Beyond The Lens

In this episode, I am joined by astrophotographer, Andrew McCarthy.

Andrew creates stunning images of the moon, sun, distant galaxies, the International Space Station moon and sun transits, and much more. Many of his photographs have gone viral and are instantly recognizable once you visit his website, Cosmic Background.

He has more than 600,000 followers on Instagram and he generously shares how he captures many of the images featured all across social media.

In this interview, Andrew describes his astrophotography techniques, the gear he uses, post processing software, and the many frustrations and joys of astrophotography. In vivid detail, he shares anecdotes from the field and why he thinks human beings are drawn to celestial bodies in the night sky. It's a masterclass on astrophotography!

Notable Links:

Cosmic Background (website)
Twitter/X
Instagram
Featured photograph: New Frontiers

This episode is brought to you by Lexar.

For more than 25 years, Lexar has been trusted as a leading global brand of memory solutions so they know first-hand 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.

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

I’ve been using the Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B GOLD memory cards with my Canon mirrorless cameras for years and they deliver the blazing speed and durability for the extreme weather conditions I encounter anywhere in the world.

To learn more about Lexar memory solutions, visit www.lexar.com.

Steven McCurry is an American photographer who has captured some of the world's most iconic photographs of the 20th and 21st centuries. From the war-ravaged landscapes of Afghanistan to the vibrant, colorful streets of India, his ability to capture the raw emotions and the spirit of humanity over the course of five decades has made his work both timeless and universally revered.

His most famous photograph, the haunting portrait of the 'Afghan Girl,' first graced the cover of National Geographic Magazine in June of 1985 and is considered one of the most recognized photographs of all time.

McCurry has photographed many assignments for National Geographic and has been a member of Magnum Photos since 1986

McCurry is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, the Magazine Photographer of the Year, awarded by the National Press Photographers Association, the Centenary Medal for Lifetime Achievement from the Royal Photographic Society in London, and induction into the International Photography Hall of Fame.

Notable Links:

Steve McCurry Website
Twitter/X
Instagram

This episode is brought to you by Lexar.

For more than 25 years, Lexar has been trusted as a leading global brand of memory solutions so they know first-hand 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.

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

I’ve been using the Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B GOLD memory cards with my Canon mirrorless cameras for years and they deliver the blazing speed and durability for the extreme weather conditions I encounter anywhere in the world.

To learn more about Lexar memory solutions, visit www.lexar.com.

Scott Kelby is the President and CEO of KelbyOne, the online educational community for photographers, Photoshop & Lightroom users. He’s a travel photographer, Editor and Publisher of Photoshop User Magazine, Conference Technical Chair for the Photoshop World Conference & Expo; host of the photography talk show “The Grid,” founder of the annual “Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk” and author of several bestselling photography, Lightroom and Photoshop books, which includes the best-selling The Travel Photography Book, which we discuss during this interview.

Topics Richard and Scott Discuss

• Did Aaron Rogers reimburse Scott for his broken monopod?
• Photographing pro football 
• Preparing for a travel photography gig
• Travel photography tips
• The war on tripods
• What makes a successful travel photo?
• iPhonography
• Apple and Samsung as photography innovators
• Scott’s Tech guru (Terry White)
• Adobe’s generative fill, Sensei, and Firefly
• AI and the future of photography
• Gratitude and living a good life

Notable Links:

Scott’s website: Scott Kelby’s Photoshop Insider

Workshops: Scott Kelby Workshops

Photography, Photoshop, and Lightroom Training: KelbyOne

Twitter: Scott Kelby

Instagram: Scott Kelby

Nevada Wier is an award-winning photographer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. USA, specializing in documenting the remote corners of the world, the people, and their cultures. She is especially recognized for her creative and intimate approach to people. She has been published in numerous national and international publications, including: National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, National Geographic Adventure, Geo, Islands, New York Times Magazine, Outside, and Smithsonian. Nevada’s work is represented by National Geographic Images and Getty. She is a Fellow of The Explorer’s Club and a member of the Women’s Geographic Society. She is the photographer for several books, including The Land of Nine Dragons - Vietnam Today, A Day in the Life of Thailand, Planet Vegas, and others. Nevada leads photography tours and workshops for National Geographic, The Santa Fe Workshops, and the Los Angeles Center of Photography.

Topics Richard and Nevada discuss:

• The advantages and disadvantages of being a self-taught photographer
• Nevada's biggest career roadblocks
• “Exoticism should not carry an image"
• Travel photography: How do you overcome being seduced by the novelty of a place?
• A love affair with travel
• Artistic problem solving
• How to approach strangers with a camera
• Why travel photography is one of the most difficult genres
• Overcoming travel fatigue
• The allure of infrared photography

And much more.

