The Wild Photographer

Court Whelan
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Learn techniques, tips, and tricks for improving your wildlife, travel, landscape, and general nature photography with Court Whelan. Whether you consider yourself a beginner, serious hobbyist, or advanced professional, this is the way to rapidly understand and implement new skills to elevate your photography to new heights.

  1. HACE 1 DÍA

    One Thing, One Frame: Talking with Jason Edwards on Powerful Storytelling Techniques, Advice on Becoming a Photographer, and Much More

    Today’s guest is National Geographic legend Jason Edwards—a photographer who doesn’t just document the world… he translates it via powerful storytelling techniques, which we cover in excellent depth in the conservation. Jason talks about storytelling as a responsibility: becoming a portal for people who may never stand where you’re standing. We dig into his deceptively simple “five frames” storytelling challenge, his ruthless “one thing per photo” rule, and a powerful litmus test: does your image land emotionally without a caption? We also get wonderfully practical—how he builds images in-camera (no object removal), how he culls his thousands of photos per trip, why “context shots” still matter even if everyone’s taken them, and how to think like a pro without getting swallowed by social media. Top 10 takeaways Storytelling = connection: you’re sharing an experience for someone who may never get to be there.The 5-frame storytelling concept forces clarity—every frame must earn its place.A single image can be “the one” if it moves someone without needing a caption.Use an adjective test (cold, lonely, chaotic, tender) to strengthen emotional storytelling.Jason’s core rule: you only get one thing in a photo—build everything around that anchor.Supporting elements are “actors,” not clutter: if it doesn’t add, it subtracts.Don’t copy the internet: avoid pre-researching other photographers’ shots if you want your story.Practice “context shots” (the obvious wide/establishing frames) so your story has structure.His culling workflow is brutally efficient: 3 passes + color labels to find the true story set.Be a pro by acting like one: protect your credit, respect your work, and don’t let social metrics define your worth.Court's Websites Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips View Court's personal and recommended camera gear Sponsors and Promo Codes: ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design. BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25) LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version

    1 h y 26 min

  2. 3 FEB

    Travel Photography 101 (and Then Some): Capturing Moments for Beautiful Memories

    In this episode of The Wild Photographer, host Court Whelan dives into a long-awaited deep dive: Travel Photography. It’s an episode designed for photographers who want their images to capture the moment during travel and adventures in a more meaningful, creative, and artistic way.  This is both a comprehensive breakdown and a highly practical guide, whether you’re shooting with a full-frame camera, a mirrorless setup, or just your smartphone. Court pulls from decades of experience as a travel photographer himself, photo guide, biologist, and expedition leader to distill what one should look for and how to capture stunning travel imagery when in the field. Listeners will learn: Why travel photography shouldn’t be an afterthought—and how prioritizing it leads to stronger memories and better storytellingHow to instantly improve compositions using angles, layers, and intentional framingWhat to look for in great light, including golden hour, blue hour, and creative use of white balanceWhen to use shallow versus deep depth of field, and how shutter speed can either freeze action or create dynamic motionPractical, respectful approaches to photographing people and street scenes without being intrusiveHow all of these techniques translate directly to smartphone photography, including exposure control, portrait mode, and simple long-exposure tricksWhether you’re preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition or documenting a weekend trip close to home, this episode delivers tools you can use immediately—no matter what camera is in your hand. Here is the small travel printer (great for sharing in-the-moment with the people you photograph) he mentions - Selphy printer - https://amzn.to/3NSi8xp Court's Websites Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips View Court's personal and recommended camera gear Sponsors and Promo Codes: ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design. BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25) LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version

