The PhotoWILD Podcast

Episode 12: Notes from the Edge of the World

In this episode, Jared Lloyd and Annalise Kaylor talk shop after spending 10 days on boats photographing in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. Kenai Fjords is one of the most dynamic landscapes on Earth and plays home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife from marine mammals to pelagic seabirds. The PhotoWILD crew timed their expedition to the edge of the world for the peak of the orca migration. Following huge schools of chinook salmon, each day was filled with countless orca sightings in addition to humpback whales, Stellar sea lions, harbor seals on icebergs, sea otters, three species of puffin, and so much more. 
Key Takeaways
Photographing from little boats in a big ocean can be challenging and how to overcome those challenges
There really is no such thing as bad light, only our lack of knowledge of how best to exploit that light
When the photography gods throw you lemons, make high key images
Ice drives the entire ecosystem here
Mastering Light book discussed in show: https://www.photowildmagazine.com/mastering-light
Want to join us in Kenai Fjords next year? https://www.jaredlloyd.com/wildlife-of-kenai-fjords-photography-workshop

Episode 11: Bird Photography in the Prairie Potholes

In this episode, Jared and Annalise discuss their time photographing in one of the most endangered habitats in North America: the prairie potholes. Spending several days working from floating blinds photographing waterfowl such as ruddy ducks, redheads, and blue winged teal in peak breeding plumage along with various species of grebes, Jared and Annalise talk shop about the extraordinary biographies of their favorite species from this trip as well as the challenges they faced and how wildlife photographers can overcome them in their own photography. The prairie potholes are one of the chief priorities for conservation organizations ranging from Ducks Unlimited to the Audubon Society and this episode is the second installment on working from floating blinds. 
Key Takeaways
the prairie potholes region of North Dakota is one of the most prolific wildlife photography hotspots in North America
Going beyond the last discussion on floating blinds, this episode discusses the practical use of these tools and explain just how important they were for photography in this region
Floating blinds will completely revolutionize your wildlife photography
Understanding how animals use their habitat will increase your success rate by 90% 
In past episodes, Jared and Annalise discussed how that subject tracking and eye autofocus failed as often they succeeded and why other AF Area Modes were often better option, in this episode Jared explains why in the prairie potholes eye detect autofocus and subject tracking made all he difference in the world. 
If you want to learn more about photographing from floating blinds such as which types are best for which situations, how to narrow down your efforts to certain key parts of the habitat to maximize your photographic opportunities, and how to use the topography to funnel wildlife to you instead of having to go to them, then check out the Summer 2023 issue of PhotoWILD Magazine. https://photowildmagazine.com 

Episode 10: Floating What?

Sometimes it's the ancillary equipment, all the other stuff we use in the field, that can be the most important pieces of equipment we own. As wildlife photographers working in the 21st century, we are bombarded by marketing and advertising for the latest greatest cameras and lenses. Should we buy this camera? Should we switch camera manufacturers? "If only we had ___ lens, our photography would be so much better!" But the truth of the matter is that the equipment you already have in your hands will get the job done. Working professionals like ourselves used to use manual focus lenses, with film that had only 5 stops of dynamic range, and only 36 frames per roll of film. And yet, we still managed to create compelling photographs and make a living selling those photographs to magazines and such around the world. 
In this episode, Jared and Annalise discuss one of their all time favorite pieces of gear that has absolutely nothing to do with cameras and lenses: floating blinds. 
Floating blinds have the power to completely transform the way you approach you wildlife photography. From your ability to approach and photograph birds and mammals around the water, to the type of images, the look and feel of the compositions, floating blinds are a critical piece of gear in our kit. 
Because floating blinds are a unique concept that most photographers may not have heard of or are not familiar with in North America, Jared and Annalise discuss all the ins and outs of the different floating blinds they like to use before the next episode of the podcast where they dive into the stories behind their time photographing in the endangered Prairie Potholes Region of North Dakota. 
In the Summer issue of PhotoWILD Magazine, there will be a feature article all about the the strategies we use for working from these blinds: how to use the topography of the landscape to funnel animals to you, how to eliminate 90% of the landscape around you so you concentrate your efforts where the lion's share of the wildlife is guaranteed to be, and so much more. https://photowildmagazine.com

