Wild Wolves of the Taiga Forest – A Workshop Primer 2023

Photographing wolves in their natural habitat is an enriching and awe-inspiring experience that requires some dedication, patience, and a profound connection with nature. Finland, with its pristine landscapes and thriving wolf populations, offers photographers a remarkable opportunity to capture these elusive creatures’ essence. In this post, I want to delve into the captivating world of photographing wolves in Finland from my perspective as a photographer who has been leading trips for other photographers and photographing these magnificent animals for many years.

The allure of photographing wolves lies in their untamed spirit and their ability to evoke a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world. Wolves embody the untethered essence of the wilderness, and capturing their beauty through the lens is a profound experience. Finland’s vast and unspoiled wilderness is the backdrop for this wolf photography adventure. We venture into the heart of the Finnish landscapes, immersing ourselves in the untamed beauty surrounding us. The stillness of the boreal forests and the silent whispers of Autumn leaves and snow underfoot create an atmosphere of anticipation, setting the stage for extraordinary encounters with these majestic creatures.

To photograph wolves successfully, we will immerse ourselves in the world of the animals, understand their behaviour, and gain insight into their territories. Hours of research and personal experiences and encounters have provided invaluable guide knowledge about the wolves’ movements, habits, and preferred hunting grounds. This understanding allows us to anticipate their actions and create compelling visual narratives.

Patience is a virtue that every wildlife photographer must possess, and photographing wolves is no exception. On this workshop, we will embrace the stillness and the waiting game, knowing that it is often in those moments of anticipation that the most extraordinary opportunities arise. Waiting for hours or perhaps even days can become a test of resolve, but the rewards are immeasurable when the wolves reveal themselves.

As passionate advocates for ethical wildlife photography, we place the well-being and conservation of the animals above all else. Respecting the wolves’ space and ensuring minimal disturbance is of utmost importance. Our approach to photographing wolves emphasizes the need to preserve their natural behaviour and minimize any impact on their daily lives.

Capturing the essence of wolves goes beyond the technical aspects of photography. It involves storytelling and evoking emotions through images. By incorporating the surrounding landscapes, light, and unique behaviours of the wolves, we will strive to create photographs that invite viewers into the wolves’ world, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for these remarkable creatures.

Photographing wolves in Finland is a profound and transformative experience that requires a deep respect for wildlife, patience, and an unwavering commitment to ethical practices. Our journey in photographing wolves in Finland will result in capturing the beauty and essence of these magnificent creatures. Through our lens, we step into the realm of the wolves, encouraging a deeper connection with nature and a heightened sense of responsibility for their conservation. Joining us on this remarkable journey will undoubtedly leave you with a newfound appreciation for the wild and a collection of stunning images that tell a captivating story.

Ultimate Polar Bears of the High Arctic Expedition 2025 Announcement

Today, I am incredibly excited to open the (already almost sold out) bookings for an all-new 19-day / 18-night dedicated photographic expedition for Polar Bears in the high Arctic north of Svalbard. A 19-day expedition is an all-new opportunity to venture far north, east and west of Svalbard into the pack ice in search of Polar Bears. Due to the initial registrations and expressions of interest, there is only 1 place remaining before the expedition before is sold out. If you have ever wanted to photograph Polar Bears on a dedicated trip with like-minded, passionate photographers, this is the expedition you want to participate in. With 19 days, we will sail far north into the permanent pack ice, looking for and photographing the King of the Arctic. We can sail much further east and west with our extended time than all the other eight and nine-day expeditions. The extra time will give us many unique opportunities to encounter and photograph this incredible high-arctic predator.

Bird Photographer of the Year Book 2023 Multiple Photographs Included

In some exciting news, I received an email this morning that three of the photographs I submitted to the 2023 Bird Photographer of the Year competition have been selected to be included in the 2023 8th annual edition of the Bird Photographer of the Yearbook! This was the first time I entered Bird Photographer of the Year, and I am thrilled to have had three images selected for inclusion in the annual book. Of the thousands of entries in the competition, fewer than three hundred (or less than 1%) are selected for inclusion in the book. Having three photographs chosen from the few I entered is wonderful news, and I could not be happier with the result. You can pre-order the Bird Photographer of the Year Book 8 online at the BPOTY website (www.birdpoty.com). The BPOTY books are fantastic references and an absolute must-have for any bird enthusiast or photographer interested in birds. I also reviewed the previous editions of Bird Photographer of the Year in Podcast number 57 – available HERE.

The three photographs included in the book were taken in Antarctica, Svalbard and Iceland and are of an Adelie Penguin on an iceberg, a swarm of Black-legged Kittiwakes in front of a glacier face and a Gyr Falcon on a kill in winter. Final competition results will be announced on the 5th of September, 2023.

Svalbard

Behind the Scenes Filming for the new BenQ SW272U Photographic Monitor

Earlier today, I completed filming with my good friend Tony Knight at his Melbourne studio for BenQ’s brand new flagship 27″ SW272U 4K Adobe RGB Photographic Monitor that is now available to pre-order from BenQ. The list of specifications is awe-inspiring, and this new flagship 4K monitor appears to tick all the boxes and be a game-winning home run for BenQ. Look for my unboxing and first impressions video in the next week.

