Pinterest

Blog

My thoughts on various photographic subjects #onsafariwithnickdale #wildlifephotography #photography

·

365 Pins

4d

Collection by

Nick Dale | Wildlife Photographer

I held my latest wildlife photography workshop at the London Wetland Centre this morning in association with Handmade Workshops. We had five people, and it was very enjoyable—I hope for them as well as me!

Workshops

1 Pin

The African buffalo is so dangerous that it’s been called ‘Black Death’, and it’s responsible for killing around 200 people a year in Africa. The fact that it’s so dangerous is one of the reasons why trophy hunters added it to the list of the Big Five, alongside the lion, leopard, elephant and rhino. #africanbuffalo #buffalo #capebuffalo

Lions like to sleep. And they do it a LOT - around 20 to 22 hours a day, in fact. This can be a bit frustrating if you happen to be a wildlife photographer, but it’s worth the effort! #lionfacts #lionfactsforkids

Abdim's stork

Wildlife

48 Pins

What level of wildlife photographer are you? Are you a beginner, intermediate, enthusiast, prosumer, professional—or something else entirely…?! Here’s a fun quiz to see where you fit. It’s out of 100. Score a point for everything you’ve ever done, add up your points and check the table at the end to see what kind of photographer you really are!

"Well, that's the last time I'm flying Kingfisher!" Nick Odermatt

Submission Review - Nick Dale Photography

Competitions

8 Pins

I recently became an affiliate for Skylum’s Luminar Neo. This is post-processing software similar to Lightroom, and I thought I’d try it out to see what it was like.

Photographs are flat, 2D images, but how can you make them appear three-dimensional? Inspired by a couple of videos by Matt Kloskowski and Steve Perry, here are a few Lightroom tricks to create depth by separating your subject from the background.

Wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein thinks I take too many pictures, and it’s probably true. I once took over 38,000 shots of seabirds on a cruise ship one afternoon in Antarctica! Personally, I blame my Sony a1’s high frame rate—I mean, what’s a poor photographer to do…?! #Lightroom #bulkediting #onsafariwithnickdale

Lightroom

13 Pins

Size isn’t everything, as they say, but there’s nothing like the power, reach and feel of a long lens. It gets you where the action is and lets you take close-ups of skittish and possibly dangerous wild animals. You still need other types of lenses, of course, but they’re far less glamorous!

“Hello, my name’s Nick, and I’m a cameraholic.” There’s something very addictive about buying a new camera. You get obsessed with the idea of owning something that has the latest features, and you simply have to have it…!

I used to have a Benro GH5C gimbal head, but I swapped it for a Gitzo GHFG1. If you want to find out why, read on…

Equipment

30 Pins

Most of the amateur photographers I meet don’t use manual mode. They think it’s just too intimidating. However, you can make it a lot less scary by using auto ISO to control the exposure.

Every now and then, people tell me they recognise my photographic ‘style’, but I’m never sure what that means. I guess I just do what comes naturally, so it seems strange to think of myself as having a particular ‘style’, but I guess I do.

⁣Matt Kloskowski once said there was no such thing as a professional wildlife photographer. That’s not quite true, but it is very hard to make a full-time living from it. So what are you supposed to do when you’re not on a shoot?

Hints and tips

129 Pins

I’ve just come back from a five-day visit to Lake Kerkini in Greece to photograph the Dalmatian pelicans. I usually prefer the Big Five to birds, so it wasn’t my normal sort of trip, but it was good fun, and I was happy with my pictures—and that’s the main thing!

I had quite a quiet 2022 in terms of trips, but I’d like to go on a few more this year. Visiting Muchenje a couple of times was very enjoyable, but I’m looking for a bit more variety. I already have two trips planned, one to Kerkini in Greece to see the Dalmation pelicans and one to Bandhavgarh in India to see the tigers, and there might be more on the way. We shall see.

Elephants, leopards, wild dogs, roan and sable antelopes, lions attacking a baby elephant, boat rides, lovely people, another beef Wellington, but problems with my camera and not as many bee-eaters as I’d hoped. That was the story of my second trip to Muchenje Safari Lodge in Botswana—this time in the dry season. #muchenje #chobe #botswana #onsafariwithnickdale

Trips

89 Pins

This is my last blog post of 2022, so I thought I'd give you a quick recap of what I got up to during the last 12 months.

Wildlife as you've never seen it before...

Grevy's zebra watercolour

Other

46 Pins

Similar ideas popular now

Wildlife Photography

Animal Photography

Pros And Cons Of Using Auto ISO

Most of the amateur photographers I meet don’t use manual mode. They think it’s just too intimidating. However, you can make it a lot less scary by using auto ISO to control the exposure.

What Style Of Photographer Are You?

Every now and then, people tell me they recognise my photographic ‘style’, but I’m never sure what that means. I guess I just do what comes naturally, so it seems strange to think of myself as having a particular ‘style’, but I guess I do.

