In this episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast, the hosts introduce guest Jay Grunig, a law enforcement officer and wildlife photographer, who shares the therapeutic benefits of photography for mental health. The conversation explores the importance of family in outdoor activities and the sense of community within the wildlife photography world. Jay offers valuable tips for capturing wildlife images, emphasizing the significance of understanding animal behavior and being aware of surroundings. Jay discusses the intricacies of wildlife photography, focusing on understanding animal behavior, the excitement of the bison rut, and the joy of outdoor experiences.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

03:04 The Northern Lights Experience

06:00 Meet Jay Grunig: The Photographer's Journey

11:58 The Importance of Family in Outdoor Activities

17:59 Photography as a Coping Mechanism

24:00 Building Community Through Photography

29:58 Tips for Wildlife Photography

30:58 Understanding Animal Behavior for Photography

32:27 The Bison Rut Experience

34:58 Favorite Subjects in Wildlife Photography

37:34 The Joy of Outdoor Experiences

39:34 The Connection Between Photography and Nature

40:33 Camera Equipment and Evolution

43:01 Capturing Intimate Moments with Wildlife

45:57 Anticipating Future Wildlife Photography Adventures

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

It’s that time of year for the BTW Crew’s favourite annual session: reflecting on memorable wildlife encounters from the past year. Two thousand twenty-five was a big year of photography accomplishments and phenomenal luck. Ron, Jason and Mark discuss their favourite moments and share personal stories about wildlife encounters and photography techniques. Special thanks go out to our supporters for helping make 2025 such an amazing year of new experiences, and thanks for sharing the thrill of wildlife photography, the joy of sharing experiences with friends, and the surprises that nature brings.

Sound Bites

"The morning that the moose stood still."

"Go out when the conditions are bad."

"Incredible wolf encounters this year!"

"Life is about making time for experiences."

"Wildlife photography is 95% waiting."

"Personal milestones make the best memories."

"Nature always surprises us in the best ways."

Chapters

03:10 Reflecting on 2025: Highlights and Experiences

06:04 Sponsorship Appreciation and Community Engagement

08:50 Personal Highlights from the Year

11:58 Photography Adventures and Techniques

18:02 Wildlife Encounters and Memorable Moments

27:02 Looking Ahead: Future Photography Opportunities

28:49 Incredible Wolf Encounters

34:20 Memorable Wildlife Photography Experiences

40:56 The Dynamics of Wildlife Behavior

49:31 Introduction to Drone Photography

55:24 Reflections on Life and Wildlife

01:03:01 Capturing Unique Moments in Nature

01:10:20 Personal Milestones and Family Moments

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, hosts Ron Hayes and Mark Raycroft welcome guests Tristen Vega Moffett and Neil Simmons, the owners of Roam Wild Photo Tours. Tristen and Neil are professional photographers and run tours in Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Park. They tell of an epic snow coach trip where they witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime wolf-pack attack on a bull bison. Although this natural occurrence is vital and has been happening for thousands of years, photographing it is difficult and confounding. This is just one of the unique opportunities these National Parks provide to peer into the wonders of the wild.

Links

Website: www.roamwildphototours.com

Instagram: @roamwildphototours

Tristen’s Instagram: @wildly.tristen

Neil’s Instagram: @neilsimmonsphotography

Mollie’s Pack Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv2vjwwZznA

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, hosts Ron Hayes and Jason Loftus welcome host and guest, Mark Raycroft and his wife, Pili, to discuss their recent adventures in Nunavik, leading a tour to photograph musk ox in the stunning northern landscape. This epic trip to photograph these unique creatures during the rut is filled with amazing stories and adventures. They also discuss the unique accommodations, travel logistics, the beauty of fall colours, and the behaviour of musk ox during the rutting season. With plans for future trips already in motion, the hosts express their excitement for more adventures to come.

Chapters

00:00 Reunion and Exciting Travels

03:15 Adventures in Nunavik

10:00 The Journey to the Camp

12:35 First Impressions and Musk Ox Sightings

16:30 The Beauty of Northern Colors

21:02 Understanding musk ox Behavior

25:12 Photographic Opportunities with musk ox

34:45 First Encounters with Musk Oxen

37:01 Observing Herd Dynamics and Behavior

39:36 The Prehistoric Connection: Musk Oxen and Their Environment

42:04 Capturing Stunning Wildlife Photography

44:54 Exploring the Vast Northern Landscape

48:14 Day Two Adventures: New Herd Discoveries

52:05 Unexpected Encounters: Bears and Other Wildlife

55:57 Weather Challenges and Adaptations

59:49 Comforts of Camp Life

01:03:01 Future Trips and Conservation Efforts

Links

Website: https://www.markraycroft.com/p/musk-ox-photo-tours

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast, hosts Mark Raycroft and Jason Loftus engage in a lively debate moderated by Drew Hamilton of Discover Churchill Tours, discussing the differences between whitetail and mule deer. They explore various aspects such as habitat, behavior, fieldcraft for photography, antler characteristics, marketability of images, and the intelligence of both species. The conversation culminates in a fun challenge where both hosts attempt to mimic deer calls, leading to a light-hearted conclusion that leaves the debate open to audience interpretation. You likely don’t want to miss this one.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Dynamics