    1 h y 4 min

  3. 20 ENE

    Light, Composition, Moment: Ralph Lee Hopkins, on Building a Life in Photography

    In this episode of The Wild Photographer, Court sits down with Ralph Lee Hopkins—National Geographic photo instructor, expedition leader, and one of the most influential photo guides in adventure travel—to unpack what it really means to live the life of a photographer. Ralph traces his journey from geology student to global photo mentor, sharing how photography became a way to slow down, tune in, and stay deeply present in nature. Along the way, he breaks down his core mantra—Light, Composition, Moment—and explains why mastering these fundamentals matters more now than ever. The conversation dives deep into the realities of building a sustainable photography career: shooting what you know, starting locally, developing multiple revenue streams, and understanding how travel, teaching, and storytelling intersect. Ralph also shares hard-earned lessons from decades of ship-based polar expeditions, including how to work fast in extreme conditions, simplify your kit, and stay ready when fleeting wildlife moments unfold. On the technical side, Ralph offers practical advice on exposure (why slightly overexposing can preserve color), Lightroom organization (collections are everything), and editing with restraint—letting strong images shine without over-processing. He also reflects on photography as a powerful conservation tool, emphasizing long-term projects, meaningful partnerships, and images that tell more complicated, honest stories. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with wisdom, field-tested techniques, and perspective from someone who’s spent a lifetime behind the camera—often at the edge of the world. Follow Ralph Online: Instagram: @ralphleehopkins (https://www.instagram.com/ralphleehopkins/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RalphLeeHopkinsPhotography/ Website/portfolio: RalphLeeHopkins.com (https://ralphleehopkins.zenfolio.com/) Court's Websites Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips View Court's personal and recommended camera gear Sponsors and Promo Codes: ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design. BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25) LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version

    1 h y 39 min

  4. 6 ENE

    Best Lenses and Gear for Wildlife Safari Photography

    Summary In this episode, Court Whelan discusses the essentials of wildlife photography, particularly focusing on the best lenses for wildlife safaris. He emphasizes the importance of adequate reach, low light sensitivity, and flexibility in lens choice. The conversation also covers the necessary accessories for wildlife photography, including tripods and camera bags, and concludes with recommendations for both lenses and gear to enhance the wildlife photography experience. Takeaways Wildlife photography is a pinnacle experience for photographers.Choosing the right lens is crucial for capturing wildlife.Low light sensitivity is a challenging but key consideration for wildlife photography.Flexibility in lens choice provide more photo opportunities and simplify your gear.Travel-friendly gear is essential for wildlife safaris.The 100-400mm or 200-600mm lens class is recommended for most photographers.Consider renting high-end prime lenses for specific trips.Accessories like dry bags, excellent camera bags and tripods are vital for protection.Third-party lenses may not match the quality of brand lenses, but do have oodles of options.A "nifty 50" lens can be a super fun and helpful lens for low light situations.Court's Websites Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips View Court's personal and recommended camera gear Sponsors and Promo Codes: ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design. BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25) LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version

    35 min

  5. 23/12/2025

    All About Night Photography with Jeff Pfaller: Eclipses, Stars, Fireflies, and Much More

    Court sits down with Jeff Pfaller to go deep on photographing the night: Milky Way fundamentals, foreground strategy (and why your cell phone flashlight is secretly a lighting tool), photo stacking workflows, fireflies (including the Smokies synchronous phenomenon), eclipse photography and logistics, editing philosophy, and gear that matters most when it’s 10:30pm and your fingers are questioning your life choices. Key Topics Include: The importance of planning a night photo shoot during the dayDouble exposures for night photography to capture the landscapeFirefly photographyThe mindset needed for photographing and publishing a photo bookA step by step playbook for Eclipse photographySome amazing advice for assembling the perfect camera kit for youYou can find Jeff (including his fabulous book) at: Book - https://jeffpfaller.com/products/dark-skies-photography-book Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pfallerj Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeffpfaller YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/pfallerj Court's Websites Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips View Court's personal and recommended camera gear Sponsors and Promo Codes: ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design. BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25) LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version

    1 h y 10 min

  6. 09/12/2025

    The Fundamental "Rules" of Photography

    In this episode, Court lays out a practical foundation of photography “rules” — not as rigid constraints, but as dependable starting points. These principles show up again and again because they work: they help you handle light, composition, focus, and technical settings with more confidence. Once you understand them, you can follow them when they serve the image, and break them deliberately when the scene calls for something different. The goal is simple: more intentionality, and better photographs in the field. The 14 Fundamental Rules of Photography Focus on the eyes.Use the rule of thirds.Follow the inverse focal length rule for handholding.Prioritize side lighting.Shoot during golden hour.Compose with odd numbers of subjects.Keep horizons straight.Include foreground, mid-ground, and background.Expose for the highlights.Leave space in the direction your subject is looking (eye-line rule).Avoid lines cutting through faces/heads (face-and-line rule).Use the 500 rule for astrophotography.Create subject/background separation.Simplify the frameCourt's Websites Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips View Court's personal and recommended camera gear Sponsors and Promo Codes: ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design. BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25) LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version

