The Wild Photographer

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

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

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 day
Double exposures for night photography to capture the landscape
Firefly photography
The mindset needed for photographing and publishing a photo book
A step by step playbook for Eclipse photography
Some amazing advice for assembling the perfect camera kit for you
You 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

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 frame
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

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 Triangle
Stops and ISO math (the simple rule)
The tradeoff: noise + reduced editability
Manual ISO vs Auto ISO
Avoiding Auto ISO “oops”
A field-friendly hack: slight underexposure
De-noise software: powerful but not magic
Two mechanical ways to keep ISO lower
Using 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