Thousand Words - Photo Stories from the Field

I had a great visit with filmmaker, conservationist and friend, Tom Opre about his upcoming film, Killing the Shepherd. Tom is the founder of The Shepherds of Wildlife Society, which according to it's website, is a collective of world-renowned wildlife filmmakers, photographers, sportsmen and women, and conservationists who possess the talent, knowledge and experience to uniquely communicate the impact humanity has on animals and wildlife habitats. They are storytellers on a mission to educate others about the pressing need for modern wildlife conservation measures. Western society's disconnect with nature has resulted in a limited understanding of how human encroachment is destroying wild places and the creatures who live in them. The film is a great story of wildlife and it's relationship to the restoration of humanity in Zambia. Here's the synopsis from the web release: A remote community in Africa, led by a woman chief, attempts to break the stranglehold of absolute poverty by waging a war on wildlife poaching. For decades illegal wildlife poaching by both subsistence and bush meat gangs has led to the government declaring this community's homeland “depleted” of wildlife. The chief finds help in the form of a safari operator and they work together to bring stability to the community. But all was not well. Disease, food stability, and rampant alcoholism hamper basic needs like health care and education. Even young girls, just after reaching puberty, are sold by their parents as child brides in order to feed their family for one year. Dark forces including South African land speculators, criminal poaching gangs, and her own people conspire against the chief. Even elements from the modern world work against the chief's wishes.      Will the chief and her community see success? Here's the trailer: https://vimeo.com/473140879   Be sure to follow the work of Shepherds of Wildlife Society: https://www.shepherdsofwildlife.org https://www.facebook.com/shepherdsofwildlifesociety/ https://twitter.com/wildshepherds https://www.instagram.com/shepherdsofwildlife/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oozI2LsGaWs As well as Tom's work: https://www.instagram.com/tomopreofficial    

This week I had a great visit with another former student who is doing amazing things. Hayes Scriven has followed his career path through the historical society genre, but four years ago took his dream job in the dream location, Splitrock Lighthouse on Minnesota's north shore of Lake Superior. In the past year, Hayes has rediscovered his love for photography and being in a special place, he's had quite the canvas to work from.  We talk about the lighthouse and an amazing northern lights display from a few weeks back.

In this episode, I had a great (two part, lightning interrupted) visit with one of the most talented photographers and storytellers in the world, Adam Bannister. Adam runs the photography studio at Angama Mara (www.angama.com), one of the most incredible safari lodges in the world sitting on the rim of the Great Rift Valley overlooking the Maasai Mara in Kenya. I had the chance to work alongside Adam and his team in 2019 with GRITMEDIA, experiencing all the Mara has to offer under the guiding of Adam and his staff. In this episode we talk about literally having the key to the Maasai Mara during the COVID lockdown, watching the ecosystem evolve, understanding animal behavior and photo tips on how to best capture them while on safari. We also discuss The Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year Contest (https://thegreatestmaasaimara.com) which Adam has been instrumental in organizing the past four years. This episode is a real treat and shows off some mind-blowing photos that Adam has been able to capture throughout his experience on the Mara. Check out Adam's work on Instagram: @Adam_Bannister_Wildlife

In this episode, I visit with Harrison Barden, Live Content Creator for Major League Baseball and sports shooter for USA Today. We talk about all things sports photography related as well as Harrison's unique and artistic photography style which somewhat separates him from traditional sports imagery.

In this episode I explain my faux pas with last week's episode, talk Canon EOS R5 and R6, Rode Wireless Go audio and being charged by a rhino on assignment in Africa. We'll check out some rhinoceros photos from before the charge in Namibia. I also tease upcoming shows with Harrison Barden and Adam Bannister in coming weeks.

This week I had a great visit with one of the legends in photography, Mitch Kezar. Mitch has been making powerful images for more than 50 years and has seen the industry change immensely over that time. And he has stayed at the forefront as the photography business has evolved, always on the cusp of technology advances. In this episode, he shows off one of his first large format Polaroid cameras and we discuss one of the more powerful, heavy images you'll ever see. He captured it one night was chasing news in Montgomery, AL in the early 1970's which was a very racially charged, contentious time. Unfortunately very similar to today's society. We also visit about an image that any waterfowler can relate with. And this spurred discussion about how his move in the 1980's to freelancing allowed the perfect confluence of his life's passions...storytelling and the outdoors.

