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We post new content every week here at Cultured Kiwi. Our aim is to inform you about how to travel better, where to travel to and how to capture it better. We take great pride in all of our work. If you enjoy our work please leave a comment, share or link to us. It would really mean a lot, and inspires us to keep going!
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The Ultimate Morocco Itinerary (2 weeks or 5 days!)
Morocco is a beautiful, vibrant country – one of the most diverse on the planet. During your holiday in Morocco, you can lie sandy beaches, wander old medinas, enjoy stunning mountain vistas, and visit the breathtaking Sahara desert. Whether you’re more into surfing and soaking up the sun or exploring the winding alleyways of an […]
Luminar 3 Review: Life after Lightroom?
If you’re looking for the best photo editing software and wondering whether Luminar 3 is the right choice for you, this helpful guide should have all the answers for you! We’ve reviewed Luminar for you, so you can see whether it’s the ideal software for your specific needs. Read on to find out more about […]
The Best Castles in France (your Dream List!)
France is home to some of the most beautiful castles in the world. The beautiful castles, palaces, and château that you can find dotted all over France are a treasure trove of history, and a delight to explore. If you’re not sure which castles in France to visit on your next holiday, then this list […]
Things To Do in Snowdonia (Updated for 2019!)
Snowdonia is a beautiful region to visit for a holiday, offering everything from scenic walks in the mountains to exciting, adventure activities like white water rafting, mountain biking, and even surfing! Here you’ll find lush, green forests, and 14 peaks within the rugged, wild countryside of Snowdonia National Park. There’s a wide range of excellent […]
The Best 35mm Film (I Shot and Reviewed 12+ Rolls)
For me, shooting film has always been an important release from the time-pressured world of digital photography. These days it seems we have to constantly be on, shooting, downloading, editing, sharing, liking and subscribing. Film photography takes most of that away and leaves you alone with your best film camera to focus on taking photos. […]
DIY Instagram Filters for Lightroom
Learn how to create custom Instagram filters in Lightroom. By using lightroom we have the ability to create amazing custom filters to suit the look you love!
A Guide to Understanding Camera Modes
Using your camera in “Auto” mode will only ever yield snapshots. These will not have that “wow ” that every photographer strives to achieve. To gain full creative control of your DSLR camera you are going to have to wind that dial past “Auto”.
Ultimate Photography Backup Workflow for 2019
Over the years I have developed an ironclad three point back up strategy for my work that makes it very unlikely that I will lose any of my images. The goal of this strategy is to provide a low friction redundant backup system.
Things to do in Istanbul (Tips from the locals!)
Istanbul is a beautiful city. The grand scenic shots can be absolutely breathtaking . When you step in and focus in on the macro details, you reveal a world of textures. A combination of exceptional light, people and history make Istanbul a must visit for any photographer.
Canon F1 Review (Where the war with Nikon began!)
The F1 was the first (successful) professional SLR camera from Canon. Released in 1971, it marked the beginning of the F1 series, and fired the first shot in a decades-long rivalry with Nikon. Throughout the early 1970’s, the Japanese juggernaut, Nikon, dominated the professional SLR market. The Nikon F and Nikon F2 cameras were state-of-the-art. […]
7 Must have Camera Accessories
You can learn so much from the masters of the art. I began to understand more by learning more from modern photographers and videographers such as Ben Long, Karl Taylor, Jeff Cable, Phillip Bloom and Vincent Laforet. As I started to dissect their images and films I began to realise, the camera doesn’t really matter. There are […]
White Island – New Zealand
If you have never spent the holiday season in the Southern hemisphere then you are missing out! While a white Christmas and cold New Years are fantastic, but, there is something magical about swimming in the ocean and exploring offshore islands, especially on New Year’s Eve! On this day we made our way to White […]
The Best 35mm film Camera (and How to Buy Them!)
