Beyond The Lens with Richard Bernabe

Photographer Ami Vitale: National Geographic Explorer at Large on Przewalski's Horses, Jane Goodall's Legacy, and Finding Hope in the Face of Extinction.
Ami Vitale is a National Geographic photographer, documentary filmmaker, writer, and a newly-named national Geographic Explorer at Large who has traveled to more than 100 countries. She began her career as a photo editor for the Associated Press before becoming a contract photographer with National Geographic. A six-time World Press Photo award winner, she has also received the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting, the Lucie Humanitarian Award, and was named Magazine Photographer of the Year at the International Photographer of the Year awards. She is a Nikon Ambassador, a Royal Photographic Society Honorary Fellow, the author of the bestselling book Panda Love, and the founder and Executive Director of Vital Impacts, a nonprofit that has raised millions of dollars to support conservation projects worldwide. She is based in Montana.

Notable Links:

Ami Vitale Website
 Ami Vitale Instagram
 Vital Impacts 
 Przewalski’s Horses Story for Nat Geo
Jane Goodall Institute
 Roots and Shoots
 BioRescue Project
 Beyond The Lens Interview with Ami Vitale, Episode 53, January 10, 2024 on Apple Podcasts
*****
This episode is brought to you by:
National Geographic Museum of Exploration - Discovery begins here.
Muench Workshops - Photography workshops and expeditions to the coolest places on the planet.
Luminar Neo - Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.
Kase Filters - My listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10 
Follow Richard Bernabe:
Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Babak Tafreshi, National Geographic Photographer on Solar Eclipses on All Seven Continents, Art of the Night Sky, and a World United Under One Roof. 
Babak Tafreshi is a National Geographic photographer, science communicator, and founder of The World at Night, an international project dedicated to documenting and protecting the night sky. 
In this episode, Babak shares what it was like growing up in post-revolution Iran and how a feeling of isolation drove him toward the stars. We talk about the four elements of a great photograph and which two most photographers consistently get wrong, the meticulous planning behind a single night sky image, and why light pollution is far more than an inconvenience for photographers. It's a public health crisis and an ecological emergency. We also get into the alarming and largely unregulated rise of commercial satellite constellations and what they mean for the future of the night sky as a shared human heritage.
Notable Links:

Babak Tafreshi Website
Babak Tafreshi Instagram
The World at Night
National Geographic
*****
This episode is brought to you by:
•  National Geographic Museum of Exploration - Discovery begins here.
•  Luminar Neo - Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.
•  Kase Filters - My listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10
Follow Richard Bernabe:
Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Travel, Landscape, and Bird Photography with Deborah Sandidge.
Deborah Sandidge is an American Travel, Landscape, and Wildlife Photographer, a Nikon USA Ambassador, and KelbyOne Instructor. Deborah is the author of Digital Infrared Photography and has collaborated with the Nikon Learn and Explore site demonstrating star and star trail photography, along with long exposure photography.
In this episode, Deborah and Richard explore the creative tension between still photography and video, how to find emotional resonance in birds as a photography subject, why technical mastery is the price of admission for genuine creative freedom, and what does it take to be a professional photographer in 2026. Deborah also shares how she reads animal behavior to anticipate moments before they happen and what it really takes to become a brand ambassador.
Notable Links:
Deborah Sandidge Website
Deborah Sandidge Instagram
*****
This episode is brought to you by Luminar Neo, an AI powered photo editor.
Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.
*****
This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.
And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.
Follow Richard Bernabe:
Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

Extreme time-lapse photography with Louie Schwartzberg.
Louie Schwartzberg is a filmmaker who has spent more than four decades revealing the hidden beauty of the world around us. A pioneer in time-lapse, macro, and high-speed cinematography, his work has appeared in National Geographic, Netflix, and DisneyNature films and series including Fantastic Fungi, Moving Art, and Wings of Life, helping millions see nature and time itself in an entirely new way.
In this episode, we explore:
• How Louie pioneered modern time-lapse cinematography
• Why awe and gratitude can reshape your outlook on life
• The hidden intelligence and interconnectedness of nature
• Creativity, patience, and storytelling through film
• How slowing down helps us see what matters most
Notable Links:
Moving Art Platform
'Gratitude Revealed' on Amazon
*****
This episode is brought to you by Luminar Neo, an AI powered photo editor.
Try Luminar Neo today at skylum.com, and use promo code "RICHARD" for a 15% discount, just for my listeners.
*****
This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I’ve tried all of them, but in recent years I’ve landed on Kase Filters.

Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.
And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10

Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Follow Richard Bernabe:
Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto

What happens when you walk away from the life you’re supposed to live and follow your curiosity and sense of adventure instead?
In this episode, I sit down with Leoni Kolberg, better known as LaserLeo the Cyclonaut, who has spent the past several years living on a bicycle, cycling across continents, sleeping in a tent, and navigating the world, and her inner landscape, one mile at a time.
This isn’t just a story about adventure. It’s about choosing uncertainty over comfort, learning resilience through hardship, and discovering what really matters when you strip life down to the essentials.
We talk about cycling solo across continents, the mental and physical challenges of life on the road, moments of fear and triumph, and why freedom is often harder than the safe, predictable path that society demands.
In this episode, we explore:
• Why Leoni walked away from a conventional future to live on the road
• The mental toughness built through solitude and uncertainty
• Fear, resilience, and learning to trust yourself
• The people and moments that changed her along the way
• Why adventure is often an inner journey as much as an outer one
This is a conversation about curiosity, courage, and what happens when you stop living by default and start living by design.
Notable Links:

Leoni's Instagram
Leoni's Polarsteps
Leoni's bike: Tout Terrain
*****
If you’re looking for that next-level boost to your creativity and photography skills, you’ve got to check out my Beyond The Lens Newsletter on Substack.
 It’s like having a backstage pass to everything I explore with my guests here on the podcast - delivered straight to your email inbox.
Think practical photography tips, mind-expanding ideas for personal vision, and real-world tactics to level up your craft. Plus I’m sharing my thoughts on travel, conservation, creativity and more.
It’s straight to the point, super actionable, and it shows you how to see the world in an entirely new way. 
So if that sounds like your vibe, head on over to beyondthelens.fm/go and prepare to take your creative game to new heights. 

Follow Richard Bernabe:
Substack: https://richardbernabe.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernabephoto/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/bernabephoto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernabephoto