The Wild Photographer

Ever looked at a photo and thought, “Why does that look so much better than mine?” 
In this solo episode, I break down the real, practical ingredients that separate good photos from truly professional ones. I cover 10+ techniques, including special times of day, dialing in your gear, ISO, tripod use, shutter speed, black & white photography, high and low key photography, editing considerations and more.
The more of these techniques you stack, the more pro your photos will become!
Court's Websites
Check out my photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
Sign up for my photo and conservation blog at www.courtwhelan.com
Follow me on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
View my camera kit and recommended camera gear
Sponsors and Promo Codes:
MPB.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design
BayPhoto.com - 25% off your first order (code: TWP25) 
ArtHelper.com - a photo community to learn, share and be inspired
Arthelper.Ai - Smart tools to promo and showcase your art.
LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

In this episode, Court sits down with pro safari photographer and guide, Richard de Gouveia, to get practical about what actually improves your wildlife and landscape images on the ground, from low-light decisions to vehicle positioning and daily image review. 
A lot is covered in this episode with so many wonderful takeaways, including best-practices when planning an African photo safari, conservation photography, the best gear, thoughts on improving your odds in photo contests and his advice for sharing photos, particularly on social media (he's got an impressive following).
The thread that ties it all together is intention: making photographs that represent something, not just collecting wildlife sightings.
Key Takeaways:
Start with the end in mind - Plan safaris around what you want to photograph, not just where you want to go—build the itinerary backward from your goals. 
A great guide is your secret weapon - The best results come from guides who understand both wildlife behavior and photography.
Stay longer, shoot better - Proper duration allows for better light, behavior, and storytelling opportunities. 
Low light is the biggest technical challenge - The best moments happen at dawn/dusk—so mastering shooting technique is critical. 
Gear matters—but only at the margins - You don’t need top-tier gear, but you do need gear that can handle motion + low light.
Big primes = power + constraints - They deliver incredible image quality and subject isolation—but require mindset shifts.
Background is everything - Great wildlife photos aren’t just about the subject—it's equally about what’s behind it.
Think in sequences, not single shots - As an animal approaches: shoot wide → mid → tight. This builds a complete visual story instead of a one-off frame. 
Review your photos daily (non-negotiable) - Why waiting until you get home is too late.
Photography is about representation, not just aesthetics - How to get your best images to mean something.

Court's Websites
Check out my photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
Sign up for my photo and conservation blog at www.courtwhelan.com
Follow me on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
View my camera kit and recommended camera gear
Sponsors and Promo Codes:
MPB.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design
BayPhoto.com - 25% off your first order (code: TWP25) 
ArtHelper.com - a photo community to learn, share and be inspired
Arthelper.Ai - Smart tools to promo and showcase your art.
LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

In this solo deep dive, I walk you through the exact camera setup I use before every shoot, every trip, and sometimes even check between battery or memory card swaps. These aren’t just preferences—they’re the important, yet often-overlooked settings that can make or break your ability to capture fleeting moments in nature photography. 
We get into the philosophy behind shooting in manual with auto ISO, why I prioritize speed and readiness for wildlife over anything else, and how I customize my camera to react as fast as the scene unfolding in front of me. From autofocus strategies and drive modes to white balance and RAW vs. JPEG, this episode is all about removing friction so you can focus on what really matters: making great photographs.
Whether you’ve just unboxed a new camera or you want to fine-tune your current setup, think of this as your field-ready blueprint for getting your gear working for you, not against you.
Not all things do I check and reset daily, but here is a quick guide for those that I do look at near-daily:
Double-check RAW is still active
Confirm drive mode it back to high-speed
Re-check autofocus settings for single point / single shot
Verify Manual + Auto ISO is set
Check exposure settings (and go back to an even exposure)
Image stabilization is turned on, both in-camera and on lenses
Court's Websites
Check out my photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
Sign up for my photo and conservation blog at www.courtwhelan.com
Follow me on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
View my camera kit and recommended camera gear
Sponsors and Promo Codes:
MPB.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design
BayPhoto.com - 25% off your first order (code: TWP25) 
ArtHelper.com - a photo community to learn, share and be inspired
Arthelper.Ai - Smart tools to promo and showcase your art.
LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

