The Scene While scouting with friends for a new photo workshop in Ecuador, we visited the Cotopaxi Volcano National Park. It’s a beautiful place, and I wanted to take some shots that showed the vast open spaces, which are always exciting for a rainforest photographer (such as myself) as I’m used to very dark, closed
Located in the highlands of northwest Ethiopia, the Simien Mountains are truly a wonder to behold. Reaching as high as almost 15,000 feet above sea level, these rugged mountains are home to several photogenic wildlife species, including walia ibex, Ethiopian wolf, klippspringer, and gelada monkeys. Numerous vantage points offer stunning views of steep cliffs, jagged
Many nature photographers profess to shoot only natural light because they don’t like flashed-looking pictures. While often said as if it were a badge of honor, this statement is actually an admission that the photographer doesn’t know how to use flash, one of our most important tools! Employed properly, flash can look completely natural and
Following the lead of managing editor Ian Plant and his recent year in review post highlighting his best photos from 2016, I wanted to share my own top 16 photos from 2016. I know it’s a bit late, but I was out in the field for several weeks to start the year – more on
Make every picture worth a thousand words! Successful wildlife photography requires much more than just getting technically perfect photos of animals striking interesting poses. Instead, the wildlife photographer must strive to capture his or her subjects within the broader context of the environment by telling a story. Light, color, motion, composition, and the magic of
In the past two decades, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been considered one of the most dangerous conflict areas in the world. Congo’s civil wars, which began in 1996, devastated the country. The fighting has abated in recent years, and there has been a concerted effort to secure, stabilize, and reopen parts
During my recent trip to Indonesia, I spent three days cruising through the superlative Komodo Islands. Best known as the home of Komodo dragons, the Komodo Islands also offer world-class diving and snorkeling and feature stunning landscapes. My three short days in this tropical paradise certainly weren’t enough. Most people who visit the Komodos go
I’ve often found myself in the field working in fast-changing lighting conditions. When a high shutter speed is necessary to capture moving subjects, constantly having to monitor and change my ISO slows me down, and sometimes means I miss capturing a special moment. In situations such as this, I switch my camera to Auto ISO.
You may see articles on wildlife photography (including mine) mention “fill-flash” when discussing technique and how to improve your wildlife images. If it sounds a little mystifying to you, don’t worry. It’s not that complex, especially today with the tremendous interactive metering capabilities of the newer cameras and dedicated flashes. Before we get to the
Portrait photography is not just about people, it can apply to wildlife subjects as well. Proper technique and subject knowledge is equally important in capturing great images of wild animals. First and foremost, know your subject: its behavior, fright/flight distance, how dangerous it is and when to back off if you are disturbing the animal
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