In this video, I’ll share the shutter speeds I actually use for wildlife, from 1/20 second for creative motion blur all the way to 1/8000 for fast action.

Of course, what I use isn’t as important as WHY I use and so I’ll also show you how I decide which speed to use in the field. Oh, and I crammed in a bunch of little tips and tricks that I’ll bet you (probably) didn’t know.

As a bonus, I put together a free 4-page Wildlife Shutter Speed “Cheat Sheet”with starting speeds for dozens of common wildlife situations. Head the the main BCG site for the download and video.

The post Wildlife Shutter Speed: You’re Using the Wrong One appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

We’ll cover everything from exposure, to back-button focus, to emergency buttons, to ISO management, to pre-capture, and more!

Check it out:

PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).

The post The Wildlife Settings We BOTH Agree On (And Where We FIGHT!) appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

Sure, it’s incredibly small, light, affordable, and the autofocus is surprisingly snappy. However, there are a few compromises once you start looking closely at sharpness, low-light performance, backgrounds, stabilization, cropping, and that F/8 maximum aperture.

In the video, I compare it directly against Sony’s faster 100-400mm options, test both teleconverters, look at cropping versus the 1.4X, and break down who I think this lens makes sense for, and who should probably skip it.

PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).

The post Sony 100-400mm F5.6-8 Review: What Do You Really Give Up? appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

In this new video, I walk through the complete AF menu setup I use for wildlife and explain what each important setting does, why I configure it that way, how I use it in the field, and when you may want to choose something different. I also cover my core AF button setup, including AF-area overrides, subject-detection controls, Focus Limiter, and custom C1/C2 areas.

NEW – I’ve also created a free companion PDF exclusively for newsletter subscribers. It includes my recommended settings and short explanations, so you don’t have to take notes while you watch the video. 

Check it out:

The post Best Nikon AF Setup for Wildlife Photography (Nikon Z Series) appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

In the video, I’ll show you how I use Lightroom Denoise to clean up noisy files while keeping important fur, feather detail, texture, and sharpness intact. I also cover the impacts of field technique, especially when it comes to sharpness, filling the frame, and avoiding the dreaded “detail-less mush” look.

If you shoot wildlife at ISO 3200, 6400, 10,000, 12,800 or beyond, this one should help you get cleaner files without making them look like a taxidermy job.

PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).

The post Make ISO 12,800 Look Like ISO 400! Lightroom Workflow 2026 appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

When Sony asked if I wanted to review the new RX10 V, I almost passed. It’s a superzoom, and that’s not exactly my normal wheelhouse.

But I figured I’d at least give it a look.

And honestly? I was blown away.

I was not expecting a superzoom to:

• Track blackbirds in flight
• Use controls that feel like a full mirrorless camera
• Offer serious subject-detection AF
• Shoot at 30 FPS
• Have a deep buffer
• Deliver such a sharp 24-600mm lens

And that’s just the start.

No, it’s not replacing a full interchangeable-lens wildlife kit. But it may be the camera you take when you don’t want to carry the big gear, or the camera you hand to a spouse or travel companion who wants reach, speed, and simplicity without a pile of lenses.

Check out the review, and don’t miss the little behind-the-scenes clip at the very end.

PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).

The post Sony RX10 V Review for Wildlife Photographers appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

We get into how pros think in the field, lenses for wildlife, sharpness, what lens we’d use if we could only pick one, why better photos aren’t always about better gear, when to stay with a subject, when to move on, whether species or situation matters more, camo, concealment, and how to be ready when the best moment only lasts a second or two.

TONS of practical advice in this one. It’s a must-see!

PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).

The post How Pros Think In The Field appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

Wanna know the secret?

In this video, I’ll show you 10 practical ways to improve teleconverter performance and get sharper photos with both 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.

PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).

The post Why Your Teleconverter Photos Aren’t Sharp appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

But some of the most important wildlife photography skills have nothing to do with any of those things.

In this video, I’ll walk you through seven real wildlife photos, the problems I faced in the field, and the “hidden” skills that helped me come home with the shot.

Check it out:

PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).

The post The Hidden Skills That Get The Shot appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.

In this new video, I challenge one of the biggest ideas in photography and explain why some of the most compelling wildlife images aren’t really about storytelling at all – and how a shift in your thinking can supercharge your creativity in the field.

Best 5 minutes you’ll spend today Check it out:

PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).

The post Stop Trying To Tell Stories With Your Photos appeared first on Backcountry Gallery.