As I'm recording this towards the end of 2024, I've been looking back at what went well, and what didn't. And identifying the lessons I've learned this year that I can take with me into 2025 (and make a lot of new mistakes!).
Something that I believe can be very helpful is to take part in a photography project. In this podcast, I'll take you through a few project ideas, and outline why I think they can be very valuable to improving your photography.
Here's the link to my 14 day challenge (discussed in the podcast).
I hope you enjoy it...
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Have you ever tried street photography?
If you haven't, but you're thinking about it, now is a good time to start.
The primary reason for this is the frequent use of smartphones in the street. I'm sure you've had to avoid a few "phone zombies" in your time, and this makes it very easy to discretely take street photographs. People will just assume that you're on your phone.
So what do you need to think about before you get started? You're probably already carrying the ideal camera, in your phone. And that allows you to blend into the general street traffic. But there are a few other things:
- What should you definitely avoid?
- What's the best way to approach someone if you'd like to photograph them?
- Which composition rules apply?
- How should I time my shot?
- What makes a good street photograph?
I've made a few suggestions. See what you think of them!
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Hello again,
I'm recording this podcast at the end of 2024 (Boxing Day, actually) and thought I'd share a little background to my activities this year. I've referred to it as my 'Blooper Reel' because I share some of the less glamorous aspects of wildlife photography.
In particular, I thought I'd share the story of my trip to Namibia, to support EHRA. And, some reasons why I always hope for the best, but plan for the worst!
I hope you enjoy it.
Best wishes,
Graham
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
This week I speak with Matt Jacob. Matt is a British born Bali based photographic artist with a passion for capturing narratives through photography. He offers his audiences valuable insights into untold stories, inviting them into unfamiliar lives through aesthetically beautiful and meaningful images. From his early days with a disposable camera to his current status as a master storyteller, Matt's journey is motivated by his deep-seated passion for visual storytelling.
After successfully fighting cancer, Matt reshaped his outlook on life. He infuses his artistic practice with a profound appreciation for the beauty and fragility of existence. Through his lens, he crafts timeless snapshots that speak to the soul, inviting audiences to cherish life's fleeting moments and embrace the richness of diverse cultures.
Beyond the confines of his studio, Matt is a modern-day explorer, traversing the globe as a pilot. His time in the cockpit allows him to fly around the world and to uncover cultures through his camera. With each photograph, he offers a glimpse into the vibrant tapestry of humanity, fostering empathy and understanding among global communities. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Matt's insightful podcast delves into the philosophical depths of photography and filmmaking, enriching conversations with wisdom drawn from his own journey and the experiences of fellow creatives. In the world of visual storytelling, Matt is a beacon of creativity and inspiration.
Website: https://mattjacobphotography.com/
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Being part of a photography community is a great way to improve your photography, connect with other photographers, and have more fun!
Not everyone has access to a local photography community. So, in this podcast, I'll talk through a few options you have if you live in a more remote location. And I'll make a few suggestions for those of you in larger communities where photography groups might exist.
And, if all else fails, you can always take on photography challenges.
For me, photography is a creative outlet, and having that outlet is a great way to step back from the stresses of everyday life.
So, whatever you do, commit to it, make it a habit, and hold yourself accountable!
I hope you enjoy it.
Graham
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Macro-photography can be very rewarding. Things to think about:
1. Magnification & Ratio
How large the subject appears in the frame compared to its actual size. In macro photography, the subject is typically life-sized or larger.
2. Depth of Field (DOF)
Using a small aperture like f/16 or f/22 can help increase DOF and keep more of the subject in focus, but may require slower shutter speeds or higher ISO.
If you’re not familiar with DoF, check out my course!
3. Lighting
Consider using diffused light to reduce harsh shadows and evenly illuminate the subject. Ring lights or macro flashes can be very useful because they provide even, directional lighting.
4. Focusing Techniques
Macro lenses typically offer manual focus due to the extreme precision required at close distances.
5. Stability and Camera Shake
Consider a tripod, remote- shutter release or self-timer to minimize camera shake.
6. Choosing the Right Lens
A dedicated macro lens (usually 50mm, 100mm, or 150mm) can be expensive. Consider extension tubes. They're cheaper than buying dedicated lenses, but there may be compromises.
7. Composition
Pay attention to the background and foreground.
8. Insect & Nature Photography Considerations
If you're photographing small plants or flowers, consider the time of day as morning light can be softer and dew can add interesting details to the subject.
9. Post-Processing
Post-processing can help enhance colours, sharpen details, or even combine images for focus stacking.
