Over the years, I've received some criticism on my photography, and I think that's a good thing. I've appreciated all of it, because on the whole it has made me a better photographer. After all, I have so many blind spots where I just don't see problems. But there is...
About Jason Polak
Post Archive By Jason Polak
Tamron Announces 90mm f/2.8 Macro for Nikon Z and Sony E
There are already plenty of outstanding macro lenses for both the Nikon Z mount and the Sony E mount. Well, Tamron has just announced a new contribution, the Tamron 90mm F/2.8 Di III MACRO VXD, Model F072. This is a nice upgrade to the older Tamron 90mm f/2.8 versions for...
The Quest for 5000 Birds
About four years ago, I came up with a simple goal: photograph 5000 species of birds. How did I even think of such a plan? It all began with two questions: What is that bird over there? How is that bird related to the others? Soon, I started keeping track...
Optimizing Shutter Speed in Bird Photography
When it comes to camera settings, shutter speed is the most important variable for bird photography. That’s because it’s the setting that you need to control the most. Optimizing your shutter speed is really the only way to maximize the amount of light you’re getting, while also freezing the bird’s motion.
How to Simplify Compositions in Wildlife Photography
Imagine a parrot on a branch about to fly away, or a monkey peering its head around a tree. Do you want to hit that shutter right away and take a shot? How could you not? It's a beautiful animal - and surely in wildlife photography, we can't control much......
Black and White and Wildlife
Splash on that color, those bright blues and greens and reds! Soft feathers and golden light, warm fur and rich browns, smooth exoskeletons with a mesmerizing plethora of endless iridescence all beckon to the lens. How can the wildlife photographer resist the epic array of beautiful color from the world...
An Alternative to Eye-Level Photos in Wildlife Photography
A great technique in bird and wildlife photography is shooting at eye level. Eye-level shots are often more intimate - they give better subject isolation and are typically more engaging. Libor and Massimo have recently written about how much they love this approach to wildlife photography, and I don't disagree. But...
Catching Up with the Photography Life Team, ’24 Edition
One year ago, I decided to sit down with some of my fellow writers at Photography Life and talk a bit about photography. What about in 2024? This year, I definitely wanted to get hold of Spencer, Libor, and Nasim, and get them to reveal their secrets about how they approach photography!
A Journey with the Photographic Mind
The photographic eye can perceive great compositions, notice patterns, find great light. But what of the photographic mind? The thoughts, the wishes, and the imagination – the idea of scenes dripping with the golden drops of sunlight? How does the photographic mind influence your style?
Tips for Duck and Goose Photography
Ducks and geese form the family Anatidae, and there are 174 of them in total! Moreover, they are large birds that are easy to see - and thus make good photographic subjects. But like all animals, ducks and geese have their own sort of behavior, and that means there are...