BenQ SW272U

Fine-coated Panel with TUV-Certification
Certified with TUV Rheinland Reflection-Free Certifications, SW272U utilizes fine-coating anti-reflection panel to eliminate glare and reflection for simulated paper-texture visual experiences on screen under different types of ambient lighting to get perfect results.

The AQCOLOR Advantage

BenQ AQCOLOR technology delivers ‘Accurate Reproduction.’ This translates to the display of colour precisely as it is intended to appear. Led by a colour expert, the BenQ team took part in the ICC* and ISO** to establish colour-related standards and implementation guidelines. Covering 99% Adobe RGB, P3 and 100% sRGB colour spaces, with Delta E ≤ 1.5 and BenQ ICCsync, SW272U offers out-of-the-box and easy-to-reach colour accuracy. The 16-bit 3D lookup table (LUT) improves colour blending for precise reproduction.

BenQ Uniformity Technology

Create with confidence. Enjoy consistent colour accuracy and brightness consistency throughout each panel.

Calman Verified, Pantone Validated, and 3rd-Party Video Calibration Software Supported

BenQ PhotoVue monitors are accredited with Calman Verified, Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone Validated certifications. Creative professionals demand colour excellence, and BenQ delivers. Moreover, SW272U supports world-leading video calibration software, Calman and ColourSpace. Adjust your display’s 3D LUT (Lookup Table) for accuracy and consistency at all levels.

Palette Master Ultimate

Tune and maintain the color performance of your monitors with Palette Master Ultimate software and get the optimal colour consistency in 3 steps.

Realized Outputs As the Way You Intended

Whether you’re retouching photos in Adobe RGB or editing 4K videos in DCI-P3, SW272U’s wide colour coverage showcases your talent, letting your finished work look the way you intended.

Paper Color Sync

Paper Color Sync offers simulated images attuned to the colour settings, printer, and photo paper in use for easy and accurate photo preview before print.

GamutDuo Preview for Adobe RGB, sRGB, and more
Preview the same image in two color gamuts, side-by-side, for comparison in photo editing.

P3 Color Preview for Digital Outputs

Deliver accurate colours to videos with P3 colour space for your video projects.

Video Format Support

SW272U helps pros get the best video results with HDR support and multiple video formats.

Select SDI to HDMI Device Compatibility

BenQ has tested select SDI to HDMI devices as compatible with SW272U. Videographers can thus connect their SDI devices to the monitor for stable and non-compressed signal transmission and real quality video image.

HDR10 and HLG

Thanks to SDI to HDMI Device Compatibility, SW272U is also HDR10- and HLG-compatible, making it perfect to preview the HDR effect of video content during the editing process for best results.

Chroma Sampling Support or Video Format

Combined with the above video format compatibilities, SW272U supports 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0 sampling in determining monitor fidelity.

Expand Your Efficiency

Quick to transfer various data and deliver power.

Hotkey Puck G3

Cordless for unlimited convenience.

Convenient Design

Easy to access OSD, I/O port, and card reader efficiently.

Leatherette Base

Save the workspace for valuable items.

Pantone Connect Premium

Go digital with BenQ, the first brand to work with Pantone on a mobile app. As an existing owner or a new purchaser of BenQ professional monitors, you get one year of free Pantone Connect Premium for digitally mobile colour consistency and accuracy.

Shading Hood
The detachable shading hood effectively reduces screen glare from ambient lighting. Block external light for stellar colour accuracy.

CalMAN Certified
All BenQ PhotoVue monitors earn Calman Verified and Pantone Validated status. In close collaboration between BenQ and Portrait Displays, the Verified by CalMAN program ensures each display to be accurate out of the box and true to multiple industry-standard colour gamuts. The Verified by CalMAN mark is only given to the highest-grade of displays.

Pantone Certified
In 2019, BenQ announced that it’s SW series of monitors became the world’s first stand-alone displays to earn the Pantone Validated status, ensuring colour-matched inter-operability with a plethora of production-grade colour output devices qualified by Pantone. Pantone Validated provides designers and photographers confidence in the Pantone colours rendered on-screen throughout their creative process, to better align materials in Pantone colours or simulations using Pantone-licensed output solutions.

Rigorously evaluated and approved by Pantone colour experts, BenQ SW monitors offer integrated colour correction and BenQ-exclusive AQCOLOR technology to guarantee superior fidelity in colour accuracy, including tested quality in achieving Pantone Matching System (PMS) colours. In use by virtually every colour-critical industry and manufacturer worldwide, the PMS system is a universal language of colour that allows creative professionals to specify and match specific colours, regardless of the equipment and materials used to produce the exact colour.

You can read more information on BenQ becoming Pantone Verified here.

World’s First Pantone SkinTone Validated Certification

As of 2022, the BenQ SW series became the world’s first stand-alone displays to achieve Pantone SkinTone Validated certification. Pantone SkinTone Validated supports the Pantone SkinTone guide, the first of it’s kind for matching and reproducing a wide range of human skin tones that accurately reflects the diversity of our multicultural society.

Full specifications avaialble on BenQ’s website.