Beyond the Wild

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, hosts Ron Hayes and Jason Loftus introduce a special initiative to educate the next generation about wildlife conservation through photography. In collaboration with guests Shauna Hart (@byhartphotography), Lydia Ripplinger (@lydebug), and Jimmy Bridenstine (@jimmyb_intothewild), they discuss the importance of mentorship, ethical wildlife photography, and the structure of their upcoming program, 'Lessons Through the Lens: Kids for Conservation.' The conversation emphasizes the need for community engagement and the role of education in fostering a love for nature and wildlife among youth. Special thanks to pictureline.com [http://pictureline.com] for sponsoring this great initiative and helping to give back.  Registration begins the first week of April. In the coming days, Bookmark UtahWildlifeFederation.org [http://UtahWildlifeFederation.org] or BeyondtheWildPodcast.com [http://BeyondtheWildPodcast.com] for the official announcement.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Conservation Photography 02:49 Lessons Through the Lens: Kids for Conservation 05:55 Mentorship and Expertise in Wildlife Photography 09:03 Creating Passion for Nature and Wildlife 11:51 Ethical Wildlife Photography Practices 15:06 Program Structure and Learning Outcomes 18:09 Equipment and Accessibility for Participants 21:05 Community Engagement and Support 24:04 Future of Conservation Education 26:55 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode, the Beyond the Wild crew welcome guest Jimmy MacDonald a wildlife guide and photographer who has worked with major network film crews, recounts unique encounters with wolves and polar bears that truly highlight the wonders of nature. Jimmy shares thrilling experiences from wildlife filmmaking, emphasizing the excitement of capturing moments in nature, and discusses the dual role of a guide, balancing safety and creativity while working with film crews. In this episode, the conversation delves into the thrilling world of wildlife adventures, focusing on the intricacies of wildlife filming and the respect needed for nature's predators. The speakers share personal experiences from the field, discuss the challenges of wildlife documentaries, and highlight the importance of understanding animal behavior.  Sound Bites "Canada's great, spring's coming." "I got to swim with black tip sharks." "Jimmy was my guide this last fall." "It was a pretty amazing encounter to be there." "It was a good story." "The pressures on them through the roof." "It's so thrilling for me to go out with them." "Your predominant role ultimately is safety." "I was just living the moment." "Let's get the great whites, let's go." "It's a healthy respect." "It's fun to make it in the credits." "Your passion for what you do is clear." "Muskox babies are always cute." "It's a whole new level to storytelling." "I look forward to hearing how your trip goes." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Beyond the Wild 02:50 Spring in Canada: Nature's Awakening 06:02 Adventures in Bora Bora: Swimming with Sharks 09:04 Guiding Film Crews: A New Career Path 11:51 The Art of Wildlife Photography and Videography 14:52 Unique Encounters: Wolves and Polar Bears 24:02 The Circle of Life: Death and Survival in the Wild 34:24 Capturing the Thrill of Wildlife Filmmaking 37:00 The Role of a Guide in Wildlife Filming 40:11 Behind the Scenes: The Art of Wildlife Photography 44:13 Balancing Safety and Creativity in the Field 52:24 The Value of Experience in Wildlife Encounters 53:02 Favorite Outdoor Experiences: A Personal Reflection 01:08:34 Diving into Shark Adventures 01:09:49 Behind the Scenes of Wildlife Filming 01:11:10 The Journey of Wildlife Documentaries 01:12:16 Respecting Wildlife: Insights from the Field 01:15:19 Understanding Predator Behavior 01:17:30 Capturing Nature: The Art of Filmmaking 01:20:58 Future Adventures and Collaborations LINKS Jimmy MacDonald @jimmy_pawistik [https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_pawistik/#] The Americas Episode 5: The Frozen North on NBC, streaming on Peacock Tom Hanks discusses The Frozen North Episode [https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/the-americas-nbc-episode-guide] The Frozen North Episode [https://www.nbc.com/the-americas/video/the-frozen-north/9000437360] Thanks for listening to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Remember to subscribe to be notified of upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing enjoyment! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

Yellowstone has produced many great adventures for Jason Loftus, but the wolves of Yellowstone have evaded his camera and lens - until now. Jason shares his recent mindblowing adventures in Yellowstone National Park where he photographed over 15 different wolves along with coyotes, foxes, eagles, elk and bison. It was also a big video trip for Jason, and he, Ron and Mark shared insights about winter wildlife behavior, the thrill of capturing wolves in action, and the importance of photography etiquette in public spaces. The conversation highlights the beauty of nature, the challenges of wildlife encounters, and the camaraderie among photographers in the field. This episode also digs into some of the recent new lens announcements, which spark excitement about the latest advancements in photography equipment. The conversation also touches on the excitement of planning future photography challenges, and wide-angle wildlife photography is on the menu with the potential for a future challenge involving listeners. This is a great episode to listen to but an even better episode to watch on YouTube. Please subscribe to be alerted of more great episodes.  Sound Bites "It's been a real winter." "It's hard to explain." "It's a numbers game." "That one day makes a whole trip." "It's a dream opportunity." "We all could just do better." "Winter's a great time to go up there." "New gear is always fun." "Be patient with your editing." "Enjoy the photography experience." "You've got the best job in the world." "It sounds like a Ron story." "Failure is part of success." "The rules are there are no rules." "It's coming." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Winter Updates 03:08 Wildlife Encounters and Photography Adventures 06:03 Experiences in Yellowstone National Park 12:09 The Thrill of Wolf Photography 18:12 Wildlife Behavior Observations 24:03 Photography Etiquette and Road Safety 34:46 Respect and Kindness in Photography 35:51 Winter Adventures and Wildlife Encounters 38:29 Weather Challenges and Wildlife Photography 39:00 New Gear Announcements and Excitement 47:52 Pro Tips for Patience in Photography 54:02 Philosophical Reflections on the Photography Journey 55:47 Innovative Photography Techniques 01:00:15 Learning from Failures 01:05:31 The Power of Wide-Angle Shots 01:11:10 Planning for Future Challenges Thanks for listening to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Remember to subscribe to be notified of upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing enjoyment! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

