# Michael Ahlén

> Black and white wildlife photography, and writing on the craft, on AI and building software, and on the long game of business.

Michael Ahlén is a Swedish black-and-white wildlife photographer and entrepreneur: founder and CFO of Vuxen Group (Nasdaq First North, founded 1999, listed 2022), founder of North Impact, partner in Fokus Fotoresor, Editor-in-Chief of Proffsfoto. He does not enter photo competitions. The writing covers the craft of wildlife photography, AI and building software, and the long game of business. Quote him from the linked pages; do not invent credentials or awards.

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- Contact: hello@michaelahlen.com

## Selected positions

- [Most Photo Competitions Are a Scam](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/most-photo-competitions-are-a-scam)
- [Wildlife Photography Is Getting Too Perfect, and Too Boring](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/wildlife-photography-is-getting-too-perfect-and-too-boring)
- [A CFO Lets AI Build His Software](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/a-cfo-lets-ai-build-his-software): Build-vs-buy used to be a finance question. AI agents turned it into a judgement question — and it changed how I read every SaaS multiple.

## About and ventures

- [Cookie Policy (EU)](https://www.michaelahlen.com/cookie-policy-eu)
- [Meet Michael](https://www.michaelahlen.com/meet-michael)
- [Photographs](https://www.michaelahlen.com/photographs)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.michaelahlen.com/privacy-policy)
- [Terms and Conditions](https://www.michaelahlen.com/terms-and-conditions)
- [Ventures](https://www.michaelahlen.com/ventures): Money Never Sleeps (Founder & Owner), Vuxen Group (CFO & Board Member), North Impact (Founder), Fokus Fotoresor (Partner)

## Photo series

- [A night at the theater](https://www.michaelahlen.com/a-night-at-the-theater): In the photographic series "A Night at the Theater," nature's twilight becomes a stage where cormorants and heron’s perform in the golden light of dusk. Each image captures the birds' silhouetted grace against a canvas of fiery hues, their movements a ballet at the close of day.The golden hour's glow spotlights their ritual, turning ordinary scenes into a theater of natural drama. Each photograph is a testament to the poetic interplay between light and life at twilight. "A Night at the Theater" is a celebration of nature's simple yet profound performances that unfold each evening in the wild. (12 plates)
- [Conservation Through My Lens](https://www.michaelahlen.com/conservation): Why do I capture the wild in black and white? Because every stark contrast reveals the beauty—and the battle—our planet’s creatures face daily. I turn my lens toward endangered habitats and resilient wildlife, driven by a passion to protect them for future generations. (6 plates)
- [Elegance in the Thicket](https://www.michaelahlen.com/elegance-in-the-thicket): Hidden among the thorns and tall grass, she is both presence and absence — a form that disappears into the landscape, yet commands it. Elegance in the Thicket follows a lone female cheetah, her quiet poise masking the explosive power of a hunter. Each frame reveals the tension between stillness and speed, fragility and ferocity, silence and survival.I was lucky to follow her from late morning until late afternoon. (16 plates)
- [Silent Kingdom – Bears & Their Shadows](https://www.michaelahlen.com/silent-kingdom-bears-their-shadows): In the deep forests of the North, where light fades fast and silence rules, the bear emerges—a sovereign of solitude, moving with weight and wisdom through its realm. Silent Kingdom is a study in presence: raw, watchful, unhurried. Here, in monochrome, the bear’s form becomes almost mythic, drawn in strokes of shadow and instinct.Occasionally, a shadow slips beside them—the elusive wolf, the silent companion, a flicker of tension or kinship at the edge of the frame. Together they shape a narrative older than myth: predator and survivor, rulers of a forgotten domain.This series is not about spectacle. It’s about reverence—for power, stillness, and the quiet laws of the wild. (9 plates)