Film photography leaves you little to room for editing. The second hand film camera market is in full swing. Think of it as the easiest way to get into full frame photography (or an even larger format) for very little money. But with so many options available where is the best place to start?
3 Days in Paris (Daily Paris Itineraries)
Paris was (up until recently) one of my least favourite cities in the world. I had had a layover there a number of years ago. My connecting flight was cancelled so I found myself with an evening to spare at an airport hotel. As I’m a travel photographer, I decided I’d try to see the […]
How to Make Money with Photography
Let’s face it photography is an expensive hobby. Learn how to sell photography and how to make money from photography with this article for beginners.
How do Borrow Lenses work?
How do lens rentals work? I rented a lens and documented the process over a weekend in London, UK.
Touchnote Review (the best postcard app?)
Let’s face it, travel photography is amazing! You’re constantly moving from place to place, having new experiences, trying new things. But it does mean that you’re away from your loved ones for long periods of time. While I’m travelling, I miss my family back home – but it’s still hard to find time to get […]
Best Street Photography Camera 2019 (The Fuji LineUp!)
I genuinely believe that I have purchased the best price to performance fuji system for street photography available on the market. Should I change my mind in a matter of months, it won’t cost me a cent. This article is a summary of the criteria and research I conducted before purchasing my latest street photography camera. The results from my first street photography shoots are also included with a full review to come.
How to Critique a Photograph
In order to improve your photography, you need to become your own worst critic. The easiest way to become a great photographer is to only share your best work. But how do you identify your best work?
What is the Best Travel Lens? (for each system)
When you’re setting off on a trip, you need to decide which camera gear to take with you. I always recommend travelling light, so you’ll need a great travel lens. But how to find the best lens for travel photography? Here’s my guide to the best lenses for travel, which factors are the most important […]
9 Solo Road Trip Tips (how to prepare and what you’ll need)
Have you ever thought of hitting the road and heading off on a solo road trip? Going on an adventure by yourself is a liberating and exciting experience. I’ve done it myself in Iceland, Morocco, New Zealand, America and many more. There’s nothing like having the freedom to travel wherever you like, whenever you like. […]
35 Travel Hacks to Save Time and Money
The Best Travel Hacks Do you love the idea of travelling, but get discouraged by all the planning involved? Do you hate packing or always end up forgetting something? Maybe it’s the opposite, and you always pack too much. I was like that when I started travelling, but over the years I picked up some […]
The Best Mirrorless Camera for Travel (Updated 2019!)
The dream of about 50% of Instagram users is to become a travel photographer, paid to wander the globe taking photos. By that logic, there’s around 400 million of you looking to take amazing travel images. But your smartphone camera, however mind-blowing it is, just isn’t going to cut it to compete with the best. […]
What is The Best Travel Backpack for Europe?
When you’re travelling around Europe, you need a sturdy bag to carry your life with you. But as I soon discovered after living in both Switzerland and London, the picturesque cobbled streets do not go well with wheeled suitcases. Backpacks are a much better and more practical idea. If you’re looking for the best travel backpack for […]
Ultimate Guide to Visiting Chernobyl (and is it Safe?)
So you’re wondering how to go about visiting Chernobyl? or Is Chernobyl safe? Well, you’re in the right place. This guide was painstakingly put together by myself after our visit over Christmas last year. If you like the article and are considering visiting please consider sharing it by using the buttons below. We also have […]
Make a Raspberry Pi Time-lapse Camera
What if I told you that for around $50 you could construct a fully remote timelapse rig using a raspberry pi, a camera module and (optionally) a battery pack. Learn how to make your own automated timelapse rig by following these steps!
