The photograph of the month for December 2020 comes from Finland during one of my expeditions to photograph Wolves and Wolverines late in Autumn (Read the Trip Report). This photograph is a great example of when it is ok to break the rules and place the subject dead centre of frame. The use of negative space to either side of the wolf helps to frame the animal and provide some context for its environment. The extremely low angle of view and soft foreground were obtained by utilising a ground level hide and by shooting the telephoto lens almost wide open. This photograph is also the cover shot for my new book Never Cry Wolf, that is now available to pre-order through my online store Melrakki Publishing. 
Festive Greeting Cards are Now Available
With Christmas almost upon us a small reminder that Fine Art Greeting Cards are now available through my online Melrakki Store. Greeting cards come as a set of four different Artist Cards complete with envelopes and are printed on archival MUSEO acid-free cotton-rag paper. Cards measure 5 1/2″ x 7 3/8″ in size, 220 GSM paper weight and are pre-scored and folded. The cards are blank inside to allow for custom hand written messages and are supplied with matching high quality envelopes. Photographs are printed onto the cards with the highest quality ink-jet printing to the same exacting standard as my Fine Art Limited Edition Prints – they are identical. The back of each card includes information about the photograph.
Cards are ideal for Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversary, Get Well or any other special occasion when you want to send only the best. Cards can be ordered online in sets of 4, 8, 12, 16 and a 20 and you can choose from Penguins, Wolves, Pallas Cat, Polar Bear, Arctic Fox, Snowy Owls, Namibia Desert or Icebergs. You can check out the full range and place your order online HERE. A few sample images included below from some of the card options.
World Photographic Cup Selection 2021 – Nature Category
Very excited to announce today that one of my photographs has been chosen to represent Australia for the third time in the World Photographic Cup 2021. One of my Nature images was selected back in 2015 and subsequently not only made the finals, but went on to win the bronze medal for Australia. I was also selected again in 2019. Quite honestly, I had never expected to be selected again to represent Australia and am deeply honoured that the selection board has chosen one of my photographs to again represent my country. I can’t as yet share the actual photograph as judging in the cup is still underway, but will post an update as soon as possible. The photograph below took out the bronze medal in the 2015 Reportage Category.
Canon EOS 1DX MK3 Firmware 1.3 November 2020
Firmware Version 1.3.0 incorporates the following enhancements:
1. Enables 2nd curtain shooting sync during radio transmission wireless flash shooting when the Speedlite EL-1 flash is attached to the camera.
2. Enables manual flash output (excluding high-speed sync and optical transmission wireless flash shooting) to be selected and set up to 1/8192 from the camera menu screen when the Speedlite EL-1 flash is attached to the camera.
3. Improves compatibility of HEIF images recorded in the camera with MIAF (Multi-Image Application Format) standards.
4. Fixes the phenomenon that may result in the occurrence of time-out under certain conditions during FTP transfer.
Firmware Version 1.3.0 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.2.1. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.3.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
Once the EOS-1D X Mark III is updated to Firmware Version 1.3.0 (or later), it cannot be restored to a previous firmware version (Version 1.0.0 to 1.2.1).
The following Applications have been updated accordingly:
・Digital Photo Professional 4.13.10
・EOS Utility 3.13.10
・Camera Connect 2.7.20
・Digital Photo Professional Express 1.4.0
Please download the Applications as well as the latest firmware.
Gura Gear Chobe 2.0 Pre-Order now Open!
I am very pleased to announce that Gura Gear is launching the long-awaited update to the original Everday Carry, Chobe 2.0 on the Kickstarter platform and it is now available to Pre-Order! This is without doubt one of the most anticipated and requested camera bags on the planet. The original Chobe has been my go to carry on accessory bag for nearly a decade now and I am really excited to get my hands on the new model with all of its improvements. Perhaps best of all, the Chobe can now be ordered in either a 13″ or 16″ version to suit your travel laptop – perfect. Chobe can be ordered online by clicking on the image below.
www.WILDNATUREPHOTOTRAVEL.com 