Wildlife Conversations Ep. 17 with Phillip Scrimshaw

Only shooting for the past 4 years, photographer Phillip Scrimshaw has traveled all over the world to capture the subjects he loves most. From places like Africa and India to Yellowstone and the Tetons, wildlife photography is not just a hobby for Phillip; it’s the driving force of his life now. He specifically loves the Maasai Mara in Kenya and will offer his first 9-day workshop there next year. 

Please join us for Episode 17 as we talk about . . .

- African wildlife photography, specifically the Maasai Mara

- the best African parks and destinations to photograph what species

- wildlife tourism and the ethics balanced with conservation

- the plight of threatened species and Phillip's use of photography to tell their story

- Africa vs North America for photography

- not forcing photography but waiting for the moments and enjoying it

- keeping your focus on your purpose not social media

- Phillip's amazing encounters with African Wild Dogs, a Pangolin, Cheetah cubs, and more

Live Question and Answers plus the Speed Round 

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WHERE TO FIND PHILLIP

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScrimshawPhotography

Website: https://www.scrimshawphotography.com/

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WHERE TO FIND JEN

⁠https://jenlritchie.com/

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

Grab my ⁠free guide and join the email list for upcoming podcasts: https://jenlritchie.com/freeguide/

See what's in my camera bag here: ⁠https://jenlritchie.com/photographer/

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If you'd like to help support the podcast, you visit here, check "Wildlife Conversations Podcast," and donate. Thank you for helping keep this little podcast going!

https://jenlritchie.com/payments/

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Wildlife Conversations Podcast exists to share more voices in the genre and to build community outside of social media. Its goal is to be a space where creatives who are passionate about wildlife and nature photography can share their stories, wisdom, adventures, and tips in a fun, welcoming place. 

Thank you for listening!

Wildlife Conversations, Episode 16 with Tiffany Taxis

I was honored to have the talented, young wildlife photographer Tiffany Taxis on with me for Episode 16!

Tiffany grew up in Florida, but in 2020, what was supposed to be a short trip to Wyoming revealed a talent for capturing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and its wildlife (and a much longer stay!). 

Her portfolio is filled with dramatic and ethereal images, which have been featured by notable platforms such as Petapixel, BBC, Prints for Wildlife, and OM SYSTEM.

As an OM System ambassador and guide in the Tetons and Alaska, Tiffany shared some of her images with me and  her mission to share wildlife with others. Loved our discussion!

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IN THIS EPISODE

• Tiffany’s journey to wildlife photography and the Mountain West

• Her love of Alaska, guiding there, and experiences that stand out

• Some of her favorite moments in the Tetons

• Advice for young photographers

• Gear and file management tips

• Slow shutter speed tips

• An experience that really touched her after a death in the family

• Questions from listeners

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND TIFFANY

Instagram: @tiffanytaxis

Facebook: Tiffany Taxis Photography 

Website: tiffanytaxis.com

TikTok: wildlifewithtiff

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WHERE TO FIND JEN

www.jenlritchie.com

Instagram: @jenlritchie

Grab my free guide --- "10 Tips for Beginner Wildlife Photographers to Up Your Creativity & Confidence" and join the email list for upcoming podcasts

See what's in my camera bag here: https://jenlritchie.com/photographer/

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Wildlife Conversations Podcast exists to share more voices in the genre and to build community outside of social media. Its goal is to be a space where creatives who are passionate about wildlife and nature photography can share their stories, wisdom, adventures, and tips in a fun, welcoming place. 

Thank you for listening!

| Wildlife Conversations Episode 15 with Dee Webb |

I was excited to talk with photographer Dee Webb because I think she's someone we all can relate to.

We’ve talked a lot on this podcast about how nature and wildlife photography can be a haven from the rest of the world, that it has even been healing for some of us. Well, Dee found photography during a hard time in her life and it became her passion, which transformed into her full-time profession.

Splitting her time between the breathtaking landscapes of Waterton Lakes, Canada, and the vibrant ecosystems of Costa Rica, she guides photographers through private workshops and transformative retreats.

She combines her expertise in photography, yoga therapy, and mindfulness to create experiences that help participants reconnect with nature and themselves. Listen in as she walks us through some of those mindset tips and her beautiful images!

