Photography
Wildlife and underwater photography guides from marine biologist Simon Pierce: the settings, lenses and housings behind real shoots.
Aerial Ocean Wildlife Photography
Aerial Ocean Wildlife Photography
Notes from 15 helicopter flights over Kaikoura: the camera, lens and settings that freeze whales from a vibrating aircraft.
How to Photograph Birds in Flight: A Complete Guide
How to photograph birds in flight: camera settings, autofocus tips, and techniques for sharp action shots of flying birds.
How I Backup My Photos: Pro Tips for Wildlife Photographers
How to backup photos: a wildlife photographer's guide to protecting your images with redundant storage and cloud backup systems.
Underwater Wide-Angle Photography with the Sony A7R III
Underwater wide-angle photography guide. Techniques for capturing sharks, mantas, and reef scenes from a professional wildlife photographer.
Sony 135 f/1.8 GM Lens: Wildlife Photography Notes
Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM lens user guide for wildlife photography. Stunning bokeh and sharpness for bird and animal portraits.
Sony 200–600mm Lens: User Guide for Wildlife Photographers
Sony 200-600mm lens user guide for wildlife and bird photography. Versatile zoom range, image stabilization, and autofocus performance.
Underwater Macro Photography with the Sony A7R III
Underwater macro photography guide by Simon Pierce. Camera settings, lighting techniques, and finding tiny marine subjects.
Sample Photos from the Sony FE 90 mm f/2.8 G Macro Lens
Sony 90mm macro lens user guide for underwater photography. Sharpness, autofocus, and real-world performance in Nauticam housing.
Underwater Fluorescence Photography (Reef Raves for Masochists)
Underwater fluorescence photography guide: equipment, techniques, and camera settings for capturing glowing corals and marine life.
Photo Tip: How Low Can You Go?
Get low: shooting wildlife at ground level for more striking photos. A top tip from a wildlife photographer.
About these guides
Every guide here comes from the fieldwork of Simon Pierce, a marine biologist and wildlife photographer who leads the whale shark research and conservation programme at the Marine Megafauna Foundation. Most of these photos were taken in the water, or on the way to it.
You will find the settings for freezing whales from a vibrating helicopter over Kaikoura, underwater macro, wide-angle and fluorescence techniques with Sony bodies in Nauticam housings, and field notes on the Sony lenses Simon uses for birds and land wildlife. Each guide names the exact kit and settings behind the photos, so you can copy what works on your own trips.
