Even though photography is a creative craft, a certain amount if technical knowledge is required to lift that craft to the next level. For me, one of the most important skills any aspiring wildlife photographer should learn is the understanding and control of the depth of field (DOF) in their images. The ability to isolate [...]
I trust that you had a fantastic Xmas and that you have settled into somewhat of a normal eating pattern after the obligatory overindulgence of the silly season! We had a fantastic time with family and now, being back at the lodge, it already feels like months ago. Great memories though. Fresh from a few [...]
A big thanks to Pieter Pretorius for his guest post and video yesterday. I was lucky enough to to meet Pieter last year when I did a drive for WildEarth TV. He is truly one of the nicest people you can imagine and his passion for what he does shines through in his images. Personally [...]
Lightroom presets have opened up a whole new world of one click creative possibilities. Love them or hate them they are here to stay. It has been pouring with rain for the last three days so in order to kill some time I had a look through some Lightroom presets. A preset is a series [...]
If you have ever gotten confused by all the toolbars in Lightroom try going solo. The above screen capture shows, in red, the panels & sliders you use in Lightroom when processing images. Very user friendly once you know your way around things but it can feel very messy at times as well. If you [...]
Still in the process of bringing some older posts across since the move to Worpdress. This is one of them and more coming soon. Why do we stop to have a drink when the sun sets? I am all for having a drink and watching the sun set, and for some this is a near-religious [...]
The processing of wildlife images remain a highly debated subject. Yes or no? If yes, how much? Recently I was asked how a specific wildlife photograph could be processed in Photoshop or Lightroom in order to improve it. Wait!! Before we all get excited and start arguing the rights and wrongs of processing wildlife images [...]
The histogram is a graphical representation of the tonal range (exposure) of an image. If you shoot with a digital camera you will be able to check the histogram of every image as soon as you have clicked the shutter. This is one of the most helpful tools you can use in the field. The [...]
(Nikon D300, Sigma 50-500 @ 195mm, 1/640, f/8.0, ISO 250) We all know when we like am image. It has to do with the composition, subject, our mood on the day and a myriad of other variables. One of those, and probably one of the more important ones, include exposure and levels of light and dark in the image. I am [...]
There has been a lot of talk as to whether you should under or overexpose when shooting with a digital camera. The answer is simple. You should expose correctly. Ok, let’s look at it a little closer. Your goal should always be to expose your image as correctly as possible. That is ultimately your goal [...]
One of the most asked questions out in the field must be “Which mode should I be using?” It depends on what you want your image to show. The story you want to tell or the action you want to capture. If you always shoot in Auto or Program mode you are allowing the camera [...]
Known locally as Ingwe, meaning “pure sovereignty”, the leopard can still be found on farmland as well as other habitats throughout Southern Africa where they co-exist with their human neighbours depending on the attitudes of both parties. Game Reserves that are inadequate in size to hold most big cats such as lion and cheetah, show [...]
Louis Psihoyos, Director of the most awarded and ultimately successful Activist Film to date ‘The Cove’ said it best for me when he exclaimed … “You are either an Activist or an Inactivist. I chose to become active”. Well, some years back I tipped into this very Active Mode when my Camera Lens no longer [...]
A name that is certainly not unfamiliar in the natural world, is “The Kalahari”. Many people, although they haven’t been there, have heard about this strange hinterland where African bushveld merges with Namib desert in a marriage that produces one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. Covering a massive 900,000 square kilometers and [...]
Welcome to September! Before we get going with this month’s free wallpaper downloads, a big thanks to Brendon Cremer for his guest post yesterday. I am sure you will agree – that is about as good a leopard photography gets! Truly spectacular photographs! Thanks for sharing! Make sure to go and check out Brendon’s site [...]
Welcome to August! I am sure that by now you know how this works. If not, it’s simple. Simply scroll down, choose your favorite image, click to download and save. Simple as that and the best part, apart from the handy little calendar – it’s free! I will be posting a few iPhone wallpapers in [...]