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WHERE TO FIND DEE

Website

Instagram

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WHERE TO FIND JEN

Website

Instagram

Grab my free guide --- "10 Tips for Beginner Wildlife Photographers to Up Your Creativity & Confidence" and join the email list for upcoming podcasts

See what's in my camera bag here: https://jenlritchie.com/photographer/

Favorite Photography Items Mentioned by Podcast Guests

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Wildlife Conversations Podcast exists to share more voices in the genre and to build community outside of social media. Its goal is to be a space where creatives who are passionate about wildlife and nature photography can share their stories, wisdom, adventures, and tips in a fun, welcoming place.

| Wildlife Conversations Episode 14 with Syler Peralta-Ramos |

Loved having photographer and guide Syler Peralta-Ramos on for episode 14 of the podcast! A native of the Jackson, Wyoming, area, he grew up next to two of the most beautiful National Parks in the U.S. and now guides clients there and in Alaska with his company Pangea Expeditions. 

We discussed. . .

• His journey to photography and creativity from a young age, college, and then now

• The building of a guide company business and his heart for teaching and connecting clients with beauty and the natural world in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Alaska

• The need to have your work do more than make money, but also have a positive impact

• Some of his favorite images and experiences like one with the matriarch of the Tetons, Grizzly 399

• Ethics and competition in wildlife photography

• The concept of wildlife photography as art and the pursuit of creative processes

• Being grateful for moments in nature and enjoying the experience, which can free you up creatively

• Not expecting perfect shots all the time and high keeper rates - but embracing that there is room to learn, explore, and play 

• Submitted questions and the speed round 

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WHERE TO FIND SYLER 

Instagram: @sylerpr and @pangeaexpeditions

YouTube: Syler P.R.

Facebook: Syler Peralta-Ramos Images

Website: sylerpr.com or pangeaexpeditions.com

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WHERE TO FIND JEN

www.jenlritchie.com

Instagram

Grab my free guide --- "10 Tips for Beginner Wildlife Photographers to Up Your Creativity & Confidence" and join the email list for upcoming podcasts

See what's in my camera bag here: https://jenlritchie.com/photographer/

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Wildlife Conversations Podcast exists to share more voices in the genre and to build community outside of social media. Its goal is to be a space where creatives who are passionate about wildlife and nature photography can share their stories, wisdom, adventures, and tips in a fun, welcoming place.

Wildlife Conversations Episode 13 with Peter Ismert (@peterismert) Talks Africa, Alaska, and Maximizing your Travels for the Best Images

Whether it’s images close to home or those from Africa, Alaska, or Yellowstone, I have been an admirer of Peter’s work for some time now. His passion for wildlife photography and the effort he puts into his pursuits is evident, and his use of backlighting and low light is exceptional. 

On Episode 13, we get to hear about his recent travels to Kenya and Uganda to see gorillas, chimps, golden monkeys, and shoebill storks. Peter will share with us how he figures out where to go, the importance of guided vs. non-guided trips, gear to pack, etc. 

Peter shared tips for traveling to Africa and Alaska and the way he revisits places multiple times to improve his images and photography. 

Also, we will build on previous conversations on the podcast regarding the components of wildlife photography. If there are the 2 components (technical and creative), then maybe there is the third - the practicalities of travel and being in the field. How do we know where to go for certain species, how do we get there, weather, light, etc. And then once we are on the ground, what do we do?

Peter’s extensive travels and portfolio gave us a real glimpse into how to maximize our opportunities when researching and executing trips in wildlife photography. 

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WHERE TO FIND PETER

Instagram: @peterismert 

Bluesky

Facebook

Website

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WHERE TO FIND JEN

www.jenlritchie.com

Instagram

Grab my free guide --- "10 Tips for Beginner Wildlife Photographers to Up Your Creativity & Confidence" and join the email list for upcoming podcasts.

See what's in my camera bag here.

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Wildlife Conversations Podcast exists to share more voices in the genre and to build community outside of social media. Its goal is to be a space where creatives who are passionate about wildlife and nature photography can share their stories, wisdom, adventures, and tips in a fun, welcoming place. 

Thank you for listening!

Wildlife Conversations Episode 12 with Madi Clark (@embark.with.ember)

So fun to talk with Madi! Her adventure and outdoor lifestyle content captures those fleeting moments that others might miss, and she has a keen eye for transforming ordinary scenes into compelling visual stories.

You may also know Madi from her successful Instagram account @embark.with.ember, which  showcases her eye for subtle details and, of course, her adorable dog Ember!

Today Madi combines her photography with work as a content creator and marketing specialist for outdoor and lifestyle brands, where her photography plays a central role in creating authentic stories through social media and marketing campaigns.

IN THIS EPISODE we discussed . . .

