Ep 246 - Laura Dyer Wildlife in the Landscape: Finding Place, Emotion, and Purpose

Laura Dyer's photography began with a single wild dog sighting — and never stopped. What followed was a move away from accounting and into full-time wildlife photography, guiding, and bespoke trip design across Africa and beyond. Her approach has evolved significantly over time. Where documentary instincts once dominated, she now embraces slower, more artistic techniques — including ICM and slow shutter — to bring emotional depth to wildlife imagery. She also champions the value of landscape within wildlife photography, arguing that a strong sense of place elevates a single animal moment into something far more resonant. In this conversation, Laura reflects on the mentorship and community that shaped her early years in South Africa, and how extended time in Kenya during COVID became an unexpected creative laboratory. She's candid about the realities of the industry — the algorithm pressures of social media, the severe toll tourism shutdowns took on local communities, and the logistical demands of running a photography business. She also shares close encounters with elephants and polar bears, her commitment to ethical risk management, and how switching subjects and constraints can completely renew creative inspiration. A former accountant turned full-time photographer and guide, Laura's story is one of deliberate reinvention — and a deepening attention to the natural world. I hope you enjoy the show! You can find Laura’s work here: Website: https://www.lauradyerphotography.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauradyerphotography Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lauradyerphotography Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauradyerphotography YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lauradyer330   Listen to this and other episodes wherever you find your podcasts or on https://grantswinbournephotography.com/lpw-podcast Or subscribe to my YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@grantswinbournephotography   Theme music: Liturgy Of The Street by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com   #wildlifephotography #safariphotography #africawildlife #wildlifephotographer #ICMphotography #landscapephotography #photographypodcast #wildlifeguide