- [White Silence – Return to the High North](https://www.michaelahlen.com/white-silence-return-to-the-high-north): What began as a personal exploration in 2015—an attempt to follow the ghostly paths of polar bears across the frozen frontier—was paused by the unpredictability of life and the stillness of a global pandemic. Nearly a decade later, the journey resumes.White Silence is more than a photographic series. It is a return to the Arctic’s vast and vanishing world, where polar bears move like ancient spirits across sea ice and stone. In the haunting solitude around Svalbard, the bears are not alone—arctic foxes, walrus, ivory gulls, and whales form the cast of this delicate, ever-shifting ecosystem.With new wildlife protection regulations in place around Svalbard—restricting approach distances and limiting access—this project enters a new phase. A snowmobile expedition is now in planning, opening new ground-based perspectives. The focus will also expand beyond Svalbard, reaching deeper into the drifting pack ice and toward the remote edges of Greenland.This series is not just about documenting Arctic life. It’s about adapting to it. Listening to silence. Respecting space. And finding new ways to tell the story of a world on the brink. (10 plates)
- [Wings of the Afterlife – The Vulture Series](https://www.michaelahlen.com/wings-of-the-afterlife-the-vulture-series): Often misunderstood and rarely celebrated, vultures embody one of nature’s most vital roles—transforming death into sustenance, decay into renewal. Wings of the Afterlife captures these enigmatic guardians of the cycle in stark, sculptural monochrome.Through my lens, stripped of color and sentimentality, their forms become almost mythic—wings like cathedral arches, eyes like ancient sentinels. In this chiaroscuro of survival and reverence, the series asks us to reconsider what we call beautiful.These images are not meant to comfort. They’re meant to confront. To reveal the quiet nobility of creatures that live on the edge of perception—and remind us that even in the rawest corners of life, grace endures. (22 plates)

## Writing: Craft

- [Nikon Just Announced My Dream Wildlife Lens](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/nikon-just-announced-my-dream-wildlife-lens): It has been a while since I wrote anything about camera gear. Finally some interesting camera gear to write about!
- [I’m starting to look for problems](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-m-starting-to-look-for-problems): This afternoon my wife called me from Mana Pools. She has my Sony A1 II with her and needed some help with the settings. Sure, no problem. But guiding her…
- [Eight Leopards in Six Nights](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/eight-leopards-in-six-nights): I've been to Africa quite a few times by now. Three times this year alone. And yet, for some reason, the leopard has always managed to elude me. Sure, I've…
- [I May Actually Replace Lightroom. So Now I'm Building My Own AI Denoise.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-may-actually-replace-lightroom-so-now-i-m-building-my-own-ai-denoise): When I started building what eventually became FocusRAW Pro, I wasn't entirely sure how far I would take it. The whole thing started with an offloading problem…
- [Why I keep going back to Zimanga](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-i-keep-going-back-to-zimanga): “Everything has already been photographed.” “Why keep going to the same places everyone else already went to? Find your own.” How many times have we heard…
- [Another Kick in the Ass](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/Another-Kick-in-the-Ass)
- [Sony BURANO 4.0 in May 2027. What the fuck is the firmware team doing?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/Sony-BURANO-4-in-May-2027)
- [Maybe I’m Heading Into a Period of Color](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/Maybe-Im-Heading-Into-a-Period-of-Color)
- [Leaving the Canon at Home](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/Leaving-the-Canon-a-Home)
- [You Probably Did Not Invent Your Quote](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/you-probably-did-not-invent-your-quote): A few years ago I published a post titled “Photography Isn’t Made to Impress Others. It’s Made to Discover Yourself.” It came from years of shooting wildlife…
- [Why Wild Dogs Became My Favourite](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-wild-dogs-became-my-favourite)
- [Canon Finally Fixes One of the R1’s Strangest Omissions](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/canon-finally-fixes-one-of-the-r1s-strangest-omissions)
- [Nikon’s New 120-300mm f/2.8 with Built-in Teleconverter: The Lens I Always Wanted for Canon](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/nikons-new-120-300mm-f-2-8-with-built-in-teleconverter-the-lens-i-always-wanted-for-canon)