We couldn't fit all our listeners' questions in last time, so we are back for part II with even trickier, thought-provoking inquiries for Ron, Jason, and Mark. They explore the dilemma of choosing a single subject to photograph for life, fears surrounding memory card failures, strategies for selling prints, memorable wildlife encounters, lens selection, and dream behaviors to capture in the wild. The discussion is filled with humor and camaraderie, making it both informative and entertaining. Sound Bites "You're going to be screwed in the spring." "It's kind of a bunch of BS." "It's a dilemma." "It's a constant battle." "You have to be super careful." "It's meant to impress people." "It's a personal choice." "It's not a fair question." "You still have the option." "Thank you for sending it in, Jason." "I'm more fearful of a lot of things." "Bears are where the wild things are." "I take them all." "I would like a pan blur cheetah in full sprint." Chapters 00:00 Understanding AI Tool Pricing and Credits 03:05 The Dilemma of Photo Theft in Wildlife Photography 05:58 Listener Questions: Engaging with the Community 09:11 Navigating Copyright and Image Sharing 11:58 Shooting Wildlife in Challenging Conditions 14:48 Choosing Your Subject: A Photographer's Dilemma 33:50 The Quest for the Perfect Shot 37:00 Memory Card Fears and Backup Strategies 46:01 Navigating Print Sales in Photography 52:54 Memorable Wildlife Encounters 01:00:05 Choosing the Right Lens for the Job 01:07:59 Dream Behaviors to Capture Questions and IG Links @JohnRay_Photography Image theft: Are you contemplating not posting on social media? @Brian_Michaelis_Photography Can you share some shooting tips for photographing wildlife in falling snow? @Hunting_with_a_Lens (Jason Mirandi) For each one of you, you can only shoot one species for the rest of your life. Which species would you choose? @PJAdventuresinCanada (Peter and Jen) How fearful are you that your memory cards will fail and what do you do to protect your best pics? @Keri_Jones_Photography Which platforms have you found to be the most successful at selling prints and artwork? @SackettWildlifeImages (Shaun Sackett) What has been one of your other great experiences, excluding bears, while observing bears? @1_foot_shorter (Brandt Bennett) How do you determine what lenses to take? @She_BehindtheLens (Megan) What is your dream animal behavior to capture on camera? Thanks for listening to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Remember to subscribe to be notified of upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing enjoyment! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, hosts Ron, Jason, and Mark welcome Cam Scott, a nature photographer and guide from South Africa. The crew explore Cam's journey into nature photography, the life changes he made to pursue his passion, and the profound impact of nature on personal growth. Cam shares his experiences with a wide range of animals, including mountain gorillas, jaguars, leopards, lions, elephants and shoe-billed storks. Cam shares his views on the art of guiding and the challenges he faced in launching his own business during the pandemic. The discussion emphasizes the importance of a positive attitude and the joy of wildlife encounters. Cam and the crew delve into the intricate relationships between humans and wildlife, particularly focusing on gorillas and the impact of tourism on conservation efforts. They share personal anecdotes of memorable wildlife encounters, discuss the importance of understanding animal behavior, and highlight the unique experiences offered by locations like Mana Pools National Park in northern Zimbabwe. Sound Bites "I was up at 3 a.m. I thought I would look like a car wreck." "I never looked back." "You have to go through it." "I want to photograph early morning lights." "You can see it the moment you lock eyes." "It's a phenomenal experience." "I just want to go back to Rwanda." "Tourism has saved these gorillas." "It's not just seeing a gorilla." "The lighting is absolutely phenomenal." "Anything's possible in Africa." "It's a beautiful day to be alive." Chapters 03:04 Cam's Journey into Nature Photography 06:12 Life Changes and Career Shifts 08:48 The Impact of Nature on Personal Growth 12:11 Experiences with Mountain Gorillas 15:00 The Art of Guiding and Manifesting Experiences 18:02 Challenges and Triumphs in Business 20:48 The Power of Positive Attitude 24:05 Wildlife Encounters and Photography 26:59 The Fascinating Shoe-Billed Stork 38:00 Confrontation and Respect in the Animal Kingdom 39:01 Understanding Gorilla Behavior and Communication 39:49 The Connection Between Humans and Nature 41:13 The Importance of Gorilla Tourism for Conservation 42:06 The Role of Tourism in Supporting Local Communities 42:48 Experiencing Wildlife: The Thrill of Close Encounters 46:09 The Sounds of Nature: A Sensory Experience 51:00 Memorable Outdoor Encounters 57:51 Exploring Monopools: A Photographer's Paradise 01:05:02 Accommodations and Immersive Experiences in Africa 01:12:55 Planning Your African Adventure LINKS Cam Scott @CamScott_Wild The Best Of Authentic Zimbabwe Tour Opportunity: September 22-30th 2025 https://itineraries.safariportal.app/The-Best-of-Authentic-Zimbabwe/1338943500867078002 [https://itineraries.safariportal.app/The-Best-of-Authentic-Zimbabwe/1338943500867078002] Thanks for listening to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Remember to subscribe to be notified of upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing enjoyment! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com [http://Pictureline.com] and Canon USA.