Here are a few lens suggestions (November 2024):
Canon:
DSLR: EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Mirrorless: RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Nikon:
DSLR: AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Mirrorless: Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S
Sony:
Sony full frame: FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
Sony APS-C: E 30mm f/3.5 Macro
Sigma:
105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro: Available for both Canon, Nikon, and Sigma cameras.
70mm f/2.8 DG
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
This podcast was inspired by another podcast that I listen to (“The rest is history”) where they spoke about Lee Miller. This, in turn, was prompted by the 2023 movie starring Kate Winslet.
Lee Miller was largely forgotten until her biography came out in the 1980’s (she died in 1977). She had a privileged upbringing and, I think it’s fair to say, lacked any purpose in her life. This changed when the Second World War started, and she became a war photographer.
If you google Lee Miller, the first photograph you’re likely to see is of her in Hitler’s bath in his flat in Munich. I understand that she was in his apartment by accident and the reason for the bath was that she was washing off the mud from the Dachau concentration camp, which she’d just visited.
Photojournalism is a central part of my approach to photography (the “visual storyteller”) and I always respect the people who are willing to put themselves on the front line. Lee Miller was in real danger of death, and journalists and photographers are often targeted to stop the truth from getting out (this is happening in Palestine as I write).
Another aspect is censorship and misinformation. In Lee Millers case, the photographs she took at Dachau featured in two spreads in Vogue, clearly showing what had happened there. Another set, showing American bombers dropping napalm on German positions, was censored.
So, what are the takeaways for our photography? I suggest these:
Imagine you only have a roll of 12 (or 24, or 36) images available and think before you press the shutter button: What is this photograph about? What is the story you want to tell?
Try a film camera if you’re not familiar with using them, as you need a different approach and I believe this will positively impact your work.
When is a photograph dishonest? For example, some, pre-Google maps, real estate photographs create an impression of space. So the question has to be, is the intention to deceive the viewer? What is your intention? This is important with the amount of misinformation we see today, much of it photographic.
I hope you find it thought provoking...
Graham
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
You might be new to photography, or perhaps you’ve just hit a creative ‘slump’. Or, maybe, you just want to step back and revisit the basics of photography. Wherever you are, here are 12 tips that might help you:
- There’s a lot to learn, especially with some modern cameras, so, give yourself time and just take things one at a time. I always recommend a structured course if you’re just starting, the reason being that if you miss a basic step, you can be in for a very frustrating time.
- Learn to use the camera in fully manual mode (i.e. focus, shutter speed, ISO and aperture). Also, learn how your camera's metering works. It might feel irrelevant given the amount of automation available, but it will serve you well.
- Experiment with higher ISO’s. It’s better to have a grainy image that’s sharp than a smooth image that’s blurry. And it can give your photos a certain look that you might find attractive.
- While the latest gear always looks great, you probably don’t need it.
- Learn to look at how different photographers use light. This is fundamental to photography and the better you understand the use of light, the better your results will be.
- Practice getting everything right in the viewfinder (or screen) before you press the shutter button. Post-processing is helpful, but don’t rely on it.
- Always shoot in RAW.
- Learn about your preferred post-processing package by making adjustments manually. Don’t rely on presets as they will limit your results.
- Learn the rules so that when you break them, you know which ones you’ve broken. Consistency is the sign of a good photographer.
- If you do hit a slump, where you feel your photographs are getting worse, don’t worry. It happens to most of us. Just step back and return to basics. What isn’t working? What can you do to change it?
- Keep having fun recording the day-to-day. Creating great ‘art’ is rewarding, but you have a day-to-day life too.
- Photography is a continuous learning experience, so enjoy the journey!
I hope you find this useful.
Graham
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
My guest on this podcast is Rachel Harris, Managing Director of EHRA Namibia.
EHRA is a project I’ve personally been involved with and I recently returned from a fundraising event with them in Namibia. Rachel talks about the aims of EHRA, their beginnings and their current activities.
She has built up an award-winning eco-tourism volunteer programme (active since 2004) which helps to fund their conservation activities. EHRA also runs a community education programme to help the local people live with the elephants and minimise conflicts.
If you’d like to learn more about EHRA or get involved in their work, you can find out more on their website: https://www.ehranamibia.org/
And you can follow them on social media: #ehranamibia
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
I was asked this question by a listener (thank you) who is planning an exciting trip to see gorillas (and other animals). So what can you do to protect your camera in different environments?
To protect my lenses, I do a couple of things:
- Buy a good quality UV filter to protect the glass at the end of the lens. While I've never scratched a lens, I would far rather replace a UV filter than have to look at an expensive repair or even scrap a good lens.
