THE YEAR SO FAR

Hi First name / everyone, As we are at the halfway mark of the year, I thought it would be a good time to look back at some of my favourite images from the year, and discuss the direction I have seen my photography going! This is certainly a more content heavy newsletter, so lets get straight into #36!

 

- William

Those who ready my first newsletter of the year #30 will remember I talked about being stuck in a rut. This rut was largely linked to adjusting to being based in a new place. While living on the edge of the Chobe National Park may be a wildlife photographers dream, I really struggled to get creative with subjects. As soon as I was beginning to get out of this rut, I got a new camera. Yet again this may come across as strange, but I actually found the novelty of new technology pushed me away from a creative mindset, and towards a technical obsession. 

 

This may all seem a little negative, but I actually think it is the opposite… The joy of having a monthly newsletter is I am able to use it to self reflect. Thinking about the images I have created within that month, and figuring out what I have done right, or more importantly what I did wrong! In this newsletter I really want to share some of my most creative work from the year, and in doing so, try to explain why these images will be important for me going forward. I hope you enjoy!

 

For me, being creative often is synonymous with photographing birds. There is something refreshing to experiment with subjects that are often simply documented. A creative freedom hiding in and reserved for what is often viewed as the less interesting subjects on safari. This year I have heavily focused on capturing light, making the subject as minimal as possible, and simply a focal point to the drama of the scene. The three images I think best reflect this can be seen below. 

1 / 4000 sec  -  f / 16  -  ISO 500  -  50mm

1 / 2000 sec  -  f / 4  -  ISO 100  -  500mm

1 / 8000 sec  -  f / 16  -  ISO 160  -  50mm

 

1 / 640 sec  -  f / 8  -  ISO 1250  -  50mm

1 / 2000 sec  -  f / 2.5  -  ISO 400  -  50mm

1 / 800 sec  -  f / 7.1  -  ISO 160  -  112mm

 

While I certainly do a lot of low-key photography (a style of photography in which you shoot darker scenes by lowering the exposure), this hasn't really manifested in capturing silhouettes up until now. Previously I have found that silhouettes were reserved for icon African sunset shots, and I struggled to find my own style of capturing them. This year I feel that the combination of shooting wider, and capturing seasons has really opened up a new perspective on silhouettes. 

1 / 800 sec  -  f / 7.1  -  ISO 500  -  112mm

1 / 400 sec  -  f / 2.8  -  ISO 100  -  242mm

1 / 1000 sec  -  f / 9  -  ISO 6400  -  50mm

I am naturally drawn to creative images. I feel that that is where my style and artistic expression shines through (I know how pretentious that sounds). That being said, some moments stick in your mind. Moments that are so beautiful that they really don't need any clever techniques or styles. Those experiences often linger in my mind more than an interesting image, and highlight that, for me, being in nature is definitely more important than the photography! Here are just a few of those amazing moments!

1 / 1600 sec  -  f / 6.3  -  ISO 1600  -  206 mm

1 / 2500 sec  -  f / 5  -  ISO 320  -  500 mm

1 / 250 sec  -  f / 2.8  -  ISO 100  -  200 mm

1 / 3200 sec  -  f / 2.8  -  ISO 125  -  400 mm

1 / 800 sec  -  f / 8  -  ISO 1250  -  200 mm - Helicopter

Thank you so much for being part of newsletter #36, and I cannot wait to share all the exciting images and stories throughout the next six months!

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