The photograph of the month for January 2022 comes from my last visit to Finland in the Autumn of 2021 (Read the Trip Report). Photographed from private hide during some of the first snows of the season, it consists of the entire wolf pack together. This is a photograph I have been attempting to get for some years now as it is quite uncommon for the pack to come together in the open like this. The addition of the fresh snow adds that magical quality that makes it a very special moment.
I have just published Episode #35 of my Wild Nature Photography Podcast. This podcast includes an introduction to 2022 with my thoughts on travel, travel restrictions as a result of the ongoing pandemic, and where I want to head with the podcast this year.
It has been some time since I last did an update on workshop and expedition availability and with COVID still wreaking havoc on the travel industry, there are a number of last-minute places available on upcoming trips.
I have a number of places available on my Spring Light Svalbard expedition this April. This expedition will run April 8th – April 16th 2022. Full details are available on my website at www.jholko.com/workshops. Please just note, currently Norway requires an EU certified vaccination certificate to avoid quarantine on entry.
There are also two places that have become available on the 2023 September Greenland expedition. Please contact me for further details.
I would like to thank all the readers and followers of my blog, those who follow my work on social media, who have purchased prints, cards, and books as well as workshop and expedition participants for your continued support throughout 2021. It has been an extraordinarily challenging year for many (myself included) and I am hopeful things improve for all in the coming year. I wish all of you a very happy and safe New Year and all the very best for 2022. If you are traveling with me in 2022 on one or more of my workshops or expeditions I look forward to shooting together in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations. I hope your year is full of beautiful light, stunning locations, good health, and great times.
As is tradition on my blog, every year I do a “What’s in Store” post for the new year as well as reflect back, and wrap up the year that was. 2021 was quite frankly a disastrous year for just about everyone and when I look back at the calamitous results of the COVID pandemic I can categorically say I am very glad to see the back of 2021. Historically, I have always done this as a written blog post, but because of the extended length, I have decided to move my Wrap post to the Podcast format. You can access the podcast through your favorite podcast player or download the episode directly HERE.
2021 was a year that included just one travel destination, that was Finland for my Wolves and Wolverines workshop (Read the Trip Report). The rest of the year was more or less spent in various stages of COVID lockdown.
In equipment terms, 2021 represented my first serious foray into mirrorless cameras with the purchase of the Canon EOS R3. I did previously own a Canon EOS R, but sold it recently as I was just never using it. I have already published several podcasts on the EOS R3 as well as developing specific noise pre-sets (available HERE) and will have more to say about it early next year after I use it in Iceland and Finland. I also purchased the Canon 14-35mm f4L IS R Mount and the 70-200mm f2.8L IS R Mount as well as a 1.4 R Mount Teleconverter. I will continue to run both my EF 400mm and EF 600mm lenses with the EF to RF adapter.
My gear pick for the 2021 year (I always choose something I actually own) is not surprisingly the Canon EOS R3. With its animal eye Auto Focus the R3 quite simply offers the best autofocus of any camera I have ever tested.
Lastly and certainly not least, I want to wish all of you a very safe and happy New Year, and may 2022 be pandemic-free and one of amazing light and experiences for all of you. See you in the New Year!
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