What Lenses Do You Need For Wildlife Photography? Mirrorless Vs Dslr, Autofocus, Dik Dik, Lilac Breasted Roller, Too Close For Comfort, Best Dslr, Body Shots, Wide Angle, Wildlife Photography

Mirrorless Vs Dslr

Lilac Breasted Roller

Too Close For Comfort

Wildlife Photography

Size isn’t everything, as they say, but there’s nothing like the power, reach and feel of a long lens. It gets you where the action is and lets you take close-ups of skittish and possibly dangerous wild animals. You still need other types of lenses, of course, but they’re far less glamorous!

What camera do you need for wildlife photography?

“Hello, my name’s Nick, and I’m a cameraholic.” There’s something very addictive about buying a new camera. You get obsessed with the idea of owning something that has the latest features, and you simply have to have it…!

Quiz: Never Have I Ever... Online Photography Course, Photography Courses, Bridge Camera, African Buffalo, Dslr Or Mirrorless, Time Lapse Photography, Never Have I Ever, Side Income

Online Photography Course

Photography Courses

African Buffalo

Dslr Or Mirrorless

Time Lapse Photography

Never Have I Ever

What level of wildlife photographer are you? Are you a beginner, intermediate, enthusiast, prosumer, professional—or something else entirely…?! Here’s a fun quiz to see where you fit. It’s out of 100. Score a point for everything you’ve ever done, add up your points and check the table at the end to see what kind of photographer you really are!

Lake Kerkini Types Of Shots, Visit Africa, One Of The Guys, Blue Mirrors, Getting Drunk, Local Restaurant, Birds Flying, Shutter Speed, Dalmatian

One Of The Guys

Local Restaurant

I’ve just come back from a five-day visit to Lake Kerkini in Greece to photograph the Dalmatian pelicans. I usually prefer the Big Five to birds, so it wasn’t my normal sort of trip, but it was good fun, and I was happy with my pictures—and that’s the main thing!

First Impressions Of Luminar Neo How To Use Lightroom, Raw Photo, Splash Screen, Post Processing, Image Editing, Neo

How To Use Lightroom

Post Processing

I recently became an affiliate for Skylum’s Luminar Neo. This is post-processing software similar to Lightroom, and I thought I’d try it out to see what it was like.

What Should Wildlife Photographers do Between Trips? Photography Competitions, Leopards, Just Don, Taking Pictures, Pet Birds, Matt, Professional, Trip

Photography Competitions

Taking Pictures

⁣Matt Kloskowski once said there was no such thing as a professional wildlife photographer. That’s not quite true, but it is very hard to make a full-time living from it. So what are you supposed to do when you’re not on a shoot?

A Lightroom Trick to Separate Subject from Background Online Photography, Lightroom Tricks, Button Quail, Black Backed Jackal, Blue Wildebeest, Stonechat, Plains Zebra

Online Photography

Lightroom Tricks

Black Backed Jackal

Blue Wildebeest

Photographs are flat, 2D images, but how can you make them appear three-dimensional? Inspired by a couple of videos by Matt Kloskowski and Steve Perry, here are a few Lightroom tricks to create depth by separating your subject from the background.

Where Next in 2023...? Animal Photography, Color Photography, Digital Photography, Big Cats, Cool Cats, Tiger Facts, Low Key Portraits, Fusion Art

Animal Photography

Color Photography

Digital Photography

Low Key Portraits

I had quite a quiet 2022 in terms of trips, but I’d like to go on a few more this year. Visiting Muchenje a couple of times was very enjoyable, but I’m looking for a bit more variety. I already have two trips planned, one to Kerkini in Greece to see the Dalmation pelicans and one to Bandhavgarh in India to see the tigers, and there might be more on the way. We shall see.

Update Your Metadata! Time Zone Map, Worrying Too Much, First Blog Post, Nag, Kinds Of People, Company Names, My Images

Worrying Too Much

First Blog Post

Kinds Of People

I’ve decided to use my first blog post of 2023 to be a nag! Apologies in advance, but I just thought it was worth reminding you to keep your metadata up-to-date. Not everyone is going to be as OCD as I am, but that’s as good a reason as any for this article…

Which Tripod Head Should I Buy? Still Photography, Wildlife Fotografie, Camera Shop, Camera Equipment, Control System, Tripod, Cartridges, Whip

Still Photography

Wildlife Fotografie

Camera Equipment

I used to have a Benro GH5C gimbal head, but I swapped it for a Gitzo GHFG1. If you want to find out why, read on…

2022: I had a Lodge in Africa... Outdoor Photography, Instagram Reach, Looking Forward To Seeing, Funny Faces, Recap, Contemporary Artists

Outdoor Photography

Instagram Reach

Looking Forward To Seeing

Contemporary Artists

This is my last blog post of 2022, so I thought I'd give you a quick recap of what I got up to during the last 12 months.

How to Take Backlit Shots Miss Saigon, Avoid Distractions, Rim Light, Towards The Sun, My Settings, Wildebeest, Safari Park

Avoid Distractions

Towards The Sun

Sometimes as a photographer, you need to make a difficult decision: do you want to take a good shot or a great shot? There’s a big difference, and it affects your whole approach. Backlighting is a good example.

