Photography Explained Podcast

Episoade

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  The Exposure Triangle. What It Is. And Why I Don't Use It. 25.09.2026 21min

  Send us Fan Mail 🔺 Ever felt like the exposure triangle needs three hands and a maths degree just to take one photo? It doesn't. In this episode Rick explains aperture, shutter speed and ISO in plain English — what each one actually does, how they work together, and which two settings he actually controls himself on every real shoot. If you're new to cameras, or you've never quite got your head around exposure, this one's for you. What's Covered● 🔺 What the exposure...
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  You Say I Should Use Image Stabilisation — Then Why Oh Why Would I Ever Turn It Off? 11.09.2026 24min

  Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Turn on image stabilisation, they said. It'll save your photos, they said. Nobody mentioned you'd need to turn it off again. You've been told to always leave image stabilisation switched on. But put your camera on a tripod, and that same advice flips completely. In this episode, I explain exactly what image stabilisation does, how many extra stops it can buy you, and the moments where it can actually work against you. Whether you're shooting handheld, on a tripod, or panni...
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  Crop Factor. Sorry — I Know It's Boring But It's Really Important. 28.08.2026 25min

  Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Your 50mm lens isn't really a 50mm lens — and once you know why, you'll never buy a lens with the wrong expectations again. In this episode Rick explains crop factor in plain English. No maths degree required. If you've ever wondered why your lens doesn't seem to do what the numbers on the barrel suggest, this one's for you. What's Covered ● 🎞️ What a full-frame sensor actually is, and where the name comes from ● 📷 What...
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  Your Kit Lens Says 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 — What on Earth Does Any of That Mean? 14.08.2026 20min

  Send us Fan Mail 🎯 Your kit lens has something printed on the barrel. 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. Confident. Specific. And absolutely meaningless — unless you know what any of it means. This episode fixes that. In episode 239 of the Photography Explained Podcast, I explain every number and letter on your kit lens barrel. In plain English. Without the irrelevant detail. Including why the aperture numbering system is completely backwards — and why whoever invented it clearly did not consult anyone who w...
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  Argh. Why Is There So Much Camera Gear? Please Help Me! 31.07.2026 25min

  Send us Fan Mail There is a LOT of camera gear out there. Bodies, lenses, bags, tripods, filters, memory cards, drones, studio lights — and it can feel like you need to spend thousands of pounds before you've earned the right to call yourself a photographer. You don't. Not even close. In this episode I cut through all of it and tell you exactly what a beginner photographer actually needs, what can wait, and what you can safely ignore entirely. 📷 In this episode we cover: ● ...
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  What — I Have to Clean My Camera Gear? Really? 17.07.2026 19min

  Send us Fan Mail 🧹 Your camera gear is dirty. And dirty gear is quietly affecting your photos in ways you might not even notice — a smudge on the lens that softens everything, a speck of dust on the sensor that shows up in the same spot on every single sky you shoot. In this episode I cover exactly what to clean, how to clean it safely, and — probably most importantly — what not to do. Because the damage usually comes from cleaning too aggressively, not from leaving things alone. In this epis...
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  Why It Is 3 Times Harder to Choose a Camera Bag Than a Sandwich Bag 03.07.2026 19min

  Send us Fan Mail 🎒 Did you know there are 31 types of camera bag? One of them is a sandwich bag. Yes, really. I used to carry a massive bag full of gear to my local park. Waterproof zips and everything. For boats I never went on. Seven lenses. Four batteries. Two speedlites. Snacks for a week. I was 10 minutes from home. The penny dropped in Delph Woods in Poole on 30th December 2016 at 15:37. I used one lens. I always used one lens. The rest came along for the ride and stayed in the bag. Cho...
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  Do I Really Need a Tripod? Really? Why Rick, Why? 19.06.2026 28min

  Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Do you actually need a tripod? Not the answer every photography guide gives you — the honest one. Sometimes yes. And sometimes, genuinely, no. In this episode, I'll tell you exactly when each is true, what to look for if you decide to buy one, and the single most common tripod mistake — and it has nothing to do with the tripod itself. Whether you're thinking about buying your first tripod or wondering why the one in the cupboard never gets used, this episode will give you ...
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  Oh No. Another Blurry Photo. Here's How to Stop It Right Now. 05.06.2026 21min

  Send us Fan Mail 📷 Another blurry photo? Before you delete it — zoom in. In this episode I walk through the three types of blurry photo — camera shake, subject motion, and focus blur — how to diagnose which one you've got, and exactly what to change to stop it happening again. What We Cover Diagnose First — What Kind of Blurry Are You Looking At? Three types, how to tell them apart, and why getting the diagnosis right mattersCamera Shake Blur — Your Shutter Speed Is the Problem. The 1-o...
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  Are You Holding Your Camera Like a Cheese and Pickle Sandwich? 22.05.2026 18min

  Send us Fan Mail Are you holding your camera like a cheese and pickle sandwich? 🥪 One hand, casual, not really thinking about it? In this episode, Rick covers six practical techniques that will make your photos sharper — starting the moment you pick up your camera. No kit required. No settings to change. Just how to hold, how to stand, and how to breathe. All of it free. All of it doable today. 📸 In this episode 🎙️ How to grip your camera with your right hand (and why most b...
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  I've Got Hundreds of Photos on My Camera — Now What? 08.05.2026 17min

