Kenton Krueger (KK): Welcome Russell. Thanks for taking some time today to chat with me. It looks like you’ve been busy lately! Tell us about this new project, The Big Book of Wildlife & Nature Photography. I’ve taken a look, it’s fantastic, you must be proud! 

Russell Graves (RG): Thanks a bunch. Yeah, for the past couple of years I’ve been working on this project and it’s really been a labor of love. I love to share the joy of photography with other people and this is a way I could do that.

KK: You call it the “BIG BOOK.” Why?

RG: I struggled a long time with the name. I just couldn’t come up with something I liked so when it was nearing completion, I was counting up the number of words it had and the number of photos I put in and I thought, ‘Man, this is a BIG BOOK!’ So the name stuck. Let me say, though, that the title is well earned. The book has over 60,000 words, more than 300 photos with technical specs, and 3 1/2 hours of video.

KK: You’ve had five other books that were published by traditional publishers and are hard copies. You did this one as an eBook. Why?

RG: I think for a subject like wildlife photography, the ebook format was the best way to go.  With this format, I can include video content and provide periodic updates to the book really easily. Since the download is in PDF format, it’s universal to any device.

KK: Who would you say this book for?  Beginners or advanced photographers.

RG: It’s really for everyone. There’s definitely some beginner content but there is also a lot of advanced content – especially when it comes to getting close to animals or night photography.  The book really runs the gamut. I think the technical info on the photos alone is a valuable tool to help readers understand how images were made.

KK: What’s the video content about?

RG: The video content is some behind the scenes pieces that show what goes into making images. There are also some educational webinar-based pieces that delve into image management and ways to be a better wildlife photographer.

KK: Sounds great. What else are you up to these days?  

RG: Like everyone else, I’ve been hunkered down a bit but still working on photography. The travel restrictions have me a little stir crazy but I’m confident that things will return to normal soon. In the meantime, I’ve been exploring as many local places as I can and re-acquainting myself with the local nature.

KK: I feel ya there, Russell. I’ve looked at it much the same way. Shooting abstracts around the house and neighborhood, and got out for some dark sky Astro stuff, too. Lots of fun and creativity is still out there, even stuck at home. But, I digress. Where can people find the book? 

RG: They can head over to www.wildlifephotoshow.com/books and order a copy there. Once the transaction’s complete the file is available for instant download.

KK: I heard a rumor, though, that there might be some sort of bonus. Are you willing to share the secret? 

RG: Yes! If you use the discount code BCJ25 you’ll get 25% off of the $14.99 regular price. 

KK: That is awesome! Thank you, again, for your time, Russell. I’m sure folks reading this will be rushing to that web address to claim their book, and that generous discount! 

RG: Thank you!

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“Through the lens of my camera, I’ve seen some
truly remarkable things, like a whitetail fawn taking its first steps, or the sun spilling over western landscapes that have remained nearly unchanged for thousands of years. Indeed, I come
by my obsession honestly.”

                                         -Russell Graves, The Big Book of Wildlife and Nature Photography