New Big 5

Will Burrard-Lucas is a British wildlife photographer, known for inventive camera techniques. He’s the founder of Camtraptions, a company specialising in creative technology and photographic contraptions, including the Beetlecam. He recently published his book, Land Of Giants, about the big tuskers of Tsavo in Kenya. In this podcast, we talk about spending time with giant tuskers and Ethiopian wolves, his childhood in Tanzania, his camera inventions, including his BeetleCam, and the need to innovate to stand out from the crowd, as well as losing his equipment to curious lions.

Steve Winter is an American photographer who has photographed wildlife from Cuba to Russia, his work appearing in National Geographic, Time, GEO and more. He was the 2008 Wildlife Photographer of the Year and is also a World Press Photo award winner. He’s photographed all kinds of animals but it’s his work on big cats he’s most famous for, many of which he’s now fighting to save. In this podcast, we talk about Steve’s love of big cats and his work to protect cat species around the world, including India’s tigers and jaguars in South America. He also discusses his early assignments, his iconic photos, getting stuck in quicksand, how great pictures require commitment, including epic long-term shoots, and his close call with death during a wild assignment.

American photographer Thomas D Mangelsen has travelled the world, capturing some of the most famous wildlife photos ever, including Catch Of The Day and Polar Dance. His work has appeared everywhere from National Geographic to CNN. His work goes beyond pictures, communicating vital stories about the need to protect nature and wildlife, including grizzly bears in the United States. In this podcast, we talk about growing up in nature, his famous photos, from Catch Of The Day to Polar Dance, spending time with grizzly bears and still feeling excited to go out and photograph the world’s wild animals. We also discuss polar bears, the frustrations of climate change misinformation, the need to protect endangered species, and what good photos can do.

Tim Laman is an American photojournalist, cameraman and field biologist who’s worked on extraordinary photo shoots from Antarctica to Indonesia, including his famous photo of an orangutan high in the canopy that won him the 2016 Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. His work can be seen in National Geographic magazine and on Nat Geo, BBC and Netflix. He’s also a Fellow of the International League Of Conservation Photographers. In this podcast, we focus on orangutans and the threats they face from deforestation, including Gunung Palau National Park. He also talks about life high up in the trees, Birds of Paradise, exploring remote wilderness areas, his most challenging assignment, and how he took his remarkable orangutan photo.

Xi Zhinong is a Chinese wildlife photographer and documentary maker who works to document and protect endangered species endemic to China. He’s the founder of Wild China Film. His work has been nominated for an Emmy and he’s a previous winner of the BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year. In this podcast, we talk about the wildlife of China, including the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, the harmonious balance between nature and humans, China’s wildlife laws, and attitudes towards wildlife across China, as well as how he hopes his pioneering work can deliver change and help bring protection to rare and endangered species.