Canon has released firmware updates to five RF-mount telephoto lenses. RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM Firmware Version 1.0.6 RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM Firmware Version 1.0.6 RF600mm F4 L IS USM Firmware Version 1.0.6 RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM Firmware Version 1.0.4 RF1200mm F8 L IS USM Firmware Version 1.0.4 Even with fast zoom operations, it is now easier to focus (RF 100-300 f/2.8L IS USM Only). The electronic shutter system has improved the control of the panning assist after the second continuous shot. I am unsure exactly what ‘easier to focus’ means in Canon’s vernacular. Perhaps they mean quicker o ..read more

In March 2024, I ran an all-new winter dog sled expedition to eastern Greenland in search of Arctic wildlife and stunning winter landscapes. Eastern Greenland is one of our planet’s most remote and pristine areas. In Winter, it is a hostile, frozen world with temperatures that frequently plummet below -40º. Frozen oceans, glaciers, and precipitous mountains are more akin to a scene from George Lucas’s planet Hoth (from The Empire Strikes Back) than the earth we know. It is a stunning, dramatic, epic landscape that makes for other-worldly photographic possibilities for photographers looking for ..read more

 I have just published episode #95 of my Wild Nature Photography podcast. In this episode, I discuss and review the latest 2024, volume 8 of the Bird Photographer of the Year annual and discuss my reasoning and thoughts on why book reviews are far more helpful than equipment, camera and lens reviews ..read more

In early February 2024, I led my annual winter expedition to the remote Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in northwestern Iceland to photograph the Arctic Fox. This is an expedition I have been leading every year for many years now (excluding the COVID pandemic) and is one very near and dear to my heart. Over a decade ago, I visited this remote Nature Reserve to find and photograph the Arctic Fox. Now, more than ten years later, and having guided many groups to this location, this is one of my number one preferred workshops to lead. As I have written frequently, the Arctic fox is Nature’s most rema ..read more

My 2025 Winter Explorer expedition to Svalbard in April next year is now Sold Out – Thank you. If you want to travel to Svalbard and photograph the incredible wildlife and stunning landscapes of the archipelago draped in its winter armour, I will be offering this expedition again in 2026. Dates are 7th April – 15th April 2026. Full details are now available on my website at www.jholko.com/workshops. To get an idea of what to expect on an expedition such as this, be sure to read the 2023 Trip Report. You can also check out Svalbard’s portfolio of photographs in Winter HERE ..read more

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s news that I took out first place in the People’s Choice Award in the Nature Category in the Asia Pacific Photography Awards, I learned early this morning that I was also highly honoured in the Polar Passion category in the Natures Best Photography Awards. I only discovered I had been awarded when I returned to Australia yesterday and found a copy of the latest Nature’s Best Photography magazine waiting in my unopened mail. As I was perusing the photographs with a very early morning jetlag coffee, I turned the page to find my photograph. It made for a warming sta ..read more

The Asia Pacific Photography Awards have just announced the 2024 People’s Choice Award winner for the Nature category. I am thrilled to report my recent photograph of the Pallas Cat, titled ‘Regal Cat’, from Mongolia in winter was the overall People’s Choice award winner for 2024. In 2022, I completely swept the pool in this category, taking First, Second, and Third place. This year, I won the Peoples Choice award in the nature category and drew with myself for third place in the judged category with the Pallas Cat photograph and the Pygmy Owl photograph. All three of my entered photographs w ..read more

Canon has released new firmware this month for the EOS R3 and the EOS R5 mirrorless cameras. The biggest update appears to be the enabling of power zoom control functionality for the new power zoom lenses. There are also additional bug fixes relating to stable use. Canon EOS R3 – Canon EOS R3 V1.7.1 includes the following enhancements Enables servo zooming to be remotely controlled from EOS Utility or Camera Connect when Power Zoom Adapter PZ-E2/PZ-E2B is attached to a compatible lens. Enables up to 2 TB to be used on CFexpress cards larger than 2 TB. Fixes an issue that may cause t ..read more

David and Shiela (wildlife cinematographers), who accompanied me this year on my February Winter Arctic fox expedition to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in northern Iceland, have just released their short documentary on Melrakki – The Arctic Fox. Shot over the entire 7-day duration of the workshop, the documentary chronicles the daily life of the Queen of Kviar – the Arctic Fox. It also demonstrates the incredible photographic opportunities we have during this workshop to make powerful, evocative and intimate photographs of this tenacious little predator. Please enjoy the fruits of their hard ..read more

There is a disturbing trend (at least, I find it disturbing) I have been witnessing over the last few years that seems to be spreading like a noxious weed, primarily across social media circles (AI image making has done absolutely nothing to help). A trend I have come to term ‘The Disingenuous Nature of Modern Nature photography’. There are photographers acting and behaving disingenuously with their imagery to outdo, outperform, and get more social media gratification (not to mention win competitions!) than the next person. Witnessing what occurred in the Sony WWPO Awards not too long ago, thi ..read more