Megan Rutherford

Animal & Wildlife | Last Updated: February 23, 2021

My name is Megan Rutherford and I am a photographer based in rural NSW, Australia. I like to capture our life on a sheep and cattle property, the way I see it and share this with others.

Obviously, I cannot often control all of the factors, especially when dealing with animals, therefore I find the process of capturing the whole story, in natural light, intriguing and challenging at the same time!

On occasion, I also capture some lifestyle family sessions in rural scenery in natural light. I love being able to bring out the personalities and connections between families and capture these moments for them to enjoy.

My photography journey began when I was on maternity leave in 2018 and I decided it was about time I learnt how to use my camera properly, so I could capture images in the way I wanted. I completed several online courses and became part of a supportive online community which has really helped me grow in both skillset and experience.

I shoot only with Canon, solely because this was the first camera I was introduced to and I am now accustomed to the operating systems involved with the brand. I originally started with an entry-level camera and kit lens, the Canon EOS 200D and Canon 17-55mm f/3.5-5.6, but quickly found that I had outgrown what this camera could achieve.

I have now upgraded, but only have three lenses, as I find I cannot carry around a significant amount of gear with me on the farm while I am at work, which is when most of my shots are taken!

Cameras

Canon EOS 6D Mark II – I love the low light capabilities of this camera, the picture quality it produces and how user friendly it is when it comes to changing settings in a hurry, which is very important for me as animals are not known for staying in the exact right position for too long!

Lenses

I almost exclusively use high quality zoom lenses, as often you cannot move into the right position compositionally without scaring the animals away from the great pocket of light that they might just happen to be in.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L – I love this lens for the amazing creamy bokeh that it gives and I also find the distance between me and the subject allows the story to unfold so I can capture more natural moments.

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II – This lens is very versatile. If I want to show expansive skies, or zoom in for documentary-style portraits of my children or during sessions, this is my go-to lens!

Canon 50mm f/1.8 – This was my first ever lens that wasn’t a kit lens and is an excellent prime lens with good image quality if you can move your feet to get the composition that you want.

Meike C-AF Digital Macro Extension Tubes, 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm – For when I am feeling like being a bit creative and capturing some macro flora.

Lights/Triggers

I don’t use any lights as I am all about using natural light to the best of my ability. Occasionally I use the Canon Bluetooth app on my mobile phone combined with a tripod to capture photos of myself and my family, but I only use this for personal use.

Bags/Straps

I use a Lowepro backpack, as it is easy to grab and carry around with me and keeps my gear protected while I am out on the property – farm work is not known for its ability to keep your camera gear safe!

Tripods

Weifeng WT-3253 lightweight tripod – A great, very portable tripod weighing only 1.5kg and with quick-release leg locks. This allows me to set up quickly for those times that a tripod is necessary.

Hardware & Software

I exclusively use Adobe Lightroom Classic for all photo editing on a calibrated Dell monitor.

Misc.

Pretty important aspects of the job are my trusty Ariat workboots and hat!

If you photograph something you are passionate about, it is much easier to get an idea of what you want in an image and then you can work to achieve that goal.

@meganrutherfordphotography