Photo How To

Photography is all about light, and unless you understand the inner workings of your camera’s metering system and know how to arrive at correct exposures you’re never going to be pleased with your photographs.

Photographing wildlife in their natural habitat has always been both challenging and rewarding. Whether you develop a business selling the use of the images or leading workshop tours, this field requires a special combination of passion and patience. In this article, we look at how and where wildlife photos can be sold as well as prospects to pursue and pitfalls to avoid. Special thanks to our four contributors: Sean Crane; Barbara Fleming (Fleming Safari Company, LLC); Eric Horan (Lowcountry Photo Safaris); and Josh Patterson.

Zoos, wildlife parks and farms are some of my favorite places to recommend taking pictures, especially when you are looking to build your portfolio with a diverse subject matter. They offer many opportunities to learn how to photograph rare animals as well as teach you how to cope with challenging environments and locations, similar to what you would encounter if you were on safari on the savannahs of Tanzania or tracking tigers in the jungles of Borneo.

Back in the days when 35mm cameras were king, photographers typically chose film to suit the situation at hand; perhaps Kodachome 25 or Velvia 50 for landscapes with vivid colors, and something like Kodak Portra 400 for portraits when a less punchy look was desired.

This may be strange to hear from a travel photographer, but I can make a case that location isn’t everything—light is. And I’d build my argument on the fact that the right light brings out the best in any location.

Have you ever wanted to see your photos exhibited in a real gallery or put on display as part of a photography show? Shutterbug photographer Jordan Matter has ten great tips in the video in this story on how to make that happen.

New York photographer Brandon Woelfel is a force to be reckoned with on Instagram, with a unique shooting style and over a million followers. Last week we shared a free Lightroom preset to give your images the “Brandon Woelfel Effect,” and in the video below you’ll learn how to mimic his style in camera.