"The small traffic jam attests to what’s just ahead of us. Although I can’t see it, I know what’s just ahead: a bear. Over the past few years, I’ve noticed an uptick in the number of bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They are a common sight, but I never tire of looking for them. .." - an excerpt from the nature photography workshop field report Autumn in the Smokies. See more here:

Join us in the Alaskan wilderness for an in-depth field report from the Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop as we track and photograph the breathtaking Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). In this workshop report, we cover real-world night photography fieldcraft, composition strategies under freezing conditions, and the essential camera gear needed to capture vivid auroral displays across the Arctic night sky. 💬 Have questions about camera settings or planning your own aurora expedition? Let us know in the comments below! 🔔 Subscribe to The Wildlife Photo Show for more wildlife and landscape photography field reports, tutorials, and workshop insights. #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #NightSkyPhotography #Alaska

Understanding shutter speed is essential for capturing sharp, perfectly exposed wildlife photos. In this episode of The Wildlife Photo Show, Russell Graves breaks down shutter speed in simple terms—explaining what it actually does inside your camera, how it interacts with aperture and ISO in the exposure triangle, and how to avoid the common exposure mistakes beginners make. Whether you're trying to freeze fast-moving birds in flight or control your exposure in changing outdoor light, this guide covers the core principles you need in the field. In this video, you'll learn: What shutter speed physically controls and how it affects motion The exposure triangle: balancing shutter speed, aperture, and ISO Why you can't adjust shutter speed in isolation How changing light conditions impact your camera settings A practical outdoor experiment to master shutter speed Resources & Free Downloads: Free Nature Photography Cheat Sheets: Visit hackberryfarm.com to get your free reference guides delivered straight to your inbox. If you found this tutorial helpful, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to The Wildlife Photo Show for more wildlife photography tips, field techniques, and gear advice!

A dream 15 years in the making is finally happening—we just officially closed on the property that will become the permanent headquarters for Redlands Ranch in Northwest Texas! In this video, I'm sharing the big news straight from the property just an hour after signing the final papers. We’re turning this land into the ultimate all-inclusive wildlife and night photography destination. Here’s a quick look at what we have planned: • On-site lodging for up to 6+ guests and a dedicated main lodge for meals & workshops • Custom-designed water holes and in-ground photography blinds • A dedicated astrophotography trail to take full advantage of our pristine Bortle 2 dark skies • Immersive, all-inclusive photography workshops and bird-watching experiences Follow along on this journey as we break ground, build out the facilities, and prepare the grounds for wildlife and creators alike. 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wildlife Photo Show and turn on notifications so you don't miss any updates on the ranch buildout! 💬 Let me know in the comments: What are you most excited to see us build first—the in-ground blinds or the astrophotography trail? #WildlifePhotography #RedlandsRanch #Astrophotography #TexasWildlife #PhotographyWorkshop

“For the past two days, the amount of sun we’d seen was scant.  Upon arrival, a bit of rain spit from the heavy overcast, but not so much as to dissuade us from venturing afield.  So far, we’ve already seen grand waterfalls and rolling fields of moss-covered lava.  While the trip is in its infancy, it’s been a good one so far. Just the evening before, we stood on a big cliff overlooking the vast North Atlantic.  While the waves raged over the rocks and sea stacks lining the shores, the sound of it all was calming.  High above the cacophony, I catch movement in the grass.  While it’s late in the season to see them, a few puffins still hang around this steep outpost at the edge of the sea. They bob in and out of the grass and fly out to sea to feed on fish without warning." - an excerpt from the Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops field report. See more at https://www.hackberryfarmtexas.com/post/summer-in-iceland-a-hackberry-farm-nature-photography-workshop-field-report ### If you're new here, don't forget to subscribe to The Wildlife Photo Show for more expert tips! Let us know in the comments: What's the first piece of nature you plan to photograph? To download the FREE Nature Photography Cheat Sheets and learn about our workshops and educational offerings, head over to http://www.Hackberry.com #naturephotography #nightphotography #astrophotography #howto #wildlifephotography #cameras #wildlife #nature #NaturePhotography #BeginnersGuide #PhotographyTutorial #WildlifePhotographyTips #RussellGraves #LandscapePhotography #CameraForBeginners #PhotographySettings #PhotoGear #HowToPhotography #TheWildlifePhotoShow

