The Wild Photographer

When it comes to African wildlife photography, Shem Compion has done just about everything. He is an award-winning photographer, naturalist, author, and pioneering hide builder who has spent more than 25 years exploring and photographing the wild landscapes of Africa. He is also a professional photo guide where he helps photographers experience Africa with the timing, access and creative guidance needed to come home with something truly special.
In this episode, Shem and I dig into what separates a technically good wildlife photograph from one that stops people in their tracks. For Shem, much of it comes down to combining emotion with narrative. A photograph should make the viewer feel something, but it should also tell us where the animal lives, what it is doing and why that particular moment matters.
We also explore the enormous value of photographic guides, the temptation to photograph every animal you encounter on safari and why harsh midday light is rarely your friend. Shem shares the fascinating story behind the underground photography hides at Mashatu Game Reserve, including the new overnight hide that functions almost like a wildlife photography studio, complete with controlled lighting, beds and, crucially, a coffee machine.
From there, our conversation expands into visual storytelling, conservation photography, building a lasting body of work and organizing your image library so you can actually find those photographs 15 years from now. Shem also walks us through his current Nikon kit, his relatively light-handed approach to editing and the advice he wishes he could give his younger self: take more photographs, especially of the people, experiences and behind-the-scenes moments that make a journey memorable.
Links and Resources Mentioned
Learn More About Shem...
Shem Images — Shem’s photography, books, portfolio and background
Shem Images on Instagram
C4 Photo Safaris — Shem’s specialist African photography safari company
The Rift: Scar of Africa — Shem’s long-form photography project documenting Africa’s Great Rift Valley
Purchase The Rift
Photography Hides and Safari Experiences
PhotoMashatu — Photographic experiences at Mashatu Game Reserve
Mashatu’s Underground and Overnight Hides — Information about the ground-level Matebole Hide and Lala Limpopo Sleep-Out Hide
C4 Photo Safaris at Mashatu
Conservation Photography
Wildscreen ARK — Wildscreen’s nature education and visual storytelling platform
The ARKive Legacy — The original conservation image library referenced during the conversation. ARKive went offline in 2019, but its collection of more than 100,000 wildlife images and videos remains preserved by Wildscreen.
Photo Books, Organization and Editing
Shutterfly Photo Books — One option for turning a personal photography project into a printed book
Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
Photo Mechanic — Photo-management software mentioned while discussing digital asset workflows
Nik Collection and Silver Efex — The black-and-white editing software Shem uses for selected fine-art images
Shem’s Primary Camera Kit
Nikon Z8
NIKKOR Z 180–600mm f/5.6–6.3 VR
NIKKOR Z 24–120mm f/4 S
NIKKOR Z 70–180mm f/2.8
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

Ultra-wide angle lenses may not take the majority of the photographs on a typical trip, but the images they produce can be some of the most immersive, useful and memorable. They are fantastic for astrophotography, Northern Lights, travel assignments, interiors and those experiential photographs that place the viewer right in the middle of the action.
In this episode, Court explores what qualifies as an ultra-wide angle lens, how crop-sensor conversions affect focal length, and why wider is not always better. He also compares prime and zoom lenses, explains the tradeoff between maximum aperture and field of view, and shares why approximately 20mm has become his personal sweet spot for many nighttime and travel-photography 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

In this episode of The Wild Photographer, Court takes a deep dive into one of the most important but often misunderstood parts of your camera: the digital sensor.
While camera sensors can sound technical at first, understanding how they work has a very real impact on the photos you make in the field. From ISO and noise to dynamic range, RAW files, megapixels, sensor size, rolling shutter, and even sensor dust, this episode breaks down the core concepts with practical advice in a photographer-friendly way.
Court explains the sensor as a light-gathering tool—the digital equivalent of film—and uses the helpful analogy of tiny “light buckets” to explain exposure, blown highlights, low-light performance, and why getting more real light to your sensor is often the key to better image quality.
Whether you’re photographing a jaguar at dusk, a polar bear on snow, birds in flight, or a sunrise landscape, understanding your sensor helps you make better decisions in the field. This episode is all about turning the technical side of photography into practical knowledge you can actually use.
Expect to Learn:
What a digital camera sensor actually does
The difference between photosites and pixels
Why high ISO creates noise—and why ISO is not the enemy
How sensor size affects low-light performance and dynamic range
When more megapixels help, and when they can create trade-offs
Why protecting highlights matters so much in digital photography
How RAW files preserve more of what your sensor captures
How cameras interpret color
Why a properly exposed high ISO image can beat an underexposed low ISO image
What ISO invariance and dual gain sensors mean in practical terms
When to use mechanical vs. electronic shutter
How rolling shutter can affect wildlife and action photography
What BSI and stacked sensors mean for modern camera performance
Why phone cameras are impressive—but still different from larger-sensor cameras
How to prevent and manage sensor dust in the field
Key Takeaways:
Your camera sensor is not just a spec on a camera brochure. It is the heart of your digital camera and the thing that determines how your camera receives light. Once you understand how your sensor works, you can expose more intentionally, choose ISO more confidently, protect important highlights, shoot RAW when quality matters, and make better creative decisions in the field.
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