Episode 9: Everyone Loves Owls

In Episode 9 of the PhotoWILD Podcast, Jared and Annalise discuss their time along the coastal plain of North Carolina before heading to Alaska to lead their Wildlife of Kenai Fjords Workshop. Spending several weeks working in the pocosin swamps of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Albemarle - Pamlico peninsula, barred owls proved to be the star of the show. The area is better known by wildlife photographers for playing home to the densest concentration of black bears. Far from being a one trick pony, however, in the springtime this area can be one of the best wildlife photography hotspots on the east coast of the United States.
In this episode, Jared and Annalise dive into everything you could have hope to know about barred owls and how to photograph them.
If you want to know more about how to create stunning bokeh filled images of birds no matter what lens you are using? You don’t want to miss this episode!
Key Takeaways
Understanding their habitat needs and their association with water can help you find and photograph these birds day in and day out - especially once the chicks have hatched.
Barred owls are one of the most varied species of owls in North America, but species such of crayfish are a primary food source. Find the food source and you will find the barred owls.
Like photographing monkeys in Panama, working with owls in the forest create a host of unique challenges
Anytime we photograph in the forest, light cab be a challenge. However, there are specific types of light that makes photographing all forest dwelling species much easier.
There is no such thing bad light, there is only the depth of our own creativity. 
Forests are cluttered places. It’s for this reason that understanding depth of field is critically important for creating clean and artfully composed images in these situations. However, there is so much more that goes into controlling depth of field than just f/stops. In fact, f/stops and apertures are often the least important component in depth of field.
Don’t forget, you can always listen to the PhotoWILD Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio

Episode 8: The Mountain Monarchs of Yellowstone

In this episode, Jared and Annalise discuss everything you could ever hope to know about photographing bighorn sheep. Given the extraordinary amount of snowfall in the Yellowstone this past winter, the bighorn sheep opportunities were truly incredible. Jared and Annalise spent two months this winter in Yellowstone and much of that time was spent working with and photographing these mountain monarchs. 
Key Takeaways 
Where to find bighorns in the winter and why you will find them in the same place every year
The biggest conservation challenges facing bighorn sheep today
Winter brings unique challenges, but none more so than falling snow
When the snow is falling, you need a solid focusing strategy as the success rates of most AF Area Modes falls to 25% or less in falling snow
Backgrounds with bighorn sheep are more important than most other species in the Yellowstone Ecosystem
Creating separation between our subjects and the background will make or break your compositons and is one of the most important considerations we make in the field day in and day out
Creating three-dimensions in our compositions is critically important 
The importance of slowing down and dedicating yourself to working with one species at a time when on a photography trip
 
Want to join us in Yellowstone National Park next winter? 
https://www.jaredlloyd.com/winter-wildlife-yellowstone
Don't forget, subscribers to PhotoWILD Magazine will have a chance to join Jared and Annalise in Alaska this summer for a private workshop photographing brown bears. Want to know more? 
https://www.photowildmagazine.com/brown-bear-workshop-giveaway
 
 

Episode 7: Moose Mayhem in Yellowstone

In this episode of PhotoWILD Podcast, Jared and Annalise talk about all things moose. Photographing moose was a big priority for them during their two months spent working in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this past winter. And when it comes to photographing these swamp donkeys, timing is everything and there are a host of unique challenges we all face when when creating compelling images of these animals - especially in the winter. 
Key Takeaways
Timing is everything. Moose are the first species to drop their antlers in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. If you want bull moose in the snow, then you have a very small window of time to work with. 
Finding and photographing moose is all about understanding their biology. Where they live, what they eat, how the changing seasons impact them, and how they adapt to weather on a daily basis. Know this and you will be able to consistently and predictably find and photograph moose. 
Eye autofocus often falls apart when photographing moose. Dark eyes set against dark fur and lot's of distractions in the environment make working with other AF Area Modes easier. 
Compositions are everything for us as wildlife photographers. To create art we must be able to control something in the process so as to put our own creativity into the results. But with wildlife photography, we do not control the light and we cannot control the animals. This leaves us with compositions. And in this episode we do a deep dive into our philosophy behind compositions. 
Lines may be the most important component of the elements of design. They will make or break your composition. 

Episode 6: Winter Challenges with Wildlife Photography

Winter brings a host of different challenges for us wildlife photographers. More often than not, we tend to think of enduring the cold and slippery road conditions as the big challenges of winter. However, when it comes to photographing animals this time of year, there is so much more to overcome than just our own physical comfort. Quite frankly, the very nature of physics is working against us this time of year. 
Key Takeaways
Snow absorbs more red light than other colors. This tends to give snow, especially in low light conditions, a blue tint that can completely destroy our photographs in ways that no amount of post-processing in Lightroom or Photoshop can ever correct. 
Cold temperatures often results in out of focus images. In this episode we discuss exactly why this occurs and the ways in which you can quickly and easily solve this problem in the field. 
Falling snow often renders autofocus systems obsolete. However, there are AF area modes that we can use to easily overcome this. 
Winter offers us incredible backdrops to photograph wildlife against while the deep cold often provides us with amazing behavior we simply cannot see and photograph at any other time of the year. However, the obstacles we discuss in this episode are tremendous hurdles that must be understood and overcome to take advantage of the photographic opportunities this season offers the serious wildlife photographer. But to be able to solve these problems requires us to first understand why they happen and how to handle them in the field. 