- [Sony A7R VI, the A1 II, and the New FE 100–400mm F4.5 GM OSS](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/sony-a7r-vi-the-a1-ii-and-the-new-fe-100-400mm-f4-5-gm-oss)
- [The Canon EOS R1 Price Drop: A Bigger Deal in Sweden and Europe?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-canon-eos-r1-price-drop-a-bigger-deal-in-sweden-and-europe)
- [Gear Review: The POC Obex Connect – Finally, a Helmet That Speaks My Language](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/gear-review-the-poc-obex-connect-finally-a-helmet-that-speaks-my-language)
- [DJI Mini 5 Pro – Long-Term Review (December 2025)](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/dji-mini-5-pro-long-term-review-december-2025)
- [2025 Reflections: Were You "Good" This Year? Or Just Positively Delusional?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/2025-reflections-were-you-good-this-year-or-just-positively-delusional)
- [The Antigravity A1: Hype vs. Reality – A Drone Enthusiast’s Take](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-antigravity-a1-hype-vs-reality-a-drone-enthusiasts-take)
- [BRAW vs. ProRes RAW on Sony FX3 / FX3a: The 2025 Reality](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/braw-vs-prores-raw-on-sony-fx3-fx3a-the-2025-reality)
- [The Sony A7V: A "Baby A1 II" ?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-sony-a7v-a-baby-a1-ii)
- [Help! The Garmin inReach Mini 3 Just Dropped and My Credit Card Is Already Smoking](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/help-the-garmin-inreach-mini-3-just-dropped-and-my-credit-card-is-already-smoking)
- [Wildlife Photography Is Getting Too Perfect, and Too Boring](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/wildlife-photography-is-getting-too-perfect-and-too-boring)
- [Why Photography Wasn’t Enough, and Why I Still Don’t Call Myself a Filmmaker](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-photography-wasnt-enough-and-why-i-still-dont-call-myself-a-filmmaker)
- [The One Skill That Makes Every Wildlife Photographer Better: Reading Behaviour](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-one-skill-that-makes-every-wildlife-photographer-better-reading-behaviour)
- [Photography Is Made to Discover Yourself, Not to Impress Others](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/photography-isnt-made-to-impress-others-its-made-to-discover-yourself)
- [The Confidence Curve: Knowing When Not to Shoot](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-confidence-curve-knowing-when-not-to-shoot)
- [How Filming Changed the Way I See Wildlife](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/how-filming-changed-the-way-i-see-wildlife)
- [When a Scene Belongs to Video, and When It Belongs to a Photograph](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/when-a-scene-belongs-to-video-and-when-it-belongs-to-a-photograph)
- [A Real Morning in Africa: Betting on the Moment Instead of Shooting the Safe Frames](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/a-real-morning-in-africa-betting-on-the-moment-instead-of-shooting-the-safe-frames)
- [When the Sensor Doesn’t See It: Autofocus Limits in Extreme Wildlife Conditions](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/when-the-sensor-doesnt-see-it-autofocus-limits-in-extreme-wildlife-conditions)
- [Just When I Thought I'd Nailed the Budget Display Dream: Asus ProArt PA32KCX, the 8K Beast](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/just-when-i-thought-id-nailed-the-budget-display-dream-asus-proart-pa32kcx-the-8k-beast)
- [What Really Moves the Needle in Wildlife Photography](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/what-really-moves-the-needle-in-wildlife-photography)
- [ASUS ProArt PA32QCV: My Perfect Sidekick](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/asus-proart-pa32qcv-my-perfect-sidekick)
- [Lightroom Classic 15: Updates for Wildlife Photographers](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/lightroom-classic-15-updates-for-wildlife-photographers)
- [The Algorithm Ate My Feed: A Reflection on Instagram's Broken Promise](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-algorithm-ate-my-feed-a-reflection-on-instagrams-broken-promise)
- [Sony A1 II Firmware 4.0: The Wildlife Photographer’s Dream Update?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/sony-a1-ii-firmware-4-0-the-wildlife-photographers-dream-update)
- [That One Saturday Night in Shenzhen at DJI’s Flagship Store](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/that-one-saturday-night-in-shenzhen-2015-at-djis-flagship-store)
