Late last year I asked you to take a ten question survey on what I could do to help you become better nature and wildlife photographers. I was blown away at the response. A HUGE THANK YOU to all those that took the time to fill it out, I SO appreciate it!!
I’d like to share with you the results of the survey. What I found interesting and I hope you do as well, is that regardless of photographic skill level, we all are looking for the same things. So lets dive in…
Skill Level
There wasn’t much middle of the road, between advanced/professional and beginner.
I love that the responses came back this way. To me it shows that the people who are following me are passionate about documenting the beauty of nature with their cameras. I also loved that a lot of the people who were on the advanced end of the spectrum said that they can always learn more.
I think this was a more important question than I thought for shaping the content I produce in the future. I have two tribes, those that are comfortable with their gear and are getting the results that they want. The other tribe isn’t as comfortable with their gear and would like to be so that they can focus more on the experience than trying to figure out what to do to get a good image. So my goal this year and in the future is to provide content that will help people feel more confident about their gear and take the chance of getting out of auto mode and sharing more of my journey with those that probably know more about the technical side of photography than I do.
Gear
Again this was pretty binary. You are shooting with either advanced DSLR’s and mirrorless cameras or smartphones and point and shoots. I’ll work on creating content that talks about what I’m using as well as how to use it.
For my advanced and pro shooters, when you see a post or video about something like “What is shutter speed?” consider it a rerun of your favorite TV show. For my friends that are just starting out, when you see a post or video about luminosity masks, think of it as a preview for where you will soon be.
How Can I Help You?
This question really got me excited by the wide range of topics photographers want to know more about.
From “how to get started” to time-lapse, night sky and off camera lighting.
There are so many great suggestions for what I can do to help you learn or refine your nature and wildlife photography.
For my friends just getting into nature and wildlife photography, one of you described your frustration perfectly. ” How to manage the stupid settings on the camera.” This really was probably my favorite response. So I will do my best to help you manage those stupid settings. Because once you do. you will start working on developing your own style and you will make the choices when creating images and not letting the camera decide for you.
I’m planning on covering so much in the coming months. My goal is to get out more often this year and take you along with me. Whether it’s shooting the night sky, low-level lighting or just how I see and compose and image, my goal is to have you with me as I continue my journey to make a difference through my nature and wildlife photography and filmmaking.
Gear Reviews
The overwhelming response was yes, you want to know what I think about the gear I’m shooting with.
Let’s face it, camera gear is expensive. I know I’m always looking for gear that will help me capture my vision easier and there’s only so much I can spend on new gear. So I want to know that I am looking at purchasing the best camera gear that’s right for me. I’ll go over what I’m using and why I’m using it. It might be a solution for you or it might be confirmation that the gear I’m reviewing isn’t going to work for you.
So expect reviews on a wide range of gear that I use for my photography, from the simple Rocket Blower to a 600mm f4 lens.
You Want to Experience What I Experience
This one was 100% unanimous. I’ll dial this one in based on your feedback. Do you want me to stick to big adventures like trips to Yellowstone or do you want to come along as I hike the Sac and Fox trail here in Eastern Iowa. I tend to inject a lot of my philosophy about the natural world and our place in it so while waiting to try to photograph whitetail deer on a dreary Iowa morning might not be as exiting as hiking to 1000 year old Anasazi ruins, I think there will be something you can take away from every outing.
You Want to Keep Learning
While the subject matter runs the gamut of subjects, you were again unanimous that you want tutorials.
Some of you weren’t sure what things you wanted to learn about while some were very specific like how to post process the night sky. So I’ll be working on tutorials on not only creating images in the field but also how to get the most out of them in post processing.
I’m learning new processing techniques every day and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned so that you can create amazing images of nature and wildlife as well!
What You Wish You Could Do Better
A lot of your responses are all things I wish to do better as well.
Things like making more time to be out in the field or capturing wonder and capturing the moment clearer.
You want to figure out how to see more wildlife, do time-lapse as well as frame focus and shoot faster.
This is all subjects that I’m excited about.
Why Nature and Wildlife?
I can’t tell you how much I loved the responses to this question.
I think I’m going to print them out and keep them close by to remind me that I’m not alone in why I photograph nature and wildlife.
Here are a few of your responses:
It’s good for the soul
A glimpse of a more peaceful world, undisturbed
Magic
It’s my all-consuming passion
I think nature is beautiful
Because nature can be so beautiful
In nature one finds peace, beauty and creative expression
That just warms my soul that so many people feel the same way I do!
Again I want to thank all of you that took the time to fill out the survey, it has certainly given me a road map for the coming year and beyond.
As always if there’s something you’d like to know more about, leave me a comment below and we’ll see what we can do!
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