Wildlife Photojournalist & Workshop Leader – Ronen Tivony
About Ronen Tivony – Wildlife Photojournalist and Workshop Leader
I am Ronen Tivony, wildlife photojournalist and workshop leader, dedicated to telling the stories of wild places and the creatures that inhabit them. With three decades of professional photojournalism behind me and images published in the world’s most respected media outlets, I now channel that experience into immersive, small-group wildlife photography workshops across Florida and beyond. This page covers my background, published work, awards, and what you can expect when you join me in the field.
Published Work – Images in Global Media
My wildlife and photojournalism images have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Good Morning America, NBC, ABC, BBC, HBO, TIME, CNN, Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, The Guardian and many other leading publications worldwide.
Three Decades in News Photojournalism – Then the Wild Called
For thirty years I worked as a news photojournalist, documenting breaking stories and historic events under deadline pressure. That career built an instinct for decisive moments, an eye for light, and deep technical fluency with a camera in any conditions.
After three decades, I made a deliberate shift toward the natural world and toward teaching. Concentrating on wildlife photojournalism and leading photography workshops outdoors allows me to slow down, study animal behavior more deeply, and help fellow photographers create images that carry genuine narrative weight. The skills are the same; the subject just moves on its own schedule.
Recognition, Leadership, and Fellowship
During my news career I served as a board member and Vice President of the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA), advocating for high standards in visual journalism and supporting photographers at every career stage.
In 2020, the Royal Photographic Society awarded me a prestigious Fellowship, recognizing technical excellence and a strong personal vision. That distinction, one of the highest honors in international photography, continues to shape how I teach, mentor, and approach every image in the field.
Awards and Honors
Ronen’s work as a wildlife photojournalist has been recognized by major photography organizations and international competitions, including:
- National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)
- Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA)
- International Photo Awards (IPA)
- Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3)
- Siena International Photo Awards
- Royal Photographic Society Fellowship
- Tokyo International Foto Awards
- Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
- American Photography
What You Learn in a Photography Workshop with a Wildlife Photojournalist
Joining Ronen in the field means working alongside a working wildlife photojournalist and workshop leader — not a classroom instructor. Every session is tailored to where you are as a photographer. Students at Ronen’s workshops regularly cover:
Camera settings for wildlife – aperture, shutter speed, ISO in fast-changing light
Animal behavior and anticipation – reading the scene before the action happens
Composition and storytelling – building images with narrative, not just subjects
Post-session image review – personalized feedback on your shots from the day
Field ethics – approaching wildlife responsibly and without disturbance
Wildlife Photography Workshop Locations Across Florida and Beyond
As a wildlife photojournalist and workshop leader, I run regular workshops across some of the most productive wildlife locations in the United States and beyond:
- Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach
- Everglades National Park
- Orlando Wetlands Park
- Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg
- Owl Photography near Miami
- Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
- St. Augustine Alligator Farm
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
- Multi-day Best of Florida tours
Beyond Florida
- Bosque del Apache, New Mexico
- Hummingbird Photography, Arizona
- Pelicans and Sea Lions, La Jolla, California
- Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Each location is chosen for predictable wildlife activity, varied species, and photographic opportunity across different seasons.
Life Beyond the Camera
When I am not photographing or leading a workshop, you will often find me on the water in a kayak, exploring new habitats, scouting locations, and planning the next adventure. Time outdoors keeps my eye sharp and continuously fuels fresh ideas for upcoming workshops and long-term documentary projects.
Ronen’s Recently Published Work
Join a Workshop with Ronen Tivony
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about wildlife photojournalist and workshop leader Ronen Tivony. If you are ready to improve your photography in the company of a working professional, explore the workshops below. Groups stay small, locations are carefully chosen, and every session is built around helping you come home with images you are genuinely proud of.
Why Learn from a Wildlife Photojournalist
There is a real difference between learning photography from a hobbyist and learning it from someone who has spent thirty years making images for a living. Every technique I teach has been tested in the field on actual assignments, not borrowed from a YouTube tutorial or a textbook.
What I bring to each workshop is not just technical knowledge, it is an editorial eye. I am always asking: what is the story in this frame? That question changes everything. It shifts your attention from settings and gear toward behavior, context, and moment. It is the difference between a sharp photo of a bird and a photograph that makes someone stop scrolling.
Students leave my workshops with better images, yes, but more importantly, they leave thinking differently about what they are trying to say with their camera. That shift in mindset is something you will carry into every session you shoot for the rest of your life, long after the workshop is over.