Beyond the Wild

This week’s guest is Drew Butterwick, an experienced safari guide and wildlife photographer. Drew admits he is a big predator person, specifically a big cat person, and much of his focus while guiding in Africa is on finding these elusive creatures. The episode explores Drew's adventures in Africa, sharing stories of wildlife encounters, conservation efforts, and the challenges of capturing stunni...

Our hosts are on the hot seat again to attempt to enlighten and inspire our listeners by answering some of their stellar questions. But the jury is still out on how well Ron, Mark and Jason met the challenge. No matter their final grade, our hosts share thrilling wildlife encounters and delve into the nuances of wildlife photography, including an exploration of the pros and cons between DSLR and m...

Sharing success stories is easy. But sharing failures is hard on the ego. In this episode of Beyond the Wild, our modest hosts put away their drive for perfection and reflect on some of the moments they are least proud of in an episode we call 'Epic Fails in the Field: Lessons Learned.' They discuss missed opportunities, gear failures, and the importance of preparation in the field. The conversati...

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, the hosts reconnect after a break. Ron and Jason share their experiences with the new Canon RF 100-300 mm f/2.8 lens and teleconverters before delving into the focus of the episode, which is photographing wild sheep. They discuss their recent adventures, the gear they use, and the techniques they employ for capturing stunning images of wild sheep. The conversati...

n this episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast, the hosts welcome wildlife photographer Danny Coyne, who shares his journey into wildlife photography, the therapeutic benefits of being in nature, and the importance of community engagement and conservation efforts. The conversation explores the role of social media in wildlife photography, the significance of citizen science, and personal experiences wi...

In this episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast, hosts Mark and Jason welcome back wildlife photographer Taylor Thomas Albright for a second discussion. They explore Taylor's recent adventures in Alaska, including encounters with orcas, gray whales, and the unique spirit bear. The conversation delves into Taylor's conservation efforts, including participation in fundraisers like '100 for the Ocean' and...

This episode's focus is a returning guest, Deirdre Rosenberg, who explores various themes related to wildlife photography, public lands, and environmental advocacy. Her work and her stories are nothing short of beautiful. Host Ron Hayes and Jason Loftus conclude that Deirdre deserves an honorary PhD and a World Record for her work documenting the public lands and mountain ranges of the Rocky Mount...

Welcome to a very special episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast. Not only is it our 50th episode, but it is also an opportunity to celebrate all Fathers out there and share some stories straight from the minds of our hosts’ children. We hope you enjoy this Father’s Day episode. Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for...

In this episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast, Ron, Mark and Jason engage in a lively discussion with Sony ambassador Colby Brown about his unique journey into photography, the importance of experience, and the therapeutic nature of capturing moments. Colby shares his passion for herpetology and macro photography, emphasizing the need for continuous challenge and growth in one's creative journey. The...

Yes—our hosts are self-proclaimed Elk-Oholics and in this episode, they can all agree on how inspiring this species and the habitat they co-exist in is. This episode was inspired by a listener's question about filming elk, which culminated in a discussion about the unique experience of the elk rut. They discuss the importance of storytelling in capturing the essence of wildlife, the personal conne...

Note: Post-production adjustments were made to overcome recording challenges, which have diminished the sound quality of this episode. In this episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast, hosts Mark and Jason welcome wildlife photographer Taylor Thomas Albright, who shares his journey from a corporate career to pursuing his passion for wildlife photography, particularly focusing on bears. Taylor discusses...

Mark, Ron and Jason are at it again with another Pro Tips episode. This time, their focus turns to experiences with drones, debating the rules for drones, and answering some important listener questions that delve into video frame rates and slow-motion techniques. The conversation also touches on the latest camera rumors and innovations, and Mark turns into the Tasmanian Devil. Tips include conver...

Welcome to our Mother's Day episode. We hope you enjoy this exploration of nature from a mother's perspective. Sound Bites "They have no fear of grabbing anything." "It's a storytelling image." "It's a tiny page for tiny things." "Be free, be safe, but be free." "It keeps our brains fresh too, right?" "It's all about the playfulness." "It's a lot of fun to explore together." "You've only got one e...

Ron, Jason and Mark are back at it again, catching up and sharing some great tips and considerations for this season. Our giddy hosts discuss their recent outdoor adventures, including wildlife encounters, the use of drones in photography, and tips for capturing stunning images of sage-grouse. You will surely get the giggles in this episode, and you might even pick up some useful motivation for yo...

Ron, Mark and Jason meet with some of the key individuals behind Focus Photo Tours to discuss the innovative approach to their organization and how they provide enriched wildlife experiences. Guests Dee Web, Traci Sepkovic, and Jackie and Scott Stone share their experiences and passions for wildlife photography, outdoor adventures, and the beauty of nature. They discuss their personal journeys, th...

Prepare for another jam-packed pro-tip episode with Ron Hayes, Mark Raycroft, and Jason Loftus. The crew discuss their recent wildlife photography adventures, informs listeners of shooting tips to capture lekking behaviour in sharp-tailed and sage-grouse and explores Jason's recent trip to Bora Bora, including swimming with blacktip sharks. The discussion transitions into valuable travel tips, emp...

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 st...

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 o...

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 wint...

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....

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, lion...

In this engaging conversation, the hosts Ron Hayes, Jason Loftus, and Mark Raycroft reconnect with fellow pro photographer Joe Subolefsky and delve into their experiences with wildlife photography, travel adventures, and the personal connections formed through their journeys. They discuss the challenges and joys of photographing wildlife in various locations, including the Pantanal, and share stor...

It's not every day that you get to meet such a diverse and knowledgable wildlife photographer like Eli Martinez. We are blessed in this episode to have Eli share his thrilling and unique experience of capturing a large mating group of sperm whales near Dominica Island. This rare occurrence was captured just weeks ago on Jan. 29, 2025, and Eli describes how lucky he was on this recent trip. But tha...

Once again, our listeners, who are also outstanding photographers in their own right, have provided some incredible questions for Ron, Jason and Mark. Wide-ranging topics, from improving the odds of wolf and counters to computer gear and culling images from your portfolio, test the crew and draw out new wisdom from these seasoned wildlife aficionados.  Takeaways Overshooting can be beneficial...

Our hosts, Ron Hayes, Jason Loftus, and Mark Raycroft, butt heads in a lively game of Photo Feud, debating unpopular opinions in wildlife photography.  Through a point-counterpoint format, each host must support a designated “for” or “against” position and delve into the pros and cons of each topic, providing insights into the evolving landscape of photography. Exploring the implications of a...