Ben Potter, the man behind Cana Outdoor, has a story that starts close to home.
“I’m from SLO County,” he says. “Hunting came from my dad, who was an avid archer. Photography came from my mom, who was a wedding photographer. Both worlds were always around me.”
Patience from one side. Perspective from the other.
Somewhere along the way, it stopped being about simply documenting hunts. “When the quiet moments mattered as much as the shot,” he says, that’s when it clicked. He wasn’t just capturing footage — he was chasing story.
The film itself came together “over multiple seasons and places,” but always stayed rooted in familiar ground. The biggest challenges? “Time and emotion. Staying committed when plans fell apart or conditions changed.” Anyone who’s hunted long enough knows that feeling.
The heart of the project is a single, quiet scene: his dad harvesting a mule deer after 26 years of applying for the tag. “All of that time, effort, and hope gets wrapped into one quiet moment,” Potter says. “It’s not just about the animal, it’s about commitment, perseverance, and seeing something through for decades.”
Gear stays simple — “small mirrorless cameras and prime lenses to stay light and mobile.” But the most important tool might surprise you: “A notebook. Writing things down keeps the story honest.”
For filmmakers trying to break in, his advice is clear: “Perspective. Gear and access help, but how you see the hunt is what makes people care.”
Around here, that’s what it’s about. Not just the shot — but what it means when the moment finally comes.
Crack a cold one and watch Anchor Point below.