Randy Robbins | Wildlife Photographer | E76

There may be no other person in Northern California more in touch with the behavior of wildlife than the award-winning nature photographer Randy Robbins. Based in Susanville, Robbins’ images of bald eagles, mountain lions, bears, bobcats, foxes, and hundreds of other species have helped both the public, and wildlife biologists, better understand the animals in our own backyards that we never see. Robbins snapped the very first high resolution photo of a Lassen Pack Wolf in 2021 in the ashes of the Dixie Fire, captured the first known image of the rare and endangered Sierra Nevada Red Fox and was the first photographer to ever be awarded by the Natural History Museum of London for an iPhone image. Robbins’ photos have been featured in media outlets worldwide, winning dozens of prestigious awards in only seven years of work. In Episode 76, we chat with Robbins at his Susanville photo gallery – A Thousand Windows –  about his path to being a wildlife photographer, his relationship to God, both as a pastor and an outdoorsman, and the public criticisms he faces from all sides for simply capturing beautiful portraits of animals in the wild.

2:50 – PowBot and Trail Whisperer photograph wildlife.

4:50 – Recording from Susanville, California, riding the Bizz Johnson Trail.

6:25 – Introducing Randy Robbins, award-winning wildlife photographer and trails advocate for Susanville Area Bicycling Association.

8:30 – California Wildlife Photo of the Year Award - Bald Eagle called “Fly Fishing”.

10:00 – Natural History Museum of London Wildlife Photographer of the Year – “Full Circle”.

10:50 – Getting the very first high resolution photo of the Lassen Pack Wolf.

15:00 – 800 Main Street, Susanville, California originally built in 1901, now home to A Thousand Windows – Randy Robbins’ photography gallery.

18:50 – A Thousand Windows – a John Muir quote.

20:00 – Randy is a former teacher and part-time pastor at a Christian church.

21:30 – What’s the difference between finding God in the outdoors and finding it in church?

23:25 – How has your photography influenced your faith?

25:00 – After 2 years, getting a camera trap image of the Lassen Pack Wolf after the Dixie Fire.

26:00 – The patience required to be a good photographer

27:10 – Taking 3 years to get a photo of the endangered Sierra Nevada Red Fox.

30:00 – Lassen Volcanic National Park as a habitat for wildlife, and getting a permit to photograph in a National Park.

32:20 – Social media influencers, YouTubers and filming permits in National Parks.

35:30 – How did Randy get into photography?

39:25 – The highs and lows of social media, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook in promotion.

43:35 – Dealing with the haters on social media.

44:50 – Is taking a photograph of an animal compromising the animal’s habitat?

48:45 – Do animals like trails?

50:10 – Winning a Natural History Museum of London award for taking an iPhone photo, and then being criticized for it.

54:05 – Setting up an effective camera trap in the forest.

58:00 – Waiting in the woods for hours, days sometimes years before getting the right shot.

1:00:00 – Getting the award winning Bald Eagle shot in a kayak on Antelope Lake.

1:04:00 – The wolf discussion – Is the reintroduction of wolves in California good or bad?  

1:08:25 – The criticisms Randy receives for simply taking a photo of a wolf.

1:11:45 – The Beyem Seyo Pack of wolves attacking and killing dozens of cattle in Sierra Valley.

1:14:45 – Has Randy ever been a hunter? As a photographer, would he be able to hunt?

1:16:30 – What has photography taught you most about animal behavior?

1:21:00 – How have the massive wildfires of the last few years impacted wildlife?

1:25:50 – Tracking animals and learning the different animal paw prints.

1:29:45 – Why isn’t Susanville more popular as a mountain town?

1:40:40 – Would John Muir have ridden a mountain bike or a split board? 

1:44:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

1:49:08 – Get Randy Robbins’ prints – Randyrobbinsphotography.com and athousandwindows.com