Blog
Since 2013, I’ve published hundreds of blog posts on all aspects of photography. Some are aimed at helping photographers with camera gear, settings and technique while others describe my workshops, exhibitions and adventures in Africa, Antarctica and beyond.
Feel free to browse chronologically or click on the heading above any post for specific categories, such as Equipment, Trips or Hints and Tips.
If you’d like to write a guest post, I charge £50 + £10 per dofollow link. Please drop me a line on +44 7942 800921 or at nick@nickdalephotography.com.
(Please note that some posts contain affiliate links from which I can earn a small commission.)
How to Photograph Purebred Cats: A Guide to Feline Portraits That Stand Out
Cats are among the most photographed animals in the world, and yet a truly great cat portrait remains surprisingly rare. Most images reduce the animal to a blur of fur or a pair of half-closed eyes caught at exactly the wrong moment. Purebred cats, with their distinctive coats and carefully bred features, deserve better than that.
A Photographer's Guide to the Himalayas
The Himalayas stretch for around 2,400 kilometres across five countries, from the Karakoram in Pakistan through India, Nepal and Bhutan to the eastern ranges of Tibet. For photographers, they offer a combination of conditions found almost nowhere else on Earth: extreme altitude, exceptionally clear air, violent contrast, deep cold and subjects ranging from 8,000-metre peaks to some of the most photogenic mountain cultures anywhere.
Capturing the Wild: Photographing a Bear’s Catch of the Day
There are few wildlife moments more dramatic than a bear standing in a river, water surging around its legs, waiting for the perfect second to strike. One moment, the scene looks calm. The next, there is a flash of movement, a burst of spray, and a silver fish twisting in the air. For a wildlife photographer, it is exactly the kind of scene that makes all the early mornings, cold fingers and heavy camera bags worthwhile.
Fine Art Photography: Portraits, Travel and Visual Storytelling
It’s not just a pretty picture. Fine art photography expresses an artist’s vision, not merely a record of reality. Think of it as painting with light, but your canvas is a sensor. Every click carries intention, emotion, and a story waiting to be told.
Top 5 Aspects of Photography Every Student Should Master
Most people who pick up a camera for the first time assume the hard part is choosing the right equipment. It is not. The hard part is unlearning the impulse to point and shoot without thinking, a habit smartphones have made almost universal. Photography, as a discipline, demands something different: deliberate attention. And for students stepping into it seriously, that shift in mindset is where everything begins.
Top Tips for Wildlife Photography at Dawn
There is something magical about the quiet times just before dawn — the world only half awake, the air sharp, and animals stirring. Taking wildlife photos in such conditions is highly rewarding and equally challenging. Animals are most active at dawn, and light shifts every minute. Every decision, from camera settings to position, affects how the story unfolds in your frame.
Editing Wildlife Photos: Beginner Tips
Learn how to edit wildlife photos with tips on noise reduction, colour correction and composition to make your images sharp and natural-looking.
Wildlife Photography
Wildlife photography is a money pit.
Cameras, lenses and accessories cost thousands of pounds, and most people can’t resist a piece of new kit even if they don’t need it, so a lot of it just ends up gathering dust in the basement!
However, the good news is you don’t really need that much.
Rules of Composition
As everyone knows, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach" - but that doesn't stop me trying to do both!