Hello fellow nature and wildlife photographers!

Esther BeatonConservation, Environment, Mentoring, internships, Nature and Wildlife, Nature Photography, New South Wales, On the Beaton Track, South Australia, Wildlife Photography

Here is an opportunity for your photos to do some powerful good. Let me tell you the story behind this wonderful new grant created especially for those devoted to conservation photography. I “knew” Wayne Lawler going back to the days in the 1980’s when my stock agency, Auscape International, represented him as one of its contributing photographers. I only knew … Read More

How to carry out a geographic magazine assignment – Part 3 – Approaching people

Esther BeatonBehind the Scenes, Landscape Photography, New South Wales, On the Beaton Track, People Photography, Photography Equipment, Photography Lighting, Photography Techniques, Professional PhotographyLeave a Comment

Even when I’m in that high vibrational state, where I feel at one with  the environment and where the art of photography seems like innate intuition, it’s not. It’s like driving a car: you can cruise on auto-pilot but that’s only because you’ve put in many miles of experience behind the wheel. Photography only comes easily after you’ve shot thousands … Read More

How to carry out an assignment for a geographic magazine – Part 2 – Being in the moment

Esther BeatonAustralian Geographic, Behind the Scenes, Bird Images, Environment, Habitats, Nature and Wildlife, Nature Photography, New South Wales, On the Beaton Track, People Photography, Photography Techniques, Professional Photography2 Comments

I started shooting the story on pearl faming in New South Wales before I’d even signed the contract with the magazine. That was because a key event was happening immediately – an event that could not be rescheduled or wait for the convenience of a photographer — seeding the oysters.  On one beautiful warm morning, as the first flush of … Read More

How to carry out a geographic magazine assignment – Part 1 – Finding a great subject

Esther BeatonAustralian Geographic, Behind the Scenes, Nature and Wildlife, Nature Photography, New South Wales, On the Beaton Track, People Photography, Photography Business, Photography Techniques, Professional PhotographyLeave a Comment

Sometimes you’re lucky enough to get a call from an editor asking you to do a photo assignment. But sometimes you have to initiate the contact yourself. If your relationship has developed over the years to one of mutual trust, then chances are high that the magazine’s editors will listen to your idea and commission you to carry it out. … Read More

Photo Detective Challenge – How was this “shot” taken?

Esther BeatonBeautiful Images, Behind the Scenes, Digital Photography, Landscape Images, Landscape Photography, Photography Techniques, Professional Photography6 Comments

I only recently installed MacOS Catalina, even though it was released 7 months ago. Apple as usual, uses a stunning landscape photo of a California landmark for the wallpaper. That evening, I sat and admired it on my huge 27” Retina screen, just revelling in the crisp, fine detail of the photo. Just endless eye candy.  Then something funny happened.  … Read More

Add More Sparkle to Twilight Shots

Esther BeatonLandscape Images, Nature and Wildlife, Photography Lighting, Photography Techniques, Travel Photography, Workshops & CoursesLeave a Comment

sunset behind the subject

Talking about night time events, well, dusk really, one of the key things a photographer has to prepare for is the need to add light, that is, more light than is available from the sky.  At one of our recent Meetups, we started at The Haven in Terrigal. There were birds, boats, waves and people. The best part was the … Read More

How to Turn Daylight into Night

Esther BeatonDigital Photography, New South Wales, Photography Lighting, Photography Techniques, Quick Tips, Travel PhotographyLeave a Comment

looks like it was photographed by the light of the moon

There are several reasons to shoot at nighttime. Sometimes you want to create a gloomy, scary or heavy atmosphere. Sometimes the story or subject you want to illustrate occurred at night. But what to do if you are at your location in the middle of the day with no chance to return later?  That’s what happened to me. It was … Read More

Outdoor photographers – why we do what we do

Esther BeatonBehind the Scenes, Flower Photography, In The Media, Landscape Images, Landscape Photography, Nature and Wildlife, Nature Photography, Photography Techniques, Western Australia2 Comments

Photographer Jean-Paul Ferrero

I can understand why outdoor photographer Matthew Dwyer got blown off Bluff Knoll. I’ve been to the peak twice myself. At the top, the winds are fierce, as this tree can attest. I tend to take risks myself, but it’s nothing to what my ex-husband, Jean-Paul Ferrero used to do. In this photo, he had climbed out to photograph a … Read More