Travel photography is one of those wonderfully broad, beautifully versatile categories of photography. It can include street scenes, people, markets, food, vehicles, architecture, landscapes, wildlife encounters, and those in-between moments that can quickly become the most meaningful memories from a trip. And that’s really the idea here and why I love "travel photography" so much. Travel photography is less about checking off expected shots and more about portraying the jour

One of the most common questions I get in the field is also one of the most important: what shutter speed do I actually need to freeze certain types of wildlife movement? It sounds simple enough, but even slight differences is wildlife behavior has massive ramifications on what shutter speed you need. A sleeping polar bear is one thing. A twitchy bird under the rainforest canopy is another. A sparring bear, pouncing fox, or flying bird? All different beasts entirely—literally

Traveling with camera gear is kinda scary, right? You’re thinking about overhead bin limits, bush planes, dust, rain, weight restrictions, laptop backups, tripod decisions, and whether a) it's all going to fit and b) will it make the round trip journey safely. I’ve been traveling with camera gear for 20-plus years as a professional photographer, expedition leader, and wildlife guide, and I can tell you this: there is no single perfect system for every trip. But there are some

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

In a recent conversation on The Wild Photographer , Eric and I dug into what makes someone successful in nature photography—not just in getting sharper images, but in building the kind of mindset that leads to better work over time. For beginning and intermediate photographers, his advice was especially refreshing because it wasn’t about chasing perfection. It was about fieldcraft, consistency, patience, and learning to see more deeply. Here are some of the biggest takeaways.

Because nothing says “once-in-a-lifetime moment” like realizing you brought the wrong lens. A wildlife photo safari can be the pinnacle of a photographer’s year — maybe even their career. And I’m not just talking about the classic African safari (though… yes, that counts). I’m talking about everything from brown bears in Alaska to tigers in India to wolves in Yellowstone and polar bears in the Arctic. These trips are epic. They’re also wildly demanding on your gear. You’re of

I had an absolute blast recording my latest podcast episode because it tackles something every photographer secretly craves… a foundational understanding of photo "rules." This is not a rigid rulebook that squashes creativity, but a set of starting points that give you intentionality . Once you know the common starting points, aka rules, you can intentionally break “rules” unleashing further creativity (although the traditional rules definitely do not fly in the face of cre

Strong silhouettes, high key super bright photos that actually look great --these are the things that spot metering enables. Usually, spot metering is treated like a last-ditch effort tool for photographing wildlife in bushes or dimly lit scenarios. However, if you start using it, and practicing with it, you'll find that it can be a one-stop-shop to amazingly creative photography. Let's dive into how... Quick refresher: what spot metering does Most of us shoot in evaluative/m

Ever wonder why some wildlife photos just hit differently ? You know the ones — crisp, glowing with life, and that dreamy background blur that makes you want to print it and hang it on your wall. There’s a certain magic to professional wildlife portraits, but here’s the secret: it’s not magic at all. It’s a series of deliberate choices, a little technical know-how, and a lot of creative intent. In this article, I'm going to unpack how the pros consistently create those jaw-dr

An amazing moment from my recent Tanzania trip - definitely using these tips! If you’ve ever felt stuck in the “field-guide shot” zone,...

In a world filled with feature-packed cameras and endless customization, photography can easily feel overwhelming—especially for...

Few lens debates stir up as much discussion as the 24–70mm f/2.8 versus the 24–105mm f/4 (or 24–120mm in some brands) . Both are...

Hi friends, I'm coming back with a new podcast episode, specifically on the cornerstones of great wildlife photography. This article...

Let’s talk about a surprisingly powerful trick up your photography sleeve—macro photography without the macro lens. As a biologist and...

If you know anything about the world of outdoor photography, chances are the name Chris Burkard rings a bell. But in my conversation on...

Ah, night. That mysterious, moody veil that transforms jungles into echo chambers, safaris into stage sets, and everyday creatures into...

I've been pondering on an extraordinary idea lately, credited to the great Harvard professor and originator of the idea of mindfulness ,...