Babak Tafreshi, National Geographic Photographer on Solar Eclipses on All Seven Continents, Art of the Night Sky, and a World United Under One Roof

Babak Tafreshi is a National Geographic photographer, science communicator, and founder of The World at Night, an international project dedicated to documenting and protecting the night sky. 

In this episode, Babak shares what it was like growing up in post-revolution Iran and how a feeling of isolation drove him toward the stars. We talk about the four elements of a great photograph and which two most photographers consistently get wrong, the meticulous planning behind a single night sky image, and why light pollution is far more than an inconvenience for photographers. It's a public health crisis and an ecological emergency. We also get into the alarming and largely unregulated rise of commercial satellite constellations and what they mean for the future of the night sky as a shared human heritage.

Notable Links:

Babak Tafreshi Website
Babak Tafreshi Instagram
The World at Night
National Geographic

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This episode is brought to you by:

•  National Geographic Museum of Exploration - Discovery begins here.

•  Luminar Neo - Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.

•  Kase Filters - My listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Travel, Landscape, and Bird Photography with Deborah Sandidge.

Deborah Sandidge is an American Travel, Landscape, and Wildlife Photographer, a Nikon USA Ambassador, and KelbyOne Instructor. Deborah is the author of Digital Infrared Photography and has collaborated with the Nikon Learn and Explore site demonstrating star and star trail photography, along with long exposure photography.

In this episode, Deborah and Richard explore the creative tension between still photography and video, how to find emotional resonance in birds as a photography subject, why technical mastery is the price of admission for genuine creative freedom, and what does it take to be a professional photographer in 2026. Deborah also shares how she reads animal behavior to anticipate moments before they happen and what it really takes to become a brand ambassador.

Notable Links:
Deborah Sandidge Website
Deborah Sandidge Instagram

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This episode is brought to you by Luminar Neo, an AI powered photo editor.
Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.

*****

This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.

And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Extreme time-lapse photography with Louie Schwartzberg.

Louie Schwartzberg is a filmmaker who has spent more than four decades revealing the hidden beauty of the world around us. A pioneer in time-lapse, macro, and high-speed cinematography, his work has appeared in National Geographic, Netflix, and DisneyNature films and series including Fantastic Fungi, Moving Art, and Wings of Life, helping millions see nature and time itself in an entirely new way.

In this episode, we explore:
• How Louie pioneered modern time-lapse cinematography
• Why awe and gratitude can reshape your outlook on life
• The hidden intelligence and interconnectedness of nature
• Creativity, patience, and storytelling through film
• How slowing down helps us see what matters most

Notable Links:
Moving Art Platform
'Gratitude Revealed' on Amazon

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This episode is brought to you by Luminar Neo, an AI powered photo editor.
Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.

*****

This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.

And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

What happens when you walk away from the life you’re supposed to live and follow your curiosity and sense of adventure instead?

In this episode, I sit down with Leoni Kolberg, better known as LaserLeo the Cyclonaut, who has spent the past several years living on a bicycle, cycling across continents, sleeping in a tent, and navigating the world, and her inner landscape, one mile at a time.

This isn’t just a story about adventure. It’s about choosing uncertainty over comfort, learning resilience through hardship, and discovering what really matters when you strip life down to the essentials.

We talk about cycling solo across continents, the mental and physical challenges of life on the road, moments of fear and triumph, and why freedom is often harder than the safe, predictable path that society demands.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Leoni walked away from a conventional future to live on the road
• The mental toughness built through solitude and uncertainty
• Fear, resilience, and learning to trust yourself
• The people and moments that changed her along the way
• Why adventure is often an inner journey as much as an outer one

This is a conversation about curiosity, courage, and what happens when you stop living by default and start living by design.

Notable Links:

Leoni's Instagram
Leoni's Polarsteps
Leoni's bike: Tout Terrain

*****

If you’re looking for that next-level boost to your creativity and photography skills, you’ve got to check out my Beyond The Lens Newsletter on Substack.

 It’s like having a backstage pass to everything I explore with my guests here on the podcast - delivered straight to your email inbox.

Think practical photography tips, mind-expanding ideas for personal vision, and real-world tactics to level up your craft. Plus I’m sharing my thoughts on travel, conservation, creativity and more.

It’s straight to the point, super actionable, and it shows you how to see the world in an entirely new way. 

So if that sounds like your vibe, head on over to beyondthelens.fm/go and prepare to take your creative game to new heights. 

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Wildlife Photographer Suzi Eszterhas on Quiet Wildlife Photography, Cultivating Vulnerability, and the Power of Patience.

Wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas joins the Beyond The Lens Podcast to talk about ethical wildlife photography, patience in the field, animal behavior, and photographing mothers and baby animals. We discuss vulnerability, stillness, conservation, long-term projects, and what it takes to build a meaningful career in wildlife photography.

She’s been published in TIME magazine, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Popular Photography, Ranger Rick, and National Geographic Kids plus many other publications. 

She was also awarded as the 2021 Outstanding Photographer of the Year by the North American Nature Photography Association.

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Notable Links:

Suzi Eszterhas Website
Suzi Eszterhas Photo Tours
Suzi Eszterhas Instagram
Beyond The Lens: Episode 70 with Bill Wallauer

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This episode is brought to you by Luminar Neo, an AI powered photo editor.
Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.

*****

This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.

