The Helpful Photographer Podcast by NYC Photo Safari

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Photography tips and tricks in a brief 5-10 minute format.

nycphotosafari


    • Apr 16, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 5m AVG DURATION
    • 208 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from The Helpful Photographer Podcast by NYC Photo Safari with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Helpful Photographer Podcast by NYC Photo Safari

    205: OEM vs 3rd-Party Lenses: Worth It?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026 5:13


    OEM vs third-party lenses: do the savings cost you performance? Here's what you need to know.   Read transcript here: New York City Photo Safari

    204: Third-Party vs OEM Camera Batteries: Which Is Better?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 9:06


    Are third-party camera batteries worth the savings? Learn the real difference in quality, reliability and performance.   Transcript available here: New York City Photo Safari

    203: How to Clean Your Camera's Sensor

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 7:19


    Learn how to check for sensor dust and safely clean your camera using simple tools and techniques. Transcript available at New York City Photo Safari

    202: How to Clean Your Camera Gear

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 5:17


    A step-by-step guide to cleaning your camera, lenses and bag to keep your gear working smoothly.   Transcription here: New York City Photo Safari

    201: Sharp ND Filter Photography Tips

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 4:29


    How to keep your ND filter shots tack sharp with tips on clean filters, stable tripods, and proper focusing.   Full Transcript available at newyorkcityphotosafari.com

    200: Real-World Results of a Lens Test

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 6:25


    Testing your camera lens can instantly improve image sharpness and shooting confidence. Photographer Vicki Hibbert shares her real-world lens testing  process before photographing wildlife in Antarctica.   Transcript available here: New York City Photo Safari

    199: Front vs Drop-In vs Clip-In Filters

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 15:01


    A Physicist shares the pros and cons of front, drop-in, & clip-in filters, including impact on image quality, cost, and ease of use.   Full transcript available at newyorkcityphotosafari.com

    198: Shutter Priority vs Manual Mode

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 7:43


    When to use shutter priority instead of manual mode for changing light & moving subjects.   Transcript available at: New York City Photo Safari

    197: Photographing Frozen Soap Bubbles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 12:52


    A winter photography experiment: how to photograph frozen soap bubbles. Includes bubble recipes and camera settings tips.   Transcript available here: newyorkcityphotosafari.com

    196: Test Your Camera Lenses for Sharpness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 6:27


    A simple, controlled way to test your lenses and find their sharpest aperture.

    195: Antarctica & Snow Photography Tips.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 5:41


    Photography tips from Zim's Antarctica trip: shooting snow, high-contrast subjects like penguins, and using polarizing filters effectively.   Transcript available at New York City Photo Safari

    194: Polarization, Glaciers, and Antarctic Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 5:56


    How polarizing filters reduce glare, enhance skies, and affect real-world photography.   Transcript available at New York City Photo Safari

    193: Understanding Polarizing Filters in Photography (with a Physicist)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 16:03


    How polarizing filters reduce glare, enhance skies, and affect real-world photography.   Transcript available here: New York City Photo Safari

    192: Why Use Auto ISO

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 10:38


    When and why to use Auto ISO, how your camera balances exposure, and how Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority really work in real-world shooting.   Transcript available at New York City Photo Safari

    manual aperture priority auto iso
    191: Essential Packing List for Antarctica

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 17:35


    Everything you need, beyond your camera gear, to get ready  for a trip to Antarctica.

    190: Preparing to Photograph Antarctica

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 37:28


    Everything you need to prepare for photographing your Polar Latitudes adventure to Antarctica.

    189: Heat Distortion in Photography

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025 4:24


    Learn how heat distortion causes blurry photos and how to keep your shots sharp in hot or changing weather.   Transcript available at: NYC Photo Safari

    188: Shooting in the Heat: Photo Guide

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2025 5:57


    Photography tips for hot weather—protect your camera, manage batteries, and stay cool while capturing great shots.   For a full transcript visit: NYC Photo Safari

    187: P6 Bird Photography: Monopods #187

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2025 4:15


    Monopods help you capture sharp, stable, and fatigue-free bird and wildlife photos.   Read transcript at NYC Photo Safari

    186: P5 Bird Photography: How to Anticipate Flight

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 4:42


    Capture stunning in-flight bird photos by anticipating takeoff and using the right camera techniques.   Transcript available at NYCPhotoSafari.com

    184: P4 Bird Photography: Hummingbirds

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 5:01


    Expert tips for photographing hummingbirds— ideal camera settings to behavior tracking and lighting techniques.   Read Transcript at NYCPhotoSafari.com

    185: P4 Bird Photography: Capture the Decisive Moment

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 3:55


    Learn to spot routines in animals and people to anticipate behavior and capture decisive moments in photography.   Full transcript visit NYCPhotoSafari.com

    183: P2 Bird Photography: Custom Settings

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 4:09


    Discover how to shoot perched and flying birds with low ISO and high sharpness through the use of custom settings.