- Use the lens hood. If you're moving around and the lens swings unexpectedly, the chances are that the lens hood will absorb the impact and protect the lens itself.
For the lens and body, I have invested in a splash cover from Aquatech. This has an elasticated opening at one end (that I put around the lens hood) and an opening at the other that allows access to the camera controls. A clear window at the back of the hood lets me see the camera screen.
This is great in wet environments and dusty environments and minimises the chances of water and dust getting into the camera or lens.
Other hacks:
- Keep the lens cap on until you need to use the camera.
- If it rains, wear a good rain jacket (I recommend gore-tex as it breathes) and push your camera inside.
- You can use a plastic bag to keep water off too.
- Buy a backpack with hip straps and a rain cover (usually in a compartment at the bottom of the backpack).
- Consider a camera mount you can clip to the shoulder strap of your backpack. Peak Design offer these clips.
- Dedicated underwater housings if you need one (you can get these for smartphones too).
- A small hand towel to wrap around the camera/lens for general protection.
- In cold conditions keep a spare battery in your clothing close to your body (to take advantage of body heat) - battery performance drops in the cold.
- Silica gel desiccant dehumidifiers for very wet environments.
I hope you find this useful.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
In my wildlife photography tips podcasts, I always recommend that people practice on birds. But why should they do that?
Well, for one thing, most of us have access to these wild animals and they allow us to get to know our cameras.
Photographing birds is also an opportunity to start thinking like a wildlife photographer:
- Where is the best lighting?
- How can I position myself to get the best shots?
- What influences the animals' behaviour?
- How important is time of day?
These are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself.
When it comes to using your camera, have you thought about whether back-button focus is appropriate?
How can you get your camera's auto-focus system to work most efficiently?
What shutter speed should you use? Are you shooting RAW?
I go through a number of these options and issues in the podcast. In some cases, there will be conflicting opinions about which option is best in certain situations. In those cases, I suggest you do what is most comfortable for you. The most important thing is for you to be shooting images you love and for you to continue to experiment with and evolve your photography.
I hope you enjoy it.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Colin and I used to coach people on WeAreObservers PhotoWalks in Sydney. Colin has a lot of experience as (primarily) an amateur photographer and is also a trainer for Adobe.
In this podcast, he talks about how he gets unique results using a smartphone and the role that editing plays in digital photography.
If you want to see Colin's work, the Instagram sites mentioned are:
@Very_Well_Adjusted: Photographs taken on smartphones and other devices such as ipads.
@Framed_Mono: Colin's black and white collection.
He also spoke about the "Nightcap Camera" App. and you can find more details by clicking the link.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
It can be very frustrating to go away on a trip and, when you look at your photographs on a pc screen, find they're not sharp. I've put together a list of seven things you can do, to avoid blurry photos:
- Check your settings. Do you have the correct shutter speed set? Is your AF point in the right place? Have you got an unintended exposure compensation set? Make it a habit to check your settings and take test shots.
- You are using the wrong shutter speed. While shooting at 1,000th of a second will freeze a lot of the action, shooting faster is likely to give more reliable results. If I'm photographing a breaching whale, I'll typically use 1/4000th of a second to freeze everything.
- Pre-focus on your subject where you can and use long bursts. The number of useable photos you get becomes an exercise in statistics. If you're getting one good shot in 10, you won't have much to show from a burst of 6. A burst of 20 though, should give you at least 2 useable photos.
- Look out for foreground objects that might completely blur out through the viewfinder, but will make their presence felt by leaving a 'fog' over the subject. Look directly at your subject (not through the viewfinder) and look for leaves, twigs or anything else close to you that might become a problem in the final image.
- Use the lowest possible ISO. High ISO will introduce noise and this diminishes the sharpness of your subject. This is particularly true in low light. Take a 'safe' shot first (to make sure you get a photo of your subject) and then progressively reduce the ISO. Use a tripod (or other support), 'silent' mode, the 3-second self-timer, or a remote control to minimise any movement you might introduce when taking the shot.
- Set up a 'focus box'. Use this where you can't focus directly on your subject (e.g. porpoising dolphins). Set the focal distance and a suitable DoF to have a safe focus area.
- Make sure you understand the AF system on your camera. Use the appropriate mode and AF point(s).
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
I believe there are two aspects to what makes a good photograph. The first is the technical side. Different people will have different ways of categorising this aspect and for the sake of this podcast I used five elements:
- Light and exposure
- Composition
- Colour and tone
- Timing (in all its interpretations)
- Relationship (between the viewer and the subject)
The second aspect is to look at the questions you are asking. I am constantly inspired by other people's work and I'll typically ask:
- How did they achieve that result?