And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Kiliii Yüyan: National Geographic Photographer on Creative Vision and the Magic Sweater Exercise, The Art of Observation, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Kiliii Yüyan is a photographer, filmmaker, public speaker, and National Geographic Explorer. He captures life of the polar regions, beneath cold seas, and within the heart of human communities. His photographs are intimate and sensory, crafted from deep, long-term immersion. Of Chinese and Nanai/Hèzhé (East Asian Indigenous) descent, he works through a cross-cultural lens, exploring how humanity—inseparable from nature—lives in relationship with land and sea.

Notable Links:

Kiliii Yüyan Photography
Kiliii Yüyan Instagram
Guardians of Life: Indigenous Science, Indigenous Wisdom and Restoring the Planet

*****

This episode is brought to you by Luminar Neo, an AI powered photo editor.
Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.

*****

This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.

And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Books That Matter for Photographers, Artists, Writers and all Creators: Steven Pressfield and The War of Art, Resistance, and Professionalization. 

Recorded on New Year’s Day from a busy coffee shop in Bali, Indonesia, this solo episode of Beyond The Lens is a deep, honest meditation on why photographers, artists, writers, and creators struggle to do the work that matters most—and what to do about it.

Drawing from The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, Richard unpacks the idea of Resistance: the invisible, internal force that shows up whenever we try to create, grow, or change. Procrastination. Self-doubt. Distraction. Rationalization. That voice that says, “Do it tomorrow.” That’s Resistance.

This episode is part book review, part personal reflection, and part practical field guide for photographers, writers, artists, and anyone trying to live a more intentional, creative life.

Notable Links:

The War of Art on Amazon
Steven Pressfield Online
Richard's Essay on Resistance: Beyond The Lens Newsletter

*****

If you’re looking for that next-level boost to your creativity and photography skills, you’ve got to check out my Beyond The Lens Newsletter on Substack.

 It’s like having a backstage pass to everything I explore with my guests here on the podcast - delivered straight to your email inbox.

Think practical photography tips, mind-expanding ideas for personal vision, and real-world tactics to level up your craft. Plus I’m sharing my thoughts on travel, conservation, creativity and more.

It’s straight to the point, super actionable, and it shows you how to see the world in an entirely new way. 

So if that sounds like your vibe, head on over to beyondthelens.fm/go and prepare to take your creative game to new heights. 

*****

This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.

And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Landscape photographer Joseph Rossbach on Landscape Photography and Manufacturing Inspirado, Desert and Swamp Vibes, & Finding Your Creative Flow.

Joseph Rossbach is an American landscape photographer and educator who has built a life around wild places, quiet light, and the type of images that reward patience. Over the past two decades, he’s explored everything from the slot canyons of Utah to the cypress swamps of the American South and everywhere in between. His work reflects a deep respect for the land and a belief that the strongest photographs say as much about the photographer as they do about the place itself.

Notable Links:

Joseph Rossbach Photography Website
Joseph Rossbach Instagram
Tenacious D - The Search For Inspirado

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This episode is brought to you by Lexar.

For almost 30 years, Lexar has been trusted as a leading global brand of memory solutions so they know firsthand just how quickly content is transforming our world. 

Their award-winning lineup performs second to none and includes professional memory cards, card readers, and solid state drives for creators of all skill levels. 

So  - Whether shooting photos, capturing video, or transferring content on the go, Lexar provides the reliability and performance you can rely on to get the shot with confidence.

I certainly do. I've been using Lexar Professional CFexpress 4.0 Type B GOLD memory cards with my Canon mirrorless cameras for years and years. And they deliver the blazing speed and the durability for the extreme weather conditions I encounter all over the world.

To learn more about Lexar Memory Solutions, please visit lexar.com

*****

This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.

And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Commercial photographer Patrick Fore on the Terrible Photographer, and Negotiating the Emotional and Psychological Landscape of Professional Photography.

Patrick Fore is a commercial photographer and art director from San Diego, California. He spent four years as the lead photographer and brand designer for Taylor Guitars and now runs his own commercial photography studio.

He's also the host of the Terrible Photographer podcast, where he talks about photography, creativity, and the struggles of being a pro.

Notable Links:

Patrick Fore Photography
The Terrible Photographer
Patrick Fore Instagram

*****

This episode is brought to you by Luminar Neo, an AI powered photo editor.
Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.

*****

This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.

And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Bryan Grieg Fry is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland. He’s a herpetologist and venomologist who leads the Venom Evolution Laboratory, working on venoms from a wide range of reptiles, centipedes, insects, scorpions, spiders, and venomous mammals. He’s also known as the “Venom Doc.”

Dr. Fry completed his undergraduate training in molecular biology, scientific philosophy, and psychology at Portland State University, and he received his PhD from the University of Queensland, where he now works and lives.

He was the recipient of the 2011 Fenner Medal from the Australian Academy of Science for his research, and he is a member of the elite adventure society The Explorers Club.

In addition, Dr. Fry has been featured in documentaries on Animal Planet, the BBC, the Discovery Channel, and National Geographic TV.

He’s also the author of two books: the textbook Venomous Reptiles and Their Toxins and his memoir Venom Doc: The Edgiest, Darkest, Strangest Natural History Memoir Ever.

*****

If you’re looking for that next-level boost to your creativity and photography skills, you’ve got to check out my Beyond The Lens Newsletter on Substack.

 It’s like having a backstage pass to everything I explore with my guests here on the podcast - delivered straight to your email inbox.

Think practical photography tips, mind-expanding ideas for personal vision, and real-world tactics to level up your craft. Plus I’m sharing my thoughts on travel, conservation, creativity and more.

It’s straight to the point, super actionable, and it shows you how to see the world in an entirely new way. 

So if that sounds like your vibe, head on over to beyondthelens.fm/go and prepare to take your creative game to new heights. 

*****

This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.

And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:

Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto