Episode 105

Ron Hayes, Mark Raycroft, and Jason catch up after recent field trips and trade stories from the Great Bear Rainforest and elk rut. The conversation mixes wildlife photography lessons, travel mishaps, and practical field advice, with a strong focus on staying safe, staying dry, and making the most of unpredictable conditions. We discuss the realities of photographing in wet, remote, and high-pressure wildlife settings, from border crossings and gear choices to bear, elk, and caribou encounters. We also share a few memorable near-misses, some hard-earned travel tips, and a lot of appreciation for how these trips reset your head. 00:00 - Reeling from recent field trips and catching up after time apart 02:20 - Upload issues, remote recording, and swapping image stories 03:28 - Jason’s rough drive home and the safety problem of fatigue 04:38 - Border crossing trouble and a half-hour vehicle search 06:25 - First close elk charge and the lesson about distance 08:39 - How the elk encounter unfolded in slow motion 10:12 - Mark’s field-safety read on animal behavior and evasive awareness 12:15 - Switching to the Great Bear Rainforest and rain gear failures 14:19 - Just how wet the rainforest really was 15:18 - The Great Bear Rainforest as a living ecology classroom 17:35 - Maggots, carcasses, nutrient cycling, and forest regeneration 18:55 - Why waterproof bags and batteries need better protection 20:37 - Drying out wet camera lenses with rice and a ziplock bag 22:09 - A strange sound in the alders on the caribou hike 24:50 - Travel tip: never set gear down and walk away 27:37 - Jason’s elk-country packing lesson and overloading the car 32:10 - Handheld bear-fishing video and stabilizing with body position 35:30 - Why the 100 to 300 mm lens became the hero lens 36:37 - Controlling breathing for video and audio while filming 39:07 - ISO choices in the rainforest and what software changes now allow 43:22 - Trying intentional motion blur on birds in flight 48:42 - Weather, fog, and nearly getting turned around at Prince Rupert 51:05 - A wolf running the runway and how wild it gets near town 54:12 - Upcoming travel, more trips, and the mental reset of the field 58:24 - Ron’s move to northwestern Wyoming and closer access to Yellowstone 60:07 - New grandbaby Callum and family updates 61:00 - Halloween episode ideas and spooky stories to save for later 62:17 - Gary Kramer’s new bird migration book and an upcoming episode 66:21 - Closing thanks, sponsor shoutouts, and what is coming next Links Pictureline: https://www.pictureline.com Canon USA: https://www.usa.canon.com Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.