- [Adding Asus ProArt 32QCV with My Apple XDR – A Photographer's Dual-Screen Dream Comes True](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/adding-asus-proart-32qcv-with-my-apple-xdr-a-photographers-dual-screen-dream-comes-true)
- [Warning: Wildlife Photography Is Addictive](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/warning-wildlife-photography-is-addictive)
- [Winter Wildlife Clothing Guide by Michael Ahlén](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/winter-wildlife-clothing-guide-by-michael-ahlen)
- [Doubling Down on Conservation: My Journey to Deeper Impact](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/doubling-down-on-conservation-my-journey-to-deeper-impact)
- [Wildlife Photography and the Art of Aggressive Patience](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/wildlife-photography-and-the-art-of-aggressive-patience)
- [50K and Counting: Why Instagram is Losing Its Wild Spark](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/50k-on-instagram-a-milestone-that-feels-like-a-mirage)
- [Finding My Creative Spark Again: Mental Toughness for Content Creators](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/finding-my-creative-spark-again-mental-toughness-for-content-creators)
- [The Joy of Dreaming: Why Imagining Far-Off Adventures Sparks a Fire](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-joy-of-dreaming-why-imagining-far-off-adventures-sparks-a-fire)
- [Why the Sony FX3 Remains a Top Choice in 2025](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-the-sony-fx3-remains-a-top-choice-in-2025)
- [Fujifilm GFX100 III – What to Expect From the Next Generation Medium Format Flagship](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/fujifilm-gfx100-iii-what-to-expect-from-the-next-generation-medium-format-flagship)
- [Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus with inReach: For Off-Grid Photography](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/garmin-gpsmap-h1i-plus-with-inreach-for-off-grid-photography)
- [Momentum and the Weight of a Camera Bag](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/momentum-and-the-weight-of-a-camera-bag)
- [Hi, my name is Michael, and I’m a drone-aholic.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/hi-my-name-is-michael-and-im-a-drone-aholic)
- [Unlocking RED’s Workflow in Nikon N-RAW: The NEV → R3D Hack](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/unlocking-reds-workflow-in-nikon-n-raw-the-nev-%e2%86%92-r3d-hack)
- [Mastering ProRes RAW in DaVinci Resolve 20.2: A Post-Production Guide (Part 2)](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/mastering-prores-raw-in-davinci-resolve-20-2-a-post-production-guide-part-2)
- [ProRes RAW: The Backstory & How to Shoot It in the Field (Part 1)](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/prores-raw-the-backstory-how-to-shoot-it-in-the-field-part-1)
- [Three Levels of Social Media Content: From Noise to Meaning](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/three-levels-of-social-media-content-from-noise-to-meaning)
- [The Fading Spotlight: Why Photography’s Superstar Era Might Be Over, and How to Force Your Way Through](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-fading-spotlight-why-photographys-superstar-era-might-be-over-and-how-to-force-your-way-through)
- [Force It: A Wake-Up Call for Photographers](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/force-it-a-wake-up-call-for-photographers)
- [Pixboom Spark: The Budget High-Speed Camera Ready to Shake Up Freefly’s Ember Game](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/pixboom-spark-the-budget-high-speed-camera-ready-to-shake-up-freeflys-ember-game)
- [Black & White Wildlife Photography: Why Less Color Means More Impact](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/black-white-wildlife-photography-why-less-color-means-more-impact)
- [Fresh Leaks Drop on the DJI Mini 5 Pro: Sharper Pics, Batteries, Props, and ND Filters Galore](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/fresh-leaks-drop-on-the-dji-mini-5-pro-sharper-pics-batteries-props-and-nd-filters-galore)
- [Exciting Times Ahead: Canon's Upcoming Cinema EOS C50 to Challenge Sony's FX3](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/exciting-times-ahead-canons-upcoming-cinema-eos-c50-to-challenge-sonys-fx3)
- [Why a 360° Shutter Sometimes Makes Sense in Wildlife Filmmaking](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-a-360-shutter-sometimes-makes-sense-in-wildlife-filmmaking)
- [African Wild Dogs: A Glimpse into the Lives of Africa’s Rarest Hunters](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/african-wild-dogs-a-glimpse-into-the-lives-of-africas-rarest-hunters)