The Ultimate In Camera Double Exposure Guide
Introduction In camera double exposure photography involves combining two or more images into a single frame. This allows you to work with your shots and add textures to create surreal scenes. Words don’t really do them justice so here are some of my examples: How do they work? There are two types […]
35mm Slide Film Guide
In a world where your smartphone can crank out perfectly lit photos at 12 megapixels in cascades of HDR bursts, shooting film might make you feel like a caveman (or cave lady). I totally get it! I’m not one to throw out a good iPhone shot #Instaiphone #instaapple #iOs. Before we roll if you are […]
The Warren – Best Walk in London! (only a 45 min train)
Out-of-the-loop is fast becoming one of our favourite websites here at Cultured Kiwi. At Out-of-the-Loop they list a growing number of amazing walks that are easily accessible by train from the centre of London. You take the train to one location, then walk to another train station. The distance varies – greatly! Almost every weekend, we’re […]
How to Clean a DSLR Sensor
Learn how to clean your DSLR sensor easily using a camera cleaning kit in this tutorial.
Upload Photos from DSLR to Instagram 2019
Instagram is becoming more and more of an artist’s platform than a daily life sharing platform. When you search through Instagram, the quality of photos they are improving all the time. If you aren’t up with the game you will be left behind. This of course excludes celebrities who can pretty much do whatever they like and get rewarded for it.
Fuji 90mm f2 Review (Lots of Test Photos)
Chances are that if you’ve landed here you are trying to decide if you want to buy a Fuji XF 90mm f2 lens. If you don’t want to read any further and just want to know what I think, just buy it. If you are trying to decide between the 56mm f1.2 and this lens, […]
How to Develop Film at Home
Developing film is easy. In this article, I will show you how you can develop film at home. Specifically, we will develop Kodak Tri-X 400 film using Ilford Ilfosol 3 developer. You should be able to get started with a basic kit for around £70. Enough preamble, here is the process. We have a lot […]
Nikon FM2 Review (with lots of test photos!)
To rekindle my love of photography I set out to explore Broadstairs, UK with a Nikon FM2. Inside you will find a travel video, Broadstairs guide and a review with shots from the Nikon FM2.
Travel Photography Tutorial In London UK
Street photography tutorial from London UK. Professional photography tips and a guided tour video from one of the most picturesque cities in the world. Get out there and take more photos guys!
15 Movies about Photography (and where to see them!)
This article is a list of my favourite movies about photography and the places you can watch them. Use these movies/documentaries as photographic inspiration to help you take better photos!
Things To Do In Grindelwald – Switzerland (48 Hours)
Grindelwald, Switzerland holds a very special place in my heart. In this article, we run through our experience over 48 hours in this magical village before recommending the best things to do in Grindelwald. We have comprehensive travel itineraries from all over the world at our travel page and some great photography tips here. If […]
Tongariro Crossing – New Zealand
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is rated as one of the best days walks in New Zealand if not the world. It is a must do if you are in the North Island of New Zealand. The 19.4 Km hike passes over the volcanic terrain of an active volcano (Mount Tongariro). It was less than 24 […]
Things to Do in Nazaré Portugal
Before we get started, we have other guides on Switzerland and Chernobyl that you might find helpful. If you’re thinking of heading to Europe then those are must-see destinations! We have amazing high quality content here. Now, on with the show with Things to do in Nazare, Portugal. Video from Nazare One of the most popular seaside […]
How to Unlock your Super Creativity (it’s easy!)
Be creative with your photography. This article teaches you how you can unlock the creative part of your brain and begin to think differently. Post your pictures and I will review them!
Fishing in Snowdonia | A Photo Essay
Road trip time. Adrian, Janis and Myself organised a weekend away fishing in the North-West of Wales. What is best described as an Instagrammers paradise! We explored: fields, forests, rivers, lakes and abandoned buildings. A weekend to remember. Here are a few of the snaps from my big camera the video will follow closely behind.
The Druid – Photo Essay from Brecon Beacons
We travelled to Brecon Beacons, a national park in Wales. Here we camped overnight and met a druid. We planned and put together a series of photos that I am pretty proud to call my own.