Mirrorless Shootout! Best Camera, Nikon Dslr, Camera Nikon, Dslr Cameras, Sony Electronics, Still Camera, Dslrs, Cmos Sensor

Sony Electronics

One of the great frustrations of owning a camera is that the different mounts aren’t compatible. You can’t simply buy the best camera body and the best lenses because they might not fit together! However, you might be able to get a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card if you’re considering switching from a DSLR to a mirrorless camera. Here’s a guide to your best strategy. #sonya1 #sony #NikonZ9 #Nikon #mirrorless #mirrorlesscameras #sonyvnikon #a1vz9 #cameras

Sony a1 vs Nikon D850

If you’re a photographer thinking about switching to mirrorless, I just thought it might be useful to read about someone else’s experience doing the same thing. I used to have an extensive collection of Nikon camera bodies, lenses and accessories, including a D850. However, I switched to the Sony mirrorless system last year, and I now have two Sony a1 cameras. #sony #sonya1 #d850 #d850nikon #nikon #onsafariwithnickdale

Mirrorless Autofocus Settings

I’ve been using a Sony a1 for over a year now, so I feel like the time has come to talk about the autofocus settings. I used to have a series of Nikon DSLRs (the D800, D810 and D850), and I’d never used a mirrorless camera before. However, it was pretty easy to learn, and even now I’m still amazed by the sharpness of the images. #mirrorlessautofocus #autofocus #mirrorless

Nine Ways to Sex African Wildlife Vervet Monkey, Leopard Cub, Ostriches, Safari Lodge, African Wildlife, Baboon, Safari Animals

African Wildlife

I’m always keen to learn, but one thing I’m not very good at is working out whether safari animals are male or female. I know a few of the rules, but it’s easy to make a mistake—and that can be a bit embarrassing! #rhinos #elephants #onsafariwithnickdale

Four Ways to Photograph African Birds in Flight Birds Flying Away, Birds In Flight, Big Bird, Small Birds, Fast Shutter Speed, Most Beautiful Birds

Birds Flying Away

Birds In Flight

Fast Shutter Speed

Most Beautiful Birds

Most people prefer wildlife action shots to portraits, and I’m no different. I also spend a lot of time on safari, so I end up taking quite a few pictures of African birds in flight. Even the most beautiful bird looks better on the wing than on a twig, so it’s worth the wait! Here are a few tips to help you get the best possible results—depending on the size of the bird. #birdsinflight #birdinflight #wildlifephotography #onsafariwithnickdale

Muchenje...again!

Elephants, leopards, wild dogs, roan and sable antelopes, lions attacking a baby elephant, boat rides, lovely people, another beef Wellington, but problems with my camera and not as many bee-eaters as I’d hoped. That was the story of my second trip to Muchenje Safari Lodge in Botswana—this time in the dry season. #muchenje #chobe #botswana #onsafariwithnickdale

Bulk Editing in Lightroom Cheetah Pictures, Set Cover, Lightroom Editing, Sea Birds, Antarctica, Blame

Cheetah Pictures

Lightroom Editing

Wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein thinks I take too many pictures, and it’s probably true. I once took over 38,000 shots of seabirds on a cruise ship one afternoon in Antarctica! Personally, I blame my Sony a1’s high frame rate—I mean, what’s a poor photographer to do…?! #Lightroom #bulkediting #onsafariwithnickdale

Goodwood Revival 2022

I don’t get out much these days, so when my friend Jason invited me to Goodwood Revival, I was delighted to accept. He sorted everything out, so all I needed to do was enjoy a slap-up breakfast at The Kennels, take pictures of all the classic cars and enjoy the sunshine! #Goodwood #Revival #cars #classiccars

How To Become A Resident Photographer Photography Awards, Extreme Photography, Lion Facts, Panthera Leo, Serengeti National Park, Male Lion

Photography Awards

Extreme Photography

Serengeti National Park

A few years ago, I asked Andy Skillen how to win clients as a wildlife photographer. He didn’t tell me, but he did tell me a story of the ‘dream scenario’. He had an enquiry from a group of managers who wanted to buy a retirement present for their departing chairman. They wanted it to be a picture of a row of five hippos in the water, all looking towards the camera. #onsafariwithnickdale #wildlifephotography #photographer

Eight Steps to Becoming a Great Wildlife Photographer Wildlife Photos, Nick Brandt, Frans Lanting, Save The Tiger, Map Shop, Great Photographers, Cliche, I Decided

Wildlife Photos

Great Photographers

I saw a post the other day on what makes a great wildlife photographer, and I didn’t like it. Not because it was badly written, but because there were an awful lot of generalisations that I’m sure don’t apply half the time. That’s why I decided to write this piece as a ‘how to’ guide instead. That makes a lot more sense to me.

Social Media for Photographers Social Media Success, Social Media Logos, Free High Resolution Images, Social Network Icons, Internet Usage, Local Area Network, T Line, Past Papers, Tech Updates

Social Media Success

Social Media Logos

Free High Resolution Images

Social Network Icons

Local Area Network

Are you confused about how to use social media as a photographer? Do you have personal accounts but not business accounts? Do you struggle to understand the difference between all the platforms? Would you like to get started but don’t know how? #socialmedia #photography #Facebook