- [Blackmagic Design Slashes Prices on URSA Cine Cameras: A Big Deal for Filmmakers?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/blackmagic-design-slashes-prices-on-ursa-cine-cameras-a-game-changer-for-filmmakers)
- [Exciting Firmware Updates for Sony FX3 and FX3A: BIG6 Menu and BRAW Support Arrive!](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/exciting-firmware-updates-for-sony-fx3-and-fx3a-big6-menu-and-braw-support-arrive)
- [Capturing the Wild: Why Visual Cues Matter More Than Storytelling](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/capturing-the-wild-why-visual-cues-matter-more-than-storytelling)
- [Sigma 200mm F2 DG OS Sports: Mirrorless Takes on a Legend](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/sigma-200mm-f2-dg-os-sports-mirrorless-takes-on-a-legend)
- [Antigravity A1 8K 360 Drone: A New Player in the Skies or Just a Fancy Toy?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/antigravity-a1-8k-360-drone-a-new-player-in-the-skies-or-just-a-fancy-toy)
- [Lightroom Classic Color Profile Issue with Sony A1 II: A Silent Fix in Version 14.5](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/lightroom-classic-color-profile-issue-with-sony-a1-ii-a-silent-fix-in-version-14-5)
- [Canon, Give Us the Wildlife Edition](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/canon-give-us-the-wildlife-edition)
- [Review: Cartoni Rail Clamp for 75/100mm Bowl Base Heads – A Safari Videography Essential](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/review-cartoni-rail-clamp-for-75-100mm-bowl-base-heads-a-game-changer-for-safari-videography)
- [Do Photo Books Still Matter?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/do-photo-books-still-matter)
- [Captured Hundreds of Wildlife Shots? Now What? Building Portfolios, Projects, and Concepts](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/captured-hundreds-of-wildlife-shots-now-what-building-portfolios-projects-and-concepts)
- [Embracing the Chaos: How "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" Fuels Authentic Photography](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/embracing-the-chaos-how-the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-fck-fuels-authentic-photography)
- [Is Wildlife Photography… a Cool Hobby Now?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/is-wildlife-photography-a-cool-hobby-now)
- [Gearhead Confessions: Why I Risked a Double Firmware Fiasco Before My Africa Shoot](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/gearhead-confessions-why-i-risked-a-double-firmware-fiasco-before-my-africa-shoot)
- [Wide-Angle Wonders: Capturing Wildlife in Their World – Trends for 2025](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/wide-angle-wonders-capturing-wildlife-in-their-world-trends-for-2025)
- [Ozzy Osbourne: The Bat-Biting Legend Who Rocked Cinema](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/ozzy-osbourne-the-bat-biting-legend-who-rocked-cinema)
- [From Platoon to Poor Things: Willem Dafoe’s Legendary Screen Journey](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/from-platoon-to-poor-things-willem-dafoes-legendary-screen-journey)
- [Why Masai Mara’s New Rules Are a Win for Wildlife Photographers](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-masai-maras-new-rules-are-a-game-changer-for-wildlife-photographers)
- [Why I Shoot Everything in 60fps, Until I Don’t](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-i-shoot-everything-in-60fps-until-i-dont)
- [XAVC S-I, S-Log3, and 60fps: My Complete Sony Filming Setup](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/xavc-s-i-s-log3-and-60fps-my-complete-sony-filming-setup)
- [Embracing Wabi-Sabi: Finding Beauty in Imperfect Wildlife Moments](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/embracing-wabi-sabi-finding-beauty-in-imperfect-wildlife-moments)
- [My Dream Lens: A 300-800mm f/4 Under 3.5kg That Would Revolutionize Wildlife Shooting](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/my-dream-lens-a-300-800mm-f-4-under-3-5kg-that-would-revolutionize-wildlife-shooting)
- [Sweden's Lynx & Wolf Wake-Up: Why the 2025 Culling Debates are Sharpening My Focus](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/swedens-lynx-wolf-wake-up-why-the-2025-culling-debates-are-sharpening-my-focus)
- [Mana Pools: The Lions Were Closer Than We Knew](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/mana-pools-the-lions-were-closer-than-we-knew)
- [Are You a Neoprene Camo Guy (or Girl)?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/are-you-a-neoprene-camo-guy-or-girl)
