The Wild Photographer

The Wild Photographer

Learn techniques, tips, and tricks for improving your wildlife, travel, landscape, and general nature photography with Court Whelan. Whether you consider yourself a beginner, serious hobbyist, or advanced professional, this is the way to rapidly understand and implement new skills to elevate your photography to new heights.

Episodes

April 6, 2024 38 mins

When you see a professional landscape photo, usually in a gallery, a magazine cover or photobook, there is just something different...it's jumps out to you as "pro level."

In today's episode, I do a deep dive into how you can achieve this same look and vibe in your own photography.  Spoiler alert, there is no shortcut.  But, I do have a roadmap.

It involves a lot of the "classic" pho...

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Today we're talking with Rich--a phenomenal photographer, African safari guide, and just great person all-around.  Having had a long, yet still ascending guiding career, he's got a lot of sage advice for seasoned photographers and budding photographers alike.

We go over a lot, and there is so much to take away from this conversation.  We get some excellent thoughts on storytelling in photography, discuss his amba...

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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 a...

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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...

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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 abo...

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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 f...

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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.

My Full Cam...

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May 17, 2023 26 mins

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 p...

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April 21, 2023 45 mins

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.
<...

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March 18, 2023 19 mins

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.

My Full Camera Kit:
Canon R5 Body
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8
Canon 24-105mm f/4
Canon 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1
Canon 100mm f/2.8
Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Tripod
Manfro...

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February 23, 2023 42 mins

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...

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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 ...

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When we see a pro photographer's wildlife portraiture, there is just something special about its look.  It just "looks so professional."  Want to know how this is consistently possible?

In this episode, we dive into how pro photographers use their tools and techniques to their advantage to get amazing portraiture of animals and emphasize that sensational contrast of blurred background with tack-sharp focus o...

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Photography certainly has its fair share of fancy terms and complicated menu systems. This is even more true in this digital age.  However, bracketing is actually one of the more ancestral options within a camera menu, with roots stretching firmly back to film days.

Do you need bracketing?  What is it?  Tune in to learn all about it, the various applications, how to use it, and what are the best scenes to actually use it.

M...

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It's one of the more frequent opportunities we have as nature photographers...to capture an awesome sunset or sunrise.  However, there is a big difference between just documenting it and capturing something extraordinary.  And for those times where these solar displays are just mind-blowing, we tend to get lost in the moment and forget the artistry involved.

I've honed these techniques and tips for years and year...

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If you are ready to take the leap and move away from using the full auto setting on your camera, I commend you.  And you will be happy you did so, because your photos, and your general creativity, will shine! 

In this episode I walk you through the various "next steps" if you are ready to move toward greater creative control.  The best part of this is that you do NOT have to immediately jump to Aperture or Manua...

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Gosh I wish this existed when I was learning photography!  Today I go over 10 different "photo jargon" terms that will help you understand photography better.  This isn't only designed to help you talk the talk, but also to help you better learn from tutorials, photo guides, and fellow photographers that might use these terms around you. 

This one is straight to the point--learning definitions can be fun, r...

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Drew is on an endless quest to photograph the world's "charismatic megafauna," as he calls it.  But while his portfolio is filled with some of the best bear photography we've ever seen...sparring polar bears in the Canadian Arctic and brown (grizzly) bears fishing for salmon in Alaska are just a couple examples, it doesn't always come easy.

Today we host the great Drew Hamilton himself and talk abo...

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January 1, 2021 24 mins

Composition is king.  It is absolutely critical that your final photo (after editing and whatnot) has great composition or else it's a big miss.  It will miss the opportunity to make a powerful first imrpression--the WOW factor--and also miss on the lasting power of great art.

Fortunately, composition is something that can be mastered both in-camera as well as when processing and editing your photos. 

Join m...

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Our first interview is with none other than the Colby Brokvist.  He wears a lot of hats, including premier Expedition Leader in polar regions of the world, conservation biologist, all around outdoorsman and backcountry aficionado.  But what he quickly says what he identifies with perhaps what he enjoys most is being a Travel Photographer.

Tune in here and get a glimpse into the brain of one of the greats and learn about hi...

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