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.
Feel free to browse chronologically or click on any category heading for specific content, such as Equipment, 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.
Bushy Park
Photography can be a solitary business, but every now and then I manage to take pictures with a friend. Tammy Marlar is a fellow photographer, and she’s always on at me to go and take pictures in the local parks. Well, this time, she was successful!
Which Exposure Mode Should I Use?
Exposure modes (or ‘shooting modes’ or ‘camera modes’) are just different ways of controlling the three elements of the Exposure Triangle: aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
How to Use a Mirrorless Camera
Most people buying a mirrorless camera these days will be switching from a DSLR. Using a mirrorless is a little bit different, so here’s my guide to help you make the transition.
There are a few key differences, and I’ve divided them up into which camera to buy, how to customise it, which settings to use, plus sections on shooting mode, the EVF and custom buttons.
Wildlife Photography Workshop
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!
20 Photography Mistakes to Avoid
There are lots of articles and books about how to take pictures, but there aren’t so many about how NOT to take pictures. This is a list of the silly mistakes we all make—and should all try to avoid. I’ve illustrated them with some of my own worst photos, so you can take heart from the fact that even I can be a bit of a muppet sometimes…!
Muchenje
Little bee-eaters, Portakabins, elephants, boat rides, more little bee-eaters, an FA Cup final, lovely people, a lunar eclipse, more elephants and a beef Wellington. That just about sums up my trip to Muchenje Safari Lodge in Botswana!
Open Letter to Corporate Clients
Have you ever wished you had more inspiring artwork on the walls of your offices? Have you ever struggled to find the right text and images for your website or social media accounts? Have you ever searched in vain for decent video content?
My New Mirrorless Equipment
Last week, I told you about my conversion from a Nikon DSLR user to a Sony mirrorless customer. Here’s a quick summary of my new kit.
DSLR vs Mirrorless
Until last year, I’d always been a Nikon man. Then it all changed, first gradually and then all of a sudden.
2021: The Great Escapes
Given the Covid pandemic, the year 2021 might’ve been a disaster. As it was, I managed to escape London to go on three photographic trips: to Kicheche Bush Camp, Arviat and Antarctica. They were all very enjoyable for different reasons, and it was also nice to get away from Africa for a change!
Antarctica
It might’ve gone wrong in so many ways.
I might’ve failed one of my 12 (!) Covid tests, too many other people might’ve caught Covid, I might’ve had the wrong documents, the ship might’ve been impounded, we might’ve been weathered out, I might’ve lost my luggage (again!), we might’ve struggled to see any wildlife…and so on, and so on.
Sony ⍺1 Mirrorless Camera Set-up
I’ve just come back from a week in Arviat, Canada, for the polar bear migration. I had a very good trip—apart from all the waiting around and BA losing my rucksack! - and I was particularly pleased with my new camera, the Sony ⍺1. Here's a complete set-up guide.
Polar bear heaven
Imagine you were given a chance to spend £10,000 on an 11-day trip that only involved four days actually photographing polar bears. Would you take it?
The blue hour
The blue hour is less well-known than the golden hour, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its advantages. The phrase simply refers to the hour just before sunrise or just after sunset when the colour of the light is generally ‘cooler’. In this article, I’ll show you a few of the benefits of this time of day and give you some ideas for the kinds of shots to take.
The golden hour
The quality of light is crucial in creating a great photograph.
The word photography, after all, means ‘writing with light’, so it’s no surprise that a lot of photographers spend most of their time shooting during the ‘golden hour’ either just after sunrise or just before sunset.
Twelve secrets to winning wildlife photography competitions
If you’re a wildlife photographer, but you’ve never won a wildlife photography competition, here are a few trade secrets to help you break your duck!
Head-to-head: Bear Gills v Bear Necessities
This is the first of a series of head-to-head photo critiques that compare two similar wildlife shots I’ve taken in the last few years.
The idea is to show you first of all that nobody’s perfect (!) and also to help you identify problems in your own shots that you can then fix - either in camera or during post-processing.
Low key portraits
Wildlife shots are ten a penny these days, so how do you make yours stand out from the herd? Well, one thing you can experiment with is low key portraits. All you need to do is underexpose the shot (either in camera or in Lightroom – see sections below), and you’ll create a whole new atmosphere, something that’s either moody, mysterious or threatening – whatever works best.
African buffalo facts
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.