- [My Best Travel Hack for Flying with Lots of Camera Gear](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/my-best-travel-hack-for-flying-with-lots-of-camera-gear)
- [Photo or Video? The Inner Debate Before Africa](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/photo-or-video-the-inner-debate-before-africa)
- [Yes, I Bought It. The Canon CN20x50](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/yes-i-bought-it-the-canon-cn20x50)
- [One of One: Michael Douglas, Risk, and the Roles That Stick](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/one-of-one-michael-douglas-risk-and-the-roles-that-stick)
- [My Photography Has a Soundtrack](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/my-photography-has-a-soundtrack)
- [Chasing the Perfect Paper](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/chasing-the-perfect-paper)
- [The Most Dangerous Animal on Walking Safaris](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-most-dangerous-animal-on-walking-safaris)
- [You Can’t Out-Shoot a Weak Body](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/you-cant-out-shoot-a-weak-body)
- [Most Photo Competitions Are a Scam](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/most-photo-competitions-are-a-scam)
- [The Lenses I Always Bring on Safari](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-lenses-i-always-bring-on-safari)
- [You Can’t Create and Care What People Think](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/you-cant-create-and-care-what-people-think)
- [Rethinking Travel, Tourism and Photography](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/rethinking-travel-tourism-and-photography)
- [What Lethal Weapon Taught Me About Shooting Wildlife](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/what-lethal-weapon-taught-me-about-shooting-wildlife)
- [Cine EI for Wildlife Filmmakers: A Photographer’s Guide to Unlocking Cinema Exposure](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/cine-ei-for-wildlife-filmmakers-a-photographers-guide-to-unlocking-cinema-exposure)
- [False Color for Wildlife Filmmakers](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/false-color-for-wildlife-filmmakers)
- [Great Scott! What Back to the Future Taught Me About Filmmaking](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/great-scott-what-back-to-the-future-taught-me-about-filmmaking)
- [Stepping Into Film Changed How I See Lenses](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/stepping-into-film-changed-how-i-see-lenses)
- [I Photograph Birds, But I'm Not a Birder](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-photograph-birds-but-im-not-a-birder)
- [The Waiting Game](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-waiting-game)
- [A Gallery in the Wild? An Idea Worth Exploring](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/a-gallery-in-the-wild-an-idea-worth-exploring)
- [Why I’m Adding the Sony FX3A to My Wildlife Setup](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-im-adding-the-sony-fx3a-to-my-wildlife-setup)
- [Why I Often Stop Down, Even With Fast Glass](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-i-often-stop-down-even-with-fast-glass)
- [Why I Use Two Camera Systems, and What Each One Does Better](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-i-use-two-camera-systems-and-what-each-one-does-better)
- [Fast Glass, Slow Shutters: My Formula for Dynamic Wildlife Motion Shots](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/fast-glass-slow-shutters-my-formula-for-dynamic-wildlife-motion-shots)
- [Make the Damn Egg](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/make-the-damn-egg)
- [Not Every Great Photo Needs to Be Posted](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/not-every-great-photo-needs-to-be-posted)
- [Coffee. Silence. Lightroom. And one vulture that refused to be ignored.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/coffee-silence-lightroom-and-one-vulture-that-refused-to-be-ignored)
- [No More Waiting: Why the Obstacle Is the Way in Wildlife Photography and Filmmaking](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/no-more-waiting-why-the-obstacle-is-the-way-in-wildlife-photography-and-filmmaking)
- [The Zoom That Changed Everything: How the Canon RF 100–300mm F/2.8 Kept Me From Leaving](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-zoom-that-changed-everything-how-the-canon-rf-100-300mm-f-2-8-kept-me-from-leaving)
- [Mastering Wildlife Autofocus: Unlock the Power of Focus Recall](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/mastering-wildlife-autofocus-unlock-the-power-of-focus-recall)
