Photography in Mongolia

Photography in Mongolia

Author: Steve Brazill January 27, 2023 Duration: 1:00:26

One of the best parts of doing this podcast is getting to see the amazing photography community at work. I mentioned this a few weeks ago when I had Kersten Luts (Creative Portraits and Headshots) on the show. He had been suggested as a guest by my friend, and past guest, Dave Williams ( The Aurora & The Night Sky, The Traveling Photographer). Kersten then referred me to Nina Welch-Kling (Duolougues). Well, we are here today because of another connection.

A few months ago I received an email from someone named Aurora, who works with photographer Chris McLennan. They had received a few inquiries after Jeff Cable’s most recent appearance (Real-World Use of the Canon EOS R3, Capture the Action) aired, because Jeff had made Chris his Photographer pick. They were reaching out about possibly getting Chris McLennan on the show. Once again, it’s the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon… if Kevin were a photographer.

Getting Chris on the show is pretty exciting for me. He’s a Nikon New Zealand Ambassador, a Lowepro Bags Loweprofessional, a Rab Equipment Ambassador and a Lexar Elite Photographer, and he is widely recognized as one of the best travel pros out there, which makes sense looking at his career. After all, he has been photographing professionally since 1988!

Having grown up around adventure sports, Chris spent the early part of his photography career working mainly in the ski industry. That evolved into tourism promotional photography for tourism authorities and operators around the globe.

Today, after working in over 60 countries throughout more than 30 years, Chris is also an educator. He organizes and hosts photography expeditions in many exciting locations, such as Alaska in Winter for the Northern Lights, dog sledding and Arctic landscapes, Alaska during Summer for grizzly bears, Botswana wildlife safaris, Mongolia for its vast array of wildlife and nomadic eagle hunters, the many cultures of Papua New Guinea and chartering a private ice breaker in Svalbard to photograph polar bears. Any of these would be such a wonderful adventure.

Join Nikon New Zealand Ambassador Chris McLennan and me as we talk about how he made his image of a Mongolian Eagle Hunter, and to talk about travel photography, workshops, and expeditions, on this Behind the Shot.

Connect with Chris

Website: chrismclennanphotography.com
Instagram: @chris_mclennan1
Facebook: @Chris.McLennan.Photography
YouTube: @ChrisMcLennan

Chris’ Workshops and Expeditions

New Zealand Workshops: chrismclennanphotography.com
International Photo Expeditions: chrismclennanphotography.com

Chris’ Photographer Pick

Eric Esterle: ericesterle.com | @ericesterlephoto


Steve Brazill hosts Behind the Shot-Video, a series that goes far beyond gear lists and camera settings. Each conversation is a deep exploration of the creative and technical journey behind compelling images. You’ll hear working photographers unpack the entire process-from the initial spark of an idea and the challenges of the location to the critical decisions made in post-production. This podcast sits at the unique intersection of art and practical technology, offering tangible lessons for anyone looking to improve their visual storytelling. Rather than abstract theory, these discussions provide a real-world look at problem-solving under pressure and the artistic choices that define a signature style. Tune in for honest, detailed breakdowns that reveal how memorable shots are truly built, layer by layer. It’s an essential resource for visual artists seeking both inspiration and actionable knowledge, all grounded in the lived experience of accomplished creators.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 200

Behind the Shot - Video
Podcast Episodes
Sculpting with Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:19
When describing Blair Bunting’s photography there are few way to approach it. First of all there is the website bio version, which starts: “Blair Bunting is an advertising photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona specializ…
Light Painting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
Let’s start here… Cliff Mautner’s career in photography spans 38 years. Think about that for a minute… 38 years ago Nikon released the world’s first SLR with Matrix Metering, the Nikon FA, and the world’s first camera wi…
Photographing an Album Cover [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:15
I have writer’s block because of my guest. In fact, describing William Snyder is so difficult that I’ve been waiting to write this for two days. I’m ready to give it a shot now, but let me say up front that there is litt…
Aviation Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:18
It’s the return of Moose Peterson! The first time Moose Peterson was on the show I was pretty nervous. Usually I am trying to calm guests that are nervous about being on a show, but this was different. Moose is a legend…
Beverage Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:35
Everybody loves a good meal, and it seems like everybody is posting photos of their food, but when food photography is done right you can seemingly taste it. That’s where Freddy Clark comes in, and when he gets his hands…
Photographic Timing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:45
Damian Strohmeyer is a Boston based photographer that’s just as comfortable photographing a Super Bowl, as he is shooting a portrait. His body of work spans from fast action sports, like The World Series, The World Cup,…
Perspective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:06
St. Louis wedding photographer Sal Cincotta, and his award winning studio, take photography to a level few will ever achieve. Traveling the world to document their client’s most cherished moments, Sal and his team push t…
Extreme Photojournalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:07
One of the best parts of doing this podcast is the never ending inspiration I see from amazing photographic talents. Sometimes, the guests I get on the show are photographers I stumble upon while browsing the web, someti…
Long Exposures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:43
If you’re here then I will assume you are, at a minimum, a fan of good photography. Perhaps it interests you as a craft, or an art, or more likely you are a photographer that wants to improve their skill set. That means…
Timeless Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:56
I have been trying to count the number of guests I’ve had on this show that mentioned Scott Kelby, and each time I lose count. Seemingly everyone I know, and most of those I don’t know, have learned something from Scott.…