- How can I do the same thing?
What inevitably happens after answering the second question is that I will put my spin on it and get the outcome I want.
So, if you're not sure what makes a good photograph for you (and this, of course, is all subjective), start by asking more questions. A comment that I like is that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask. I think this is true for photography.
Another thing to think about is the result you are driving for. So, begin with the end in mind and ask the questions that will lead to you achieving the outcome you are striving for.
And, a final comment about social media: Shoot what you love and don't worry about the number of Likes. And, ignore unsolicited comments. Only accept comments from the people you would choose to approach for feedback.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
There are ideal times to take photographs of wildlife, and many times and situations that are less ideal. In this podcast, I talk about how to handle the following potential issues and common mistakes.:
Bad composition (and ideas to get around it)
Harsh lighting (what the limits are and ways to use the images)
Bad backgrounds (and a few suggestions such as varying depth of field while you shoot)
As photographers, we have a variety of tools available to us and you must know how to get the best from your wildlife encounters. If you're not sure about some aspects of photography or would like to start from scratch, please take a look at my photography courses.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
I thought I'd try recording a podcast away from my usual studio, mainly because I've just reached Sydney after two weeks in Namibia, most of it well away from an internet connection.
So, how important is experimenting and how big a role should it play in your photography?
I'll also share a few things from my trip to Namibia, which included a couple of days in Etosha National Park.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
There are a few things to consider when photographing wildlife as you'll often be off the beaten track. Here are a few of them:
- Who knows where you are?
- I suggest using "What3Words" as a way of letting people know where you are, or where you plan to be (find out more here).
- Have a good paper map and think about your 'plan B' options.
- Wear appropriate clothing (especially footwear).
- Be prepared for changes in the weather.
- Have a basic first aid kit suitable for where you are going.
- Follow a river (downstream) if all else fails!
- Carry a resilient form of id (for the work case scenario).
- Use insect repellent.
You want to have a successful and enjoyable trip, and a little forethought and planning should keep it that way!
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
I thought that it was time to review a few wildlife questions and tips. This is what I talk about:
- What's the best camera for wildlife photography?
- Is DSLR or Mirrorless better?
- What's the best lens?
- Is full frame better than cropped frame?
- How to wildlife photographers get so close to their subject?
- I've a limited budget, what should I buy?
- When is the best time to photograph animals?
- What can I do if I don't have much time to practice?
- What are the best ways to be on the shoot?
I hope you find them useful. AND... please let me know if you have a question that needs to be answered.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Flash photography certainly has its place, but not always where you might think.
Sure, it is one option in low ambient light situations and can also be used in daylight to make sure the subject is correctly exposed without overexposing everything else. But is a standard 'pop-up' flash the best option.
Pop-ups are useful but are all but guaranteed to create red-eye when photographing people. And are they really powerful enough to be useful.
Realistically you need to buy a flash gun and I talk about a few of the things to consider when using one. These will also influence which flashgun is right for you!
Now, there were some maths in this podcast. The important maths is the Guide Number (GN) of the flash. This is calculated from:
GN = (flashgun to subject distance) x (Aperture needed for good exposure)
This will be specified at a particular ISO. The example I gave is a distance of 7.5 meters at aperture f/8, which gives a GN of 60 (7.5 x 8) @ ISO 100.
Obviously you will need to vary the aperture and/or ISO as you change the distance to your subject, but the answer to the equation will always be 60.
Flash (especially off-camera flash) adds another dimension to your photography and is well worth exploring.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
I've been interested in psychology for a long time and I'm especially interested in how it relates to photography. In this case it's composition and why certain compositional elements are very effective.
In this short podcast I'll do my best to explain my understanding of seven elements:
- Proximity
- Similarity
- Continuity
- Closure
- Figure-ground
- Symmetry and Order
- Common fate
While I don't expect these insights to revolutionise your photography, it might give you pause for thought about which elements are around you and how you can use them in your photographs.
Enjoy the podcast!
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
I thought I would run through what I believe are the most important aspects of wildlife photography. So, apologies if you've heard this before (but you might hear something new, too!).
These are the key things to consider and I speak about each in the podcast:
- Aperture
- Modes
- Auto-Focus
- Shutter speed
- Lenses/teleconverters
- Composition
- Knowing your camera
- Knowing your subject
- Leave only footprints
As always, you need to be patient and prepared at all times!
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Hello again,
This is for you if you can't quite get the results you're looking for. I'm sure that we've all had the experience of thinking we've just created a great photograph, only to find that the result isn't what we'd hoped for. This can be very frustrating, especially if it's something that happens often.
