Capture the Moment!
Since 2013, I’ve published hundreds of blog posts on all aspects of photography. Some are aimed at helping photographers with their technique, settings, and equipment, but others describe my exhibitions, workshops, and adventures in Africa, Antarctica, and beyond.
If you click on any article, you can subscribe for just £4.99 a year, which also gives you access to my monthly newsletter! Feel free to browse chronologically or click on any category heading for specific content, such as Trips or Hints and Tips.
If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, please drop me a line at nick@nickdalephotography.com or on +44 7942 800921.
Photographic Trips
I’ve been a professional wildlife photographer since 2013, so I often lose track of all my photographic trips! For my own reference and for yours, here’s a list of everywhere I’ve been with my favourite photos from each place.
Kings and Rollers
I’ve just spent a week as the resident photographer for Imvelo Safaris at Bomani Tented Lodge near Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. I didn’t have any dramatic encounters and mostly saw lions and birds—which was a little disappointing as I’d heard that Hwange was a good place to see the Big Five. However, it was still very enjoyable—especially as I got free accommodation as part of the deal!
Favourite Photos: The Big Five
I have a problem. My problem is that I rarely like wildlife photographs by anyone else. The first time I went round the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, I only liked 12 out of 150 photos!
How to Look After your Photo Gear
It’s ironic that the hobbies that require the most expensive equipment are often those that require the fewest precautions. If you go skiing, you might leave a very expensive pair of skis outside a restaurant while you have lunch. If you play golf, you might leave a very expensive set of clubs outside the pro shop while you have a drink. And if you’re a photographer, you might leave a very expensive camera in a tent for a week! Crazy, right?
Learn by Limiting Yourself!
Gerry van der Walt recently mentioned a couple of interesting concepts. The first is ‘the Rut of Competence’. The second is that you can improve your creativity by limiting your options. These ideas are obviously related, but can you actually learn by limiting yourself…?
Camera set-up for Nikon Z8 and Z9
If you read my Mix and Match article, you’ll know that I recently traded in one of my ⍺1 camera bodies for a new Nikon Z8 to benefit from Pre-Release Capture. Here’s a list of all my current settings.
Sales and Marketing Tips for Wildlife Photographers
Let me just say right up front that I’ve never been very good at sales and marketing. I’ve had to learn on the job, but it’s been a frustrating experience—and very hard to measure success.
Here are various tools I’ve used myself over the last couple of years. I can’t guarantee they’ll work, but at least you’ll have a few ideas…!
How to Photograph Cheetahs
I’ve taken more photos of cheetahs than any other animal, so I thought it was about time I wrote about how to do it! Whether you favour portraits or action shots, here’s an expert guide to improving your cheetah photography…
Wildlife Photography with an iPhone
Wildlife photographers are often seen as ‘big men with big guns’—ie expensive cameras with long lenses. And I’m probably one of them! When guests on safari see my 600mm lens, they often come over to talk to me about it before admitting they ‘only’ have an iPhone—sometimes blushing in embarrassment!
Silhouette City
I spent my second week in the Masai Mara at Kicheche Valley Camp, and you can probably sum it up in three words: cats, birds and silhouettes! I managed to see my ‘traditional’ cheetah kill, photographed many birds in flight and started and finished most days by taking sunrise and sunset silhouettes.
2025: The Blank Slate
This is my first blog post of 2025, so here’s what I hope to do this year...!
2024: I Had a Year in Africa...
I didn’t quite spend a whole year in Africa (only 12 weeks!), but with a little help from a successful remortgage and a hefty bank loan, I managed to pay three visits to my favourite safari destinations (Kicheche and Muchenje) and stay in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe for the very first time.
Chasing Cheetahs
The first time I stayed at Kicheche Bush Camp in the Masai Mara, I saw five cheetah kills. This time, I didn’t see any in a whole week, so I had to make do with silhouettes, leopards, cubs, birds—and a few slow pans in honour of Paul Goldstein…!
Where to See the Big Five
For most people who go on safari in Africa, it’s all about the Big Five: lions, leopards, African bush elephants, black and white rhinoceroses and African (or Cape) buffaloes. Back in the days of big game hunting, those were the five most dangerous beasts, so hunters prized them as trophies to take back home and put on their walls.
How Best to Change Your Depth of Field
Which would give you a shallower depth of field: a 400mm lens at f/2.8 or a 600mm lens at f/4? It’s actually the 600mm lens at f/4. Surprised? Well, let’s hope you didn’t go out and buy the 400mm rather than the 600mm lens for better bokeh!
10 Useful YouTube TV Tips and Tricks for Photographers
In today’s digital landscape, video streaming platforms have become essential tools for photographers—not just as sources of inspiration but also for practical knowledge, tutorials, and insights. YouTube TV, with its vast array of channels and live TV streaming, is an excellent resource for photographers aiming to stay updated on techniques, gear reviews, and industry trends.
Canon EOS R1 Review
When I first became a professional photographer, a friend told me I should either buy Canon or Nikon. I didn’t want to own anything made by a photocopier manufacturer, so I chose Nikon!
I now have a Nikon Z8 and a Sony ⍺1, but what about the Canon EOS R1? It’s been three years since the release of the R3, and the R1 is now supposed to be Canon’s flagship mirrorless camera. Am I tempted?
African Wild Dog Facts
I never used to like African wild dogs. For some reason, the different patches of colour on their coats made me think of rabbits with myxomatosis! However, seeing a pack of them corner a blue wildebeest in South Africa changed my mind. The chase was very exciting, and it took place in the most gorgeous red light at sunrise!
Sony v Nikon Field Test
Some photographers have the luxury of owning complete ranges of cameras and lenses from two (or more) different brands. Sadly, that’s not the case for me, so it was harder to compare Sony and Nikon equipment in the field.
How College Students Can Turn Photography from a Hobby into a Side Hustle
Do you enjoy chasing the ideal light for that image, experimenting with angles, or catching events? If so, you're not alone! Many college students like photography as a creative release and a different prism to view the world. Have you ever considered, though, developing that enthusiasm into anything more? Imagine if your pastime might generate more income for you while still in college.