Wildlife Photo Chat — Episode 247: Trond Westby

Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Ray Hennessy
Guest: Trond Westby

Episode Overview

In this episode, wildlife photographer and content creator Trond Westby returns for an in-depth conversation with host Ray Hennessy. They explore the realities and rhythms of wildlife photography in northern climates, the importance of remaining creative and challenge-seeking, and the lure of new species and habitats. The discussion ranges from seasonal planning and family-work balance to the joys and frustrations of pursuing elusive birds, technical mishaps, creative risks, and evolving storytelling approaches—both in stills and video.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Winter Down Season & Its Challenges

• Lack of Daylight:
  Trond shares that from late September through December, photography is extremely limited in Norway due to early sunsets and full-time work commitments.
  Quote:
  • "We have the sun going down around 4:00, maybe 4, 4:30. And I'm getting home from work at like 4:30, so that's all in the weekend." — Trond [01:06]
• Impact on Motivation:
  Trond admits he gets restless, but family obligations and bad weekend weather further restrict opportunities.
  • "I'm itching to go out in the cabin." — Trond [01:59]

2. Adapting to the Seasons

• Content Creation Strategy:
  Trond “stacks up” YouTube content in the active season (April–June) to release during the winter lull.
  • "I've learned that things get different in the winter months... So I tell my family that from April to late June, you won't see much of me." — Trond [02:32]
• Planning for Different Species:
  With limited time, Trond plans each season for specific photographic targets rather than trying to do everything at once.
  • "I always said that I want to divide myself in that time... So I have to plan and say, okay, this year I have to go after that species and that species." — Trond [04:17]

3. Stepping Out of Comfort Zones

• Breaking Old Patterns:
  Both Ray and Trond discuss the ease of falling into familiar routines—photographing the same species or locations because they’re reliable.
  • "I was before stuck in patterns, but now... I have started more and more to expand my comfort zone because it's so easy to get into that same pattern because that is safe." — Trond [05:29]
• Risks & Rewards of Targeting New Species:
  Trond describes spending a month tracking Black Grouse and Capercaillie—with mixed success, but meaningful learning.
  • "Sometimes you stumble over a species that wasn’t planned. And then you need to take advantage of that as well." — Trond [04:57]
  • "I spent almost a month tracking down black rouse and Capercaillie." — Trond [06:24]

4. Habitat Loss, Frustration, & Demotivation

• Declining Birds:
  Black Grouse numbers near Trond’s cabin have dropped, likely due to increased predation and loss of wild habitat (roads, cabins).
  • "Norway is a small country and we don’t have too much wild areas left anymore. So that’s really, really sad though." — Trond [07:38]
• Emotional Toll:
  The disappointment of fruitless efforts sometimes leads to frustration.
  • "I felt like... almost felt like crying though... trying to photograph it... So that was like a down moment." — Trond [08:53]

5. Experience, Preparation & Efficiency

• Leveraging Experience:
  With time, both agree that finding new species gets easier, as one learns how to quickly evaluate environments and species likelihood.
  • "With that experience, you get over the years, besides getting bored of the same old stuff, you also get the benefit of having experience where to look for new ones." — Trond [13:26]
  • "You are able to better tell when an area is going to be good for photography or not." — Ray [14:26]

6. Case Studies: Persistence & Serendipity

• Black-throated Loon Quest:
  Trond spent two years searching the wrong lake for Black-throated Loons—all based on a misunderstood tip—only for a friend to later clarify the correct spot!
  • "And then this year... he told me... No, no, it's this lake. — Two years on the wrong lake." — [17:07-17:17]
• Physical & Emotional Investment:
  Reaching prime locations requires arduous hikes and even rock climbing with gear, but the reward of discovering target species is immense.
  • "First time I saw it... I was getting the teals and I was like my soul was rising. Oh, it was so nice." — Trond [18:02]
• Appreciation for Solitude:
  Difficult-to-reach spots mean more solitude—highly valued by Trond as part of the experience.
  • "I’m always looking at new places that I know there is no people." — Trond [19:32]

7. Chasing the “Magic” Light and Moments

• Why Early/Late Matters:
  Both discuss the transformative effect of early morning or evening light, and how most casual visitors miss out by arriving at midday.
  • "It surprises me all the time that people don't understand that... The light's harsh, the colors aren't nice, and even though it's still beautiful in a way, it's not the same..." — Ray [21:09]
  • "I think... it's so hard to get up at 4 in the morning to photograph the great crested grebe anymore... but when you know there's something new or exciting, you feel like a child again." — Trond [24:01, 25:14]

8. How to Keep Wildlife Photography Exciting

• Different Motivators:
  Trond is driven by the pursuit of new species and immersive experiences; Ray by constant travel and discovering new habitats.
  • "We both have found a way to keep it exciting, which is all that matters in the end." — Ray [25:17]
• Setting Goals:
  Trond describes researching and failing to find Dotterel in the high mountains—using it as motivation to return next season.
  • "After laying in the tent for four days with, like, wet clothes... I need to have something to look forward to next year. I need to have that kind of species." — Trond [29:59-30:43]

