly started that way and it gives you access to higher quality gear. Just make sure you check out each item fully and make sure you have a guarantee to protect you.

What style of photography do you want to do? This is a critical question as it will play a big part in determining the features you need in the camera and what you need for your kit. Do you need a wide-angle lens? A telephoto lens? Subject tracking? Good low-light performance?

Whether this is your first camera, or a step up from your current equipment, the most important thing you can do is to put together a list of pros and cons for what you have used to date. The pros give you a starting point for your wish list, while the cons highlight the additional items and features you will need.

I share some ideas in the podcast, and you can find a more detailed checklist in my eBook: "Focus on photography: A beginners guide"

I hope you enjoy it.

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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
You can contact me directly at: [email protected]

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.

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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 subject or the camera moves while the shutter is open.
• Focus blur: The focus is set incorrectly, or you have insufficient depth of field.
• Lens quality: A possible issue with the lens itself, either through poor manufacturing or damage to the lens.
• Incorrect camera settings: Shutter speed, aperture or incorrect AF settings.

To correct unwanted blur, your main options are to:

• Use a faster shutter speed
• Use a tripod or stabilise the camera (wedge the camera somehow if you don't have a tripod)
• Use the image stabilisation features of your lens/camera
• Make sure you are correctly focussed

From an equipment perspective, consider the following:

• Is the lens suitable for the outcome you want? Remember that short focal length lenses have more limited depth of field control than longer lenses.
• Do you need to add a tripod or gimbal to your equipment pool?
• Are your lens and sensor clean!?

Environment:

• Low-light situations can contribute to blur.
• Weather can also play a part.
• Low contrast can make it more difficult for AF systems to operate correctly.

Turning blur to your advantage.

Having covered the sources of blur, how can you change your perspective and make blur a tool, a way to come up with more creative images? I gave a couple of examples in the podcast, so what can you come up with?

I hope you enjoy the 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.

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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 photographs that mimic the early, low-resolution digital cameras. Or you might be inspired by Ansel Adams landscapes. So which styles define the decades of the last century?

That's what we'll explore in this podcast.

It's time for another podcast...

Support the show

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
You can contact me directly at: [email protected]

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.