In this episode of The Camera Doesn’t Matter podcast, Sean Gallagher speaks to Malaysian photographer, Stefen Chow and discusses with him the making of some of his most iconic photos. From humble beginnings as an engineering student in Singapore, Stefen’s career took off when he returned from the summit of Mount Everest with photos that would change his life. As an aspiring photojournalist based in Beijing, he photographed Chinese artist Ai Weiwei which earned him a World Press Photo portrait prize in 2013. Since then he has gone on to become one of Asia’s leading commercial photographers and ..read more

In this video, I want to share with you 5 steps to help you improve YOUR photography this year. I draw upon my 15+ years as a professional photographer, to give you advice to how you can FINALLY take your photography to a new level. In summary, here are my 5 steps to elevate your photography game this year: 1) Introduction 2) Forget About Equipment 3) Focus on Fundamentals 4) Get Inspired 5) Start a Photo Story 6) Seek Constructive Feedback 7) You Can Do It The post 5 Steps to Improve YOUR Photography in 2024 – YouTube appeared first on Sean Gallagher - Photographer & Filmmaker - Beijing ..read more

In this video, I want to share with you five advanced composition techniques that professional photographers use to enhance the impact of their images. I draw upon my 15+ years as a professional photojournalist and filmmaker, to give you advice to how you can take your photography to a new level using these tips. By knowing and understanding these techniques, I hope you can use them to improve your images. In summary, here are my 5 advanced composition techniques to elevate your images this year: 1) Introduction 2) Two Points of Interest 3) Multiple Points of Interest 4) Frame In a Frame 5) Re ..read more

In this video, I want to share with you 5 tips to help you learn how to use environmental portraits as a way to enhance the impact of your images of people. I use this style of portraiture as part of my work as a professional photojournalist, and I want to share this advice with you to help take your portraits to a new level. What’s Inside: 1) Intro 2) What is an Environmental Portrait? 3) Give Your Subject Space 4) Pay Attention to the Details 5) Focus on a Story 6) Get Creative 7) Learn More The post How to Take BETTER Photos of People Using Environmental Portraits – YouTube appeared first ..read more

In this video, I want to share with you five tips that I know will help improve your street photography. I draw upon my 15+ years as a professional photojournalist to give you advice to how you can take your street photography to a new level using these tips. By knowing and understanding these techniques and mindsets, I hope you can also use them to improve your images. In summary, here are my 5 advanced composition techniques to elevate your images this year: 1) Intro 2) Unexpected Moments 3) Experiment with Compositions 4) Fly on the Wall 5) Play With Light 6) All the World’s a Stage 7) Summ ..read more

The documentary ‘Road to Carbon Neutrality‘ was recently screened at COP28 in Dubai, at the China pavilion. This documentary, made with the National Geographic Channel, follows my journey across China this past year to photograph, document and try to understand the efforts China is making to meet its carbon neutral goals. On a personal level, it’s really gratifying to know that my photographic works are being displayed at the most important levels of climate talks. I truly feel that documentary photography and filmmaking have a vital role to play in communicating the causes effects and solutio ..read more

I’m pleased to see some of my drone footage being used as part of the UK’s Channel 4 News documentary about Tuvalu, premiering at COP 28 this month. It’s always been my ambition that my work, both photo and video, become part of the dialogue about the threats and consequences of climate change. Knowing my imagery is being viewed by attendees at the conference gives me some satisfaction that photography and documentary filmmaking can at least help visualise the threats we are facing. Watch the film on Channel 4’s YouTube channel HERE “A new film from Channel 4 News, charting an era-defining pro ..read more

One of my drone video clips was used by Yale Environment 360 in their recent article “How Mounting Demand for Rubber Is Driving Tropical Forest Loss”. This clip was shot in 2020 as part of my Pulitzer Center sponsored project titled ‘Cambodia Burning’ which focused on the causes and impacts of deforestation and forest fires in Cambodia. The Beng Per wildlife sanctuary has been almost completely replaced by rubber plantations. We were denied access to the plantations but I was able to use the drone to capture this footage which clearly shows the difference between the small patches of original ..read more

I received this question recently and it’s a question I have been asked a number of times before, so thought I would share my answers that I gave here with all of you. Taking images for National Geographic is a goal for many and is seen as one of the pinnacles of the profession. When I was starting out, it was a dream for me too. I adored the work of photographers like Steve McCurry, Alex Webb, Jodi Cobb and Michael Yamashita. In my career to date, I have been lucky enough to collaborate with National Geographic on many different occasions. I was represented by their in-house photo-agency from ..read more

Two of my images appear in the article, “China’s northern floods show need for climate adaptation strategy”, on the China Dialogue website this past month. The two images were taken recently in the immediate aftermath of the floods which hit Beijing after record rains. “The downpours had severe consequences. Over five million people were affected across Hebei and Beijing, with 62 killed and 34 missing. Infrastructure was also damaged, and the economic toll across Hebei approached 100 billion yuan (US$13.7 billion).” Visit the China Dialogue website to read the full article and view more images ..read more