Ben Knoot reveals he's at his parents' house in Tucson while juggling eight months of travel yearly.
This episode features host Ben Knoot interviewing wildlife photographer Ben Canote about his nomadic career and creative process. Canote is a full-time traveling photographer who spends about eight months of each year on the road. The conversation explores the realities of constant travel and the balance between passion and personal sustainability.
Canote is currently based at his parents' house in the Agro Valley north of Tucson, Arizona. He describes the local weather as 65 degrees with blue, sunny skies, contrasting it with storms elsewhere. The host notes Canote's intense travel schedule and admits he doesn't know how Canote manages it. Canote confirms his love for traveling but acknowledges it is a lot to handle. He plans to start slowing down and spacing out his trips moving forward. The photographer emphasizes not quitting his passion "cold turkey" but making a subtle transition. The host and his wife Emily plan to become primarily East Coast-based after 2025 for scheduling reasons.
A key insight is that even a passionate, travel-intensive career requires conscious pacing to avoid burnout. Canote's decision to slow down highlights the often-unseen personal costs of a nomadic creative life. The contrast between Arizona's pleasant climate and other regions' harsh weather subtly underscores the appeal of a home base. The conversation reveals that constant movement, while rewarding, is not a sustainable permanent state for the photographer. The host's own similar travel habits create a shared understanding between the two Bens.
The tone is casual, friendly, and conversational between two colleagues who know each other well. The style is relaxed, focusing on personal experience and lifestyle rather than technical photography advice.
Listeners interested in the behind-the-scenes lifestyle of professional wildlife photographers would enjoy this episode. Those seeking tips on camera gear or photo editing techniques might find it less directly applicable.