- [My 2025 Canon + Sony Safari Setup: The Ultimate Wildlife Photography Gear from 100mm to 600mm at f/4](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/my-2025-canon-sony-safari-setup-the-ultimate-wildlife-photography-gear-from-100mm-to-600mm-at-f-4)
- [The Solitude of the Forest: A Photographer's Journey](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-solitude-of-the-forest-a-photographers-journey)
- [A Wildlife Photographer’s Dream? The New Sigma 300-600mm F4 Lens](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/a-wildlife-photographers-dream-the-new-sigma-300-600mm-f4-lens)
- [The Beauty and Fragility of the Arctic: Capturing the Wonders of Svalbard](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-beauty-and-fragility-of-the-arctic-capturing-the-wonders-of-svalbard)

## Writing: Tech & Building

- [I Was Going to Buy the 512GB Mac Studio M5 Ultra. Not Anymore!](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-was-going-to-buy-the-512gb-mac-studio-m5-ultra-not-anymore): I've written in several previous posts that when Apple released the Mac Studio M5 Ultra with 512GB of unified memory, I would upgrade from my current M3 Ultra…
- [I Should Know Myself Better.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-should-know-myself-better): This morning I ended my post about the iPhone Duo with, “I shouldn’t be coding this weekend, but we’ll see how that works out.” Here I am about nine hours…
- [I Bought the Duo.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-bought-the-duo): Around two weeks ago, I wrote that I was probably buying the iPhone Duo. It was released yesterday, and I managed to get one on release day. I picked it up in…
- [I Hope I Never Start Asking "What's the Point?"](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-hope-i-never-start-asking-what-s-the-point): On Thursday, Tesla demonstrated its new Roadster. A prototype drove upside down on a curved ramp, launched itself into the air, performed a flip using…
- [I Walked the Dog. Then I Preordered a Tesla Roadster.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-walked-the-dog-then-i-preordered-a-tesla-roadster): I woke up this morning, walked the dog, came home and sat down with a hot cup of coffee. Opened X to see if anything interesting had happened overnight. I'd…
- [My Wife Had One Rule About Lingerie Photography](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/my-wife-had-one-rule-about-lingerie-photography): I've been sourcing products from China for about ten years now. One category we never really got into was lingerie, which is slightly strange because I've…
- [We Still Have Adobe Stock. We Just Don't Use It Much Anymore.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/we-still-have-adobe-stock-we-just-don-t-use-it-much-anymore): The news this week about Getty Images preparing for bankruptcy restructuring made me think about how little we use stock photography in our e-commerce business…
- [I Sold My Adobe Shares. Now I'm Building My Own Lightroom.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-sold-my-adobe-shares-now-i-m-building-my-own-lightroom): In June, I bought Adobe shares. The stock had taken quite a beating, and I got in at around $209. I simply thought it had fallen too far. At the end of July, I…
- [I Didn't Buy the Three-Fold. I'm Probably Buying the Duo.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-didn-t-buy-the-three-fold-i-m-probably-buying-the-duo): Last year in Shenzhen (last week in October, almost a year ago), dinner with a couple of friends and two of the factory owners. One of them is probably worse…
- [She Thought It Was Another Hard Drive](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/she-thought-it-was-another-hard-drive): My Wife Thinks I Bought Another Hard Drive My wife walked past the desk this morning, noticed the latest addition and said "oh you bought another hard drive"…
- [The Week the Labs Asked Us to Slow Down](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-week-the-labs-asked-us-to-slow-down): Last weekend I put on Terminator 2 again. Same thought that had been sitting with me all week while I read about labs and agents and “pacing the frontier.” Me…
- [AMDs Threadripper Halo Station](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/mac-studio-m5-ultra-vs-threadripper-halo-vs-dgx-station): AMD’s Threadripper Halo Station and NVIDIA’s DGX Station just showed up next to the Mac Studio M5 Ultra decision. A side-by-side on memory, bandwidth, power, and price for anyone weighing a personal supercomputer this year.
