Jim Jayson

A naturalist, wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Jim Jayson has worked in environments ranging from Costa Rican rainforests to polar bear habitat in the Arctic. Along the way, he has dived with hammerhead sharks and humpback whales, tracked wolverines and polar bears, camped among grizzly bears and documented wildlife in remote environments around the world.

For more than a decade, Jim has focused on documenting some of the world's most elusive and endangered species, including black-footed ferrets, sea otters, Canada lynx and jaguars. His work combines fieldcraft, wildlife tracking and modern technology to locate and observe animals in challenging environments. His photographs have appeared in books and magazines, and his conservation films have been screened at film festivals and viewed by audiences around the world.

Before becoming a wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Jim worked as a rodeo competitor, rock climbing guide, mountain rescue team member and cartographer. He has climbed extensively throughout North America, including the North Cascades, the Tetons, Yosemite Valley and Colorado's Rocky Mountains. These experiences helped develop the outdoor skills that continue to inform his fieldwork today.

Jim holds a bachelor's degree in Earth Science from Western Michigan University and a master's degree in Biology from Miami University. When not in the field, he enjoys traveling, freediving, trail running and exploring new places with his wife and fellow filmmaker, JinYoung Jayson.