Ryan Olinger | ForkTailedMedia

A Love Letter to THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST - In theaters Sep. 5th. Visit the link in our bio or theamericansouthwest.film to learn more.

What does it take to film a cutthroat trout spawning sequence? A lot of planning, a little luck, and a glorious week on the water! We teamed up with @freshwatersillustrated to film this spectacular event, where thousands of cutthroat trout gather each summer to spawn. And if you’re wondering about the exact location… let’s just say it’s somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, in a valley lined with pines and willows. Once the females reach a spawning site, they clear a small depression in the gravel, lay their eggs, and then cover them after the males fertilize. A month or two later, the eggs hatch and a new generation begins. Sadly, these mass spawning events are increasingly rare. Cutthroat trout have lost much of their range due to dams, habitat loss, and competition with introduced species like rainbow trout. Managing watersheds with native fish in mind can help bring them back. Jeremy Monroe and @davidherasimtschuk led the underwater cinematography, while @austintorios , @ryan.forktailed , and @bencmasters captured the topside scenes. Producer @katybaldock7 and intern @eshan_vishwakarma were integral to the effort along with the biologists who guided the story. 🎬 The American Southwest is now streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Movies, and Fandango at Home.

THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST is an immersive journey down the mighty Colorado River, exploring the region’s extraordinary wildlife, deep cultural history, and uncertain future. We sat down with the films Director of Photography Ryan Olinger (@ryan.forktailed ) to discuss how Canon lenses and the EOS R5 helped capture some of the highest-quality jaguar footage ever filmed in Northern Mexico and bring the wild heart of the Southwest to life. 🎬 The American Southwest is now available on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango at Home. Camera trap footage captured by cinematographer @austintorios   To learn more visit theamericansouthwest.film -—— Narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse  @quannah.rose Produced by Ryan Olinger, Len Necefer, and Katy Baldock @ryan.forktailed @lennecefer and @katybaldock7 Music by Noah Sorota @noahsorota Edited by Sam Klatt @samklatt with AE Chet Stefan @chetstefan Director of Photography Ryan Olinger @ryan.forktailed Principal Cinematography Austin Alvarado, Patrick Thrash, Isaiah Branch-Boyle, Len Necever, Skip Hobbie, and Alan Clampitt.  @austintorios @patrickhthrash @isaiahjboyle @lennecefer @skipswildlife & Alan Clampitt Written and directed by Ben Masters  @bencmasters Lead Conservation Partner American Rivers @americanrivers

🎬 Don’t miss the Wild Rivers Film Tour coming to the Elks Theater in Prescott, Arizona on May 29th! 🌊🏜️ THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST is a wild and unforgettable journey down the mighty Colorado River.  Narrated by Quannah Chasing horse, the film beautifully showcases the region’s abundant wildlife, confronts the ecological impacts of dams and river depletion, and boldly advocates for increased water and wildlife conservation.   Tickets available now or at the door! Ticket Link in bio ... #WildRiversFilmTour #PrescottAZ #TheAmericanSouthwest #WhatTheRiverKnows #ColoradoRiver DocumentaryFilm ElksTheater ArizonaEvents

Sibling love or training? It may look rough, but these juvenile bobcats are practicing the moves they’ll use when hunting. Always a privilege to witness wildlife being wild.

In life and death the Saguaro gives back to the Sonoran Desert. A true desert icon.

Show me a bird that looks more like a dinosaur. The head movements and that locked-in stare feel like a mini velociraptor. Even with a nesting Cooper’s hawk overhead, it stuck around just long enough to test my minimum focus.

The Big Bend region is where my wildlife filmmaking career really began. Over the years I’ve spent a lot of time there filming for major networks and projects like Deep in The Heart. I’ve floated the Rio Grande where the proposed wall would go. Filmed bats feeding on towering agaves in the middle of the night. Followed mama bears with cubs through lush canyons. Watched flash floods rip through dry washes. And stepped off the trail more than once to give rattlesnakes their space. The Big Bend region is one of the wildest places left in North America. A wall here, smart or physical, would permanently change this landscape and the wildlife that depends on it. If you want to help or learn more, check out @nobigbendwall and contact your representatives.

There’s something about a moonlit saguaro that just feels right. Good to be back out beneath the desert sky. Also, impressed with how well an iPhone can photograph the night sky. More astro snaps coming up…

A few birds of February 1. Harris Hawk 2. Phainopepla 3. Cardinal 4. Cactus Wren

Name a state with better sunsets than Arizona.

Excited to capture some new Astro photos and lapses very soon!