9. International Travel & Dream Destinations

• Svalbard & Unique Habitats:
  Trond recounts photographing Red-necked Phalaropes and King Eiders in Svalbard’s pond-filled, treeless "moon landscape" and the delights of super-tame ducks.
  • "In the little ponds, the King Eiders are so friendly, but on the coast, they fly off at 200 meters..." — Ray & Trond [35:09–35:48]
• Interest in Alaska & Hungary:
  Alaska is Trond's "dream trip" for tundra birds; he’s also planning a first-time photography trip to Hungary for bee-eaters, hoopoes, and more.
  • "Alaska is actually... so high on my list that I'm trying to figure out when I can go." — Trond [37:50]
  • "I'm actually going to Hungary for the first time." — Trond [40:00]

10. The Role of YouTube & Storytelling

• Why Video?
  Trond’s primary goal is to tell compelling stories, not just show bird images.
  • "The reason that I started my YouTube channel... was I had one criteria—It need to be fun to do this. Otherwise I'm not going to do it... because I love to tell a story." — Trond [42:38–44:40]
• Inspiration Through Atmosphere:
  He seeks to convey the sensory experience of fieldwork—sunset, mist, wind—so viewers “feel that same excitement.”
  • "I want all of that feeling that we are feeling, trying to get out as much as possible though in my videos. So people can like get inspired and feel that same excitement though." — Trond [44:25]

11. Techniques: Trying New Approaches

• Wide Angles & Auto Capture:
  Both discuss using wide-angle lenses and camera auto-capture features to get unique images, especially of species they've photographed before.
  • "I want to experiment more with the auto capture so I can get that type of picture that is really hard to get..." — Trond [61:41]
• Storytelling in Photography:
  Both are increasingly drawn to broader, “bird in habitat” shots that better convey the environment and mood of an encounter.
  • "When we back up, we get to do a little bit more of that story... Like a morning where you went wider and... just transports me there." — Ray [50:00–51:09]
• Creative Play:
  Discussions include heat haze challenges and even using atmospheric distortion as a possible artistic effect.
  • "I wonder if there's a way to incorporate that creatively into a wildlife photo... make it look like a painting almost." — Ray [59:33–60:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Personal & Emotional Highs and Lows

• "It was so hard to like realize that something is changing in the natural world that I'm living in right now. So that was like a down moment." — Trond [08:55]
• "The first time I saw [the Black-throat Loon]... I was climbing up to that lake, and when I saw it, my soul was rising. Oh, it was so nice." — Trond [18:02]
• "When you've done this for a really long time, it's figuring out ways to keep it exciting, you know, because if it just becomes so hard and difficult and not fun—what's the point of doing it anymore?" — Ray [25:17]

Fun or Relatable Observations

• "See, I get to avoid all that family stuff by just permanently living on the road. So I'm never around any family." — Ray [02:02]
• "Two years on the wrong lake!" — Ray [17:17]
• "It would be amazing to get a beaver with a 24 to 70 lens." — Trond [62:14]
• "You just need to come back, though, and you need to have to stretch. We need that more and more as more experience we get." — Trond [55:03]

On Storytelling Through Media

• "The reason I started my YouTube channel... was I had one criteria—that it needs to be fun to do this. Otherwise, I'm not going to do it because it's a lot of work... I love to tell a story, and that is something I'm working more and more on." — Trond [42:38–44:25]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:10–03:40: Photographic down season: daylight, family, and content planning
• 05:29–06:21: Breaking patterns and expanding comfort zones
• 06:24–08:55: Risk and reward: month-long quest for grouse and capercaillie, habitat loss, emotional impact
• 13:25–14:54: Gaining efficiency and knowledge with experience
• 16:39–18:02: The two-year Black-throated Loon “wrong lake” story and wilderness challenges
• 19:32–21:09: Value of solitude, magic light, avoiding crowds
• 23:31–25:14: Keeping it exciting—how novelty and “feeling like a child again” motivates
• 29:59–30:43: Dotterel quest: adversity and long-term goals
• 35:09–36:02: King Eider tameness in Svalbard; contrasting behaviors and habitats
• 40:00–41:03: Upcoming Hungary trip—photographic targets and expectations
• 42:38–44:40: YouTube, storytelling, and the “why” of video creation
• 48:55–52:07: Black-throated Loon: favorite atmospheric, wide-angle shots and the challenge of full stories in single images
• 61:41–62:14: Plans to push auto-capture and wide angle approaches, and new goals for the coming year

Where to Follow Trond Westby

• Instagram & Facebook: Main platforms for images
• YouTube: Long form stories and photography vlogs
  • "I'm putting out some reels now and then... but I don't like to make them. I want to tell the story." — Trond [66:52]

Closing Thoughts

This episode is a motivating, candid peek into both the real-life constraints and creative innovations of a dedicated wildlife photographer who juggles family, work, and an evolving artistic vision. Trond Westby’s approaches to planning, risk-taking, resilience, and storytelling are sure to inspire both passionate wildlife photographers and casual nature lovers. Whether it’s chasing rare birds, forging stories through video, or simply battling the seasonal rhythm, the message is clear: passion and persistence keep the adventure alive.