Abseiling London – A Photo Essay from a London Rooftop
A photo essay from the time I was given a harness and access to a rooftop overlooking Buckingham Palace and all of London. Hang in until the end to download the Lightroom preset.
The best seat on a London train – London DLR
If you have a camera and are interested in getting the best seat on any train in London then this guide is for you! The front seat of the DLR in London.
London Pride: Proud to be a Londoner
The 2017 Pride in London Parade, which took place on Saturday 8 July. See a photographic essay of the experience within the crowd of 1 million people here.
Tips for Starting out in Architectural Photography
Trying to improve your Architectural photography? So am I. Over the past few months I have been working really hard to develop a workflow that produces consistent results. Here it is.
The Best Travel Photography Locations: A Glimpse at my Travel List
What are the best travel photography locations? Here I publish my travel list for the 2017/2018 photography “season”. Let me know what your list looks like in the comments below.
The Shacklewell Arms – All Day Party
One of my favorite bars and live music venues: The Shacklewell Arms put on an all day party. Running from 4 pm till 10 pm with Kagoule, MOHIT, Husky Loops, Venture Lows and more putting on stellar performances it was well worth the visit. Add to this it was full of some of the nicest people I’ve ever met!
Learn how to use Lightroom, FAST!
Learn how I quickly organise, rate and edit photos in lightroom. If you follow this tutorial you should be able to complete 1000 photos in under an hour.
Photography Blog Ideas (from The Best in the Business)
A list of the best photography blogs to draw inspiration from. These recommended photography websites help you get ideas to push your photography forward.
How Camera Filters Work – Chiemsee, Germany
In this episode, I head to Chiemsee in Bavaria – Germany. I teach you how photography filters work, what are the essential photography filters and how to use them. As an added bonus it turned out to be the best sunrise of my life. Sometimes getting up early really is worth it!
Travel Photography – Found Drone in Dover, UK
Travel photography from Dover. We travel along the white cliffs of Dover from sunrise to sunset. Don’t be fooled by the warm light, the weather was bitter.
Visuals from the Lewes Bonfire Night – UK
My experience at the Lewes bonfire night in the UK November 5th 2016. We travelled from London to experience the evening. If you like casual EDM music and fire then this video is for you 😉
Walking Kaiser Mountains, Austria
One of the top unknown travel photography destinations: the Kaiser Mountains in Austria. This place is a must visit, especially if you have the opportunity in autumn!
Exploring the Jurassic Coast with Avis
In this episode I teamed up with Avis to take one of their DS5 line on a tour of the UK. We visited the Jurassic Coast, Weymouth, Portland and Stonehenge over a weekend of intense travel photography.
URBEX Photography from Poland
I travel to Tomaszow in Poland and headed to an abandoned factory for some Urban Exploration. Some fantastic URBEX photography tips came out of it.
POV Street Photography: London BREXIT Protest
I take you on a guided street photography trip during one of the largest post BREXIT protest in London UK. Over 50,000 people attended the protest. See the POV photography as I move through the crowd interacting with people. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed making it.
Do your best work alone?
Reviewing your work is a key contributor to your progression. I have always heard: _”to know where you are going you need to understand where you have come from”_. It is interesting to watch your skills evolve over time. Doing this got me thinking about the way I shoot.
Minerve, France: 140 People Got Burned Alive
Minerve France is an amazing town built high atop the cliffs. It only has one point of access from the rear and recently, a spectacular bridge. Rich with history it’s most famous tale comes in 1210 where 140 Cathars refused to give up their faith and were burned alive! Come and check it out!
Breathtaking Drone Footage from Canet, France
The plan for the trip includes a visit to the Mediterranean sea, the cities of Narbonne and Toulouse and at least 2 castles. The first day below comprises of the trip from London to Canet (outside Narbonne). From here the adventures are on! Check it out.
Can you fly a drone in London?