Episode 5: Preparing for Yellowstone

In episode 5 of the PhotoWILD Podcast, Jared Lloyd and Annalise Kaylor discuss what it takes to plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park in the winter. This year, they spent a month photographing wildlife in this winter wonderland and discuss the many different considerations they make for preparing for their time there. From equipment choices to timing based on statistical averages for weather, if you have ever wanted to photograph in Yellowstone in the winter, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Key Takeaways
While the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has the greatest species diversity of mammals in North America, there is an incredible array of avian species to photograph this time of year such as bald eagles, golden eagles, black-billed magpies, snow buntings, and the endangered Rocky Mountain trumpeter swan - to name just a few.
Lens choices are made for very personal reasons based on the exact type of photographs someone wants to create - close up portraits, environment photographs, images of wolves, images of bison, etc. Identifying what the opportunities will be and specifically what type of photographs you want to create of those species should dictate what equipment you bring on a trip like this.
Historically, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem experiences very deep cold in January and very snowy conditions in February. If you want frosty bison, you should travel to the region in January. If you want photographs of animals in heavy falling snow, statistically speaking, you should travel to Yellowstone in February.
Low pressure systems impact wildlife behavior. The day before a big storm hits an area, wildlife activity increases exponentially.
Successful wildlife photography often comes down to understanding the very unique windows of time that certain opportunities can be found. For instance, if you want moose in the snow, you should come to Yellowstone as early as possible - December to January 15th. Moose are the first species to loose their antlers in the ecosystem. By the end of January, you will be hard pressed to find a single moose that still holds antlers.
Jared’s Yellowstone kit includes the Nikon 400mm f/2.8 with built in 1.4 TC, the Nikon 800mm PF f/6.3 lens, 2 Nikon Z9 camera bodies, the Sony FX6 cinema camera, and Sony 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 lens.
Annalise’s Yellowstone kit includes the Sony 400mm f/2.8, the Sony 200-600, Sony A1 camera bodies.
 
Want to join us in Yellowstone next year?
Each year, Jared and Annalise lead workshops to Yellowstone National Park in the winter. If you would like to join us in 2024, which will be Jared’s 31st trip he has led there, then check out https://www.jaredlloyd.com/winter-wildlife-yellowstone

Episode 4: Photographing Pelagic Seabirds in Panama

In this episode, Jared and Annalise discuss photographing pelagic seabirds at a nesting colony along the Caribbean Coast of Panama. While many different species utilize the island, the red-billed tropicbirds and brown boobies stole the show. The word “pelagic,” means open ocean. These are species of birds that spend their entire lives on the wing out over the ocean, returning to land only once a year to breed. Of all the many species of birds around the world, pelagic seabirds are both the least understood and also the most threatened group of birds on the planet.
Key Takeaways in this Episode
When it comes to photographing birds in flight, backgrounds are everything
Contrasting colors are one of the most important considerations when it comes to choosing how and where to photograph a species.
Experiments are beginning to suggest that turning off eye detect autofocus increases success rates with birds in flight
Understanding how to use close-focus priority autofocus area modes will dramatically improve your bird in flight photography.
Equipment Considerations
Bird in flight photography is always easiest when hand holding a lens. But when it comes to photographing from a boat, this is a must.
Finding a balance between weight and focal length is important.
On this particular trip, Jared used a Nikon 500mm PF f/5.6 lens with the FTZ adaptor on a Nikon Z9. While this is a fantastic little lens, Jared said he will never do it again. The weather sealing of this lens was just not up to par with what was demanded of the equipment this year in Panama. And by the time they were in boats photographing pelagic seabirds, the 500mm PF lens had condensation INSIDE of the lens itself. This dramatically impacted the lenses ability to find and accurately lock focus. Instead, Jared had to switch to his Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8 lens instead. This lens, while perfect for photographing monkeys and sloths and various mammals in Panama, was not brought with the intention to be used to photograph birds on the open ocean. Next time, Jared will bring the Nikon 400mm f/2.8 w/ built in 1.4 teleconverter instead for this situation.
Annalise used the Sony A1 with the Sony 400mm f/2.8 and had no trouble with weather proofing. While a heavier lens then most would opt for using to photograph birds in flight, the superior glass, weather sealing, and autofocusing capabilities of this lens proved to make the additional weight well worth the effort.

Episode 3: Sloths and Poison Dart Frogs along the Caribbean

Join Jared Lloyd and Annalise Kaylor as they travel from the Pacific Coast of Panama to the Caribbean. The northeast of Panama is a world apart from the rest of the country. Remote. Accessible only by boats. The region is characterized by warm and crystalline blue waters filled with coral reefs, lush lowland rainforest, and countless islands that has led the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to refer to the place as the Galapagos of the Caribbean.
The Bocas del Toro region of Panama holds an extraordinary display of biological diversity - especially in the form of amphibians. And there is probably no better place on Earth to find and photograph sloths.
In this episode, we discuss the basics behind using off-camera flash for macro subjects as well as the challenges of making sloths look sexy.