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Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science

Don't Just Love Something, Do Something for It

Published 3 months ago • 1 min read

Conservation and Science

There's no other way to start this newsletter than with the first paragraph of this week’s episode description. The episode features one of the most important conversations about hunting and impacts on nature that I can remember in 10 years of making the podcast. It's not surprising though as our guest today is a long-time supporter and friend of the podcast, Tony Bynum. Tony is an accomplished wildlife photographer who spent 15 years travelling the world photographing people hunting. He is a geographer by training with a master's degree in science and has managed scientific projects across the United States. He also worked in two presidential administrations at the Environmental Protection Agency. On top of all that, Tony is a lifelong hunter and angler with Native American heritage that deeply influences his approach to conservation and land ethics.

As you might gather, this is a pretty special episode. Perhaps it's special for me because I've known Tony for so long, or perhaps the topics and the way Tony approaches them make it special. I trust that this episode will make you feel that this conversation was extra important too. And if so, forward this newsletter to people you think would like it or, more importantly, to people you think should listen to it.

That is all I have for you in this newsletter. Enjoy and let me know if the things that Tony said resonated with you.

Conservation Photographer Tony Bynum on Photography, Hunting and Responsibility

Our conversation starts with a famous quote from José Ortega y Gasset suggesting that photography can never replace hunting because one is mere observation and the other is participation. Tony challenges this view with a perspective I hadn't considered before. Are photographers really just observers? What personal decisions has Tony made about his own photography as a result of his views? And how do traditional stories shape our connection to the land and the animals we pursue? You'll have to listen to find out.

We also discuss the difference between transactional and value-based approaches to hunting, the role of visual art in conservation and the problematic influence of social media on outdoor pursuits. Tony's message about doing something for what you love, rather than just loving it, runs through everything we discuss. His thoughts on raising his three daughters with outdoor experiences, without pushing them to become environmentalists, offer valuable insights for anyone who cares about passing on a connection to nature.

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Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science

I am an outdoorsman, podcaster and speaker. I talk and write about the natural environment, biodiversity, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding and more. I am particularly interested in wildlife and human-wildlife interactions. I enjoy reading scientific papers on those subjects as much as being outdoors weathering the elements and getting first-hand experiences.

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