Wildlife Photo Chat

Ray Hennessy has a new guest on each episode to discuss what they are currently working on and how they are trying to be creative with their wildlife photography.

246: Rob Read and Georgina Steytler 11/11/2025

246: Rob Read and Georgina Steytler Lots of laughs, great stories, contest talk and more with the amazing Rob Read and Georgina Steytler who joined me while they were hanging out together and it was such a fun episode! Follow Rob & Georgina at: Instagram: and /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/38875100

245: Karim Bouzidi Idrissi 11/04/2025

245: Karim Bouzidi Idrissi My guest Karim Bouzidi Idrissi joins me to share about how he goes out every day for bird photography and is enjoying local fall migration currently. We also get into his incredible trip to Middleton Island, Alaska where he spent 3 months living and studying the birds as well as photographing them. We wrap up the show talking about how he is working on creating a book of these images. Follow Karim at: Instagram: Website: Show Mentions: Kittiwake and urinals - https://www.instagram.com/p/DKuelN3Rv2I/?img_index=1 Kittiwake hung by line - https://www.instagram.com/p/DN5pjW7DU2A/?img_index=1 Puffin out of a door - https://www.instagram.com/p/DMDds1yRNUf/ Favorite images from Middleton Island - https://karimbouzidi.ca/my-best-shots/middletonisland /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/38466610

244: Vince Maidens 10/28/2025

244: Vince Maidens My guest Vince Maidens joins me to chat about working with Swifts and Swallows during some recent downtime and how he enjoys capturing the behavior and predatory nature of smaller birds. We also chat about the importance of pushing yourself creatively and wrap up the show talking about sharing strong opinions and his recent move into writing. Follow Vince at: Instagram: Website: Writing on Substack: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/38457240

243: Emily Tornga 10/21/2025

243: Emily Tornga My guest Emily Tornga joins the show to chat about her enjoyment of fall migration in her back yard, the joy she finds from connecting with and creating community on social media, and she shares about her first experience photographing a seabird colony which is where we met in person for the first time. Follow Emily at: Instagram: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/38456570

242: Kate and Adam Rice 10/14/2025

242: Kate and Adam Rice Kate and Adam Rice join the show to chat about balancing personal and client work, they share about their approach to teaching during their workshops, and we talk about opening and running their gallery in Anchorage, Alaska! Follow Kate and Adam at: Instagram: Website: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/38426505

241: Tobias Yoder 10/07/2025

241: Tobias Yoder Tobias Yoder joins the show again! It’s been 6 years since he was on the show and I’m so excited to have him back again. This time around we chat about making a detailed plan for a shot, especially one with incredibly unique weather conditions, in this case including an erupting volcano with a bird! We also talk about the joys of photographing things that cannot be planned and how emotional attachment often makes photos better to the person who captured them. We wrap up the discussion talking about Tobias’ time away from sharing on social media and how very recently has started sharing more again. /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/38305195

240: Justin Theurer 09/30/2025

240: Justin Theurer My guest Justin Theurer joins me to discuss spending more time working with owls, specifically Northern Pygmy Owl, keeping a positive attitude about going out and working on project focused outings, and his transition and push to be a full-time professional wildlife photographer. Follow Justin at: Instagram: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/38254775

239: Matthew Dolkart 09/23/2025

239: Matthew Dolkart My guest Matthew Dolkart joins me to chat about spending time and really working your local patch to gain knowledge and understanding to help betting your photography. We also discuss how seeing a hummingbird building a nest in urban Chicago sparked his interest in bird photography and how cool it was to see that bird return to the same spot year after year. Then we wrap up the conversation talking about his push towards more moody photos lately, what that means, how he is trying to achieve it, EMO bird week, and many other fun topics, hope you all enjoy the show! Follow Matthew at: Instagram: Show Mentions: Audrey & Jason Vicks - /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/38101870

238: Levi Fitze 09/16/2025

238: Levi Fitze My guest Levi Fitze joins me to discuss wrapping up shooting on his multi-year project about Grouse in the Alps, we talk about where his love of the mountains and harsh weather came from, and his focus on capturing images that move people and tell a story and how to go about doing that. Follow Levi Fitze at: Instagram: Show Mentions: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37937925

