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

In today's episode, Court records in-location while prepping to photograph the Rocky Mountains from Boulder, Colorado—then pours a couple decades of landscape photography lessons into a practical, no-fluff playbook. From where to focus (so everything’s sharp) to when to shoot (with specifics for best times of day), to nearly a dozen other tips, this is a field guide you can use immediately—whether you’re shooting mirrorless, DSLR, or point-and-shoot. He concludes with bonus content on editing and forecasting for the best weather and sun position.

Summary

Landscape photography gets dramatically easier when you simplify it into a repeatable workflow:

1. Build the scene in layers (foreground, mid-ground, background).
2. Lock in focus and stability (hyperfocus “one-third in,” tripod, and a no-shake shutter method).
3. Let time-of-day do the magic (golden hour + blue hour are your unfair advantage).
4. Nail exposure the smart way (manual settings, protect highlights, and hedge with slight underexposure).
5. Edit with intention, not chaos (masking first, then a few powerful sliders).
6. Scout light and weather (and use tools like Sun Surveyor to predict where the sun will be in relation to your subject).

Mentioned Resources & Links

Sun Surveyor (official site): https://www.sunsurveyor.com/

Will Patino's Editing Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@WilliamPatinoPhotography

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

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 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 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 storytelling
• How to instantly improve compositions using angles, layers, and intentional framing
• What to look for in great light, including golden hour, blue hour, and creative use of white balance
• When to use shallow versus deep depth of field, and how shutter speed can either freeze action or create dynamic motion
• Practical, respectful approaches to photographing people and street scenes without being intrusive
• How all of these techniques translate directly to smartphone photography, including exposure control, portrait mode, and simple long-exposure tricks

Whether 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 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 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 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

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 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