  Send us Fan Mail 📸 About This Episode You’ve come home from a shoot with hundreds of photos on your camera — and no system for what to do next. This episode is that system. Seven practical steps you can follow in about thirty minutes after every shoot. By the end, your photos are safe, organised, selected, and improved. And you’ve learned something for next time. 📋 The Seven Steps 1. Get the photos off your camera the same day — not tomorrow 2. &nbsp...
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  Camera. Check. Something to Photograph. Check. Now How Do You Actually Take the Photo? 24.04.2026 16min

  Send us Fan Mail 📸 You’ve got the camera. You’ve found something worth photographing. Now what? In this episode, Rick walks through the seven steps that happen between picking up your camera and pressing the shutter — the process that determines whether your photo is sharp, well composed, and actually what you intended. Practical, in order, and immediately usable. 🎟️ In this episode: 1. Hold the camera with both hands — every single time — Right hand on the grip, left...
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  Shiny New Camera? Calm Down and Do This First 10.04.2026 19min

  Send us Fan Mail 📸 About This Episode You’ve just got a new camera. The excitement is real — but most cameras come out of the box in a state that will cause you problems at exactly the moment you most want to take photos. In this episode, Rick walks you through seven quick setup steps — about twenty minutes in total — that get your camera properly ready before you take a single shot. Perfect for anyone who’s just unboxed their first camera, or who wants to start things off the rig...
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  What Can An Entry Level Camera Really Do? 27.03.2026 22min

  Send us Fan Mail 📸 Think you need an expensive camera to take great photos? You really don't. In episode 229 of the Photography Explained Podcast, I take my entry level Canon R100 to Mexico for two weeks — kit lens only — and come back with portfolio-worthy images. Under £500 of gear. Real conditions. No tricks. In this episode I reveal 7 things an entry level camera can genuinely do brilliantly — and the results might surprise you. 💡 THE 7 THINGS COVERED: 1️⃣ It produ...
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  How to Know If You're Ready to Move from Phone to Camera 13.03.2026 18min

  Send us Fan Mail 📸 Is your phone holding your photography back — or is it you? In episode 228 of the Photography Explained Podcast, I’m sharing seven honest signs that tell you whether now is the right time to move from your phone to a camera. And if it isn’t quite the right time yet, I’ll tell you exactly what to do instead. In this episode you will learn: 📱 Sign 1. You keep running into the limits of your phone camera — zooming in that turns to mush, photos that blur in dark roo...
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  White Balance Explained: Why Your Photos Look Too Orange or Blue 27.02.2026 25min

  Send us Fan Mail Your photos are sharp and well-exposed — but they look weirdly orange or horribly blue. Here's how white balance works and how to fix it. 📸 This is one of those photography settings that nobody really explains to beginners. But once you understand it — and it really doesn't take long — you'll stop wondering why your photos look a bit off and start knowing exactly what to do about it. 💡 📚 IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: ✅ What white balance actually is (and why it matters) ✅ W...
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  📷 Why Are My Photos Too Dark? Understanding Exposure for Beginners 13.02.2026 26min

  Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why your photos come out so dark you can barely see what you shot? You take a photo of something brilliant - a stunning sunset, your mate pulling a funny face, your dinner that actually looks restaurant-quality for once - and when you look at the result, it's so dark you might as well have taken it in a cave. Frustrating, right? 📸 This episode explains exactly why photos come out dark and gives you seven practical tips to fix it once and for all. In this episode,...
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  📷 I Just Got My First Camera - What Do I Do in the First Week? 30.01.2026 22min

  Send us Fan Mail You've just unboxed your first proper camera and honestly? It's a bit overwhelming. All those dials, buttons, menu options - where do you even begin? 📸 This episode walks you through exactly what to do in your first week with your new camera. No jargon, no technical overwhelm, just practical, actionable steps that'll have you taking photos you're proud of by next weekend. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How to properly set up your camera from day one ✅ Why reading the quick...
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  📷 Why Are My Photos Blurry? All the Reasons and How to Fix Them 16.01.2026 21min

  Send us Fan Mail You've taken what you thought was the perfect shot, but when you look at it later, it's blurry. Frustrating, right? 📸 This episode breaks down all seven main reasons your photos might be blurry and gives you practical fixes for each one. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How camera shake ruins photos (and the proper technique to eliminate it) ✅ The reciprocal rule for shutter speed that prevents blur ✅ Why your focus might be off and how to manually control it ✅ How to handle...
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  📸 5 Things We All Need to Do in 2026 to Take Better Photos 02.01.2026 21min

  Send us Fan Mail Want to take better photos in 2026 than you did in 2025? 📸 This episode gives you five simple, practical things you can start doing today that will genuinely improve your photography. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How to properly clean your camera gear and why it matters for sharp photos ✅ The smart way to learn camera settings without getting overwhelmed ✅ Why shooting in different lighting conditions makes you a better photographer ✅ How to critically review your work ...