Notable Links:

Nevada Wier's website: Nevada Wier Photography
Instagram: Nevada Wier
Workshops: Nevada Wier Workshops
Invisible World Exhibition: Invisible World

This episode was brought to you by Luminar Neo. Luminar Neo helps photographers with everything needed to edit and process photos that look amazing on the screen and in print. Luminar Neo was designed for hobbyists and pros alike and includes the most effective AI-powered editing tools and extensions all in one intuitive and easy-to-use app.

You can use Luminar Neo as a standalone app on Windows and Mac computers or as a plugin for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop so you can keep your existing workflow while having access to powerful editing tools you just can’t find anywhere else.

Learn more about Luminar Neo and how it can help you improve your creativity in photo editing by visiting the SKYLUM WEBSITE.

Talor Stone is a photographer, conservationist, and PhD researcher who specializes in Earth's  Arctic regions. Her summers in Greenland have inspired academic research projects on topics such as globalization and indigenous identity, mass tourism and peripheral communities, and climate-induced human migration among Inuit populations.

in 2022, Talor partnered  with filmmaker Ashlei Payne to produce a documentary film about the modern changes of hunting culture in northern Greenland based on more than five years of her academic research.

Please support this important project by donating.

Topics Richard and Talor discuss:

• Talor's PhD studies on Greenland and the impacts of globalization on indigenous cultures
• Talor's first visit and first impressions of Greenland
• Landscape and cultural photography in the Arctic
• Indigenous cultures and modernity
• Film project: Hila Kihimi
• Living in the northernmost human settlement on Earth
• The hunting culture
• What is ethno nostalgia?
• Winter in northern Greenland

And much more.

Notable Links:

Website: Talor Stone Photography
Instagram: Talor Stone
Summer Film Trailer: Hila Kihimi
Support: Talor and Ashlei's Greenland Documentary Film

This episode is brought to you by Kase 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, with 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.

On this episode of Beyond The Lens, I'm sharing my recent experience in Borneo, Indonesia: the rainforest, the photographic challenges the rainforest creates, and the "persons of the forest," the orangutans.

I talk about the existential threats that orangutans face caused by deforestation and loss of habitat due to development and palm oil plantations.

You can help keep orangutans from extinction by buying products using environmentally sustainable palm oil with the RSPO label or donating to organizations like Save The Orangutan, whose mission is to save and protect the critically endangered orangutan and its last remaining habitats in Borneo and to raise national and international awareness of the severe deforestation threatening the orangutan's future existence.

I also answer a few of your questions submitted via social media, including how to sleep on a plane, the best settings for wildlife on my Canon R5, my most embarrassing moment as a photographer, and more.

Other Notable links:

Beyond The Lens: Episode 5 (Ask Me Anything V1)
Beyond The Lens: Episode 19 (Photography From the Bottom of the World)
Beyond The Lens: Episode 34 (Ian Plant and Rick Sammon - Thinking vs. Feeling Compositions)
WOAOW Sleep Mask
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow

This episode was brought to you by Luminar Neo. Luminar Neo helps photographers with everything needed to edit and process photos that look amazing on the screen and in print. Luminar Neo was designed for hobbyists and pros alike and includes the most effective AI-powered editing tools and extensions all in one intuitive and easy-to-use app.

You can use Luminar Neo as a standalone app on Windows and Mac computers or as a plugin for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop so you can keep your existing workflow while having access to powerful editing tools you just can’t find anywhere else.

Learn more about Luminar Neo and how it can help you improve your creativity in photo editing by visiting the SKYLUM WEBSITE.

Carlton Ward is a Florida conservation, wildlife, and nature photographer. His work is exhibited worldwide and featured in renowned publications such as National Geographic, Audubon, Smithsonian, Nature Conservancy, and more.

In partnership with the National Geographic Society, Carlton worked with scientists, conservationists, ranchers, veterinarians, and the local indigenous population to capture stunning images and videos of one of the most elusive animals on the planet, the Florida panther, showcased in the book and film documentary Path of the Panther. This project has been his primary focus since 2016, with support and grants from the National Geographic Society and other partners. Carlton and his team manage a network of professional photography and video camera traps throughout critical habitat of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Topics Richard and Carlton discuss:

• The genesis of Carlton's photography career
• Travels in Gabon, Africa
• The plight of the Florida panther and its endangered status
• What is the Florida Wildlife Corridor?
• Why should the world care about the Florida panther?
• Path of the Panther: the book and documentary film
• Camera Traps: what are they and how are they used?
• A once-in-a-lifetime encounter
• Chasing ghosts: the ghost orchid

Links:

Carlton Ward's Website, Twitter, and Instagram
Path of the Panther: book and documentary
Wild Path
Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation

***

This episode is brought to you by Kase 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, with 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.