237: Richard Flack 09/09/2025

237: Richard Flack Richard Flack joins me to discuss how he has put less pressure on his own photography lately and how many of his favorite images are all from near his home. We also have a conversation about the personal challenges I’ve been going through and struggles I’ve felt over the last year with my wildlife photography business. It’s an in-depth conversation about this side of being a full-time wildlife photographer and we think you will connect with many aspects of it even though it’s likely not your profession. Thanks as always for all of your support and for following along. Follow Richard Flack at: Instagram: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37893920

236: Rain Saulnier 09/02/2025

236: Rain Saulnier My guest Rain Saulnier joins to chat about what he enjoys about shooting prairie locations, having an experience with a very cooperative tern, shooting high frame rate, and we wrap up talking about composition. Follow Rain Saulnier at: Instagram: Show Mentions: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37772905

235: Nome, Alaska 08/26/2025

235: Nome, Alaska A different episode where I invite Jacob Begis, Jianing Zeng, Michelle Mackenzie, and Patricia Constance who all joined me on my workshop in Nome, Alaska in the spring of 2025. They each share their about their experience, some favorite moments and even challenges of the workshop. I hope you enjoy this one! Follow this episode’s guests on Instagram: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37700210

234: Andy Bruner 08/19/2025

234: Andy Bruner My guest Andy Bruner joins me to discuss how he got into wildlife photography and how that connects to his Instagram name, how he is enjoying macro photography during the summer and learning along the way, and lastly we discuss using unique lenses and techniques to capture different photos and how and when are they successful. Follow Andy Bruner at: Instagram: Website: Show Mentions: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37693785

233: Peter Sülzle 08/12/2025

233: Peter Sülzle My guest Peter Sülzle joins me to share about his recent encounter photographing an American Kestrel nest. We then chat about how he finds inspiration from painters and how he is hoping to work on a magazine to distribute locally. Follow Peter Sülzle at: Instagram: Show Mentions: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37646460

232: Malini Chandrasekar 08/05/2025

232: Malini Chandrasekar Malini Chandrasekar joins me to discuss her recent work photographing urban wildlife and how she got started during COVID. We also discuss how Malani connects her wildlife photography with what she currently enjoys in life. Follow Malani at: Instagram: Show Mentions: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37614260

231: Asher Lee 07/29/2025

231: Asher Lee My guest joins me to discuss his transition from birder to photographer, a wild story of getting stuck in the mud at low tide, and his joy for shooting low-key birds are darker backgrounds. Follow Asher Lee at: Instagram: Show Mentions: Kaisa Lee (Asher’s mom): /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37560740

230: Weekly with Brad James 07/22/2025

230: Weekly with Brad James This week we wrap up our discussion about our second seabirds workshop in Newfoundland and talk all about the experience and the feedback we got from the guests who joined us. Also a big announcment about the weekly show with Brad, we are moving it YouTube so we can show and discuss photos in more depth! We hope many of you will join us on this new YouTube venture and our weekly show there! /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37465230

229: Weekly with Brad James and Emilie Reid 07/15/2025

229: Weekly with Brad James and Emilie Reid Brad and Emilie join this week's episode to recap the Puffins and Gannets workshop Brad and I just finished running. Emilie adds in another perspective and we share about the challenges and amazing times of the first workshop this year. /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37335470

228: Weekly with Brad James and Emilie Reid 07/08/2025

228: Weekly with Brad James and Emilie Reid This week we record in person at Brad's home in Newfoundland! Emilie joins in the discussion as well and we talk all about our upcoming Puffins and Gannets workshop as well as some advice for those thinking of joining a workshop. We also touch on Emilie being in a funk and how she got out of it. /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37317955

227: Ed Dailey 07/04/2025

227: Ed Dailey Ed Dailey joins me to chat about his recent trip to Africa and working through some of the challenges there, how he tried to get out every day for some photography, what he thinks about when out in the field to try to push his creativity. Instagram: View photos mentioned during the show on the . /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/36690930