- her journey to photography

- how her dog Ember led her into the content creator and mentor she is now

- her keen eye for visual storytelling

- 3 elements she uses for story telling

- some of her beautiful images and favorite moments

- creativity and entrepreneurship

- balancing professional pursuits and maintaining the love of photography

- how people can embrace their own photography style and brand and monetize their craft

- imposter syndrome and how to create what is authentic to your own creative voice 

- audience questions

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WHERE TO FIND MADI

Instagram

@embark.with.ember

@madikay.photography

You can DM her there for prints, collaborations, and one-on-one consulting. 

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RESOURCES*

Shimoda bag

Peak Design Capture Camera Clip

*Amazon Affiliate links

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WHERE TO FIND JEN

www.jenlritchie.com

Instagram

Grab my free guide --- "10 Tips for Beginner Wildlife Photographers to Up Your Creativity & Confidence" and join the email list for upcoming podcasts

See what's in my camera bag here.

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Wildlife Conversations Podcast exists to share more voices in the genre and to build community outside of social media. Its goal is to be a space where creatives who are passionate about wildlife and nature photography can share their stories, wisdom, adventures, and tips in a fun, welcoming place. 

Thank you for listening!

Wildlife Photographer Amy Harris, based in Colorado, joined me for Episdoe 11 of the Wildlife Conversations podcast, and we had a great discussion about her photography journey, risk, growth, gratitude, faith, and connection.

Yellowstone Photographer Julia Cook, or @julia.littlelightningnature, joins me for Episode 10 of Wildlife Conversations! 

Growing up in Cody, Wyoming, Julia developed a love for nature and wildlife at an early age, and it’s no surprise that Yellowstone National Park became her muse for wildlife photography. A recent University of Wyoming graduate, she now pursues outdoor photography full time and is often in the park with her lab, Sylvan.

Julia shared her experiences growing up less than an hour from Yellowstone and how that shaped her love of nature. During the pandemic, she picked up a camera and started capturing the diverse ecosystem of Yellowstone, especially her favorite species, the grizzly bear. 

We discussed tips for traveling to Yellowstone, her favorite lens for photographing there, how community is important for creative support, and ways to protect and encourage coexistence with wildlife in and around the parks. 

Julia also shared some of her travels with us to Colorado and Alaska, and we also got to see some of her beautiful images. 

I loved this discussion with Julia, and I can't wait to see what she does in the future!

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WHERE TO FIND JULIA

Instagram

Website

TikTok: @julia.littlelightning

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WHERE TO FIND ME

www.jenlritchie.com

Instagram

Join my email list for upcoming podcasts and check out my free guide --- 10 Tips for Beginner Wildlife Photographers to Up Your Creativity & Confidence

You can see my gear list here.

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Landscape and fine art photographer Kristen Ryan joined me for Episode 9 of Wildlife Conversations!

Kristen's InstagramWomen Capture MagicCapture Magic Retreats

Instagram

I was honored to have photographer David duChemin kick off 2025 in Episode 8 of Wildlife Conversations!

Recorded January 8, 2025

David is a photographer, writer, and adventurer based out of Vancouver Island, Canada. I first knew David by his humanitarian and travel photography, which led me to his books and podcast. 

More recently, he has turned his focus to the wilderness and wildlife photography. From Africa to British Columbia and everywhere in between, David’s images evoke emotion and wonder. He is the author of important books like Within the Frame, The Soul of the Camera, and The Heart of the Photograph, among others. 

In this episode David and I discussed his new book Light, Space, & Time: Essays on Camera Craft and Creativity. We chatted about how to give ourselves permission to create images that are truly our own.

We explored learning how the camera sees versus how the human eye sees. We also discussed how important it is to take risks and be curious in our photography in order to grow. 

David and I discussed the importance of finding your own voice and worth in this world of social media and how studying great photographers, exploring nature, finding things we are curious about, etc. is an alternative to scrolling and enriches our images. 

We also discussed the importance of the rough draft, of sketching our images, and how that creates images with impact and emotion. Plus so much more!

David also took time to answer participant’s questions live. It was such a rich discussion; I hope you enjoy it! 

WHERE TO FIND DAVID

Website: https://davidduchemin.com/

Sign up for his Craft & Vision Contact Sheet: https://www.mycontactsheet.com/

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

RESOURCES

Light, Space, and Time: Essays on Camera Craft and Creativity by David duChemin  https://amzn.to/4abY68n

An Immense World by Ed Yong  https://amzn.to/4j68QZT

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott https://amzn.to/4jnjZWv

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