This week it's a great visit with my good friend, Lake Pickle of Primos Hunting. Lake is living his life's dream on the staff of Primos where he films and helps produce all the media content for the legendary Primos Hunting team. Lake grew up in the outdoors, but his career direction was cemented by a friend from church named Keith Polk that got him on his first turkey...and the rest is history. Twelve years to the day, Lake filmed Kevin's son taking his first turkey.  We also talk about the hunting industry and what it's been like to shoot for Will Primos and the legendary content they've produced for years. 

In part 2 with Yasmin Tajik we again cover wide ranging topics, but at their core, it is who she is. She is compassionate for humanity and driven to inspire people through her photography. We chat about the wild mustangs outside of Phoenix and how this evolved into a partnership with the American Wild Horse Campaign. And several years ago, Yasmin bought a drone (although it stayed in the box for quite a while). Now she's involved on the leadership team with Women Who Drone encouraging women and young girls to get into the wonderful world of drones. Only 6% of FAA Part 107 licensed drone operators are female and Women Who Drone is building those numbers with great advocacy. "It is my goal to inspire compassion and a connection between the viewer of the image and the subject. By finding our commonalities, played out in different countries, climates and clothes, it brings us closer together, creating an understanding that we all want the same things in life, food on our table, a roof over our heads, good health, to love and be loved." Yasmin partners with S.A.F.E. Kenya, American Wild Horse Campaign, and The Great Plains Foundation through prints sales from her Fine Art Print site. Check out all of Yasmin's work Website: www.yasmintajik.com Fine Art Prints: www.yasmintajikprints.com Instagram: @ytajik Fine Art Instagram: @yasmintajikfineart Shalimar Studios Website: www.shalimarstudios.com

Check out the images on my BLOG. It was such a great opportunity to reconnect with Yasmin Tajik on this episode. Yasmin has had a life filled with amazing adventures traveling the world since she was a young girl. Her photography journey started to take professional shape as she worked in Las Vegas in the lobster...yes, I said LOBSTER industry. She's had a passion for animals of all kinds which has infused it's way into her work. But most importantly, after a conversation with her mom a number of years back, she felt the calling to pursue a more humanitarian approach to her work. That conversation has spurred an impactful jump in her career to share the stories of disadvantaged people around the world partnering with organizations fighting sex-trafficking, girls and women’s rights and education, and animal poaching. "It is my goal to inspire compassion and a connection between the viewer of the image and the subject. By finding our commonalities, played out in different countries, climates and clothes, it brings us closer together, creating an understanding that we all want the same things in life, food on our table, a roof over our heads, good health, to love and be loved." She now partners with S.A.F.E. Kenya, American Wild Horse Campaign, and The Great Plains Foundation specifically through prints sales from her Fine Art Print site. This is the first of two episodes with Yasmin as we just had too much good stuff to chat about to jam into one long episode. Check out all of Yasmin's work Website: www.yasmintajik.com Fine Art Prints: www.yasmintajikprints.com Instagram: @ytajik Fine Art Instagram: @yasmintajikfineart Shalimar Studios Website: www.shalimarstudios.com

Matt is joined by Jamie Hiner of Jamie Hiner Creations. One of Matt's former students and basketball players, Jamie has traveled the world and established himself as a producer of some serious media content. His Instagram following has quickly grown to over 24,000 followers which is evidence of his captivating imagery. Matt and Jamie talk Minnesota State Fair, speeding on the Maasai Mara and airplane fireworks...all with a slow shutter speed.

Matt Addington is joined by guest, Joel Nelson to talk farming, creeks vs cricks, 1lb bluegills and pretty sunsets. Joel's photo stories feature a classic of his grandpa and a beautiful panfish close to home. Matt talks about a harrowing fly-in trip in Canada and how the northern lights threw him for a loop. Joel is an established outdoorsman who has spent his life afield chasing game and fishing about everything with a tail and a dorsal fin. He now represents many brands in the outdoors space, writes for wide-ranging publications and speaks at events around the country. https://www.mattaddington.com/blog/2020/12/22/hands-like-2x10s-joel-nelson-outdoors/

This is the first of what I hope will be many awesome stories told here with some of the best photographers out there. I’ve got a lineup committed to getting together to tell the story of some of their best work. So stay tuned and thanks for checking out, Thousand Words.