Photography has a funny relationship with rules. On one hand, rules are incredibly useful. The rule of thirds, tack-sharp focus, level horizons, golden hour light, clean compositions — these are all helpful shortcuts that can get us to stronger images faster. They give us a framework. They help us make order out of visual chaos. But here’s the important bit: photography is still art. And art doesn’t get especially excited about being trapped inside a checklist. That’s what my

In this episode of The Wild Photographer , I sat down with safari expert and photographer Rich de Gouveia to unpack what really makes an African photo safari successful—and the conversation goes far beyond just cameras. One of Rich’s biggest takeaways is that great safaris start long before you arrive . Thoughtful planning—built around what you actually want to photograph —can shape everything from destinations to lodge choices. Rather than chasing a checklist like the Big Fi

Before every trip, or even every day of a trip, there’s a small window of time that often gets overlooked— the moment you prepare your camera . It might not feel as exciting as being out in the field, but it’s one of the most important steps in getting consistently strong images. A well-set camera doesn’t slow you down; it works with you to remove friction...letting you focus entirely on the scene in front of you. Let's get into it... One of the most effective ways to stream

The place where conservation and photography meet is something I’ve pondered on for a while. How do we use our photography for meaningful conservation impact? And perhaps more importantly, how do we plan and approach this concept, so that when in-location, we know what to do…so that we understand “the assignment” at hand? It actually starts before the trip and before the first photograph is even taken. When thinking about “how to do conservation photography” I believe it c