Daniel Sackheim is an American filmmaker and Emmy-Award winning director and producer of shows like Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, X-Files, NYPD Blue, Ozark, Better Call Saul, Law and Order, and many more. Daniel is also the co-founder of Bedrock Entertainment, a producer of premium television content for the global marketplace across network, cable and streaming platforms.

As a noir street photographer, he uses the creative talents he displayed on the sets of Hollywood’s biggest shows and applies them to still photography with his Leica camera. 

Topics Daniel and Richard discuss:

• His father’s influence as a screenwriter 
• Daniel’s big Hollywood break
• Working as a music supervisor on Miami Vice
• The powerful role of music in film and television
• The roles of Producer vs. Director 
• Rediscovering photography 
• What is film noir?
• What makes a good photo?
• How film directing skills translate into photography 
• Finding your artistic style
• What is Artistic Intention?

Find Daniel Sackheim at:

Website: www.danielsackheim.com

Twitter: @DanSackheim

Instagram: @daniel.sackheim


Unseen photography exhibition: www.all-about-photo.com/online-gallery/solo-exhibition/65/unseen-by-daniel-sackheim

***

This episode is also brought to you by Kase 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, with 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.

Art Wolfe is a legendary American wildlife, landscape, and cultural photographer, as well as explorer and conservationist. His career spans more than five decades and he shows no sign of slowing down! Art is a Canon Explorer of Light, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, and the creator of more than 100 books. He was the host of the popular TV series on PBS, Art Wolfe’s Travels To The Edge.

Many of his photographs are classics and two in particular are featured on US postage stamps. Art will be releasing a new book this Fall called Wild Lives, documenting animals’ relationship with humanity.

 The topics Richard and Art cover:

• Himalayan hikes.
• Don’t let technology get in the way of your vision.
• Creating for yourself and surprising your audience.
• Pre-visualization and spontaneity. 
• Abstract expressionism. 
• Why you should broaden your perspective.
• How classic artists have influenced Art’s vision and photography.
• Digital Illustrations: success and controversy.
• Technology in photography - where are we heading?
• Re-editing Art’s classic photography with new processing tools.
• A close call during an encounter with two rhinos.
• 100+ books - but who’s counting?

All this and more!

Find Art Wolfe at:

Website

Twitter

Instagram 

***

This episode was brought to you by Luminar Neo. Luminar Neo helps photographers with everything needed to edit and process photos that look amazing on the screen and in print. Luminar Neo was designed for hobbyists and pros alike and includes the most effective AI-powered editing tools and extensions all in one intuitive and easy-to-use app.

 You can use Luminar Neo as a standalone app on Windows and Mac computers or as a plugin for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop so you can keep your existing workflow while having access to powerful editing tools you just can’t find anywhere else.

 Learn more about Luminar Neo and how it can help you improve your creativity in photo editing by visiting the Skylum website.

Ian Plant is a world-renowned wildlife and landscape photographer and founder of Photo Masters. Rick Sammon was the first-ever guest on Beyond the Lens! Known by some as “The Godfather of Photography”, he is on a mission to make digital photography fun, creative, exciting, and rewarding for others. Rick is also a best-selling author and talented musician.

In this episode, Richard, Ian, and Rick reminisce on dramatic expeditions together and dig deep into their photographic philosophies. Are they thinkers or feelers? How did they get to the master level they are now? The topics they cover are:

Ian

• Richard’s unfortunate Morocco experience
• Being a wide-angled addict
• Shooting with drones
• Applying street photography to the wild
• What is Visual Flow? 
• ‘The subject is not your subject’ 
• How a photograph tells a story 

Rick

• Shooting with an iPhone 14Pro in Morocco 
• Moving from Canon to Sony cameras
• Photography, jazz improvisation, and the importance of expression
• The importance of your relationship with your subject and the environment your subject is in
• The power of a still image over a video

Photo Masters: www.photomasters.com

Ian’s Website: www.ianplant.com  /  Twitter: @ianplantphoto  /  Insta: @ianplantphoto

Rick’s Website: ricksammon.com  /  Twitter: @ricksammon  /  Insta: @ricksammonphotography


***

This episode is also brought to you by Kase 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, with 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.