Capturing the World on Camera

Steve Brandon

Wildlife photographer Steve Brandon has built an impressive resume over the past 25 years. Joined by his wife, Patsy, he has traveled to the farthest reaches of the wilderness on all seven continents to get a close view of its creatures. More than just capturing stunning shots, Brandon’s career means enjoying nature and sharing it with those he loves.

How long have you been a photographer? What inspired you to start?

My first experience with nature photography was a trip the length of the Amazon River in 2000. My grandmother and uncle were professional studio photographers for 75 years, so I grew up around photography.

What sparked your interest in travel photography?

I wanted to photograph more exotic wildlife, so travel was a necessary part of getting to the animals.

What are your top places you’ve traveled to?

First would be the Okavango Delta of Botswana. It’s the wildest place on earth, with unbelievable numbers of wildlife. No cross-country electric, fencing, paved roads, or permanent structures allowed. Next would be the Pantanal area of Brazil, the world’s largest wetland, where the most jaguars can be photographed of anywhere in the Americas. There are 1,154 species of birds in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and 656 just in the Pantanal.

How do you decide where to travel to next?

My wife reads adventure travel brochures and books and then asks me, “Want to go to ___ and photograph ___?”

Is there a photo you are most proud of?

The elephant with Kilimanjaro in the background. It took me four days to get the light, the clouds, and the elephant in the correct position to get the shot.

Are there any memorable stories from your travels you can share?

Being a 4 million miler, I’ve experienced pretty much everything one can experience in commercial travel. We have always been conservative and safe with our adventures by hiring the most competent guides and doing what they say. For the past three years, we’ve taken our five grandchildren, now ages 12-18, to Kenya, the Galápagos Islands, and the Pantanal with us, and we’ve even become safer in our planning.

What do you love most about travel photography?

Being in nature and seeing wildlife in their habitat.

Emily Lester

Emily Lester’s love for landscape photography has taken her around the world. While she has traveled to Central America and across Europe, many of her adventures take place closer to home – Emily has visited 45 of the United States’ national parks, with the goal of visiting all 63. No matter where she goes, Emily says every place teaches her something new.

What sparked your interest in travel photography?

My love for photography and my obsession with exploring new places have always gone hand in hand, but it was the national parks that truly shaped my journey. Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time, watching the geysers erupt in Yellowstone, or hiking through the misty forests of Olympic National Park – each place felt like a story waiting to be told. And I wanted to be the one to tell it.

What are your favorite things to photograph when traveling?

There’s something magical about the way the world wakes up and winds down. Sunrise and sunset aren’t just times of day to me – they’re moments of transformation, when the sky puts on its most breathtaking show, and the landscape is bathed in a light that feels almost other-worldly … The colors, the clouds, the way the light interacts with the land – it’s always different, always fleeting, always worth capturing.

Is there a photo you are most proud of?

There’s a series of photos that stands out to me, not just because of the images themselves, but because of the journey it took to capture them. I climbed for two miles in snowshoes, pushing myself up the steep, snow-covered slopes of Tumalo Mountain in Oregon. The climb was grueling, but when I reached the summit, high above the trees, the reward was worth every ounce of effort. The sunset painted the snow-covered mountains in a soft glow, and I was there, in that moment, to capture it.

What do you love most about travel photography?

For me, travel photography is about more than just capturing beautiful places – it’s about capturing feelings. The thrill of watching the first light touch a mountain peak, the quiet magic of a deserted beach at sunset, the wildlife stirring at sunrise and sunset, the sense of freedom on an open road – these are the moments that make me reach for my camera.

Donna Bourdon

Fueled by a lifelong love for the craft, Donna Bourdon took the leap from healthcare executive to professional photographer in 2020. Since then, she has received critical acclaim for her work and led workshops all around the world to help clients capture “once-in-a-lifetime moments.”

What sparked your interest in travel photography?

My father was a military officer and he was stationed in Germany when I was a young child. I loved living abroad, and I never forgot the experience. From that time forward I was forever bitten by the travel bug. I was also inspired by watching every episode of Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom” and reading every issue of National Geographic from cover to cover. I showed an interest in photography early on, and my parents nurtured it and indulged it. That early interest turned into a lifetime passion that has now evolved into a professional career.

What are your favorite things to photograph when traveling?

My primary interest is all wildlife including mammals and birds. I especially love to photograph cheetahs. They are the fastest land animal, and they are poetry in motion when they hunt.

Is there a photo you are most proud of?

I am very proud of a recent image of an epic wildebeest crossing at the Mara River in Kenya. This year I was awarded second place in the Mammal Category of the National Wildlife Federation Photography Contest for this image. I have been photographing the Great Migration for 20 plus years, but this particular year was the largest crossing I have ever witnessed. There were thousands of wildebeest and zebra moving along the rim of the cliff at the river’s edge. They were all waiting for the first wildebeest to make the decision to jump. Once the first one goes, the entire herd pushes forward and there is no stopping it. Once in the water, the wildebeest must swim through a gauntlet of crocodiles lying in wait … My image captured just the moment when the wildebeest were packed in tightly and intent on climbing out of the water. Every face was looking towards the path, with the exception of one. That one was looking right at me, as if contemplating his fate.

What are your top places you’ve traveled to?

Anywhere in Africa and the Falkland Islands are my top places to visit. The places are wild, and wildlife is endless. It is always an adventure, and no day is the same.

Ryan Dugger

Whether for work or play, Ryan Dugger has explored across the country and around the world with a camera in hand. For Dugger, photography is a form of artistic expression, and when it comes to travel, the challenge of trekking to remote places and experimenting with new angles is half the fun.

What sparked your interest in travel photography?

I founded Creative Revolver, a real estate photography company, in 2014, and developed a passion for landscapes and architecture. This led to a desire to travel and see the different terrains and structures all over the world. I love to travel and see different places and experience different cultures. I think traveling helps shape the way you see people who are different than you and creates empathy.

Are there any memorable stories from your travels you can share?

I found a photo on Instagram that I wanted to recreate my own version of with my wife while we were in Ireland. We read that it was a quick, short hike up the mountain but the directions were very hard to follow. We tried to find the spot but we were so far out with no food and very little water when we realized that we hiked up the wrong mountain. When we got to the top, we could see the location across from us that would’ve been another three hours of hiking. We ended up shooting our own thing in a really beautiful spot and had a good laugh while the sheep roamed around us.

What do you love most about travel photography?

I love the unexpected places and people that cross my path. I also love going to locations I’ve never been and experiencing locations in person that I’ve only seen on a screen. I really love when my work can inspire someone else to get out there and explore for themselves.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to get into travel photography?

Keep your gear simple and lightweight so you can be flexible and ready to capture spontaneous moments. It’s easy to take so much gear that it weighs you down while traveling, and you’ll end up missing the shot. Sometimes the best shots happen when you least expect them and you need to be quick and ready.