“This is the best trip I’ve ever done,” she says, a little misty-eyed.  She’s one of the seven guests on this trip with whom we’ve divided into two Land Cruisers to explore the Tuli Block region on this nature photography workshop. “I never believed I’d see what we’ve seen on this trip.” I can see why she’s emotional.  To come to Africa, to come to Botswana; well, it does something to you.  For both men and women, the response to seeing big cats and other wildlife in the wild fills a variety of sentiments.  Emotional and primal are chief among them." - an excerpt from the Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops field report. See more at https://www.hackberryfarmtexas.com/post/botswana-journey-to-the-wild-a-hackberry-farm-nature-photography-workshop-field-report ### If you're new here, don't forget to subscribe to The Wildlife Photo Show for more expert tips! Let us know in the comments: What's the first piece of nature you plan to photograph? To download the FREE Nature Photography Cheat Sheets and learn about our workshops and educational offerings, head over to http://www.Hackberry.com #naturephotography #nightphotography #astrophotography #howto #wildlifephotography #cameras #wildlife #nature #NaturePhotography #BeginnersGuide #PhotographyTutorial #WildlifePhotographyTips #RussellGraves #LandscapePhotography #CameraForBeginners #PhotographySettings #PhotoGear #HowToPhotography #TheWildlifePhotoShow

"After an orientation and high tea, we take to the water to begin photographing wildlife along the Chobe River for the nature photography workshop. This area is famous for elephants, and it doesn’t take long until we see a quartet of pachyderms swimming the river to an island that straddles the Botswana/Namibia border. While the big elephants deftly swim the river channel, the smaller one snorkels across. Once they reach the other side, they take a quick mud bath, climb onto the island, and disappear as they wander the island in search of good grazing. From there, it’s nearly constant action each time we launch the boat up and down the river." - an excerpt from the Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshops field report. See more at https://www.hackberryfarmtexas.com/post/beautiful-botswana-a-hackberry-farm-nature-photography-workshops-field-report ### If you're new here, don't forget to subscribe to The Wildlife Photo Show for more expert tips! Let us know in the comments: What's the first piece of nature you plan to photograph? To download the FREE Nature Photography Cheat Sheets and learn about our workshops and educational offerings, head over to http://www.Hackberry.com #naturephotography #nightphotography #astrophotography #howto #wildlifephotography #cameras #wildlife #nature #NaturePhotography #BeginnersGuide #PhotographyTutorial #WildlifePhotographyTips #RussellGraves #LandscapePhotography #CameraForBeginners #PhotographySettings #PhotoGear #HowToPhotography #TheWildlifePhotoShow

"As the sun came up, soft light dappled the woodlands along the Zambezi River.  In the understory, impala move about, keeping one eye on each other and another eye on the constant danger that lurks nearby.  This vast river bottom in Northern Zimbabwe is home to wild dogs, lions, and leopards, all lurking in the shadows searching for their next meal. In the distance, we see some movement:  it’s one of the Mana Pools famed elephants.  These elephants are noteworthy for their ability to perform the “Mana Stretch,” a feeding behavior in which they reach high into the trees with their trunks, stand on their two hind legs to reach higher, or climb up the base of trees for a better reach.  Most elephants graze from the ground, but these elephants (through learned behavior and a genetic predisposition) defy the conventional behavior." - An excerpt from the Mana Pools Africa - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop video field report See more at https://www.hackberryfarmtexas.com/post/mana-pools-a-hackberry-farm-nature-photography-workshops-field-report ### If you're new here, don't forget to subscribe to The Wildlife Photo Show for more expert tips! Let us know in the comments: What's the first piece of nature you plan to photograph? To download the FREE Nature Photography Cheat Sheets and learn about our workshops and educational offerings, head over to http://www.Hackberryfarmtexas.com #naturephotography #nightphotography #astrophotography #howto #wildlifephotography #cameras #wildlife #nature #NaturePhotography #BeginnersGuide #PhotographyTutorial #WildlifePhotographyTips #RussellGraves #LandscapePhotography #CameraForBeginners #PhotographySettings #PhotoGear #HowToPhotography #TheWildlifePhotoShow

"And so it goes for each outing we take on this Costa Rican nature photography workshop. Throughout the week, we photograph the four monkey species found on the Osa Peninsula.  It’s like an encyclopedia of New World monkeys: the capuchin, spider, howler, and the diminutive squirrel monkey.  Each morning we awake to the sounds of howlers greeting the day - their deep bellowing calls belie their stature.  From a distance, they sound large and imposing, but up close, their tight-knit social structure delights all who see them." - an excerpt from the Costa Rica: Wildlife Paradise field report. See more at https://www.hackberryfarmtexas.com/post/costa-rica-wildlife-paradise-a-hackberry-farm-nature-photography-workshop-field-report ### If you're new here, don't forget to subscribe to The Wildlife Photo Show for more expert tips! Let us know in the comments: What's the first piece of nature you plan to photograph? To download the FREE Nature Photography Cheat Sheets and learn about our workshops and educational offerings, head over to http://www.Hackberryfarmtexas.com #naturephotography #nightphotography #astrophotography #howto #wildlifephotography #cameras #wildlife #nature #NaturePhotography #BeginnersGuide #PhotographyTutorial #WildlifePhotographyTips #RussellGraves #LandscapePhotography #CameraForBeginners #PhotographySettings #PhotoGear #HowToPhotography #TheWildlifePhotoShow