Fine Art Landscape and Nature Photography Blog

Here you will find a selection of articles, inspirational stories, tutorials, product reviews, trip reports, and other thoughts relating to landscape and nature photography, including show notes for my photography podcast. If you have any questions please do reach out. Thank you for your interest in my photography artwork.

Photographing Wolverines and Grizzly Bears with Camera Traps
March 18, 2024  |  Yukon

In the latest episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne sits down with the renowned wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Mather. Together, they navigate through the magnificent world of camera trapping, the ethics of wildlife photography, the challenges of selling fine art, and the impact of climate change on North American ecosystems...

Crafting Visual Excellence: Marcus McAdam on Quality Content Creation
March 11, 2024  |  Scotland, UK

In the compelling Episode 360 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, the podcast that pierces through the aperture of the photography world, we join host Matt Payne for a profound journey alongside exceptional Scotland-based photographer and tour operator, Marcus McAdam...

Journey Through the Lens: A Quest to Photograph Every National Park
March 4, 2024  |  United States National Parks
Rediscovery Through the Lens: Tim Geoffrion's Transformative Journey

Welcome to a special episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," where we delve into the life-changing adventure of photographer Tim Geoffrion, fondly known as "This Walking Life" on social media...

Mentorship, Minimalism, and Mindfulness in Photography
February 26, 2024  |  Vermont

Nature photographer Mike DiMeola joined host Matt Payne on the latest episode of 'F-Stop Collaborate and Listen' to discuss his journey from capturing promotional Jeep photos to embracing the serene rural landscapes of Vermont...

The Art of Japanese Forest Bathing
February 19, 2024  |  Japan

In Episode 357 of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne had the pleasure of delving deep into the profound connection between photography and nature with military veteran and passionate photographer, Mark Davis...

Discovering the Power of Infrared Nature Photography
February 12, 2024

Infrared is gaining in popularity among landscape and nature photographers, but can feel overwhelming and daunting if you're not sure where to start. I've been wanting to dabble in it myself, but haven't really figured out where I need to look to start my journey...

Exploring the World Through Street Photography: A Conversation with Kamal X
February 5, 2024  |  Brooklyn, New York

In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne interviews Kamal X, the first street and documentary photographer to be featured on the podcast. Kamal shares his journey as a photographer and discusses the importance of capturing compelling street photographs that evoke emotion and tell powerful stories...

Crossing the Drake Passage with Richard Bernabe
January 29, 2024  |  Antarctica

One of my favorite things about hosting a podcast is that I get to dig a little bit deeper into what motivates some of my favorite photographers. I'm so lucky to be able to sit down with these excellent photographers and discuss their origins, their processes for making images, the numerous challenges they face as creatives, and the inner workings of their minds...

Voice, Vision, and Style in Wildlife Photography
January 22, 2024

In this conversation, Matt Payne interviews Steve Gettle, a nature photographer, about his photography journey and the challenges of monetizing photography. They discuss the process of finding a unique photographic voice and the balance between emulation and inspiration...

An Exploration of Aerial Australia Abstracts
January 15, 2024  |  Australia

In this week's podcast, I sit down for a conversation with Tania Malkin, a photographer and artist. Tania discusses her journey in photography and the influence of other artistic mediums on her work...

Maximizing the Benefits of Photography Workshops: Tips and Tricks
January 8, 2024  |  White Sands National Park, New Mexico

In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne is joined by photographer Wayne Suggs to discuss the value and benefits of workshops. Drawing from their own experiences as both instructors and attendees, they share valuable insights and tips on how to make the most out of photography workshop experiences...

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Photography Podcasts in 2024
January 4, 2024
Why Photography Podcasts Are Worth Your Time

In a world where technology is constantly changing, photography enthusiasts are seeking new ways to stay updated and inspired. Enter photography podcasts, the perfect companion for those eager to feed their passion for capturing the world through their lenses...

Falling in Love with Small Scenes in Nature Photography
January 1, 2024  |  Santa Cruz, California

Refining our voice and vision as nature photographers is an ongoing process of discovery, experimentation, failure, and struggle. Fortunately, those who stick to what excites them about photography can tap into some really exciting photography that differentiates them as artists...

My Favorite Photographs from 2023
December 31, 2023  |  Worldwide

It is my personal opinion that looking back at our work at the end of the year as photographers is a worthwhile process that fosters growth, appreciation, and offers us a way to see how far we have come and to identify trends in our work that we may otherwise be unaware of...

Telling the Story of the Salmon
December 25, 2023  |  Pacific Northwest

Finding ways to do more with our photography is something many photographers struggle with. While there's certainly nothing wrong with creating beautiful images to showcase beauty, there are other ways to make an impact...

Focus on Voice and Vision to Create Impactful Photographs
December 18, 2023  |  Vancouver Island, Canada

Creating Award-Winning Aerial Photographs
December 11, 2023  |  San Francisco, CA

As photographers, we often seek validation for our work, which can come from various sources. For some, this helps to propel us forward to create more interesting photographs, helping us to push the envelope...

Elevating the Stories of Youth - The National Geographic Photo Camp
December 4th, 2023  |  Planet Earth

Photography can be one of the most powerful story-telling mediums that exists. Empowering at-risk or under-served youth to utilize this tool to tell their stories can result in uplifting and life-changing results...