    42 min

  7. 25/11/2025

    What's the Deal with ISO (and why you should care...a lot)

    ISO is one of those photography tools that feels like a superpower… right up until it bites you. In this solo deep dive, Court unpacks why ISO is both a “magical unicorn” and a ruthless double-edged sword: it can rescue your shot in low light, but it can also quietly inject noise and crush editability. You’ll learn what ISO actually does (and what it doesn’t), how to think about it in terms of light and "stops" and how to use it strategically in the field—especially in the real-world low-light scenarios we all love to shoot. Court also shares his go-to ISO workflow, how to set guardrails so your camera doesn’t go rogue, and why modern de-noise software changes the risk/reward equation—but doesn’t eliminate it. If ISO has ever felt confusing, intimidating, or like the setting you touch only when you’re desperate… this episode is your new playbook.  Expect to Learn: What ISO is (in plain English)ISO as part of the Exposure TriangleStops and ISO math (the simple rule)The tradeoff: noise + reduced editabilityManual ISO vs Auto ISOAvoiding Auto ISO “oops”A field-friendly hack: slight underexposureDe-noise software: powerful but not magicTwo mechanical ways to keep ISO lowerUsing these links to purchase gear helps support the show can keeps me making more content. Thank you in advance! Camera: https://amzn.to/43MJbPQ Travel tripod: https://amzn.to/44vGAKn Travel hard drive: https://amzn.to/3KcUFpg CF card of choice: https://amzn.to/4a7mAkY SD card of choice: https://amzn.to/4pxENgb My favorite battery case: https://amzn.to/4ijn2Pe Magnetic filter set (polarizer, NDs, UV): https://amzn.to/49VtUAj Go-to Wildlife Lens (zoom telephoto): https://amzn.to/3JWeLnI Wide angle (landscapes, travel, culture): https://amzn.to/4ptkmAU Ultra-wide angle (night, northern lights, milky way): https://amzn.to/43MLTVy Travel camera backpack: https://amzn.to/47YvgJ1 Small video camera: https://amzn.to/4riVw8z Camera sensor cleaning kit: h Court's Websites Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips View Court's personal and recommended camera gear Sponsors and Promo Codes: ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design. BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25) LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version

    29 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    Talking with Will Patino: The 4 Pillars of Landscape Photography, Simple Editing Techniques, and Why he Ditched the Tripod

    Will Patino is a landscape photographer extraordinaire and excellent photography teacher. In this conversation, the New Zealand–based landscape photographer shares oh-so-many valuable tips for nature photography.  During our time together, he breaks down his Four Pillars of Landscape Photography (location, composition, light, and processing) into a field-ready mindset, how he uses balance for composition vs. solely following compositional rules, how he reliably shoots handheld at 1/8s without a tripod, and the simple local-dodge/burn workflow he uses to keep post-processing effective and artistic. We also get into topics like flow state when photographing, why he only edits on small screens, intentional motion blur, and the his sage advice to budding photographers. Lots of excellent pieces of advice in this fun conversation! Will Patino on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WilliamPatinoPhotography Will Patino on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williampatino_photography/   Workshops & Gallery:  https://williampatino.com/ || William Patino Photography Sponsors & Promos ArtStorefronts.com — Mention The Wild Photographer for a free website build (approx. $2,000 value). See an example layout at shop.courtwhelan.com. Court's Websites Check out Court’s photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com Sign up for Court's photo, conservation and travel blog at www.courtwhelan.com Follow Court on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips View Court's personal and recommended camera gear Sponsors and Promo Codes: ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design. BayPhoto.com - 25% your first order (code: TWP25) LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off Arthelper.Ai - Mention this podcast for a 6 month free trial of Pro Version

    1 h y 16 min
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Learn techniques, tips, and tricks for improving your wildlife, travel, landscape, and general nature photography with Court Whelan. Whether you consider yourself a beginner, serious hobbyist, or advanced professional, this is the way to rapidly understand and implement new skills to elevate your photography to new heights.

Información

  • Creador
    Court Whelan
  • Años de actividad
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodios
    69
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Wild Photographer
  • Mostrar sitio web
    The Wild Photographer

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