013 Matthew Bergsma, Birder and Wildlife Photographer – BLACKRAPID Podcast
In this captivating episode of the BlackRapid Podcast, host Ron sits down with Matthew Bergsma, a passionate wildlife and bird photographer based in the Pacific Northwest corner of Washington state.
Matthew shares how hiking and the outdoors “snared” him into bird photography after years of leaving his cameras in the vault. What started as an occasional companion on trails evolved into a deep fascination with birds—especially owls—leading him to observe their patterns, behaviors, and family dynamics up close.
He opens up about seeing nature differently: tuning into bird sounds, movement rhythms, and instincts after repeated visits to the same spots. The conversation dives into the raw realities of the wild, including high mortality rates for young animals, predators like owls and coyotes, and how witnessing death in nature builds empathy (and sometimes heartbreak).
Matthew walks viewers through his workflow during the video version:
- Handheld shooting with long lenses (like 400mm) thanks to modern camera stabilization—capturing tack-sharp eye details even at slow shutter speeds like 1/80s.
- Creating massive 120-megapixel panoramas by stitching multiple frames for environmental portraits of birds.
- Techniques like the “Bryn XR method” for mimicking medium-format looks without the gear.
- Fun moments: baby owls learning to eat crayfish (pecking, flipping, swallowing tail-first, and pellet regurgitation), sibling owlets fresh out of the nest, and unexpected wildlife encounters like deer in golden light.
Gear talk includes his go-to setups (often one primary lens for mobility), weatherproof bags, BlackRapid straps for quick movement, and why he skips traditional tripods in favor of being the “tripod-free bird photographer” to stay agile.
Whether you’re into birding, wildlife photography, or simply love stories of connecting with nature, this episode blends technical tips, field stories, and philosophical reflections on the beauty—and brutality—of the outdoors.
Guest: Matthew Bergsma
Host: Ron Henry, Founder of BLACKRAPID
Producer/Editor: Bry Cox
Video Version (Enitre Podcast)
Audio Version (Enitre Podcast)
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & how Matthew got into bird photography
03:00 – Transition from hiking to bringing the camera along
05:00 – Seeing nature’s patterns and rhythms differently
10:30 – Sharing photos & techniques (handheld, slow shutters, panoramas)
15:00 – Baby owls, fledglings, and family behaviors
19:00 – Predators, survival challenges, and empathy in nature
28:00 – Funny owl/crayfish moments
33:00 – Local spots, bioluminescence, boating adventures
38:00 – Gear talk: lenses, bags, straps, no-tripod philosophy
49:00 – Closing thoughts
If you’re a photographer who loves mobility in the field, or just someone who finds wonder in birds and the wild, this one’s for you. Drop a comment: What’s your favorite bird to photograph, or have you witnessed a memorable wildlife moment?
#BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #Birding #PacificNorthwest #Owls #BlackRapidPodcast #HandheldPhotography #NaturePhotography
Links
Connect with Matthew Bergsma – Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/matthew.bergsma/
Gear Up with BLACKRAPID Camera Straps
https://www.blackrapid.com
More Episodes and Resources from BLACKRAPID Media
https://www.blackrapidmedia.com
Video Shorts
Clip 1 – “How I’m getting tack-sharp bird shots at 1/80th handheld With a 400 mm.”
Clip 2 – “Shooting 400 mm panoramas for 120-megapixel bird portraits.”
Clip 3 – “Watching a baby owl try to figure out how to eat a crayfish”
Clip 4 – “Baby fawn in morning golden light – exercises your empathy muscles.”
