One important wildlife photography technique that deserves far more attention involves configuring your camera with two or three Custom modes for instantly switching between settings for action, low light, or general photography.
Instructor Paolo Sartori kicks off this eye-opening tutorial with a question: “Have you ever missed a shot because you were fumbling around with camera settings like shutter speed, aperture, or an incorrect focus mode?” And suddenly the perfect moment is gone forever.
Photographers often experience these frustrations because they neglected to spend a few moments creating Custom modes that can dramatically accelerate their workflow during changing conditions in the field. Sartori is a notable Italian nature and wildlife photography pro who insists that “this simple workflow has saved me countless times in the field.”
And before we forget, be sure to grab Sartori’s free Wildlife Photography book by clicking on the link in the description beneath the video. As for today, they’ll be no more missed opportunities once you take advantage of what you’ll learn in the next seven minutes.
Sartori uses a Canon camera to demonstrate how to set up the Custom modes he prefers. The procedure is much the same with other popular brands, and he includes some specific tips for Sony and Nikon users.
Keep in mind that the Custom modes you create are a very subjective matter, so just don’t copy Sartori’s personal settings and call it a day. Rather, listen to him explain why he makes the choices he does, and then use the same rationale to configure Custom modes that are most helpful and appropriate for your specific style and the types of images you shoot most.
Your batting average is guaranteed to improve once you’re prepared to avoid curve balls by quickly changing your stance. Then head over to Sartori’s popular YouTube channel and browse his other helpful how-to videos.
On a related note, we also suggest watching the bird photography primer we recently featured with an accomplished Canadian pro who discusses five common bird photography mistakes and provides straightforward tips for solving them in the field.
Today we’ll let you in on what one pro calls an “untold secret about ISO in photography:” namely, there’s far more to this concept than finding a correct exposure. This isn’t your standard “what is ISO” video, because it goes beyond the basics to help you create a unique style that sets your imagery apart from the rest.
Instructor Ejaz Khan is an experienced pro who travels the globe and makes how-to videos that simplify complex tasks into actionable step for blending artistic flair with practical skills. Here’s how he summarizes this comprehensive tutorial: “I’ll show you how to use ISO intentionally to shape emotion, texture, and your own signature look.”
The bottom is this: Whether you’re shooting landscapes, environmental portraits, street scenes, or wildlife imagery, there are techniques for using ISO to enhance mood, grit, nostalgia, and depth—all before pressing the shutter button.
Khan begins with an overview of how ISO works in the camera, the untapped power these setting provide, and why underexposure actually causes more noise than high ISO itself. He also explains that ISO is one of the most misunderstood settings because most photographers employ it reactively, rather than with artistry in mind.
He also describes the most common ISO mistakes, like cropping high ISO image, sacrificing shutter speed, and the truth about ISO and noise—with straightforward solutions to these and other familiar challenges. And you’ll see why Khan says, “sharpness always beats clean.”
In summary, ISO can be a stylistic brushstroke for your unique photographic identity. What it’s NOT is an exposure backup plan, nor is it always what the camera says. Now it’s time to hit the “Play” button below and learn how to master ISO and make it your creative fingerprint.
There’s much more to learn for photographers of all skill levels on Khan’s instructional YouTube channel.
We also encourage you to watch the recent tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who reveals one depth-of-field setting that 90% of beginners get wrong. He then demonstrates how taking the correct approach “will instantly transform your photography.”
Today’s helpful beginners guide on the crucial topic of depth of field comes to us from the experts at Great Big Photography World, an instructional YouTube channel staffed by expert instructors whose goal it to help inexperienced shooters improve their skills.
This eight-minute primer begins with a question: “Have you ever taken a photo and wondered why the background is so blurry in some shots and crystal-clear in others?” Or maybe you’ve heard terms like aperture, f/stop, or shallow depth of field, but you’re unsure exactly how they all work together.
Our unnamed instructor summarizes his lesson like this: “We’ll discuss depth of field (DoF), one of the most misunderstood and overlooked settings in photography that 90% of beginners struggle to master.” He promises that his eight-minute video “will instantly transform your photography—making images appear more cinematic, intentional, and professional.”
You may be surprised to learn that these important DoF techniques go far beyond selecting the most appropriate f/stop for the specific task hand. In fact there are several other very important considerations—like the focal length of your lens, the size of a camera’s sensor, and both subject distance and background distance.
The foregoing criteria all work together to create a variety of pleasing effects, whether you’re after razor-sharp landscape photographs or soft, moody images with creamy bokeh. This tutorial is a bit different from other DoF tutorials we posted in the past because it’s illustrated with striking visual examples that demonstrate how six key factors interact with each other for optimum results.
The Great Big Photography World YouTube channel is a great resource for straightforward shooting and editing advice, so be sure to pay a visit when you have time to explore.
We also recommend watching the tutorial we featured with a notable British pro recently who demonstrates why the direction of light is just as critical as it intensity for capturing amazing photographs in the field.