Your smartphone is already the camera you carry everywhere — and in this episode, Court makes the case for why that can make it the best camera in the world. From smarter shooting shortcuts and better composition to long exposures, portrait mode, slow motion, and simple edits, this episode is packed with practical ways to get more out of the camera that’s already in your pocket. Court also shares which phone features he actually uses, which ones he skips, and a few favorite apps for shooting and editing on the go.
What You’ll Learn
 Why your phone can genuinely become your most useful camera 
 Quick access tricks that make it easier to capture fleeting moments 
 How to improve composition with aspect ratio choices and grid lines 
 When night mode, portrait mode, and live-mode long exposures shine 
 Why pinching to zoom can reduce photo quality
 How to think about editing for photos that will mostly live on phones 
 Which smartphone features are worth using — and which Court mostly ignores 
Talked about in the Episode: 
Leica LUX App
Lightroom Mobile App
Court's Websites
Check out my photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
Sign up for my photo and conservation blog at www.courtwhelan.com
Follow me on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
View my camera kit and recommended camera gear
Sponsors and Promo Codes:
MPB.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design
BayPhoto.com - 25% off your first order (code: TWP25) 
ArtHelper.com - a photo community to learn, share and be inspired
Arthelper.Ai - Smart tools to promo and showcase your art.
LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off

In this episode I sit down with legendary photographer, guide, and longtime friend Eric Rock for a conversation packed with field-tested wisdom, big-picture perspective, and the kind of insight that only comes from a lifetime spent photographing (and guiding instructional photo tours) in wild places.
We dive into what it really takes to become a stronger nature photographer, from learning to capture a wildlife subject with intention, to building fieldcraft techniques that help you create better images before you ever touch the shutter. 
We also get into the nuts and bolts of photography: prime lenses vs. zooms, what focal lengths Eric tends to trust most for wildlife, how he thinks about exposure, and why the histogram is still one of his favorite tools on a digital camera. Eric also discusses his editing philosophy, his evolving visual style, and how photography can be used as a meaningful tool for conservation and education.
This episode is full of practical advice, but it’s also a deeper conversation about patience, purpose, and staying connected to the passion that got you into photography in the first place.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why bears are such powerful teachers for wildlife photographers
How to approach wildlife photography ethically and effectively
The importance of guides, awareness, and fieldcraft
Telephoto choices, zooms vs. primes, and lens versatility
Setting photography goals for daily practice and long-term growth
What makes a compelling travel photograph
How to become successful in nature photography today
Why the histogram still matters
Eric’s minimalist editing workflow and evolving creative style
OM System gear, favorite lenses, and surprisingly useful non-camera gear
Find Eric Rock online:
Website / portfolio: Eric Rock Photography 
Instagram: @ericsrock 
OM SYSTEM Ambassador profile: official ambassador page and learning resources 
Additional Photo Resources: Court's YouTube Channel
New Course! Conservation Communications Course
Court's Websites
Check out my photo portfolio here: shop.courtwhelan.com
Sign up for my photo and conservation blog at www.courtwhelan.com
Follow me on YouTube (@courtwhelan) for more photography tips
View my camera kit and recommended camera gear
Sponsors and Promo Codes:
MPB.com - Buy, Sell, or Trade Camera Gear
ArtStorefronts.com - Mention this podcast for free photo website design
BayPhoto.com - 25% off your first order (code: TWP25) 
ArtHelper.com - a photo community to learn, share and be inspired
Arthelper.Ai - Smart tools to promo and showcase your art.
LensRentals.com - WildPhoto15 for 15% off