So I resisted for long enough. It was time to spice up these travel photography vlogs with some other angles. I would like to welcome “buzZy” to the family. In this video we are taking buzZy for is first flight in the city. In all seriousness there are a lot of rules regarding what you can and can’t do when flying in the centre of London.
Behind the Scenes – Photography tips from San Francisco
I managed to get a portfolio shot while in San Francisco. Seeing the Golden Gate bridge has always been a dream of mine since I was young. This day of photography centred around the bridge and I couldn’t be happier that I was able to walk away with a fantastic photo. Check out the video!
Dawn Travel Photography Vlog – Frozen in Yosemite
After a frozen start to the morning I headed for some landscape photography in and around the outskirts of Yosemite national park. Early mornings are sometimes difficult but you soon forget the lack of sleep and only remember the highlights. Check out the video here!
A Rockslide in Yosemite Valley !?
Today I was in the news! There was a rockslide in Yosemite national park. It greatly changed how I spent my day. This is my story! Watch the video and see the shots here….
A call for help with a personal project.
I found that shooting with the handheld flash was becoming somewhat of a challenge. Some of the photos came back fantastic. While others would come back with parts of the image unexposed. Help me uncover what is causing this issue!
Why shoot film nowadays?
Shooting film will make you a better photographer. This article outlines Steve Bloom’s tips to becoming a better photographer and how each of them can be achieved by taking up film photography.
How to use manual focus accurately
There are basically two ways in which to manually focus your your camera. It largely depends on what you are taking photos of as to what method you use. Learning how to manually focus a lens will make you a better photographer. It’s as simple as that. It forces you to think about your subject, frame it and then build your image around it. Also, when you are unable to use autofocus you will be able to default to your manual skills!
Nikon FM2 and Self Developing Film!
I would like to take a few minutes today to welcome a new addition to the family. Her name is Nikky. She is my first Nikon camera. It took a lot of research and time watching ebay auctions till I found the right one for me. But when she arrived yesterday (from Japan) we realised it was worth the wait.
To get technical she is a Nikon FM2n. A fully manual interchangeable lens 35mm SLR camera. Born somewhere between 1984 and 1989, we are about the same age. She has an inbuilt meter that is highly accurate. This is the only electronic component that I look for in a film camera.
Liestal Fasnacht – Chienbäse Street Photography from Switzerland
The following is a photo essay and short film from my time at Fasnacht in Liestal, Switzerland. It is an amazing event that every street photographer should visit!
One of The Largest Private Camera Collections In The World
Come along and visit one of the largest private camera collections in the world with me. With over 4500 cameras in his collection Colin is spoiled for choice when heading out to take photos. So here are some of the shots I took of his collection and if you like cameras you will love this tour.
Festival of Lights in London
Over the weekend I took some time to visit the London Lumiere Festival (West End and Kings Cross) and Winter Lights Festival (Canary Wharf). If you want to download this free lightroom preset you can do so down below by entering your email and clicking download.
Shooting Sunset in Napier, New Zealand with Mum
In this video I had just arrived in Napier, New Zealand after 30 hours of travel back from London. Mum and I went up to check out sunset from a local viewpoint called Bluff Hill in Napier.
How to take photos of sunrise – First light of the world
In this video I was the first glimpse of sun for 2016 anywhere on the planet. While working around the reef taking photos of the island I shared my thought process. I hope you can use these tips at sunrise / sunset to improve the quality of your photography.
Create Composite Images – Using Long Exposures – Part 2/2
In this video you will see (part two of two) the work that goes into processing the images. I show you how to easily composite the long exposure images. This is where all the preparation in the field pays off.
Long Exposure Night Photography in London – Part 1/2
In this video you will see (part one of two) the thought process behind shooting the images. I show you what to look for and work through the process of capturing as much data as possible. The more data the more post-production options we have.
POV Street Photography from London
Capturing moments with the people of London is one of my passions. For the first 6 months I spent every Sunday at the Brick Lane market, photographing people. I mounted my small vlogging camera on top of my primary camera. Here is my Journey. Don’t forget to subscribe for more of my videos.