02:11 The Great Deer Debate: Whitetail vs. Mule Deer

04:09 Understanding Whitetail Deer

07:08 Exploring Mule Deer Characteristics

12:14 Fieldcraft for Photographing Deer

19:18 Antler Comparisons: Whitetail vs. Mule Deer

27:54 Sales and Marketability of Deer Photography

32:33 Intelligence of Whitetail vs. Mule Deer

37:00 Imagining the Perfect Deer Shot

42:01 Autumn's Beauty and Wildlife Dynamics

43:44 The Role of AI in Photography

46:06 Debating Deer: Whitetail vs. Mule Deer

51:25 Calling in the Wild: Vocalizations of Deer

58:34 A Friendly Competition: Snort Wheeze Showdown

01:01:48 Conservation and the Future of Deer Species

01:04:58 Exploring the Aurora Season in Churchill

Links

Drew Hamilton

www.discoverchurchill.com

​ ⁨@drewhh⁩

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, host Ron Hayes and Jason Loftus welcome wildlife photographer Julia Cook. Julia has accomplished more in five years than many wildlife photography enthusiasts, and she shares her journey into wildlife photography, her experiences in Yellowstone, and the differences in bear behavior between Yellowstone and Katmai. Jason and Julia discuss their recent trip to Churchill, Canada, where they experienced incredible polar bear encounters. The conversation also highlights Julia’s personal experiences with wildlife photography projects, including the release of black-footed ferrets. Join us for this enjoyable episode and see how fast Julia became “hooked” on wildlife photography.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:05 Wildlife Photography Beginnings

03:58 Experiences in Churchill

06:50 Polar Bear Encounters

09:54 Evening Activities and Aurora

13:03 Guided Tours and Bear Sightings

15:52 Julia's Journey in Wildlife Photography

18:58 Guiding in Yellowstone

20:50 Summer Adventures and Outdoor Experiences

21:45 Memorable Wildlife Encounters

22:58 The Elusive Wolverine

26:00 Grizzly Bears: A Passion for Photography

28:09 First Encounters with Grizzly Bears

29:34 Safety in Bear Country

30:25 Research and Photography in Katmai

31:51 Understanding Bear Behavior

37:40 Citizen Science and Bear Identification

39:43 Upcoming Projects and Workshops

45:00 Conservation Efforts and Breeding Programs

48:27 Wildlife Encounters and Personal Experiences

50:28 Future Wildlife Adventures and Aspirations

53:56 Wildlife Photography and Unique Sightings

57:58 Traveling for Wildlife and Cultural Experiences

01:01:59 Reflections on Wildlife and Community Engagement

Links

Instagram: @juliacookwildlife

Website: www.juliacookwildlife.com

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this week’s episode, we are off to the coast of Alaska to photograph the Coastal Brown Bears during the epic seasonal salmon run. For Ron, this is his first trip to witness this spectacular natural event. For Jason, this is his second trip, but with new equipment and a new shot list. Listen in as Ron and Jason share some heart-pounding experiences from the trip, provide some tips from their lessons learned, and compare and contrast how Canon’s latest equipment performed in the Last Frontier.

Sound Bites

"I had broken my foot just prior to us going."

"It was the perfect tool, in my opinion."

"Take a polarizer."

"It's magical stuff, truly."

"You hope for good weather, you guys had it."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

02:55 Bear Camp Experience Overview

05:49 Weather and Wildlife Observations

09:10 Photography Techniques and Strategies

12:04 Equipment Insights and Lens Choices

14:50 Challenges and Adaptations in the Field

34:47 The Perfect Gear for Wildlife Photography

36:05 Essential Photography Tips for Wildlife Trips

39:09 Capturing Bears and Other Wildlife

41:20 Experiencing Wildlife Up Close

44:01 Navigating Challenges in the Wild

46:10 Camp Life and Socializing

55:19 Memorable Moments in the Field

01:06:09 Pro Tips for Wildlife Photography

01:12:01 The Importance of Community in Photography

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

We are excited to have Colin Bigelow from Pictureline on the show this week. We’ve been wanting Colin to join us on the show since the launch of Beyond the Wild, and well, it finally happened. Colin is not only the key contact at Pictureline for anything related to wildlife photography, but also one of the most passionate photographers out there. His backstory is inspiring, and this episode is dedicated to learning more about his passion for capturing wildlife images and how he transitioned from a baseball career to pursuing a full-time career in the photography industry. Join us to hear about Colin’s journey and his enthusiasm for adventure, along with some sneak peeks into what new camera technology is on the horizon.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction and Episode Context

03:16 Welcome to Colin Bigelow

10:49 Colin's Journey into Photography

20:38 Passion for Wildlife Photography

22:44 Exploring Other Passions

23:44 Passions and Hobbies

29:21 The Magic of Moose

41:38 Wildlife Photography Adventures

42:43 The Journey of a New Instagram Page

44:43 Building Connections in Photography

50:01 The Philosophy of Customer Service

01:00:44 Elevating the Photography Experience

01:01:10 Memorable Outdoor Experiences

01:06:20 Passion for Wildlife and Photography

01:08:02 Future of Camera Technology

01:12:01 Lens Quality and Performance

01:16:01 Rumors and Innovations in Camera Gear

01:19:59 High-Resolution Cameras and Their Impact

Links

@ColinCBigelow.1

@ColinBigelowPhoto

Pictureline.com

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.