Indian Wildlife Photographer Reacts to Thomas Heaton in India

Ok, now we’re getting a bit meta, because this is me reacting to an Indian wildlife photographer reacting to a Thomas Heaton video. But, there’s some top-notch advice in here. He talks about how Thomas automatically opted for 500mm to photograph tigers, but a mid-telephoto would have been a far better choice. And I think this goes for a lot of wildlife. I’m lucky enough to live on the whale superhighway – they swim past my front-door twice a year en route to Antarctica or the warmer breeding grounds near the equator and I’ve photographed them often enough to know that a really big tele is absolutely the wrong choice – 70-200 and a bit of wiggle room either side is 100% the way to go.

You’ve Never Seen a Real Photo

Thought I’d heard about all kinds of photography. Turns out I hadn’t.

Whatever Happened to the Cameras of the Future

If you’re not British then you may not have heard of Tomorrow’s World – a very famous BBC show that ran for an incredible 38 years, but was cancelled in 2003. They covered all the latest innovative science and technology and in this clip, from 1990, they take a look at ‘future cameras’. Check out the bonkers Minolta!

Sam Campbell’s Ultimate Photo-Editing Tutorial

I must admit that I was struck by the similarity between Ultromedia Please and On1 PhotoRAW in this in-depth presentation.

Most Photography Content Won’t Teach You This

Great think-piece by Justin Mott in which he argues that there is a world of difference between ‘good’ and ‘memorable’ and most of us are chasing the wrong option.

I Tried Pinhole Photography For The First Time

I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago about how we stopped just ‘doing’ hobbies and it certainly seemed to strike a chord with a lot of people. Well, here’s a young lad that kind of embodies that sentiment – the idea of doing stuff just because it’s an enjoyable thing to do. Harry got sent a pinhole camera and he explores his local area (very lovely too) and gets some great pinhole shots.

How To Take Whimsical Photos, Anywhere

I’m a big fan of whimsical photos and while I can recognise them in my photo library I’d have a harder time articulating why I find them so. Thankfully Hunter does a great job here. This is a great style of photography to try because you can do it literally everywhere.

Why I’m 3D Printing My Own Camera Gear

I’ve been thinking about getting a 3D printer for ages and it’s for precisely the sort of projects that George showcases in this video. Step-up rings? Yes, please.

The Japanese Philosophy That Makes Better Photographers

This one goes right to the heart of my own philosophy, that chasing perfection is not only futile, but it’s hurting your photography.

Linear Camera Profiles in Lightroom And How to Use Them

Interesting stuff this. I must admit I’ve never fully explored using linear profiles in my edits. I knew they existed and understand the logic, but this is a great walkthrough for a practical implementation. Key benefits – more natural colours and better highlight recovery.

You’re Gonna Die One Day

No, not about photography and not by a photographer. But just a gentle reminder to stop sweating the little things, to grab your camera and scratch a creative itch for the benefit of nobody but yourself. Go get in your own head for a bit.

That’s your lot for this edition – winter here in Australia, but mid-summer in the northern hemisphere. Hopefully something to inspire and/or educate you whatever season you’re in. If you enjoyed this email then consider subscribing to my Substack.