Send us a text In this episode, the host discusses the technique of 'shooting to crop' in photography, particularly in wildlife photography. The conversation covers the importance of camera settings such as ISO, shutter speed, and aperture to ensure high-quality images that can withstand cropping. The host also emphasizes the significance of editing techniques and the role of camera gear in achieving the best results. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights for photographers looking to e...
Jun 26, 2025•18 min•Ep. 51
Send us a text Photographing wildlife at night is tough, but there's a formula I've found that works incredibly well. It produces high quality, even low ISO, inspiring images of rarely seen animals we may encounter on wildlife photo adventures. In this episode I also go over the tools and specific camera settings, along with lessons and techniques from over 20 years on this topic for how to capture stunning nocturnal wildlife in their natural habitat. Sponsors & Promo Code: LensRentals.com -...
Jun 15, 2025•30 min•Ep. 50
Send us a text Summary In this engaging conversation, Marlo Shaw, a talented artist and photographer, shares her insights on the intersection of art and photography, emphasizing the importance of color theory, composition, and the creative process. She discusses her experiences with art shows, the techniques she employs in polar photography, and her strategies for capturing wildlife, particularly polar bears. Marlo also delves into the intricacies of photo processing and editing, highlighting he...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 49
Send us a text Summary In this episode, Court Whelan shares his insights on traveling with camera gear, focusing on the joys and challenges of preparation, lens selection, and the importance of accessories. He discusses strategies for packing, flying with gear, and maintaining equipment while traveling, emphasizing the need for careful planning to ensure a successful photography trip. All Gear Mentioned in List Format (and easy purchase links) Promo Codes: LensRentals.com - WildPhotographer15 fo...
May 05, 2025•48 min•Ep. 48
Send us a text In this episode, Court discusses five techniques to inject creative vision into photography, emphasizing the importance of breaking traditional rules and experimenting with different perspectives and methods. From composition to intentional motion blur, each technique is designed to enhance creativity and encourage photographers to think outside the box. T akeaways Inject creative vision into your photography on any camera. Exaggerate composition to break traditional rules. Intent...
Apr 11, 2025•31 min•Ep. 47
Send us a text In this episode, host Court Whelan sits down with professional photo guide and Director of Photo Expeditions at Natural Habitat Adventures, Mike Hillman. Mike shares invaluable insights on wildlife photography, from mastering perfect pawsture in bear photography to the art of bird photography and finding your personal photographic style. We also dive into intentional camera movement (ICM), editing techniques that harness the psychology of the eye, and the logistics behind planning...
Mar 20, 2025•55 min•Ep. 46
Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Photographer, host Court Whelan dives deep into the world of tripods and stabilization techniques essential for photographers. He discusses the importance of tripods, the differences between cheap and expensive options, and the various types of tripod heads. The episode also covers travel tripods, monopods, and alternative stabilization methods, along with recommendations for top brands. Finally, Court shares tips for achieving silky water photography, ...
Mar 02, 2025•40 min•Ep. 45
Send us a text Episode Summary: In this episode of The Wild Photographer , Court Whelan breaks down the essential techniques for getting sharp images in both landscape and wildlife photography. He shares insider tips on shutter speed, aperture, and focusing techniques, plus the real impact of ISO on sharpness. You’ll also learn how to leverage image stabilization, drive mode, and post-processing tools like Topaz Denoise to get crystal-clear shots. 💬 Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review and share...
Feb 13, 2025•43 min•Ep. 44
Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Photographer , host Court Whelan discusses the art and science of photography with the talented Giulia Ciampini. As a photographer, educator, and conservationist, Giulia shares her journey from her first childhood photos to her current work in wildlife photography and photo instruction. ------------------------------------------- Want to turn your passion for photography into profit? Download the FREE guide now and kickstart selling your stock photograp...
Jan 30, 2025•57 min•Ep. 43
Send us a text Summary: Want to turn your passion for photography into profit? Download the FREE guide now and kickstart selling your stock photography journey today. https://bit.ly/guide-to-selling-stockphotography ------------------------------------------- In this episode of the Wild Photographer podcast, Court Whelan discusses the five most important camera settings that every photographer should master to enhance their photography skills. He explains the significance of the drive motor, exp...
Jan 16, 2025•37 min•Ep. 42
Send us a text On this episode of The Wild Photographer Court Whelan takes you on an exciting journey into the art of Northern Lights photography. From the gear you need to choosing the best locations, Court shares his expertise and years of experience in capturing this natural wonder. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned photographer, this episode offers valuable insights to elevate your Aurora photography skills. ------------------------------------------- Want to turn your passion for phot...
Jan 02, 2025•46 min•Ep. 41
Send us a text Birds in flight are some of the most captivating and challenging subjects in wildlife photography. In this episode, I dive into the art (and a little science) of capturing those perfect airborne shots. Whether it’s a puffin soaring over Alaskan cliffs or a spoonbill gliding over Florida’s wetlands, photographing birds in motion allows you to capture their behavior, beauty, and raw essence—but it’s no easy feat. I share three key techniques to take your bird-in-flight photography t...