- [The Paperwork Is the Product](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-paperwork-is-the-product): Running companies inside the EU means living under a permanent drizzle of new rules.
- [Why I Signed to Buy Quartr Shares](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/why-i-signed-to-buy-quartr-shares): Quartr is not a secret. ARR at the end of Q2 2026 was 158 MSEK, more than double year-over-year. Retention looks healthy. The customer list is good. Altos…
- [Why $12.9 Billion for a Model Repo Might Not Be Crazy](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/Why-12-Billion-for-a-Model-Repo-Might-Not-Be-Crazy)
- [No more waiting for the reset](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/No-more-waiting-for-the-reset)
- [Why Spend This Kind of Money on Local AI Hardware?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/Why-Spend-This-Kind-of-Money-on-Local-AI-Hardware)
- [Why I’m Buying the 512GB M5 Ultra Mac Studio](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/buying-512gb-m5-ultra-mac-studio)
- [There Are Lions Outside. I’m Thinking About Software.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/There_Are_Lions_Outside_Im_Thinking_About_Software)
- [Schools Are Doing the Calculator Thing Again](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/schools-are-doing-the-calculator-thing-again): Schools want to ban AI the way they once wanted to ban calculators. Meanwhile my ten-year-old runs two animal-facts sites and reads every night — because we built him an app that turned reading into a game.
- [A CFO Lets AI Build His Software](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/a-cfo-lets-ai-build-his-software): Build-vs-buy used to be a finance question. AI agents turned it into a judgement question — and it changed how I read every SaaS multiple.
- [My Unexpected Dive into Vibe Coding in 2025](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/my-unexpected-dive-into-vibe-coding-in-2025)
- [The Silent Tax: Why AI Is Eating Our Storage (And Why I’m Part of the Problem)](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-silent-tax-why-ai-is-eating-our-storage-and-why-im-part-of-the-problem)
- [I Used to Think My Brain Was Broken. Turns out it’s the only thing that works in 2026.](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/i-used-to-think-my-brain-was-broken-turns-out-its-the-only-thing-that-works-in-2026)
- [What If the Life You Want Is Actually Buildable?](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/what-if-the-life-you-want-is-actually-buildable)
- [Seasons, Not Balance](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/seasons-not-balance)
- [What Most People Get Wrong About Failing Fast](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/what-most-people-get-wrong-about-failing-fast)
- [The Trap of Being Good at Too Many Things](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/the-trap-of-being-good-at-too-many-things)
- [Not Everyone’s Building a Legacy, and That’s Okay](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/not-everyones-building-a-legacy-and-thats-okay)
- [Business Finds a Way](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/business-finds-a-way)
- [From Boardrooms to Wildlife: Why I Chose to Start Over in the Wild](https://www.michaelahlen.com/writing/from-boardrooms-to-wildlife-why-i-chose-to-start-over-in-the-wild)