Beyond the Wild

Gary Kramer, an accomplished wildlife biologist, photographer, and writer, who has captured the largest collection of waterfowl images, joins Ron Hayes and Mark Raycroft to discuss his new book, Waterfowl of the World. This 540-page book has close to 1,300 amazing waterfowl images. Gary shares the inspiration behind his project and the challenges he faced in photographing every species of waterfowl on the planet. They discuss the unique behaviors and adaptations of different waterfowl species, as well as the difficulty and patience required to capture the perfect shot. The conversation also touches on the diversity of locations Gary visited and the impact of his project on taxidermists and bird photographers. In this conversation, Gary Kramer discusses his experiences photographing birds around the world and shares stories of his trips where he encountered diverse bird species and had the opportunity to get up close and observe each species’ unique behavior and characteristics.

Takeaways

Photographing every species of waterfowl on the planet is a challenging and time-consuming project that requires a deep understanding of waterfowl biology, photography skills, and planning.

Different waterfowl species have unique behaviors and adaptations to their environments, which makes capturing their images even more fascinating.

The project took Gary Kramer to diverse locations around the world, from remote islands to bustling cities, and each location presented its own set of challenges and opportunities.

The book created from this project serves as a valuable reference tool for waterfowl biology and a training resource for bird photographers and taxidermists.

The success rate for capturing quality images is relatively low, with only a small percentage of the photos taken making it into the final selection. Advancements in digital photography and the internet have made it easier for photographers to capture high-quality images and connect with people around the world.

Being technologically ready is crucial for taking on big photography projects, as it allows photographers to push the boundaries and capture images in challenging conditions.

Leading wildlife photography trips is a fulfilling way for photographers to share their passion and help others improve their skills.

Gary Kramer is currently working on a new book titled 'Highways in the Sky: The North American Flyways,' which will focus on the major breeding, migration, and wintering areas for waterfowl in North America.

Sound Bites

"I've been doing it for 40 years. You just were here for 10 minutes of it"

"I spent what amounted to 10 hours, six days a week, for less than five minutes of photography"

"I can qualify as a scientist and a journalist."

"The birds were super good."

"Digital photography is what made this possible."

Chapters

01:00 Introduction and Welcome

03:57 Inspiration and Challenges of the Waterfowl Project

12:46 Behaviors and Adaptations of Waterfowl Species

20:04 Diverse Locations Explored

26:16 The Book as a Valuable Reference Tool

35:08 The Challenges and Rewards of Bird Photography

43:38 Qualifying as a Scientist and a Journalist

44:05 Encountering Diverse Bird Species in Iceland and Punta Arenas

45:31 The Role of Technology in Wildlife Photography

47:17 Leading Wildlife Photography Trips

50:26 The Art of Self-Publishing

53:55 Gary Kramer's Current Work: Leading Wildlife Photography Trips

55:30 The Mountain Gorilla Experience and Other Trips

58:22 The Importance of Being Technologically Ready

01:00:13 Supporting Artists by Ordering Directly from Their Websites

01:02:39 Reproductions and Pricing of Books

01:06:25 Gary Kramer's Upcoming Book: 'Highways in the Sky: The North American Flyways'

Links

Waterfowl of the World Book Orders
www.garykramer.net

More of Gary Kramer’s work
@gary_kramer_photography

Thanks for listening to another episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast. To see more of our show and to watch the hosts, as well as the photos and videos that they discuss, tune into their Beyond the Wild Podcast YouTube channel.

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Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.