    182: P1 Bird Photography Camera Settings #182

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 9:35


    Learn why shutter priority is the best camera mode for bird photography. Get expert tips on handling lighting changes, and mastering your bird shots.   Transcript available here: NYC Photo Safari

    181: How to Design a Photo Book That Tells a Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 5:47


    From layout to image selection, discover how to create a photo book that flows beautifully and captures lasting memories. Tips for storytelling, design, and printing included.   Try Printique.com for photo book printing.

    180: Choosing the Right Print Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2025 3:56


    Learn when to use glossy, matte, canvas, acrylic, or metal for the best results in style and longevity. Try  Printique.com for high quality prints. 

    179: How to Frame Photos Archivally

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 8:37


    DIY tips for archival photo framing to preserve your prints and save money.   For a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    178: Best Camera Bag Advice: Why Smaller Is Smarter

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 6:01


    Oversized camera backpacks and the social media hype behind them. Learn why smaller, smarter camera bags can save your back and your sanity.   For a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    177: Ditch the Universal Plug Converter

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 3:23


    Practical advice for photographers and frequent flyers alike.   For a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    176: Why You Need Your Tripod's Center Column

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 5:40


    Learn how to use your center column properly and stop sacrificing practicality for internet myths.   For a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    175: RAW vs. JPEG What's Best for You?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 6:10


    Discover the pros and cons of each file format, and learn which is best for your photography workflow.   For a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    174: Not All USB Cables Are Created Equal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 7:17


    Not all USB cables are equal. Learn how to choose the right cable and charger for fast photo transfers and safe charging of your camera, laptop, and gear. For a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    173: A Guide to Low Light Focus

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 5:22


    Tips for sharp manual focus in low light. Learn why autofocus fails and how to focus better at night using simple camera techniques. For a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    172: IBIS & the 1/Focal Length Rule

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 5:39


    Learn how IBIS and image stabilization affect the "one over focal length" rule. For a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    171: Choosing the Right Neutral Density Filter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 5:06


    Learn how to choose the right ND filter by counting stops and adjusting exposure.   Click here for a full transcript: NYC Photo Safari

    neutral density filter
    170: Manually Calculate Exposure in Low Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2025 5:39


    Master ISO, shutter speed, and f-stops for perfect low-light shots without auto mode.   Click here for a full transcript: NYC Photo Safari

    169: Customizing Your Camera Buttons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 2:44 Transcription Available


    Discover how personalizing your camera's buttons can improve your shooting efficiency. Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog

    168: Understand Your DOF Button

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 4:45 Transcription Available


    Understand what the depth of field button does and how to use it.   Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog

    167: What Is Precapture in Photography

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 2:59 Transcription Available


    Capture moments before they happen with Pre-Capture mode — ideal for action, wildlife, and fast-moving scenes. Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog

    166: Camera Use in Extreme Temperatures

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 5:35 Transcription Available


    Learn how to safely use your camera in extreme hot or cold weather conditions.   To read a transcript visit New York City Photo Safari

    165: Lens Cap Essentials

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 4:16 Transcription Available


    Learn why lens caps are important — and how they help protect your entire gear, not just your lens.   To read a transcript please visit New York City Photo Safari

    164: Face Priority for Perfect Focus

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 3:02 Transcription Available


    Mastering face priority: how to use it for perfect focus every time.   To read a full transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    163: Enhancing Photos With AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 4:28 Transcription Available


    Learn how to use AI in Lightroom to enhance and correct your images for better results.   To read a transcript visit: New York City Photo Safari

    162: Watermarks, Metadata, & Photo Rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 4:48


    Learn how to protect your photos with embedded copyright info, metadata tips, and smart watermarking strategies.   To read the full transcript visit: NYC Photo Safari

    161: Problems with Low f/ Stops #161

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 2:44


    Challenges with low aperture lenses. Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog  

    160: Problems with High f/ Stop

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 2:44


    Why High f/ Stops can harm your shots.   Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog

    159: Best F-Stop for Macro

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 1:40


    Why smaller apertures is key to getting sharp macro shots.   Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog

    158: Memory Card Compatibility Issues

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 2:39


    Why your memory card might not work between cameras.   Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog

    157: Wide Area Focus Issues

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 2:31


    Why wide area focus isn't work for me anymore.    Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog  

    156: Prevent Focus Point Shifts

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 1:45


    How to prevent accidental focus point shifts on your camera.   Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog

    prevent shifts focus point
    155: LCD Screen Blackout Fix

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 2:42


    Why your camera's LCD screen keeps turning off and how to fix it.    Click here for a transcript: NYC Photo Safari Blog

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