Photography Tips for Iceland
The video inside is a few of the photography tips I recorded while in Iceland. Hopefully you find them helpful! Check it out.
Urbex – London Rooftop Photography (46 Floors Up!)
As part of my day job I was tasked with taking surveying photos of one of our buildings. This involves shooting from the ground, then (the best part) shooting from the roof. The building is located near Canary Wharf and provided a unique view of the city.
Travel Photography Vlog – Iceland – Aurora Photography
This was my final full day exploring the country and it was by far the best. Waterfalls, glaciers, mountains, ice and the aurora are all included. Check it out.
How to photograph fireworks
We have all seen our fair share of blurry smartphone photos that vaguely look like fireworks. Smartphone cameras are getting better, but they are *still* no match for an actual camera and a bit of knowledge. The aim of this article is to help you take technically better and more interesting photos of fireworks.
Travel Photography: Haunted House in Iceland
I wanted to document my travel photography journeys through Iceland. The landscape scenes that I saw were phonomenal. This day was plagued with bad weather but I made the most of it. I managed to find an abandoned house that made for an amazing story.
Travel Photography from Iceland – Day Two
I wanted to document my travel photography journeys through Iceland. The landscape scenes that I saw were phonomenal. I can honestly say it was the best days of my life to date. Here is day one documenting the journey from Reykjavik to Holt. The day of the waterfalls!
Travel Photography: Day One – London > Reykjavik
I wanted to document my travel photography journeys through Iceland. The landscape scenes that I saw were phonomenal. I can honestly say it was the best days of my life to date. Here is day one documenting the journey from London to Reykjavik.
Eastbourne – Seven Sisters – A Photo Essay
The following photo essay captured a weekend away in sunny Eastbourne, UK. Fantastic weather and the odd glass of Pimms made this a spectacular weekend getaway. We traveled from London south for around 1h 30min to arrive at the seaside resort.
How to Take Long Exposure Photos
Long Exposures are an image that the human eye *cannot* see. These capture the passing of time in one location. Different than the slice of time that photographs typically capture. Some examples of great subjects for long exposures are: flowing water, moving clouds, traffic at night, light painting and fireworks! So get thinking.
Learn about Exposure – Photography Tips
Exposure is the _most_ fundamental concept to wrap your head around in photography. Each photograph is an individual exposure (excluding double exposures) comprised of three components: aperture, iso and shutter speed.
Pontresina, Graubünden
Only 120 years ago the glacier we hiked to extended 2km further down the valley. I think I found the problem lying at the top of the mountain…
Photography from Ticino
Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. The borders consist of Italy to the south and to the north, the Swiss Alps. It is reached from northern Switzerland: either through the Alps via the Gottard Tunnel or over via the famous Gottard Pass. Ticino is the only canton that speaks solely Italian and thus, has the feeling, even the look of Italy, but it retains the Swiss efficiency. Swiss forces captured this pocket of land from Italy in the 15th century in their final campaign, south of the alps. As a result of its location, Ticino is the warmest part of Switzerland and is also prone to intense summer storms. The highest number of lightning strikes occur here per year across the entire continent of Europe.
Street Photography around Basel
With the weather of late taking a turn for the worse I have had to abandon the search for grand vistas and stay close to the tram tracks in case of a downpour. Here are just a few images from around the city and surroundings over the past week.
If you have any questions or comments please let me know in the comment section below or via twitter @benkepka.
Dipping my toes in the world of video.
So over the past few months I have been learning a little about the world of video. By my calculations if a picture is worth 1000 words, 25 pictures per second over 1 minute and 40 seconds is worth 2,500,000 words.
A friend of mine (Antoine) has just built his first drone from bits and pieces he had collected over a period of two months. While we are both new to our respective crafts I thought I would put together my new found fascination of video with his of drones, in a short video.