I was recently invited to be a guest on the Great Big Photography World podcast.
It’s a great show featuring conversations with photographers from around the world, sharing their experiences, insights and approaches to photography.
I really enjoyed sitting down with host Perrin Adams for a wide-ranging conversation about wildlife photography, my journey over nearly 40 years behind the camera and some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
What We Talked About on The Great Big Photography World Podcast
Making Photographs Rather Than Taking Them
One of the ideas I discussed was something that’s been central to my approach for many years: the difference between taking a photograph and making one.
Great nature and wildlife photography isn’t simply about reacting to whatever happens in front of you. Knowing your subject and anticipating its behavior can help you put yourself in the best possible position for the photograph you’re hoping to make.
I shared the example of photographing a hunting cheetah. Rather than simply following the animal, I said how l’ll look ahead for somewhere it might naturally stop. This could be something like a termite mound or snag, that could give it an elevated view.
As I explained in the conversation, “I want to be positioned where the animal’s going to be.”
Finding Great Photographs Close to Home
The conversation also touched on how great nature photography doesn’t have to involve exotic wildlife or far-flung locations.
I shared the story behind a photograph of an opossum captured in my own backyard in Michigan, as well as how the property I share with Nicole has become an important place for our photography.
Over the years, Nicole and I have created a variety of wildlife habitats here, including a wildlife garden that provides opportunities to photograph insects, flowers and other small subjects.
That led into another of my favorite areas of photography: macro photography, and the possibilities that open up when you start paying closer attention to the smaller details of the natural world.
Photography, Storytelling and Authenticity
Perrin and I also discussed the importance of the story behind a photograph and the difference between images with “stopping power” and those with “staying power.”
As I said, some photographs immediately grab our attention. Others have a story or meaning behind them that keeps us interested for longer.
We also touched on the increasing influence of AI in photography. I explained why transparency matters to me, and why I consider it important to be open about things such as cropping so viewers understand how an image was made.
Listen to the Great Big Photography World Podcast
We’d love for you to listen to the full conversation.
Listen to the episode here: “Every Photo Has a Story: Forty Years of Chasing Wildlife and Meaning,” on the Great Big Photography World podcast.
We hope you enjoy it, and a big thank you to Perrin and the Great Big Photography World team for the invitation onto the podcast.
Good Luck and Good Light!
Steve & Nicole
Related: Steve interviewed on the FRAMES photography podcast