The Wild Photographer

• 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 PhotographyFocus 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

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• 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/43MJbPQTravel tripod: https://amzn.to/44vGAKnTravel hard drive: https://amzn.to/3KcUFpgCF card of choice: https://amzn.to/4a7mAkYSD card of choice: https://amzn.to/4pxENgbMy favorite battery case: https://amzn.to/4ijn2PeMagnetic filter set (polarizer, NDs, UV): https://amzn.to/49VtUAjGo-to Wildlife Lens (zoom telephoto): https://amzn.to/3JWeLnIWide angle (landscapes, travel, culture): https://amzn.to/4ptkmAUUltra-wide angle (night, northern lights, milky way): https://amzn.to/43MLTVyTravel camera backpack: https://amzn.to/47YvgJ1Small video camera: https://amzn.to/4riVw8zCamera sensor cleaning kit: hCourt'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

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• 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/@WilliamPatinoPhotographyWill Patino on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williampatino_photography/ Workshops & Gallery:  https://williampatino.com/ || William Patino PhotographySponsors & PromosArtStorefronts.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

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• Tricks for Tricky Lighting - How to Take Great Photos even in Bad Light

  Harsh midday highlights, blinding backlight, gloomy overcast, barely-there dawn… and full-on darkness. In this episode of The Wild Photographer, Court breaks down five common lighting scenarios that routinely present challenges for even experienced shooters—and gives you practical, field-tested fixes for each. From when to lean into the shadows, to when to under-expose, to the advantages of black-and-white photography, you’ll get settings, positioning tips, and creative pivots you can use on your very next outing.What you’ll learnHow to tame harsh midday light with even lighting, B&W conversions, fast shutters, and deep depth of field (hello, f/22 starbursts).Smart ways to handle backlighting: underexpose to protect highlights, pivot your position to remove sky, or embrace high-key silhouettes.Low-light playbook for golden hour: fast glass vs. slower zooms, workable shutter rules with IBIS, intentional motion blur, and when to “shoot dark.”Why flat, cloudy light is secretly great—and how to add shape and depth with composition, shallow DOF, and selective post work.A simple, repeatable night wildlife recipe (spot metering + auto ISO + shallow aperture + slight underexposure) that actually works.Chapter markers00:00 – Welcome & Episode Setup: Five “tricky light” scenarios you’ll face in the field.02:05 – Sponsors & Resources: Art Storefronts overview + Lensrentals promo; YouTube & blog pointers.06:30 – Harsh Midday Light: Seek even light; when to go black & white; leverage F11–F22 and ultra-fast shutters; birds-in-flight at noon.14:55 – Backlighting: Why highlights are hard to recover; underexpose a touch, use spot metering, minimize sky by changing your angle/elevation; creative high-key looks.23:40 – Low Light / Golden Hour: Start at widest aperture; practical shutter targets with/without IBIS; widen out if needed; intentional motion blur & panning; purposefully underexpose for mood.34:10 – Flat, Cloudy Light: Even light advantages; watch for edge-of-cloud transitions; add depth via background distance and shallow DOF; post tweaks (contrast, clarity, dehaze).42:45 – Night Wildlife: The simple settings stack; why spot metering + underexposure isolates the subject and keeps the scene clean.49:30 – Wrap-Up & Next Steps: Recap, podcast reviews, where to find Court’s portfolio and videos.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

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• My Most Popular Episode (Re-Release): How Pro Photographers Get Perfect Wildlife Portraits

  Ever wonder what makes a professional wildlife portrait pop? In this fan-favorite episode, Court breaks down the secrets behind tack-sharp eyes, buttery-smooth backgrounds, and that magical “pro photo” look. You’ll learn how aperture, telephoto compression, and background distance all work together to make your shots stand out. From choosing your f-stop to post-processing blur and sharpening tricks, this episode is a masterclass in getting your wildlife portraits to wow.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

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