Making a Great Photography Book - A Conversation with Alex Nail
November 27, 2023  |  United Kingdom

As photographers we are often trying to figure out what we should do with our photographs. Of late, it has become more popular to produce a coffee table style book to showcase our work; however, not all photography books of this style are created equal...

Thru-hiking the Colorado Trail as a Landscape Photographer
November 20, 2023  |  Colorado

I recently embarked on a 35-day journey to hike the entire Colorado Trail, starting in Denver and ending in my home town of Durango. I embarked on this journey as a full-time professional landscape photographer with the hopes of capturing some incredible images and to have a transformative experience...

Making the Mundane Fun in Landscape Photography
November 13, 2023  |  Western Australia

For many photographers, planning our photography trips can be a chore or can feel like a waste of time. That resonates with me and I rarely spend a lot of time planning my adventures because I personally have not found it to be very helpful in my success as a photographer; however, I see great value in the process and appreciate those who dedicate themselves to doing it well...

Elevating Your Photography With Alternative Printmaking
November 6, 2023  |  Missoula, Montana

Most photographers, including myself, only think to print on photographic paper or other traditional mediums; however, countless other mediums and formats for printing can ultimately elevate the presentation of your work...

From CEO to Photographer - An Inspiring Story About Photography
October 30, 2023  |  Sweden

Our lives can change in the blink of an eye. One moment, we are sitting on top of the world - the best in our industry; the next - we are facing some of the most challenging times of our lives. Such is the case of this week's guest on the podcast...

Photographing the Florida Swamps
October 23, 2023  |  The Florida Everglades

A lot can be gleaned by studying the photographs of the masters who came before us. After all, we are all standing on the shoulders of giants and so paying homage to those giants and recognizing their impact on our work is an important step to becoming a better photographer...

How to License Your Artwork
October 16, 2023

One of the great mysteries for artists is monetization. Two paths of monetization often overlooked include print on demand services and art licensing. Each can represent a large amount of income if leveraged well, yet so many of us have not cracked the code to be able to do so...

Photographing the Magic of Cape Cod
October 9, 2023  |  Cape Cod

Cape Cod isn't exactly known as a landscape photography destination, at least not in the circles I run in; however, I do think that it has incredible photographic potential. This potential is best tapped into by a local expert; someone with extensive knowledge of place with a real connection to the area...

The Importance of Developing a Cohesive Portfolio
October 2, 2023  |  Yosemite National Park

The importance of developing a cohesive portfolio cannot be understated for landscape photography. It is quite possible one of the most challenging things we face in order to showcase our work and to develop as artists...

A Guide to Wildlife Photojournalism with Morgan Heim
September 25, 2023  |  Astoria, Oregon

Telling important stories about the struggles that occur through the coexistence of wildlife and humanity is no easy task, yet it is of tremendous importance, especially today. Telling the stories can bridge the gaps between groups that disagree on handling these delicate situations while shedding light on potential solutions that may meet the values that coexist in both groups of people...

Making the World a Better Place Through Photography
September 18, 2023  |  Tasmania

For some photographers, the goal of photography transcends capturing pretty moments of pretty things. While there's nothing wrong with this approach, it can begin to feel repetitive and lacking purpose for some...

The Meaning in the Making
September 11, 2023  |  United Kingdom

There are many parallels between the photographic journey and psychology. In college, one of my favorite books was "Man's Search for Meaning," by Viktor Frankl. In this book, Frankl outlines the horrors of living in a Nazi concentration camp, but most notably he showcases how he was able to find meaning even through that existence...

Visualize the Unseen Through Intentional Camera Movement
September 4, 2023

Great photographs are hiding in plain sight everywhere. Often, we limit ourselves to only making photographs of the literal or obvious; however, there are techniques that exist such as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) that can help us uncover more while invigorating our photographic journey...

Using Design Principles to Improve Your Photography
August 28, 2023  |  Norway

As photographers, we learn a lot from graphic designers and those trained formally in the visual arts. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Hans Gunnar Aslaksen, has such training and uses it to create incredibly interesting and visually pleasing photographs of nature and the landscape...

Landscape Photography as a New Dad
August 21, 2023  |  Romania

Mixing family and photography isn't always easy. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Dorin Bofan, recently became a new father and has been grappling with the realities of spending less time in the field as a landscape photographer...

Five Decades of Landscape Photography with Bruce Barnbaum
August 14, 2023  |  Sierra Nevada, California

Legacy. Meaning. Fulfillment. In the end, these are all things most artists seek. When I think about my own photography, I would happily trade all the likes and follows on social media to be known for something I'm proud of...

What is it Like to Go to Antarctica as a Photographer?
August 7th, 2023  |  Antarctica

For many, a trip to Antarctica is at the top of our bucket lists. For nature and landscape photographers, Antarctica is a dream destination. Images of blizzards, icebergs, penguins, whales, seals, and incredible landscapes are conjured; however, planning a trip there can be quite challenging and daunting...

Healing Grief Through Nature Photography
July 31, 2023  |  Japan

Photography has the ability to heal. It can help us process grief, learn to be better humans, and grow a wonderful relationship with nature. Mentorship with a caring mentor can help us to develop these benefits, and this one of the reasons this week's guest of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Xuan-Hui Ng, has been able to make such evocative and interesting work...