Essays and Inspiration Category Archive

The Art of Discovering the Unexpected

In photography, having a vision and a concrete plan is always helpful. But getting too attached to your initial ideas can prevent you from seeing good subjects in front of you, especially when they are entirely different from what you had in mind. Of course, having a plan when you...

“How Is AI Different From Autofocus?”

There was a time not long ago when I spent time on photography forums. I joined quite a few debates about artificial intelligence, and in these debates, some people compared new AI tools with other automated camera features. “How is AI any different from autofocus?” is a question I saw in various forms.

My Favorite Photos of 2024

The end of the year is fast approaching, and (partly inspired by Jason's article a couple of days ago) I figured it was a good time to reflect on my photography for the year. I decided to look back and pick my five favorite images from the year. When I...

Deep in the Atlantic Forest of São Paulo

When wildlife photographers think of Brazil, they might think of the Amazon or Pantanal. And although these biodiversity hotspots are full of amazing animals, they are not the only places in the country for wildlife photography. They can even be touristy and highly guided at times. If you want to...

Why My Birds Aren’t Doing Anything

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...

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...

How Important Is Patience in Wildlife Photography?

A widespread belief among the general, non-animal-photographing (and therefore more or less normal) population is that patience is the essential quality of a wildlife photographer. I consider myself primarily a wildlife photographer, and my social bubble is teeming with other such weirdos. So let me give a little insight into...