UV filters are one of those deceptively simple pieces of camera gear that somehow manage to spark wildly passionate opinions.
Some photographers swear by them. Others won’t let them anywhere near their expensive glass. And somewhere in the middle are a whole lot of people wondering, “Wait… do I actually need one of these things?”
In this episode of The Wild Photographer, we’re taking a practical, field-tested look at UV filters: what they are, why they exist, why they mattered more in the film era, and why many photographers still use them today even though digital cameras don’t really need UV filtration in the same way.
The big shift is this: for most modern photographers, UV filters are no longer about filtering UV light. They’re about protection.
A good UV filter acts like a clear, protective layer in front of your lens. It can help shield your front element from scratches, smudges, dust, rain, mud, salt spray, and the occasional “oops, that branch was closer than I thought” moment. And for photographers who travel, guide, shoot in rough conditions, or frequently clean their gear in the field, that extra layer can provide a lot of peace of mind.
But there are trade-offs. Cheap filters can potentially degrade image quality, stacking filters can cause issues like vignetting or optical weirdness, and if you’re using extremely high-end prime lenses, there’s a very reasonable argument that you may not want to place a lower-quality piece of glass in front of a truly elite lens.
So this episode is less about declaring UV filters “good” or “bad,” and more about understanding when they make sense, when they don’t, and how to shop for one if you decide to use them.
UV Filter Product Links Mentioned
Here are the UV filter brands and shopping resources mentioned in the episode:
PolarPro QuartzLine UV Filters — a higher-end UV filter option with quartz glass, anti-reflection coatings, scratch protection, and no exposure adjustment needed.
Hoya UV Filters at B&H Photo — Hoya offers a wide range of UV and protective filters, including multi-coated and higher-end HD options.
Hoya HD3 UV Filter — a premium Hoya UV filter with nano multicoating, scratch resistance, water and oil repellency, and no exposure change.
B+W UV-Haze MRC MASTER Filter — a high-quality UV protection filter with MRC nano coating and low reflective qualities.
B+W Clear Protection Filter — a clear protective filter option designed to protect against dust, fingerprints, splashing water, and other field hazards.
B&H Photo Protective and UV Filters — a useful place to compare UV, haze, and protective filters by size, brand, price, and coating type.
Lensrentals — a place where photographers can research or rent gear, including filters depending on availability.
Final Takeaway
UV filters are not magic. They will not transform your photos, make your colors explode, or really much of anything when it comes to look.
But a good UV filter can protect your lens, make cleaning easier, reduce stress in rugged field conditions, and help preserve resale value. For most lenses, especially everyday travel, wildlife, and landscape lenses, I think they’re a very smart investment.
The key is to buy a good one. Look for reputable brands, multi-coated glass, and a price point that matches the quality of the lens you’re protecting.
And when you’re stacking filters, working with ultra-premium glass, or chasing the absolute highest optical quality possible, that may be the time to take the UV filter off and let the lens do its thing.

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

There’s a big difference between taking a photo of wildlife and making a wildlife photograph.
That’s really the heart of this episode. In Wildlife Photography 102 and 103, we move beyond the basics and into the field-tested techniques that help transform a good wildlife sighting into a more captivating, artful, professional-looking image.
This isn’t about needing the fanciest camera or the biggest lens. It’s about learning how to stack the deck in your favor, first with Technique... choosing your angle, understanding light, reading behavior, waiting for the moment, managing your background, and dialing in the right settings so that when the magic happens, you’re ready for it. And, why the best wildlife photographers are often the ones who watch first and shoot second.
Then we shift into the Settings side of the equation: why shooting in RAW is such a game changer, why I love manual mode with Auto ISO, how to think about shutter speed for calm wildlife versus true action, and when to use burst mode or pre-record features to capture moments that happen faster than your brain can react.
The overall goal? To move past the “field guide shot” and create wildlife images that feel more alive, more intentional, and more memorable.
In This Episode
We cover:
How to avoid the classic “field guide shot”
Why low angles create more intimate and aesthetic wildlife images
How telephoto lenses can help lower your effective shooting angle
How background separation creates that pro-level wildlife portrait look
Why distance between the animal and background matters so much
How to choose backgrounds based on color, texture, pattern, and layers
Why patience is often the secret ingredient in great wildlife photography
How to wait for the best moment instead of settling for the obvious one
What catch light is and why it brings life into an animal’s eye
Why shooting to edit can improve your compositions
How golden hour, clouds, and dramatic weather can elevate your photos
When spot metering can create more dramatic or unexpected exposures
Why shooting in RAW is essential for advanced editing
Why manual mode plus Auto ISO is my favorite setup for wildlife
How to think about shutter speed for different kinds of wildlife behavior
When to use motion blur creatively
How panning can create streaky, dynamic wildlife images
Why burst mode is so useful for fleeting behavior
How pre-record features can help capture pounces, takeoffs, breaches, and other split-second moments
Final Thoughts
Wildlife Photography 102 and 103 is really about becoming more intentional and creating art vs. just documenting what you saw. It’s the shift from “I saw something amazing” to “I made something compelling out of the moment.”
That comes from little choices that add up: getting lower, watching the background, waiting for behavior, catching the light in the eye, choosing the right shutter speed, and giving yourself room to edit. None of these techniques require perfection. They just require awareness — and a willingness to slow down, observe, and make decisions before the moment disappears.
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