Dec 25, 2024•27 min•Ep. 40
Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Photographer , host Court Whelan delves into the fascinating world of conservation photography with Dana Cama. A passionate storyteller and dedicated conservationist, Dana shares her journey of blending art with advocacy to inspire change and connect audiences with nature’s beauty and challenges. ------------------------------------------- Want to turn your passion for photography into profit? Download the FREE guide now and kickstart selling your stock...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 39
Send us a text In this enlightening episode of The Wild Photographer , Court Whelan, a seasoned wildlife photographer and conservationist, takes listeners on a journey into the heart of nature photography. Sharing his personal experiences and expertise, Court unravels the secrets behind capturing stunning wildlife moments. From understanding animal behavior to mastering the art of storytelling through images, Court emphasizes the power of photography in connecting people to the natural world. --...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 38
Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Photographer , host Court Whelan dives into the art and skill of wildlife photography. Jake Willers shares valuable insights into capturing animals in their natural habitat, discussing techniques to approach wildlife ethically and effectively. He emphasizes the importance of patience, respect for the environment, and understanding animal behavior, which can make the difference between a good shot and a great one. ----------------------------------------...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 37
Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Photographer , host Court Whelan gets into the art of capturing the silky water effect in nature photography. Court explains how to create that soft, flowing look with waterfalls, rivers, and oceans, a technique often seen in professional landscape photography. He shares practical advice on selecting the right equipment, from tripods to neutral density filters, to achieve the best results. ------------------------------------------- Want to turn your pa...
Oct 31, 2024•27 min•Ep. 36
Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Photographer , host Court Whelan sits down with renowned wildlife photographer and nature guide, Eddy Savage . With over a decade of experience guiding in remote locations like the Great Bear Rainforest and the Arctic, Eddy has honed his skills in capturing stunning images of wildlife, from grizzly bears to the ethereal Northern Lights. His journey from a casual photographer to a full-time professional is one of passion, perseverance, and a deep connect...
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 35
Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Photographer , host Court Whelan explores the evolving role of physical filters in the age of digital photography. While many photographers rely heavily on post-processing software like Photoshop and Lightroom, Court argues that there are still certain filters that remain essential for achieving specific effects that digital tools can't replicate. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a photography enthusiast, this episode provides valuable insights into whi...
Sep 05, 2024•24 min•Ep. 34
Send us a text If you know you know...these are highly revered and often photographers' go-to lenses. But how do they stack up for wildlife, landscape, travel, and general nature photography? Well, I just returned from a Borneo Photo Expedition and found that I had this on my camera about 80% of the time. Yep, they're that good. In this episode I go over all the reasons why these are exceptional lenses for nature photography, but also acknowledge some of their downsides. If you'd like to help su...
Jun 19, 2024•18 min•Ep. 33
Send us a text Chris is one of the most accomplished and talented photographers in today's day and age, known for everything from extraordinary aerial landscape photography, to surf photography, to epic storytelling in the nature and adventure space. He's authored multiple books, has directed and produced sensational films, and has a business acumen that has made him a household name in the world of outdoor photography. In this episode we talk about so many things in the photography world, but g...
May 07, 2024•55 min•Ep. 32
Send us a text 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" photo ingredients like timing and aperture, but the list goes well beyond that. And frankly, it's the co...
Apr 06, 2024•38 min•Ep. 31
Send us a text 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 ambassadorship with Sony, his favorite lenses for various photo safaris, an...
Mar 08, 2024•57 min•Ep. 30
Send us a text 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 affordability. In this episode I dive into everything that makes up this ...
Feb 13, 2024•24 min•Ep. 29
Send us a text 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 way to edit photos using mostly gradients and brus...
Jan 06, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 28
Send us a text 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 about shutter speed, but also explain how ISO, aperture, focusing mechanisms and even ...
Oct 29, 2023•38 min•Ep. 27
Send us a text 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 for wildlife photography, including max telephoto length, range, build qual...
Jul 28, 2023•22 min•Ep. 26
Send us a text 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. Check out Court’s photography and conservation work: CourtWhelan.com Follow Court Whelan ( @cour...
Jun 09, 2023•18 min•Ep. 25
Send us a text 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 photography adventure. While most of my examples speak about Brown...
May 17, 2023•26 min•Ep. 24
Send us a text 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. Although I call out specific brands and models, this definitel...
Apr 21, 2023•45 min•Ep. 23
Send us a text 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. Check out Court’s photography and conservation work: CourtWhelan.com Follow Court Whelan ( @courtwhelan ) on YouTube for more photography tips Sign up for Court's conservation, travel and photography blog at www.courtwhelan.com View Court's recom...
Mar 18, 2023•19 min•Ep. 22
