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.
Elephant facts
In 2019, I was on a game drive in Tanzania when my driver saw an elephant tusk by the side of the road. He stopped the vehicle, picked it up and put it on the back seat so that he could hand it in to the authorities.
Out of curiosity, I looked up how much that 17 kg tusk would’ve been worth on the black market: at $1,800 a kilo, it would’ve cost $30,000!
Wildlife cameras and lenses
When I bought my first DSLR camera and lenses, I asked a friend of mine which brand to get. He just said, “Canon or Nikon.”
As I didn’t want to buy my camera from a manufacturer of photocopiers, I ended up with Nikon…!
Anthony Morganti photo critique
Just a quick post today. Anthony Morganti has very kindly done a critique of my top 10 photos on YouTube if you’d like to take a look…
Tiger facts
Tigers are the biggest cats in the world, and they kill more people globally than any other mammal. The Champawat Tiger, a tigress found in Nepal and then India, was responsible for an estimated 430 human deaths, the highest ever total for a single animal!
Lightroom presets
Everybody seems to be selling Lightroom presets these days, but I hardly use them.
The problem with ‘adopting’ someone else’s presets is that they probably won’t do what you want them to do. Yes, they could probably make a dramatic difference to some photos, but you lose control because they are almost always bundles of adjustments, not all of which are necessary.
The Slow Pan
I took this shot on an Exodus trip to Kicheche Bush Camp in 2018 with Paul Goldstein.
Paul’s a great fan of the slow pan to heighten the sense of energy in action shots, and I’m now his disciple!
Gorilla facts
The gorilla has recently been named among the ‘New Big Five’ along with the lion, tiger, elephant and polar bear. It’s certainly an intriguing creature, and its similarity to humans lends itself to anthropomorphism in photography.
The exposure triangle
Let’s go back to basics! What is the Exposure Triangle? Why do you need to know about it? How can it help you?
In this article, I’ll answer all those questions - and more!
Leopard facts
If you ask people on safari what their favourite animal is, they’ll almost always choose the leopard.
It’s certainly beautiful - particularly when lying in a picturesque tree somewhere - and it’s rare enough to be exciting when you see one.
Every picture tells a story: Bear Gills
I’m a wildlife photographer, and this is one in an occasional series of posts about my best photographs. I’ll tell you how I took them and break down the shot into the idea, the location, the equipment, the settings, the technique and any post-processing necessary.
Brown bear facts
Watching brown bears fish for salmon on Brooks Falls is one of the all-time highlights of the natural world, and it’s a must for any wildlife photographer.
Photography software
Photographers rely on a lot of software in order to do their job, so I thought it might be useful for me to list all the programs I use (both on my laptop and my phone) in order to edit my images and manage my business.
Depth of field
To blur or not to blur. That is the question.
In this article, I’ll tell you how to control depth of field (or DOF) and try to show you when you don’t want it, when you do want it and what to do when it all goes horribly wrong!
Lion facts
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!
Photography earnings
I’ve been working as a professional photographer since 2013, and I just thought I’d provide you with some insight into how I make money.
Lightroom shortcuts
I’ve just taken part in the Lightroom Virtual Summit, hosted by Matt Kloskowski and Dave Cross, and it inspired me to write a post about Lightroom shortcuts. I learned a couple of new ones while watching their series of videos, and I’m happy to share them all with you.
Back button focus
Back button focus (or BBF) is an important tool in wildlife, sport and any other kind of action photography.
Four Things to Consider Before Buying a Drone
In recent years, becoming a professional photographer has never been easier as photography gear and education have become more accessible and affordable. For this reason, local photography markets have been overly saturated, and competition is stiff.
In order to get ahead of your competition, you should think innovatively and incorporate new tools that can boost your career and improve your portfolio. One such tool is a photography drone.
Cheetah facts
The cheetah is my favourite animal. It may not be the prettiest - most people prefer the leopard - but there’s nothing to beat the sight of a cheetah running at full speed. It never fails to make me smile…
And if you’re lucky enough to see a cheetah kill, that’s one of the most exciting moments you can ever get on safari!