About this episode
Summary In this episode, hosts Mark Raycroft and Jason Loftus interview Deirdre Rosenberg, a conservation photographer who shares her love for nature and photography. Growing up in northern Minnesota, surrounded by wilderness and adventure, her passion for photography started at a young age. Deirdre's photography journey began in action sports photography. Still, it shifted to her calling: wildlife and nature conservation photography and type-2 fun, which is the joy and fulfillment of challenging experiences. Deirdre deeply appreciates the little things in nature, like pikas, and encourages others to slow down and observe the beauty around them. In this conversation, Deirdre Rosenberg shares her passion for wildlife photography and her love for capturing images of the American pika. She discusses the behavior and habitat of pikas and provides tips for photographing them. Deirdre also talks about her conservation efforts and raising funds efforts for land and wildlife conservation. She shares her experiences on backcountry trips and the importance of being immersed in the wilderness. Takeaways Deirdre grew up in northern Minnesota, surrounded by wilderness and adventure. Her passion for photography started at a young age, influenced by her father who was a professional photographer. Deirdre's photography journey began with action sports photography but eventually shifted towards wildlife and nature. She emphasizes the importance of type 2 fun, finding joy and fulfillment in challenging experiences. Deirdre has a deep appreciation for the little things in nature, like pikas, and encourages others to slow down and observe the beauty around them. Pikas are small mammals that live in alpine environments and have unique behaviors that make them interesting subjects for wildlife photography. Conservation efforts can take many forms, including packing out trash and raising funds for land and wildlife conservation. Backcountry trips provide opportunities for unique wildlife encounters and allow photographers to capture honest and authentic images. Cold Case Gear is a product developed by Deirdre and her husband to keep camera batteries warm in cold temperatures, ensuring longer battery life during outdoor photography expeditions. Sound Bites "Type two fun is the worst time. It's when you go out and you just have a big suffer fast." "I just want to live and I just want to do what I want to do. And I don't want people to control what I'm doing because of financial reasons or because of this or that." "If you just slow down just for a second, it's amazing what can happen." "Cool. Well, that's your biology moment." "So many people get really hung up on how do I be a conservation photographer? What does that mean? Like, what does that look like? And it doesn't mean that you have to like be published by these huge outlets. It doesn't mean that you have to have these giant projects. It doesn't mean you have to go on expeditions or travel around, but there are so many ways to help conservation efforts to help local conservation efforts." "90% of my photos are created on expeditions. I don't, I sometimes I'll post a photo and be like, Oh, like everyone's gonna hate this because the light's not right, but the light's not right because the light wasn't right. And I was on an expedition and that's reality sometimes." Chapters 01:00 Deirdre's Background 10:08 Discovering the Passion for Photography 16:08 Embracing Type 2 Fun and Living Life to the Fullest 22:47 Appreciating the Little Things in Nature 25:17 The Fascinating World of Pikas 32:24 Pika Behavior and Adaptations 35:05 The Charm of the American Pika 37:42 Making a Difference Through Conservation Photography 53:35 Expeditions and Backcountry Photography 01:04:01 Keeping Camera Batteries Warm with Cold Case Gear Links and More Web: www.deirdredenaliphotography.com Instagram: @deirdredenaliphotography 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. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing enjoyment! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.