226: Weekly with Brad James 07/01/2025

226: Weekly with Brad James Brad photographed some fledged Great Horned Owlettes in a well known local location. He then went and found some Black-throated Green Warblers in a wonderful spot and got some great images. Next up was heading back to his local Common Loon spot which might have some Spotted Sandpipers, sure enough it did and things got epic for him! I share about my experience traveling from Maine to Newfoundland including warblers along the way and my attempts to photograph them with a Lensbaby tilt lens and the TT Artisan 250mm donut bokeh lens. I also share about our first time encountering icebergs along the coast of Newfoundland and the joys of van life. We wrap up the show discussing the topic of including man-made and urban elements in wildlife photography. View photos mentioned during this episode at /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37177670

225: Weekly with Brad James 06/24/2025

225: Weekly with Brad James We are back after a 1 week break! Brad shares about photographing warblers with the sun and how wildfire smoke makes unique conditions that can be fun and creative. I share all about my 3 week trip to Nome, Alaska and what the experience was like running workshops up there for 20 days! /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/37098240

224: Weekly with Brad James 06/10/2025

224: Weekly with Brad James Brad shares about his continued experimenting with a Roughed Grouse and a remote setup using his Nikon Z9 auto-capture. I share all about what it's like being in and photographing the wildlife in Nome, Alaska. I talk about working with a client, how we try to capture habitat and the approach to doing so in such a unique and scenic environment. /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/36884985

223: Albert Michaud 06/06/2025

223: Albert Michaud Albert Michaud joins me to chat about the Black Grouse project he has been shooting, we also discuss wildlife filmaking and his love for shooting the arctic habitat. /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/36459320

222: Weekly with Brad James 06/03/2025

222: Weekly with Brad James Brad shares about his amazing encounter with Common Loons on a foggy day in a stunning location. I share about my time in Alaska. Starting out with our mutual great friend and photographing around Anchorage Alaska, then flying to Nome where I spent the first 6 hours from 8pm to 2am photographing birds on the tundra right before recording this episode. Photos mentioned an additional notes at /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/36803930

221: Weekly with Brad James 05/27/2025

221: Weekly with Brad James Brad shares about his trip to Terranceville with main targets being warblers and songbirds and how he did using both the 500mm and 100-400mm lenses. We talk about taking breaks from shooting the same thing and what to do to keep things fresh when you do shoot the same thing. Next I share about time in the Hilton Head marshes with Emilie. I also talk about how the Nikon Z9/Z8 are focusing betting for birds using the animal setting and playing around with a new 2x teleconverter. Then I share about the last part of my trip to Florida to photograph birds in and underwater. We wrap up the show answering a question from about committing to a unique or different lens on a shoot instead of trying multiple. Photos talked about on the show can be viewed on the /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/36689195

220: Weekly with Brad James 05/20/2025

220: Weekly with Brad James Brad shares about working with and still figuring out the 100-400mm lens for his songbird photography. I share about our current trip while we were recording from Rainbow Springs, Florida mainly photographing birds underwater and split level. /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/36613135

219: Ganapathi Ram 05/16/2025

219: Ganapathi Ram My guest Ganapathi Ram joins me to discuss how he is using in-camera multiple exposures for creative bird photography, how he is using a donut-bokeh lens as well, and how he loves using foreground and playing with aperture to get unique bird photos. Follow Ganapathi Ram at: Instagram: /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/35378985

218: Weekly with Brad James 05/13/2025

218: Weekly with Brad James This week Brad shares about his incredible success photographing Roughed Grouse with the Nikon Z9's auto-capture abilities. It's exciting to hear about his testing and multiple tries and getting some amazing results from it! I share about a recent morning out in the South Carolina marshes and at a wading bird rookery all shooting the Nikon 400mm f/2.8 TC lens. Lastly we wrap up with a listern question discussing what gear to buy in a certain situation. /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/36507810

217: Weekly with Brad James 05/06/2025

217: Weekly with Brad James I just returned from 10 days in Hawaii running my first workshop of the year there with Laysan Albatross and other seabirds and Brad shares about his experimentation with Nikon auto-capture to try to get some remote shots of a Roughed Grouse! /episode/index/show/wildlifephotochat/id/36395415

Wildlife Photo Chat

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