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Juan Pons on Wild Dogs, Antarctica Penguins, Yellowstone Foxes & Snow Leopards

Pangolin Wildlife Photography

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Host Toby Jermyn welcomes wildlife and nature photographer Juan Pons, a Puerto Rico-born, Florida-based workshop leader with 30+ years’ experience.

Juan shares five wall images for a remote dwelling: an African wild dog spy-hopping in Botswana’s Okavango Delta while hunting red lechwe; king penguins in South Georgia with mountains and a skua behind, plus how restrictions affect low-angle shooting; a wide composite sequence of a Yellowstone red fox mousing, made from multiple frames and stitched in Photoshop; and a close snow leopard in the remote Himalayas stepping into view before a frozen waterfall after hours of waiting.

Juan recounts discovering photography at boarding school, later teaching early digital techniques, accidentally building a workshop business, and co-hosting “The Digital Photo Experience” podcast for nine years. His admired image is Frans Lanting’s elephants at sunset in Chobe, and he chooses Botswana and Costa Rica as dream bases.

Gallery of Juan's images:
https://pangolin.smugmug.com/SmugMug-...

Guest Image
Chobe Elephants by Frans Lanting
https://lanting.com/
Instagram: franslanting

Connect with Juan
https://juanpons.org/
juanpons
Instagram: jpons
Facebook: juanpons

Timestamps / Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Pangolin Podcast
04:39 1st Image: African Wild Dog
08:09 Juan’s Photography Origins
12:39 2nd Image: King Penguins
18:17 Workshop Leading Realities
20:33 3rd Image: Yellowstone Fox Sequence
27:04 Juan’s Podcasting Era
29:42 4th Image: Snow Leopard
34:33 5th Image: Frans Lanting
38:31 Humble Dwelling Choice
40:40 Final Thanks and Outro

The Pangolin Podcast was produced and edited by Bella Falk: https://www.passportandpixels.com

If you would like to be kept informed of our new video releases, then please join our community by clicking here: https://link.pangolinphoto.com/YTcomm...

If you are interested in joining us on safari, then click here: https://link.pangolinphoto.com/YTsafari

We are Pangolin Wildlife Photography, based in the Chobe, Northern Botswana. When we are not making videos for our channel, we host our guests and clients from all over the world on our Wildlife Photography safaris throughout Botswana and the rest of Africa—and sometimes beyond!

#wildlifephotography #naturephotography #podcast

20 Comments

@skorathota 3 weeks ago

Excellent podcast. Fantastic photographs. Thank you Toby for organizing.

@georgemason2472 3 weeks ago

Great episode! Loved the stories behind the photos and how he made a conscious decision to diversify for a broad discussion. Great guest.

@Idenofmarch33 3 weeks ago

Once again, an excellent podcast.

@davidbailey2817 3 weeks ago

Another fantastic episode.

@antonystephenson4324 3 weeks ago

Another excellent episode. Lovely photos and stories attached to them

@oliverzierach7749 3 weeks ago

How great was this edition of the Pangolin Podcast?! Really enjoying to hear Juan talking about his great Images and sharing his Story of being a Wildlife Photograph for such a long time. When i have to pick my favourite Images i would take the first, the Wilddog and the Snow Leopard, because this are the animals i would like to see the most in real life. But all of his Image were beautiful and storytelling. Many thanks to Juan for being on the Podcast and to Toby for being a great host. And of course to the Pangolin Podcast Team for keeping the Podcast running. And yes, Franz Lanting would be a great guest. I have the Eye to Eye Book aswell and to get informations about the Zebra and the Elephant Waterhole Image first Hand would be awesome.

@GeorgBotz 3 weeks ago

Thanks for this brilliant episode of the podcast, Toby. Juan Pons is an extraordinary guest with an incredibly broad range of experience in nature photography—not only in terms of the time period, but also in terms of the subjects, destinations, and perspectives he captures. I was particularly moved by his comments on his photo from South Georgia, because I’ve been there twice myself: once in 2015, when avian flu hadn’t yet threatened this unique wildlife, and most recently in 2022, when the first warning signs became apparent. Yes, the restrictions for visitors—and especially for ambitious photographers—are noticeable, but they’re necessary to protect this incredible animal paradise. And that’s a small price to pay!

Thanks again und I'm looking forward, too, to a potential episode with Frans Lanting as your guest!

@balatchandiranegovindasamy4688 4 weeks ago

Really enjoyed it. Do keep this going.

@mahesh8106 3 weeks ago

❤the video every week plz carry on doing all the time

@NickBarker-s9c 3 weeks ago

Frans Lanting s photo was in the Okavango. I have a book with picture in it

@DaveHutchinson-d5j 3 weeks ago

Juan Pons...Wow...finally! I have been following him since he and Chris Marquardt (Tips from the Top Floor) started their podcasts many years ago. And, as he said, Not only is he a great podcaster, he is also a great instructor. Brilliant. Wonderful images too! Thanks Toby!!!!

@suhailzubaid9192 3 weeks ago

Another stellar podcast! Loved this one! I can relate to Juan vs. 'Huan' confusion. Well over 35 years ago, I landed in America to begin studies at my Alma Mater in NYC. Just imagine how I would have pronounced the name of this friendly Hispanic class mate in my first ever interaction with him, namely, Javier Jaramillo, and how would I have felt after getting politely corrected, ROFL now. Loved all those shots. As a lover of the canid family (Canis lupus, Canis aureus, Canis latrance, Canis dingo, and Canis lupus familiaris) and although they are not closely related to this bunch, I loved the shot and story behind the African Wild dog. Thank you as always.

@fredvonwinckelmann 3 weeks ago

I got a strong feeling the elephant shoot must have been in Savute ( been there a lot) during one of the few years water was more available in the area. There are a very few of these waterholes in that area where resident elephant bulls come and drink sometimes twice a day. In drier times these waterholes sometimes get filled up artificially. Vegetation could have changed throughout the years because of the extended dry periodes the last 20 years (presuming this is an older picture). My guess is Marabu pan in Savute or if I am wrong it could be Nxai pan in rainy season. Kind regards ...... Fred.

@paulpokrywka1945 3 weeks ago

All the images are just Wonderfull!. Was the snow leopard cropped and if so how much was the crop? Thanks very much!

@msenquiz 3 weeks ago

Great podcast! And very happy to hear Juan is from my country Puerto Rico. Planning my safari in Pangolin Chobe hotel in July 2027.😊

@iang7007 3 weeks ago (edited)

wow! the fox sequence, as he said even having the opportunity to witness this and from the angle that stays throughout the sequence, sharp throughout despite being at f8 and 700mm with a camera from 12 years ago with less capable auto focus... technically stunning :) a gift from God :) Toby and Juan thank you for sharing this God bless you :)

@neelswelsh9247 3 weeks ago

Great podcast, the photo that Juan shared from Frank was definitely take in Mashatu because the same surroundings and ground formation is displayed in a video of the Safari Expert.

@tc6912 3 weeks ago (edited)

Hey! Great video. I've been with Juan to Yellowstone and Alaska. He and Jacklyn are awesome guides and hosts. I will be with Pangolin in November. Can't wait. The elephant shot is something I am hoping for in Botswana.