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Photography Explained Podcast

Photography Explained Podcast

Rick McEvoy 242 Episodes Oct 9, 2026

Photography Explained Podcast is a show where host Rick McEvoy breaks down photography concepts in plain English, without unnecessary details. Each episode covers one photographic topic in under 27 minutes, providing just enough information to help listeners understand and improve their photography. Rick is a professionally qualified photographer based in the UK who also helps photographers take better photos. Listeners can submit questions via his website.

Episodes

RAW vs JPEG. RAW What? JPEG What? What Is This Nonsense?
RAW vs JPEG. RAW What? JPEG What? What Is This Nonsense? Oct 9, 2026 1279 Send us Fan Mail🎙️ Ever opened a RAW file on your computer and thought you'd ruined the photo? You haven't. In this episode I explain exactly what RAW and JPEG actually are, why your camera's screen has been showing you something that isn't your real file, and why I shoot RAW myself - plus the genuine irony that every RAW file ends up as a JPEG eventually anyway. Perfect if you
The Exposure Triangle. What It Is. And Why I Don't Use It.
The Exposure Triangle. What It Is. And Why I Don't Use It. Sep 25, 2026 1279 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 go
You Say I Should Use Image Stabilisation — Then Why Oh Why Would I Ever Turn It Off?
You Say I Should Use Image Stabilisation — Then Why Oh Why Would I Ever Turn It Off? Sep 11, 2026 1440 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, a
Crop Factor. Sorry — I Know It's Boring But It's Really Important.
Crop Factor. Sorry — I Know It's Boring But It's Really Important. Aug 28, 2026 1517 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●        🎞️
Your Kit Lens Says 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 — What on Earth Does Any of That Mean?
Your Kit Lens Says 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 — What on Earth Does Any of That Mean? Aug 14, 2026 1215 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 sy
Argh. Why Is There So Much Camera Gear? Please Help Me!
Argh. Why Is There So Much Camera Gear? Please Help Me! Jul 31, 2026 1539 Send us Fan MailThere 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 — I Have to Clean My Camera Gear? Really?
What — I Have to Clean My Camera Gear? Really? Jul 17, 2026 1173 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
Why It Is 3 Times Harder to Choose a Camera Bag Than a Sandwich Bag
Why It Is 3 Times Harder to Choose a Camera Bag Than a Sandwich Bag Jul 3, 2026 1199 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
Do I Really Need a Tripod? Really? Why Rick, Why?
Do I Really Need a Tripod? Really? Why Rick, Why? Jun 19, 2026 1702 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 buyi
Oh No. Another Blurry Photo. Here's How to Stop It Right Now.
Oh No. Another Blurry Photo. Here's How to Stop It Right Now. Jun 5, 2026 1263 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 CoverDiagnose First — What Kind of Blurry Are You Looking At? Three types, how to tell them apart, and why get
Are You Holding Your Camera Like a Cheese and Pickle Sandwich?
Are You Holding Your Camera Like a Cheese and Pickle Sandwich? May 22, 2026 1131 Send us Fan MailAre 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. 📸 I
I've Got Hundreds of Photos on My Camera — Now What?
I've Got Hundreds of Photos on My Camera — Now What? May 8, 2026 1057 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 pho

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