For me, photography is a subject that I am continuously learning about. I get inspired by other people and apply their ideas to my work. However, it's impossible to do that if you don't understand the basics of photography. So, if this is you and you don't want to invest in a course right now (and I recommend that you do if you want to realise everything that photography has to offer for you!), these are some areas to consider:
Light/Exposure: Photography is all about light and a photograph that is either under, or overexposed, is not going to be what you want. This equally applies if the part of the photograph of the greatest interest to you is wrongly exposed.
Focus: It's important to understand your AF system, and how it is deciding what it needs to focus on. If your AF is wrongly set up, you will struggle to get your subject consistently in focus. You might even want to consider using back-button focus.
Shutter speed: A common cause of out-of-focus photographs, understanding shutter speed means that you can introduce, or eliminate, movement in your photograph at will.
Composition: Siting your subject dead-centre in your photograph every time gets very boring very quickly. Using composition techniques, such as the rule of thirds, opens the door to more interesting photographs.
You can learn about all of these techniques, and more, through my online photography course. Please take a look, or share with someone who would like to be a more confident photographer.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
I'm using this tagline in some of my promotional material and I thought I would share what it means.
Going beyond that, what inspires you and your photography? Is there a particular photograph you're trying to get, or are you looking to share an aspect of something that you're passionate about with someone else?
Part of my motivation is to sell photographs so that I can contribute to conservation projects that I feel passionate about.
I also want to raise awareness of what's going on with our wildlife and what everyone can do to stop the seemingly inevitable slide into extinction that many iconic animals now face.
I also challenge myself to get the best animal portrait shots that I can, so that the person looking at the photograph gets a sense of the personality of that particular animal.
I also like to take photographs of popular and familiar places that show an aspect that many people miss. And that is my challenge to you, to photograph some aspect of a place you know well, that most people aren't aware of!
I hope you enjoy it!
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Being able to control what, within your photograph, is in focus and what isn't, is one of the best ways to create interesting and engaging photographs. How to achieve this is the question I'm asked most often.
So, what do you need to know?
In this podcast I'll take you through the key areas; understanding depth of field, how to set it, how to maintain the correct exposure, and how to use auto-focus effectively.
I'll also suggest a way you can experiment with depth of field so that you can develop a real 'hands-on' feel for it.
I hope you enjoy it.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Animals will often act on instinct and we tend to think of that as their default operating condition. And, for a long time, human beings (homo sapiens) were thought of as being the only intelligent animal around.
But, as we've learnt more about the animals around us, that belief has been challenged. It's now known that many animals exhibit behaviours that go beyond instinct. Many use tools and some even demonstrate behaviours that are more akin to how humans behave.
The purpose of this podcast is to (I hope) get you thinking a little more about what constitutes animal intelligence and to reappraise which animals we should consider to be intelligent.
It's time for another podcast...
Thank you for your support and I hope you have a great end of year break.... and a fantastic 2025!
I especially would like to thank my Patreon supporters. If you would like to join me there, or find out more, please click this link.
AND, you can still order my 2025 Wildlife Calendar!
If you've been inspired to improve your photography, download my FREE guide to 10 ways to improve your photography today.
10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography
Support the show
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you would like to subscribe you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1803730/support
Website
Please check out my website for the latest collections, photography tips and challenges, and more!
Contact Me
You can contact me directly at: graham@ge.photography
Please don't keep me a secret! Please share my podcast with anyone else who you think might be interested.
Thank you for listening.
Projects: The secret to inspired photography
26:20
An introduction to Street Photography
31:01
2024 Behind the scenes "Blooper Reel"
41:02
Talking with Matt Jacob; Photographer and Pilot
41:37
The importance of photography communities
29:49
An introduction to Macro-photography
23:17
How to add meaning and impact to your photographs
31:55
Beginners guide to photography
31:27
Elephant conservation in Namibia with Rachel Harris - EHRA
33:23
How can you protect your camera in different environments?
30:46
How you can think like a wildlife photographer
37:21
Talking with Colin Wynter Seton: Smartphone photography and editing
45:13
The secrets to sharper photos
32:11
What makes a good photo?
28:31
How to deal with three common wildlife photography issues
33:33
The importance of experimenting
23:17
Safety first
27:12
A few top wildlife photography tips
34:10
Flash Photography
31:31
Psychology and composition
22:35
Wildlife Photography Review
31:19
Oops, something went wrong!
30:03
Conservation Inspired Photography
29:39
What's in focus?
27:48
How do we define animal intelligence?
31:10